A Vegan Chili the Meat Lovers Will Beg For

Serves: 8
VEG AN | DAIRY- FREE | GLUTEN- FREE | NUT- FREE

Ingredients:

Cajun Tartar Sauce

• 1 sweet potato, cut into ½-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
• 1 Tbsp avocado oil or other high-heat cooking oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 red onion, diced (about 1 cup) 1½ lb (680 g) veggie ground round
• 2 cans (each 28 oz/796 ml) diced tomatoes, with juice
• 1 can (19 oz/540 ml) kidney beans, drained and rinsed (about 2 cups)
• 1 can (19 oz/540 ml) mixed beans, drained and rinsed (about 2 cups)
• 1 can (10 oz/285 g) sliced mushrooms, drained
• 1 can (5.5 oz/156 ml) tomato paste
• 1½ Tbsp chili powder 5 dashes of hot sauce
• Sour cream, for garnish (optional; omit to keep it vegan)
• Shredded cheese, for garnish (optional; use plant-based cheese to keep it vegan)
• Cilantro leaves, for garnish
• Sliced avocado, for garnish(optional)
• Green onion, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place the sweet potato on the prepared pan and drizzle with the avocado oil. Season generously with salt and pepper and toss to coat, then spread out in a single layer. Roast for 40 to 45 minutes, stirring halfway through, until fork-tender.
3. Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground round, break into large pieces, and cook, without stirring, for another 5 minutes, allowing it to brown. Flip and break into smaller pieces and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until the other side is browned (it doesn’t have to be fully cooked through, as it will finish cooking in the slow cooker).
4. Transfer the onion and ground round to a slow cooker (or see the tip for stovetop cooking instructions). Stir in the roasted sweet potato, tomatoes with juice, kidney beans, mixed beans, mushrooms, tomato paste, chili powder, and hot sauce. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 12 hours or on high for 4 hours.
5. Ladle the chili into bowls and, if desired, top with sour cream, cheese, cilantro, avocado (if using), and green onion. Enjoy!

STORAGE: Store the cooled chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in an airtight container or sealable freezer bag for up to 3 months. To serve, reheat on the stove or in the microwave (thawing first, if frozen), and top as desired.

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The Feel-Good Meal Plan by Lindsay Pleskot. A fresh new flexible approach to meal planning to help you get through your busy schedule. Get prepped for the week in under two hours, with affordable, flavorful, nutrition-packed meals on the table in 30 minutes or less every night of the week. Registered dietician and mom of two, Lindsay Pleskot guides you through meal planning and prepping to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying nutrition- and flavor-driven food with your family.

The post Recipe for Vegan Chili by Lindsay Pleskot appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

What is your business called and what does it do?

Espe is a Canadian fashion brand with a simple mission to create thoughtfully designed, cruelty-free, PETA approved vegan handbags and accessories. Our seasonal collections are unique and each piece is fashionable, functional, affordable and timeless.

What made you want to do this work?

My entire career working in fashion led me to Espe. After 25 years as a CEO of an international fashion brand, I decided it was time to start something of my own. Espe was born from my lifelong love affair with fashion and my lifelong love of animals. Creating a fashion brand that was all about fun, function and style and NOT about harming animals was a dream — and that dream became Espe.

What problem did you want to solve with the business?

Looking around I noticed vegan handbag brands were quite plain and a bit boring. I wanted to design vegan bags that were about colour and fun! Our signature styles are adorned with whimsical floral designs that bring life and excitement to your everyday wardrobe. Our customers love these whimsical designs and have been known to collect the newest design each season.

Who are your clientele/demographics?

Our bags have no age boundaries and are designed by following my fashion heart. Women of all ages can find a design that speaks to them. We have on-trend styles that our younger customers love and vintage inspired styles designed for a more seasoned woman. All Espe bags have one thing in common — they are guaranteed to stand out in a crowd and keep you organized!

How does your business make money? How does it work?

We are predominantly a wholesale business. We support locally owned independent stores that are the heart of their community. We also sell directly to our customers through our website.

Where in the city can we find your profession?

We are carried by many independent retailers right here in Toronto: El Pipil on the Danforth, De Catarina in the Manulife Center and Anything Goes Accessories found in the St. Lawrence Market – and many more stockists which can be found on the store locator on our website.

What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.

Is vegan leather really more sustainable than real leather?

Actually, it is. The Higgs Material Sustainability Index Score, which measures environmental impact of materials used in fashion from cradle to grave, shows that cow leather has an impact of approximately 3 times greater than standard PU which is made from fossil fuels. If you want to choose an option that is better for animals, the planet and people — choose vegan.

What is the best part about what you do?

The best part is that I own Espe. I have worked for other people my entire life and now I am able to use all of the tools I have acquired to build something that is a true reflection of my core values and my creative vision.

The biggest challenge of owning a business is being ultimately responsible for everything. If anything goes wrong I am left holding the bag so to speak. .. no pun intended 🙂

Where can we follow you?

On our website, Instagram and Facebook.

PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?

Ember Wellness. An amazing all natural beauty company. Their sculpt and glow serum bar is the best! You will thank me once you try it!

The post Homegrown Business: Elizabeth Hardy of Espe Vegan Handbags appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Cashew Crema

Ingredients:

• 2 3⁄4 cups of cashews
• 3⁄4 cup of water
• 3⁄4 of lime juice
• 1 teaspoon of salt

Directions:

1. Place the cashews in a saucepan and cover them with water. Bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and let the cashews cook until they become soft and tender.

2. Once the cashews are cooked, drain the water and allow them to cool down.

3. Transfer the cooled cashews to a food processor or blender.

4. Serve and enjoy!

The post Recipe for Cashew Crema of Chef Juan Alvarez appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Upon entering Serano Bakery, customers are immediately struck by the cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The decor is simple and chic, with minimalistic accents and a focus on the delicious treats on display. The bakery is always bustling with activity, with a constant stream of customers coming in and out. The staff is friendly and attentive, creating a warm and inviting vibe.

Serano Bakery boasts an extensive menu of baked goods for every taste and preference. Their signature offerings include a variety of Greek delicacies. They also have a wide selection of pastries, including baklava, traditional greek cookies, mini choux puffs and more. For those with a sweet tooth, there are plenty of tempting options, such as cheesecake, profiteroles, gelato, cakes, etc. The bakery also offers a selection of savoury items for lunch, as well as coffee and tea to wash it all down. Everything is made with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, ensuring that each bite is bursting with flavour.

For the second anniversary of my food blog, they gave me a beautiful vegan vanilla cake with my signature colour (pink!) I shared this cake with a bunch of my biggest supporters and it was a hit with EVERY SINGLE PERSON! The cream perfectly complemented the cake in a way that was light, airy and delicious. I also loved how the cake was very balanced, the icing wasn’t too sweet and the simple decorations on the cake were beautiful too!

On many different occasions my family has gotten trays of Serano’s profiteroles because it has become our favourite dessert. The dessert is composed of mini cream puffs covered with chocolate ganache and sliced almonds. These are also eggless and are the perfect finale to a dinner party. I love how light the cream puffs are and how the chocolate ganache is rich but not heavy. I would highly recommend trying out the chocolate profiterole tray or cups!

One of the standout features of Serano Bakery is its excellent customer service. The staff is always friendly and willing to assist customers with their orders, offering recommendations and answering any questions. They are also happy to accommodate special requests and dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free or vegan options. The bakery has a reputation for providing a high level of service, and it shows in the way they interact with its customers.

Overall, Serano Bakery is a standout option in the Toronto bakery scene. With its cozy ambiance, extensive menu, and exceptional customer service, it is no wonder that it is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Whether you are looking for a quick breakfast pastry on the go or a birthday cake for a friend, Serano Bakery has something for everyone. It is well worth a visit for anyone in the area looking for delicious and high-quality baked goods. Check out their Website and Instagram!

The post Eggless Profiteroles at Serano Bakery appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

SACHA-ISH: Zing and Pay Chen (Toronto-based food writer, TV and radio personality) have created this savoury chili condiment.  Launched just in time for the holiday gifting and entertaining season, this versatile and delicious jar of goodness can be used in many ways. Sacha-ish is inspired in part by some of her favourite food memories of hot pot where dipping sauces like shāchá jiàng were always a feature at the dinner table. Great for dipping everything from chips to dumplings. Enjoy it as a side sauce for your favour protein. Try it in a veggie stir fry or noodles.  Dollop a spoonful even on top of eggs! Currently available for order online at Zing. You’ll want to check out the rest of the collection too! A three-jar set would make a great gift idea!

KILNE Everything Pan: the name says it all from this high quality Canadian kitchenware brand that sells directly to consumers online. We were impressed with their kitchen knives and steak knives so when they introduced the Made in Italy pan we couldn’t wait to get our hands on it. Cook your favourite recipes directly in this pan on the stove top (induction too!) – pancakes and eggs slide off easily! It also can safely go into the oven! Cleaning is a dream.

Trip to Eataly: Eating is very much part of travel for some of us. Having just returned from Italy I can say you can put me on this list! Why not gift the food lover in your life a whirlwind tasty treat with Italian treats like panettone, olive oils, biscottis and more from Eataly Toronto? There are curated gift boxes ready to go at various price points or create your own. The “Trip to Eataly” gift box sells for $119 and includes Torrone, EVOO, Pistachio spread, Dadi Mixed Cremino Chocolate and Cherry Preserve. They also ship across Canada.

General Assembly Pizza: The popular fresh-to-frozen pizza home delivery subscription based service is a great solution not just for families but also for anyone who has a full calendar and wants a quick but damn great pizza in 7 minutes. They’ve also recently launched a New York Sicilian style pizza complete with Impossible Meat — a perfect option also for holiday gatherings as an appy.

Charlie’s Burgers Wine Club: For the wine lover, gift them this subscription to Ontario’s most exclusive wine club. Built by the same team members who brought the Michelin Guide to Toronto, this monthly delivery of curated and exclusive selection of imported wines from the world’s best vineyards and not found at the LCBO. Deliveries also come with notes about the wines each month.

Crafty Ramen: For the noodle-head in your life, gift them a subscription to this Canadian ramen company. Each ramen kit contains fresh made noodles, broth, protein, sauce to make a delicious warm and savoury Japanese noodle soup bowl. They were also recently on Dragon’s Den!

Genuine Tea: for the tea lover in your life this is a company worth exploring. While we love their Creamy Earl Grey, the Silver Needle tea is one that caught our attention. Considered one of the most prized in the world, it’s beautifully complex.  This mild white tea has notes of chamomile and peach. It also can be re-steeped multiple times. Toronto-based Genuine Tea was founded by two tea aficionados who have a passion for hand-crafted artisan teas. After travelling to plantations across Asia and learning about various teas and how different cultures enjoy them, they bring a wealth of knowledge to share with other tea lovers.

Blume: Cozy up with a mug full of chocolaty goodness is a winter ritual. If you’re looking for a guilt-free option worth a try is their Reishi Hot Cacao. According to this Vancouver-based company, this vegan option for our favourite hot beverage also comes with some healthful properties. Support your immune system and fight off the blues with this mystic mushroom hot chocolate. Known as the mushroom of immortality, reishi is a popular stress-soothing adaptogen that helps you fight off the blues and improve your sleep cycle. Cacao helps to support the production of anandamide AKA “the bliss molecule”. You may also want to check out their other offerings all inspired by our favourite beverages but can do more for us. Also all organic and plant-based. Their holiday lattes are delicious including the nut nog, gingerbread, and mint cocoa. I’m also loving their Rose London Fog Blend. 30 servings per 100 g package.

Balzac’s: Coffee lovers across our country are probably familiar with this Canadian coffee house – we visit the one in the Distillery District often! Founded in Stratford, Ontario and inspired by the Grand Cafés of Paris. We came across their customizable coffee roast subscription – frequency of delivery, grind, weight and preferred roast (which can be adjusted anytime) including their popular organic and fair trade beans.

Galerie au Chocolat: Canadian Made – Located in Montreal, Galerie au Chocolat is Canada’s best kept secret for chocolate lovers since 1985. The line of indulgence for the holiday season includes with new luxurious assortment of chocolate offerings from their Artisan, Fairtrade, and Liesse Sugar-Free lines.

Just Vertical: for the person who misses their garden and loves fresh herbs throughout the year, Just Vertical’s hydroponic growing system offers beautifully designed indoor garden systems that are easy to use, sustainable — perfect for the urban gardener. The EVE is a space-sensitive indoor garden that’s built into a seriously beautiful piece of wooden furniture. If that’s too big of a commitment start with one of their Seedling Kits and grow popular herbs like basil and chives then transplant them to your own indoor garden.

Gingerbread Wood Board (Indigo): charcuterie boards and butter boards are all the rage and we can’t get enough of them! But this wooden board shaped as a Gingerbread man is so sweet! We can easily fill it with gingerbread cookies, tarts, chocolates and candy canes as a great leave behind hostess gift at any upcoming holiday party.

Ciselier Alpen Italiano Classico Kitchen Scissors: what do you get the ultimate foodie on your list? They wouldn’t guess you’d gift them “the perfect kitchen scissors”. These heritage crafted scissors are perfect for those artisanal pizzas, to debone chicken, and more. The ergonomic design makes them safer to use than knives. Centre tool is a bonus to crack those lobster shells.

The Edgy Veg EASY EATS Cookbook: We adored Candice Hutchings’ previous cookbook and have been keeping an eye out for this latest one. She taught us that we don’t need to sacrifice creativity or bold flavours with vegan dishes and now you won’t have to sacrifice time or ease either! Each recipe in this book takes no longer than 45 minutes to create. No need to go to fancy health food stores for ingredients either!

Lucky Iron Fish: is a simple, reusable and effective cooking tool that adds extra iron to your daily foods or drinks. Made from food-grade electrolytic iron powder that is FDA certified and approved for food fortification worldwide. Many love this as it offers a side-effect free source of iron, especially for those with iron deficiency anemia.

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