Vegan Spiced Banana Pancakes

Vegan Banana Pancakes
Originally uploaded by dre_ah

Super awesome! I made these are a great start to a Saturday with some reservations about how well they could taste being vegan. All doubts proved wrong. These were scrumptious! Originally found in Vegan Planet.

1-1/2 cups of unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon all-spice
1-1/4 cups soy milk
3 medium size, ripe bananas, peeled and sliced

1) combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl
2) in a food processor blend milk and 2 of the bananas
3) fold wet ingredients into dry and add the remaining banana
4) cook on skillet until bubbles appear, and flip to cook underside
5) optional: pre-heat oven to 200 degrees F to place the cooked pancakes in to keep warm while cooking remaining pancakes

Serve with vegan margarine and maple syrup. The bananas keep this just sweet enough and the the spice gives it a kick. Yummy!

7 Minute Dinner from the Cabinet | Super Chili and Chips

This is one of my all time favorites. It's super quick and easy, if you know how to use a can opener ; ) And ... with the cilantro and green onions fresh from the garden, the flavor is great!

1-14.5 oz can | Fire Roasted Tomatoes Diced
1-15 oz can | Chunky Black Bean Vegetarian Chili
1-11 oz can | Corn Niblets
1-7 oz can | Green Chili's Diced
2 tablespoon | Cilantro Fresh Chopped
2 tablespoon | Green Onion Fresh Chopped

1) Place all ingredients into a sauce pan and mix together.
2) Cook over medium heat, uncovered, for 5 minutes
3) Remove from heat and serve!

Optional:
Corn Tortilla Chips - Good addition! Just make sure they are not too salty or they will block the flavor of the fresh goodies.
Cheese - a bit of shredded cheese on top...yummy!!!

Shrimp Limey Veggie Kabob's

This week has been insanely hot! When it's nearly 100 degrees in Berkeley you know we have a problem. Well it also gives craving for bbq/grilled food stuffs. J came up with the awesome idea to have kabob's and some nice Russian River beer. We cut cut up some veggies, Orange and Yellow Bell Peppers, Green Chilies, Jalapenos, and some Purple Onion, along with some button brown Mushrooms and the shrimp to form the kabob's.

J is VERY proud that he's got the grill going.

Who knew that marinade would create so much smoke!

Adding some friend Polenta, re-fills on the beers...and here we are! Dinner is served.

It was delicious and perfect for the friday evening kick off to the hot weekend.

Shrimp and Veggie Kabob's:
1 Medium Orange Bell Pepper
1 Medium Red Bell Pepper
20 Small Brown Button Mushrooms
2 Small Green Chilies
2 Large Jalapenos
20 Large Shrimp (Shells removed)
10 Skewers

Marinade:
1 stick Soybean Margarine
5 Cloves of Garlic, Pressed
1-1/2 tbl Olive Oil
1 tbl Cayenne Pepper
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:
1) Start up grill.
2) Cut all veggies, except Mushrooms, into cubes appx 1-1/2" x 1-1/2".
3) Alternate veggies and shrimp placing onto skewers, appx 2 shrimp per skewer
4) In a small pan, melt butter and combine all marinade ingredients
5) Place skewers directly onto grill and cook, brush half of marinade over skewers
6) Cook for appx 12 minutes, flipping half way through cooking cycle and brushing the rest of the marinade over the skewers.
7) Shrimp will be light pink when fully cooked.
8) Allow to cool down for 3-5 minutes and server immediately. Very tasty over fried Polenta.