Louisiana Red beans, Yellow Rice, Cornbread, and Mixed Greens (What I Ate for Christmas, Umm)

This was my second Christmas eating vegan.  This year I went back to my childhood roots for dinner ideas.  The only thing missing was the turkey/chicken which I didn't miss at all.  I hadn't realized how the meat overwhelmed the flavors of the side dishes.  Not having any allowed the seasonings to stand out much more powerfully on my palate.  After four hours of gift opening with my lovely family I was famished and this meal hit the spot.  You'll find the recipes below.

Louisiana Red Beans

I retrieved this recipe from Fatfree Vegan Kitchen.  With only a few modifications, I stayed true to the original recipe for the most part.  You can click the link for the ingredients and original cooking instructions.

• Soak dry beans overnight in water(see package for water/bean ratio).
• Drain and rinse beans.
• Add all ingredients to a crock-pot except salt.  
• Add enough water to cover up to 1 inch above level of beans. Stir contents of pot for even distribution of seasonings.
• Cook on low for 8 hours.  
• (Optional) - Remove most of the beans and mash well.  Add them back to the pot and add salt to taste.
• Stir and serve over rice.

Yellow Brown Rice

2 cups long grain brown rice

1 small chopped onion

4 cups no chicken broth (I use Better Than Bouillon) or vegetable broth

1/3 cup Earth Balance natural buttery spread (soy free or original)

• Add all ingredients to a large rice cooker and stir.
• Cook according to manufacturer’s directions.

Golden Cornbread [This recipe is to die for.  Not to toot my own horn :-)] 

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1/3 cup pure cane sugar

1 tsp. salt

3-1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 cup plain almond or soy milk

1/3 cup olive oil

Cinnamon

1 Tbsp.(or more if needed for even coating) Earth Balance buttery spread

• Preheat oven 350°.  Lightly and evenly coat an 8x8 Pyrex dish with canola or olive oil cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk all dry ingredients.
• Make a well in center of mixture and add wet ingredients, combine well.
• Pour mixture into prepared dish and lightly sprinkle cinnamon evenly over cornbread mixture. 
• Bake in oven for 25 minutes or until golden inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• Immediately after removing from oven, evenly spread Earth Balance across the top of cornbread.
• I promise this might be the best cornbread you've ever had.

Mixed Greens

1 bunch of mixed greens of your choice, kale, collard, turnip, mustard etc.

1 small onion

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves minced or crushed

3 Tbsp liquid smoke

2-1/2 cups water

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar(optional)

Salt/pepper to taste

• In a 3 quart pan bring water to a boil.
• Add greens and onions; reduce heat to medium-low.
• Add remaining ingredients except salt and pepper.  Cook until greens are tender or to preferred consistency.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.  (I like mine with Louisiana hot sauce.)

I hope you'll try these and let me know how or if you like them.  Happy eating!