I had an entire loaf of banana bread and no one around to eat it. Rather than just simply eat it slice by slice I wanted to try something different.  I had a craving for french toast so I figured why not try it with the banana bread? I made it a bit healthier than traditional french toast by not dipping it in egg but rather using soymilk and flour and topping it with fresh berry compote as opposed to syrup. If you’re not familiar with compote, think of it almost like a fruit stew; a bit chunky but still liquidy. I guarantee it’s just as good if not better than traditional french toast

Banana Bread (Note: I had already made this bread myself but you can also purchase from the store if you’d like — if you buy from the store skip down to the french toast instructions)

- 3-4 ripe bananas smashed (you know when it’s ripe when the outer peel is completely or nearly all brown)
- 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup melted butter (or unsalted margarine)
- 3/4 cup sugar (raw sugar or sugar substitute)
- 1 egg (egg substitute)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- dash of salt

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Using a mixer (or you can do by hand with a spatula/wooden spoon in a bowl) mix butter and mashed bananas. Add the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Then add all the dry ingredients: baking soda, salt and flour. Mix all ingredients together. Butter or spray non-stick spray to your load pan. Place in oven and bake for 45 minutes to an hour or until the bread passes the toothpick test. Then remove from oven and allow to cool. Remove from bread from pan and slice.

French Toast-ing
- 1 cup plain soy milk (or you can use vanilla)
- 1 tbsp all purpose flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- unsalted margarine

Heat a pan on medium-high heat. Melt some unsalted margarine in the pan. In a shallow dish add soy milk, flour and cinnamon. Gently whisk to incorporate flour into milk. Dip each slice of banana bread in soy milk mixture. Place each slice on buttered pan. Cook until golden brown and then flip over to other side. If you need to add more margarine continue to do so. Once both sides are golden brown remove from pan and plate

Mixed Berry Compote
- 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/4 cup fresh raspberries
- 1/4 cup fresh strawberries with the tops cut off and quartered
- 1/4 cup sugar (raw sugar/sugar substitute)
- 2 tbsp water

heat a small sauce pot on medium-high heat. Add berries and allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Add water and sugar and allow sugar to full absorb in the liquid. Cook for 2-3 more minutes to allow to thicken. Remove from heat an allow to cool for 1-2 minutes. Ladle immediately after on top of banana bread french toast & enjoy!

Happy belated Independence Day everyone! With every 4th of July it brings BBQ, Burgers and Beer (at least that’s what I think). This 4th of July was spent with my family and then an unexpected group of family friends. I had intended on making a feast since the original number in our party was supposed to be small, but with the welcome additions I reworked the menu so as not to get stuck in the kitchen all afternoon.  So I went with: Sweet Potato Fries w/Lemon Cilantro Dipping Sauce, Veggie Burgers with balsamic onions & mushroom w/a balsamic mayo, Watercress & Watermelon Salad, Green Chile Macaroni & Cheese, Blueberry & Raspberry Slushie, and Strawberry Lemonade Pie – my Vegan friends I will put substitutions for each recipe in pink so you can make the same at home

Sweet Potato Fries w/Lime Cilantro Dipping Sauce

- 1 bag frozen sweet potato fries thawed
- 1 1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning

Dipping Sauce
- 1/2 cup light mayonnaise (vegannaise)
- 1/4 cup sour cream (vegan sour cream – try tofutti better than sour cream if you can’t find it in your store recipe to make your own below)
-  1 tsp lime zest
- 1 1/2 tbsp cilantro chopped
- salt to taste

Vegan Sour Cream
- 1/2 block firm silken tofu
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp soy sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lay out fries on a cookie sheet or pizza pan and bake for 10-12 minutes.  Once fries have been cooked sprinkle Cajun seasoning over them.  In a bowl combine mayonnaise, sour cream, lime zest, and cilantro. Add salt as necessary.  Serve with fries.

Vegans – In a blender combine all ingredients and blend until silky smooth. Follow directions above for creating dipping sauce as follows

Watercress & Watermelon Salad

- 1 bunch fresh watercress
- 1 cup watermelon chopped
- 1/4 cup feta cheese crumbled (soy cheese crumbles)
- 1/4 cup summer squash (optional)
- 1/4 cup zucchini (optional)

Citrus Vinaigrette
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (or you can use bottled)
- 1/3 tbsp fresh orange juice
- 1/4 tsp lemon & orange zest
- salt and pepper to taste

Rinse watercress and pat dry. The nice thing about watercress is that you don’t need to remove the stems or anything you can eat as is. Throw into a salad bowl. Add chopped watermelon and feta.  If you decide to add zucchini and squash I grilled it.  Preheat a grill pan on medium-high heat. Slice zucchini and squash into thin rounds (try and keep them all the same width so that they cook evenly). Place on grill pan and light salt. Allow to grill for 4-5 minutes and flip over. Once they are done cooking add to salad.

In a separate bowl combine olive oil, lemon and orange juices, zest and whisk. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour into salad bowl and toss salad to coat then serve.

Veggie Burgers w/Balsamic Mayo
- 6 Morningstar Original Veggie Burger Patties (or any veggie patties you like)
- 6 sets of Hamburger buns (I used cracked whole wheat)
- 6 slices Swiss cheese (soy cheese)
- 2 cup white onion sliced into rings
- 1 cup brown mushroom sliced
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Balsamic Mayo
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (vegannaise or eggless canola mayo)
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Heat two pans on medium high heat (if possible for you).  In one pan lay out veggie patties and cook on one side for about 6-7 minutes.  In a separate pan add part of balsamic vinegar reserved for burger and onions.  Add onions and allow to cook for about 2 minutes or until soft and semi-translucent.  Add mushrooms and remainder of balsamic vinegar.  Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes then remove from heat.

Flip burgers to the other side and cook for about 5 minutes.  During the final minute or so add cheese and set on top of patty and allow it to melt.  Place a piece of foil over pan to allow fast melt and keep the patties from drying and allowing the cheese to melt quicker.  Toast buns in toaster oven for 1-2 minutes.

In a bowl combine mayo and balsamic vinegar.  Spread balsamic mayo on one side of top bun. Remove patties from heat and place in bottom buns.  Place balsamic onion & mushrooms on top of patties.  Top and serve.  Repeat steps for any additional burgers.

Green Chile Macaroni & Cheese

- 1/2 package elbow macaroni
- 2 1/2 cups pepper jack cheese shredded
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded (any combo of soy cheeses)
- 1 cup green chiles diced
- 1 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs (or plain bread crumbs)
- 1/4 cup milk (plain soymilk)
- 2 tbsp butter or unsalted margarine (unsalted margarine is suitable for vegans most times otherwise use a butter substitute)
- 2 tbsp unbleached white flour
- salt and pepper to taste

Bring a pot of water to boil.  Add macaroni and allow to cook for about 10-12 minutes or until al dente. Heat a separate pot on medium heat. Add butter and allow to melt.  Whisk in flour to create a roux.  Add milk and whisk.  Add shredded cheeses. Allow all cheese to melt.  Whisk frequently to remove any lumps. Add salt, pepper and chopped chilies.  Drain macaroni.  Add macaroni directly to pot to coat all the pasta.  Pour cheesy pasta into a baking dish. Pour bread crumbs over the top.  Bake for about 5-10 minutes in the oven.  Then broil on low setting until you get a nice crusty top.

Blueberry/Raspberry Slushie
- 1 cup frozen blueberries thawed
- 1 cup frozen raspberries thawed
- 2 tbsp sugar/sugar substitute (raw sugar)
- lemon-lime soda (i.e. Sprite, Sierra Mist) — (Diet Lemon-Lime soda)

In a blender blend raspberries and blueberries together.  Add sugar and continue blending until you get a smooth mixture.  Pour mixture into a freezer safe container (preferably something more wide than tall) — if necessary strain the mixture first to remove any seeds.  Freeze blueberry/raspberry mixture for at least an hour (i did it overnight).  When ready to make slushies, remove mixture from freezer and allow to slightly thaw.  Using an ice cream scooper, scoop slightly frozen berry mixture and put into glasses about halfway full.  Pour lemon-lime soda to top of glass. Serve with straws.

Strawberry Lemonade Pie

- 1 pre-made graham cracker crust (Vegans make your own crust below)
- 1 cup strawberries chopped pureed (frozen strawberries are ok just thaw first)
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (bottled is also fine)
- 1/3 cup sugar/sugar substitute (raw sugar)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 egg (egg substitute — you can buy egg substitutes at your local grocery store)
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)

Vegan Crust:
- 8-10 whole graham crackers crushed to crumbs
- 1/4 cup sugar/raw sugar
- 1/3 cup melted unsalted/vegan margarine

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a blender, combine pureed strawberries, lemon juice, sugar, zest and egg and pulse  for about one minute.  Add flour and baking powder. Blend until you get a smooth mixture.  Pour filling into ready-made crust.  Bake in oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the filling is set.  Once pie is finished remove from oven and allow to cool.  Once pie has cooled put in the fridge for at least an hour to an hour and half before serving.  When ready to serve add mint leaves for garnish, slice and eat!

Vegans – in a bowl combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and margarine and stir. In a circular pan pour in graham cracker mixture. Press down on the bottom and sides of the pan to form crust. You may slightly pre-bake the crust if you’d like by placing in the oven for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees. Then follow the instructions above.