Ryan – Page 7 – The Vegan Rhino

August 24, 2020August 24, 2020

Best Bourbon Mushroom

The best bourbon mushroom that’s easy, vegan, and tastes just like you may remember minus the poultry. This bourbon sauce has a deep flavor with hints of apple which is really yummy. Generally I like to enjoy this over a big bowl of fried rice, but you could eat it with white rice or noodles if you’d like. Ready in 20 minutes or less, this may just become your new favorite dish.

Yield 2

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. avocado oil

2 lbs. baby Bella mushroom caps

Bourbon sauce

1 grated garlic clove

1/4 tsp. ginger, grated

3/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/4 cup organic apple juice

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1 Tbsp. tomato paste

1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup water, reserve 1 Tbsp.

1/3 cup organic tamari sauce

2 tsp. cornstarch

Directions

In a sauce pot over medium heat, add all sauce ingredients (except cornstarch) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Once done, mix together cornstarch and remaining water and pour slurry into pot. Simmer until sauce thickens and remove from heat.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat with mushrooms, sautéing until lightly brown. Evenly coat with the sauce and cook for 2 minutes.
Serve mushrooms over bed of white rice and garnished with green onions.

Chef’s tip: For a more thick sauce, add extra cornstarch.

August 5, 2020August 5, 2020

Country Fried Cauliflower Steaks

Country fried cauliflower steak is the ultimate comfort food to enjoy. Fried to perfection, they are a great non-meat alternative if you’re vegan or looking to try something new. Smothered in a non-dairy country gravy and paired with mashed potatoes and steamed green beans, this dish will be a huge hit! For those of you that are not fond of gravy or are looking to create something else, I got you covered. These cauliflower steaks are great with marinara sauce topped with vegan parmesan cheese, like a cauliflower parm! Its delicious and another way to use this recipe.

Yields 4

Ingredients

1 large head cauliflower, stem removed and sliced

1 cup organic all-purpose flour

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. paprika powder

1 cup non-dairy milk

1 Rhinos Country Gravy recipe

Directions

In two shallow dishes, combine flour, cornstarch, and seasonings in one, mixing to combine. In the other, add non-dairy milk.
In a pot filled half way with water, bring to boil with a pinch of salt, steam the cauliflower for roughly 4 minutes and drain on a paper towel afterwards. Slice into 4 steaks. Take cauliflower steaks and coat with flour, then into non-dairy milk, and finally flour, removing an excess.
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with oil to fry. Cook for roughly 3 minutes and flip, cooking for an additional 3 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels.
Serve gravy over fried cauliflower steaks and garnish with parsley and side of mashed potatoes and green beans.

Chef’s tip: This cauliflower steak is also great for cauliflower parmesan! Just add your favorite tomato sauce and vegan cheese, broil and you’re done!

Rhinos Country Gravy

July 30, 2020July 30, 2020

Quick Collard Greens

Quick collard greens are an underrated leafy green vegetable that is a nutritional powerhouse. Dark greens, like collards, provide an important non-dairy source of calcium to our bodies that we don’t get from dairy. These collard greens are inspired by my friend Nancy who introduced me to how good they are! Since collards have a tendency to be more bitter, you can pair this side dish with sweet foods or potato salad. You could even toss some in a tofu scramble, it’s delicious!

Yields 3

Ingredients

1 lb. finely chopped collard greens, washed

1 Tbsp. avocado oil

1/2 cup yellow onions diced

3 large garlic cloves, minced

1 medium tomato

1/2 tsp. smoked paprika

2 sprigs thyme

1/2 tsp. Himalayan salt

1 cup vegetable broth

1 tsp. apple cider vinegar

Directions

In a large saucepan on medium-high heat, sauté onions and cook 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more.
Combine the tomatoes, smoked paprika, thyme, and salt in pot and cook 2 minutes. Add collard greens and cook until wilted. Pour in vegetable broth and apple cider vinegar, cover and reduce heat to low, simmering 30 minutes.
Serve warm.

Chef’s tip: For more of a smoky flavor, add a drop or two of smoked flavoring.

July 22, 2020July 22, 2020

Rhino’s Country Gravy

This country gravy, also known as a white gravy, is made from milk that is thickened by a roux, which is flour cooked in vegan butter. This gravy recipe is best with a soy milk because of its natural flavor profile. If you don’t use or have soy milk, you can always opt for oat milk or almond milk, just make sure it is unsweetened. Smother this gravy over Country Fried Cauliflower Steaks or biscuits! The choice is yours.

Yields 8 servings

Ingredients

5 Tbsp. vegan butter

1/3 cup organic all-purpose flour

3 1/2 cups non-dairy milk

1/2 tsp. Himalayan salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Directions

In a skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter and sprinkle with flour, stirring for 30 seconds. Slowly pour in non-diary milk and whisk until gravy thickens. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve over fried cauliflower steaks and garnish with parsley and side of mashed potatoes and green beans.

Chef’s tip: The best type of plant-based milk is soy because it has the most natural flavor. If you can’t use soy, go for unsweetened oat milk.

June 30, 2020June 30, 2020

Asian Lettuce Wraps

These vegan asian lettuce wraps are the perfect way to bring the restaurant to your home. They are quick (less than 30 minutes!) and a healthy dinner alternative that tastes scrumptious! I know this may be a bold claim that these lettuce wraps could be just that good, but they are! I enjoy the marinade by Ginger People so much that I decided to utilize that for the sauce, which cuts time in half and reduces the amount of ingredients needed. Give these a go, your family will surely enjoy them, even the kids!

Yield 4

Ingredients

1 (16 oz. container) extra firm tofu, drained

Potato starch, enough to lightly coat tofu

2 Tbsp. avocado oil

1 small yellow onion, chopped

1 cup chopped white mushrooms

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 tsp. Himalayan salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1 cup birds eye shredded carrots and broccoli florets

1/2 bottle The Ginger People Ginger People Sesame Marinade

Romaine or iceberg lettuce cups

Chopped green onions, for garnish

Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Drain and press the tofu until majority of the liquid is gone and pat it dry. Slice the tofu into 1/2 inch cubes and lightly dust with potato starch. Set aside.
In a 8” inch skillet on medium heat, add half the oil and sauté the onions with mushrooms for 5 minutes. Season with garlic, salt and pepper; Sauté for an additional minute. Remove mixture and set aside on a plate.
Next, add the remaining oil and cook the tofu for 4-5 minutes or until browned. Add the vegetable medley mix, mushrooms, onions, and sauce. Cook until sauce thickens.
Serve immedietly with a side of lettuce cups, extra sauce, green onions, and sesame seeds.

Chef’s tip: For extra crunch, chop up some water chestnuts!

June 19, 2020June 19, 2020

Fresh Watermelon Margaritas

If you’re 21+ I have the perfect drink for you to make! Margaritas are usually a crowd favorite but when you add fresh watermelon juice to the mixture, it gets a whole lot better. Whether you want this on the rocks or blended into a frozen drink, you’ll enjoy these all summer long (or anytime!).

Yield 6

Ingredients

1 large watermelon, roughly 12 cups juice

1/2 cup lime juice

6 Tbsp. organic cane sugar

7 oz. tequila of choice

4 oz. grand marnier or triple sec

2 cups crushed ice

Kosher salt or sugar, to rim glass

Directions

In a blender, add the sliced watermelon and blend until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and add 4 cups watermelon juice to a large pitcher with lime juice, sugar, tequila, triple sec, and crushed ice. Stir to combine.
Serve in a glass with ice and sugar rim. Garnish with mint.

Chef’s tip: Blend the watermelon and make the juice the night before. You can infuse the juice with mint leaves.

June 15, 2020December 21, 2020

Gourmet Mushroom Risotto

This creamy gourmet mushroom risotto is a real crowd pleaser and a must try! Making a creamy homemade risotto takes time but its well worth it. With just a few simple ingredients, you can turn plain rice into a delicious entree or side dish.

Yield 5 servings

Ingredients

.7 oz. dried porcini mushrooms

4 1/2 cups vegetable broth

2 Tbsp. avocado oil + 2 Tbsp. vegan butter

16 oz. sliced baby Bella mushrooms

1/2 cup shallots, chopped

1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 sprig thyme

2 Tbsp. vegan butter

1-1/2 cups Arborio rice

1/4 tsp. Himalayan pink salt

1/8 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup vegan parmesan

Parsley, to garnish

Directions

In medium pot, bring vegetable broth to boil and reduce heat to low. Add porcini mushrooms, cover and cook for 4 minutes. Remove porcini mushrooms and slice.
In large pot over medium heat, warm avocado oil and butter mixture. Add porcini mushrooms, baby Bella mushrooms, shallots and onions; cook for 6 minutes. Add garlic and thyme and cook another 2 minutes. Transfer mixture (including liquid) to bowl and set aside.
In same large pot, combine 2 tablespoons vegan butter with uncooked rice for 1 minute (avoid browning rice). Add salt, pepper and white wine. Cook until liquid absorbs.
Return mushroom mixture to pot with rice. Slowly pour in 1/2 cup hot vegetable broth and stir until mostly absorbed. Add another 1/2 cup and so on until rice absorbs all of the liquid (this step takes roughly 35 minutes). Remove thyme spring and stir in vegan parmesan.
Spoon into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley and serve.

Chef’s tip: In step No. 4, make sure liquid absorbs completely before adding more hot broth. This is VERY important!

June 2, 2020June 2, 2020

Cool Blue Nice Cream

If you have heard of nice cream, you are going to love this! For those of you have not, nice cream is essentially a non-dairy ice cream made by freezing bananas and blending them. It is probably the best snack to enjoy on a hot day, after dinner for dessert, or even after a workout. Either way, the options are endless on when you can enjoy this cool blue nice cream bowl! To get this color, I added a natural butterfly pea supercolor powder by Suncore foods. They have tons of amazing powders that can give your foods a natural color boost with added nutrients and benefits. This bowl was topped with banana, dried apricots, and strawberries. Its super simple and a tasty snack to try!

Yield 1

Ingredients

4 frozen bananas

1/3 cup oat milk

2-3 tsp Suncore foods Blue Butterfly Pea Supercolor Powder

Directions

In a blender, combine the frozen bananas, oat milk, and butterfly pea powder. Blend until smooth using a tamper to evenly mix the nice cream.
Pour into a bowl and tip with strawberries, diced dried apricot, banana, or any toppings of your choice.

Chef’s tip: Feel free to switch up the powder used.

May 25, 2020July 17, 2020

How to get Rid of Ants Naturally: 3 Helpful Tips

3 Natural Ant Deterent for Gardens: Non-Invasive

It’s a beautiful day, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and you go to water your garden. Upon arriving, you can’t help but notice your vegetable garden has turned into an “ant picnic” overnight!

In a world where we are becoming more understanding of the harmful chemicals we use, it’s important to treat these problems naturally. Since raw vegetables consume nutrients directly from the soil, you want to make sure you don’t harm the fruit, vegetables, or more importantly your body.

Below are three remedies to treat an ant infestation.

White Vinegar, Lemon Juice, and Water
Ant proofing your garden can be quick and easy with a simple 1:1 ratio of vinegar and lemon juice with a splash of water. Since citrusy scents are potent to ants’ receptors, it will deter them away as well as remove any scent markings they may have used to navigate.

The benefits of using vinegar are almost like that of lemon juice; anywhere the vinegar is sprayed, the ants will stay away. This method works the best together, rather than using lemon juice or vinegar separately.

Cucumber, Orange, Lemons, and Grapefruit Peels
Using the rinds or peels of citrus and cucumber can be another natural way to remove any unwanted garden guests. If you don’t have any vinegar, this method will work just as well. Cucumber has an unfavorable taste to ants when eaten.

However, you will need to replace the cucumber every so often until all of the ants have dispersed. This method works very well with the next natural remedy I will share with you all.

Turmeric and Cayenne Pepper
Using turmeric and cayenne pepper with the above method can help speed up the process. An important key factor in the removal of ants and ant farms is to disrupt their navigational signals, so they have to go elsewhere.

Being that these two spices are pungent and inhibit their communication, it’s the perfect line of defense to your home garden.

Tip: If for any reason the above non-invasive measures do not entirely redirect and deter your ant problem, I have an alternative to use instead of chemical ant killer.

Cornmeal is a very enticing snack to ants, but it is lethal. These insects are unable to digest the cornmeal and will die. Just sprinkle with powdered sugar to attract them better and monitor until the problem is solved.

May 17, 2020October 31, 2020

Raspberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Alright bakers, if you are looking for a refreshing cookie that is light, buttery, and pops with flavor, than these Raspberry Jam Thumbprint cookies are it! The homemade ginger-lemon raspberry jam with the lemon-buttery goodness these cookies have are a great combo. During the summertime, I love to make these Raspberry Jam Thumbprint cookies with different jams, like a fresh strawberry or peach jam. For all those raspberry fans out there, these cookies will curb all those cravings you may be having. Lets get cooking bakers!

Yield 21

Ingredients

3/4 cup vegan butter, softened

1/2 cup organic cane sugar

1 Tbsp. egg replacer + 2 Tbsp. filtered water

1 large lemon, zest only

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1-3/4 cup organic all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. Himalayan salt

1/3 cup ginger-lemon raspberry jam, to fill cookies

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper.
In a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar together until white and fluffy. Mix in the egg replacer, lemon zest, and vanilla.
In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture until all the dry ingredients are well incorporated.
Using a 1-inch scoop, place cookie balls into the prepared baking sheets. Using your thumb, press a thumbprint into the center of each ball. Fill with roughly 1/4 tsp. raspberry jam.
Bake for 15-17 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
Serve or store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 1 week.

Chef‘s tip: These cookies are delicious with this strawberry jam!