Chicken And Waffles Vegan Style!!!

 One of the most popular dishes right now is chicken and waffles. This Amish Sunday dinner and famed Black dish is being made throughout the US.I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and make it. The only problem? It has to be vegan.

The vegan chicken part was easy.It was simply air frying Gardein's chicken tenders in the air fryer.

This was the easy as pie part. It was just air frying the tenders at first 400 degrees F for eight minutes, then  turning. They were finished at 360 degrees F for five minutes.

The next part was hard.

I used Bisquik's gluten free mix which gives the finished product s dense texture. 

To make the waffles vegan it was adding two cups of almond milk which produced a creamier batter (the recipe called for a cup and a half but that was a mistake. The batter looked like wallpaper paste). The recipe called for three tablespoons of vegetable oil along with one egg. I used Vegg's Uncaged egg baking mix for the egg substitute. One teaspoon of the mix is mixed with half a teaspoon of granulated sugar and a quarter of a cup of milk. This is thoroughly mixed before added to the batter.

I chilled it for half an hour, simply because I needed time to prep the waffle iron and air fryer.

I used my batter distributor to evenly pour the batter onto the iron after spraying the plates with cooking spray (I used Stop and Shop's butter flavored one).

This is the batter precooked.It looks like gooey toast.

This was the first batch which was sorely disappointing. 

They were half cooked and stuck to the plates.

I didn't cook them long enough. Bisquick recommends cooking the waffles for five minutes.

 Depending on your waffle iron I'd say ten minutes should do it. This was the third batch.

They're not deeply golden but they are perfectly formed. Both were served with maple syrup which is an interesting add on (but not one I particularly like. There has to be another sauce to put on both)

Would I try this again? Maybe. I may  add soy cheese to the waffles to make them more savory and nix the maple syrup.Maybe a barbecue sauce????)

Chicken and waffles are the latest thing right now. I will try them again, - maybe less sweet and more sandwich like for the chicken. The best part is that it was all vegan, 

Baby Nutritionists

With school starting during the next few weeks , it's times to talk about the ABCs of nutrition. It's important to teach those little scholars about what's good to eat.The earlier they know, the better their futures, without obesity and sickness.

Parents with their eldest or only children going off to kindergarten or pre-K have it the luckiest and the easiest.Their little ones have not heard about snack or lunch swapping yet.Sliced peppers and tomatoes will still have appeal as will cubes of low cal cheese. Emphasize that healthy food leads to being smart and better grades. Also stress that potato chips and candy are fine at parties but not at lunchtime. This will be hard so it,s important to make the  food fun.Start with lunches or snacks at home.There are food cutters that come in all sorts of shapes from dinosaurs to hearts.Amazon has the best selection with prices ranging from eight to fifteen dollars.The more advanced kits also have fun animal topped forks and picks .Remember that these can also be used on such fall fruits as apples and pears. Another must do is taking the baby nutritionist shopping.Get him or her acclimated with the produce section. Show them the different kinds, try samples if they have them. Ask for their input when it comes to choosing.Always praise.Never criticize.

Here is the big poser: can you raise a baby vegan? The answer is a surprising yes. A child can live without meat.Just remember they do need vitamins and some protein.Children expend more energy per pound and need to take an equal amount or more in.Try to have healthy proteins such as almonds, nut  butters, and avocados. Try cut out almond butter sandwiches on whole grained vegan breads.Create fun guacamole for afternoon snacking.Show them the different types of nut butters on your next grocery trip. If they're intrigued by sunflower seed butter, buy it. butter.It's a nice alternative to the other butters and expands their palates.During the same trip introduce them to the avocado section. Let them feel the different textures and see the differences between ripe and green ones.Baby vegans also need Vitamin B-12, iron and calcium.The first can come from soy milks, veggie meats and non sugary cereals. Soy milk comes in chocolate flavor so you can interest them that way.Iron comes from vitamin C products and calcium can be found in fortified orange juice.

A baby nutritionist is easy to create.Get them interested in healthy food from pre K and kindergarten.They'll eat better and you'll feel better.

The Brown Flour Controversy

Home bakers sometimes have a quandary to deal with when they bake.Do they use the more refined white flour or the whole wheat healthier stuff. Both have their merits but also their detractions too. is one better than the other? There in lies the debate. Most home bakers and even the commercial ones swear by white flour.It is easier to work with along with producing a more tender cAke or bread.White flour also give you a finer crumb cookie and pie crust.Another plus is that you don't have a chewiness to the finished product and what others think of as an intrusive nutty flavor. White flour though does have a bad reputation.It's not as nutritious as whole wheat, causing more problems with diet and weight problems. Many bakers do swear by whole wheat flour. It is better for you because it still has it's minerals And vitamins. while white flour basically has empty calories, whole wheat and other brown flours is chock full of fiber , selenium an iron. It is hard to work with as you'll read in tomorrow's New York Times Sunday magazine section (spoiler alert). Mark Bittman writes about baking baguettes with the flour. It will be hard because brown flour reacts differently with yeast. whole wheat breads and rolls do not have that light, airy crackly crust. the bread itself tends to be thick and dense with a solid chewiness.It can be a difficult medium to work with and it does require a certain amount of patience. There are always are going to be two camps when it comes to using white or brown flour. in the end it really is up to the baker. Use the one that's most comfortable, the one that will guarantee success in baking.

Cream of Wheat Creamy Goodness

There’s nothing like a hot bowl of cream of wheat cereal on a winter morning. It’s filling, tasty and nutritious. It can arm for you a bad or stressful day ahead along with giving you the strength to boldly face a l winter’s day

Cream of Wheat was firs t invented in 1893 by North Dakota wheat farmers in grand Forks. It made it’s debt at the World‘s Columbian Exposition the same year in Chicago Illinois. The idea behind it is the same as for grits except that milled wheat or farina is used. Commercial farina is a little younger first being mass produced in 1898. The cereal is only 130 calories and five calories in fat. It is high in iron, around 57 per cent which make sit an excellent addition to any diet. You can buy it plain or with flavorings such as maple, cinnamon along with fruit ones such as strawberry, apple and raisin.

Cream of wheat isn‘t for everyone. If not enough water and milk are added, the cereal looks like a hot gummy mess. Too much liquid and it becomes a breakfast soup. The best result is add about equal parts boiling water, stir and then add a good portion of milk until the mixture is creamy. Cream of wheat is sort of like silky grits to the novice farina eater lacking the crunch and chew of regular cereals or instant oatmeal. Its’ taste, when mixed with either maple syrup or cinnamon will make you addicted though because it’s a mild, soothing flavor.
During these cold and stormy days it’s nice to start the day with something hot and soothing.

Try a bowl of Cream of Wheat to keep you warm and toasty. It the like the food equivalent of a security blanket - the perfect thing to have before you face bittern winds and icy temps.

Spinach The Good Green

By now you’re probably sick of being told to eat your spinach. Yet this leafy green is not only good for you but is also tasty and a great addition to any meal. It’s one of the most versatile too. It can go into a cold salad or hot dish. You can eat it for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. It can be served so many different ways that you’ll never grow tired of it.


The plant is one of the oldest. It was first cultivated in India and Persian and brought to Europe and Asia through Muslim traders and invaders. It is still a popular ingredient in Indian cooking and is the base for many of their vegetable dishes. Spinach made its' way into Muslim Spain around the 11th Century and became popular in European cooking. It was a favorite of Catherine de Medici who brought it from Northern Italy into French cuisine when she married the French king Henri IV. Spinach is a member of the Amaranthaceae family and is a cousin to chard. It does flower however its’ the leaves that are edible and widely used. Spinach is an excellent source of iron however it's not absorbed into the body unless it’s eaten with Vitamin C The leaves are also a good source of calcium as well along with Vitamins A,B, K and magnesium.

Spinach is also versatile. There’s nothing like a good spinach salad at lunch. You can add bacon and chopped hard boiled egg to it along with a simple vinaigrette dressing. Another easy dish is a spinach omelet made with freshly sautéed leaves. Just sprinkle in a dash of Parmesan cheese for more zip. This holiday season make creamed spinach as a great side to your turkey or ham. Add a teaspoon of nutmeg and a few pats of butter for a richer, slightly spicier flair.

Spinach is a great addition to any diet. It’s not only good for you but fits in well with your plans. Serve it cold in a delicious and refreshing salad or warm as a great side to any meat. It truly is a good green.

Squash Time

Now that fall is officially here it's time to look into that perennial autumn treat: the squash. These pumpkin cousins are loaded taste but with essential vitamins. You can cut them up, and roast, bake or microwave them.

Right now there are several different fall squashes out there on the market. Last month (if you can remember) I wrote about eating summer squash such as zucchini in the winter along with the other summer varieties. Now other the winter or late harvested squashes are readily available. All of these have thick rinds and orange pulp. Winter squash requires cooking. The most popular types are acorn and butternut which can be baked and split to be served with butter. Buttercup squash is another popular fall and winter favorite. It can be used as a main meal but also turned into creamy soup.

Squash is load with beta carotene as well as fiber. It's also a good source of niacin and iron Try to incorporate it into your meals as often as you can. if the kids balk at eating it, then cook and mash it. Serve with butter or margarine. They'll enjoy the creamy texture plus loading it up with extras.

This fall sink your teeth into winter squash. These harbingers of autumn are perfect whether as the entree or a side dish. Enjoy them as often as you can!