Egg-Free Mayonnaise Recipe

This recipe comes from fellow plant-based eating friend, Jennie. She's always looking for recipes on the web and, like me, subscribes to a few healthy recipe sites. Since she doesn't like regular mayonnaise (made from eggs) and those vegan choices made with soy, she was always looking for a replacement. She found this one on Nourishing Meals.

Egg-Free Mayonnaise

from NourishingMeals

yield 1.5 C

category Condiment

cuisine Vegan

ingredients

1 C raw cashews

1/4 C filtered water

2 Tbsp apple cidar vinegar

2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 tsp yellow mustard powder

3/4 - 1 tsp sea salt

6 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

directions

1. Place cashews in bowl then cover with filtered water. Set aside to soak for 3 hours.

2. Add the soaked cashews, water, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard powder, and sea salt to your high-powered blender. Blend until thick and creamy. 

3. Then add the olive oil and blend until combined. Keep blending until it is ultra smooth. You may need to stop the blender, stir it, and then blend again.

4. Scoop the mayo into a jar and refirgerate. It will thicken when it chills.

If you were looking for something to dip veggies in for an appetizer, you might use this recipe. The flavor presents a mild zing. Sprinkle some smoked paprika on the mayo/dip and scoop away. I think you'll like it.

What's your favorite use for mayonnaise?

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Healthy Kids' Snack ~ DIY Trail Mix

I've been making my own trail mix for about four years now. It's great as a healthy snack for the whole family and added to whole grain cereals (e.g., quinoa, steel-cut oatmeal or millet) for breakfast in the morning. Many pre-packaged trail mixes are full of sweetened ingredients like M&Ms, mini-yogurt chips, or chocolate chips. It's a shame to take something healthy (nuts & seeds with a little dried fruit) and add sugary stuff that renders it unhealthy.

This recipe uses organic raisons and dried baby pineapple as natural sweeteners—a better alternative, making this a healthier snack that kids will love.

Other ingredients include a variety of nuts and seeds—nutrient-rich super foods—high in fiber, protein, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and essential fats. Besides supporting overall wellness, they help curb appetite and are beneficial in maintaining or losing weight.

NOTE: I suggest you buy organic raisons and grapes because the Environmental Working Group (EWG) classifies grapes as one of The Dirty Dozen, which means unhealthy levels of pesticides are detected in the conventionally grown fruit.

Step 1
Gather the ingredients. I purchased all the ingredients listed here at Trader Joe's.

Raw Almonds
Raw Cashew Pieces
Organic Raisons
Raw Pecan Pieces
Dried Cranberries
Raw Sunflower Seeds
Raw Pumpkin Seeds
Dried Baby Pineapple slices

Step 2
Find an appropriate-sized container with a tight-fitting lid to make and store your trail mix. Add equal amounts of almonds, cashews, raisons, pecans and dried cranberries. Add a larger amount of the seeds.

Step 3
Cut the pineapple slices into strips with a scissors, then cut cross-wise to make small chunks. Add to mix, secure the lid and shake to distribute.

What's a healthy snack you enjoy?

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My Thanksgiving Meal Plan

This year we're having Thanksgiving dinner at our house with our son and my husband's parents. I don't eat turkey and the rest don't care so we'll be having a Turkey-less stuffed roast from Trader Joe's as our "meat."

For starters, we'll enjoy this wonderful garlic and lemon bean dip served with cut-up veggies and crackers. The accompaniment for the non-turkey includes Roasted Butternut Squash, Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes and Green Beans with Tahini-Lemon Sauce from Kalyn's Kitchen.

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The Best Guacamole Recipe Encore

I first posted this recipe last August, but needed to bring it up for you again since everybody loooooves guacamole! It's very easy to make... yes, it is. I typically whip up a batch several times a week and so can you. Here is my secret, easy and delicious recipe for making The Best Guacamole.

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Spicy Pumpkin Cashew-Cheese Dip Recipe

It's autumn—leaves change color and begin to fall. The air smells fresh and pumpkins appear on doorsteps and porches. Time to break out the fall recipes.

Spicy Pumpkin Cashew-Cheese Dip is a yummy appetizer you can take to your autumn gatherings and harvest events. I first got a taste of the appetizer when Leslie Cole brought this delicious pumpkin dip to a neighborhood wine event.

The recipe comes from Kathy Patalsky at Healthy Happy Life. Kathy is a vegan chef and in case you didn't know, cashews are used as cheese in many vegan recipes. Thus the cashew-cheese in the title.

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Bean & Quinoa Veggie Burgers Recipe

I have been creating this recipe in my mind for months now and finally... Voila! I know there are lots of veggie burger recipes out there and although healthy and yummy, they often don't hold together. This one does!

The day I made the burgers, I decided it would be my contribution to a neighborhood potluck we attended every first Friday of the month. I know—pretty bold, huh? I certainly didn't tell them they were guinea pigs. But I also wouldn't have taken them if they were horrible. I made mini-patties out of the mixture and had a mayonnaise and dijon mustard sauce on the side for dipping. Mmmmmmm! Very happy with the results. I hope you like these Bean & Quinoa Veggie Burgers.

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Roasted Red Pepper Spread Recipe

This dip or spread is a twist on a recipe from Kalyn's Kitchen. I made it friendly to my diet with chevre goat cheese instead of yoghurt and cream cheese. The chevre adds a mild tartness to the spread. I used this dip/spread on everything from crackers and veggie sticks, to a spread on tortillas for fish tacos. Yummmmm! Everyone loves the mint flavor in the dip.

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The Best Guacamole Recipe

Everybody loooooves guacamole! It's very easy to make... yes, it is. I typically whip up a batch several times a week and so can you. Here is my secret, easy and delicious recipe for making The Best Guacamole.

Continue Reading

Thai Spring Rolls Recipe

For Cinco de Mayo the recipe this week is Asian Burritos (aka Thai Spring Rolls). These raw and delicious wraps have been a hit at our monthly community wine social. I've been bringing the spring rolls as my appetizer contribution for the last two years—since I changed my diet. People love them so much, they expect me to bring them.

So since its Cinco de Mayo, I'll be bringing Asian Burritos this time. Dipped in the peanut sauce I bring, they are deelicious. Late comers to the food table always find them gone cause they get gobbled up.

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Cowboy Caviar Recipe

From Leslee Mendel Coy

Yield 12 Servings

Category Appetizer

Cuisine Healthy

Ingredients

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1 1/2 - 2 tsp hot sauce

1 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 firm-ripe avocado

1 15 oz can black-eyed peas

1 1/2 C frozen corn kernals, defrosted

2/3 C green onions, sliced thin

2/3 C fresh cilantro, chopped

1/2 lb Roma tomatoes, coarsely chopped

Salt and pepper

1 bag tortilla chips

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