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2012 January

Red Lentil & Spinach Turnovers

All that really needs to be said about these is: mmmmm.  Flaky pastry dough, spinach and creamy red lentils with a little bit of spice.  Yeah.   These make a perfect lunch along with a cool, …

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Pineapple Ginger Elixir An Unrefined VeganPineapple Ginger Elixir An Unrefined VeganPineapple Ginger Elixir An Unrefined Vegan

Pineapple-Ginger Elixir

Sometimes when it’s cold and gray out, you want something warm and comforting, and sometimes…you want something as bright and cheerful as the summer sun.  And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather drink …

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Better than Doughnuts: Peanut Butter & Jam-filled Tangzhong Bread

This is a case of “do as I say, not as I do.”  When I mixed this dough together I was completely puzzled.  Why was the dough so wet and sticky?  Had KAF made a …

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Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip, Cranberry & Pecan Cookies

If you don’t bake up a batch of these cookies and sample them for yourself, how are you going to know how unbelievably delicious vegan baking can be??  These are a real stand-out.  Soft and …

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Spicy White Bean & Hominy Chili

If it is cold do we not shiver?  If we are ill, do we not sniffle?  When we are sad, do we not require hugs, understanding and something soothing for our tummies?  Do we vegans …

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Rainy Day Comfort: Maple Scones with Cherries & Chocolate Chunks

Yesterday was cold and gray and wet.  Perfect for a day in the kitchen.  I’ve been craving scones – they are so cozy and comforting – but they pose a challenge due to the fat/butter …

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Brunswick-ish Stew

A few years ago, before Kel and I became vegetarians, we had a terrible episode in North Carolina.  We really, really wanted barbeque, but somehow, barbeque joints eluded us.  After meandering far off of the …

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Other People’s Food

This week I’m making recipes solely from blogs I’ve discovered since creating An Unrefined Vegan and I thought I’d share a few here. I loved Fig Newtons as a kid but gave up eating them …

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Whole Wheat Cornbread

When I make chili, I almost always make cornbread – me and everyone else, right?  I love the taste of “pure” cornbread (made nearly wholly with cornmeal) except I have a little problem with it: …

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Chunky Monkey Muffins: Put Down the Ice Cream Scoop

I never did try Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream (I was heavily addicted to Phish Food, myself), but apparently the inspiration for these muffins is that particular ice cream flavor.  These are delicious: …

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When the Cupboards Are (Almost) Bare

Last night at 6 pm as I left the plane, retrieved my bag and stepped into the cold and darkening Oklahoma City night, I couldn’t face delaying the two-hour drive home to stop at the …

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The Party’s Over

After nine days with family in La Jolla and easy, walking access to all kinds of culinary temptations, it’s time to return to the “wilderness” of Oklahoma and back to simple, unrefined eating.  I’ve enjoyed …

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Mushroom & Wild Rice Brioche with Gravy

Wild rice + cremini mushrooms + flaky crust = showstopping vegan main course.  This would be perfect for serving non-vegan guests not only because it’s gorgeous, but also because it tastes rich, complex and decadent.  …

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Spicy Tempeh Fajitas with Citrus-Avocado Salsa

Many (many) years ago when I was living in Cincinnati – my first home-away-from-home – my friend and neighbor took me to a Mexican restaurant and suggested I order chicken fajitas.  Since my family had …

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Beet, Green Bean & Couscous Salad

As we move deeper into January – and soon into the most challenging month of winter, February – what I crave is color.  Food doesn’t come much more colorful than this quick, easy and refreshing …

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Building Block Recipe: Seitan Italian Sausage

What would my childhood have been without Italian sausage?  Less delicious, that is for certain.  Italian sausage sandwiches loaded with red and green bell peppers, garlic and onions were a family staple.  But how to …

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Banana Bread Pancakes

This is what happens when you turn banana bread into breakfast food.  With a small adjustment in ingredients the batter for quick bread becomes batter for Sunday morning breakfast pancakes.  I further modified this – …

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Sweet Potato-Pumpkin Pie with Pecan-Maple Sugar Crumble

The taste of this pie is a little bit different from what you might expect from the usual sweet potato concoction.  With the addition of coconut milk, lime juice and rum along with the usual …

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Red Cabbage, Celery & Walnut Salad

Just cuz you’re a vegan doesn’t mean you’re a one-note salad-eater.  Break out of the romaine rut with a crunchy, tangy, pretty and super-healthy salad that pairs with just about any entree.  Keep one thing …

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Seitan Marsala with Pesto Mashed Potatoes

If my parents ever come back to Oklahoma for a visit (hint, hint), I’m going to serve them this delicious dish.  Not only because I imagine it is something that they would enjoy eating in …

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Gingerbread Cake with Creamy Tofu Topping

I rescued this Bon Appetit recipe from an overindulgence of refined sugar and fat without compromising the tender texture or the rich, complex flavors of classic gingerbread.  I love the peppery bite of fresh ginger. …

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Easy Herb Focaccia

I return to this recipe for herb-cheezy focaccia again and again.  One of the great things about focaccia is that kneading isn’t required (though stirring is), yet you get an airy, chewy, flavorful bread.  It’s …

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Smoky Apple-Sage Seitan Sausage & Red Onion Marmalade Sandwich

A few weeks ago I bought a package of Field Roast Apple-Sage Sausage at Whole Foods in Oklahoma City.  I don’t get into the city very often, but when I do, I make a pilgrimage …

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Yeasted Buckwheat Waffles with Cranberry-Date-Apricot Sauce

If there were an award for Best Aroma While Cooking in the breakfast food category, this is the waffle that would take home that prize.  The ingredient list includes yeast which gives the waffles a …

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Eating Clean/Clean Eating

A while back a friend sent me a link about how to wash fresh produce and I was surprised to see that the “recipe” included bleach.  Clorox brand bleach, to be precise.  For a while …

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Onion and Mustard Seed Braid

Here’s the recipe I promised yesterday.  I was looking for a bread to complement a sandwich I was contemplating and as soon as I saw this one including onions and mustard seeds, I knew it …

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Red Onion Marmalade

This is a very satisfying little concoction – delicious on sandwiches – that is slightly tangy and slightly sweet.  The recipe comes from The Vegetarian Bible, by Sarah Brown.  I changed out  few things – …

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The Miracle Cure

Suppose I rode into town in a brightly painted caravan with the message, “Professor Annie’s Miracle Cure!”  painted on the sides and pulled it into the town square, stepped out onto the grass and started …

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Cranberry, Date & Dried Apricot Sauce

My grocery store still has big piles of bags of cranberries and I always think: I should make something with fresh cranberries because they won’t be available forever.  Last week I actually grabbed a bag …

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Building Blocks: Basic Seitan

Before kicking off today’s recipe, I want to say a big thank you to Terri at the vegan food and recipe blog,  Bacon is NOT an Herb.  Terri is asking for submissions from vegetarians, vegans …

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