Easter Feaster

Yay! Spring as sprung and the Easter bunny is on his way! Time to eat lots of chocolate, hunt for eggs and feast with family. I’ve put together a healthy, vegan version of a traditional Easter meal so let this be my gift to you this bountiful bunny day ; )

Hot Cross Buns
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon allspice
1 tablespoon sugar
1 lb raisins
1 1/2 teaspoon yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1/3 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Vegan butter
Powdered sugar

Put flour, salt, allspice, 1 tablespoon sugar and raisins in a bowl. Leave in a warm place.

Mix yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar and water. Leave yeast mixture to rise. Stir yeast mixture into flour mixture. Knead, roll into buns and leave in a warm place to rise. Bake 10-15 minutes at 425 degrees.  Brush cooling buns with butter and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Crunchy Veggie Salad

Salad

1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets (about 8 cups)
1 medium bunch broccoli, cut into florets (about 5 cups)
2 cups button mushrooms, finely chopped
3 large tomatoes, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 medium carrot, shredded
1/2 cup slivered almonds

For the dressing

3/4 cup vegetable oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 to 1 teaspoon dill or tarragon, depending on taste
Salt & Pepper to taste

In a large salad bowl, combine all the salad ingredients. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the dressing ingredients; shake well. Pour over vegetables and toss to coat.

Pineapple Glazed Ham

1 1/2 cups gluten flour
1/3 cup soy flour
5 ounces silken tofu
1 cup water
2 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
1 ¼ teaspoon onion powder
¾ teaspoon liquid smoke
½ teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vegetable bouillon
1 ½ teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 cup water
½ teaspoon liquid smoke
1 tablespoon vegetable bouillon
1 tablespoon tomato juice
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic salt
½ teaspoon onion powder

In a bowl, mix the gluten flour and soy flour then and set aside.

Add the ingredients from the silken tofu to the maple syrup into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into the soy & gluten flour bowland mix well. Add extra gluten flour as needed, to knead into a dry ball. Let sit 1 hour. Knead again into a firm, smooth ball.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a large juice can (such as pineapple juice can) with foil and/or parchment paper. Place gluten ball in the can and press down firmly into the can.

Mix together the remaining ingredients and pour over the gluten ball in your can. Cover can with foil and place can in oven. Lower temperature to 250 degrees and let bake three and a half hours. Remove from can and cool on wire rack while making the glaze.

To make the Pineapple Glaze:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
4 canned pineapple rings, thinly sliced

In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, maple syrup and mustard and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Cook until reduced slightly, about 2 minutes; set aside.
Brush the baked ham with the glaze, then top with the pineapple rings, securing them with toothpicks. Return the ham to the oven and bake uncovered until heated through, 25 to 30 minutes.

Easter Egg Cocktail

1 oz blue curaçao
1 oz white coconut milk
Soy creamer

Pour the blue curaçao and coconut milk over ice cubes in an old fashioned shake glass. Add a splash of the soy half-and-half on top to taste.

Straw-Barb Pie

1 package of vegan puff pastry, thawed (should be enough for 2 sheets, 1 to to line and 1 to cover the pie tin)
2 1/2 cups chopped red rhubarb, fresh
2 1/2 cups de-stemmed strawberries, cut in large pieces
1 1/2 cups sugar (1 1/4 cups for high altitude)
2 tablespoons minute tapioca
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons vegan butter, cubed small plus 1/4 cup melted to brush pastry
Large granule sugar

Roll out 1 piece of dough to make a bottom crust. Place into a pie dish. Put dish in refrigerator to chill.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Mix the rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, tapioca, flour, zest and juice of lemon, dash of cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix well in a large bowl and pour out into chilled crust. Dot the top of the filling with the cubed butter. Brush edges of pie crust with some of the melted 1/4 cup butter. Roll out the other piece of dough and place over filling. Crimp to seal edges. Brush with melted butter and garnish with large granule sugar. Collar with foil and bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Decrease temperature to 375 degrees and bake for an additional 45 to 50 minutes, or until the filling starts bubbling. Higher altitude will take 450 degrees and 400 degrees  respectively. Let cool before serving.

Enjoy on Meatless Monday