Vegan Carrot Spaghetti with Creamy Crisp Celery Apple Topping

One thing that is really fun to make is vegetable spaghetti.
You almost get a different flavor, when you peel the vegetable, and
blanch it.
It truly is like regular noodles, which absorb whatever you add to it.
It is fun to us your imagination for different was to serve vegetable spaghetti.
I have done many vegetables, but in this recipe I used carrots.
Carrots gives a sweetness, to the dish.
This is a delicious way of serving a salad over "spaghetti" :)
This was a BIG hit:)
This is a great dish because the crispness of the apple and celery over the
soft sweet noodles. Yummmmy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carrot Spaghetti with Creamy Crisp Celery Apple Topping
Serves 3 good portions

6 small carrots peeled
1 apple
2 stalks of celery
1/4 cup fresh parsley (chopped fine)
3 Tablespoons of milk (vegan)
21/2 Tablespoons mayonnaise(vegan)
squeeze of fresh lemon juice
sea salt

Wash and peel carrots into long ribbons, in a small stock pot boil water like you are making
normal pasta, add a good pinch of sea salt to the water.
When water is boiling, add the carrot ribbons and blanch for 3 minutes.
Strain and let cool, add another pinch of sea salt.
Then wash and chop apple into small size pieces, you can peel the apple, but I like the peeling:)
Then squeeze a little lemon juice over the cut apples, just to coat them from getting brown.
Wash and chop the celery stalks into small size pieces, as well.
In a small bowl mix the milk and mayo with a good pinch of sea salt, add the chopped parsley,
and mix until well incorporated.
Then add in the apple and celery, add sea salt to taste, and let sit in refrigerator covered for 20 minutes.
When carrots are cooled, swirl on plate and top with celery apple mixture.

                                                                            Birch Life

Garden fresh Asparagus Carrot Spread topping for canapes

Making spreads are really interesting, there are so many different ingredients you can use.
This one is a great option for a party or even to eat as a meal.
I like asparagus, it has a fresh earthly flavor, so good when you get it locally fresh:)
I added carrots, for their sweetness, to balance the earthly almost rich flavor of the asparagus.
I like to serve it on a canape(toasted bread), it makes it feel special!
Individual servings are always the most popular at a party:)

Garden Fresh Asparagus Carrot Spread topping for canapes
Makes 1 cup

6 stalks of asparagus
1 small carrot
2 Tablespoon's sour cream (vegan)
1 Tablespoon milk (I used almond)
1/2 teaspoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice
sea salt
bread (I used gluten free)
butter(vegan) for spread on top of bread after toasting!

Small stock pot bring 3 cups of water to boil with a good pinch of sea salt.
Wash and chop carrots into 1/2 inch rounds, then add to boiling water.
Wash and chop asparagus into 1/2 inch pieces, when carrots have been in water
for 5 minutes add the asparagus and cook another 5 minutes then drain and let cool.
When vegetables are cool add them to blender and sour cream, milk, fresh lemon
juice and 2 good pinches of sea salt.
Puree until smooth, taste for salt add more if desired:)
Toast bread, then butter, and cut into whatever shape you like!
Tip: When I made these for a small party they were the first to go, so make a lot.
                                                            Birch Life

10 minute Tomato Sauce for pizza and vegan ideas for topping yummy!!!!!!!

I don't buy anything in a can, so I had to come up with a way to make homemade tomato sauce.
I like the flavor better of fresh sauce then the can! This easy recipe is great made for 1 person to
100 people. It takes no more then 10 minutes to make.
You can use whatever fresh tomatoes you like. People say only use roma tomatoes,
but I like all different flavors from a variety of tomatoes. I have even used yellow tomatoes for sauce.
It had a sweeter flavor then the red ones and less acidic as well. So try a variety of tomatoes for
your sauces:)


10 minute Tomato sauce
makes enough for 1 10 inch pizza crust

2 tomato's
pinch of sea salt
any fresh herbs you like chopped (1 teaspoons)

In a small pot on medium heat add 2 washed tomatoes, pinch of salt over each one,
cover. Let cook 3 minutes, not taking off cover.
When 3 minutes are over, lift cover and the tomatoes should be
sweaty, and collapsing. Mush down with a fork any remaining
pieces.
Cook on low the remaining 7 minutes covered.
If your tomatoes are on the drier side add a very small amount
of liquid.
You may not need the whole 7 minutes more, watch and stir until
slight thick texture.
Strain out the seeds and skins.

 I don't mind a few seeds

I made pizza for a birthday party. I used real cheese on request from the birthday guest, and no cheese for another.
I also used Tunn brod which is a Swedish flatbread. So use any flat bread you can find or even a wrap.
You can also find gluten free variety's

Toast the bread for 3-5 minutes until slight crisp edges. Then add the tomato sauce.
I sauteed 1 cup of  broccoli with long stalks in 1 tablespoon of butter with stalks for 4 minutes until fork tender.
Add broccoli and grated cheese, put in oven until cheese melted.
Another person wanted no sauce, so I put cheese on the bottom, melted it, and add the broccoli
and grated carrots.

 For the people who wanted no cheese I add tomato sauce then sauteed broccoli, and grated carrots.

I made a white sauce, vegan  for one pizza. I used a vegan creme fraiche (2 tablespoons) with a pinch of sea salt and a good tablespoon of chopped  parsley. Then add the broccoli and grated carrots. Yummy

When making pizza use whatever toppings you like, but all these were huge hits:) Everyone couldn't stop eating them.The grated carrots give a sweet taste and a cheese texture.

So try and enjoy.

Birch Life

My Incredible Leftover Green Salad

This is a fun salad, basically it is whatever you have leftover. You just need to start with the base,

I like to use a head of lettuce, my favorite is a butter lettuce. I tend to not use the micro greens,

I like the lettuce flavor and the crispness you get. Then a simple dressing that is tasty with all vegetables.  

I will give you the recipe then I will give you suggestions at the end :) 

Incredible leftover green salad

This is what I had leftover.

1 head of lettuce

1 carrot 

1 cup broccoli (chopped in big pieces)

1/2 cup peas

1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise

1/4 cup "milk" ( I used Oatly milk)

1 Tablespoon "butter" ( vegan) 

4  rice cakes ( crumbled)

sea salt

In a large bowl add the washed lettuce, tear it into large pieces.

Grate the carrot into bowl. Add a pinch of sea salt.

I sauteed the broccoli and peas with butter  for 5 minutes, then let them cool for another 5 minutes.

Mix the mayonnaise, milk and pinch of sea salt until combined.

Now mix altogether and coat everything with dressing.

Top with crumbled rice cakes, add more sea salt if desired.

You can add whatever you have in leftover vegetables.

Baked potatoes ( diced and sauteed)

small pieces of onion or leeks

peas

small carrot 

few stalks of celery

corn 

half cucumber

beans 

even if they have been cooked.

You get the idea!

Sometimes if I have a piece of  bread or 2, I butter each side and saute until 

crisp on each side. Instant croutons.

Happy salad making.

                                           Birch Life

  

Satisfying tasty versatile 4 ingredients vegan lentil dish :)

I like lentils because they are super easy to make. They take about 30 minutes to cook.
There are a variety of different lentils. My favorite are the small french lentils.
You can use any kind you like for this recipe. I am using green lentils, because they are easy to find.
This is a simple dish so you can add different ingredients if you like, or condiments.

Simple lentil dish

2 cups of  lentils (any variety)
2 carrots chopped ( chop to desired size)
1 bouillon cube
water

Rinse lentils, add to pot on medium heat, add carrots
fill with water 2 inches above lentils ( what I learned from Jamie Oliver, boil water int he kettle, it cooks faster)
cook 30 minutes slightly covered
check in 15 minutes if more water is needed
when finished add bouillon if no bouillon add sea salt to taste.


Now you have a wonderfully simple lentil dish
you can embellish or not, either way it is a satisfying dish.
Sometimes I will eat it with vegan sour cream on top and tortilla chips;)
Other ways is on a baked potato, with toast as a soup, cold on a lettuce salad, and hot as a side dish the
list is endless!
If you can find vegan creme fraiche  yummy!!!!
It keeps for 2 days in refrigerator.

                                                  Birch Life