Protein Cherry Yogurt Scones

2 grains, 1 fruit, 1 fat, 1 protein

As promised, I am sharing the scone recipe I tried today! I found the recipe on the Fage yogurt website, and it was a total hit!

“THIS IS THE BEST SCONE I’VE EVER HAD….PERFECT!” – Sergei (There you have it folks, this recipe is better than the boxed and store bought scones we’ve tried!)

Instead of using cranberries I used dried cherries and golden raisins. On the next batch I added a cup of oats and made oatmeal raisin scones. The combinations are endless so feel free to make your own and share what you tried!

Cherry Orange Yogurt Scones

Recipe adapted from: fage.com

2 cups of flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp kosher salt
1/3 cup of granulated sugar
1 cup FAGE Total Classic
1 egg
¼ cup butter, melted*
2 tsp orange zest
½ cup dried cherries

Preheat oven to 400F. Combine first four ingredients in one bowl (dry), and the sugar, yogurt, egg, butter, and zest in a separate bowl (wet). Add the wet mixture to the dry and fold in the dried cherries. Make a circular shape with the dough and cut into 8 pieces. Bake scones with at least an inch of space between them for ~15 minutes.

*Can be substituted with Earth Balance

What kind of scones would you like?

Perfect Pumpkin Pie : Veganized

1 fat, 1 fruit, 1 grain, 1/2 protein

Ok, I know it’s spring and traditionally pumpkin pie is served in the fall. But, fall was 6 months ago and I can’t possibly wait another 6 before eating this again! So I made up this excuse for the family as to why I have to make pumpkin pie instead of apple, peach, berry, etc: 

Pumpkin pie will help us watch the spring flowers bloom, while cleansing our bodies from the winter weather.

I use this excuse because pumpkin is high in vitamin A, cancer fighting beta-carotene, and fiber! Not to mention it has been said to help keep the skin wrinkle free, so bring on the sun!

If your family likes pumpkin year round (like me, but unlike my family) just make it because it tastes good.

REALLY good.

Adapted from Vegetarian Times

Crust

½ cup unbleached flour

7 Tbs. whole-wheat pastry flour

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. sugar or granulated sugar cane syrup

½ tsp. baking powder

2 Tbs. canola oil

3 Tbs. soy milk plus ½ tsp. lemon juice

2 to 3 Tbs. water

Filling

1 15 oz canned pumpkin

1 cup soy milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 Tbs. dark molasses

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. ground ginger

¼ tsp. grated nutmeg

¼ tsp. ground allspice

>> The Crust: Combine flours, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Separately mix the oil, soy milk and lemon juice. Add the wet and dry ingredients. If it is too dry, add some water. Refrigerate the dough for an hour if you can, otherwise roll it out and line a 9 inch pie pan. Crimp the edges and preheat the oven to 425F while you prepare the filling.

The Filling: Mix all the filling ingredients together until smooth. Pour over the unbaked crust and smooth the top. Bake for 10 mins and then reduce the oven to 350F. Bake for an additional 40-50 minutes, until the filling has set. Let the pie cool, and then refrigerate overnight or at least 3 hrs.

Exchange counts are for 1/8th of the pie. If you’re wondering where the fruit comes from, it’s the sugar in the pie. Ignore this if you need actual fruit in your diet, and not just the sugar.

 

Will April Showers Bring May Flowers ? // Pineapple Tofu Stir Fry

2.5 fats, 1 fruit, 2 grains, 3 proteins, 2 vegetables

Happy April! I’m so excited to share this recipe with you guys; it’s juicy, tangy, naturally sweet and salty.

But let me back track a little. Over the winter I bought a 4 lb bag of frozen pineapple chunks from Costco. I’m almost at the end, but still have a little left. I like to eat them right from the freezer, but decided to switch things up and incorporate them into my stir fry. Do you have any pineapple recipes to share for the last of my bag?

Fun Fast Facts:

• Pineapple has very good anti inflammatory benefits because of its enzyme bromelain.
• Pineapple grows as a result of of many flowers whose flowerets have joined around the core.
• Hawaii is the world’s largest producer of pineapple.
• Traditionally, pineapple was used as a diuretic and a labor inducer.

For stir fry:

1 cup brown rice, cooked [2 grains, 1 protein]

1 tsp coconut oil [1 fat]

3/4 cup fresh or frozen greens (I used a broccoli, edamame, green bean mix) [1.5 vegetable]

4 oz. tofu [1 protein, 1/2 fat]

1/3 red bell pepper [1/2 vegetable]

1/2 small onion

~ 1/2 cup chopped pineapple [1 fruit]

1/4 cup egg whites (opt.) [1 protein]

6 cashews [1 fat]

For sauce: 

2 tbsp pineapple juice*

2.5 tsp rice vinegar

2 tsp tamari (or soy sauce)

1 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp cornstarch

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tsp minced garlic

>> Combine all ingredients for the sauce, except cornstarch, in a dish. Dry tofu with a paper towel and dice it into a bowl. Cover with 2 tbsp. of sauce and set aside to marinade about 5-10 mins. Add cornstarch to the remaining sauce and mix until smooth. Heat skillet with coconut oil and sauté onions. Add the tofu until it has browned. Add vegetables and cook 2 minutes. Add the brown rice and egg whites. Cook an additional 2 minutes and serve. Garnish with scallions, cilantro, and cashews.

*To get pineapple juice, I simple microwaved the frozen pineapple chunks for about 30 seconds.