Herb-Roasted Cremini Mushroom Tostadas + Hemp and Greens Power Pesto

Our cooking assignments for The Academy of Culinary Nutrition focus on developing our own recipes now which I find a lot of fun, but also frightening. I don't like wasting food so I'm afraid of doing something that tastes awful only to throw it out! Putting that aside, I find it really fun to think about what tastes go well together and then develop something that resembles dinner.

I served this dish to my kids without the mushrooms (how can they not like mushrooms!) and they loved it. I developed this recipe for someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis for my assignment, so it's super nourishing for your joints, tasty, gluten-free and dairy-free.

Herb-Roasted Cremini Mushroom Tostadas + Hemp and Greens Power Pesto

Makes 7 tostadas*

Ingredients

Mushrooms

1 package of cremini mushrooms (227 g)

1 tbsp of dried thyme

2 tbsp of fresh parsley

1 tsp of dried rosemary

1/2 tsp of salt

1/2 tsp of pepper

4 tbsp olive oil

Tostadas

Adapted from Spiced Chickpea Pancakes, by Lindsey S. Love

1.5 cups of almond milk or dairy-free milk of choice

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 cup of chickpea flour

1/2 cup of brown rice flour

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 tbsp of olive oil, plus more for the pan

2 organic eggs

1 cup of Hemp and Greens Power Pesto (recipe below)

Cashew cheese for drizzling. Optional (recipe below)

Directions

Make the pesto and cheese, if using, ahead of time so you can focus on the main dish.

Prepare the mushrooms
1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Wipe away debris from mushrooms and set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl whisk together oil, herbs, salt and pepper and add in mushrooms. Stir making sure all the mushrooms are coated in the oil/herb mixture.
4. Place the mushrooms evenly on the baking sheet. 

5. Bake for 20 minutes.

Tostadas (Makes 7 Medium-sized tostadas)

While the mushrooms are roasting, make the tostadas

1. In a small bowl, mix milk and apple cider vinegar together and let sit until it bubbles a bit (5 minutes).

2. In large bowl, mix together flours, salt and pepper.

3. When it’s ready, add the milk mixture to the flour. Add the olive oil and eggs. WhisK together until everything is incorporated and no lumps remain.

4. Heat a skillet to medium and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

5. Using a 1/3 cup measuring cup, pour batter into the skillet, trying to keep it in a nice circle and cook until small bubbles form in the batter. Flip and cook the other side. Keep warm. Repeat until you have used all of the batter.

6. When the mushrooms are done, slice and set aside.

7. Spread a heaping tablespoon of pesto on a tostada and top with 5 or 6 sliced mushrooms.

8. Drizzle cashew cheese on top and enjoy!

Notes

*This recipe makes 7 tostadas, but you will have some mushrooms and cashew cheese leftover (great toppings for eggs the next morning!)

**All of the elements to this meal can be made ahead of time then put together the day you need them. Everything will stay in the fridge for two days.

Additional recipes:

Cashew Cheese

Makes about 1 cup

1 cup of cashews, soaked overnight in water

1/4 cup of nutritional yeast

1.5 tsp salt

2 cloves of garlic

1/4 cup water +2 tbsp

1. Process all of the ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor, scraping down the sides as needed. Blend until smooth.

Hemp and Greens Power Pesto

Adapted from Protein-Packed Hemp Seed Pesto, by Oh My Veggies

Makes just under 1 cup

1 large clove of garlic or 2 small

2 large cups of greens (I used a baby kale, chard and spinach mix, but just kale will work fine), washed

1/4 cup of vegan parmesan
3 tbsp hemp seeds

1 tsp salt

3 tbs olive oil

2 tbs lemon juice

1. Put garlic in the food processor and chop until small, then add all of the other ingredients and process until smooth.

Vegan Parmesan

Makes about 1.5 cups

1 cup of cashews

1/4 cup of nutritional yeast

1 tsp of salt

1. Process all of the ingredients in a food processor until fine. Store in an air tight mason jar in the fridge.

Date balls with coconut + walnuts

I've been bringing the kids an after-school snack since Leo began JK to help take a load off their hanger. You know it happens. My kids are exhausted and if you add hunger to that, watch out. I'm lucky to make it home. Most days I bring a smoothy, but Mila really isn't into smoothies so I change it up now and again. Last week I brought these date balls and they were a hit. Here's the rundown:

Date balls with coconut + walnuts
2 cups of organic medjool dates, pitted
2 tablespoons of camino cocoa powder
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 handful of walnuts (or nut or seed of choice)
1 tablespoon of chia seeds
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
2 tablespoons of shredded coconut

How to make them:
1. Put all of the ingredients except the shredded coconut into a food processor and process until everything is incorporated.
2. Put the shredded coconut into a bowl and put aside.
2. Take about a tablespoon of 'dough' at a time and roll into balls.
3. Roll each ball in the shredded coconut.
4. Enjoy!

On a mission to make real food cool

The other day I made potato leek soup and after a bit of coercing (it was green) the kids lapped it up. I asked them if they wanted it for lunch the next day and they both said yes.

Fast forward to the next morning to when I mentioned the soup that I was going to put in their lunch they both instantly said no and when I asked why, they said they didn't want their friends to comment on how it looks.

Ugh.

So It's already starting. Did I mention my kids are 5.5 and 4? Are kids seriously making comments already about other kids lunches?

I told them then and there that I make food different and yes it's going to look different sometimes. It's going to be green. It's going to be hearty. There will be no goldfish crackers in their lunch unless I make them. Yeah, I'm that mom.

And guess what? I vow not to back down. I am not going to change what I feed my kids because other kids at school don't like how it looks or smells.

So right now I'm making this my mission: I want to make real food cool. If I have to make it look cute so be it.

Real food is cool people. Let's join together in this uphill battle. We'll get there.

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This fall I've joined the Academy of Culinary Nutrition where I'll be learning the ins and outs of how to cook and eat for health. You can follow my culinary adventures here and on Instagram (@lealoulemonade).

Cheers. Here's to health.