From Mrs. Deacon Pat

Oprah Winfrey's Vegan Challenge

Over the last 6 years I have been blessed to watch my husband improve his health through adopting a plant based diet.  This change has been transformative in so many ways. Besides feeling better himself, Pat has been able to use his experiences and knowledge to help so many others.  We truly both believe that God has added one more calling to his already full plate (no pun intended) and asked Him to share these experiences so others can live longer and lead more healthy lives.

Living at home with such a passionate devotee to being plant based is both a blessing and a challenge.  It is such a blessing that Pat loves to cook and he prepares all of our meals.  And they are really outstanding, too!  Of course, he treats each foray into the kitchen as a trip to a lab, insisting on changing or tweaking his recipes to try something different or make it a little better.  Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn’t, but more than once I have asked, “I really liked the potato soup the way you made it last time, can we have that again?”  And he replies, “I don’t know if I can remember which version that was.”

Deacon Pat's Guilt Free French Onion Chip Dip

One of the things that I missed going plant based was the onion chip dip that my Mom used to make.  So I decided to experiment a bit and came up with this recipe that even my daughter says is “awesome.”  It takes a little more planning and time but it is well worth it.

                                                                                      

1 cup of RAW cashews (Drained after soaking for 2 hours if using a regular blender)

   (Use raw cashews, not salted ones.  These can be found in the nut section in the produce dept.)

12.3 oz container of Silken Tofu (Firm)

½ lemon – juiced

1 tsp. of onion powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

½ medium sweet onion grated

1/3 to ½ package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix

Place all ingredients except the grated onion and soup mix in a blender.

(If using a regular blender, soak the cashews for 2 hours then drain before blending with other ingredients.  If using a high speed blender like a VitaMix, then you do not need to soak the cashews first.)

Blend ingredients until smooth and creamy.  (High speed blender about 3 minutes.  A regular blender about 7-10 minutes.)

Grate in the ½ medium onion and add the Lipton onion soup mix and mix thoroughly with a spoon.

Refrigerate for about 2 hours to allow the flavors to blend.  Adjust seasonings to taste.