Vegan 101 ...Waffles

Today is your lucky day! Someone asked for the recipe for the Pinto Bean Waffles - so today I will be sharing that recipe with you all. These are very hearty waffles - but you would never guess there were beans in them if you had not been told. Well at least I couldn't with the delicious fruit topping, which I will share as well. 

Pinto Bean Waffles 

1 cup soaked pinto beans 

1 1/2 cup rolled oats 

1 1/4 cup water

1 T. oil 

1 T. honey or agave nectar \

1/2 tsp. salt 

1. Combine all ingredients in blender. Blend until light and smooth. Let stand 5 minutes. 

2. Again, blend briefly. Pour needed amount onto heated waffle iron and bake approximately 8 minutes or until nice and brown or crisp as desired. Top with fruit topping or other sweetener or topping of choice. 

Fruit Topping  

1. About 1/4 cup each of dried fruit of your choice- dried pineapple tidbits, diced apricots, papaya, mango, pears, peaches, cranberries, strawberries, dates and raisins. Use 3-4 different kinds. 

2. 1 ripe banana, diced

3. 1 tsp vanilla. 

In a 2-quart pot add 3-4 cups water. Add the dried fruit of choice and 1/4 cup of tiny tapioca pearls if you so desire. Bring water to a boil then let simmer until fruits are soft, stirring every few minutes to keep fruit from sticking to the bottom of the pot. If not using tapioca pearls, make a cornstarch slurry by mixing 2 tsp. of cornstarch and 1/2 cup of cool water. Add slurry to simmering fruit and stir until thickened. Sweeten mixture to taste. Remove from heart. Add diced banana and vanilla before serving. Use to top waffles, pancakes or cereal, dry or cooked. 

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By adding the beans to the waffles you are upping the fiber content of the waffles. Plus beans are very good at helping to stabilize blood sugars. When you eat beans and legumes - it not only helps your blood sugar for that mean but also for the next meal or two. So try to see what ways you can incorporate beans into your meals. Here are just a couple of great ideas: bean recipes, adding beans to soup, topping your salad with beans, making hummus and there is even a hummus recipe that uses cocoa and is great with strawberries. There are many great ways to get more beans into your diet. Don't be afraid of beans and legumes - they have so many benefits!! 

Vegan 101~ Scrambled "Eggs"

It has been several weeks since I went to my last Vegan 101 class - but I have been so busy I just have not had a chance to get on here and put together a post. Well I decided today was the day to finally get this typed up for you all. I hope you enjoy! 

We had breakfast. 

Simple and Easy Eggless Scrambled "Eggs" 

1 16 ounce block firm tofu 

1 med. onion, finely diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 med. tomato, diced

1 T. olive oil 

2 T. Nutritional yeast flakes 

1 T. Chicken-style seasoning 

1/2 tsp. tumeric 

Dash of lemon juice crystals 

salt to taste 

1. Rinse tofu and pat dry with paper towel. Put in a bowl and crumble it using a fork or potato masher or your hands. 

2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute until soft. Add tomatoes and mix well. 

3. Add crumbled tofu, seasonings and tumeric. Stir and cook until tofu is well mixed with the other ingredients and flavors are well blended. Add the lemon crystals and salt to taste.

You can serve on toast or over cooked brown rice or eat it as is. 

Now if you don't have tofu you can make the same recipe using garbanzo beans instead- just smash up about half of the beans and proceed with the above recipe. 

 I really enjoyed both ways this was made.

If you are like me - this is the first time you have heard about Lemon Crystals - this is what the container looks like - it is sold at Walmart. I have not looked for it yet so I can not give any information about where you would find it in the store. If I find it I will try to do a post about it later to share more. 

Here was the whole spread. She made Waffles using pinto beans - what a great way to add fiber to your waffles- and they were very good!! And she made a delicious fruit topping to pot over the top of the waffles. Everything was very good! I had a friend go that is not even a vegetarian and she really enjoyed all the food as well - and that says alot! :O)