FitSugar

Healthy Snack: Vegan Cucumber Tofu Rolls

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:07:05 PST

Tofu usually shows up as part of a full meal, but it also makes a delicious and satisfying snack. Prepare tofu ahead of time and store it in the fridge to whip up these protein-packed vegan cucumber tofu rolls in a matter of minutes. If you've never cooked with tofu, this is a great no-fail recipe to try out.

Keep reading to learn how to make this savory tofu recipe.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries in No Time at All

Camilla Salem — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:11:42 PST

If there's one thing I could eat every day, it's chocolate and fruit. Chocolate-covered strawberries are one of those decadent desserts that people save for special, romantic occasions, but I don't really understand that. This technique for dipping your strawberries in melted chocolate is so simple, it can and should be enjoyed regularly. While many recipes tell you to melt chocolate and butter together, I find that the chocolate chips melt perfectly on their own and I like to keep things as simple as possible. I use semisweet chocolate chips, but feel free to use whatever your taste buds prefer. Click through to follow along.

Revamped Girl Scout Cookies: Vegan Peanut Butter Patties

Anna Monette Roberts — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:02:06 PST

Forget about the partially hydrogenated palm oil and artificial flavors - this vegan peanut butter patty, inspired by the Girl Scout Tagalong classic, has all the buttery, peanut buttery, and chocolatey goodness of the original, minus the animal products and unpronounceable ingredients.

This recipe is definitely involved, but it's a fun way to test your baking skills and make something you are truly proud of. Think of it this way - Girl Scout cookies only come out once a year, so make this your special annual treat.

While it's not necessary to temper the chocolate, you'll see that it gives the cookies a sheen and snap that's attractive and delicious. Untempered chocolate will "bloom," meaning the fat of the cocoa will rise to the top, creating a white, dull appearance (like the cookie on the left). If this happens to you, don't worry! The cookies are still edible, so savor the efforts of your hard work.

Click here to see the recipe.

Revamped Girl Scout Cookies: Vegan Thin Mints

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:53:33 PST

Erin McKenna’s vegan Thin Mints from Babycakes Covers the Classics ($16) are jaw-dropping crowd pleasers. The mint chocolate coating snaps with each bite to reveal a thin, flaky chocolate cookie. This version is definitely reminiscent of its original inspiration. Try the recipe at home and startle your friends and neighbors with how authentic this version tastes!

Click here to check out the recipe.

How to Go (Almost) Meatless

Leta Shy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:11:40 PST

Maybe you've realized that all your meals are built around a slab of meat, or maybe you've read about the benefits of a vegetarian diet, but if you've been feeling like you should lay off the animal protein but don't want to make an entire lifestyle change, you can still benefit from tweaking your diet to eat less meat. Here are four ways to go almost meatless with your diet.

Meatless Mondays: One of the most popular ways to skip out on meat is to cut it out once a week. Start your week off right with a Meatless Monday; you'll feel good about getting back on track after any weekend indulgences. Need ideas? Check out all our Meatless Monday recipes and start cooking!

Vegan Before Dinner: Cookbook author and columnist Mark Bittman practices this policy. Focus on dairy-, meat- and egg-free meals until that last meal of the day. Cutting out nonvegan foods until dinner helps you get more creative for your lunch and dinner - plus, if you stick to whole foods, chances are your meals will be incredibly nutritious, too. Here are some vegan breakfast recipes and vegan lunch recipes to get you started.

Two more ways to go almost meatless after the break!

Brownie Recipe With an Unexpected Secret Ingredient!

Zelana Montminy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:15:39 PST

Who doesn't love a brownie? Nutritionist and registered dietitian Cynthia Sass has created a recipe to healthify the treat: she adds spinach to the batter. Fear not! Your taste buds will have no idea these brownies are fortified with green stuff. Watch the video to learn just has she does it! To see the recipe keep reading.

A Reader Recipe: Baked Gluten-Free Vegan Doughnuts

Fit Community — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:12:00 PST

Doughnuts do not have to be an off-limits food. Get your fill with this healthier recipe from FitSugar reader pure2raw. She posted her gluten-free, vegan doughnut recipe in the Healthy Recipe community group.

Looking for a healthy breakfast? Make these easy homemade doughnuts! Perfect for those who have a minidoughnut maker, but the recipe can be made as minimuffins, too - enjoy!

Do you need this recipe as badly as we do? Find it on her blog Pure2Raw, then upload your delicious recipes into our Healthy Recipe community group.

Make This: Buckwheat Salad From Real Food Daily

Zelana Montminy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:37:11 PST

For a perfect meal packed with nutrients and flavor, try Ann Gentry’s Buckwheat Salad with oil-free sesame dressing. But you don’t have to go all the way to her restaurant Real Food Daily to try it. Make this delicious salad at home with this recipe from Ann's new cookbook, Vegan Family Meals. It's delicious, and easy, and gluten-free. You can print the recipes here: Buckwheat Tempeh Salad and Oil-Free Sesame Sauce. Enjoy!

Killer App: White Bean Dip

Susannah Chen — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:59:39 PST

I often like to make my own chickpea spread, but lately I've been leaning heavily on another plant-based purée: white bean dip. With little more than canned beans and lemon juice, it's almost easier than hummus; there's no mess of transferring tahini paste into the blender.

This recipe, courtesy of our friends Cara and Phoebe, is the right blend of rusticity, thanks to the rosemary, lemon, and garlic. Depending on my mood, I'll play around with it, switching up the herbs, taking out the garlic, or adding a dash of lemon zest into the mix. Serve the wholesome dip with flatbreads or carrot sticks for a healthy, meat-free snack. For a simple everyday appetizer recipe, keep reading.

Winter Warm-Up: Black and White Bean Soup With Sweet Potatoes

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:36:49 PST

Old man Winter has blown in and brought with him an insatiable desire for warm, savory soups. This black and white bean soup with sweet potatoes is a twist on the classic black bean soup recipe, and it's under 300 calories a bowl.

Keep reading to see this simple recipe and find out how much protein and fiber is in one serving.