After reading our first article on going green with vegan cuisine this Earth Day you might be convinced that including more vegan foods in your lifestyle is good for you and the planet. After reading our second article, you may feel empowered to introduce some of these foods. But where to begin?Here we reveal one of the secret weapons in your efforts – dessert! Perhaps in no other category of food preparation does the light of vegan cuisine shine so brightly. Visit your local health food store or pick up a vegan cookbook to discover the bounty of rich and decadent sweets that can be created without using dairy or eggs. There are even several incredible brands of plant based ‘ice cream’ which are soy, rice or coconut based. Be sure to sample a few until you find your favorites.Vegan baking has come a long way. Cow’s milk can be replaced with soy, rice and almond milk. Eggs can be replaced with ground flax seeds, applesauce and even blended silken tofu. For more information on vegan baking, check out our book, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine.We leave you with one of the most popular recipes. You will never miss the dairy or eggs in these cookies and they are a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Serve them up at your Earth Day Celebration!Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies25 minutes prep/15 minute cook / 8 large cookiesDry Ingredients2 cups spelt flour1 cup vegan chocolate chips- try sunspire brand1 cup walnuts – chopped¾ cup rolled oats½ tsp. sea salt¾ tsp. baking soda1/8 tsp. cinnamon1 pinch nutmegWet Ingredients2/3 cup maple syrup2/3 cup canola oil2 Tbl. filtered water1 tsp. peppermint extract1. Preheat oven to 350 °F. Place dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well. Combine wet ingredients in another large bowl. Add wet to dry and mix well. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.2. Place 8 scoops on a well oiled baking sheet and flatten slightly with hand. Space evenly so cookies have room to spread.3. Bake until golden brown, approximately 10 minutes. Allow to cool before enjoyingReady to save the planet? Post your green intent and blog about your green successes and struggles, tagging your posts "greener life." We may feature your post in this series!
Mark Reinfeld is the founding chef of the Blossoming Lotus Restaurant. He is the coauthor of Vegan Fusion World Cuisine, winner of 9 national awards. His latest book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Raw coauthored with Jennifer Murray and Bo Rinaldi is available through booksellers everywhere. Please visit www.veganfusion.com for more information.
Image by jessicafm via Flickr
YUM!:)
Oh my goodness, the picture is killing me!