The Best Vegan Marshmallows. Ever!

A neighbor invited us over for s'mores the other night. Can you believe I have never had a s'more before that night? I was looking forward to it, but all I was thinking about was how much sugar is in a marshmallow? Well imagined how excited I was when my neighbor offered us vegan marshmallows! Can I just tell you they taste just like regular marshmallows. Needless to say I really enjoyed my s'more. I will be getting some for my nice and nephew.

Really, I promise. You don't believe me? Try them for yourself.

Raw vegan sushi. Really?

Yes! It is possible and very delicious. One of my most favorites sites is http://www.rawmazing.com Not only are Susan's recipes delicious, but her pictures are amazing. I swear the pictures alone make me want to make all of these delicious recipes., and I have made a few. So today, guess whose recipe I'm featuring.

The sushi is so easy to make and you can experiment with it too and get creative. Below are the ingredients:

• 2 C Sprouted Kamut
• 1 T Nami Shoyu
• 1 T Toasted Sesame Oil
• Sunflower Sprouts
• 2 Carrots
• 1/2 Cucumber
• 1 Portobello Musthroom, marinated in nami shoyu and olive oil
• Avocado, Sliced
• 2 Seaweed Sheets

1. Marinate the Mushrooms
2. Cut the portabello mushroom into slices about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. 
3. Toss with 2 T of nami shoyu and 2 T oil and let sit for at least 1/2 hour.
4. Process the kamut, nami shoyu and toasted sesame oil  in a food processor until the kamut  starts to break apart. Set aside. Slice carrots and cucumber into match stick pieces, slice the avocado into 1/4 inch pieces. Set aside. Lay your sheet of seaweed on the sushi matt. Spread half the sheet with the kamut mixture. Place the avocado, carrots, cucumber, sunflower sprouts and mushrooms on top of the kamut.

It really is that easy! and you'll end up with Sushi heaven like the picture above.

Btw, If you haven't ordered her "Holiday 2010" Recipe book, get on it! I promise you will not be disappointed. You can get it here on her web site: http://www.rawmazing.com/

Oatmeal, Walnut and Dried Plum Cookies

As you can tell, I'm really liking Alicia Silverstone's book The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet it has some wonderful and healthy recipes. I love making these cookies, they're so guilt free and again so easy to make.

Servings: Makes 10 to 12 cookies

Ingredients:Oatmeal, Walnut and Dried Plum Cookies

• 1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
• 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup maple sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. fine sea salt
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup safflower oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. molasses
• 1/4 cup chopped dried plums or other dried fruit
• 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine the oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the syrup, oil, vanilla extract, and molasses. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and stir to combine. Fold in the dried plums and nuts.

Using your hands, roll tablespoon-size scoops of dough into balls. Place the balls onto the prepared baking sheet and press down slightly on the balls to flatten the tops. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a baking rack to cool completely.

For variety, replace the all-purpose flour with whole wheat pastry flour, barley flour, spelt flour, or a gluten-free baking mix (choose one that does not include baking soda and baking powder). You can also substitute chocolate chips for the dried fruit and any kind of nuts for the walnuts.

Greek-Style Mini Pizza

Here's another fabulous and easy pizza recipe. Lately I really have been craving pizza but I don't want all of the calories. I found the recipe below, which was created by Biggest Loser Ranch executive chef Cameron Payne. It's easy, delicious and healthy.

Serves 1

   * 1 Orowheat sandwich thin (called Arnold's Sandwich Thins on the east coast)
   * 1 1/2 Tbsp. marinara sauce
   * 1 ounce soy cheese

   * 3 Tbsp. tomato , diced
   * 1/4 cup ground turkey , cooked
   * 3 Tbsp. green olives , sliced
   * 1/2 Ounce Feta cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. Using 1 Orowheat sandwich thin, split apart and toast in the oven for 5 to 6 minutes. Ladle on 1 1/2 tablespoons marinara sauce on each pizza. Sprinkle soy cheese. Sprinkle on green onions, tomato, olives, cooked ground turkey and feta cheese. Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until pizza crust is crisp and cheese is melted.

Nutritional Information
Per serving: 259 calories, 6g fat, 17g protein, 30g carbohydrates, 5g dietary fiber

Alicia Silverstone's Radicchio Pizza Recipe

So I made another recipe from Alicia's Silverstone book - The Kind Diet: The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet It was delicious and so easy to make! If you don't really feel like cooking but need to make something quick, easy and healthy. This is definitely the way to go.

I added the black olives and the crumbled feta cheese.

SERVES 2 to 4

INGREDIENTS
1 large head radicchio
Olive oil
Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
White truffle oil, to taste
1 fresh pizza crust (preferably a healthy, whole grain variety)
Black Olives (My addition)
Crumbled Feta Cheese (My addition)

PREPARATION

1. Cut the radicchio in half, then slice each half crosswise into thin ribbons (as thin as possible!).
2. Dress with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a few dashes of white truffle oil to taste.
3. Preheat the oven to 415 degrees F.
4. Toast the pizza crust in the oven for 7 minutes or until it is heated through and slightly golden but not crunchy.
5. Scatter the dressed radicchio over the pizza crust and return to the oven for another 3 to 5 minutes, until the radicchio is warm and just starting to wilt. Serve immediately.

Udon Noodle Stir fry

This recipe is from Alicia's Silverstone Book - The Kind Diet. It's absolutely delicious and I highly recommended. Here's the link to her book: http://astore.amazon.com/ourgre-20/detail/1605296449


   * 1 portion Udon noodles
   * 1 small onion or 2 shallots
   * 1 handful green beans
   * 1 cup(s) of marinated tofu
   * 1 large handful of baby leaf spinach
   * 1 heaped tsp of Sambal Oelek (Indonesian Chilli Sauce)
   * 1 lime (juice of)
   * 1 tsp. of sweet freedom or agave nectar
   * 1 tsp. of white or rice wine vinegar
   * 2 tbsp. of soy sauce or shoyu
   * 1 tbsp. of groundnut oil

Steps

1. Bring a large pan of water to the boil.
2. Make the sauce by combining all the Sambal Oelek, lime juice, sweet freedom (agave), white wine vinegar, soy sauce and oil in a bowl. Whisk or stir thoroughly with a spoon and set aside.
3. Heat a little groundnut oil in a wok or skillet/frying pan. Finely slice the onion or shallots and add to pan. You want them to crisp up a little.
4. Slice the green beans diagonally & into small pieces. Add to pan with a little soy sauce.
5. Toss in the marinated tofu – Alicia uses Cauldron Brand. Stir fry for several minutes. Add a tablespoon or so of the sauce before combining the noodles.
6. Cook the udon noodles in the boiling water for 6-8 minutes, Drain, return to pot and cover.
7. Add the spinach and stir fry for a few short minutes until it begins to wilt. Then add the noodles and mix through before adding the remainder of the sauce. Allow to heat through for about a minute.
8.  Sprinkle some sesame seeds (toasted would be even better!) on top to serve.