Homemade Cheese Puffs (BBQ-Style)

These aren't exactly like their "Cheetos" cousins, but the soft inside paired with the crunchy and slightly sweet outside is a winner. These would be great served as a snack or even part of a meal for a "bread basket", similar to hush puppies with a bit of their own flavor - these are sure to please.

(Puff Dough Ingredients)

• 1 and 3/4 cups White Corn Meal
• 1/2 tsp of Baking Soda
• 1 tsp of Salt
• 2 tbl Vegetable Oil
• 1/4 tsp of Garlic Powder
• 1 cup of Warmed Water + 1 tsp Vinegar
• 1/3 tsp of Whipped Agar (optional)

(BBQ Powder Ingredients)

• 3 tsp Garlic Powder
• 2 tsp Chili Powder
• 2 tsp of Raw Sugar
• 1 tsp of Stevia
• About 1/4 cup of Veg Powdered Cheese (or Nutritional Yeast)
• Salt to taste

(Directions)

• Mix dough together until you can squeeze it without falling apart and then take a small cookie scoop to plop them out.
• Allow to brown on all sides by pan-frying them, then bake for about 20 minutes until everything has crisped and fully cooked.
• Quickly roll in the powder, serve and enjoy.

Raw Vegan Fruit Cake

Delicious, fresh, moist and fruity - these tasty little snacks are quite healthy too. They're easy to make and great for kids!

(Fruit Cake Ingredients)

• 1 cup of Base Flour
• 4 tbl Coconut Oil
• 3 tbl Raw Sugar
• 1/2 Juicy Apple (your choice)
• Chopped (dried) Pineapple, Cherry and Cashews

(Directions)

• Mix together, form into balls and place into the freeze for thirty minutes.
• Let them defrost for a moment and serve for Christmas or any time.

I hope that you enjoy this quick snack!

Halloween Goodies #1 (Peanut Butter Caramel Popcorn)

Scary, isn't it? The dark shadow, the red fabric and the eerie glow of the popcorn tell you not to put it in your mouth. But the popcorn is so inviting and it smells divine! The tantalizing smell of caramel, the pop of the spice and the hint of salt and peanut butter is too much to resist. This devilish treat is surely a crowd pleaser for the little goblins and ghouls who will most definitely appear at your house. Keep your popped corn on hand - because this is going to be a sweet ride!

(Peanut Butter Caramel Popcorn Ingredients)

• 5 tbl Coconut Oil
• 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Cup White Sugar
• 1 tsp Sea Salt
• 1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
• 1/4 Cup Soymilk
• 2-4 tbl Low-fat Peanut Butter
• A Small Squirt of Lemon Juice
• Unsalted Crushed Peanuts (optional)
• Cooked popcorn

(Directions)

• Melt the coconut oil in a thick-bottomed pan and add in your sugar. Stir those in for a while as you drizzle in the soymilk. Let it thicken and bubble.
• While still stirring, add the salt and pepper flakes. Let that go for another five minutes and add the lemon juice. It should be thick and you should kind of be able to tell how far the caramel is in with it's thickness.
• Stir in the peanut butter and a touch of extra salt if you like, it should look like a thick caramel by now. Stick a spoon in it to test it's thickness.
• Spread it over your popcorn evenly and sprinkle the peanuts over. Mix it together until coated and serve warm or cooled.
• Enjoy!

Nacho Cheese Pretzels

I had planned on making some seitan bacon but I couldn't find a certain ingredient, meaning that the garbanzo flour I was going to make would be rendered useless. Instead, I made it into a creamy and nacho-cheesy filling for my delicious pretzels.

(Pretzel Dough Ingredients)

• 4 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
• About 1 and 3/4 cup Water
• 2 and 1/4 tsp Rapid-Rise Yeast
• 2 tsp Sea Salt + Coarse Salt for topping
• 1 tbl Vegan Sugar

(Cooking Water Ingredients)

• 10 Cups Cold Water
• 2/3 Cup Baking Soda

(Cheesy Filling Ingredients)

• 2 tbl Minced Red Pepper
• 1/2-1 tsp Chili Seasoning
• 1/4 Cup Nutritional Yeast
• 1/4 Cup Cooked Garbanzo Beans
• Salt to taste (if necessary)

(Directions)

• Pretzel Dough: Mix the water, sugar and yeast together and let them sit for about five minutes while you mix the flour and salt together in a separate bowl.
• Build a well in the salt mixture, pour in the water and mix it well.
• Knead the mixture for about 10 minutes or until it turns into a smooth elastic ball and place into a greased bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for about an hour in a warm place.


• Cheesy Filling: Puree the ingredients together and set them aside.


• Split your dough into equal pieces and then roll them out thinly with your hands, then take a rolling pin to roll the dough thinly.
• Spoon some of the cheesy mixture onto the middle of the dough (being careful to stay in the middle) and pinch the sides to reform it.
• Roll it out into a thin rope and make it into a pretzel (or whatever you want) shape. Set aside and put onto a rolled baking sheet. Let each rest for about 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven at 450 degrees.
• Bring your cooking water to a boil.
• Boil each pretzel for about 30 seconds and place back onto the baking sheet.
• Spread the coarse salt liberally to the pretzels and bake at 450 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on top.
• Enjoy!