My Favorite Kitchen Hacks (Pandemic Edition)

My Favorite Kitchen Hacks (Pandemic Edition)

Using my Tuesday Tips this week to bring you My Favorite Kitchen Hacks. Even during a pandemic, My Vegetarian Family is still here πŸ’š helping my friends and followers survive this crazy time.Β  We are all still cooking and eating! Still managing grocery deliveries, and the never-ending infection control process.Β  We are all doing our part to find ways to be healthy + safe while staying active, connected, and above all staying grateful.

As we survive this great big pandemic, we also need to survive on a smaller scale.Β  In our own minds, hearts, families, and in our own kitchens! The buzz I keep hearing is that all you guys want to do is bake. Food is food right now! Bake + eat what you love!

I don’t know about you, but finding the foods I rely on has been a real struggle.Β  We have had to adjust some of our favorite meals and recipes.Β  I have had to get creative with kitchen swaps + hacks.Β  Some foods we have too much of, some not enough of.Β  Not sure there is an end to this in the near future. SO …. I have compiled a list of some of my favorite kitchen hacks that are helping MVF survive life in the kitchen during the Coronavirus pandemic. I hope they help you too!

 

Tara’s Favorite Kitchen Hacks (Pandemic Edition):

DIY:

Almond or Peanut Butter: This is a fun activity AND a way to use up the giant bag of nuts you bought. Roast 3 cups of raw almonds or peanuts in a 250 degree oven for 20 minutes.Β  After cooling, place the nuts in a food processor and have a little patience … after about 15 minutes, guess what? You’ve got yourself some nut butter! For my almond butter, I add 1 tbsp cinnamon and Β½ tsp coarse sea salt.Β  Optional but awesome.

Taco Seasoning: I call this my β€˜one of everything seasoning’: 1 tsp of each one of these: red chili pepper powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika (optional/can also use smoked paprika if you like), oregano, onion powder, black pepper, salt. If you know us, we like things spicy SO … I increase the chili powder.Β  If you don’t have red chili pepper powder, any spicy pepper powder will do such as red pepper flakes or chipotle pepper powder. Place all spices in a glass jar and shake them up. Sprinkle over some veggie crumbles or tofu and serve with Guacamole + Corn Salsa + Vegan Queso!

Garam Masala: 1 tsp coriander powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp cloves, 1 tsp cardamom. Place all spices in a glass jar and shake them up. Easy! Use your garam masala in this Easy Instant Pot Chick Pea Curry (Chana Masala).

 

 

 

My Favorite Hacks If You Stocked Up Too Much On Something:

Bananas

If you see your bananas turning brown, slice them first then put them in individual containers in the freezer for smoothies, or β€˜nice’ cream. Alternatively, you can bake them into something awesome.Β  Browning bananas are absolutely perfect for baking! Try them in these Pumpkin Banana Muffins, Banana Zucchini Bread, 3-Ingredient Cookies.

Garbanzo BeansΒ 

Cook them in your instant pot (1 cup garbanzo beans + 3 cups water + cook for 35 minutes + let the pressure release naturally). 1 Β½ cup cooked garbanzo beans = 1 can.Β  air fry them, Turn them into edible cookie dough πŸ™Œ, whirl them into fabulous hummus, add some tomatoes + onions to turn the into Chana Masala. OR simply divide them out into 1 Β½ cup servings and freeze them in a jar for when you are ready to use them.

Jalapenos or Garlic or Onions or Tomatoes

Don’t throw them away! If they are on the brink of spoiling, you can toss any one of these (separately but not all together!) in your food processor and process them until chopped super fine.Β  What I then do is spoon them into ice cube trays, cover the tray, pop them in the freezer and defrost them when I need them in a recipe later.

 

Lemons or Limes

You are going to love this one. First, thoroughly wash the entire outside. After they are super clean, place them in a large glass jar or container.Β  Fill the jar with enough water to cover the lemons or limes and tightly seal the top.Β  Place your jar in the refrigerator and your lemons or limes will stay fresh for weeks!

 

My Favorite Kitchen Hacks if You Run Out Of Something:

Milk

Turn oats into milk! Full how-to here. Easy + quick.Β  Great substitute in a recipe or over cereal, oats, or muesli. Check out my guide to milk alternatives here for other options.

Flour

Add rolled oats to a food processor.Β  Process until they are a coarse powder.Β  Pause your food processor and scrape down the sides.Β  Process again until your oats are a fine flour.

Cheese

Use Nutritional Yeast! Yummy + Easy + Extremely Versatile. New to Nutritional Yeast? Start here for LOTS of tips + recipes.

Eggs

I have a lot to say about egg replacements 😊 because we do not eat eggs.Β  I am an egg-replacement expert πŸ₯‡. Here are my tips:

    1. Flax: 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water = 1 egg
    2. Chia Seeds: 1 tbsp chia seeds + 1/3 cup water = 1 egg (good for density + nutty flavor)
    3. Bananas: Β½ mashed banana = 1 egg (adds sweetness and texture). Try it out in this Easy Blender Waffles Recipe.
    4. Applesauce: ΒΌ cup unsweetened applesauce = 1 egg (adds thick moisture but does not make your recipe fluffy)
    5. Commercial egg substitutes: Follow Your Heart Vegan Egg, Ener-G Egg Substitute, Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer Gluten- Free.Β  Try it out in this Peanut Butter Banana Bread Recipe.
    6. Craving scrambled eggs but don’t have eggs? Use Tofu: Try it out in this Easy Tofu Scramble Recipe.
    7. Vinegar & Baking Soda: 1 tsp baking soda + 1 tbsp vinegar = 1 egg
    8. Yogurt: ΒΌ cup plain yogurt = 1 egg
    9. Arrowroot Powder: 1 tbsp arrowroot + 3 tbsp water = 1 egg
    10. Aquafaba: 3tbsp aquafaba + 1 egg. Liquid from canned chickpeas, replaces egg whites.Β  Adds a light fluffy texture to your baked goods.Β  Best recipe here for Aqua Faba Vegan Meringue.

Healthy Pumpkin Cookies No Egg Gluten Free Refined Sugar Free My Vegetarian Family

 

 

All the best,

TaraπŸ’š

 

 

My Favorite Kitchen Hacks | Taras Tuesday Tips | My Vegetarian Family #kitchenhacks #tarastuesdaytips #vegetariankitchen

 

⭐️Do You Have A Favorite Kitchen Hack? Leave your ideas in the comments below!

πŸ“ΈI love to see your creations! Tag @myvegetarianfamily on Instagram and hashtag it #myvegetarianfamily

πŸ’ŒBe sure to subscribe here to my weekly emails for tips and recipes so that you never miss a veggie thing!


Related Posts

Calorie Density 101: How to Lose Weight Eating More Food

Calorie Density 101: How to Lose Weight Eating More Food

Have you ever thrown in the towel on your weight loss efforts because you are tired of feeling deprived + hungry? You are not alone. The vicious cycle of eating less, cutting calories, banishing your favorite foods, letting yourself get so hungry that you overeat […]

Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus (Oil-Free!)

Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus (Oil-Free!)

You will NEVER want to buy store-bought hummus again after you try this easy + yummy + oil-free homemade Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus recipe! This is a snack on regular rotation in our kitchen but can also be rolled into a wrap, dolloped on top of […]



2 thoughts on “My Favorite Kitchen Hacks (Pandemic Edition)”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Never Miss A Veggie Thing πŸ’š

Subscribe Here For Tara’s Weekly Newsletter filled with Tips + Recipes!