Another wonderful hit from the Vegalicious kitchen! It can be served both as the main dish or a salad, and either hot or cold.
I had some precooked quinoa sitting around and Hubby was on the way home from work last night. I had to whip up dinner and had to do it quickly. Less than 10 minutes into my brainy idea dinner was done! This is one of the main reasons I always have some pre-cooked grain and beans in my refrigerator or the freezer–being prepared makes healthy living a breath!
Have you ever disliked something very much in spite of it being good for you? I am normally not the person but amaranth was one of those things for me. I tried making it on several occasions a few different ways, and every time I felt the same way–I DON’T LIKE IT! Oh, I knew it was good for me, I have seen the nutrient content:
Iron
Calcium
Protein (complete protein you all )
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Potassium
Zinc
Copper
Manganese
Selenium
and various vitamins; and I wanted to like it… very much, but the truth is, every time I saw it in the bulk section at Whole Foods, I avoided it like the black plague. That is until a few days ago.
Change of Heart
A week or so back, I came across a video which intrigued me. It showed how you can POP amaranth like pop corn. It looked CUTE popped, and I was hoping that it tasted even better, because I was determined to find a way to like this little grain. So… we finally moved last week and settled in; and this week I allowed myself some time for playing in the kitchen. I went out to the nearest Whole Foods, bought a small amount of amaranth, just in case I still did not like it, watched the video and went to experimenting… On my third try, after burning the first two batches, I finally got a uniform, un-burnt, tiny pillows of airy goodness, and I… LIKED IT!
Whoever came with the stupid saying: “Do you think you can have your cake and eat it too?” Hello! What do you think? Why else would I have a cake? To look at it? Crazy, crazy, American sayings .
As some of you know, last weekend, I was away at a Health and Wellness Conference, hosted by Dr. Pam Popper and her crew at the Wellness Forum. Saying “away” is relatively speaking , since the meeting place was only 15 minutes from my home. However, I was away from home, my hubby and blogging. Being away from my hot, sexy man was the hardest part though, since we do EVERYTHING together, and somehow, no matter how sweet and amazing the conference was, it was not as great as it would have been with him there. But… someone has to work and bring the bacon veggies home .
In the next few days I will tell you all about the event, because it was simply amazing, especially because I got to meet my hero–T Colin Campbell–face to face (yes, my first crush ever!), and I will share my notes from the conference with you as well. In the meantime, what better way to come back than to treat you all to an amazing, sugar free, heart-healthy dessert? I only wish it was my recipe I was sharing, but it’s not!
At the conference I got to meet, and even harass a bit, an amazing vegan chef–Chef AJ. Up until last weekend, unfortunately, I never heard of Chef AJ, and it is my loss, because it took only 2 minutes to fall for her head over heals. I wanted to pack her up and take her home with me… but I could not–apparently she has more important things to do than hang out with a preggo vegan .
Day 2 of the conference Chef AJ gave me a good reason to harass her–she wore this shirt, and I wanted it BAD! [How many of you feel the same way?] I wanted to get that shirt off her and put it on myself, but… since that was not happening, the next best thing, of course, was to politely ask her if I could take a picture with her.
[click to enlarge image]
[I was not the only person wanting this shirt ]
But AJ had more than just a Colin Campbell T-Shirt…
[Yes, it's a milk carton in her hands, with Colin Campell's picture plastered over it. If you read his book, and I hope you have, you will appreciate the humor.]
Chef AJ did her presentation on “Life by Chocolate” on Day 2 of the conference, although I strongly think that she should have been the opening and the closing act. In seconds of her getting on the podium the crowd [over 300 of us] were sucked in and laughing to tears [she was a stand-up comedian in her previous life ]. Don’t believe me? Watch this. [I wish I had a better camera .] This is Chef AJ’s opening and closing statements.
How can you not fall in love with such a talent;)? But what made it even easier, is her delicious, sugar free recipes. YUM! Just look at the guy, whom she was trying to marry off during this presentation, looking at her so admiringly:
I ended up buying Chef AJ’s Unprocessed book, with a ton of wonderful vegan recipes, and even stood in line, for the first time in my life, to get it autographed. I am telling you, once you meet her, you are DONE!
The most enticing part of Chef AJ’s message is–ditch the sugar! You know that I never liked sugar, thank heavens!, and the only reason I make occasional desserts is for my sugar-addicted-although-recovering hubby. So, immediately after the conference was over I went to Raisin Rack and Whole Foods to get the ingredients for one of the recipes AJ made at the conference–Decadent Chocolate Mousse. In the words of my husband: “It is so good, it makes you wanna slap your Momma and tell you Daddy to get out!”
Chef AJ’s Decadent Chocolate Mousse
Ingredients
2 boxes [12 oz ea] Mori-Nu Silken Tofu, extra firm [I used firm in my recipe]
raw cacao nibs, or Macadamia nuts [my twist] for garnish
Preparation
You can use a food processor or a high speed blender to make the recipe–I used VitaMix 5200
In a pan, over low heat, melt the chips and the date syrup, stirring so it won’t scorch
Place the rest of the ingredients, except for the nibs [nuts], in a food processor, fitted with the “S” blade and process, until well mixed [you can use a high speed blender; if using VitaMix the temper is going to come in handy]
Add melted chocolate mixture and process until smooth and creamy
Pour into individual bowls or glasses and garnish
Chill until firm
Dig in! You won’t even feel guilty, since there is no sugar! And you won’t get the “sugar high” either!
You can use this mousse for fruit dipping too .
NOTE 1: I could not find date syrup at any of the stores, so I soaked 1 cup pitted dates in almond milk mixed with water for 2 hours, which I then blended [without straining dates] in the VitaMix, making my own date syrup, then using half of the mixture when melting chocolate, and half with other ingredients. If you find that this is not sweet enough for you, you can add a tiny bit of maple or agave syrup, but, since I don’t use either, I cannot tell you how much. You just add more dates.
NOTE 2: I would not suggest eating this dessert late at night. Due to raw cacao you might be up all night if you do.
The recipe is delicious! If you want more of similar delicious recipes, sugar and gluten free, get Chef AJ’s book Unprocessed.
Or, maybe, if enough of you leave comments and beg, I could write to her and ask for her to give away one of her awesome books to one of you, since this time around I am not giving away my copy ;).
On today’s menu–Chef AJ’s Hockey Pucks–peanut butter filled chocolates . Can you taste the yumminess?
Did you know that you can get a complete set of essential amino acids, making it a complete protein, by combining brown rice and beans? For years animal protein was considered to be complete protein, because it is so close to human protein in structure, and you would have been counted crazy not to eat [...]
Hello, Loves! How was your 4th of July? Hubby worked half of the day, so once he got home, I fed him and we headed off to see a movie. We went to catch “Larry Crowne”. Overall the movie was good and full of laughs, except I did not appreciate any of the nuances that [...]
Howdy, Loves?! So, I am on Day 3 of going Gluten Free, and let me tell you that my bread cravings have set in. You know things like that happen only when you are working on staying away from something. Had I not thought about being gluten free I would not have missed eating bread for [...]
Day 1 of being Gluten Free {GF} was fantastic. I am internally resolute not to salivate over or even think about bread… not that the desire would not come, but I know that it is for the greater good. Having posted Gluten Free pancake recipe yesterday I had received a wonderful comment from one of [...]
The content of this blog [Vegalicious] is for information purposes only. Elena (Vegalicious) will not be held accountable for the use or misuse of the information contained on this site. Nothing on this blog is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The links to other internet sites are for your information only and are not endorsements for any products, services or information at such sites.
)
.
.] 
