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Showing posts from 2021

Vegan Curried Mac

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I have enjoyed learning more about other cultures through their food. I did not get a ton of exposure to different cuisines growing up, and I was so picky that I'm not sure I would have liked it. Now that I'm older, I've been trying new things. Over the last year, I've been experimenting with Indian dishes and spices. Since I love making pasta, I thought one of the easiest ways for me to learn Indian spices was through one of my favorite dishes, so I created this Vegan Curried Mac with my normal cheese sauce with a twist in the spice section. I added peas because they're one of my favorites to add to pastas, and you can see how beautiful the color and texture turned out. Please like, share, and follow for more content! And let me know how you like this recipe! Vegan Curried Mac   Yield:  4-6 servings Prep time:  20 minites Total time:  30 minutes Ingredients Pasta Noodles |  1 box  Cashews |  3/4 cups Almond or Coconut Milk | 1 cup  Nutritional Yeast |  

Roasted Corn Chowder

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Did someone say soup and chili season? This Roasted Corn Chowder is the first of the lineup I have planned. It is a great way to get in lots of in-season veggies, plus it is super tasty. Please like, share, and follow for more content! And let me know how you like this recipe! Roasted Corn Chowder Yield:  4 Prep time:  40 minutes Total time:  70 minutes Ingredients Roasted Corn: Corn on the Cob |  5 - 6 ears  Olive Oil |  1-2 tbsp Salt and Pepper |  to taste Chowder: Russet Potatoes |  2 diced  Carrots |   5 medium, peeled and diced  Red Pepper |  1 diced  Jalepeño |  1 diced Vegetable Broth |  5 cups   Unbleached all purpose flour |  2 tbsp Olive Oil |  1 tbsp   Minced Garlic |   1 tsp Raw Cashews |  1/4 cup Almondmilk |  1/2 cup Bay Leaf |  1  Roasted Corn |  1 batch from above Green Onions |  for serving Crackers |  for serving Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375. Shuck the corn and remove as many of the strings as possible. Add olive oil, salt, and pepper. Wrap in aluminu

Orange Cream Popsicles

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Happy Labor Day! I know this means end of summer is here, but I'm going to soak in the final warm weather days by enjoying a Vegan Orange Cream Popsicle. This is a family recipe that my grandma shared with a vegan twist.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know if you try this recipe and how you like it. Orange Cream Popsicles Yield:  6 - 8 servings Prep time:  10 minutes Total time:  4 hours Ingredients Orange Juice Concentrate |  1 12 oz can Water |  12 oz (refill empty juice concentrate container) Vegan Vanilla Yogurt |  2 5 oz containers or 10 oz Directions 1. Whirl orange juice concentrate, water, and yogurt in a blender until combined.  2. Place mixture in popsicle molds. It makes between 6 - 8 popsicles.  3. Freeze until solid approximately 3-4 hours.  4. Enjoy!  Nutrition Facts Per 1 serving: Calories:  110 |  Fat:  1 g  |  Saturated Fat : 0 g |  Cholesterol:  0 mg |  S odium:  11 mg |  Total Carbs:  21 g |  Dietary Fiber:  .3 g |

Vegan Pasta Salad

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Any end of summer gathering needs veggie burgers and pasta salad. This Vegan Pasta Salad is super simple and only takes about 15 minutes to make.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And let me know how you like this recipe! Vegan Pasta Salad Yield:  5 - 6 servings Prep time:  10 minutes Total time:  15 minutes Ingredients Pasta |  1/2 - 1 box  Red Bell Pepper |  1 diced Orange Bell Pepper |  1 diced Carrots |  1 or 2 medium peeled and diced  Jalepeño |  1  diced Sun-dried tomatoes |  1/4 cup Vegan Mayonnaise |  1/2 cup + 1 tbsp  Mustard |  1/4 cup Black Pepper |  to taste Dill |  1 tsp Italian Herbs |  1 tsp  Salt |  1 tsp Sugar |  1 tsp Directions 1. Cook pasta according to directions. 2. While pasta is cooking, prepare veggies.  3. Add all ingredients into a mixing bowl and stir to combine.  4. This recipe is best served after being chilled for a few hours, but it is also okay to eat right away.   5. Enjoy! Nutrition Facts Per 1 serving: Calories:  342 |  Fa

Spicy bean burger

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The end of summer is near with this weekend being Labor Day Weekend. While summer is my favorite time of the year, I am looking forward to soup and chili season and the fall colors.   Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know if you try this recipe and how you like it. Spicy Bean Burgers Yield:  6 servings Prep time:  15 minutes Total time:  35 minutes Ingredients Banza Rice |  1 cup Uncooked Quinoa |  1/2 cup Vegetable Broth |  2 cups  Black Beans |  1 can Tomato Paste |  3 tbsps Nutritional Yeast |  2 tbsps Ground Flax Seed |  1 tbsp Water |  1 tbsp  Paprika |  1 tsp  Garlic Powder |  1 tsp  Black Pepper |  1/2 tsp  Chili Powder |  1 tbsp Directions 1. Add quinoa and vegetable broth to a pot and bring to a boil. Then simmer for 15 - 20 minutes until the water is absorbed. 2. Cook the rice according to directions. I used a mixture of rice and quinoa in this recipe because I had just a little bit of each of them. You can skip the rice or skip t

Burrito Bowl

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A quick lunch is always welcome during busy weeks. I love to use Banza rice, add some corn and beans, salsa, cheeze sauce, and lettuce to make this quick burrito bowl.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And let me know how you like this recipe! Vegan Burrito Bowls Yield:  4 bowls Prep time:  10 minutes Total time:  15 minutes Ingredients Banza Rice |  1 packet Corn |  1 can Black Beans |  1 can Cheese Sauce |  1  batch  for serving Lettuce | for serving Salsa |  for serving Directions 1. Cook rice according to directions.  2. Add beans and corn to the rice and heat through. 3. In a bowl, add rice mixture. Then add desired amount of cheese sauce, salsa, and lettuce. 4. Enjoy! Nutrition Facts Per 1 burrito bowl: Calories:  456 |  Fat:  11 g |  Saturated Fat : 0  g |  Cholesterol:  0 mg |  Sodium:  583  mg  |  Total Carbs:  71 g |  Dietary Fiber:  14   g |  Sugars : 11 g |  Protein:  24 g

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

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I actually don't love sweet potatoes, but when stuffed with a casserole, they aren't so bad.   Please like, share, and follow for more content! And let me know how you like this recipe! Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Yield:  4 - 8 servings Prep time:  40 minutes Total time:  60 minutes Ingredients Sweet Potatoes |  4 medium Banza Rice |  1 package Salsa |  8 oz jar Corn |  1 15 oz can Black Beans |  1 15 oz can Vegan Cheeze |  1/2 cup - 1 cup Plant Based Sour Cream |  for serving Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 and poke holes in the sweet potatoes. Cover in aluminum foil and bake for approximately 40 minutes until a knife goes through easily.  2. Set aside until cool to the touch. 3. Cook Banza rice according to directions. 4. Then add rice, rinsed black beans, corn, first 1/2 cup cheese, and salsa to a bowl and combine.  5. After sweet potatoes are cool to the touch, cut in half and either (1) mash the insides or  (2) scoop them out and combine with the filling. 6. Put t

Vegan Waffles

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Sunday morning breakfast is always my favorite and today I got to share it with my mom over these Vegan Waffles. I did some research and found out that there really isn't a ton of difference between waffles and pancakes. You can add a bit more sugar to make them brown more or some oil to prevent sticking. I chose to add a little bit of maple syrup at the end to do both and it worked well.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know if you like this recipe.  Vegan Waffles  Yield:  2 - 3 servings Prep time:  10 minutes Total time:  25 minutes Ingredients Dry Ingredients: Unbleached All Purpose Flour |  1.5 cup  Organic Sugar |  2 tbsps  Baking Powder | 1 tbsp  Flax Egg Ingredients: Water |  1 tsp  Ground Flax Seed |  1/2 tsp Wet Ingredients: Almondmilk |  1 cup  Apple Cider Vinegar |  1 tbsp  Vanilla |  1 tsp Maple Syrup |  1 tbsp (optional - for mixing) Directions 1. Add all wet ingredients except maple syrup in a small bowl and set aside 10

Sour Cream and Chives Pasta

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I think I invented a new pasta sauce - Sour Cream and Chives. I had leftover sour cream and decided to try this new creation. It was really good. I was a little bit surprised since I have only ever had this flavor in chips, but it worked well as a sauce.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And let me know how you like this recipe! Sour Cream and Chives Pasta Yield:  3 Prep time:  10 minutes Total time:  15 minutes Ingredients Banza Pasta |  1 box  Plant Based Sour Cream |  1 container  Almondmilk |  1/4 cup Olive Oil |  1 tbsp Unbleached all purpose flour |  1 tbsp Chives |  1 - 2 tbsp dried Black Pepper |  to taste Directions 1. Cook pasta according to directions. 2. While pasta is cooking, in a medium pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Then add the flour to form a roux.  3. Add almond milk and stir until no chunks. Then add the vegan sour cream and spices and stir to combine.  4. Add the cooked pasta and serve.   5. Enjoy! Nutrition Facts Per 1 serving: C

Vegan Chili Cheeze Nachos

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My favorite restaurant nachos are from Café Sunflower. I haven't been able to perfectly recreate them, but this Chili Cheeze Nacho recipe is pretty close. I start by making a chili recipe and my perfect cheese sauce. Then I baked the chips, chili, and cheeze to perfection before adding some of my favorite toppings - salsa, jalepeños, and sour cream. I forgot to buy shredded lettuce, but that would belong on here too.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And let me know how you like this recipe! Vegan Chili Cheeze Nachos Yield:  4 - 6 Prep time:  5 minutes Total time:  45 minutes Ingredients For the chili: Black Beans |  1 15 oz can  Pinto Beans |  1 15 oz can Kidney Beans |  1 15 oz can Corn |  1 15 oz can  Tomato Sauce |  1 15 oz can Tomato Paste |  1 6 oz can Vegetable Broth |  1 cup Chili Powder  |  1.5 tbsp Garlic Powder  |  1 tsp Paprika |  1 tsp Black Pepper |  1 tsp Olive Oil |  1 tbsp Rest of Ingredients: Cheeze Sauce  |  1 batch Salsa  |  1 16 oz j

Enchilada Quinoa Casserole

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It may be summer, but casseroles will always be one of my favorite things to make. It's so easy since you mix the ingredients and bake. This one has an extra step since the quinoa needs to be cooked first, but that's still only 15 minutes of cooking.  For this recipe I used quinoa, black beans, salsa, corn, my vegan cheeze sauce, and my enchilada sauce. If you don't want to make your own batched of cheeze sauce of enchilada sauce, store bought versions will work too. I am not quite sure the proportion of homemade to store bought but my batches usually create 1.5 - 2 cups of each.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And let me know how you like this recipe! Enchilada Quinoa Casserole Yield:  4 Prep time:  5 minutes Total time:  40  minutes Ingredients Quinoa |  1 cup Vegetable Broth |  2 cups  Salsa |  8 oz jar  Black Beans |  1 15 oz can Corn |  1 15 oz can Vegan Cheeze Sauce |  1 batch or 2 cups shredded vegan cheeze Enchilada Sauce |  1 batch o

Hummus Veggie Sandwich

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Making the perfect vegan sandwich can be hard. Nothing really compared to sliced deli meat and cheese that most people ate as a kid though I know some companies do make vegan deli slices now. I tried to make a sandwich that wasn't imitating anything. This Hummus and Veggie Sandwich is a great summer lunch and the veggies can be whatever is in season. I cook the veggies in a bit of olive oil until they are softened. Then I toast the bread in the toaster, add some hummus, veggies, and sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And let me know how you like this recipe! Hummus and Veggie Sandwich Yield:  6 Prep time:  5 minutes Total time:  10 minutes Ingredients Hummus |  1 container or batch Bell Pepper |  2 sliced into strips Banana Peppers |  1/2 cup Zucchini  |  1 medium thinly sliced Olive oil |  1-3 tbsp for cooking Bread |  12 slices Salt and Pepper |  to taste for serving Directions 1. Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add v

Lasagna Soup

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I heard I missed national lasagna day yesterday, so let's make up for that today. This Vegan Lasagna Soup is yum and takes less time to make than an actual lasagna. Plus no baking which means you can eat this all year around.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And let me know how you like this recipe! Vegan Lasagna Soup Yield:  4 Prep time:  5 minutes Total time:  30 minutes Ingredients Lasagna Noodles |  1/2 box Olive Oil |  1 tbsp Carrots |  2 - 3 medium, peeled and diced Zucchini  |  1 diced Marinara Sauce |  1 jar Vegetable Broth |  2 cups Almond milk |  1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar |  1 capful Italian Seasoning |  1 tbsp Garlic Powder |  1 tsp Black Pepper |  to taste Ricotta |  1/2 batch for serving Directions 1. Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add veggies and cook for 5 - 10 minutes until turning fork tender.  2. Add marinara sauce, spices, vegetable broth, and almond milk and bring to a boil.  3. Add lasagna noodles and simmer for 10 minutes until

Vegan Cheddar Cheeze

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I have been working to create my own vegan versions of popular vegan cheeses, like mozzarella, cheddar, and pepperjack. I perfected my versions of cheddar and mozzarella, and I hope to have pepperjack released soon.  You might notice my cheddar cheeze is very similar to my normal cheeze sauce and that's because it is. The only difference is instead of all-purpose flour, tapioca starch is used. When heating the mixture with tapioca starch, the cheeze begins to solidify into a block of cheeze. Once the mixture is in uniform texture, I pour into an 8 oz ramekin and cool until hardens. If it hardens long enough, it can be grated or it can be sliced and used in a variety of dishes.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And let me know how you like this recipe! Vegan Cheddar Yield:  1 batch Prep time:  30 minutes Total time:  2 hours Ingredients Cashews, Raw |  1/2 cup Almond Milk |  3/4 cup  Nutritional Yeast |  1/4 cup Tapioca Starch  |  1 tbsp Paprika |  1 tsp

Day 552...Lazy Dog

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On my trip to California last week, I tried a new restaurant. It was not a fully vegan place, but it had a couple of options that could be made vegan. I ordered their Spaghetti Squash and Beetballs without the cheese and a side of cajun fries. I want to start with the fries because they may be some of the best fries I have ever had. The seasoning was great and they were super fluffy on the inside and the right crisp on the outside.  The Spaghetti Squash and Beetballs was also great. It was actually my first time trying spaghetti squash, and I liked it. I didn't particularly enjoy the beetballs, but it think they fit perfectly with the dish.  I also googled Lazy Dog, and there is one near Atlanta. I might have to go there to get more cajun fries. 

One Pot Quinoa Tacos

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Taco Tuesday! This easy quinoa taco recipe can quickly be made on the stove top and eaten with your favorite toppings. I use quinoa, corn, black beans, and salsa. Then I put them on a tortilla and topped with vegan cheese. You can add extra salsa, lettuce, guac, or whatever your heart desires.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know if you try this recipe and how you like it. One Pot Quinoa Tacos Yield:  8 servings Prep time:  1 minute Total time:  30 minutes Ingredients Quinoa |  1 cup Vegetable Broth |  2 cups Taco Seasoning |  1 packet or batch Salsa |  8 oz Black Beans |  1 15 oz jar Corn |  1 15 oz jar Lime |  juice of 1 lime Tortillas, etc |  for serving Directions 1. Add quinoa, vegetable broth, and taco seasoning to a pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes until water has been absorbed. Then add salsa and continue to simmer until remaining liquid has cooked off.  2. Add black beans, corn, and juice of one lime, and stir to co

Curried Chickpeas

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Writing for this blog encourages me to try new foods. Before I started writing, I had never used Indian spices in a recipe or tried curry. I want to branch out of my comfort zone for recipes and that means I started trying more new foods, including curry. This easy curried chickpea recipe is a great meal prep option for your weekly lunches. I serve the curried Chickpeas with Banza rice which I guess makes this a chickpea on chickpea recipe. Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know if you try this recipe and how you like it. Curried Chickpeas Yield:  4 servings Prep time:  5 minutes Total time:  35 minutes Ingredients Chickpeas |  1 15 oz can Cashews |  1/4 cup Almond Milk |  1/2 cup Diced Tomatoes |  1 15 oz can Tomato Sauce |  1 15 oz can Curry Powder |  2 tbsps Green Peas |  1 cup Directions 1. Create cashew cream by blending cashews and almond milk in a high speed blender. 2. Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes to a medium pot and bring to

Roasted Veggie Cous Cous

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For lunches I love pairing veggies with a grain. This Roasted Veggies and Cous Cous dish is so easy to make and works great for meal prepping lunches throughout the week. The veggies can be switched out to whatever you like but the roasting time may need to be adjusted. For example the zucchini in this recipe should roast for less time than the broccoli or carrots, and you can Google or check on Pinterest for the recommended cook time.  I roasted mine in a mixture of olive oil, hot sauce, and salt and pepper, but if you don't want the kick of hot sauce, you can substitute more olive oil. When serving you can add a little bit if extra hot sauce and olive oil or add a dressing.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know if you try this recipe and how you like it. Roasted Veggies and Cous Cous Yield:  4 servings Prep time:  5 minutes Total time:  50 minutes Ingredients Cous Cous |  4 servings Chickpeas |  1 can Broccoli |  1 head cut into flor

Vegan Ranch

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I tried the viral pasta chips trend that I've seen on Instagram, and I honestly kinda hated it. I used a chickpea pasta noodle which may have been why I didn't like it since the videos I've seen use white pasta. The one good part of my pasta chips recipe was my Vegan Ranch dipping sauce. I've used this Vegan Ranch recipe with cauliflower wings and tacos. It's just a few ingredients and only takes a few minutes to make. I used Follow Your Heart as the Vegan Mayo base. I read that the best way to make your own vegan mayo is with an immersion blender. Since I don't own one, I buy this brand though I would like to eventually make my own.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know if you try this recipe and how you like it. Vegan Ranch Yield:  1 batch Prep time:  1 minute Total time:  15 minutes Ingredients Vegan Mayo/Vegenaise |  1/3 cup Almond Milk |  a splash (less than 1 tbsp) Apple Cider Vinegar |  1/2 capful Chives/Pars

Cauliflower Crackers

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If you have been watching my stories, you know I started on a road trip to Minnesota with my mom and dog last week. We are here to visit my Grandma, my sister, and my new niece.  Before we left for our road trip, I walked to the Publix a few blocks from my place and decided to try some new vegan snacks. I love eating grapes and Clif bars on road trips, but I wanted something else as well. I found these From the Ground Up Cauliflower Crackers. I think there were 2 different flavors, but I only bought the nacho flavor.  These crackers were fantastic. They look like Cheeze-Its but are crunchier. They are thinner as well which adds to the crunch. The flavor was really good too. I'm not sure how to describe it, but it tasted like my expectation of nacho flavor. The box says 4 servings, but they were so good that I ate it in 2 sittings.  I generally don't buy or keep crackers around, but I may be going back to buy the other flavor before my trip to California on Saturday.

Black Bean Quinoa Burgers

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If you've tried my Quinoa Burgers, this is another variation that tastes just as good. Instead of kidney beans and tomato paste, I used black beans and ketchup. Similar taste but a fun variation to have.  I learned a pretty cool trick for making these veggie burgers. Once the mixture is ready to be formed into patty shapes, you can actually pack the mixture into a 1/3 measuring cup and then place that onto the pan. I smacked the measuring cup to get it out and it was a perfectly shaped patty.  I served these burgers with my favorite brand of sliced vegan Cheeze - Miyoko's. I also tried a new kind of ketchup that uses agave syrup for sweetener instead of traditional sugar.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know if you try this recipe and how you like it. Black Bean Quinoa Burgers Yield:  6 servings Prep time:  15 minutes Total time:  35 minutes Ingredients Uncooked Quinoa |  1 cup Vegetable Broth |  2 cups  Black Beans |  1 can Ketch

Sweet, Spicy Chili Cauliflower Wings

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Apparently it is #internationalchickenwingday so I'm turning it vegan with these Sweet and Spicy Cauliflower Wings. I use Sweet, Spicy Chili Doritos however I learned these might not be vegan. While there is no explicit ingredient that isn't vegan, animal products can be hidden in what is called "natural flavors." Has anyone else ever been disappointed to find out that an accidently vegan food might not be vegan? I'm honestly scared to search it because I don't want to be disappointed. But either way, the Doritos can be substituted for things like Trader Joe's off-brand Takis or Hippeas chips or whatever elss you can find.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know how you like this recipe.  Sweet and Spicy Cauliflower Wings Yield:  3 servings Prep time:  10 minutes Total time:  40 minutes Ingredients Cauliflower |  1 head, chopped into florets Almondmilk |  1 cup All Purpose Flour | 1 cup Paprika |  1 tsp Garlic P

Strawberry Sorbet

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It has been hot for a lot of people in the world which means that cold food is essential right now. This strawberry sorbet has 3 ingredients and tastes delicious. The hardest part of this recipe is removing the seeds using a cheese cloth or fine mesh strainer, but it is worth it to have smoother sorbet.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know how you like this recipe.  Strawberry Sorbet Yield:  1 batch Prep time:  15 minutes Total time:  4 hours Ingredients Strawberries |  2 cups Sugar |  1/2 cup Lemon Juice | 1/4 cup Directions 1. Put ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. 2. Pour the mixture into a cheese cloth or fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds. This may take a while 5-10 minutes but makes the sorbet much smoother.  3. Place in a freezer safe dish and put in the freezer until solid (approximately 4 hours).  4. Enjoy! Nutrition Facts Per batch: Calories:  660 |  Fat:  3 g |  Saturated Fat : .1 g |  Cholesterol:  0 mg | 

Roasted Broccoli Pasta

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In honor of Pride Month, I am continuing to show my allyship through different colored pasta. This week is is the final week with green represented by my Roasted Broccoli Pasta.  Again, I know that this does not help end discrimination, but I want to show allyship in the best way I know.  This pasta only has a few ingredients - broccoli, spices, pesto, and pasta. Instead of making my own pesto, I used Trader Joe's Vegan Pesto. It is definitely my favorite vegan pesto that I've found in stores. I also used Banza Pasta for extra protein and because I love chickpeas, but any 4 serving box will work. Then I Roasted Broccoli by baking the broccoli for about 40 minutes while coated in hot sauce, olive oil, and salt and pepper. The hot sauce adds a nice heat which I enjoy. I've actually been making roasted broccoli almost once a week for the past few weeks because I've been craving it.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know how you

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

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If the question is what can't cauliflower be turned into, the answer is I haven't figured that out that yet. Cauliflower Pizza Crusts have been all the rage over the last couple of years, and you can find them in stores and offered at some pizza places. They tend to be pricier, so making it at home is a cheaper alternative. All you need is a head of cauliflower, tapioca starch, a flax egg, and some seasonings.  This recipe starts by taking the head of cauliflower and grating it to form cauliflower rice. Then the excess water needs to be removed by placing the riced cauliflower into a cheese cloth and squeezing until very little excess water comes out. Then add the remaining ingredients, combine, and beging to create your dough. I made mine into a circle as you can see below.  Then bake the dough at 400 for about 45 minutes until the ends beging to crisp up. Then you can add your toppings and bake for another 12-15 minutes.  It does take a lot

Lemon Pepper Pasta

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In honor of Pride Month, I am continuing to show my allyship through different colored pasta. This week is yellow represented by my Lemon Pepper Pasta.  Again, I know that this does not help end discrimination, but I want to show allyship in the best way I know.  For this Lemon Pepper Pasta, I create a heavy cream sauce, add Follow Your Heart Vegan Parmesan, the juice of one lemon, and cracked pepper. I toss the Banza Spaghetti noodles in the sauce and top with extra pepper and lemon zest for serving. I also ate mine with garlic bread which was just a ciabatta slice with a little bit of olive oil, minced garlic, and black pepper which I baked on 400 for about 10 minutes.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know how you like this recipe.  Lemon Pepper Pasta Yield:  2 servings Prep time:  10 minutes Total time:  20 minutes Ingredients Cashews |  1/3 cup Almond Milk |  1/2 cup Olive Oil |  1 tbsp Minced Garlic | 1 tap Follow Your Heart Vegan Par

Broccoli, Quinoa, and Cheeze

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Need the perfect side dish for this summer? Or a great recipe to meal prep for lunches throughout the week? This Broccoli, Quinoa, and Cheeze is such a versatile dish that it can be easily modified depending on what you have on hand. I cook the quinoa in vegetable broth which adds the flavor. Then I add cooked broccoli and vegan cheeze. I added a combination of Simple Truth's plant based cheese and Bragg's Nutritional Yeast. If you have different veggies or substitute the cheeze with a sauce, you could almost create a quinoa pasta salad. However I've only made it this way, so I can't say how tasty it would be.   Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know how you like this recipe.  Broccoli, Quinoa, and Cheeze Yield:  4 servings Prep time:  5 minutes Total time:  20 minutes Ingredients Quinoa |  2 cups Vegetable Broth |  4 cups Broccoli |  1 bag frozen or 1 head chopped into florets Vegan Cheeze | 1 cup Directions 1. Bring quinoa

Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

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For this second week of Pride month, I am featuring the color red with my Roasted Red Pepper Pasta. This dish is so simple. If you have a high speed blender, you can throw all of the ingredients in and blend until smooth. I chose to serve my pasta with Banza chickpea noodles because they have extra protein, but why noodle will work.  Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Yield:  6 servings Prep time:  30 minutes Total time:  35 minutes Ingredients Cashews | 1/2 cup Roasted Red Peppers |  2 12 oz jars or 1 batch Tomato Paste |  1 6 oz jar Vegetable Broth |  1/2 cup Italian Seasoning  |  1 tsp Black Pepper  |  1 tsp Garlic Powder |  1 tsp Directions 1. Add cashews and 2-3 cups water to a pot and bring to a medium boil for 20-30 minutes. The longer they are soaked, the smoother the sauce is. If you have a high speed blender, you can skip this step. 2. Cook pasta noodles according to directions. I prefer the Banza brand or a similar chickpea pasta for added protein. 3. Once cashews are done

Day 550... Nacho Daddy

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On the way home from my backpacking trip last week, I decided to stop at a new restaurant. Duluth, GA was on the way home, and I've seen Nacho Daddy mentioned in the Vegan Atlanta Facebook group. They are obviously known for their nachos, and they have a full vegan menu which includes nachos, enchiladas, queso, etc. They are on the pricier end of the spectrum so instead of ordering the vegan trio chips with their vegan queso, salsa, and guac, I ordered their Vegan Loaded Nachos. The nachos have vegan sour cream, queso, salsa, jalepeños, black beans, and so much more loaded onto a hot skillet for serving. The flavor was amazing and being so hungry after my trip, this plate of nachos only lasted a few minutes. The chips did start to get soggy, but I'm not sure if there is a way to prevent that. I would definitely recommend trying Nacho Daddy if you are in the Duluth area. It is a bit of a drive from Atlanta if there is traffic, but it is worth it. I plan to go back to try more th

Chickpea Salad Sandwich

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This may be my favorite summer sandwich. It's served cold which is great during the summer heat. It also takes less than 10 minutes to make.  For this recipe, I take a can of chickpeas and combine with vegan mayo, mustard, and spices. I use Follow Your Heart Vegan Mayo and Annie's mustard. These are definitely my favorite store bought brands for vegan mayo and mustard, so I recommend using them if you have access to buy them at a store. I mash the mixture and then create my sandwich. I start with a layer of hummus on bread, then add the chickpea mixture, cucumbers, and lettuce.   Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know how you like this recipe.  Chickpea Salad Sandwiches Yield:  3 sandwiches Prep time:  5 minutes Total time:  10 minutes Ingredients Chickpeas |  1 15 oz can Vegan Mayo |  1/3 cup Mustard |  2 tbsp Parsley | 1/2 tsp Oregano |  1/4 tsp  Basil |  1/4 tsp Salt and Pepper | to taste  Cucumber |  1/2 peeled and diced Shredded

Purple Cauliflower Gnocchi

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For the month of June, I plan to support Pride Month in the most food way possible - a different colored pasta recipe every week. I know this doesn't provide equal access or end discrimination for people in the LGBTQ+ community, but as a food blogger, I want to show my support and allyship in the best way I know. Today I'm posting Purple Gnocchi which I promise is purple but doesn't show as well before it cooks due to the flour used for rolling. The key to this recipe is using a purple cauliflower. They can be hard to find, but I generally find them in my local Kroger. I boil the cauliflower until fork tender. Then I mash and let cool before using a cheesecloth to squeeze out as much water as possible. Next I add the remaining ingredients and knead into a dough. I cut and roll the dough out into even pieces before boiling until they float. I serve with my favorite sauce and enjoy. Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know how you li

Day 549... What I eat while backpacking

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This weekend, I did a new stretch of the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina. I slept on the top of a mountain above the clouds and was able to see the stars. It was a great break from reality, and I'm happy I was able to spend some time away.  Now you might be asking what a vegan eats when they go backpacking. And the answer is lots of Clif bars. I usually pack a frozen Uncrustable for the first day to eat with a Clif Bar for lunch. I also pack Clif Energy Blocks for refueling throughout the day. For dinner, I usually bring Backpackers Pantry meals. There are a few of that brand that are vegan, and they are relatively flat which is great for packing. They also have a resealing zip spot that closes the package once you add the hot water.  For this trip, I found a new meal option from Patagonia called Spicy Red Bean Chili that specifically says it is vegan. I found it in the same section as Backpackers Pantry at REI. It is a smaller than the Backpacker's Pantry items and that do

Vegan Carrot Dogs

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Memorial Day is the start of barbeque season. While friends and family might throw hamburgers or hotdogs on a grill, I've created a fun substitute - Vegan Carrot Dogs. While my recommended cooking method is baking for 45 minutes, these can also easily be covered in aluminum foil and cooked on a grill. I do not have access to a grill, so I am not sure how long it would take, but they should be fork tender prior to eating.  I enjoy my carrot dogs with just ketchup, but any topping combination will taste delicious.  Please like, share, and follow for more content! And please let me know how you like this recipe.  Vegan Carrot Dogs Yield:  6 - 8 dogs Prep time:  5 minutes Total time:  50 minutes Ingredients Olive Oil |  1 tbsp Ketchup |  1 tbsp Mustard |  1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar | 1 tsp Smoky Paprika |  1/2 tsp  Pepper |  to taste Carrots | 6 - 8 medium sized, peeled  Buns |  for serving Toppings | for serving Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350.  2. Combine the sauce ingredi