Category Archives: snacks

snacks

Pickled Asparagus

I absolutely LOVE asparagus any way that I can get it. Pickled is my new favorite was to eat it because it’s fast, convenient, and I love the dilly sour taste. I can’t get enough of it, so when I see asparagus on a sale, I stock up and get to canning!

What do I need?:

  • 1 lb of asparagus spears
  • 1 cup of white vinegar
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 tsp whole peppercorns
  • 1/2 tsp pink salt
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp of dried or fresh dill

How do I make it?:

  • Clean you asparagus
  • Snap at the natural break (hold the tip and the end and bend until it snaps on its own)
  • Put the dill and red pepper flakes in the mason jar(s)
  • Pack your mason jar(s) as much as you can with the asparagus
  • Meanwhile, bring water, vinegar, salt and peppercorns to a boil for one minute.
  • Pour the mixture over your asparagus up to 1/4″ from the top of the jar.
  • Let sit 24-48 hours.
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to a month (not that they will even last more than a few days).
This picture is after 3 days

Send me some ideas for next time. Just remember, anything you can make, I can probably make vegan.

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snacks

Pumpkin Seeds

It’s that time of year again! PUMPKINS! We never carve pumpkins because, let’s face it, it’s a bit of a waste. We always paint ours so that we can turn them into pumpkin pies, cookies, smoothies, pancakes, muffins, etc. I’ve never really been a fan of pumpkin seeds until this year. I decided to try them again. I think it would have been a better experience without braces, but none the less, it was delicious.

There are several good health benefits of pumpkin seeds:

  • Good source of plant protein
  • Improves prostate health
  • Helps with insomnia
  • Good source of antioxidants
  • Reduces inflammation and helps with arthritis
  • Prevents kidney stones
  • Reduces bad cholesterol
  • Boosts metabolism
  • Reduces high blood pressure

What do I need?

  • 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds
  • 1 tsp of olive oil or avocado oil
  • Other ingredients vary depending on flavor combo

How to make this:

  • Soak in room temperature water overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 300 F. I make several flavors, so I use foil boats to separate them. You should line your baking dish or cookie sheet with foil or or parchment paper
  • Clean and dry the pumpkin seeds
  • In a small bowl, mix your selected seasoning together and set aside.
  • Toss your pumpkin seeds with your choice of oil and seasoning mix.
  • Spread on sheet in even layer. If you do not, you must stir frequently to get them to bake evenly as opposed to steaming them.
  • Bake for 20-40 minutes stirring every 10 minutes until they are done.
  • Seeds will crisp as they cool so DO NOT WORRY.

Here are some flavor ideas or you can get creative and make up your own.

PIZZA

  • 1 TBSP nutritional yeast or vegan Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tsp basil
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/4 tsp pink salt
  • 1/4 tsp granulated garlic

SWEET AND SPICY

  • 1 TBSP brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp pink salt
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

CINNAMON SUGAR

  • 1 TSP brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp pink salt

SALT AND PEPPER

  • 1/2 tsp pink salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

CURRY

  • 1-1.5 tsp curry powder depending on your taste

Send me some ideas for next time. Just remember, anything you can make, I can probably make vegan.

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snacks

Mango Fruit Leather

Too many of any fruit? Fruit leather! (or a fruit roll-up if you want to get all nasty processed with added sugar junk). I had mangoes that were about to not be okay and I knew that we weren’t going to use them in time. I wasn’t in a muffin making kind of mood so I settled on fruit leather.

What do you need:

  • 2 medium mangoes
  • food processor or blender
  • oven
  • Parchment paper

Really, that’s all you need.

Let’s make this!

  • Preheat the oven to the lowest temperature. Mine says “warm” so it’s usually around 170 degrees?
  • Peel and blend your mangoes to a puree
  • Line a baking dish with some parchment paper.
  • Spread your puree across the baking dish in a thin even layer.
  • Bake at the lowest temperature you can in your oven for 2-5 hours. I check mine at 2 hours. If it isn’t solid and has the right texture, leave it in and check every 30 minutes.

When I made mine last night, I had to bake it for 4 hours. After the 4 hours, I turned off the oven and left it in until the morning. When I checked it in the morning, it was the perfect texture and ready to eat.

When your fruit leather is good to go, cut it how you want it and eat. Store in an air tight container for up to 5 days (not that it will last that long). No need to refrigerate.

Tell me what you thought about this recipe if you try it. Just remember until next time, anything you can make, I can probably make vegan!

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