Crusties (cross between Salmon Patties & Crab Cakes)

Crusties were created by borrowing the recipe for Happy Hearts Crab Cakes from Sweet Potato Soul by Jenne Claiborne.  Her recipe is perfect - but you know me I seem to never follow a recipe exactly!  But if you have those items - by all means try it!!!  Oh and buy her cookbook on Amazon - it is really good!

Crusties

In a blender - blend until just slightly pulsed.  You want some texture to remain - blend:
2 drained cans of hearts of palm
1 drained can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans)

Mix together:
Blended hearts of palm & beans
1 cup gluten free bread crumbs
1/4 cup Just mayo
2 T of apple cider vinegar
1 T Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
2 T lemon juice
Salt & Pepper

Make patties - coat with bread crumbs & "fry" in an air fryer for about 10 minutes.  So wonderful on top of a salad with Just Thousand and Just Ranch!

Have you ever cooked with Hearts of Palm - a first for me and they are perfect!

Coat patty with more bread crumbs

Serve on top of salad with Just Thousand & Just Ranch

Add a glass a wine and you are set!

Love.Pray.It Will.Be Okay

Waffles by Mimi

The Engine 2 Cookbook has a wonderful waffle recipe!  Their title is "Big Hit Waffles" - it is wonderful if you have their cookbook - if not - here is an adaptation.

Mix in blender:

Equal parts - almond milk & old fashioned oats (I use 2 cups of each)
1/2 of the equal part of unsweetened applesauce (so 1 cup)
1/2 tsp baking soda
Handful of walnuts
1 smashed banana
1/4 cup flaxseed meal
2 drops of YL lemon essential oil
2 tsp cinnamon (I never measure - there is a good chance it is more than 2 tsp)
1 tsp vanilla
(and you can add a handful of chocolate chips or cacao chips)

Blend together.  Then pour onto your heated waffle iron.  I use an iron by Krups with removable plates - it is perfect.

The leftovers freeze very well.  Then I heat one up in my Air Fryer and have a perfect breakfast for several days!

Heated up waffle - just finished it as I was writing this blog!

2 of my favorite WFPB cookbooks!

  

Love.Pray. it will. Be Okay.

Mimi's Potato Bake

Mimi's Twice Baked Potatoes or Leftover Mashed Potato Bake

(recipe cloned from PaleoRunningMomma- Twice Baked Potatoes)


Baked potatoes or Leftover Mashed potatoes
Nutritional yeast (a must in a dairy free kitchen) - about 1/8 to 1/4 cup
Salt & Pepper
Coconut cream (in our town - I get canned coconut milk & use the top portion that is the cream)
Ranch dressing (Just Ranch - non dairy)
Sauteed vegetables - choose from the following:

spinach & artichokes
spinach & mushrooms
spinach & ????
Or any other combination

Mix vegetables with scooped potatoes or leftover mashed.  Either place back in the skins or bake in a casserole dish.

Great way to have twice baked potatoes or a potato casserole without the added dairy.

***Note:  The coconut cream creates a slightly sweet flavor - I personally love it but Pop not so much.  I am searching for a substitute for the coconut cream so that Pop can enjoy these as much as i do!

Kind of difficult to make mashed potatoes look really pretty!  But the taste is wonderful!

And of course ranch dressing on anything is delicious!

Dairy: Not a Queen in Our Eyes

Dairy.

I love cheese.

Cheese does not love me.  And let's be honest - I am not convinced that cheese loves anyone.

Believe it or not - cheese can be addicting.

I believe it.  And we have chosen to eliminate cheese from our diet at least 95% of the time - along with dairy too.  There is research to support the elimination of dairy as a step toward more optimal health.  And so many vegetables have calcium (if you were going to suggest the calcium claim...)

Calcium in Vegetables - read this article!!!

There are many more troubling aspects of dairy products and I know it is worth the time it takes to learn more about a product that we all enjoy so much!

But what to do if you really just want some cheese???

The Field Roast brand is perfect!  Honestly - it took a few weeks to adjust to the no dairy decision but it has been well worth the effort and we have found other ways to enjoy food.

Non Dairy Twice Baked Potatoes - Recipe in the next post...