I have always greatly admired Italy. When I was a kid, I had a “Roma” t-shirt that I wore until the threads gave out. I would watch Italian movies with my dad, like Cinema Paradiso. In college, I took years of Italian language classes, and would walk around trying to think and speak in Italian….
Easy Tempeh Bacon
So many homemade tempeh bacon recipes require liquid smoke. Not this one! Does the tempeh bacon’s flavor suffer as a result? My empty plate would suggest it does not. This recipe is easy to make and very, very tasty. Use this tempeh bacon in TLT’s–a tempeh, lettuce and tomato sandwich. Enjoy it as a side…
Zucchini and Tofu Ricotta Calzones
Calzones… delicious, hot pizza pockets from Italy. Even though they take a bit of time to make, they are easy to execute, hearty, and oh so tasty. I love to serve them with some marinara or pizza sauce on top. Total yum! For this recipe, I made The Best Pizza Dough Recipe from the baking…
Smoky Medjool Date Barbecue Sauce
For over 20 years, I’ve engaged in endurance sports. One of my favorite ways to fuel (and recover) is using Medjool dates. Those suckers are loaded with carbs, potassium and a good amount of vitamins. Because they have so much fiber, there isn’t a sugar crash. It’s just a steady energy, and they taste great….
Ginger Miso Slaw
Dry roasted almonds, crunchy chow mein noodles, fresh celery and crisp napa cabbage make this one crunchy slaw. This salad is hearty enough to be a meal, but can also be served as a side. It works well for summer or really any time of year. It’s a great plant based protein-packed salad for dinner,…
Grilled Barbecue Soy Curl Quesadillas
This super easy vegan quesadilla recipe brings grilling and soy curls together. BBQ sauce, soy curls, green peppers, red pepper, red onion and a healthy amount of gooey vegan cheese sandwiched between two flour tortillas grilled to perfection. Serve it with vegan classic coleslaw. It tastes like an American cookout in a quesadilla. So good!…
Gnocchi with Pesto and Grilled Eggplant, Zucchini and Cherry Tomatoes
Whether you make your gnocchi from scratch, buy your gnocchi prepackaged, or use a gluten free variety, it is always absolutely delicious. This recipe is easy, hearty and packed with summer flavors. Vegan pesto is amazing on grilled vegetables, and it is also amazing on gnocchi. When vegan pesto, grilled vegetables and gnocchi come together,…
Marinated Grilled or Baked Tofu
Whether the tofu is sliced or cubed, this grilled or baked marinated tofu can be used on sandwiches, on salads, in tacos, in burritos, on pizza, in a grain bowl, in vegan sushi, or whatever your imagination can come up with!
Vegan Pesto
You can use this fast, easy vegan pesto as a condiment, to dress pasta or zoodles, as a pizza sauce, on grilled vegetables, stirred into risotto and more! This recipe yields ~1 cup of vegan pesto. For the best flavor, make it right before you want to use it. Sautéing whole garlic cloves in the…
Beet Chorizo Burgers
Chorizo is a pork sausage that’s popular in Europe and Latin America. It varies in preparation based on the region. Years ago, I used to frequent a Mexican restaurant in San Jose, California that offered soy chorizo as a taco filling. Maybe they made their own, but I have a feeling they used good ol’…
Super Crunchy Potato Salad
Inspired by the Arab Salad (or Israeli Salad), this recipe features many of its hallmark ingredients–tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, and more. But then, it takes a detour. In the end, Super Crunchy Potato Salad tastes refreshing, loaded with satisfying textures and absolutely delicious! Summer heat can be brutal on fresh veggies. If…
Grilled Portobello Mushroom Sandwiches with Kalamata Olive Tapenade, Avocado, Tomato & Arugula
This recipe is incredibly simple and flavorful. If you love olives and mushrooms, this is the sandwich for you! It’s savory, salty, and perfect for summer grill season. This recipe makes 4 sandwiches. Choose portobello mushrooms that are large enough to be sandwich worthy (a little larger than the width of your hand). I recommend…
Summer Chickpea Millet Salad
This is the perfect summer salad to serve for lunch, dinner or as a cookout side. The combination of the fresh herb dressing, the hearty millet grains, the satiating chickpeas, juicy cherry tomatoes and crunchy pumpkin seeds make this one simple, satisfying whole grain salad! Make sure to let the cooked millet and the garlic…
Kalamata Olive Tapenade
This tapenade is quick and easy to make. It’s packed with serious flavor–sauteed garlic, oregano, parsley, kalamata olives, and capers. It tastes great on toasted bread, sliced baguette, pitas, fresh cut veggies, pizza, or really anything that goes on the grill! Whether you use it as an appetizer, a snack or condiment, you cannot lose….
Vegan Stovetop Chili Mac and Cheese
Easy to execute (no baking), yields a lot of food, and tastes cheesy, spicy and smoky. The perfect hearty vegan mac n’ cheese dish for any time of year.
Asian Orzo Pasta Salad
Inspired by Asian flavors, this recipe makes a good warm side dish or cold pasta salad. After having time to sit overnight in the fridge, I thought it tasted even better. It uses few ingredients, and is easy to execute. It works well for a cookout, picnic, road trip cooler, camping trip, simple meal, or…
Orange Zest and Fennel Risotto
Risotto is one of my all-time favorite meals. It is simple, requires few ingredients, and is quite satisfying. While I have given tips about making a risotto in the past, there are only a few principles you need to adhere to to have success. If you do these three things, you’re on the right track….
Lemon Chickpea Asparagus Soup
Through times of stress, we must have compassion for ourselves and for others. Even though the uncertainty can feel crushing, it is possible to feel grounded again. To feel grounded again, means doing all the things–following a schedule, exercising, connecting with friends and family, getting fresh air, managing your anxiety or feelings of unease and…
Smoky Collard Rolls
Maybe you love to cook? Maybe you’re sick of the monotony of eating the same things over and over? Maybe it’s the weekend and you want to fill your home with the delicious smell of a home-cooked meal? Maybe you’re trapped in your house due to treacherous weather conditions? Well, have I got the recipe…
Carrot and Beet Salad with Fresh Dill and Roasted Pistachios
I’ve made this salad a few times for guests. Every time, someone asks, “Is this on your blog?” And I say, “No, I keep leaving it out, because how many beet salads can one blog have?” And then, they tell me that it’s really good, and it should be on my blog. So… here we…
Cowboy Skillet Pie
This recipe is inspired by my childhood next door neighbor, who used to host parties out of his garage. He would set up long folding tables, and everyone would come out with hot dishes, barbecue, warm rolls and amazing desserts. The adults would drink beer, and the kids would run around. I always loved that…
Sicilian Eggplant Crostini
Fancy appetizer, delicious snack, light lunch, hearty side. However you look at it, these vegan crostini are where it’s at! Some crushed red pepper, green olives, eggplant and fresh tomato… it’s really something. A few bites, and it’s on to the next one. They taste amazing straight out of the oven or after several hours…
Vegan Broccoli Mushroom Tater Tot Casserole
When I was a kid, the church potluck was where it was at! So many delicious hot dishes made with love, and ready to share with one another. And while there were many options to choose from, I always gravitated towards the casseroles. Tater tot casserole! Broccoli cheese rice casserole! Green bean and mushroom casserole!…
Winter White Bean Soup
This is one creamy, hearty vegan bean soup! It uses easy to find ingredients, and cooks up pretty fast (~30 minutes). While it doesn’t have a ton of herbs and spices, the ones selected are quite potent. Rosemary and red pepper flakes create some serious flavor, especially with the synergy of a good broth (like…
Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Wild Rice Casserole
This recipe is creamy, savory, and delicious. It works well as a main dish (plenty hearty!) or as a side dish. It’s fancy enough for the holidays, but doesn’t have to be a holiday dish. It’s gluten free, has no nutritional yeast, and loaded with fall-winter flavors (think thyme, nutmeg, and mushrooms). While the instructions…