In this weekly series we have been discussing the benefits of a vegetarian diet including: better health, animal rights, frugal living, food safety, public health, global food crisis and the staggeringly huge contribution of meat consumption to climate change/resource depletion.
Macca's Meatless Monday/Meatless Advocates is a solution oriented activist group, with solutions for some of the most pressing issues of our time including: climate change, global food/water insecurity and public health. Here we don't just talk about the severity of the crisis. Armed with knowledge about how our actions can contribute we become part of the solution.
I was inspired to create this series by former Beatle and vegetarian advocate Paul McCartney(Macca) who partnered with the Meatless Monday campaign to promote less consumption of meat. We not only discuss the advantages of a less meat diet we also do some cooking, share recipes and listen to great Beatle music!
Time to confess; I love Valentine's Day! Starting from the times I made homemade Valentines for my friends when I was a child using red construction paper, paper lace doilies and glue to preparing a special dinner for the ones I love most..I love it all. Really what could be better than thinking about and deciding how to show the ones you hold most dear how much you care about them?
On another level, this series is a Valentine to all of you, to the species which inhabit our world and to our planet itself. By respecting our resources and our fellow inhabitants it shows a way forward to a safer, healthier world. This series shows a simple way in which we all can be a part of the solution to mitigating climate change :the most important issue humanity has ever faced.
Mitigating climate change is as easy and simple as reducing ones consumption of meat and animal products as production of meat and animal products is one of the greatest contributors to climate change.
Reducing meat consumption is as easy as collecting meatless recipes and using them to cook meals for yourself and your family. Let's get started with some lovely(pun intended) Valentine's recipes!
HEART-HEALTHY WAFFLES
A great way to start or finish Valentine's Day(breakfast for dinner anyone?) is with these beautiful and heart-healthy waffles!
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, separated
3/4 cup skim milk
1/4 cup mashed banana
1 tablespoon canola oil
Vegetable oil cooking spray
3/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt, divided
1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries, divided
3 tablespoons sliced almonds, divided
6 teaspoons maple syrup, divided
Heat waffle iron. In a blender, process oats until flourlike in texture. In a bowl, combine oats with flour, flaxseed, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt. In a second bowl, beat egg white until stiff peaks form. In a third bowl, mix milk, banana, oil and egg yolk. Gently stir milk-banana mixture into dry ingredients; gently fold in egg white until just combined. Coat waffle iron with cooking spray; pour 1/3 cup batter onto iron, and cook until waffle is crispy and pale gold, about 4 minutes. Repeat twice. Top each waffle with 1/4 cup yogurt, 1/2 cup strawberries, 1 tablespoon almonds and 2 teaspoon syrup.
HEART WARMING CAULIFLOWER COCONUT SOUP
So delicious and easy. Serves 2
1 small onion
1 Tbs butter or vegan butter
200g cauliflower (about 4 florets)or 4 cups
a pinch of sugar
1/3 cup white wine
1 cup vegetable stock
2/3 cup coconut milk
salt & pepper
1 tsp canola oil and 1 tsp red beet juice for the heart
Chop onion into small cubes and sauté in the butter for about 5 min. on medium heat.
Cut the cauliflower into small bits and add it to the onions. Add the sugar and stir-fry for a few minutes.
Add the white wine and let it boil down.
Add the stock and boil for about ten minutes until the cauliflower bits are tender.
Add coconut milk, salt and pepper an briefly heat it up.
Blend the soup with whisk or hand blender. Add more coconut milk if needed.
For the red heart, mix canola oil with beet juice and carefully place one teaspoon per bowl on top of the soup surface. Shape the dot into a heart with the help of a toothpick.
MY HEART BEETS SALAD
Cutting the beet into hearts makes this salad appear time consuming, but is so simple, it only takes minutes to make. Red beets get their beautiful crimson color from phytonutrients, which also provides detoxification and anti inflammatory benefits. h/t Meatless Monday. Serves 4
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper, to taste
4 medium beets, peeled
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 head butter lettuce, cleaned and torn bite size
4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (optional)
1/2 cup roasted almonds or use favorite nuts
Add other fresh veggies as desired.
Preheat an oven to 425 degrees.
Whisk the olive oil and balsamic vinegar together in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Slice the beets 1/4 inch thick and cut them into heart shapes using cookie cutters or a knife.
Transfer the beet hearts to a baking sheet. Drizzle with the canola oil, sprinkle with the salt and place in the oven. Roast for 30 minutes, or until softened.
Dress the lettuce with the balsamic vinaigrette in a large bowl, tossing to ensure the dressing is evenly distributed. Divide into 4 servings and top each with equal amounts goat cheese and almonds. Lay the roasted beet slices artistically on each salad and enjoy!
SKILLET PIZZA
I have a treat for you today an easy, fast way to make a homemade pizza without turning on your oven! Talk about eco-friendly!
Here is one of my fave Italian chefs Mary Ann Esposito demonstrating the technique for making skillet pizza. She uses an electric skillet you can also use a cast iron skillet or non-stick large skillet.
1 recipe Quick Yeast Dough or use store bought ready dough..which I often do.
1 medium ripe tomato, thinly sliced
1/4 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into bits or use vegan mozz
Coarse sea salt
Extra Virgin olive oil to drizzle on top
1/2 cup shredded fresh basil leaves
Heat a well oiled cast iron 10 or 12 inch frying pan for 5 minutes over medium heat. If you don’t have a cast iron pan, use a non-stick pan.
Divide the dough in half and roll the dough into a circle one-inch smaller than the diameter of the pan you are using. Place the dough in the hot pan and allow it to cook until it begins to rise and the bottom is starting to brown. Carefully flip the dough over with a metal spatula. Lay half the tomato slices over the dough and scatter half the cheese over the tomatoes. Lower the heat to medium low and continue to cook the pizza until the cheese has melted.
Use a metal spatula to transfer the pizza to cutting board.
Sprinkle the pizza with salt and drizzle with olive oil.
Cut into wedges and sprinkle half the basil over the wedges. Repeat the process to make the second pizza.
You can also make this pizza in an electric skillet set at 375°F.
CRISPY TOFU POLENTA HEARTS
Tofu Hearts
1/2 cup dry polenta
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 12-oz. pkgs. extra-firm tofu, drained and sliced in half lengthwise
1 Tbs. olive oil
24 oz. favorite Italian Marinara Sauce
fresh Spinach or Swisschard..sauteed in olive oil & minced garlic for 2-3 minutes..S&P
Basil shreds for garnish(optional)
To make Tofu Hearts: Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine polenta, seasoning, and red pepper flakes on plate. Coat baking dish with cooking spray. Cut each tofu half with heart-shaped cutter, and brush with oil. Dredge in polenta mixture. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Bake 30 minutes, or until browned. Place sauteed greens on serving dish, set Tofu Hearts on top and pour marinara sauce over hearts. Sprinkle with Basil shreds if using.
COEUR A LA CREME
This is my piece de resistance for today. I've been making this classic French dessert on Valentine's Day for years using my porcelain molds. The classic molds have small drainage holes in the bottom for draining the whey out of the cheese mixture and firming up the hearts.
I don't remember where I got this recipe but I like it because of the use of cottage cheese which makes for a lighter than the usual traditional recipe. Also notice NO SUGAR! This recipe is for about 8 small coeur a la creme molds or one large 3 cup mold.
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
Strawberries or fruit sauces for garnish
In the bowl of an electric mixer or use a hand mixer, combine the cottage cheese, cream cheese and sour cream. Beat until well blended.
Whip the heavy cream and fold it into the cheese mixture.
Line the molds completely with cheesecloth, letting the edges overlap the rim of the mold.
Spoon the cheese mixture into the mold, smoothing and packing it in firmly. Fold the cheesecloth over top and place the mold on a plate, bottom side down. Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge overnight.
Open up the top of the cheesecloth. Invert the mold onto the center of a plate. Carefully remove the cheesecloth.
Garnish with Strawberries/Blueberries or fruit sauce.
"My Valentine" Paul McCartney..Paul's lovely song from new album "Kisses On The Bottom"
"Oh Darling" The Beatles
What have you all been cooking? Please share your recipes and fave Beatle music here!
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