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Bible Food - The Book of Galatians

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For some strange reason, occasionally I get a whim to find out what people in the "Biblelands" would have eaten at the time of the writing of a particular piece.  Apart from the references to meat and dairy, much of what the people ate in those days, in that place, sounds like a good fit for a touring vegan.  Today we did a little dip into the Book of Galatians,  a letter (epistle) written by the apostle Paul to the Christian communities in Galatia.   Scholars date Galatians to around AD 48–55. If it was written earlier, it would be one of Paul's first letters, possibly before the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15, AD 49), which addressed the issue of Gentile converts following Jewish customs.   The main theme of the letter is justification by faith rather than adherence to the Mosaic Law. Paul strongly argues against the teaching that Gentile Christians must follow Jewish laws (like circumcision) to be saved. He defends his apostleship, emphasizes the role of grace, ...

5 Recipes for 5-Ingredient Vegan Pasta Sauce

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Here are 5 simple vegan and gluten-free pasta sauce recipes with just 5 basic ingredients each. They focus on common household ingredients a vegan might have: Creamy Tomato Basil sauce over spaghetti. Image generated by Firefly Adobe. 1. Creamy Tomato Basil Sauce 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or other plant-based milk) 2 tbsp olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 tsp dried basil (or 2 tbsp fresh, chopped) Instructions: Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant. Stir in crushed tomatoes and basil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add almond milk, mix, and heat for another 5 minutes. Serve over pasta. Garlicky-Lemon Butter Sauce. Image generated by Firefly-Adobe. 2. Garlicky Lemon Butter Sauce 1/4 cup vegan butter (or olive oil) 3 garlic cloves, minced Juice of 1 lemon 1/4 cup vegetable broth (or water) 1/4 tsp salt Instructions: Melt vegan butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Stir in lemon...

5 Recipes for 5-Ingredient Vegan Meatballs

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 New vegans and old vegans alike are often searching for recipes that are quick to put together, with as few ingredients as possible, and with the deliciousness factor that attracts the fussy and suits those with stricter dietary requirements (such as gluten-free).  Following are five simple recipes for vegan meatballs, each with only five basic ingredients. Each recipe is versatile and can be customized with your favorite spices or sauces! (5 5-ingredient sauce recipes HERE. ) Lentil-walnut vegan meatballs with spaghetti 1. Lentil-Walnut "Meatballs" Ingredients: 1 cup cooked lentils ½ cup finely chopped walnuts ½ cup breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if needed) 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari 1 tsp garlic powder Purchase Organic Lentils  from Amazon Canada   or from Amazon.com Instructions: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Mash the lentils with a fork or food processor until slightly chunky. Mix in walnuts, breadcrumbs, soy sauce, and garlic powder. Form into balls and place ...

Ellen White's Health Food Revolution

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A 19th-century visionary revolutionized American food culture. Ellen White's teachings on diet and health continue to influence millions today. Ellen Harmon White (1827-1915), co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, played a significant role in shaping American dietary reform movements in the 19th century. Her writings and teachings on food, health, and diet had a lasting influence not only on the Adventist community but also on broader American attitudes toward vegetarianism and health reform. White's interest in dietary reform emerged during a time of significant social and religious upheaval in American society. The mid-19th century saw the rise of various health reform movements, including Sylvester Graham's* dietary reforms and the water cure movement. White's views on food were shaped both by what she described as divine revelations and by the progressive health reform ideas of her era. In 1863, White reported receiving her first major vision regarding hea...

100 Ways to Thicken Homemade Vegan Soup

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  Discover 100 vegan ways to thicken watery soups without flour, plus tips to adjust flavors, reduce liquid, and achieve perfect consistency! Perhaps you have followed a delicious-looking recipe for homemade soup and found, after the prescribed cooking time and more, that the soup is still very watery. While you were not necessarily in quest of a cream soup, did you want something more... substantial? Well, with a better ratio of chunkiness to liquids? And if you are against using wheat flour, whatever the reason might be, what can you do? If you have potatoes or carrots in your soup, you can separate them, cooked soft, and blend them up to return to the soup-- that will help thicken. Same with other starchy vegetables-- blend up at least a portion of the cooked soup and you will see the results you are looking for.  Cooking down the soup over a longer period of time-- say, an hour or so on simmer-- will also reduce the fluid levels. Keep an eye on the soup so that the pan doe...