Tag Archives: vegan

breaking bread

oat wheat loaf

oatmeal whole wheat bread

Oatmeal Whole Wheat Quick Bread

This recipe was adapted from a recipe I found which uses honey and regular milk.  I substituted with vegan options and found that it was moist, delicious and earthy.  This is now a favorite, easy, quick bread in my house.

Ingredients:

1 C rolled oats
1 C whole wheat flour
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 T plus 1 t agave syrup
1 T vegetable oil
1 C soy milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

2. Grind oatmeal in a food processor or blender. In a large bowl, combine oatmeal, flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, dissolve agave in vegetable oil then stir in the soy milk. Combine both mixtures and stir until a soft dough is formed. Form the dough into a ball and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet.

3. Bake in preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until bottom of loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

Om,
Renata

mOMent: ‘Breaking bread’ is one way that we often connect with our friends and loved ones.  When was the last time you were able to ‘break bread’ with those important in your life? Is it time to do it again? My guess is, probably…

orange you berry nutty?

orange you berry nutty

orange you berry nutty

My husband came up with this title, and it made me laugh…so I decided to use it.  Sometimes a nice unexpected laugh is exactly what we need…That, and a nice om of the day of course…

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
1/4 C dried berries
1/4 C cashews (salted and toasted)
1/4 C orange juice
1 T agave
1 t vanilla

Directions:

In a small saucepan mix orange juice, vanilla, agave, cashews and berries.  Simmer over medium to low heat until most of the liquid has been absorbed by the fruit and nuts.  Add mixture to bowl with oatmeal, stir and eat.

Om,
Renata

mOMent: Citrus trees provide us with a burst of life and flavor when the long winter months seem to drone on. To me, they symbolize the perky, budding life that is within all of us, even during our darkest days.  What brings light and life into your life?

wholesome almond-butterscotch

This recipe is earthy and not too sweet (unless you add more butterscotch, in which case it will be even more delish).  I recommend giving it a try as suggested, it can be a very palate pleasing om of the day and will keep you going all morning.

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
2 T almond butter
1 T butterscotch
1/4 t vanilla
salt to taste

Directions:

In a heavy bottom saucepan heat almond butter, vanilla and butterscotch until warm and blended.  Add mixture to oatmeal and stir well.  Add salt and any extra butterscotch you may desire, stir again and chow down!

Om,
Renata

mOMent: When I was in elementary school I used to play hopscotch.  I had so much fun throwing the rock and hopping in the squares, skipping the one with the rock in it.  How many times in our lives do we avoid rocks?  What would life be like if we didn’t avoid them, if we decided to face our problems head on?  Do you know anyone who approaches life this way? What can you learn from them?

pearadise

pearadise

pearadise

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
1 pear, cut into bite size chunks
1 T plus 1 t ginger syrup
1-2 t grapeseed oil
1/8 t cinnamon plus more for sprinkles
1 pinch nutmeg
salt to taste

Directions:

Heat 1 T ginger syrup and grapeseed oil in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Add spices and cook for a few seconds, add pear.  Cook over low-medium heat until the pear is heated throughout and is well coated with the ginger syrup and spices.  This process may take a few minutes (5-10) depending on the size of your pear bites.

Stir half of the pear mixture in a bowl with your oatmeal.  Serve the rest on top of the oatmeal, sprinkle a little cinnamon and enter pearadise…

Om,
Renata

mOMent: Where is your paradise? Go there in your mind now and enjoy it, let your mind open up and relax into your very own paradise. After a few moments of enjoying paradise come back to the present and take a look around. Notice how things are different. Why not enjoy paradise a few times a day?

calcutta carrot and green raisins

calcutta carrot and green raisins

calcutta carrot and green raisins

This recipe was inspired by an Indian dessert that features carrots.  The carrots are naturally sweet, and I found  green raisins at our local Indian grocer.  For the nuts? I used the good ol’ standby California walnuts.  These ingredients when added to the agave and brown rice syrup become a complex combination of flavors and textures that will have your taste buds tingling.

If you enjoy things a bit sweeter keep your agave syrup handy and add more as you like.

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
1/4 C carrots, shredded
1 T brown rice syrup
1 T grapeseed oil
1/4 C green raisins
1/4 C walnuts
1 t agave syrup (plus more if you like it sweet)
salt to taste
1/4 t cinnamon
1 pinch nutmeg
1 pinch cardamom
1 T water or milk

Directions:

Add brown rice syrup, grapeseed oil, agave syrup and carrots to a saucepan.  Add spices, salt, nuts and raisins.  Simmer gently for 10 minutes, adding milk or water as needed, until carrots are caramelized.  Add to oatmeal and enjoy.

Om,
Renata

mOMent:  Carrot on a stick? Have you heard this phrase before?  If so, it may conjure up images of a donkey with a carrot dangling in front of him…encouraging him, enticing him to move forward.  Is there anything that acts as a carrot in your life that you could use to your advantage?  What keeps you moving, even when you really just want to relax?

hot chocolatey jumpin’ java

mexican chocolate

mexican chocolate

Here’s a recipe that is guaranteed to change the pace of you morning.  If the caffeine from the coffee doesn’t get you going than the cayenne will.  Be very aware of how much cayenne you use in this recipe, I have learned from experience to go very gently…you can always add more.

Ingredients:

Oatmeal
1/2 C dry old-fashioned oats
1 C coffee
1 cinnamon stick

Mexican spicy chocolate sauce
1 teensy pinch of cayenne
1/4 t cinnamon
1 T grapeseed oil
2 T creamer (I used coconut creamer)
1 T agave syrup
1 pinch of salt
1 wedge mexican chocolate, chopped

Directions:

Make oatmeal as you normally would, except instead of water, use coffee.  Also, add a cinnamon stick in with the oats while they are cooking.  You will end up with a dark brown oatmeal.

For the spicy chocolate sauce combine the grapeseed oil, agave, cinnamon and cayenne in a saucepan until warm. Add creamer and chopped Mexican chocolate.  Heat until chocolate has melted and everything is mixed well.  Feel free to taste test.

Add mixture to oatmeal and get engines ready!  The flavors will surely get you going…

Om,
Renata

mOMent: We all have vices in life, and not all of them are bad.  However, sometimes it can be a good idea to let old habits die hard in order to create room for newer, better ones.  Which vices are you ready to let go?

crunchy, sweet and lite

A great way to wake up with a balanced, lower calorie option which is still packed with nutrition and flavor!

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
1 T walnuts, chopped
1 T raisins
1 t vanilla
1 T Torani sugar-free Brown Sugar and Cinnamon syrup

(or any you prefer)
salt to taste

Directions:

For a few minutes, soak raisins and walnuts in vanilla and syrup, mix in salt.  Add oatmeal, enjoy.

Om,
Renata

mOMent: In the midst of the day-to-day chaos it can be vital to take a breath and realize how very lucky we are. Counting blessings is a wonderful practice to have, what are the first three blessings that come to your mind?

nanners two ways

This recipe uses bananas in two ways.  One, smashed into a sweet submission with the oatmeal.  Two, sliced and diced with the walnuts.  Both are combined in a nanner-ific bowl of oatmeal.  Enjoy…

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
1 banana (cut in half)
1/4 C walnuts, chopped
2 t grapeseed oil
1 t agave
1/8 t nutmeg
1/4 t cinnamon
salt to taste

Directions:

Cut banana in half.  Smash half of the banana in a bowl.  Cut remaining half of the banana in slices.

Add grapeseed oil, agave syrup and spices to a small sauce pan over medium-low heat.  When mixture is slightly simmering add sliced bananas and chopped walnuts.  Cook over medium-low heat stirring frequently for a few minutes or until bananas begin to smoosh around (that’s a technical term).

banana smoosh

banana smoosh

Combine oatmeal in the bowl with the smashed banana.  Stir well.  Add banana-walnut mixture and…go bananas!

Om,
Renata

mOMent: Some people peel their bananas from the stem upward, and some peel them the opposite direction. How many things in your life do you do differently than the ones you love? Do you both end up with the same result, or is there something you can learn from trying it another way?

ginger kissed mango

frozen mango

frozen mango

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
2 T ginger syrup
1 T grapeseed oil
1/4 t vanilla
1/8 t salt (or to taste)
1/2 C mango, diced (I used frozen)

Directions:

Simmer mango, ginger syrup and grapeseed oil for 2-3 minutes.  Let cool for a few minutes, add vanilla and salt, stir well.  Add oatmeal, stir well again, eat and enjoy!

Om,
Renata

mOMent: A kiss, a peck or a smooch, we all deserve a little sugar now and then. Blow yourself a big kiss in the mirror today with a heartfelt ‘I love you!’, if nothing else it’s sure to produce a smile…

maca maca! (not oatmeal)

Occasionally, I enjoy baking things other than oatmeal.  I know, you must be shocked!  In these cases I will tag them as ‘not oatmeal’.  I just had to share this recipe from a food blog that I love.  (I substituted Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free flour and 1/4 tsp. of xanthan gum for the white whole wheat flour.)  

Maca Maca Bars

Maca Maca Bars

 

Maca Maca Bars  

3/4 Cup Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free flour                                                                                                                    1/4 Teaspoon xanthan gum
2 Tablespoons Maca Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil, Melted
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 C Plain Soymilk + 1/4 Teaspoon  apple cider vinegar                                                                                    1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract                                                                                                                                            1/2 Cup Macadamia Nuts  

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and lightly grease an 8 x 4 inch loaf pan.  

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, maca powder, baking powder, xanthan gum, salt, and cinnamon, and whisk to combine.  

Mix vinegar and soymilk in a separate container and let sit while you prepare the other ingredients.   

Separately, whisk together the melted coconut oil, sugar, soy milk and vinegar, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and with a wide spatula, stir just enough to bring the two together without too many lumps. Transfer the batter into your prepared pan, smooth out the top so that it fill the loaf pan in one even layer, and sprinkle the macadamia nuts evenly across the top. Use your hands to lightly press the nuts into the batter.  

Bake for 15 – 20 minutes, until golden brown around the edges, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely in the pan before slicing.  

Makes about 6 – 8 Bars  

Source: http://bittersweetblog.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/maca-mania/

buttery blueberry almond

This recipe has no added sweetener.  The blueberries and butter (or vegan alternative) have a very nice naturally sweet flavor and a nice crunch when combined with the almonds.

This is perfect for the person who wants a wholesome, healthy om of the day.

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
1/4 C frozen blueberries
1/4 C slivered almonds
1 T butter
salt (optional to taste)
cream (optional to taste)

Directions:

In a small saucepan heat blueberries and butter until warm and plump.  Combine blueberry mixture with slivered almonds and salt in a bowl.  Add oatmeal and mix well.  Add cream if desired.

Om,
Renata

mOMent: What does wholesome mean to you?  What can you do today that is wholesome and healthy that will enrich your life.  As an experiment, do at least one wholesome act a day for a week and see how you feel.  Write down your experiences to share with someone.

something ginger this way comes

This om of the day is serious about ginger.  If you love ginger, this one is for you.  If you don’t love ginger, perhaps sit this one out.  It’s definitely got a warming finish.

uncrystallized ginger

uncrystallized ginger

A note:  I used homemade ginger simple syrup.  The recipe can be found here.  The recipe could easily be cut in half to make less, but we love ginger around my house so we keep it around for many other dishes.

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
1 T ginger simple syrup (plus more if you like it sweet)
1 T butter
1/4 cashews, chopped
2 T crystallized ginger, diced or minced (divided)
1/8 t salt (or to taste)

Directions:

Combine simple syrup, 1 T crystallized ginger, butter and salt. Mix in oatmeal and stir well.  Garnish with crystallized ginger on top and serve with extra simple syrup for those who enjoy a sweet surprise.

Om,
Renata

mOMent: Ginger was the name of my grandma’s beloved sheltie.  Do you have any pets that your family wouldn’t be the same without?  Spend a few moments today recalling some of the wonderful times you’ve had with your furry loved ones.

maple crunch

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
1 T maple syrup
1/4 C toasted pecans
1 T butter (or to taste)
1 T cream (or to taste)
salt

Directions:

Spread pecans on small baking sheet and place in preheated oven (400 degrees) and toast until fragrant.  Let cool.

toasted pecans

toasted pecans

Add butter, cream, salt pecans and maple syrup to a bowl.  Stir well, add oatmeal until butter is melted and all ingredients are combined well.

Om,
Renata

mOMent: Maple trees are an amazing source of delicious and nutritious syrup as well as a known source of wood used for building.  We all have the capacity to provide sweetness as well as support for those around us.  Who could use a little help from you today?

sweet, tart and poppy

Bright and flavorful, this one will soon become a favorite in your house.  A classic combination between lemon and poppy seed is a sure winner.

poppy seed lemon

lemon poppy seed

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
1 T butter
1 t poppy seed
2 T lemon curd

Directions:

Melt butter in a small pan, add poppy seeds and simmer, stirring frequently for 3-4 minutes, set aside for a few minutes to cool.

Add lemon curd to bowl and mix in poppy seed butter mixture well.  Add oatmeal and stir.

Yum!

Om,
Renata

mOMent: Do you pop out of bed in the morning ready for the day?  Or do you do your best work in the wee hours of the night? How can you use your ‘prime time’ to your advantage?

simply strawberry and mango

strawberry mango

strawberry mango

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old fashioned oats
1/4 C mango
1/2 C strawberries
1 T agave
1 T grapeseed oil
salt to taste
cream to taste

Directions:

Heat mango, strawberries, agave and grapeseed oil in sauce pan for about 3 minutes or until the fruit is infused with the sweetness of the agave.  Set aside and let the fruit absorb more of the flavor for a few minutes.

Mix with oatmeal, add cream and salt to taste, enjoy!

mOMent: Simplicity can bring calmness and perspective into most situations.  What situation in your life could use a little more calmness?  What is one thing you can do today that will simplify the situation?

coco-nuts over macadamias

This om of the day speaks for itself.  The syrup is super easy to make, I made it the night before as an experiment and decided it would be tasty on just about anything.  So why not?  Let’s put it in oatmeal!

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
¼ C chopped macadamia nuts
1-2 T coconut syrup
¼ t cinnamon
salt to taste
Directions:

Chop macadamia nuts and mix with cinnamon in bowl. Add oatmeal and 1 T of coconut syrup, mix well.  Drizzle remaining coconut syrup on top and enjoy!

Om,

Renata

mOMent: Richness is a matter of taste, as with many things in life.  In what ways does richness make itself known in your life?

Om,

Renata

happy hippy

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oats
1/2 C granola – your choice
1 T agave syrup
1 t vanilla
2 T cream or milk (optional)
1 T nuts – your choice (optional)
salt to taste
cinnamon to sprinkle on top

Directions:

Mix agave, vanilla and cream in a bowl.  Add granola and nuts, even coat with the wet ingredients.  Add oatmeal and salt, mix well.  Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Om,
Renata

mOMent: Happiness is defined as ‘a state of well-being and contentment’ by Merriam-Webster dictionary.  How can you bring happiness into your life on a more consistant basis?

berry zinful

For this recipe I used a wonderful product from Navarro Vineyards.  I used the Olallieberry Zinfandel Preserves to sweeten the deal for today’s OM, and I would certainly do it again!

Navarro Olallieberry Zinfandel Preserves

Navarro Olallieberry Zinfandel Preserves

Ingredients:
1 C cooked old-fashioned oatmeal
2 T Navarro Olallieberry Zinfandel Preserves(divided)
1.5 T butter
1 T cream
Salt to taste
Sesame seeds for garnish

Directions:

Mix well 1T of preserves, butter, cream and oatmeal in a bowl. Spoon remaining 1T of preserves on top and sprinkle sesame seeds.  Add salt as desired.

Om,

Renata

mOMent: Why whine when you can wine and dine?

tropical tide

This may sound like a super sweet om of the day.  However, it has a subtle sweetness mixed with a slight richness of the coconut.  It’s a perfect balance of texture and flavor.

Ingredients:

2 T dried, diced pineapple (unsulfured baby pineapple is the best)
1/4 C unsweetened dried shredded coconut
1/4 C coconut milk
1/2 t ginger
1 T brown sugar

Directions:

In a small sauce pan heat coconut milk until warm.  Add pineapple, coconut, sugar and ginger.  Sautee over medium to low heat until mixture looks more like a thick paste.

coconut mixture

coconut mixture

Add mixture to oatmeal and enjoy.

Om,
Renata

mOMent: High-tide or low-tide the ocean continues to make waves. However, deep beneath the surface there are other forces at work. Do you prefer to surf the waves or dive deep?

ode to tennessee

In this recipe I used Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey to plump up thompson raisins and homemade butterscotch to sweeten the deal. It’s a twist on a rum raisin recipe and makes a tasty treat that doesn’t have to be eaten just for breakfast.

Ingredients:

1 C cooked oatmeal
1/4 C homemade butterscotch
2 T Jack Daniels Whiskey
2 T raisins
1/4 C toasted pecans
Salt to taste

Directions:

Soak raisins in whiskey for 5 minutes or until they plump up. Mix pecans, raisins, whiskey and butterscotch in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently and heat until alcohol starts to cook off (at least 10 minutes), it will be frothy looking.

butterscotch whiskey raisin pecans

frothy butterscotch whiskey raisin pecans

Mix in oatmeal and enjoy!

Om,
Renata

mOMent: Where in the world would you like to travel?  What interests you about this place, and how can you bring a little of what you’re looking for into your life today?