four in one
February 28, 2011 That would be 4 recipes in one post. It’s Monday, what can I say? I’m feeling generous. I feel like this weekend went so fast it wasn’t really ever here at all. Anyone with me?
Breakfast was a delicious twist on popped amaranth. Not only is it packed with cocoa + pnut butter, but it’s creamy and warm. Popped amaranth porridge? Me thinks so.
I haven’t had much luck cooking the raw amaranth grain. I mean, I can cook it fine, but I’m not the biggest fan of the taste. It’s a little too earthy for my liking. However, when you pop it, most of that flavor goes away.
Pop it, then heat it up in cocoa infused almond milk, and the earthiness completely goes away. This kept me full for hours as does the plain popped amaranth. It seems so light and fluffy when you pop it, but it’s really nutrient dense. It sticks to my stomach longer than oats!
The texture was sort of like grits, but a little creamier.
Cocoa Pnut Hot Popped Amaranth [serves 1]
- 5T raw amaranth
- 2-3t cocoa powder
- 1.5c unsweetened almond milk
- 1T maple syrup
- 1/2t cinnamon
- 1t vanilla
- 1 heaping Tbsp pnut butter
- toppings: almonds, cocoa-nut almond butter, coconut
- Pop amaranth as instructed here.
- Set aside in a bowl.
- In a pot over medium heat, add milk, cocoa powder, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla and peanut butter.
- Whisk until smooth and heat until the milk simmers.
- Stir in popped amaranth and reduce heat to low.
- Stir for a 1-2min until it starts to thicken.
- Pour in a bowl + top!
Feel free to add ground flax, chia, dried fruit, etc.
Just as quick as making a bowl of oats. Definitely would have added banana on top, but I was out!
In preparing to move from our rental, we’re starting to sell a few things. Our gi-normous sectional, that we loved so much, is not making the trip to the new house. It’s just too big! We bough it from By Design, back in Charlotte. We got a fabulous deal on it at a warehouse sale and it’s served us well. It’s the most comfortable couch I’ve ever owned. Firm and supportive, but cushiony, all at the same time. Sigh…
We sold it today, which means…a full month without a couch. We wanted to sell it now before investing in a new couch, just to be on the safe side.
Our house now echoes.
Tomorrow, I’ll post our makeshift couch. I’m already sick of it.
Couch? No couch? The dogs don’t care.
Except for Dakota. Miss, I’mtooprissytoliedownonhardfloor.
Next up is recipe 2/4. A new twist on my nacho “cheese” sauce. This one is even better! I was out of bell pepper, so I improvised with salsa. Cheesy. Nachoey. Creamy. Delicious. No cheese? No way!
Kickin’ Nacho Cheeze Sauce [~1-1.5c]
- 3/4c raw cashews
- 1/4c nutritional yeast
- 1/3c water
- 1/4c salsa
- 1t chili powder
- 3/4t cumin
- 1/2t garlic powder
- 1/4t smoked paprika
- few shakes of hot sauce
- 1/4t salt
- Add water to the blender, then all other ingredients.
- Blend until smooth, adding more water if necessary, until desired consistency is reached. It will thicken a bit as it sits.
What’s next you ask?
Kale chips…kicked up a bit!
Kickin’ Kale Chips
- 1 head of kale
- 1T safflower oil [or other high heat oil]
- 1/4t garlic powder
- 1t cumin
- 2t smoked paprika
- cayenne pepper [opt]
- salt + pepper
- Preheat oven to 350*
- Wash + de-stem kale, shaking off excess water.
- Throw on pan and coat with oil + seasonings.
- Bake for about 30-35min, tossing 2-3 times, until all leaves are crispy and browned to your liking.
Oh these kale chips were delicious! Possibly the best I’ve ever made! On the right you’ll see pile of quinoa. Nothing special about that. Just cooked in water and drenched in the nacho sauce. In the middle is a black bean/tempeh/tomato mixture that was fabulous. You can eat it plain, stuff in a taco or burrito, wrap up in a big green leaf, throw on a salad, or scoop up with tortillas. Whichever way you decide on, you will love this mix!
Tempeh Taco Filling [serves 3]
- 1 package tempeh, crumbled [my favorite is the West Soy, 5-grain]
- 1c cooked black beans
- 1T safflower oil
- 1 can diced tomatoes, liquid drained
- 1T chili powder
- 1t cumin
- 1/2t smoked paprika
- 1/2t coriander
- 1/2t garlic powder
- 1/4t salt
- few shakes of cayenne pepper [opt]
- In a large sauté pan, heat oil over medium heat.
- Once hot, crumble tempeh into pan and cook for about 5min, stirring every minute or so.
- Add in beans, tomatoes + seasonings.
- Cook for about 5min, stirring a few times. Adjust seasonings to your liking.
Now the only question is…
Which recipe are you going to make first?
Ashley
Reader Comments (73)
I remember hating the taste of amaranth, and the smell, oi! But I am getting intrigued here haha. Maybe it's time to start popping.
GREAT recipes Ash! Is your wordpress working fine again? I had it too once, one day I just stopped getting email notifications. but now it works fine once again.
seriously...tough question, but I think I will try the tempeh taco filling because I'm on a huge tempeh kick recently...can't get enough!
It all looks great though!
I've been meaning to try amaranth every since you posted a recipe for it "popped." I am a huge cereal fanatic, so any variety I can add is good!
Yum! Your poor dogs sleepin on the floor what a hard life ;) I just bought some nutritional yeast for the first time so i'll be trying the nacho cheese out!
We had to get rid of our sectional too because it didn't fit down the basement door. LoL, You make sacrifices for the beauty of your new home.
The cheese sauce sounds incredible!! I need to try some vegan cheese sauce.
Dakota always makes me laugh! I would hate to go a month without a couch, but this month will be so busy that it will fly by!!
Love that nacho sauce!!
I need to make some nacho cheese sauce. I have been loving on some nutritional yeast lately and now I need to take it to the next step.
I'm making amaranth as we speak (before i opened this post!) but it's not popped...I'll have to pop it tomorrow!
I've popped it before and eaten it like popcorn, back in high school, but haven't done it much since. It looks so good! I love how your not afraid of good fats -- I love loading on almonds, butters, and other nuts. So good for you!
Tempeh taco filling! 1) I love Mexican and 2) I've never had tempeh and really want to give it a try!
What a need idea!!!
The only time I've had amaranth is when I ate a popcorn ball-type dessert snack from Mexico. It was made with popped amaranth and honey. Really good!
Wow Ashley, all of these sound amazing! I'm trying to use up the grains I've already got lying around the cabinets before I buy amaranth (and garbanzo flour for that matter..) But I cannot WAIT to try your popped amaranth and then make porridge out of it! Yum!! That cheese sauce looks delish, too. I made some with sunflower seeds and chipotle peppers the other day. :). Happy Monday!
I know what you mean about using up what's in the cupboards! Trying to do that myself!
Oh wow...that is so cool!
It's definitely a good "starter" recipe. You should DEFinitely make "chris's breaded tempeh" in my recipe section. It is amazing!
Exactly! We're using a double bed now. It's ghetto and I hate laying on my stomach to watch TV..always hurts my back!
I love it too!
No! I've been without comments coming to my email for about 3 days now...annoying!
I am going to the store today with buckwheat and aramath on my list! Very excited!!! :)
Loving the spicy theme you have going on and that tempeh taco filling looks awesome!
these all sound awesome! I tried to pop amaranth after reading Brendan Brazier's Thrive book, but it failed. Thank you for providing such detailed directions - I am going to try again and I can't wait for the result. FYI - I tried to utilize your 'print' feature and it didn't work. I have used it before and it worked fine, but it is not working for me now.
Thanks for the great recipes!
Girl, you are my recipe IDOL. Each of these look better than the last!!
They all look amazing! Would tofu work for the taco filling? Your dogs are too cute! Have a great week!
it's called alegria -- which, in spanish, means joy - i think that describes the dessert perfectly!
Aw, thanks girlie!!! :)
Yes! If you press the tofu [to get the liquid out] and crumble it, I'm sure it would work. Cook time might vary a little to get it browned up, but I'm sure you can't go wrong!
Ugh...weird! I just updated it too...I'll have to look into it. My blog comments aren't being directed to my email inbox either, so something is up! Thanks for letting me know and sorry about that!
Your dogs are the cutest! That amaranth breakfast looks so good!
Maizey won't lay on the hard wood floor either. Boxers are such divas.
I'm definitely making that tempeh taco filling first! It has some of my favorite ingredients!
I'll be making the tempeh taco filling! We have tacos every week and I'm always looking for a new vegetarian filling. I tried a different tempeh taco recipe before, but it was too bland. Yours sounds delicious!
I can't decide what I need more: to make that nacho cheese or to see what on earth you are sitting on for a makeshift couch. Please tell me it's not Chris.
LOL...I've never thought of her as a diva. Just a depressed priss..hahaha
You could definitely add peppers and other things too. This was just what I had on hand..it was a very make shift dinner that turned out easy and delicious! :)
It's ghetto with a capital G. And, you need to make the nacho cheese sauce!
I'm always starving after reading your blog! When we moved from NYC to Belize, we sold all of our furniture and ended up sleeping on the floor for our last 2 nights. Not ideal, but we were glad the furniture sold! :)
Wwwwoah. Lots of recipes. Can you please come to my house and make me the popped amaranth?! I need it. Now. ANd it's a shame you have to get rid of that sectional. It's a beauty!
I'm thinking the salsa Cheez sauce on top of the tempeh taco filling? Yes?
Danggg girl, it's a quadruple whammy! I love popped amaranth, I can't wait to try it porridge style!
Slash you had me at nacho cheese:)
I totally made a tempeh taco filling with black beans for a Mexican lasagna I made a while back! Isn't it awesome!? :D I am madly in love with your cheezy sauce... looks fantastic!
Love kale chips!
Everything in this post is making me SO hungry! It's lunchtime, and I would love to have your tempeh taco filling right in front of me right now...sigh...
haha we did the same thing when we moved from our condo to the house. We lived without furniture for a couple of weeks... and looking back, it was kinda fun! Oh the stories you will have.
First recipe... probably the kale chips. I <3 kale.
Your popped amaranth recipe is interesting. I know of it's health benefits, but I've never tried it :(
I think I'll pick some up and give this a try!
this look fantastic
I'm so addicted to it!!!!
Yup, just a short-term inconvenience!
Poor Dakota. She's missing her throne.
Wow, these are awesome recipes Ash~And I tried popping amaranth again this morning for the 3rd time lol. But I failed again. Hmmmm wonder what I'm doing wrong 0_o
Oh my goodness, I am once again DROOLING over your page! Lady, you must stop, NOW!!!!!! :)
Made your cocoa- nut almond butter, and oh by, not sure how long that one will last :)
I used crumbled tempeh as a meat/ scramble the other night, as well! Great minds think alike...