FREE eCookbook! Quick & Easy Entertaining: The Holiday Edition (vegan & plant-based)

It’s Yours FREE!

As many of you know, Tofutti hired me last spring to create tasty content for them, a side hustle made for me if there ever was one!

I also love my day job as an art teacher in the Upper School at Norfolk Academy in Norfolk, VA, so when school let out last June, I went on a recipe development bender over the summer. You can access those recipes which have been published on the Tofutti site’s recipe blog. But there are many more in the can, as they say!

I backed off my flurry just a little once school started back in August but, for the most part, I have continued to create recipes, stage and photograph the finished dishes, and work on various special projects of which this eCookbook is my favorite.

Please note that, while I am paid a contract fee by Tofutti, the eCookbook is NOT monetized, so I am not promoting it for $$. Rather, I love these recipes, think the book is so beautiful to page through, even digitally, and wanted to share with you.

In Quick & Easy Entertaining: The Holiday Edition, you will find

Mex Chex Mix
Cream Cheese Pecan Balls
Turnip Greens, Red Beans & Vegan Sausage Soup
Roasted Butternut Squash, Arugula & Candied Pecans
Savory Vegan Sausage & Rice-Stuffed Microwave Baked Apples
Oatmeal Streusel-Stuffed Microwave-Baked Apples
Mini No-Bake Pecan Pie Cheesecakes
Mini No-Bake Pomegranate Cheesecakes

To access your book, simply click on the link below which will take you to a pretty page where you enter your email address and submit. You will receive your eCookbook via email right away. And, not to worry: you will NOT be inundated with email from Tofutti…or me!

Quick & Easy Entertaining: The Holiday Edition 2022 (mailchi.mp)

Once you have downloaded the eCookbook, you could certainly send it to friends, but we would love it if you would send them the link so that we know how many people are accessing it. And please share on your social media. The more the merrier.

We’d love to know what you think, as well as what other cookbook topics might interest you. We hope you love this little gift from us to you.

Cheers!

~Betsy

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No-Yeast Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls (vegan & plant-based)

Yield: a baker’s dozen + 1 (approximately 14 rolls)

For some of us, it is always pumpkin spice season. But if you are more of a traditionalist, it is November, so ’tis the season to start your morning on a roll, a Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Roll.

These glistening golden spirals boast ideal proportions of spicy pumpkin filling, rich caramel-y glaze, and dough made tender and a hint tangy with Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream to balance the sweetness.

Our no-yeast cinnamon rolls are ready in a flash for weekend or holiday breakfasts that everyone will gobble up.  In fact, they are so easy and quick to prepare, you might find yourself rolling them out on a chilly weekday morning.

Visit Tofutti at the link above for this recipe–and many more–which is also included here, in case the link becomes broken.

1/2 cup non-dairy milk

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

2 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream

4 tablespoons vegan butter

1/3 cup pureed pumpkin (not pie filling)

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or substitute mostly cinnamon plus a pinch ginger, nutmeg, and allspice)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional: 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Pumpkin Spice Glaze (recipe follows)

Optional Garnish: toasted pecan halves

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Grease a 9-inch round baking dish, preferably ceramic or glass, and set aside.  In a small cup, whisk together non-dairy milk and vinegar; set aside to curdle.  Place flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in large bowl of food processor and pulse a couple times to combine.  Or mix dough by hand in large mixing bowl.  Add curdled milk and Better Than Sour Cream and pulse until it comes together as a ball.  If mixing my hand, stir with a fork until a uniform dough is formed.  Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, knead a couple times, and roll into a 10 x 14” rectangle with a floured rolling pin.  (This size creates the best ratio of dough to filling.)  In a small bowl, whisk together pumpkin, both sugars, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using.  Reserve 1/4 cup to make glaze and spoon the rest down the center of dough rectangle.  Spread to within 1/2-inch of border.  Roll up, jellyroll, fashion, staring at one long side.  If filling squeezes out as you roll, just scoop up excess with a spoon and add to the reserved mixture.  With a serrated knife, cut roll into 14 one-inch-thick slices and place, spiral up, in concentric circles in prepared dish, leaving a little space in between.  Bake 15 minutes or until golden.  Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack 10 minutes.  Pour and spread glaze over top, garnish if desired with pecan halves, and serve immediately.

Pumpkin Spice Glaze

¼ cup reserved pumpkin spice filling

3/4 to 1 cup powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional: 1/8 teaspoon almond extract

1 or more tablespoons non-dairy milk, as needed

Whisk together reserved pumpkin spice filling, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and optional almond extract, adding additional powdered sugar and non-dairy milk, as needed, to reach desired consistency.  It should be thick, but pourable.

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Eggnog Pancakes–For Tasty, Toasty Holidays & Weekdays (vegan/plant-based)

Yield: 4 to 6 servings (16 medium pancakes)

Thanksgiving is scarcely over and I am already making Christmasy-breakfasts!

The independent school where I have been joyfully employed as the upper school art teacher since 2020 includes the post-Thanksgiving Monday as part of our holiday–what?! So that left me with a little extra time this morning to have more than a cup of chai. With Chobani Oat Nog in the fridge and a nip in the air, I knew what I wanted to whip up after a couple miles of dog walking and before my longer hike at the Norfolk Botanical Garden: Eggnog Pancakes, or “Eggnot” Pancakes, as a silly play on words.

The distinctive noggy taste of Chobani’s welcome addition to the seasonal array of commercially-prepared products plus a little tang from my go-to, Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream, not to mention the addition of freshly-grated nutmeg–oh, and a little bourbon in the syrup–yielded a twist on a Christmas classic as delicious as its namesake.

1/2 cup Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream

1 1/2 cups Chobani Oatmilk Oat Nog

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup powdered sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg or to taste

1/2 teaspoon salt

Garnishes: additional Better Than Sour Cream, maple of bourbon-maple syrup, powdered sugar, freshly ground nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, and star anise

Preheat oven to low or warm, approximately 170 degrees. In medium bowl, whisk together Better Than Sour Cream and a little Oat Nog until smooth and creamy. Then slowly whisk in remaining Oat Nog. Add all remaining ingredients except garnishes and whisk just until smooth. Spray large skillet with nonstick spray and heat over medium. Make pancakes, 3 or 4 at a time, using 2 generous tablespoons batter each. Cook a couple minutes and, when a few bubbles start to appear, flip and cook 2 to 3 more minutes or until center is completely set. Adjust heat as necessary. Remove pancakes to cookie sheet and keep warm in oven. Continue with remaining batter. Serve pancakes warm topped as desired with additional Better Than Sour Cream, maple or bourbon-maple syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, freshly ground nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, and star anise.

#vegan #veganism #veganrecipes #veganfoodshare #veganfoodporn #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfoodshare #plantbasedfoodporn #vegansofinstagram #vegansofig #veganinvirginia #goveg #veganforlife #govegan #doitfortheanimals #doitfortheenvironment #dotiforyourhealth #animalsarefriendsnotfood #herbivore #crueltyfree #thebloomingplatter #foodstylist #recipedeveloper #foodphotography #eggnog #pancakes #holidayrecipes

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Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Indian Spices (vegan & plant-based)

Whole Roasted Cauliflower is my new favorite dinner: nutritious, delicious, gorgeous, and so low in calories and fat! This photo is from Tuesday night dinner with friends, but it is impressive enough for the centerpiece of a holiday feast.

Yet, it is also quick and easy. Though it bakes quite a while at 65 minutes, that is all hands-free time.

After removing the stem from the whole head of cauliflower–but not so much that the florets detatch–I blend 6 tablespoons hummus with sea salt and the spices of my choice.

This one was Indian so I used about 1/2 teaspoon each cardamom, coriander, curry powder, and turmeric. Then I rub the paste all over and under, place the cauliflower stem down in an oiled 8-inch gratin dish or metal baking pan for better browning, bake at 400 for 45 minutes covered, uncover, and bake for 20 minutes more.

Lastly, I top in a variety of ways. For this one, I heated together purchased onion jam (a “Burger Topper” I found at Kroger) with mango chutney I had on hand and sprinkled with finely chopped nuts, chives, and Everything Bagel Seasoning. I have also made a “yumtious” Middle Eastern iteration (see previous post).

I was a little late to the whole roasted cauliflower party, but I am making up for lost time!

#vegan #veganrecipes #veganfoodshare #veganfoodporn #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfoodshare #plantbasedfoodporn #vegansofinstagram #vegansoffacebook #vegansofvirginia #thebloomingplatter #cauliflowerrecipes

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Middle Eastern Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream Sauce (vegan/plant-based)

Middle Eastern Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Simple enough for a weeknight, and special enough for a holiday meal, this Middle Eastern-inspired twist on whole roasted cauliflower is a nutritious showstopper.  Though quite low in calories, the flavor is high octane and the Better Than Sour Cream Sauce contrasts beautifully with the roast’s rich golden color.  

Whole Roasted Cauliflower

1 whole medium cauliflower, rinsed, and leaves and stem removed without detaching florets

6 tablespoons garlic hummus (or whatever flavor you like)

2 teaspoons Everything Bagel Seasoning 

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Optional: 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Topping:

Note: you may substitute seasoned breadcrumbs, but this nut mixture is special.

1/3 cup broken or small nuts (regular or smoked almonds, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts, or a combination)

1 tablespoon fresh minced chives, cilantro, or parsley

1 tablespoon Everything Bagel Seasoning

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line an 8-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray or vegetable oil.  Whisk together all ingredients, except cauliflower and Topping, and rub and pat generously over entire surface of cauliflower, including the bottom.  Place, stem down, in prepared pan and roast, covered with foil shiny side down, for 45 minutes.  While cauliflower roasts, place topping ingredients in food processor and pulse a few times until nuts are finely chopped and ingredients are well combined.  After 45 minutes, carefully remove foil—avoid escaping steam—spritz top lightly with oil, and roast, uncovered, for 10 minutes.  Open oven door, slide rack out, sprinkle cauliflower with topping, and roast, uncovered, for 10 more minutes.  Test for tenderness with a sharp knife at base and bake a couple more minutes if necessary.  Serve on a platter of mixed greens and pass a bowl of Better Than Sour Cream Sauce (recipe follows).

Better Than Sour Cream Sauce:

1/2 cup Tofutti (www.Tofutti.com) Better Than Sour Cream

2 tablespoons garlic hummus (or same flavor used for cauliflower rub)

Optional: pinch sea salt

Zest of 1/2 medium lemon

In small bowl, whisk together Better Than Sour Cream, hummus, and optional sea salt.  Whisk in half the zest and use the remainder as a garnish on top.

#vegan #veganrecipes #veganfoodshare #veganfoodporn #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfoodshare #plantbasedfoodporn #vegansofinstagram #vegansoffacebook #vegansofvirginia #thebloomingplatter #plantbasedbuffaloholiday #veganholiday #plantbasedcauliflower #vegancauliflower

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Savory Parmesan-Fennel Shortbread (vegan & plant-based)

Savory Parmesan-Fennel Shortbread make every hour happy!

Few things are better than these tasty rounds–buttery, tangy, and crisp-tender–with a glass of wine or non-alcoholic Proxies (pictured is “Pastiche”). Made by Acid League of teas, fruit juices, vinegars, bitters, herbs and other unexpected ingredients to pair with food, these wine alternatives have an “intoxicating” nose.

A Gift from Your Kitchen

An easy and welcome gift, the Shortbreads pack beautifully inside coffee filter-lined tins which I shared this holiday season with my freelance editors/publishers/clients and other professionals who provide service of inestimable value throughout the year.

On December 27, I contributed a dozen shortbread rounds to a happy hour for two (pictured) at the beautiful home of Angela Phillips. We also enjoyed her air fried brussels sprouts and chestnuts warmed with just a hint of olive oil.

Why Proxies?

Angela lives 8 or so miles away from us and, despite splitting the entire bottle of Proxies, I could drive home safely. These bottles really are “free of alcohol, full of complexity,” but are NOT dealcoholized–and are perfect when you want something beautiful, interesting, and exciting to sip on its own or, especially, with food, but prefer not to imbibe.

The pair of us drank the entire bottle of Pastiche, at only 75 to 100 calories total for each of us. Pastiche is a white wine alternative, made of the following: (FRUIT) Lychee, Pineapple, Peach, Gewurztraminer Grapes; (ACIDITY) Rose Vinegar; (SPICE) Pink Peppercorn, Amchur, Galangal, Clove; and (BODY) Bai Jian White Tea, Oolong Tea, Mosaic Hops. Proxies may remind you a bit of Kombucha but without the assertive fermentation and with many more layered and subtle flavor notes.

Savory Parmesan + Fennel Shortbread

Yield: approximately 4 dozen

(Note: these are also tasty without the parm.)

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1 cup Follow Your Heart or your favorite plant-based brand shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup plant-based butter (I like Myokos), broken into chunks
1/2 cup olive oil (may need slightly more or less)

Place first 7 ingredients in food processor and pulse a few times to break up fennel seeds. Add parmesan and pulse a couple more times. Add butter and pulse to distribute. With motor running, drizzle in olive oil, stopping occasionally, until dough comes together, but is not sticky. It should be fairly firm, like roll-and-cut cookie dough. Form into 3 to 4 logs, approximately 1 1/4 to 1 1/2″ in diameter. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with Silpat or parchment paper. Slice rolls into 1/3-inch disks, place 1″ apart on baking sheet, and bake 18-20 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on wire racks. Package in airtight containers.

#vegan #veganrecipes #veganfoodshare #veganfoodporn #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfoodshare #plantbasedfoodporn #vegansofinstagram #vegansoffacebook #vegansofvirginia #thebloomingplatter #plantbasedfoodgift #veganfoodgift #plantbasedshortbread #veganshortbread #savoryshortbread #Proxies #acidleague

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Thanksgiving Leftovers Idea #2: Corn Pudding Stuffed Bell Peppers (vegan & plant-based)

Thanksgiving Leftovers Idea #2

Corn Pudding Baked in an Orange Bell Pepper at 350 for 25 minutes.  I topped mine with leftover Whipped Cauliflower with Lemon Zest, Cranberry Sauce, and Roasted and Lightly Salted Pepitas.  Such a cozy quick meal after a packed day on a chilly night.

#vegan #veganrecipes #veganfoodshare #veganfoodporn #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfoodshare #plantbasedfoodporn #vegansofinstagram #vegansoffacebook #vegansofvirginia #thebloomingplatter #plantbasedleftovers #veganleftovers #PlantBasedThanksgiving

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Leftover Stuffing Cakes (vegan & plant-based)

Leftover stuffing?

Make Stuffing Cakes! Shape stuffing into patties about 2 1/2-inches in diameter and about 1/2-inch thick. Bake at 350 degrees about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve garnished as desired. I like a little dollop of cranberry sauce, roasted and lightly salted Pepitas, and fresh sage sprigs.

vegan #veganrecipes #veganfoodshare #veganfoodporn #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfoodshare #plantbasedfoodporn #vegansofinstagram #vegansoffacebook #vegansofvirginia #thebloomingplatter #plantbasedleftovers #veganleftovers #PlantBasedThanksgiving #veganthanksgiving

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The BEST Cornbread Stuffing (vegan, plant-based, lower in calories)

Yield: 8 servings

Stuffing is everyone’s favorite, no?  Mine tastes so similar and every bit as delicious as the ones I remember from childhood, yet it is not only vegan but far lower in calories thanks to only 2 tablespoons of oil in the cornbread muffins, water sauteeing of vegetables, and the inclusion of cauliflower pearls rather than white bread. Though I love cauliflower, don’t worry, it does not taste–or smell!–of cauliflower.

And the texture is just perfect thanks to homemade cornbread–with actual corn–that goes together in a flash, sauteed onion plus the green part of green onions, water chestnuts–my late mom’s secret ingredient–and just a few dry roasted pecan halves.

My Mushroom Misto Gravy is the perfect accompaniment.

Note: please do not try to save time by using Whole Foods vegan cornbread. It is sweet enough to be cake and, last year, reacted to liquid like cake turning into a dense mass that ended up in the woods next to our house. I had to redeem myself this year.  And I did!

Cornbread:
Make cornbread a few hours–or a day–ahead:
3/4 cup self-rising cornmeal mix
1/2 cup all purpose flour (I use white whole wheat)
1 tablespoon Vegan Egg (not tested with other egg substitutes but try it and share!)
1/2 cup unsweetened non-dairy millk (I use soymilk)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup water
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
3/4 cup frozen corn

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Grease 6 muffin cups and preheat for about 7 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl whisk together dry ingredients.  Make a well in the center and add vegetable oil and water.  Whisk together just until combined.  Season with salt and pepper, and stir in corn.  Divide mixture evenly among muffin cups and bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from oven and, when cool enough to handle, remove cornbread muffins from tin and crumble into a large bowl.  Cover until ready to use.

Stuffing:
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 cups cauliflower pearls (buy them prepared or chop in a food processor until the size of small peas)
4 celery hearts, sliced lengthwise, and then finely diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
Pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups vegetable stock or broth, divided
1-8 ounce can sliced water chestnuts, drained
4 green onions, green part only (reserve white part for my delicious fat-free Vegan Mushroom Gravy)
1/4 cup pecan halves toasted for 5 minutes at 350 degrees
3 tablespoons aquafaba (liquid from a can of chickpeas)


Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and oil a 9 x 13″ casserole dish.  Cover bottom of large cast iron skillet with water.  Heat over medium-high and then stir in onion, cauliflower, celery, garlic, and poultry seasoning.  Season with salt and pepper and saute, stirring frequently, until tender, adding 1 cup vegetable stock a little at a time.  When vegetables are softened and most of moisture has been absorbed and/or cooked off, remove from heat and add to bowl with crumbled cornbread.  Stir in water chestnuts, green onions, and toasted pecans, moistening with remaining cup of vegetable stock or broth and aquafaba.  The consistency should be that of unbaked bread pudding, so add liquid a little at a time, adding more or less, as needed.  Adjust seasoning if necessary, transfer to prepared casserole dish–avoid packing down–and bake, uncovered, for a half hour.  Serve immediately.

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