Thai Popcorn

I tried out this Appetizer dish for girls night.

And it was amazing, everyone really enjoyed it, so this is party friendly!  And not too much work.

Thai 'Popcorn'
Serves 8

Wraps
6-7 big leaves or 20 small green leaves (spinach, lettuce) cut into 2" by 2" pieces or 4x4

Filling
1 cup coconut shredded coconut toasted (heating them on a skillet with no oil, is enough to toast them)
1/2 cup peanuts toasted
1/4 cup soy sauce +2 tbsp (depending on how salty you like it)
1/4 cup sugar + 2tbsp (depending on how sweet you like it)
3/4 cup water

Toppings
1 lime thinly slice peel included
1/4 cup of ginger minced
1 hot pepper thinly sliced (optional)
1 cup cilantro chopped
1/2 cup peanuts roughly chopped (or food processed) and  toasted
1/2 cup shredded coconut toasted

Dry roast the peanuts and the coconut for the filling.  Once fragrant and lightly browned, add the soy sauce, sugar and water.  Add 1/4th of a cup to start out with and add more based on your taste preference. When I made this yesterday I used 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp for both sugar and soy sauce,  but I think next time I make it I will use less of both.

Add the water to the filling, once bubbling, let simmer for 5 minutes.  Take it off the burner.  Blend the ingredients-- it will become like a fluffy paste.

Place filling in a serving bowl.

For the toppings, prepare all ingredients separately.  On a large serving tray, the lettuce leaves can be arranged on the outside, with a bowl of the filling in the middle.  Each topping can be placed in a separate small serving dish-- apart from the peanuts and the coconut which can be mixed together.

To make a 'popcorn', take a piece of lettuce, put about 1/2 tsp - 1 tsp of filling, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1-2 pieces of lime, 3-4 pieces of chopped cilantro, 1 small piece of hot pepper (opt), 1/2 tsp of peanut/coconut mixture , and fold over the lettuce leaves and pop in the mouth!

Everyone loved these little treats!
Another option is to prepare each 'popcorn' yourself and toothpick them to hold them together and serve on a tray.

Lots of fun!

South Asian Noodle Extravaganza

makes about 4-5 servings

Cook enough noodles enough for 2
leftover quinoa and beans (1/4 to 1/2 cup each)

2 tsp oil
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp hing (Indian Spice, garlic powder can be used in place of)
1/2 tsp amchur or mango powder (indian spice, optional)
2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp sriracha sauce
1/2 tbsp red thai curry paste
1/4 cup of water
 1 small cauliflower chopped
1 tomato chopped
1 red bell pepper chopped
1 bunch broccolini chopped
2 tbsp tahini
3 tbsp peanut thai sauce
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp cilantro

Heat the oil with the cumin and the hing.  Add the cauliflower and the rest of the vegetables.
Add the mango powder, coriander, salt, and nutritional yeast and water.  Cook for 5-10 minutes.

Mix the tahini, curry paste, peanut sauce, tomato paste,sriracha, and vinegar in a separate container.

Add the mixture to the vegetables and stir.  Add a can of beans, package of mushrooms or some leftover quinoa or rice -- if you have it. Let the sauce and ingredients heat up for 5 minutes.

Once vegetables are desired consistency and temperature, take off the stove and mix in the lemon juice and cilantro.

Serve :) 

Mu Shu Inspired Cooked Salad

Mu Shu Salad
3 large servings

1 head of cauliflower thinly sliced and roughly chopped
1/4 head of purple cabbage sliced and roughly chopped
1 onion sliced
1 bunch of swiss chard
2 tbsp of sesame seeds

Sauce:
1/4 cup of soy sauce
1/4 cup of almond butter
2 tbsp of vinegar (balsamic, rice or wine)
1 tbsp of sesame oil
1 1/2 tsp of sriracha sauce
1/4 tsp of black pepper
1 1/2 tbsp of molasses
1 tsp of ginger powder
1/2 tsp of onion powder
1/2 tsp of garlic powder
dash of salt

Garnish:
3 sprigs of cilantro (optional)
1-2 tbsp of peanuts (optional)

Put 1 tbsp of oil in the pan and fry the onions until soft.  Add the cauliflower and cabbage, cook until slightly soft, but still mostly crunchy.  Mix the sauce separately until well combined.  Add to the cooking vegetables, add the swiss chard and sesame seeds.  When the swiss chard wilts, then the dish is done.  Turn off the heat garnish with cilantro and peanuts and serve with tortillas, rice or plain.

Baby Bok Choy Delight

This is super simple, I've had a bit of a busy week, and I am on my way out for dodgeball, so I literally made in this in less than 10 minutes.

Baby Bok Choy Delight:
serves 1
3 heads of baby bok choy, chopped, keep leafy greens apart from the tougher stems
handful of peanuts
5 shakes of curry powder
3 tbsp of tahini
1 1/2 tbsp of lemon juice
1 tbsp of nutritional yeast

Steam stems until soft, add the greens, but only for a few seconds, turn off burner and stir.
Roast peanuts separately.  Then add them to the greens.
Add curry, tahini, lemon and nutritional yeast.

plate full of food :):)  

Tomato curry peanut pasta

I have to apologize before hand, because I know the pictures would have come out well, but my camera battery died... :/ Sad story.  

Tomato Curry Peanut Pasta

2 servings

Enough pasta for two

(boil some water, cook separately)

Tomato curry:

2 cups of halved cherry tomatoes

1 green pepper

1 carrot

2 tsp of oil

3 garlic cloves

1/8 cup of peanuts

1/8 tsp of garlic powder

1/8 tsp of onion powder

14 tsp of turmeric

1/2 tsp of garam masala

1/4 tsp paprika

1 tsp agave

1 tbsp tahini

1 tsp thai red curry 

1/8 tsp of powdered vegetable broth (or salt)

1 tbsp of nutritional yeast 

2 tsp sriracha sauce

While the pasta is cooking, chop the vegetables.  Heat oil, peanuts, garlic and seasonings up until garam masala until fragrant.  Mix in the rest of the seasonings and add the tomatoes and carrots.  Stir well, cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until vegetables are soft.  Add the green peppers, and let simmer for an additional 2 minutes.  

Ready for serving :) 

Spicy Cabbage Goulash

This morning was my usual action packed chia apple cereal

For lunch I decided to make something with cabbage, peanuts, vegan chorizo, tofu and carrots

I wanted the flavors to burst, while still feeling like I was mostly eating healthy vegetables.

Spicy Cabbage Goulash
serves 2

2 tsp of oil
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8-1/4 red pepper chilli flakes
1tsp mango powder (can use 1 tbsp of lime or lemon in replace of)
1 tsp ginger
1/8 cup of peanuts
3/4-1 package vegan chorizo
2 oz baked tofu cubed (optional)
4 cups chopped green cabbage

2 carrots chopped
1/2 cup of water
1tsp agave
1 tsp braggs (soy sauce)
2 tbsp tomato paste
3 tbsp tahini










Heat oil in a pan, add from pepper to peanuts.  After a few seconds add the the tofu and vegan chorizo. Stir for a 30 seconds, and add the vegetables.  Mix well, and add 1/2 cup of water.









Cover with a lid and let steam/simmer for 5-7 minutes.  Or once cabbage is soft but still crunchy.  Add agave through the tahini, and it is ready for serving!