Hazelnut Hot Cocoa

It’s such a simple recipe it’s almost a non-recipe. The hazelnut taste combines with the cocoa in a rich fulfilling way!

Serves 2:
Rice Drink with Hazelnuts (500 ml)
Cocoa (4 tbsp - powder, organic)
Agave syrup (1/2 tbsp)

1) Pour the rice milk into a large pan, and bring almost to the boil over a medium heat.
2) Spoon the cocoa and agave into the hot rice milk, give it a good whisk and serve with some little rice cookies. These cookies are made with rice, spelt flour, rice syrup and rice drink with calcium from vegetable source... and they are yummy!

Rice Drink with Hazelnut

A few days ago I was sent a couple of products from Finestra sul el cielo to sample for the blog.

When I first start drinking vegetable milks I had some difficulty with the rice milk that to me tasted like milky water, and then another brands arrived in the portuguese market, among them there was the Original Rice Drink from Finestra... all my previous experiences were transmuted and rice milk turned into a favourite... it's good with cereals, perfect for desserts and cooking.

The Rice Drink with Hazelnut is even tastier, with all the goodness of the original rice drink plus the sweet flavour of nuts!

Açaí Pudding

In my search for health food products in Sweden I found High Tech Scandinavia and what caught my attention was their vast range of powdered superfoods.

I've contacted them and last Friday I received this amazing gift from them:

The first one I've tried was the Açaí powder (organic, freeze dried):

"Acai is a superfood for real, it contains lots of vitamin E, vitamin B1, B2, B3, antioxidants, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, fiber, proteins, amino acids and fatty acids.

Acai powder has natural essential fatty acids, fiber and amino acids that work together to help your body burn fat, process food more quickly and lose unwanted pounds you want to lose. Acai powder will improve your immune system and digestive system so fat is not stored in the body."

It cloudy and a bit cold outside and a dessert idea for lunch time popped up...

Açaí Pudding

Serves 2:

Cornstarch (40g)

Muscovado Sugar (20g)

Açaí powder (1 tbsp)

Rice Drink (400 ml)

1) In a saucepan stir together sugar, cornstarch and stir in rice drink.

2) Place over medium heat.

3) Bring to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a metal spoon.

4) Remove from heat, add the Açaí powder and whisk until combined.

5) Let cool briefly, and serve warm, or chill in refrigerator until serving.

It smells good and it tastes even better, soft, rich and nutritious... 

In the next days I will continue to post about this amazing products.

Hot Cocoa

Hot cocoa is a deliciously warm and comforting drink. This vegan fortified version it's even better :)

Serves 2:
Rice Drink (450 ml)
Cocoa (4 tbsp - powder, organic)
Maca (1 tbsp - powder)
Dark Muscovado Sugar (1 tbsp)

1) Pour the rice milk into a large pan, and bring almost to the boil over a medium heat.
2) Spoon the cocoa, sugar and maca into the hot rice milk, give it a good whisk and serve.

Strawberry-chia-coconut smoothie

And the first Provamel experience: a refreshing dairy-free smoothie filled with strawberries, chia seeds and a great coconut taste!

Serves 2:
Strawberries (100g - frozen)

Chia seeds (1 tsp)
Rice and coconut drink (400 ml - Provamel)

1) Blend strawberries, chia and coconut rice milk until smooth.

Vegg Waffles

Today I made some vegan waffles to try "the Vegg" vegan egg yolk. The result: light and tasty waffles :)

Makes 3:
Plain flour (50g)
Whole wheat flour (50g)
Rice drink (250 ml)
Baking powder (1 tsp)
Non-hydrogenated margarine (1 tbsp)
Flaxseed (powder - 1 tsp)
Agave nectar (1 tsp)
the Vegg (1 tsp)
Raspberry (sugar free) jam (for topping)
(Waffle machine)

1) In a blender mix the Vegg and the rice drink.
2) Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
3) Leave the batter to "swell" for 5-10 minutes.
4) Preheat the waffle iron.
5) Cook the batter in the waffle machine.
6) Eat the waffles warm or room temperature.

Apple "Boleima"

A tradicional portuguese recipe from alentejo, "veganized" :)

Plain flour (2 cups)
Whole wheat flour (1 cup)
Rice Milk (1 cup - or any other vegetable milk)
Coconut oil (1/2 cup)
Apples (4 - cut into quarters and laminated)
Muscovado Sugar (1/2 cup) 
Cinnamon (1 tbsp)

1) Preheat oven to 180C.
1) Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and make a hole in the center, place the milk and the oil into it and mix until smooth.
2) Knead by hand adding more flour if necessary. Divide the dough into two roughly equal parts.
3) Place one portion of dough on vegetable parchment and flatten with a roll pin until gets thin. Do the same with the other and reserve.
4) Cut the apples into quarters, peel and cut them into thin slices. 
5) Place the vegetable parchment with one part of the dough in the baking pan, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and distribute the apple slices and sprinkle again with sugar and cinnamon.
6) Turn the second dough over the apples. 
7) Slightly close the ends of the dough squeezing them between your fingers.
8) Bake until golden brown (about 25 minutes).

Vegan Soy Patties

Makes 10:
Soy (TVP small - 100g)
Garlic (1 clove)
Corianders (1 tbsp - chopped)
Salt (q.b.)
Tomato purée (1 tbsp)
Rice drink (2 tbsp)
Cornstarch (1 tbsp)
Flaxseed (powder - 1 tbsp)
Corn flour (1 tbsp)
Olive oil

1) Rinse the soy in warm water.
2) In a food processor mix soy, garlic, corianders and salt until well combined.
3) Add the tomato, rice drink, cornstarch, flaxseed and mix well.
4) Shape and roll the patties in the corn flour.
4) Heat olive oil in a frying pan until it's a medium heat.
5) Shallow fry for five minutes or until cooked through and golden.

Simple Overnight Oats

Serves 2:
Rolled oats (90g)
Rice drink (240 ml)

1) Stir everything together in a bowl. Place in fridge overnight.
2) In the morning top with one sliced banana or some cinnamon. 

Pancakes

Makes 7 (small):
Plain flour (100g)
Whole Wheat flour (150g)
Baking powder (1 tsp)
Rice drink (125 ml)
Egg (1 - organic or free range, lightly beaten)
Olive oil (for cooking)

To serve
Sugar free fruit jam
Maple syrup

1) Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. In a separate bowl or jug, lightly whisk together the rice drink and egg.
2) Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and, using a fork, beat until you have a smooth batter. Any lumps will soon disappear with a little mixing. Let the batter stand for a few minutes.
3) Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and add dash of olive oil.
4) When it's warm add a ladle of batter. It will seem very thick but this is how it should be. Wait until the top of the pancake begins to bubble, then turn it over and cook until both sides are golden brown.
5) Repeat until all the batter is used up.
6) Serve with jam or maple syrup.

Spanish Tortilla

Serves 2:
Onions (100g - sliced)
Potatoes (250g - sliced)
Olive oil (2 tbsp)
Eggs (2)
Rice drink (50 ml)
Corn flour (1 tbsp)
Salt
Pepper

1) Heat the olive oil (1 tbsp) in the frying pan and add the potatoes and onions. Cook gently until tender. Season with salt and pepper.2) Meanwhile, break the eggs into a large bowl and whisk them lightly. Add the rice milk and the flour and some seasoning. When the onions and potatoes are cooked, quickly transfer them to the eggs in the bowl.
3) Put the frying pan back on the heat and add the rest of the oil. Mix the potato and eggs thoroughly before pouring the whole lot into the frying pan.
4) When there is no liquid egg left on the surface of the omelette, turn it over to cook the other side. Give it about 2 minutes more, then turn the heat off and leave it for a further 5 minutes to settle. Serve hot or cold with a salad or a vegetable soup.

Chocolate Pudding

Serves 2:
Cornstarch (30g)
Muscovado Sugar (20g)
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (2 tbsp)
Rice Drink (400 ml)

1) In a saucepan stir together sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and stir in rice drink.
2) Place over medium heat.
3) Bring to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a metal spoon.
4) Remove from heat. Let cool briefly, and serve warm, or chill in refrigerator until serving.

Raspberry Shake

2 servings:
Raspberry (100g)
Banana (2)
Rice Drink (600 ml)

1) Peel a ripe banana and break it into small chunks. Freeze the banana for one hour or more.
2) Pour the rice drink into a blender add the frozen banana and the raspberry. Blend it up until there are no chunks left.
3) Enjoy.

Rizskoch (Hungarian Rice Cake)

Serves 4:
(Dairy free version)

Short grain rice (1 cup)
Rice drink (4 cups)
Margarine (1 tbsp)
Eggs (4 - organic or free range)
Muscovado sugar (5 tbsp)

1) In a saucepan, combine the rice drink and the rice. Cook on low heat until tender and creamy (35 minutes). Remove from heat, stir in margarine, and let cool to room temperature.
2) Preheat the oven to 180C.
3) Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites.
4) Whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form when the whisk is removed.
5) Mix the egg yolks with the sugar until creamy.
6) Add the egg yolk mixture to the cooled rice, then fold in the stiffened egg whites
7) Pour in a prepared pan and bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until golden brown.