Cooking with Marcus

I went to my very first cooking class May 29th at the kitchen store, Distinctive-Decor, on mainstreet here in Duncan. A friend of mine mentioned that the owners were plant strong and that this class would be a plant strong cooking class! I couldn't have been more excited! If you live in Duncan and have not been to Distinctive-Decor, shame on you! They have the most amazing cooking gadgets and tools! I love kitchen gadgets! I always buy something everytime I go in there. If you like to cook I highly recommend them! If you don't live here, they do have a website that you can order from. Check them out here http://www.distinctive-decor.com/
Anyway...so Mom and I signed up for the class and we got there at about 6:15 and the table was already almost full. (They only have so many openings) On the menu tonight was hummus, black bean burgers with guacamole and green chiles, and vegan cookies. If you aren't living plant based, that menu probably doesn't sound very appetizing, but to me it sounds delicious, and to be able to watch someone make all of that right in front of me was amazing! We got to ask questions and talk with everyone else that had come to the class. So since I enjoyed the food so well, I decided I'm going to share the recipes with you! The chef also has his own blog that you can follow! http://homechefsrecipes.blogspot.com/ Enjoy guys!

Oil-Free Cilantro Hummus
2 Cans of Chickpeas (rinsed)
1/2 can of water or vegetable broth
2 Green Onions
Handful of Cilantro
2 Cloves of Garlic
1 Juiced Lemon
1 T Ground Cumin
Salt or soy sauce to taste

Place all ingredients in the food processor and process until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If the hummus is too dry, add water, soy or lemon juice to loosen. Serve with whole grain pita bread or use as a sandwich spread or dip for vegetables.

Bean Burgers 1 Can of black beans rinsed and drained (you can substitute whatever beans you like)
1 Can of Ro-Tel
1 Whole Bunch of Cilantro
2 Cloves of Garlic
1/4 Cup Onions or 3 Green Onions
2 Carrots
1 Cup Cooked Brown Rice
1 Cup of Rolled Oats (dry)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Put the green onions, cilantro, carrots, and garlic cloves in the blender or food processor and process util pieces are finely minced to the size of lentils or smaller. Once a fine mince is achieved, add the rinsed beans and tomatoes with chilies until a paste (wich is more like a hummus) is formed.
Pour the paste into a bow and add one cup of brown rice and 1 cup of quick oats and stir. (I like the brown rice because it makes the veggie burgers a little more moist.) Taste your mixture and add seasoning as needed. Form the mixture into patties and place on a lined baking sheet. This mixture should yield about 8 patties.
Place into oven and cook for 12 minutes. Flip and then finish under the boiler for 2-3 minutes. All you want to do is brown the patties a little.
Assemble your burgers on whole wheat hamburger buns. Use a turner to pick up the patties from the baking pan and place a patty on the bun. I substitute mashed avacado for mayo as my spread and load the sandwich with dill pickles, greens, tomatoes, onions and a green chile (warmed in a skillet.)

Guacamole 5 Small Avacados
1 Diced Jalapeno (remove the spine and seeds to reduce heat)
1/4 Cup Diced Onion
1 Diced Roma Tomato
1/2 Cup Diced Cilantro
Juice from 1 Lime
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Mash with potato masher until you reach the consistency you like. Spread this on your burger. Its delicious!

Ian's Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies 1 Cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1 t. Baking Powder
1/2 t. Baking Soda
1/4 Cup Sugar in the Raw (unrefined sugar)
1/4 t. Salt
1/3 Cup Maple Syrup
1/4 t. Blackstrap Molasses
1 1/2 t. Vanilla Extract
1/4 Cup of Neutral Oil or Unsweetened Apple Sauce
1/3 Cup Non-dairy Chocolate Chips (you can find these at whole foods)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda together. In another bowl mix all the wet ingredients including sugar together. Add to the dry ingredients and mix with a spoon until well combined.
Place cookie dough on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Use a spoon or cookie dough scoop to add the dough and then flatten a little. Cook for 11 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet for on minute and then move to a cooling rack. This recipe makes 8-12 cookies.
I hope you like all of these recipes! I definitely did and can not wait to make them at home! Lets all stay fired up for Engine2!