German Chocolate Cake Oatmeal

I think my husband's most favorite dessert if probably German Chocolate Cake. His mom makes an über-rich version for every holiday meal and he eats it like a fiend! My M-I-L's original recipe calls for about 7 egg yolks, a cup of evaporated milk, and about a cup of butter. It tastes pretty amazing but I can only eat about 1/10th of what Tony consumes because it is so rich. So, I've often wondered if anyone had come up with a vegan or whole-food-plant-based version of it and sure enough .. someone had :) !! I found the recipe today!! What better day to use it than New Year's Eve, and my 2-Year Plantiversary? I'd say that faint anticipatory smile on his face as he takes his first bite says it all! He's a happy camper :) 

Adapted from: The Oatmeal Artist - German Chocolate Baked Oatmeal

Prep Time: 25 min (with premade topping)

Ingredients (Serves 1, double for 2):

1. 1/2 cup Old-Fashioned (Rolled) Oats
2. 1/2 cup Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk (I used almond)
3. 1 tbsp Agave (or sweetener of choice)
4. 1 tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa
5. 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
6. 1 pinch of Sea Salt
7. 1 tsp Brown Sugar 
8. 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
9. 2 tsp Coconut Pecan Butter (for topping, premade, and brought to room temperature)
10. 1 tsp Shredded Coconut (for garnish, optional)
11. 1 tbsp Crushed Pecans (for garnish, optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F. In a small bowl, mix dry ingredients (oats, cocoa, baking powder, brown sugar, salt) and in a separate bowl, mix wet ingredients (non-dairy milk, sweetener of choice, vanilla extract). Mix both well. Transfer the dry ingredients to a greased ramekin, or an oven-safe bowl. I used a quick spray of Pam on the bowl and then wiped any excess off with a kitchen towel. Slowly pour the wet ingredients over the top of the dry mixture. Use a fork to make sure that any flakes of oatmeal that are still floating get soaked well. I didn't mix at this stage because I wanted to make sure that I didn't disturb the grease around the sides of the bowl. Bake uncovered for 20-22 min. Remove from oven and let sit for a couple of minutes, then carefully invert the bowl onto a serving plate and let sit for another 4-5 min. This will allow the oatmeal to cleanly transfer to the serving plate, in the shape of the baking bowl itself. Gently top off the oats with about 2 tsp of Coconut Pecan butter (I used the original recipe, see link in ingredients above, to a tee) allowing the steam from the oatmeal to soften it. This stuff is rich .. like really really rich, so don't be greedy like me! Once it softens and starts glistening, sprinkle some coconut flakes and crushed pecans on top. Serve warm! Enjoy!

My Assessment: This oatmeal is a great way to enjoy an otherwise über-rich guilt-laden dessert. By no means is this dish low-fat (thanks to the coconut pecan butter used for the topping) but it is definitely based on whole plant-based ingredients and is far better for you than the original recipe. LOVED another recipe from The Oatmeal Artist. Tony confirmed that the topping tasted just like the omni version his mom makes and I think it would work great as a filling and topping for a vegan chocolate cake as well (i.e. to make an actual German Chocolate Cake). Score!!!!! 

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving, with topping): Calories 498 (Fat Calories 252)
Total Fat 28.1 g; Carbohydrates 56.7 g; Fiber 11.3 g; Sugars 19.4 g; Protein 9.6 g

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving, w/o topping): Calories 276 (Fat Calories 56)
Total Fat 6.3 g; Carbohydrates 50.7 g; Fiber 7.8 g; Sugars 18.3 g; Protein 7.1 g

If you liked this recipe, be sure to check out my Recipe Index for more Whole-Food, Plant-Based, No-Added-Oil recipes. You can also like Rugrat Chow! on Facebook. Thanks!

Mexican 7-Layer Dip

We were at the store a couple days ago for a mid-week grocery supplement trip when Tony picked up a container of 'ready to eat' Mexican dip from the deli-fresh section. I looked at it and it had more cheese and sour cream than any of the other whole ingredients and offered to make a whole foods-plant-based version at home. I mean, really, how hard could it be? So away we went .. picked up all of our ingredients and a bag of baked tortilla chips and we had the best lunch ever ... yep! we're those people! We at chips and dip for lunch! :)

Prep Time: <10 min

Ingredients (Serves 6):

1. 1 x 16 oz can of La Preferida Fat Free Refried Black Beans 
2. 1 x 8 oz bag of Shredded Lettuce (about 2 cups)
3. 1 Medium White onion, finely diced
4. 2 Medium Tomatoes, finely diced
5. 1 x 4 oz can of Ortega Fire-Roasted Diced Green Chilies
6. 1/2 x 3.8 oz can of Early California Sliced California Ripe Olives
7. 0.5 cup Pace Restaurant Style Salsa
8. 1 tbsp Ortega Taco Seasoning (to taste). 

Directions: 

I used black beans for this recipe because that's what we like to eat more than regular refried beans. Feel free to use a can of regular beans instead. The brand I used (La Preferida) has only cooked black beans, water, salt, and onion and garlic powder. I made sure also that the green chilies and olives are preserved in water, and not oil. Once all the ingredients are ready, start layering a bowl with the ingredients starting with half the lettuce, black beans, tomatoes, onions, black olives, green chilies, salsa, with sprinkles of taco seasoning between each layer. Finally top off with the remainder of the lettuce and add a few extra olives, and a sprinkle of taco seasoning, as a garnish. Refrigerate for about 30-60 minutes before serving. The longer the ingredients sit together, the better the flavors blend together. Serve with baked tortilla chips for an awesome experience. 

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving): Calories 108 (Fat Calories 14)
Total Fat 1.6 g; Carbohydrates 20.4 g; Fiber 5.4 g; Sugars 3.9 g; Protein 6.7 g


If you liked this recipe, be sure to check out my Recipe Index for more Whole-Food, Plant-Based, No-Added-Oil recipes. You can also like Rugrat Chow! on Facebook. Thanks!

Pomegranate & Chocolate Chip Oatmeal

During one of many trips to India, before my dad passed on, he introduced Tony to Pomegranates. It was love at first bite for him. Ever since then, every time he sees it at the store, and he has some spare cash, he picks one up. They're expensive here in the US and I always thought they're more work than they're worth ;) but Tony is willing to do the work to get all the seeds out, so I'm willing to eat them!! Fun fact: did you know that pomegranate seeds are called 'arils'? 

Recipe Credit: The Oatmeal Artist - Pomegranate & Chocolate Chip Oatmeal

Prep Time: <5 min 

Ingredients: See recipe link above. 

Directions:

In a microwave-safe bowl, mix oats, chia seeds, almond milk and salt together and cook on high for 3-4 minutes. Remove the bowl once in the middle of this time to mix well. Once oats are done, remove carefully from microwave, mix vanilla extract, pomegranate arils and chocolate chips and transfer to a serving dish. Enjoy!! 

My Assessment: I really really liked this recipe by The Oatmeal Artist. In fact, I don't think I've tried a single one of her recipes and not loved it. She's got a knack for oatmeal :) !!! The combination of pomegranate and chocolate was like eating cherries with chocolate, but the crunchiness of the arils made it similar to eating a nutty chocolate bar!! Loved it!! 

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving): Calories 331 (Fat Calories 95)
Total Fat 10.6 g; Carbohydrates 54.9 g; Fiber 8.8 g; Sugars 20.7 g; Protein 8.3 g


If you liked this recipe, be sure to check out my Recipe Index for more Whole-Food, Plant-Based, No-Added-Oil recipes. You can also like Rugrat Chow! on Facebook. Thanks!