Category Archives: Downlow

All recipes within this category are healthy.

Pea and Leek Soup

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If you prefer the soup to be 100% Vegetarian, you can substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock.  I prefer to serve with toasted sourdough.  A swirl of cream will make this look nicer and taste richer.

Pea and Leek Soup
 
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Recipe type: Soup
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Ingredients
  • 3 baby leeks, sliced
  • 1-1/2 c. boiling water
  • 1 c. petits pois (peas), frozen
  • 1 tbsp chives, chopped
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp cider vinegar
  • salt & black pepper
Instructions
  1. Place the baby leeks in a small saucepan with the olive oli until the leeks are soft. Add the rest of the ingredients except for the chives, setting them aside.
  2. Simmer until the peas are cooked through. Add the chives to the pan & use a hand blender to blend until smooth, or your preferred consistency.
  3. Serve with warm bread.

Photo Courtesy of M. King on Flickr

Joe’s Quinoa and Kale Stuffed Acorn Squash

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Submitted by Joe
Serves 2

Ingredients

1 acorn squash ½ c. quinoa
1 c. water 1 bunch kale
3 tbsp butter salt, pepper, & red chili pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Cut the acorn squash in half, remove the seeds & clean out the center. Add salt & pepper to the flesh of the squash & place 1 tbsp of butter into the cavity of each squash half.
2. Once the oven is ready, place the squash flesh side up on a baking sheet or casserole dish & bake for 45 minutes.
3. Put the quinoa into a bowl or container & fill it with water until the quinoa is covered. Set aside.
4. Remove the stalks from the kale & discard them. Rough chop the kale leaves & place into a skillet over medium heat along with 1 tbsp of butter. Add salt, pepper, & crushed red pepper to taste & saute until the kale is dark green & wilted, approximately 5-10 minutes.
5. Drain the water from the quinoa. Pour 1 c. of water in a pot, salt the water liberally & bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the quinoa & kale, stirring together. Place a cover on the pot & reduce the heat to low.
6. Remove the squash from the oven. Spoon the quinoa & kale mixture into the cavity of each squash half & serve.

Chef’s Note: Spinach can be substituted for kale if desired.

Vegan Spice Cake

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Sharon Says: My first piece is always warm because looks & smells so good I “need” to taste right away! I also recommend Whole Foods 365 brand vegan sugar & Earth Balance brand buttery vegan spread.

Sharon Nazarian runs BigCityVegan.com, a website dedicated to living a cruelty-free lifestyle including vegan recipes, vegan news & vegan merchandise, like cool vegan t-shirts.

Vegan Spice Cake
 
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Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Vegan
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Ingredients
  • 2½ c. whole wheat flour
  • 1½ c. vegan sugar
  • 1½ c. soy milk
  • 1 c. whole canned cranberry sauce
  • ¼ c. powdered vegan sugar
  • 6 tbsp buttery vegan spread
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp ground cloves
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp salt
Instructions
  1. Melt the buttery vegan spread & combine with soy milk.
  2. Stir together all the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking soda, spices & salt.
  3. Alternate adding the cranberry sauce & the soy milk with melted vegan butter mixture to the dry ingredients until everything is fully blended.
  4. Pour into a well-greased 9" square pan (use butter spread, light vegetable oil or a light oil spray).
  5. Bake on middle rack in preheated 350°F oven for 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
  6. Garnish with powdered vegan sugar (put into strainer, shake it over the entire cake).
  7. Serve warm or cold.

 

Photo Courtesy of stu_spivack on Flickr.

Jillian Michael Brownies

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Carrie Says: These were modified slightly from the original recipe.

Jillian Michael Brownies
 
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Nutrition Information
  • Serves: 16
  • Serving size: 1
  • Calories: 82.8
  • Fat: 2.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 16.2 g
  • Fiber: 1.2g
  • Protein: 1.3 g
Recipe type: Dessert
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Ingredients
  • ⅔ c. mild honey
  • ⅓ c. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ c. white whole wheat flour
  • ¼ tsp aluminum free baking powder
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ c. unsweetened apple sauce
  • ¾ tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large egg
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8" square pan with olive oil. Set aside.
  2. Place the honey in a large glass measuring cup. Microwave on high power until the honey is runny & just bubbling, 45 to 60 seconds. Add cocoa & stir with a fork until well combined. Let cool to room temperature.
  3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, place the flour, baking powder, baking soda, & salt. Whisk until well combined.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, oil, egg, & vanilla. Whisk together until well blended. Add honey, cocoa mixture & whisk until smooth. Add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture & stir until no traces of flour remain. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.
  5. Bake until the surface looks dry around the edges of the pan & a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it, about 25 minutes. Do not overbake. Place the pan on a cooling rack & let cool completely before slicing into 16 squares.
  6. Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

 

Photo Courtesy of yum9me on Flickr

Mashed Cauliflower

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Crystal & Nicole Say: The original recipe was from the South Beach diet and called for 1 oz. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! spray & 1 oz. Land ‘O Lakes Gourmet Fat-Free Half & Half.  We tweaked it to what we had & our tastes.

Mashed Cauliflower
 
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Nutrition Information
  • Serves: 4
  • Serving size: 1
  • Calories: 81
  • Fat: 6 g
  • Saturated fat: 2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5 g
  • Sodium: 82 mg
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 4 mg
Recipe type: Side Dish
Cook time: 
Total time: 
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Ingredients
  • 4 c. cauliflower florets
  • 3 tbsp light "fake" butter
  • ¼ c. skim milk
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Steam or microwave the cauliflower until soft.
  2. Puree in a food processor, adding the milk & butter to taste.
  3. Season with salt & pepper.