Vegan Deep Dish "Sausage" Pizza

My husband and I have been eating a vegan diet for over a year now.  When I ask him, "If you could have one NON-vegan meal, what would it be?" I am always surprised it's not a huge steak he would want, but a deep dish sausage pizza that haunts him. A few weeks back when at our local pizza joint I asked if they could make a vegan version for us, but was sadly told it couldn't be done.  I could see why a non-vegan restaurant couldn't make my husbands dreams come true, but heck - I could!  Friday night the heavens opened up and my husband fell in love - with a Vegan Deep Dish "Sausage" Pizza!  I wanted this to be as true to a non-vegan pie with "real" sausage bites and thick to perfection. Somehow I accomplished it all. The flavor was amazing, crust held up great and the little sausage balls just sent it over the edge!  I now need to go out and buy a deep round pan just for making this pizza!!

Vegan Deep Dish "Sausage" Pizza

Ingredients:
Pizza Crust Dough (I LOVE Whole Foods)
Organic Pizza Sauce - 1 Jar

1 Gimme Lean Sausage
1 Cup Mushrooms, sliced
1 Cup Onion, sliced
Sliced Black Olives
1/4 Cup Sun Dried Tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) Package Mozzarella Vegan Cheese, shredded
oregano, to taste
1 teaspoon Sage
Fresh Basil

Cauliflower "Rice" with Veggies and Tofu

I have been having so much fun in the kitchen lately playing with new recipes.  One thing I have yet to try is replacing my rice with cauliflower "rice." So with cauliflower in hand last night I gave it a try.  What turned out - a VERY yummy vegan dish of goodness!!  My husband who is ALWAYS willing to try something new, couldn't believe it was cauliflower!  That's when I knew it was a true success.

If you are not a huge tofu fan, try searing the tofu really well done.  My husband does not care for it to be too "mushy" but when I cook it really good we both find it to be really enjoyable and tasty.
 

Cauliflower "Rice" with Veggies and Tofu

Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1 Extra Firm Tofu, cut into cubes
1/2 Cup Soy Sauce
2 T. Sriracha
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

1 Onion
2 Cups Mushrooms, sliced
1 Bunch Asparagus, cut into pieces
1/2 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice

2 teaspoons Cumin
2 teaspoons Maple Syrup
1 teaspoon Ginger

1 Head of Cauliflower
1/2 Cup Pine Nuts
1 T. Chili Flakes (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste

keeping it cool in the kitchen & a work in progress

Arizona summers can make cooking dinner an agonizing chore.  The heat of the stove top, heat of the oven...no thank you.  Since discovering raw cooking this past winter I KNEW this was my summertime cooking answer!  Last night was one of my favorite go to quick raw meals.  Bonus - it's SO easy to make!! Tip: If you do not like your food spicy just leave out the chipotle pepper.

Raw Vegan Spicy Avocado and "Pasta"

Ingredients:
2 Avocados, ripe
1 Lemon
1 Chipotle.Pepper
1/2 Red Onion, diced
2/3 Cup of Sliced Cherry Tomatoes

1 T. Olive Oil
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
1 T. Red Pepper Flakes
Raw Sunflower Seeds (optional)
2 Large Zucchini

busy start to summer!

I have been a bad vegan redhead ignoring my blog.  I do have a couple of reasons for the missing in action -

1. My daughter graduated from High School!! Woohoo!
2. Work has been crazy off and on.
3. Eating like a bad vegan (lots of vegan junk food) and not feeling that energy and motivation I do when eating healthy.
4. Have realized and now excepted that I am not, nor will ever be, a runner (you can see I have dropped that from my blog header lol).

With summer now upon us things feel like they are slowing down a bit.  So, now for some catching up!

Graduation

I have to start with my daughter graduating really fast!  We are so proud of her!!  The day of graduation she and I enjoyed pedicures and then the day after - Mother & Daughter tattoos!!  We are a bit wild that way lol!  Here are a few photos from the event: