Flatbread Pizza with Asparagus & Baby Potatoes

Kill one animal - Criminal
Kill many animals - Butcher
One turns a blind eye - Negligence
Society turns a blind eye - Normality
One points out another’s wrong doings - Extremist
Many point out another’s wrong doings - Change
Change is coming. You are the answer.
— Aishwarrya Prakash

Who says pizza is off limit for vegans?

Certainly not me. Look at that gorgeous beauty! Easy, crunchy, crispy herbed garlic flatbread is layered with creamy, vegan goat cheese and topped with tender baby potatoes, fresh asparagus, and tart cherry tomatoes. 

So dig in! Don't let me stop you. This is one of those recipes that may look super complicated and time consuming. Homemade crust, homemade cheese (or not!), boiling and slicing veggie prep....I know, I know. Believe me when I tell you this was an utter breeze to throw together. I think it's because nothing is really too difficult to prep/assemble/make and it all times up perfectly. 

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Flatbread Pizza with Asparagus & Baby Potatoes 

Makes two medium pizzas

Notes: Use whatever vegan cheese you like. I used the recipe below and made it a few days in advance. Feel free to cut the vegan cheese recipe in half if only using for these pizzas. Cheese adapted from Spabettie.

Ingredients: 

Dough

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3 large garlic cloves, minced
  • small handful fresh herbs, minced (I used parsley, rosemary, and oregano)
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup water (additional as needed)

Toppings

  • 2 cups baby potatoes, boiled, halved and sliced
  • 1/2 bunch of fresh asparagus (about 2 cups), sliced diagonally
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup vegan cheese of your choice (I used the recipe below)

Vegan Goat Cheese (at least 8 hours)

  • 1 cup raw cashews, soaked
  • 1/2 cup roasted and salted macadamia nuts, soaked
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • 2 vegan probiotic capsules

Directions:

Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to boil for the potatoes. Once boiling, add the whole potatoes and boil for about 10 minutes, until fork tender. Drain, cool, then halve and slice. Set aside until ready for use. 

For the dough, whisk all the ingredients together except for the water in a large electric mixing bowl. Then, fix on the dough attachment and while on low speed, slowly add the water. The dough should be moist, but not wet. When combined, remove and allow to rest for at least 15 minutes. 

Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 400 F. Slice up the baby potatoes, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes. Set aside until ready for use. 

Roll out the dough balls on a floured surface into two 14 inch pizzas. Transfer one to the pizza stone and bake for 10 minutes at 400 F. Then, top with vegan cheese and half of the prepped veggies. Place back in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Remove, and repeat with second pizza. 

Serve hot, drizzled with olive oil and topped with additional herbs and freshly cracked pepper. 

Making the Cheese:

Soak the nuts for 2-12 hours in fresh water. Drain, rinse, and place in a blender. Add the remaining ingredients, excluding the probiotics. Blend on high until smooth and creamy, a few minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. Transfer to a small dish and stir in the contents of two vegan probiotic capsules, discarding the shells. Cover and allow to rest overnight (8-24 hours) in a warm place. Store in the fridge. Makes about 1 1/2 cups. 

German Word of The Day

Crunchy --> knusprig (canoe-sprych)

Good Deed of The Day

Speak up against animal abuse. Sign the petition calling on the Livestock Marketing Association to protect animals and stop workers who were caught on video viciously beating animals, dragging and lifting them by their ears, tails and hair, and denying them food, water, and proper veterinary care. 

Asian Lentil & Mushroom Lettuce Cups

‘I educated myself on factory farming and cruelty to animals, and realized that what was on my plate were living things, with feelings. And I just couldn’t disconnect myself from it.
— Ellen Degeneres

Amen Ellen. Amen. Lettuce cups are so fancy. I always feel like I should be at Paris Hilton's baby shower or something whenever I encounter them. Yes, I'm aware she doesn't have a baby (right?)...just go with me on this one. Do you feel that way too or am I total weirdo?

They're pretty darn fabulous. I love how they'll cradle anything at all you desire to stuff them with and lettuce is well, pretty tasteless so really the sky's the limit here with regards to flavor options.

I received a massive bag of mushrooms from a Costco run and I was at a loss of what to do with them. As always, I pondered how I could combine them with legumes. I knew lentils had to somehow be incorporated into my mushroom quandary. And so, these lettuce cups were born.

Produce On Parade - Asian Lentil & Mushroom Lettuce Cups

Delightfully light but still hearty, with a scrumptious Asian twist from soy sauce, fresh ginger and cilantro, as well as sesame oil and rice wine vinegar these are sure to be a hit.

Produce On Parade - Asian Lentil & Mushroom Lettuce Cups
Produce On Parade - Asian Lentil & Mushroom Lettuce Cups
Produce On Parade - Asian Lentil & Mushroom Lettuce Cups
Produce On Parade - Asian Lentil & Mushroom Lettuce Cups

Asian Lentil & Mushroom Lettuce Cups

Serves a crowd

Notes: I used half split red and half whole green lentils. If using split then there's no need to strain the water and you'll need more TVP, but if using whole lentils they'll need to be strained. Start with 1/2 cup and add more TVP as needed to achieve the desired consistency. 

Ingredients:

  • Sustenance
  • 2 cups lentils, dry
  • 4 cups water
  • 1/2 Tbsp. sesame oil
  • 3 1/2 cup mushrooms, diced 
  • 1/2 cup TVP, dry 
  • fresh lettuce leaves (I like butter, but romaine would work as well)
  • fresh chopped cilantro, as garnish
  • sesame seeds, as garnish
  • Sauce
  • 1/4 cup liquid amino acids (or soy sauce)
  • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 Tbsp. agave nectar
  • 1 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce
  • 1 tsp. sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp. sesame oil

Directions:

In a large saucepan, combine the water and lentils. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Then, reduce to low and simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes until the water has either evaporated (split lentils) or they are tender (whole lentils). If using whole lentils, strain and return to pan. 

Meanwhile, heat the sesame oil in a large rimmed frying pan over medium-low heat. Add the mushrooms and saute for at least 10 minutes, until they become fragrant, dark, and all their water has evaporated. Add the cooked lentils to the mushrooms. 

For the sauce, whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over the lentil/mushroom mixture and stir over low heat (reserve a bit to pour over the cups if you like). Add the 1/2 cup of TVP and stir well to combine. Add more as needed to achieve the desired consistency. 

Serve the mixture in the washed lettuce cups and top with additional sauce, fresh cilantro, and sesame seeds.

Produce On Parade - Asian Lentil & Mushroom Lettuce Cups
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German Word of The Day

Lettuce --> Kopfsalat (copf-saw-lot)

Good Deed of The Day

Let's put to bed the stereotype of whether or not vegans get enough protein. Finally! Watch the video here, and spread the word yo. 

Sweet Marinated Cucumbers

I’m a vegan. I respect the environment and I do my best to spread the importance of such an issue.
— Jared Leto

Jared told me that in an interview one time. We're pretty much BFFs. Okay, that might not be 100% factual, but the quote is.

I honestly don't recall where I first had these marinated cucumbers. It must have been at some holiday potluck or gathering. Cucumbers aren't really anything special to me and I hardly ever buy them (I just don't get the all commotion, plus they go bad so quickly!), so I was taken aback by how much I truly enjoyed this light side dish. Yet, vinegar delights me and I'm fairly certain I'm a sugar addict. Cucumbers are downright neutral so it's really no surprise why I enjoy these marinated 'cumbers so much. This dish is basically sugar and vinegar, let's be real. 

Produce On Parade - Sweet Marinated Cucumbers - This dish is a perfect marriage of sour and sugary with notes from the delicate, herbed cucumber slices and sweet onion. A terrific way to use up all those beautiful cucumbers from the garden!

After I first tasted them I was on a mission from god to try and replicate what I had eaten. Of course, now I know this is a super common, kind of southern(?) side dish. Okay, so I might of made that one up but it sounds right. Right? Southern sounds right. Anyway, who knew?! I certainly never grew up eating it so I had no idea! Parading around like I'd discovered Narnia or something...what a fool

I've made this recipe several times and I use about 1/4 cup of vinegar and sugar, per cucumber. So no matter how many 'cumbers you want to marinate, that's a good ratio to start with. Three cucumbers might not seem like a whole lot, but this recipe makes enough for a crowd. I promise. 

Produce On Parade - Sweet Marinated Cucumbers
Produce On Parade - Sweet Marinated Cucumbers
Produce On Parade - Sweet Marinated Cucumbers
Produce On Parade - Sweet Marinated Cucumbers

Sweet Marinated Cucumbers


Sweet Marinated Cucumbers
By

This dish is a perfect marriage of sour and sugary with notes from the delicate, herbed cucumber slices and sweet onion. A terrific way to use up all those beautiful cucumbers from the garden!

Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup vegan granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1 tsp. dill weed
  • 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/4 heaping tsp. celery seeds
  • 3 cucumbers, sliced
  • 1/2 sweet onion, sliced
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together everything but the cucumbers and onion. Slice the veggies then add them to the bowl and stir well to coat. I like to press the cucumbers down so they are all submerged.
  2. Allow to rest in fridge overnight if you can. Serve chilled using a slotted spoon.

  3. Prep time:
    Cook time:
    Total time:
    Yield: 6-8 servings
Produce On Parade - Sweet Marinated Cucumbers
Produce On Parade - Sweet Marinated Cucumbers
Produce On Parade - Sweet Marinated Cucumbers

German Word of The Day

Cucumber --> Gurke (guhkin)

Good Deed of The Day

Share this new documentary trailer, Cowspiracy, with everyone. EVERYONE!