Crockpot Red Lentil Curry

1 1/2 cup boiling water
3/4 cup dried coconut
3 cups red lentils
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
4 tbsp red curry paste
4 cups warm water
1 tbsp minced ginger
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp dried minced onion
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp cane sugar
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp salt

In a blender carafe, combine the boiling water with the dried coconut and let sit for 10-15 minutes, then blend together and strain, reserving the coconut milk. While the coconut is soaking, thoroughly rinse the lentils, then add them to a large crockpot along with the can of tomatoes and curry paste. Stir until combined, then add the water, ginger, garlic, curry powder, dried onion, red pepper, and sugar, and stir again. Stir in the coconut milk, then cook in the crockpot on high for 5 hours. Once the lentils have finished cooking, stir in the lime juice and salt. Add additional salt to taste.

Thai Peanut Curry

1/2 cup peanut butter
3/4 cups hot water
2 tbsp red curry paste

1 tbsp vegetable oil

3 medium carrots, diced
2 bell peppers, diced
1/4 tsp salt
1 15 oz. can chickpeas

In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter and curry paste, then gradually mix in the water until thoroughly combined. Set aside. Add the vegetable oil to a large pot over medium heat. Add the carrots, peppers, and salt and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring every 1-2 minutes to keep the vegetables from browning. Add peanut curry mixture to the pot, then add the chickpeas. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and lower the heat until simmering. Cook for 25 minutes. Add additional salt to taste.

Homemade Seitan

1 cup + 1 tbsp vital wheat gluten
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegetable broth
3 tbsp low-sodium tamari
1 tbsp olive oil
juice from 1/4 lemon
+ additional ingredients below

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. As the water heats, add the wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, seasoning, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and one of the following to a medium bowl:

- 1 1/4 tsp poultry seasoning + 1 tsp mild paprika

- 1/2 tbsp steak seasoning + 1/4 tsp smoked paprika

Stir the dry ingredients together. In another bowl, combine the broth, tamari, olive oil, and lemon juice. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and use a fork to mix together, then knead the seitan by hand for 3-4 minutes. Break into 4 equal-sized pieces, then roll into a small cylinder shape. Add the seitan to the boiling water and cook for 18-22 minutes, until the pieces float to the top of the water. Remove the seitan and move to a large storage container, then cover with the cooking broth. Let the seitan sit in the still-hot broth for 10 minutes, then use or store in the refrigerator.

Poultry Seasoning

2 tbsp rubbed sage
2 tbsp dried thyme
4 tsp dried marjoram
1 tbsp dried cut rosemary
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp dried minced onion
1/2 tsp black peppercorns
1/4 tsp white peppercorns

Grind all of the ingredients together in a spice grinder and store in an airtight container.

Garam Masala

2 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp black peppercorns
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp cardamom seeds or 12-13 green cardamom pods
2 tsp fennel seeds
10 whole cloves
1/2 a nutmeg, ground
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon

In a dry frying pan, heat the coriander, peppercorns, cumin, cardamom, fennel, and cloves until fragrant. Move to a spice grinder along with the nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon. Let the mixture cool, then grind. Store in an airtight container.

Thai Coconut Curry

2 1/4 cups boiling water
1 cup dried unsweetened coconut
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 medium potato, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp red curry paste
1 15 oz. can chickpeas

Combine the boiling water and dried coconut in a blender carafe and cover. Let sit for 10-15 minutes, then blend for 1 minute. Strain the coconut and water mixture, reserving the liquid and discarding the solid coconut. Set aside.

Add the coconut oil to a large pot and heat over medium heat. Add the potato, carrot, bell pepper, and salt and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring every 1-2 minutes to keep the vegetables from sticking. Add the coconut milk and curry paste to the pot and stir until combined, then add the chickpeas. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and lower the heat until simmering. Cook for 40 minutes. Add additional salt to taste.

Savory Popcorn

1/2 cup popcorn kernels
3 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp non-dairy margarine
3-4 tbsp nutritional yeast
1/4 tsp mild paprika
1/8 tsp smoked paprika
1/8 tsp dried granulated garlic
1/2 tsp salt

Add the oil and popcorn kernels to a large pot. Cover the with two layers of aluminum foil, then use a knife to poke slits in the top to let steam escape. Heat the pot on medium heat. As the popcorn heats up, grab the pot by the handles and swirl the contents of the pot every 30 seconds or to prevent the popcorn from burning. Continue until the popcorn begins to pop, then swirl the popcorn continuously until finished popping.

In a small bowl, melt the non-dairy margarine, then pour over the popcorn in two batches. After each batch, sprinkle on half of the nutritional yeast, paprika, smoked paprika, garlic, and salt, then stir with a plastic or silicone spatula until toppings are evenly distributed. If needed, add additional salt to taste.