Vegan Carrot Cake
“Got a chance to try the carrot cake recipe. We are hooked! I have already made it twice. “
“This is the best Carrot Cake I’ve ever had” was one dinner class participants comment. This cake is moist and very decadent with no oils, processed sugar and it’s gluten free if using gluten free oats.
1 cup pitted dates soaked in 1/2 cup water for at least 4 hours
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
1 T apple cider vinegar
1 ½ t baking soda
1/4 cup grated apple (about 1/2 apple, any variety)
1 packed cup finely shredded carrots
1/2 cup raisins
Add nuts, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking soda to a food processor work bowl. Chop until coarsely ground and mixed well. Add dates and soak water, vanilla and vinegar. Process to a thick dough. You may need to help it along with a fork. Then add in shredded apple, carrots, and raisins and mix to incorporate evenly. Alternatively, transfer dough to a large mixing bowl before adding carrots and fruit and mix them in with a fork. Spread dough in an 8×8 cake pan and baked at 350 for 20 minutes. Spread with Sour Cream Frosting or add dollop when served. .
Eggplant Roll-Ups
Even meat-eaters will devour these comforting Eggplant Roll-Ups. Using thinly sliced eggplant instead of noodles is a great way to get this nutrient-dense vegetable into your diet.
2 large eggplant, sliced lengthwise 1/4 inch thick
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 medium red bell pepper chopped
2 cups chopped mushrooms
4 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp Italian style seasoning
3 Tbsp Sesame Parmesan seasoning
2 Tbsp nutrition yeast flakes
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
14 oz firm tofu pressed and crumbled
10 ounces baby spinach
1/2 cup chopped olives
1 large jar of oil free pasta sauce
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange eggplant in a single layer on cooking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with a second baking sheet or aluminum foil. Bake about 20 minutes, uncover and bake an additional 5 – 10 minutes to brown and become flexible enough to easily roll.*
While eggplant is cooking, sauté bell pepper, onion, garlic and mushrooms until tender. Add seasonings, tofu and spinach. Mix well and cover until spinach is wilted. Add 1/2 cup pasta sauce and salt to taste. Mix well. Lightly cover bottom of pan with pasta sauce. Place 1/4 cup of the vegetable filling on each eggplant slice, roll and place in a baking dish. Top with pasta sauce and olives. Bake 20 minutes.
*Baked eggplant slices are delicious with hummus spread on them and rolled up. See my Whole Food Hummus recipe found here.
Cranberry Relish Salad
From Whole Food American Favorites
This recipe was inspired by my love for cranberry sauce without all the sugar! If you prefer less sweet, use a more tart apple and/or less dates. Cut down on the walnuts if you need to cut back on the fat.
1 medium Fuji apple
1 cup raw cranberries
8 small pitted dates
1/4 cup walnuts
Chop all ingredients in a food processor to a relish consistency.