Cheezy Tater Tot Casserole

Merry Christmas. This year we have new vegans (yay!!), those limiting their meat intake (yay too!), a baby (!),  and my daughter, who has been diagnosed with Celiac disease. So.. I had to prepare a complete vegan & gluten free breakfast for Christmas brunch. Challenge accepted! 

I probably was great entertainment for the staff at our local Harris Teeter. I walked back and forth through the store,  looking at Pinterest (my saving grace most night!), searching for ingredients, and coming up with a plan to make tge best vegan & gluten free breakfast for my family - one that even the picky ones would eat & enjoy (no pressure 😂).

This was the filling, crowd pleasing recipe I can up with to make everyone happy. My entire meal plan is in the footnotes, if you want to know how to make a gluten free & vegan brunch fir your family.

Recipe:

2 bags frozen tater tots

Olive oil

paprika 

8 oz. Sliced mushrooms, chopped 

8 oz. Kale, chopped & de -stemed

1 Tbsp. Cumin

1/4 cup vegetarian chick'n broth (or veggie broth)

1 tsp. Onion power

1 tsp. garlic powder 

Salt & pepper

1 recipe Easy 5 minute vegan cheese sauce

method:

1. Preheat oven to 375.

2. Pour tater tots into a greased 11x13 pan. 

3. Toss tater tots into a little olive oil and paprika.

4. Bake about 20 minutes, until tater tots are brown. 

5. While tater tots are cooking, make your cheezy sauce (see recipe link above).

6. Once cheese sauce is ready, start your vegetables. 

7. Steam your chopped mushrooms and kale in the vegetarian chick'n broth, paprika, cumin, onion powder,  garlic powder, salt and pepper. 

8. Cover & steam over medium heat until softened.

9. Remove tater tots from the oven.

10. Top tater tots with kale/ mushrooms and  the cheeze sauce. 

11. Toss lightly to mix all ingredients. 

12. Bake 30 - 40 minutes, until golden brown. 

Makes 8 servings. 

* Entire vegan & gluten free breakfast plan:

1. Delicious Scrambled Tofu

2. Vegetarian baked beans

3. Southern style grits

4. Cheezy Tater Tot Casserole 

5. Olive platter

6. Fruit roasted with pecans 

Kale & Almond Pesto Pasta

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The other day, my dear friend, Jennifer, gave me the last of her basil for the year. I wanted to  make a dish worthy of such a lovely gift. This is not you "normal" pesto with pine nuts. Pine nuts are very expensive & this blog is all about affordable family meals. I did a little experiment tonight & it turned out delicious!! I used sliced almonds  ($2 a bag vs. $13 for pine nuts). I added kale, fresh lemon juice and nutritional yeast for a nutritional blast of flavor and tossed in some fresh, colorful cherry tomatoes and kalamata olives. This was truly amazing and easy to make. It only took 20 minutes tonight for dinner!

Looking for more vegan recipes? Try my 3 Cheeze Baked Ziti Al Forno, Vegan Fried Chick'n & Gravy,  Italian Stuffed Eggplant, Roasted Tempeh with Whole Garlic Cloves, Baked Spinach & Artichoke Pasta, Sriracha Black Bean Burgers, & No Bake Banana Oreo Pudding Cups

Recipe:

3 cups fresh basil

1 cup fresh kale

1/3 cup nutritional yeast 

1/2 cup sliced almonds 

5 cloves garlic, crushed 

2/3 cup olive oil *

1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice 

2 tsp. salt

1 box of pasta**

3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 

1 cup kalamata olives 

Method:

Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain well. 

While pasta cooks, combine basil, kale, garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, almonds and olive oil in a food processor on high. Process until smooth.

Toss pesto, tomatoes and olives with prepared pasta and serve.

Makes 4 - 5 servings. 

* You can use an avocado if you are oil free. 

** Use gluten-free pasta if you are gluten-free

Christmas Eve Cowboy "Caviar"

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We call this "Christmas Eve Caviar" because I am required to make it for our family Christmas Eve party every year ( Even before I was vegan!). Everyone Loves this dish at parties because it's good for everyone..vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, whatever..you can eat it. This is also a versatile recipe. It's good cold, as a salsa, served with chips to dip. It's good room temperature as a easy pack and carry lunch for work or school. It's good heated up and topped with your favorite vegan protein.. I like Indian spice red lentil patties with this salad. It's so easy, you will keep it on hand for easy weekday meals. If you don't like it too spicy, just leave out or use less jalapeño. If you like the heat, add more jalapeño or a tsp of chili powder to the olive oil. You can also change up the black eyed peas for black beans... The possibilities are endless.

Looking for more easy lunch recipes? Try my Scrambled Tofu , Grilled Hummus & Veggie Wrap, Buffalo Tempeh over Cheesy Grits, Tofu Banana Berry Smoothie &Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Christmas Eve "Caviar":

3 (15 oz) cans black eyed peas, drained and rinsed well

3 cloves of garlic, pressed or chopped fine

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 large jalapeño, seeded & diced fine

1/2 cup chopped green onions

1 orange bell pepper, diced fine

1 small red onion, diced fine

1 (10 oz) can of Rotel tomatoes with green chilies - do not drain!

Juice of 1 fresh lime

1/4 cup olive oil

Salt & Pepper to taste
Corn chips or pita chips to serve.

Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Cover tightly and allow to marinate over night.

Serve with chips.

Turkish Lentils and Rice

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This is our version of a classic Middle Eastern comfort food, as common as mac-n-cheese is here in America. The addition of turmeric to our rice to make it a beautiful yellow color and adds a bit of extra nutrition. This dish is flavorful and aromatic. The Cumin and garlic make the kitchen smell amazing while it's cooking. It tastes earthy and hearty, there's real comfort in this simple dish. Best of all, it's inexpensive, filling, and comes together easily in under 30 minutes... My favorite kind of dish!

Looking for more great Mediterranean recipes? Try my , Turkish Stuffed Grape Leaves  Baked Spinach and Artichoke Pasta , My Famous Stuffed Eggplant Parm, & Tuscan Gnocchi Bake

 Recipe:

1.5 cups lentils
2 cups of rice
8 cups of veggie broth
3 tsp. of cumin
1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
1/2 tsp. of cinnamon
2 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. Turmeric
Salt and Pepper to taste

To garnish:

2-3 large onions, thinly sliced
Oil to fry (optional)
Salt & pepper to taste
Vegan plain yogurt (optional)
Olives, hummus
Mediterranean Cucumber Salad

Cook rice and lentils in veggie broth with all your spices until tender and all liquid is absorbed. (Check starting at 15 minutes.)

Heat a few tsp. of oil over medium-high heat in a skillet. Add onions, salt & pepper and caramelize.

To serve: Layer rice and lentils and top with onions.

Garnish as desired.

Serves 4-6.