Meatout Mondays

September 24, 2012



Nutritional information for soup Serving = 1.5 cups. Serves 2.
Amount Per Serving
Calories 121	From fat 63
	% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g	11%
Saturated Fat 1g	5%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 450mg	19%
Total Carbohydrate 13.6g	4.5%
Dietary Fiber 2.2g	8.8%
Sugars 5.1g
Protein 1.9g
Vitamin A 13.7%	Vitamin C 26%
Calcium 7%	Iron 12.9%

* % Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Vegan Grilled Cheese With Smoky Tomato Soup

What a deliciously cozy combination. We just couldn't split up this beautiful comfort food pair, so this week you get two recipes. Making your own cheese can be a lot of fun! If you don't have the time, save the fun for a rainy day -- just pick up your favorite pre-made vegan cheese (see product suggestion) and get this comfort lunch on the table in no time.

Ingredients:

For the soup
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, mashed
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
a few dashes of liquid smoke (optional, but yummy)
1 cup canned crushed roma tomatoes
2 cups vegan broth (try homemade stock or pre-made)

For the cheese
1/2 can full-fat coconut milk
1/2 tsp coconut vinegar (you may try other vinegars)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp agar powder
1/2 Tbsp tapioca flour
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

For the sandwich*
sliced sandwich bread
vegan butter
*Nutritional data depends on choice of bread and vegan butter.

Directions:

Soup
1. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onions, saute until translucent and slightly browned. Reduce heat to medium low, add garlic, spices and liquid smoke. Saute for about 3 minutes, stirring occassionally.
2. Add roma tomatoes and vegan broth. Return heat to medium until the soup comes to a low boil. Then turn heat to low, simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Remove soup from heat and blend well using an immersion blender. You may transfer to a blender or food processor, just make sure that the soup has cooled before doing so.

Cheese
1. Combine all of the cheese ingredients except for the nutritional yeast in a small saucepan.
2. Whisk briskly continuously until the mixture comes to a boil.
3. Remove from heat, stir in nutritional yeast and transfer to a small pyrex dish. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

Sandwiches
1. Place 1/2 Tbsp of vegan butter into a skillet over medium heat.
2. Spread one of the slices of bread with a thin layer of the cheese, then place the bread, cheese side up, on the skillet. Swirl it around to ensure it gets coated well with the vegan butter.
3. Spread the other slice of bread with the softened butter and place it, butter side up, on top. Allow the bread to nicely brown on one side before flipping it over. Sprinkle with a little salt if desired.

Recipe/photo courtesy of OlivesForDinner.com.

Click here for the printable version.

For this comforting recipe and more, visit OlivesForDinner.com!

Galaxy Foods Vegan Shreds

Turtle Island Tempeh Vegan from Galaxy Foods is a 100% dairy-free cheese alternative that is perfect for your compassionately cheesy recipes and ideal for those with dairy allergies. This tasty plant-based vegan cheese alternative is an excellent source of calcium with no cholesterol, trans fat, or saturated fat. Vegan comes in a variety of flavors and forms including slices, blocks, shreds and grated Parmesan flavor toppings. Perfect for satisfying any cheese craving. Find Vegan in the cheese alternative section of your favorite natural foods store.

Find product and nutritional information at GalaxyFoods.com.

Vegans' Blood Fights Cancer Nearly 8 Times Better

According to a study conducted by the Nathan Pritikin Research Foundation, the blood of those eating a plant-based diet suppresses cancer cell growth nearly eight times better than the blood of those consuming the Standard American Diet (SAD). Dr. Michael Greger explains, “The blood of those on a Standard American Diet slows cancer growth down about 9%. Put people on a plant-based diet for a year -- and their blood just tears it up. The blood circulating within the bodies of vegans has nearly eight times the stopping power when it comes to cancer cell growth.”

A follow-up study analyzed blood defenses against breast cancer and found that after just two weeks on a plant-based diet, participants’ blood significantly slowed down and even stopped the growth of cancer cells.

“What kind of blood do we want in our body? What kind of immune system?” asks Dr. Greger. “Do we want blood that just rolls over when cancer cells show up? Or do we want blood circulating to every nook and cranny in our body that has the power to slow down and stop them?”

Watch Dr. Greger's short video explanation of the studies at NutritionalFacts.org.