Sunday, August 21, 2011

Raspberry Scones (Vegan)


2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 TBS. baking powder
1/3 cup veg oil
1/3 cup agave nectar or maple syrup (or honey if not vegan)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup hot water
1 cup fresh raspberries

Preheat oven to 350'F. Line baking tray with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, mix oil, syrup, and vanilla. Mix into flour mixture.
Add hot water until everything is incorporated. Add raspberries.

Pour 1/3 cup of dough at a time on parchment sheet for each scone.
Lightly brush the tops with oil and syrup.

Bake for 14 minutes, rotating 180' after 7 mins.
When scones are ready, take tray out and cool.
Before eating, slice (optional), brush with syrup, and bake for another 10 mins at 400'F.




Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Vegan Summer Peach Pie


Crust:
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup canola oil
5 tablespoons cold non dairy milk or water

Filling:
2-3 large peaches
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 TBS. flour
1 tsp vanilla 

Mix flour and salt, add oil. Add milk or water by tablespoon until dough is formed. Create two balls, wrap in plastic and flatten to a 6 inch disc. Refrigerate 15 mins.

In a small bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon and flour. Slice and pit peaches, place in bowl and mix in sugar mixture. Add vanilla. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350'F.

When the dough is ready, roll it out on a floured surface to create a 10 inch circle. Press into 9 inch pie baking dish and trim off any excess pieces. If the pie dish does not already have holes at the bottom, poke holes with a fork all over bottom. 

Pour peaches into baking dish and set aside. 


Roll out second ball on floured surface. This will create the pie top. You can choose to make it in a variety of ways. I prefer a lattice top. For detailed instructions on making a lattice top, check out: http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_a_lattice_top_for_a_pie_crust/

When the top is complete, brush it with maple syrup and bake about 30-35 minutes, until crust is golden brown.

Cool and enjoy. 




Sunday, August 14, 2011

Italian plum tart




Crust:
1 1/4 cups unbleached flour
2 TBS. sugar
1 tsp. salt
7 TBS. unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces (replace with margarine or vegan butter for vegan option)

Plum filling:
1/2 cup sugar
3 TBS. flour
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1.5 lb. Italian plums
2 TBS. unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

For the crust:
In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar and salt. With your hands, or a food processor, mix butter into dry ingredients until it resembles a coarse meal. Stir in 3-4 TSP. cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, just until the dough holds together. Gather dough into a ball and flatten into a 6 inch disk. Wrap in plastic and chill 1-24 hrs.

Preheat oven to 425'F. Roll out dough on a floured surface, using a rolling pin to spread dough to 11 inches. Fit into a round tart pan with removable bottom, carefully pressing into corners of the pan. Trim excess dough off top. Cover with plastic and refrigerate 15 mins.

Pierce bottom of shell all over with a fork. Line with foil and fill with pie weights or dry beans. Bake 10 minutes. Remove foil and weights, bake 5 more minutes. Place on a rack to cool.


For the filling:
In a small bowl, mix together sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Sprinkle 1/3 c. mixture on pastry bottom. Slice plums, arrange on tart as desires; sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture and small chunks of butter.



Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce oven to 350'F and bake another 30-35 minutes, until mixture is bubbling around edges.
Cool and serve warm.





Sunday, August 7, 2011

Vegan Carob "Chocolate" Cookies


1 3/4 c. flour
1/3 c. carob powder
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 + 2 TBS c. sugar
1/2 c. canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 c. vanilla soy, almond, or rice milk
1/2 c. carob chips (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350'F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Mix in carob powder and set aside.
3. In a seperate bowl, mix sugar, oil, non-dairy milk, vanilla.
4. Create a well in the flour mixture and pour in liquid mixture. Mix with wooden spoon until ingredients are just incorporated. Add in carob chips if desired.
5. Place scoops of dough on baking sheet. 
6. Bake 10 mins. Remove from oven and cool a few mins before transferring to plate or cooling rack.

Makes 2 dozen.