"Cheezy" Soyrizo Enchiladas



I have to admit, I'm enjoying cooking vegan food more and more every day.

As Chris and I explore gluten-free options, we're having to come up with more recipes from scratch. We've used "soyrizo" in the past, but haven't had much success with it. The other day, Chris realized why; we were probably cooking it for too long. The instructions basically tell you just to warm it, not to cook it until it browns which is unlike other meat substitutes. So, since coming to this realization, we have had a lot of wonderful successes with soyrizo and "soy taco" options.

Tonight, I made what I am calling "Cheezy Soyrizo Enchiladas." I haven't made any sort of enchiladas in awhile. They're kind of labor intensive compared to what I usually make. While I really do enjoy cooking, I genuinely prefer dishes that only require one pot. I'm a small kitchen cook. I don't have enough drying space for so many pots! That being said, though, sometimes all those dishes are worth it! Like today. These were num-er-iffic! Will definitely have to make these again. Feel free to tell me if you make them and, of course, what you thought!

INGREDIENTS
1 package "Soyrizo" cooked according to package instructions
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup sweet onion, chopped
1 zucchini squash, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 cup frozen yellow corn kernels
1 14 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
1 teaspoon dried parsley
2 more tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 cup oat flour
1/4 cup tomato sauce (with or without seasonings)
1 vegan bouillon cube dissolved in 14 ounces hot water OR 14 ounces of vegetable broth
1 package cheddar flavored Daiya vegan cheese
Approximately 15-20 small corn tortillas

DIRECTIONS
Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook for several minutes until the vegetables start to brown. Add the zucchini and pepper and cook for several minutes more. Add the diced tomatoes, corn, and parsley. Increase the heat to medium high and cook until the water from the tomatoes has evaporated, approximately 10 minutes. Turn off heat and let cool while making the sauce.

In a medium sized saucepan, warm the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the cumin, flour, and tomato sauce and stir until it forms a paste. Add the water and whisk until combined. Simmer, continuing to whisk, until thickened, approximately 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Combine the soyrizo and sauteed vegetables in a bowl or in the pot you used for cooking the veggies, if cooled to the touch. You don't want to burn your fingers! Add 3/4 cups of the Daiya cheese. Mix until all of the goodies are well combined.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish lightly with olive oil spray. Wrap the corn tortillas in some damp paper towels and microwave for one and a half minutes. To assemble the enchiladas, scoop 1/3 of a cup of the soyrizo vegetable mixture into the center of each tortilla. Fold one side of the tortilla over the mixture and then fold the other side over it and place it seam down in your baking dish.

Whisk your sauce one last time before pouring it evenly over the tortillas. Top with the remaining Daiya cheese and bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Then, enjoy the cheezy goodness!

Makes 6 servings.
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Mom's Gingerbread Cookies Made Vegan



My mother used to own a "gifts in a jar" business up in New Hampshire. This recipe is based on her gingerbread cookie mix. It's delicious and is my absolute favorite holiday cookie recipe. It has the perfect amount of spice. The cookies also stay nice and soft, too. I usually get her recipe out every year and veganize it, but never keep the recipe I come up with. I wrote down what I did this year. Also, I know it's a bit late for the season of holiday spice, but my coworkers keep asking me for this recipe. So, make and enjoy!

INGREDIENTS
1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour PLUS 1/8 cup
1/2 cup turbinado sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/3 cup unsulphured molasses
3/4 tsp. egg replacer
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons soymilk

DIRECTIONS
Using an electric or standing mixer, cream together shortening, molasses, sugar, water, and egg replacer for approximately two minutes on high speed. You will notice a change in the texture of the dough; the shortening will be bubbly throughout the molasses, mixed and not separated. Add the flour, spices, baking powder and baking soda, and soymilk. If your dough is crumbly, continue adding soymilk one tablespoon at a time. To test, roll a hunk of dough in your hands. If it smooths out and doesn't stick to your skin you should be good. I've never had to add more than what's listed in the recipe, though.

Let your dough chill, covered, for an hour in the refrigerator.

On a well floured surface with a floured rolling pin, roll the to your desired thickness. You don't want them too thin, but too thick is a problem as well. Aim for 1/8" thickness. You may need to brush a bit of flour on top of the dough so your rolling pin doesn't stick. Cut into shapes and place evenly on a nonstick cookie sheet.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. The cookies will puff slightly. There's no need to overcook; there aren't any eggs to cook the bacteria out of. Let cool for about 3 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack to finish.

Let cool completely before frosting!

Makes 24-40 cookies (depending on the size of your cutters). When I made these trees I got about 36.
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