Vegan and Gluten Free Bunny Pull Apart Cake

I just have to share this latest baking adventure with you all!! This little experiment made me so happy, and I love opening my fridge right now, as there is a smiling bunny face looking up at me.

And I thought you all might like to know how you can turn these gluten free and vegan cupcakes into an easy pull apart cake just in time for Easter. Seriously, the cake is super easy, and I say this as someone who generally sucks at decorating. That's why I did this all as a trial the week before Easter. Turns out it's not hard at all!

Grandma's Cucumber Dill Pickles (Gluten Free Pickles!)

I'm re-posting this post from way back in 2013, since it's been one of my most popular recipes, and I thought some of you might enjoy re-visiting it!

 
My grandmother has always made amazing pickles. She would can them in enormous batches. I started helping my mother make them sometime around my 7th birthday, up until about 10 years ago when I moved out and my mother stopped making them and my grandmother got tired of cooking.

Well this year, after seeing buckets of little cucumbers at the farmers market, I decided to resurrect my grandmother's amazing dill pickle legacy. I called my mom back home in Canada and asked for the recipe.

And now I'm sharing it with you!

Easiest Gluten-Free Vegan Burgers / Tofu Patties with BBQ Sauce +MeatlessMonday

Guys, these are seriously the easiest and tastiest burgers I've ever made, and I have a thing for tasty, healthy burgers. So much so that I have not one, but three gluten free vegan burger recipes on the blog. This will be the fourth!

They're so simple to make and ingredients are minimal. They're great for a quick, healthy meal, particularly if you pair them with my Baked Root Vegetable Fries.

And smoked paprika lends the burgers a smoky BBQ flavour that is super addictive.

Vegan, Gluten Free Slow Cooker French Toast Bites (+MeatlessMonday)

Whoa Nelly! Hold the phones, stop the music... whatever you need to do so that I have your full attention here! This vegan and gluten free French toast is so easy, and so flexible. You could pop this in the crock-pot on Sunday afternoon and eat French toast for breakfast on Monday. I used several slices of my Gluten Free Vegan Cinnamon Raisin Bread, and then jazzed it up with apples and coconut flakes and cashews. But you could use any vegan and gluten free bread you like and add other things like bananas, sweet potatoes, dates, cranberries, etc.

I ate this every morning for four days straight, and didn't tire of it, it's that good!  I also added some of the chunks into a chocolate chili I made, and it was fantastic (also, stay tuned for that recipe for Chocolate Chili ;p )

For those of you without crockpots - I have yet to try and make this as a French toast casserole in the oven, but I'm pretty sure you could bake it in a casserole dish for 45min - 1 hr instead if you don't have a slow cooker.

Vegan, Gluten Free Herb Dumpling Soup (#MeatlessMonday)

Free of gluten, dairy, soy, corn, eggs, nuts

Cheap and easy, these savory herb dumplings are gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, and free of all other common allergens.

This root vegetable soup with easy gluten free dumplings is so simple and quick I've made it twice this week now, with variations on the herbs. They were husband approved both times. And the best thing is that it's filling, so it makes for a very simple, healthy meal in itself.

Also, if you happen to be partaking in Lent, no matter what your restrictions these dumplings and soup should be safe since they're free of meat, eggs, dairy, butter, etc.

Vegan, Gluten Free Farinata / Socca (Cheap and Easy Chickpea Flour Bread)

Free of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, corn, nuts

Chickpea flour can usually be found fairly cheaply in the South Asian / Indian section of many larger supermarkets. Chickpeas of course have lots of protein and fibre and are super healthy, and some of you already know I use them a lot in recipes like Marinated Chickpea Salad, Chickpea and Sweet Potato Burgers, and Chickpea and Sweet Potato Soup.

So it makes sense that I would also like chickpea flour, no? And I do. It has a nice, nutty flavour and it sticks together better than most other GF flours.

I like to buy big ol' bags of chickpea / garbanzo flour and make it into the fried flatbread that I described in my book Living with Oral Allergy Syndrome. But sometimes I also like to make it into this baked, Italian style flatbread known as Socca, or Farinata. It's very simple to make, and the result is very tasty and filling.

GF, Vegan Sweet Pea Spread and Dip + Avocado Allergies

Free of gluten, soy, dairy, nuts, eggs, soy

Ok, I realize this is going to sound crazy, but this pea and spinach spread is really, really good. And versatile.

As is, it's kind of like a low-fat, avocado-free guacamole (for those of you with avocado allergies, read on!). A cheaper version of guacamole. Substituting the cilantro with basil makes it like a mock pesto, a peasto if you will (yeah, go ahead and groan, I couldn't resist). A nut-free vegan pesto of sorts. A much, much cheaper version of pesto.


See? So versatile that it can be both guacamole AND pesto.

Accidental Vegan, Gluten Free Chocolate Pudding Pie

Free of gluten, dairy, eggs, corn, nuts, soy-free option

So remember how last week I screwed up a beet chocolate cake and ended up with a bunch of tasty crumbs, and used half of them to make these Vegan, Gluten Free Chocolate Beet Balls? 

Well here's what I did with the other half. I turned the chocolate cake crumbs into a Chocolate Cake Pie Crust, and slapped some chocolate tofu pudding on top. So if you're ever wondering what to do with extra chocolate cake bits, why not try out this pie crust?

And btw- my husband actually really, really likes the tofu pudding I used for the pie (and he's not vegan).  But if you don't like tofu or need a soy-free option, you can always use the super easy microwave Chocolate Pudding recipe I used to make Mini Chocolate Pudding Pies.

Cheap, Gluten Free Fish Soup in 15 Minutes (soy free option +Meatless Monday) + Buying Ocean-Friendly Fish

Free of gluten, meat, nuts, eggs, dairy, with soy free option

So if you're like me, you probably end up with a little bit of leftover fish from time to time. You know, you bake up a nice big piece of cod or salmon or something like that, and there are a few little scraps that don't get eaten, and aren't enough to make another meal. 

Or perhaps you want to include more fish in your diet, but find that it can be expensive.Or maybe you're sea-conscious and don't want to eat too much in order to protect the environment. 

This fast, easy, fish soup is fantastic for using up leftover fish, or stretching a little piece of fish a long way. And it's super flexible. Every time we make it, it's just a little different, depending on what's in the fridge. 

Easy Gluten Free and Vegan Borscht with Sauerkraut (#MeatlessMonday)

Free of gluten, dairy, soy, & eggs

A while back I shared a post with 25 Ways to Use Beets. There was a borscht recipe in there, of course, but it wasn't mine. This is the very simple, easy recipe I use to make borscht.

And believe it or not, my husband, who doesn't like beets OR sauerkraut, actually likes this borscht recipe. This vegan borscht takes only a few minutes to chop and grate the ingredients, and about 20 minutes on the stove, and is just about the simplest soup I've ever made. And it makes enough to serve 2 people throughout the week.

Which is absolutely perfect as we head into the chilly winter months and crave warm, comforting soup for lunch and dinner. Borscht is a cheap, easy, naturally gluten free and healthy soup that can be served with a big chunk of my Gluten Free Multiseed Multigrain Bread for a complete and satisfying meal!

Vegan, Gluten Free Tofu Meatballs with Crabapple Sauce - Cheaper than Meat! + Meatless Monday

Free of dairy, eggs, gluten, nuts, corn

Crabapple or Crab Apple? I'm never really sure. Either way, this crabapple sauce and these vegan, GF meatballs are surprisingly amaze-balls. (The only thing cheesy here is that sentence).

These vegan, gluten free tofu meatballs in Crab Apple Sauce were really born  out of desperation. Since we moved back home to BC, we've been entertaining people in our new apartment a couple of times a week. It's been great to finally invite family and friends to our place after 3 years of living elsewhere. 

But entertaining can be expensive. Tofu, on the other hand, is relatively cheap.

 
I was facing several challenges, vegetarians, food allergies, my unwillingness to make yet another trip to the grocery store... Necessity is the mother of invention, and man did this invention turn out surprisingly AWESOME! So awesome that I made it three times in two weeks for three different sets of dinner guests.

Pumpkin Spice Quinoa Breakfast Bowl (GF, Vegan)

Free of gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, corn, soy

I don't know about you, but I find it hard to get a good, hot, gluten free breakfast that doesn't take forever. I mean pancakes are great and all, but they're not exactly quick.

And the other morning I woke up and it was chilly and raining and I had a cold. Which is funny, because right now it feels something like 30C! It's totally summer weather!

So being sick and it being cold and rainy, I was craving something warm and comforting. I wanted a hot, easy, gluten free breakfast. I'm allergic to oats so oatmeal wasn't an option. I did, however, have a large bag of quinoa in the cupboard. The rest is quinoa breakfast bowl history...

Easy Vegan, Gluten Free Red Lentil Burgers (Meatless Monday)

Free of dairy, gluten, nuts, soy, or corn

When we were packing up our apartment to move last month I was trying to  avoid grocery shopping, and to use up any leftover scraps of food kicking around in the cupboards. One of our last days there I pulled out a jar with a handful of red lentils, and another with quinoa. Luckily, I had some spices and a few tablespoons of GF flour and a couple of slices of onion. And so, this simple vegan burger patty was born. 

And it was so good I've already made it again. And they're husband approved. He ate them for dinner the other night, then lunch again the next day.  They also freeze well (info below), for quick meals.

These gluten free and vegan patties are very simple, low ingredient, and fairly cheap. They're also crazy healthy and packed with protein. You can serve them as burgers, or as patties with veggies on the side, or over lettuce with salad dressing. Their golden colour is rather fetching on a bed of greens...

Miniature Salmon Quiche for Canada Day (no crust or dairy)

Free of gluten, dairy, corn, nuts

Canada Day is coming up (July 1) and this is the first year we'll be in the US for it. Now most Canadians I know tend not to make a really big deal about Canada Day. And even those that do, it's really nothing compared to the 4th of July down here in the US.

But since I'm not home I'm feeling rather patriotic this year. So patriotic that I tried 3 times to make a a baked gluten free, vegan of Beaver Tails (like Elephant Ears, they're a flat, fried yeast bread usually sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon or smeared with nutella or something else).

So far I have yet to perfect a baked vegan Beaver Tail. Probably because it's the very antithesis of the buttery, fluffy, fried yumminess that are Beaver Tails. But I had a back-up in mind. They're not vegan, but they are baked and they are darned good. Miniature quiche made with salmon and local asparagus.

Vegan, Gluten Free Matcha Mug Cake (#Meatless Monday) & a Review of Kiss Me Organic's Matcha Green Tea Powder

Free of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, corn

Ok, can I brag for a minute? I mean I really do try to be humble. I even share my failures with you - like my epic no-oats granola bar fail or the sugar-free lemon meringue pie that looked so wonderful but tasted so yucky.

But I have to say that I'm quite pleased with my latest experiment.

This vegan, gluten free mug cake is light, has a distinct green tea flavour, is quite healthy, and takes about 5 minutes to make.

Vegan, Gluten Free Applesauce Sweet & Sour Lentils #MeatlessMonday

Free of gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, and soy

Who doesn't love sweet and sour sauce? But unfortunately, it's usually made with a whole lot of sugar and ketchup.

But not this one. No ketchup here. The sweetness comes mostly from unsweetened applesauce, and just a tiny little bit of organic sugar. However, you could also use stevia or maple syrup instead (or, for a non-vegan dish, honey).

This dish is also almost obscenely cheap, healthy, tasty, and easy to make. And I love that it's naturally gluten free, doesn't require any expensive specialty items, and makes a great freezer meal. 

Vegan, Gluten-Free Sprouted Chickpea and Sweet Potato Burger Patties / Falafel for Meatless Monday

Free of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, with corn-free option

A while back I accidentally sprouted a big batch of chickpeas. I had soaked a big bunch of garbanzo beans / chickpeas overnight with the intention of cooking them and freezing them. Well you know what they say about the best laid plans o'mice and men. Those peas sat on my counter for a couple of days. 

Some of them ended up in my GF, Vegan Sprouted Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry Soup, and some of them (along with some surplice sweet potatoes) ended up as an allergy-free vegan falafel / salad / burger patties. It was a happy meeting that I intend to repeat over and over. 

Gluten Free and Vegan Sprouted Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry Soup (#Meatless Monday)

Vegan and free of gluten, nuts, and soy

What happens when you end up with an accidental overload of sprouted chickpeas, a bunch of sweet potatoes from the farmers market, and a few pinches of warming spices like turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, and curry?

A cheap, easy, comforting, fibre-packed, pot of soup! And one that happens to be naturally gluten free and vegan!

Cheap and Easy Gluten Free, Vegan Lentil and Vegetable Dinner (for #Meatless Monday)

Schlapped lentils and vegetable dinner
Free of gluten, wheat, eggs, soy, nuts, dairy, and soy

 

Cooked lentils are not particularly photogenic. Nor do they look gourmet when there is a big, brownish lump of them shlapped down on a plate. No, that's not a typo. "Shlap" is the type of noise that a thick mass of brown lentils makes when it if forcibly shlapped off a wooden spoon onto a plate.

But these lumpy little things are crazy cheap, pack a healthy punch and are quite versatile. They've been used around the world for millenia as a super cheap source of protein (30% of their calories come from protein), as well as iron, dietary fibre, vitamin B1 and folate. As a patriotic Canadian, I also find it really cool that Canada, by far, is the world's largest producer and exporter of lentils. [1] Go Saskatchewan!

Despite their appearance, lentils can also be remarkably tasty. My husband, who can be kind of picky, really likes this lentils and veggie dinner (and not just because it only requires one dish to clean up in the end). Not only that, but this simple cooked lentil and veggie dish costs less than $2 to make 4-6 servings of, and with a $2 bag of lentils you can get 2-3 batches of it.

Vegan Mung Bean and Turmeric Curry (Anti-Inflammatory) & Meatless Monday

Free of gluten, dairy, shellfish, eggs, nuts, soy, and corn

Ever wonder what those little green beans in the Asian section at the supermarket are? Mung beans. Little green balls of anti-inflammatory, cooling goodness. Or so says traditional healing from the east.

This mung bean and turmeric curry is like an uber anti-inflammatory stew. And it's great on a few levels because it's healthy, super cheap, easy, made in one pot (easy clean up), and vegan, so it's perfect for Meatless Monday. Also, the curry flavour is super mild in this, so it's not hot or spicy, and is a great intro to curry for those who are hesitant to try it for the first time.