For 30 years, I have been vegetarian and mostly vegan. I've learned to create tasty vegan recipes to appeal to my family of 7.

A Healthy Start: Pretty Fruit Cups

The best start to your day is a healthy start. Any type of fancy fruit cup will lure children and adults away from the Easter candy. Use a pretty, see-through bowl or cup to add to the appeal. This recipe is simple: Cut up your favorite fruits and serve!

"Sausage" Croissants

These croissants make use of store-bought "sausage" and dough, making them easy to whip up on even the busiest morning.

Ingredients

• 1 to 2 packages of vegan breakfast sausage links
• 1 to 2 refrigerator containers of, crescent rolls

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven according to the crescent roll container cooking temperature.
2. If the sausage is frozen, heat for approximately 1 minute in a microwave or warm in a pan to just thaw.
3. Open the crescent container and separate the dough pieces. Place sausage on the wide end of the triangle and roll.
4. Bake according to crescent roll directions. Serve with mustard and ketchup.

These potato and "egg" pancakes are gluten-free.

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Potato and "Egg" Pancakes

This recipe serves 8.

Ingredients

• 2 large potatoes, peeled
• 8 ounces medium-firm tofu, drained
• 1/4 cup chickpea flour
• 1 large leaf kale, chopped
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon dry parsley
• 1/2 tablespoon flax seed meal
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• Coconut oil/butter for frying (or vegetable oil)

Instructions

1. Grate the potatoes (done easily in a food processor).
2. Mash the tofu.
3. Mix all ingredients together except the oil.
4. Heat your oil in a frying pan.
5. Shape mixture into patties and add to the pan.
6. Brown, then reduce the heat to medium.

The flatter the patty, the firmer the patties will be and the softer the potatoes will be. If you want a more "eggy" texture, make the patties less flat, but then the potatoes will not be as well-cooked.

Sugar-free banana bread.

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Sugar-Free Banana Bread

The dates, bananas, and applesauce sweeten the bread. This recipe serves 8 to 10 people.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 tablespoon flax seed meal
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup applesauce (2 kids' individual size)
• 4 large, ripe, organic bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 6 to 8 large dates, chopped (if dry, chop then soak to soften)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Mix dry ingredients, then mix in the remaining ingredients. The dough will be a little stiff.
3. Spray oil a small loaf dish/pan.
4. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, then cover with foil to keep the top from over-cooking.
5. Bake for an additional 30 minutes. A knife inserted in the center should come out clean.
6. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.
   

Kids enjoy helping to make this jam.

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Easy Homemade Berry Jam

This recipe makes 2 cups of jam.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups frozen (thawed) or fresh berries
  
• 3 tablespoons flax seed meal
• 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

1. Blend the berries to a liquid. Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
2. Transfer the mixture into jam-sized jars with lids. To freeze, put the jam into freezable containers.
3. Refrigerate at least an hour to set.

This jam will keep in the refrigerator for about two weeks and in the freezer for about 6 months.