Black Bean Chili with Dark Ale

From Vegetarian Times - "A slightly sweet, dark beer tempers the acidity of the tomatoes and the spiciness of the chipotle chiles in this easy recipe."

ingredient list

Serves 8

• 2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, drained and minced
• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• 2 Tbs. ground cumin
• 1 large onion, finely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
• 5 cloves garlic, minced (5 tsp.)
• 2 14-oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 24 oz. gluten-free dark beer
• 1 14-oz. can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup fresh or frozen corn
  

Directions

Heat oil in 3-qt. pot over medium heat. Add chipotles and cumin; season with salt, if desired. Cook 1 minute, or until fragrant. Stir in onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Sauté 5 to 7 minutes, or until vegetables are soft. Stir in beans, beer, tomatoes, and corn. Bring chili to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, uncovered, 45 minutes, or until thick.

Nutritional Information

Per :

Calories	192
Protein	8g
Total Fat	5g
Saturated Fat	1g
Carbs	31g
Sodium	383mg
Fiber	10g
Sugar	4g

Honey-Glazed Tofu on Pumpkin Seed Couscous

From Vegetarian Times - "Cracked black pepper—a coarser grind of the kitchen staple—lends a lightly spicy flavor without the bite of fresh chiles or hot sauce. If you can’t find shelled pumpkin seeds (also called pepitas), substitute your favorite chopped nuts."

ingredient list

Serves 6

Honey-Glazed Tofu

• 2 10-oz. pkgs. extra-firm tofu
• 2 tsp. cracked black pepper
• 2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup honey
  
  Pumpkin Seed Couscous
• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 2 medium carrots, chopped (1 cup)
• 1 cup frozen edamame, thawed
• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat couscous
• 1/2 cup toasted unsalted pumpkin seeds

Directions

1. To make Honey-Glazed Tofu: Place tofu between two plates and set heavy pot on top. Drain 10 minutes, and pat dry. Cut tofu into 3/8-inch-thick slices. Combine pepper, thyme, and salt in small bowl. Coat tofu slices with pepper mixture, and set aside.
2. To make Pumpkin Seed Couscous: Bring broth, carrots, edamame, olive oil, and salt to a boil in covered saucepan. Remove from heat, stir in couscous and cover. Let steam 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.
3. Meanwhile, heat oil and honey in large skillet over medium-high heat until bubbling. Place tofu in pan, and cook 3 minutes. Turn, and cook 3 minutes more, spooning thickening sauce over tofu.
4. To serve: Stir pumpkin seeds into couscous. Spoon onto plates, and top with Honey-Glazed Tofu.

Nutritional Information

Per SERVING:

Calories	577
Protein	26g
Total Fat	26g
Saturated Fat	3g
Carbs	71g
Choelsterol	0mg
Sodium	444mg
Fiber	10g
Sugar	27g

Yukon Gold and Baby Spinach Masala

From Vegetarian Times - "Why Yukon gold potatoes? Because their creamy but firm texture make them a perfect fit for stews, plus the tender skin doesn't need to be peeled. Serve with steamed rice, and a sweet-and-sour chutney, such as Fresh Mango Chutney on vegetariantimes.com."

ingredient list

Serves 4

• 2 Tbs. canola oil
• 1 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (4 cups)
• 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced (11/2 cups)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
• 2 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
• 1 jalapeño chile,finely chopped (1 Tbs.)
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric
• 1 13.5-oz. can light coconut milk
• 1 6-oz. bag baby spinach
• 11/2 tsp. garam masala
• 1 Tbs. lime juice
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Directions

1. Steam potatoes in steamer basket set over simmering water 10 minutes, or until just tender.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté 8 minutes, or until soft and golden. Add garlic, ginger, and jalapeño, and sauté 1 minute, or until fragrant. Stir in coriander, cumin, and turmeric. Add steamed potatoes, and sauté 1 to 2 minutes, to coat with spices. Add coconut milk and 1/4 cup water, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 5 minutes, or until sauce begins to thicken.

3. Stir in spinach, garam masala, and 1/4 cup water, and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until spinach is wilted. Stir in lime juice and cilantro.

Nutritional Information

Per :

Calories	347
Protein	7g
Total Fat	16g
Saturated Fat	6g
Carbs	45g
Choelsterol	0mg
Sodium	382mg
Fiber	6g
Sugar	3g

Decadent Dairy-Free Chocolate Truffles

From Vegetarian Times - "Truffles are usually made with heavy cream, but you’ll never miss the dairy in these luscious vegan chocolates."

ingredient list

Serves 10 (makes about 30 truffles)

6 - 6.5 oz. high-quality dark chocolate (60% cocoa), finely chopped
1/4 cup walnut, almond or canola oil
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Directions

1. Place chocolate, oil and 1/3 cup water in microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high in microwave 1 minute. Stir; heat 1 minute more, or until chocolate has melted. Whisk until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and chill 6 hours, or overnight.

2. Place cocoa and nuts on separate plates. Shape truffle mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls into small, 3/4-inch balls. Roll in cocoa or chopped nuts. Chill until ready to serve.

Nutritional Information

Per TRUFFLE:

Calories	66
Protein	1g
Total Fat	5g
Saturated Fat	1g
Carbs	4g
Fiber	1g
Sugar	3g

Chilean Corn and Un-turkey Chowder

From Vegetarian Times - "This savory chowder is inspired by pastel de choclo, a Chilean corn and meat pie. Feel free to add leftover vegetables to the soup, or you can even turn it into a pot pie by topping the finished soup with leftover Thanksgiving stuffing, then broiling 2 to 3 minutes, or until the stuffing is browned and crispy."

ingredient list

Serves 8

• 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 rib celery with leaves, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 whole thyme sprig, plus 2 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme, divided
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 medium onion, peeled and diced (1 cup)
• ¼ cup flour
• 1 lb. small white potatoes, diced (4 cups)
• 4 cups frozen corn kernels
• 2 cups chopped vegan turkey roast, or 3 frozen vegan chicken cutlets, thawed and chopped, or 1 5.5-oz. pkg. vegan turkey slices, coarsely chopped
• 4 plum tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and diced (2 cups)
• 1 medium avocado, diced (1 cup)
• ¼ cup coarsely chopped cilantro
• 2 Tbs. lime juice, plus lime wedges for garnish, optional

Directions

1. Place broth, celery, garlic, bay leaf, and thyme sprig in large stockpot. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Transfer broth to large bowl, and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in same pot over low heat. Sauté onion 6 to 8 minutes,
or until translucent. Add flour gradually, and cook 5 minutes or until flour mixture is smooth and beginning to dry, stirring constantly. Add reserved broth gradually, until blended with flour. Stir in potatoes and chopped thyme. Raise heat to medium-low, and bring to a simmer. Cook 15 to 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.
3. Add corn and vegan turkey, reduce heat to low, and cook 7 to 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir in tomatoes, avocado, cilantro, and lime juice. Season with cayenne pepper to taste. Serve with extra lime wedges, if desired.

Nutritional Information

Per :

Calories	279
Protein	9g
Total Fat	11g
Saturated Fat	1.5g
Carbs	38g
Choelsterol	0mg
Sodium	151mg
Fiber	6g
Sugar	4g

Avocado Chimichurri Bruschetta

From Vegetarian Times - this recipe uses avocados which are revered for their buttery taste and texture, a quality that stems from the "good" monounsaturated fats they contain. It is also these fats that make avocados champions for heart health. Studies have shown that oleic acid, one of the monounsaturated fats in the smooth green flesh of the fruit, helps to lowertotal cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels significantly. Also rich in potassium, fiber, folate, and vitamin K, the luscious fruit of guacamole fame is surprisingly versatile: Brazilians use it to make ice cream, and in the Philippines it's blended into a creamy avocado shake.

ingredient list

Serves 6

• 2 Tbs. lemon juice
• 2 Tbs. red wine vinegar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
• ¾ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. red pepper flakes
• ½ tsp. dried oregano
• ¼ tsp. ground black pepper
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and cubed
• 6 ½-inch-thick slices whole-grain or ciabatta bread, toasted
  

Directions

Combine lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, oregano, and black pepper in small bowl. Whisk in oil, then stir in cilantro and parsley. Fold in avocado cubes. Spoon avocado mixture onto toast slices, and serve.

Nutritional Information

Per :

Calories	247
Protein	5g
Total Fat	17.5g
Saturated Fat	2.5g
Carbs	20g
Choelsterol	0mg
Sodium	431mg
Fiber	6g
Sugar	2g

Season of Giving

It was nearly 8 years ago, when I read a book given to me by my sister about ways to be a better person. The last page talked about giving back. There was a link to the United States Peace Corps. I had always heard about the Peace Corps, but I didn't know much about it. After checking out their website, I called my dad and said this is what I want to do.

After I graduated college, I applied and in January 2005, I went to a small village in Thailand for over 2 years. It was by far the best experience of my life. Each year I threw a Christmas party for my village children. We did things like bake cookies and dance! I even made a Chimney out of paper and put up tube socks for stockings. Santa came to visit us all the way in Thailand too!

I always feel the need to give back, but now that I'm back in America, in my daily routine, I often forget about things I can do to help out this world. Recently while eating lunch at my local health food store - The Granary - I picked up the December issue of DeliciousLiving. This free magazine is packed full of goodness. Not only was it plentiful with vegan recipes, but the articles were perfect - just long enough to be full of information and captivating. During this holiday season, especially one in a recession, it is always hard to give as much as we would like. I thought the article entitled, "How to Give on a Budget," was a great reminder of the little things we can do to help those in need. I'm re-posting the article here, in hopes you can get some ideas on how to give without breaking the bank.

Happy Holidays and 'tis the Season!

How to Give on a Budget

$0

Donate empties.Instead of contributing to a landfill, give used ink and toner cartridges a purpose. Hundreds of nonprofits collect and resell empty cartridges to companies that refill, recycle, or remanufacture them. Nonprofits with recycling programs include Habitat for Humanity (habitat.org), Meals on Wheels (mowaa.org), and the Humane Society (humanesociety.org). Each cartridge can fetch up to $5 for the charity of your choice.

Surf for the Earth. Powered by Google, Ecosearch.org returns the same search results but with an environmental kick: The site donates 100 percent of search revenues—created by displaying ads alongside your query results—to nonprofits, such as Rainforest Alliance and Sierra Club. Go to ecosearch.org, or make it your computer’s default search engine.

Less than $10

Plant trees. For $5, The Nature Conservancy plants five trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest (plantabillion.org) to help reverse global warming. Having protected 117 million-plus acres around the world, The Nature Conservancy is designated a “Top-Rated Charity” by the American Institute of Philanthropy.

Feed the hungry. The Food for All initiative (foodforall.org) has partnered with 8,000 grocery stores nationwide to help end world hunger. Each time you check out at participating stores, tack on a small donation ($1 and up) to your bill; more than 84 percent of your donation dollar benefits local antihunger nonprofits. The contributions add up fast: A Miami-based grocery chain recently raised $747,000 in just six weeks.

Provide pure water. An estimated 1.1 billion people don’t have access to clean drinking water. The Children’s Safe Drinking Water organization (csdw.org) distributes packets with a powder that makes unsanitary water drinkable; $7.50 provides one child with a year’s worth. Also check out howtocleanstuff.net, a website of clever cleaning tips submitted by readers; for each tip it publishes, the site donates 25 cents to the Clean Water Fund (cleanwaterfund.org).]

Less than $25

Adopt a polar bear. World Wildlife Fund (worldwildlife.org) offers symbolic adoptions of more than 50 species—from a tiny clownfish or blue-footed booby to a majestic polar bear or elephant—and 82 cents of every dollar goes directly toward conservation.

Dump the junk. Junk mail is a terrible waste of 80 billion trees per year. For $20 annually, Tonic Mailstopper (tonicmailstopper.com) gets you off junk mailing lists—and plants five trees in your honor.

Moisturize for good. When you spend $20 on Lush’s Charity Pot body cream, made with natural oils and fair-trade cocoa butter, 100 percent of proceeds (minus taxes) goes to support animal, humanitarian, and environmental foundations, such as Oceana and Bicycles for Humanity (usa.lush.com).