August 12, 2003 SUMMER DESSERTS
BRYANNA'S VEGAN KEY LIME PIE one 9" pie
No pudding mixes needed!
Note: I have found that most bulk graham cracker crumbs do not contain honey, butter or any other animal product.
Crumb Crust:
1 c. graham cracker or vegan vanilla cookie crumbs OR finely-crushed crispy cereal
2 T. melted vegan margarine (Earth Balance is a really good one)
1 T. maple syrup or other syrup
Mix the ingredients well and press into a 9" pie pan, evenly (won't go up the sides all the way-- if you like more crust, make 1 and 1/2 times the crust recipe). Bake at 350 degrees F for 12 minutes, OR microwave at 50 percent power (I have a 900 watt oven) for 2 minutes. Cool thoroughly before filling.
Fillling:
1/2 c. plus 2 T. raw cashews
12.3 oz. box extra-firm silken tofu
2 T. lemon juice
grated zest of one large lemon or key lime, or 2 little limes, or 1/2 and 1/2
pinch salt
3/8 tsp agar powder (OR 2 and 1/4 tsp. flakes)
(see note below recipe if you wish to use kosher jel instead of agar)
1/4 c. cold water
Optional: 1/4 tsp. Spanish saffron or a tiny pinch tumeric (this is for color only)
3/4 c. light unbleached sugar or white beet sugar
1/2 c. key lime juice OR 1/4 c. each regular lime and lemon juice
non-dairy whipped topping
Grind the cashews as finely as possible in a dry food processor. Add the tofu, 2 T. lemon juice, zest and salt. Process for several minutes (be patient!), until it is quite smooth.
Now, soak the agar in the cold water for a few minutes, in a small pot or a microwave-proof bowl. Then cook it, stirring, over medium heat til dissolved, or microwave it in 2 /30 second intervals (stir after first one). Add the sugar to the hot mixture and stir til the sugar dissolves. Scrape this carefully into the mixture in the processor (try to get it all with a rubber spatula), and add the key lime, or lime and lemon, juice. Process until well-blended.
Pour this immediately into the baked, cooled crust. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
Serve with non-dairy whipped topping.
NOTE: IF YOU PREFER TO USE KOSHER JEL instead of agar, use 1 and 3/4 tsp. kosher jel and blend it in the blender or with a hand immersion blender with 1/4 c. HOT water (with the saffron, if using), rather than starting in cold water. It doesn't need to be cooked. Add the sugar and blend until it dissolves, then proceed with the recipe. Note: Kosher jel takes alot longer to gel than agar-- let it chill for 8-12 hours before serving.
VEGAN WHIPPED TOPPINGS:
BRYANNA’S BEST TOFU WHIPPED CRÈME
makes about 1 and 3/4 c.
This is so simple and good! Be sure to let it refrigerate for at least four hours before serving, so that it “sets up” nicely. This is like a softly-whipped cream and doesn’t separate!
Note: To stabilize further, dissolve 3/4 to 1 tsp. vegan kosher jel in 1 T. boiling water, or in the liqueur, if you are using it, heated almost to boiling, then whip in with the other ingredients. (Don't use agar-- it doesn't seem to work well in this.)
Note on calories and fat: cashews give a rich flavor, have some thickening qualities, and save about 280 calories for the whole recipe. (1/4 c. cashews contains about 200 calories; 1/4 c. oil contains about 480 calories.)
1 and 1/3 c. soft tub tofu (water-packed in plastic tub)
1/4 c. melted Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread
OR 1/4 c. oil OR 1/2 oil and 1/2 melted Earth Balance
OR 1/4 c. raw cashews, ground very fine in a food processor or coffee grinder
3 T. very light granulated unbleached sugar or white beet sugar
OR 3 T. maple syrup (this will make it a little softer)
1 and 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
Optional: (if not using Earth Balance) pinch salt
Optional: 1 T. of your favorite liqueur
Place all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend for several minutes, or until very smooth and fluffy. Scrape into a small bowl, cover tightly and refrigerate for at least four hours before serving. This will keep for several days refrigerated.
NOTE ON TOFU: The measurement for the tofu was determined by the size (actually, 300 g) that soft water-pack tub tofu comes in in my area. DO NOT use silken tofu (Mori-Nu in the asceptic boxes) for this recipe (there is another recipe using silken tofu below). Use the freshest available soft water-pack tub tofu (and be careful that it’s not “dessert” tofu, which has sugar added).
NOTE ON EARTH BALANCE: This is a vegan “margarine” that cantains no hydrogenated fats, and is made from all expeller-pressed oils. It also tastes great—buy in health food stores.
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BRYANNA’S TOFU WHIPPED CRÈME MADE WITH SILKEN TOFU
makes about 2 c.
If you can’t find soft water-pack tub tofu, try this recipe—it’s also very good.
Note: to stabilize further, dissolve 1 to 1 and 1/4 tsp. vegan kosher jel in 1 T. boiling water, or in the liqueur, if you are using it, heated almost to boiling, then whip in with the other ingredients. (Don't use agar-- it doesn't seem to work well in this.)
1 (12.3 oz.) box extra-firm silken tofu (like Mori-Nu brand, in asceptic box)
1/3 c. oil OR melted Earth Balance, or a combination
1/4 c. maple syrup OR very light granulated unbleached sugar or white beet sugar
1 T. soymilk
1 and 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon juice
Optional: (if not using Earth Balance): pinch of salt
Optional: 1-2 T. of your favorite liqueur
Whip ingredients together in food processor until very smooth. Refrigerate for several hours before serving.
BRYANNA’S CRISPY WRAPPED BAKED BANANAS WITH VANILLA “ICE CREAM” Serves 6
Adapted from a recipe in my book, “The Almost No-Fat Cookbook”.
These are very easy to make, and the contrast between the hot, crispy baked bananas and the cold, creamy non-dairy vanilla dessert is delicious!
Note: serve immediately after baking.
3 whole sheets of fillo (phyllo, filo) pastry, thawed and cut in half vertically (keep well-covered)
Note: Fillo Factory makes organic wholewheat, unbleached and spelt fillo
6 medium ripe bananas, peeled and brushed with lemon juice
2 T. Sucanat or brown sugar
1 and 1/2 tsp. coconut extract
OPTIONAL: a sprinkle of grated unsweetened coconut)
Melted Earth Balance (or other good-tasting vegan margarine)
commercial low-fat non-dairy vanilla frozen dessert (such as Soy Dream, Soy Delicious or Tofutti Premium)
(For a low-fat dessert, use apple juice instead of margarine and serve the dessert immediately, or it will not be crispy)
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
To make each wrapped banana, place 1 banana at the bottom (short end) of 1 half of a fillo sheet and sprinkle the banana with 1 tsp. of Sucanat or brown sugar and 1/4 tsp. coconut extract. Roll the dough over it once, then fold in the outer edges and keep rolling away from you. Place the wrapped bananas on a lightly-greased cookie sheet and brush the tops with melted Earth Balance (or apple juice). Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden and crispy. Serve immediately with a scoop of the frozen dessert on each plate.
BRYANNA'S VEGAN "BUTTERED" RUM CHEEZECAKE
one 9-10" cheesecake
This scrumptious dessert is adapted from the cheezecake recipe in my book “Soyfoods Cooking for a Positive Menopause”.
Crumb Crust: Use your own recipe for a crumb crust, the one above,
OR this one:
1 c. dried or toasted breadcrumbs
3 T. brown sugar
2 T. melted Earth Balance
Filling:
2 (12.3 oz.) boxes extra-firm silken tofu
2/3 c. raw cashew pieces, ground finely in a mini-chopper or coffee/spice mill
3/4 c. light unbleached sugar or white beet sugar
6 T. rum OR 1 T. rum extract plus 5 T. white grape juice or apple juice
3 T. lemon juice
2 T. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. salt
Butterscotch Sauce:
1/3 c. corn syrup or brown rice syrup
1/2 c. plus 2 T. brown sugar
2 T. Earth Balance
1/8 tsp. Salt
1/3 c. rich soymilk OR organic soy creamer
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
Toppings:
Tofu Whipped Creme
1/2 c. raisins plumped in 2 T. rum OR 1 tsp. Rum extract plus 2 T. white grape juice or apple juice (optional)
toasted pecan halves
2 ripe broiled bananas (peel, cut in half lengthwise, sprinkle with brown sugar and broil until sugar is bubbly) (optional)
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Mix the breadcrumbs with the brown sugar and melted Earth Balance and press onto the bottom of a lightly-oiled 10" round cake pan or 9" spring form pan.
Place the filling ingredients (make sure that the cashews are ground as directed) in a food processor or blender and blend until very smooth (be patient). Pour into the crust. Bake 60 minutes, or until the filling is set and slightly cracked around the edges. Cool on a rack, then refrigerate for about four hours before serving.
To make the sauce, bring the syrup, brown sugar, Earth Balance and salt to a boil in a heavy saucepan and boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the consistency of heavy syrup.
Remove from heat and cool a bit. Heat the soymilk or creamer just until warm. Whisk into the syrup along with vanilla. If you like, add the plumped raisins to the sauce.
To serve, top each serving of cheezecake with some of the sauce and sprinkle with toasted pecans. If you like, top the cake with the broiled bananas, cut into slices, before topping with the sauce. Serve with or without the whipped topping.
BRYANNA’S VEGAN SOUR CRÈME RHUBARB-ORANGE PIE
Makes one 9-10” pie.
Really good!
One crust pastry for 9-10” pie
4 c. rhubarb, diced
1 and 1/2 c. sugar (white beet sugar or light unbleached cane sugar)
1/4 c. unbleached flour
1 c. Tofu Sour Crème (Tofutti or homemade)
zest of one organic orange, grated
Topping:
1/2 c. wholewheat flour
1/4 c. brown sugar or Sucanat
3 T. Earth Balance or other vegan margarine
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line the pie plate with the pastry, crimping the edges.
In a large bowl, mix the rhubarb with the sugar and flour, then stir in the sour crème and orange zest. Scoop into the pie crust.
Mix the Topping ingredients until crumbly and sprinkle evenly over the pie filling. Bake 15 minutes, then turn down to 350 degrees f. bake 30 minutes more. Cool before serving. Keep refrigerated.
BRYANNA’S TOFU SOUR CREME Makes 1 and 1/2 c.
Silken tofu makes a smooth, rich-tasting mixture which can be used anywhere you would normally use sour cream, including cooking.
1 (12.3 oz.) box extra-firm silken tofu
3 T. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
OPTIONAL: for a richer mixture, add 1-2 T. oil
Process in a food processor or blender until VERY smooth. Keep in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week.