Super Simple Crockpot Cereal

I've just discovered a great cookbook that would have made my life so easy if it had been available three years ago when I eliminated dairy and gluten from my diet. It's called Done with Dairy---Giving up Gluten: 14 Days to a Delicious and Healthy You by Meg Haworth. It's a wonderful starting place for individuals who need or want to change their eating because it has complete menus for two weeks of eating without dairy or gluten, as well as grocery lists and other tips. The author who has been eating without those ingredients for more than a decade shares her expertise and saves you going through the learning curve. The cookbook is not perfect by any means for individuals like me who have other foods they cannot eat but you learn to adapt the recipes. Also, there are some cheese substitute products mentioned that are difficult to find and may contain casein and soy. But by and large, the cookbook saves you a lot of time and guesswork. Check out the cookbook at http://www.deliciousandhealthy.com/.

Do you like hot and hearty breakfasts that keep you going throughout the morning? Then the crockpot cereal from the cookbook is for you. Here's the recipe which I adapted by adding some additional protein and fiber.

Crockpot Cereal
Ingredients:
1/3 cup each gluten-free steelcut oatmeal, whole amaranth grains, quinoa grains and buckwheat (kasha)
4 T. ground flax
4 T. vegan rice protein powder
1 T. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cardamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 cup apple juice concentrate
4 1/2 cups water or do half water and rice milk (or other alternative milk beverage)
Toppings of your choice: I like diced kiwis, blueberries, hemp milk, toasted pumpkin seeds and a teaspoon of pomegranite molasses

Directions:
Put all the dry ingredients in a small crockpot right before bedtime. Add the liquids. Put on the lid and turn to low. Say goodnight and wake up to a delicious hot cereal. Put in a bowl and serve with your favorite toppings.

Veggie Patties with Honey Mustard Sauce

I just came back from a bike ride with a backpack filled with organic fresh asparagus and sugar snap peas from a local backroads, organic produce stand. I was tempted to eat the sugar snap
peas raw but I knew that could spell disaster for someone with IBS or other sensitive digestive system issues. I decided my system could tolerate the peas if I used them as an ingredient in one of my favorite recipes, Veggie Patties with Honey Mustard Sauce.

Put the following veggies in a food processor and grind to a uniform size:
1 carrot, peeled, or a small handful of baby carrots
1/2 red onion
2 celery ribs
1 cup sugar snap peas

Add and continue grinding:
1 cup cooked quinoa
2-3 garlic cloves
Optional: toasted sunflower, pumpkin or sesame seeds (1/4) and/or 1/2 cup toasted walnuts

Dump the mixture into a bowl or keep it in the food processor if you have a cavernous one.

Add to the mixture and blend in:
egg replacer for one egg
1 T. sesame oil
2 tsp. vegan worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. balsalmic vinegar
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. minced fresh or dried parsley
1 tsp. chicken or veggie broth
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. black pepper
Salt to taste
1/2-1 cup brown rice flour

Shape the mixture into 6-8 patties and dredge with additional brown rice flour. It's best to chill the patties for several hours before cooking but if you're hungry like me after a bike ride, just pan fry for several minutes and eat and enjoy. Wrap the extras up and place in the freezer. Before freezing, separate each patty with a piece of wax paper so it will be easy to remove just one for cooking.

Top your patty with Honey Mustard Sauce:

Blend in a small bowl:
1/3 cup mayonnaise (I used Grapeseed Veganaise. Found it at the local co-op. It doesn't have any eggs and is absolutely convincing as a mayo replacement.)
2 T. agave nectar or more if you want it sweeter (You also may use honey.)
3 T. Dijon mustard (I look for one without eggs and gluten-free.)