Tag Archives: Vegan

Have you ever had an Empanada?  They are common in Southern Europe, Latin America, and the Philippines but I’m sure you’ve noticed them as a menu item from time to time.  Empanadas are essentially pockets of dough with some kind of filling; typically, meat, cheese, and vegetables, or any combination of those. I think they are pretty easy to make and tend to feed a crowd because the recipe makes so many.  And they are often freezer friendly so you can have leftovers for another day.  You do want to be careful with what kind of vegetable you use in empanadas because some vegetables hold up better when being used as filling.  For instance, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, carrots, spinach, etc. all work very well.  Squash, tomatoes, or other watery vegetables will need to be drained before using, otherwise you will be left with some soggy dough!  So, feel free … Continue reading

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Not too long ago, I wrote a blog called Creative Cauliflower Meals about various ways to use cauliflower in Chinese inspired recipes.  We’ve been talking about those recipes ever since and thought, why not try a few more? There are SO MANY ways to utilize cauliflower in recipes.  My most preferred way is to substitute chicken with cauliflower.  Once it’s cooked/baked, it has a very similar texture so you can hardly tell you aren’t eating meat.  This is a great way to expand your pallet if you are vegetarian or exploring a vegan diet. First up is Baked BBQ Cauliflower Wings.  These are just like boneless BBQ chicken wings but a lot healthier and you aren’t sacrificing the taste.  These are full of flavor and easy to make! The recipe can be found here. ***This is a vegan recipe*** Start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees F.  Line a … Continue reading

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Vegan Buffalo Mac & Cheese will make your dreams come true one bite at a time.  It’s the ultimate comfort food!  Each bite is creamy, loaded with buffalo spice, and has the slightest crunch from toasted breadcrumbs.  It’s the perfect recipe to take your dinner game to the next level.   The recipe can be found here. The first step is to bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to package instruction.  Drain and set aside.  I like to use chickpea noodles because they are packed with protein and fiber but use any noodle you prefer.  I think the texture of chickpea noodles is very similar to regular noodles, as well as the taste. Next, bring a small pot of water to a boil (you can also do this while the noodles are cooking).  Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat and … Continue reading

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Last night we tried our hand at Vegan Vegetable Enchiladas.  The difference between these enchiladas and “traditional” enchiladas is the lack of meat and dairy.  We substituted both with vegan alternatives.  I’ll admit, the end result doesn’t look very pretty but it tasted amazing! These are packed full of vegetables and have incredible flavor.  We replaced ground beef with chopped mushrooms, added additional vegetables, and used a vegan cheese that tastes very similar to provolone.  If you did a blind taste test, I don’t think you would be able to tell the difference! The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.  Add about ½ cup of the enchilada sauce to the bottom of the pan and spread around.  I used canned enchilada sauce but feel free to use a homemade recipe if you have one. Next, … Continue reading

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Vegan Lasagna is a flavorful and hearty dish that’s packed with protein.  Yes, it is vegan but even meat lovers will enjoy it!  It’s layered with tender noodles, cashew ricotta cheese, marinara, spinach, and topped with mozzarella cheese. The recipe can be found here. The ricotta cheese is thick, creamy, and is a great recipe to use in lasagna, pasta, pizza, and more.  I was skeptical when making the ricotta because this was my first attempt, but it did not disappoint.  I didn’t know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised and admittedly didn’t know vegan cheese could taste this good!  It was also very easy to make and only requires a few ingredients, most of which are pantry staples if you lead a vegan lifestyle.  It has a lovely texture and amazing cheese flavor. The mozzarella is stretchy, creamy, and very smooth.  It’s a wonderful substitute to dairy mozzarella!  … Continue reading

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Potato Tacos with Jalapeno Cilantro Sauce are a delight!  They are vegetarian as well as vegan, so they make the perfect meal for Meatless Monday (or any day of the week).  Plus, they are delicious!  And who doesn’t love tacos? The Jalapeno Cilantro Sauce is a wonderful condiment for these tacos.  It add a citrusy, tangy, flavor to the tacos.  You’ll have plenty of leftover sauce as well to enjoy later in the week on more tacos, rice, chicken, salad, etc. The recipe can be found here. Start by making the Jalapeno Cilantro Sauce.  Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender and blend on high until smooth; jalapeno, cilantro, garlic cloves, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, avocado oil, vegan mayo, and salt. I like to lightly chop the jalapeno and cilantro, and mince the garlic before adding it to the food processor so it’s easier to blend.  I … Continue reading

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Vegan Vegetable Noodle Soup is packed with fresh vegetables and is incredibly tasty and healthy.  It’s a spin on traditional chicken noodle soup but without the chicken.  Don’t let the word vegan scare you away.  Yes, this is a vegan dish, but it is also vegetarian, meatless, and delicious, so give it a try! If you are missing the chicken texture in each bite, add some chickpeas.  You can also mix and match the vegetables to your liking or to use up anything you have on hand. The recipe can be found here. Start by prepping the vegetables.  I like to chop everything ahead of time to make assembly easier once I start cooking.  Slice the carrots, celery, onion, and potatoes.  Mince the garlic.  You can also play around with quantities.  If you like carrots but not celery, add more carrots and less celery.  You want to enjoy the soup … Continue reading

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Fresh Vegetable Soup is vibrant, hearty, and full of fresh, wholesome flavors.  It’s perfect for lunches, cold winter nights, rainy nights, or anytime you are looking for a delicious homemade meal!  This soup will fill you up without the “heavy, too full” feeling. The recipe can be found here. I like to use frozen corn because I think it tastes better than canned corn, but you can use either.  If you are using frozen corn, start by cooking the corn according to package instructions.  If you are using canned corn, drain and set aside. Next, chop the onion, carrot, tomato, bell peppers, and zucchini.  Peel and chop the potato.  Mince the garlic.  I like to do all my prep work before I start cooking so it doesn’t slow me down once ready to assemble! Heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.  You will be … Continue reading

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Creamy Hummus Pasta with Sun Dried Tomatoes is something we tried recently.  We both like pasta and we both like hummus, so why not try them together, right? It’s savory, delicious, and light.  You’ll be satisfied without the heavy feeling of being too full.  The hummus replaces traditional pasta sauce, so you have a creamy and slightly nutty flavored sauce.  The sun dried tomatoes are roasted with garlic so they are tender and give off great flavor.  This recipe is a winner in our house! The recipe can be found here. Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil and cooking the pasta according to package instructions.  Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining, then set the reserved water and noodles aside. In a large skillet, heat the sun dried tomato oil over medium heat.  Add the sun dried tomatoes and garlic, and sauté for about … Continue reading

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Looking for a warm, healthy, and filling breakfast on a cold winter morning?  Look no further than Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal!  It cooks up perfectly in little to no time, only takes one pot, and will leave you feeling very cozy 🙂 It’s the perfect combination of warm and fluffy oatmeal, apples, and cinnamon.  Even better, the recipe is vegan, if you lead a vegan lifestyle. The recipe can be found here. Start by chopping the apples into small pieces.  You essentially want to dice the apples.  A portion of the apples are going into the oatmeal to cook in the Instant Pot.  The rest of the apples will be used as topping. Add the oats, almond milk, 2 of the chopped apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, and nutmeg to the Instant Pot (this is where the one-pot concept comes in).  I use old fashioned oats, but you … Continue reading

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