Vegan Recipes from Cassie Howard

Vegan Insanity >> Vegan recipes that are delicious and easy to make. Plus, kitchen, cooking & shopping tips!

How to Make Homemade Almond Milk

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Homemade-Almond-Milk

Homemade almond milk. Is there anything better?

The correct answer is yes. Chocolate. But other than chocolate? NOPE!

And guess what? Homemade almond milk is one of the easiest things you can make yourself! No more processed milk from the store, for you. Yippie!

Plump-Almonds

First, start off with a bowl of delicious, plump almonds. To get them nice and plump like this, soak them in water overnight, or at least 8 hours.

Soaking your almonds allows you to get the almond milk smoother. Plus, soaked almonds are easier to digest! So go get soaking!

Almonds-in-Blender

Add your soaked nuts to a blender with 4 cups of filtered water. Blend for about 3 minutes, or until smooth, and white, and creamy, and omgosh so good.

Almond-Milk-in-Blender

Like this. Pretty, right? Yes – milk can be pretty. Especially this almond milk.

See how well the blender was able to do with the soaked almonds?

Pouring-Almond-Milk

Although the mixture is smooth, you still want to pour the milk through a nut milk bag to remove any sediment. I use this one that I bought off Amazon for under $10. Worth. Every. Penny.

Squeezing-Almond-Milk

Squeeze, squeeze, and squeeze some more, until no more milk is seeping through the bag. Set aside the almond pulp that is left inside the bag (refrigerate and use in smoothies or dry it out in the oven to make almond flour).

Add the milk back to the blender and add the agave, vanilla and cinnamon. Blend for another minute or so.

Almond-Milk-Homemade

Ta-da! Homemade almond milk in minutes (not including soaking time)! I told you it was easy. Pour into a large air-tight jar and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

And in case you were wondering – YES, it is delicious. I like it 1000x more than the store-bought stuff.

Next up on my list – homemade chocolate almond milk!

Vegan-Almond-Milk

How to Make Homemade Almond Milk
Recipe Type: Homemade Milk
Author: Vegan Insanity
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 8 cups
Ingredients
  • 1 cup raw almonds, soaked for at least 8 hours
  • 4 cups filtered water
  • 1 tbsp agave
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
  1. Drain and rinse your almonds, then add to a blender with 4 cups of water.
  2. Blend for about 3 minutes, or until smooth.
  3. Over a large bowl, place a nut milk bag, and then pour the almond & water mixture through the nut milk bag.
  4. Gently squeeze the bottom of the nut milk bag, releasing the almond milk into the bowl. Keep doing this until all of the milk has been released and you are left with a big lump of almond pulp in the bag (set that aside and use in smoothies or dry it out in the oven to make almond flour).
  5. Rinse out your blender and blender lid, and add the almond milk back into the blender, along with the agave, vanilla and cinnamon. Blend again for another minute or so.
  6. Pour almond milk into a large glass jar and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Notes
*Make sure you shake up the almond milk before using, as it will separate while sitting.

 

2 Minute Vegan Parmesan Cheese

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Vegan-Parmesan-Cheese Have you ever stumbled across one of those recipes where, after you read it and make it yourself, you think: “why have I not made this before?!”? I have – and this is that recipe. Vegan-Parmesan You see, before going vegan, parmesan cheese was my bestie. We did everything together. Sometimes I would grate parmesan directly into my mouth, I loved it that much. So imagine how heartbroken I was when it was time to go our separate ways. But than – THEN I found vegan parmesan cheese. A friend shared this recipe with me, and if you can believe it – it’s just as good as the dairy-based stuff. Except it’s free of animal products. And I can make it myself. Because you certainly would never have caught me making cheese out of cow’s milk. No way, no how. Homemade-Vegan-Parmesan This vegan parmesan takes just 2 minutes to make. That’s it. I’m not kidding. 2 minutes. Set a timer if you don’t believe me. All it is, is nuts (I use almonds, but many others would work, such as cashew or walnut), nutritional yeast and salt. Put it in your food processor, process and them BAM. You’re done. Sprinkle it on everything. For a nut-free version of this cheese, combine 1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds with 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Homemade-Vegan-Parmesan-Cheese

2 Minute Vegan Parmesan Cheese
Recipe Type: Vegan Cheese
Author: Vegan Insanity
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 1 cup
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 cup raw almonds, unsalted
  • 1 tsp salt
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until powdery (I like mine with just a bit of texture and not super smooth of a powder).
  2. Store in the refrigerator in an air-tight jar for up to 2 weeks.

 

Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Bites with Lime & Cilantro

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I’ve got a thing for cauliflower. The possibilities are endless with this stuff, so I use it whenever I can get my hands on it.

Though it’s good as a pizza crust, mashed like potatoes, baked like chicken wings, and stuffed into tacos – it’s also good on it’s own, roasted in the oven, covered in an array of spices.

Spicy-Oven-Roasted-Cauliflower

Mmm mmm good.

I could eat this cauliflower all by myself – the whole thing – and I wouldn’t feel guilty. Because it’s cauliflower! And it’s healthy! And it’s better than most other savory snacks I can think of!

Oh, and did I mention that it’s crazy easy to make, too?

Vegan-Spicy-Roasted-Cauliflower

Chop cauliflower, toss with seasonings, bake, eat. The end.

Serve it up on it’s own as a snack, or alongside pretty much any meal you could possibly be eating. Burgers? Yep. Pasta? Why not? Tacos? Of course!

This cauliflower goes with everything. Eat it up!

Spicy-Roasted-Cauliflower-Vegan

Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Bites with Lime & Cilantro
Recipe Type: Side
Author: Vegan Insanity
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 medium-large head of cauliflower, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup cilantro
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp hot sauce
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, olive oil, cilantro, salt & pepper. Once mixed thoroughly, add the cauliflower pieces and toss, making sure every piece gets coated nicely.
  3. Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender and has browned.
  4. Add the lime juice and hot sauce to the roasted cauliflower and mix gently. Cover each piece with the lime juice and hot sauce.
  5. Remove to a serving dish, sprinkle with more fresh cilantro (optional), and serve immediately.

 

Vegan Cheesy Dill Popcorn

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I used to visit this popcorn store near our house all the time before I switched to a plant-based diet. Kernels. That was their name – and they sold all different kinds of… you guessed it – popcorn. They often had buy one, get one free deals doing on too, which made my decision to stuff my face full of popcorn even easier.

Since all of their popcorn is coated in butter, I can no longer visit them and buy copious amounts of popcorn. Sad face.

vegan-cheesy-dill-popcorn

My favourite flavour was cheesy dill. It was finger-lickin’ good, and I don’t say that lightly. That stuff was addictive. I couldn’t get enough! Once I quit cheese and butter, this delicious treat was off the menu for me.

And for months, I just sulked and whined about it. I want my cheesy diiiiiiiiiiiiiiill. I NEED it. I can’t survive without it! I’m going to dieeeeeeeeee…

Ahem.

cheesy-dill-popcorn-vegan

Thankfully, I [kind of] know my way around the kitchen, so I thought I’d try out my own homemade cheesy dill popcorn – a vegan version that I was actually able to eat.

And I did it!

It is:
Cheesy
Dill-y
Satisfying
Healthy (ish)
Delicious
Mouth-watering
Crunchy
Full of flavour

dill-and-cheese-popcorn

Now I can stuff my face whenever I want! SCORE.

Seriously, if you’re a popcorn love and cheese and dill are your thang, give this popcorn a try. I dare you not to stuff your face, too.

cheesy-dill-popcorn

Vegan Cheesy Dill Popcorn
Recipe Type: Snack
Author: Vegan Insanity
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
  • 1/4 cup vegan butter, melted (I used Earth Balance)
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp salt
Instructions
  1. Pop your popcorn and place into a large, brown paper bag.
  2. Drizzle half of the melyed butter, close the bag, and shake and about 15 seconds. Repeat with remaining butter. Do the same with the apple cider vinegar.
  3. Sprinkle the fresh dill, nutrotional yeast and sale over the popcorn. Close the bag and shake again – for 15-30 seconds, or until all popcorn is coated well.
  4. Dump popcorn into serving bowl(s) and serve immediately.

 

cheese-dill-popcorn

 

Spicy Cumin Carrots with Coriander Tahini Sauce

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Cumin-Coriander-Carrots

I received a bunch of gorgeous, organic carrots in my farm share box last week! This was my first time getting carrots with the greens still attached (I had to trim them down quite a bit) – I always bought them in a bag.

And wow – they are so small and adorable and TASTY. My husband and I were both marveling at the fact that these were the best carrots we’ve ever had. I don’t know if I can go back to the bagged variety.

Cumin-Spiced-Carrots

Look at how different they all look, too. I love the one that’s all bent! I snatched it up first, right after I was done taking photos. It was delicious – just like the others.

Instead of just roasting these carrots, I rolled them in some cumin, salt & pepper, then drizzled a tahini & coriander dressing over top. Yum, yum – big time YUM.

Spiced-Cumin-Carrots

 

Spicy Cumin Carrots with Coriander Tahini Sauce
Recipe Type: Side Dish
Author: Vegan Insanity
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • Carrots
  • 1 bunch carrots (5 per person), washed and dried
  • 1/2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (more or less, depending on your heat preference)
  • 1/2 tsp poppy seeds (optional)
  • Tahini & Coriander Dressing
  • 1 tbsp tahini
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp coriander
Instructions
Carrots
  1. Preheat your oven to 425F and line a baking sheet with a non-stick mat or parchment paper.
  2. Place carrots on your baking sheet and drizzle with avocado oil, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika and cayenne pepper. Roll the carrots around until they are all completely covered.
  3. Roast for 15 minutes, or until fork-tender.
Coriander Tahini Sauce
  1. In a small bowl, mix together the tahini, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil and coriander. Drizzle over roasted carrots, sprinkle with poppy seeds (if desired) and serve immediately.

 

Raw Vegan Breakfast Parfaits

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Raw-Vegan-Parfait

YOU GUYS. This breakfast? AH-MAZING.

And I don’t say that lightly. This is one of the best breakfasts I’ve had in a very, very long time.

The best part? It’s super easy, extremely healthy, and it’s raw (I’ve been trying to get more raw meals/snacks into my diet)!

Vegan-Parfait-Raw
The creaminess of the cashew cream works so well with the crunchy nut/seed mix and the soft fruit.

Just delicious!

I’ve also made these parfaits with strawberry & kiwi, mango & kiwi, and blueberry & raspberry. It never disappoints!

Raw-Vegan-Berry-Parfait

 

Raw Vegan Breakfast Parfaits
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Author: Vegan Insanity
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • Nuts/Seeds
  • 1 cup raw almonds
  • 1 cup raw walnuts
  • 1/4 cup chia seeds
  • 1/4 cup flax seeds
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
  • Cashew Cream
  • 1 cup raw cashews (soaked for at least 2 hours)
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 1/2 tbsp agave
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • Fruit
  • Any fruit you’d like (I used strawberries & blackberries)
Instructions
Nuts/Seeds
  1. Put all seeds and nuts into a food processor and process for a few seconds. Don’t process too much or everything will turn into a flour, which is not what you want. You still want some big chunks.
Cashew Cream
  1. Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until smooth (add a bit more water if you want to thin it out some more).
Putting it all together
  1. Add a layer of berries, then nuts/seeds, then cashew cream, then more nuts, then a ton of fruit on top.

 

Pineapple, Banana & Hemp Smoothie

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Pineapple-Banana-Smoothie

This is one of my favourite smoothies for 2 reasons:

1. It has pineapple, which is one of my favourite fruits that I don’t buy year-round because they taste best only when in season.

2. It’s fast. Most smoothies are fast, but this one is EXTRA FAST.

Banana-Pineapple-Smoothie

Pineapple-Banana-Smoothie-Vegan

Pineapple Banana Smoothie
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Cuisine: Smoothie
Author: Vegan Insanity
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 1 cup non-dairy milk (I used almond)
  • 1 large, ripe banana, cut into chunks
  • 1/4 pineapple, cut into chunks
  • 4 ice cubes
  • 1 tablespoon hemp hearts
  • pumpkin seeds, for topping (optional)
  • hemp seeds, for topping (optional)
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until smooth.
  2. Top with more hemp hearts and some pumpkin seeds, if desired.

 

How to Make Chia Seed Jam

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Chia-Seed-Jam I can’t believe I’ve kept this super easy jam recipe a secret from you, but it seems as though I did. I’ve always loved homemade jams, and would buy them often at farmer’s markets in the summer, but never made them myself because I felt like it would be too much work. A few months back, a friend of mine introduced me to chia seed jam, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Now I make homemade jam all the time. Vegan-Chia-Seed-Jam I love how simple it is to prepare a fresh batch of my very own jam, adding as much, or as little, sweetener as I want. Store-bought jams are almost always way too sweet, aren’t they? I think so. Strawberry-Chia-Seed-Jam
 So far I’ve only made blueberry jam and this strawberry jam, but once I do some raspberry picking this summer, I’ll make a batch of raspberry jam, too. Blackberry would also be nice. And peach. And grape. Ahhh, there are so many options! Toast-with-Chia-Seed-Jam And all thanks to the goodness of chia seeds, which are amazing because they: Balance blood sugar Add healthy omega-3 oil to your diet Make you feel more energized Cut your cravings Combat diseases Provide you with stronger teeth & bones Are a great source of protein Help fight belly fat and so much more! I love these little guys. Chia-Seed-Jam-Vegan

How to Make Chia Seed Jam
Recipe Type: How-to Guide
Cuisine: Chia Seed Jam
Author: Vegan Insanity
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: Varies
Ingredients
  • Fruit of choice (I used 1 pound of strawberries)
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup or agave (I used maple syrup)
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds
Instructions
  1. Prepare your fruit. For my strawberries, I washed them, hulled them, and cut them into really small pieces. I’ve also made blueberry chia seed jam, and for those, I just washed the blueberries.
  2. Add your fruit and maple syrup or agave to a small pot, and heat on medium for about 10 minutes, or until the fruit starts to liquefy. Once this happens, start to gently smash your fruit. The smoother you want your jam, the more you’ll have to mash up the fruit.
  3. Once the fruit has reached your desired consistency, bring it to a boil, and allow to cook for about 5 minutes.
  4. Add in your chia seeds and stir to combine. Remove from heat and then walk away and come back in 10 minutes – voila, homemade jam!
  5. Allow the jam to cool completely before serving. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.