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 carrot and beet salad recipe 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…
Cowboy Skillet Pie
This vegan cowboy skillet pie 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. These garage parties were the first place that I learned about baked…
Sicilian Eggplant Crostini
Fancy appetizer, delicious snack, light lunch, hearty side. However you look at it, this vegan eggplant crostini recipe is 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…
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 vegan mushroom and spinach wild rice casserole 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…
Braised Red Cabbage and Carrots
It’s savory, sweet, sour and totally delicious! Braised Red Cabbage and Carrots is light and acidic, and makes a terrific side dish that isn’t chock-full of sodium, fat or calories. This vegan red cabbage recipe takes some time to make (about an hour), but has very simple ingredients and is easy to do. The only…
Lemony Greek Wheat Berry Salad
This Mediterranean-inspired grain salad is chewy from the wheat berries, crunchy from the orange pepper and cucumber, and possesses a flavorful lemon herb dressing that keeps you coming back for more! And best of all, Lemony Greek Wheat Berry Salad’s texture holds up, even after a day or two of refrigeration. It is great for…
Vegan Slow Cooker Stewed Green Beans and Tomatoes
Upon trying these green beans, my husband announced that this is the only way he wants to eat green beans from now on. This recipe takes inspiration from the U.S.’s Southern-style green beans and tomatoes. Usually, meat is used to add complexity and flavor to this popular side dish, but I wanted to see if…
Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed with Wild Rice, Apples and Walnuts
With the holidays swiftly approaching, it’s time to think about a vegan main course that’s worthy of celebration. This recipe is absolutely delicious, has a nice presentation, and possesses delightfully contrasting textures. It takes a bit of time to roast the squash, but it’s easy to do with my step-by-step directions. And the filling is…
Vegan Creamy Polenta with Roasted Vegetables
Sometimes, I think I should have called this blog, “The Hearty Vegan Kitchen”. It’s probably taken already, but I want to think it rings true for nearly all the recipes that can be found here. And this recipe is no exception. Plus, the vegetables smell absolutely exquisite roasting in the oven. Is it the roasting…
Roasted Carrots and Farro with Citrus, Ginger and Dill
This recipe works well as a warm side dish or as a cold grain salad. As a warm side, it can be served directly after combining all the elements together. If you choose to serve it cold and it has been marinading in the fridge for a few hours, make sure to taste it and…
Slow Cooker Seitan and Green Pea Stew
As cooler months approach, I get more and more excited to breakout my slow cooker. Not only is the slow cooker easy to use, but after a few hours of simmering, you have a dish saturated in deliciousness. And this vegan stew recipe is a phenomenal example of how things can go really right for…
Vegan Slavic Green Bean Soup
This recipe is inspired by the Slovak soup, Polievka zo Zelenej Fazule. There are lots of regional differences in how green bean soup is prepared, but I took a little bit from one recipe, a little from another, and then, took some liberties. We end up with a soup that is creamy, slightly sour, fresh…
Grilled Sweet Potato Salad with Creamy Curry Dressing
Inspired by Indian flavors, this is a zippy, flavorful sweet potato salad that’s perfect for the summer. Pop those sweet potatoes on the grill outside, and keep your house from feeling like a total inferno. It’s all about timing with the grilled sweet potato. Leave it on the grill too long, and you’ll have a…
Vegan Fiesta Rice
When I was a kid, we would eat Rice-A-Roni® Spanish Rice. My mom would add a can or two of beans and frozen corn. Sometimes, we would add shredded cheese to the mix. It was a quick, frugal meal for a working mom to serve her family, and it got the job done. This recipe…
Summer Wild Rice Salad
While I think of wild rice as an American staple (especially in states like Minnesota), it always feels pretty seasonal. One eats wild rice in the fall or winter. I rarely see it outside of soup or stuffing recipes. It’s a shame, because it has a lot of vital mineral and vitamins, and possesses a…
Vegan Tortilla Soup
This tortilla soup is all about the corn flavor. Corn tortillas are cut into strips, fried, simmered in the soup’s broth, and then, completely pulverized by a blender. The result is an intense corn flavor that announces, “This is tortilla soup!” Because tortilla soup often involves chicken, replacing it with soy curls was a no…
Kidney Bean Succotash
Lima beans are my least favorite vegetable. Maybe it’s the way I’ve had them prepared? Maybe it’s because I just haven’t acquired a taste for them? If they are in front of me, I will eat them, because they are food. And in my opinion, food should never be taken for granted or wasted. But,…
Grilled Curry Spice Okra
This recipe combines all my favorite things—okra, curry spices, and grilling! Best of all, it is incredibly easy, quick to make, and flavorful. It makes an awesome side to any cookout or summer meal. While I use a grillable pan with aluminum foil over the top of it to grill the okra, you can also…
Italian Grape Tomato, Baby Kale and Farro Salad
A little while ago, we moved back to California. As soon as we got a little settled, I planted a garden. While there’s been a learning curve around growing vegetables (there are so many threats to a plant’s survival!), it has been very gratifying. Not to mention, the flavor of a homegrown vegetable is amazing….
Rosemary Walnut Lentil Burgers
Years ago, I followed a recipe for a vegan pâté that used walnuts and sherry vinegar. I remember thinking at the time, “This sherry vinegar better be worth buying, because I don’t know when I’ll ever have an excuse to use it again.” But once I tried it in the vegan pâté recipe, I was…