Garlic Creamed Kale with a Parmesan Crust

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and while you might not typically think of kale as a food worthy of your holiday feasts, trust me, this recipe is going to win you over. A happy medium smack in the middle between a broccoli casserole and a green bean bake this unique side dish is packed with flavor the all the creamy goodness that you’re craving in your autumn inspired comfort foods!

One of the things that really upped my at-home cooking game in a big way was when I learned to master making a roux (pronounced rue)! Literally, the vault where all the soups and sauces you love are kept, is guarded by the culinary gatekeeper that is, roux. All it takes is a little butter and a little flour, some liquid and seasoning…once you get this down, you’ll never buy cream sauces or soups from the can or jar again. The cream sauce for this recipe is no exception and was literally whipped up with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

What you are going to need to buy:

Fresh Kale, about 4 cups, chopped into bite-sized pieces (1” - 2”)

4 tablespoons Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)

2 tablespoons of Flour

3 cups Original Oat Milk from Rise Brewing

4 tablespoons Butter - (We love THIS ONE from Earth Balance)

1/2 small white Onion, diced

1/2 cup of Vegan Mozzarella Cheese

1/2 cup Dairy Free Sour Cream

Salt and Pepper, to taste.

For the Crust/Topping

1/4 cup Bread Crumbs

1/4 cup Nutritional Yeast

1/4 cup of dairy free Parmesan

What you are going to need to do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To begin, in a high-walled skillet or saucepan, saute your onions and garlic with 3 tablespoons of butter until the onions are soft and have taken on just a little color.

Reduce heat to low and add another tablespoon of butter. Allow to melt.

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of of flour over the top of the onions and the butter and with a large whisk, stir the flour into the onion until a paste is formed. Cook for 60 seconds and then gently add in 1 cup of oat milk, slowly, while you continue to whisk, so as not to get lumps.

Melt into mixture 1/2 cup of cream cheese and 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.

Stir in additional Oat Milk. You are looking for a consistency of a nice alfredo sauce.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

If the sauce is too thin, allow to simmer until thickened. If the sauce seems too tick, add a little water.

Dump your chopped kale into the skillet and gently stir until combined.

Transfer your creamed kale to a small, oven safe, baking dish.

Top with your crust mixture that is equal parts bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and nutritional yeast, spreading an even coat across the top of the baking dish.

Cover in foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and then remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes. Additionally, you can broil for a final 3-4 minutes so the top takes on nice color. (But watch it close so that it does not burn!)

Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Potato and Parsnip Mash with Garlic Brown Butter and Wilted Spinach

This week in my Misfits Market produce box I was loaded down with tons of potatoes and some of the most gigantic parsnips I have ever seen…and boom this recipe was born! I’d like to formally introduce you to your new favorite Holiday recipe!

This recipe is so easy and to be honest, is essentially just a small detour from traditional mashed potatoes! It’s also a great recipe for picky eaters because I promise you…if you don’t spill your secret about the parsnips, no one will ever know! Plus, garlic and brown butter…who could possibly turn that down?

What you are going to need to buy:

Potatoes

Parsnips

Sour Cream - (We love the Tofutti Brand best!)

Nutritional Yeast - (Note: this is what makes these wedges vegan, but if that’s not a concern for you, feel free to use dry Parmesan or even your favorite powdered cheese blend.

Butter - (We used Earth Balance Plant Butter)

Minced Garlic - (Our favorite is this jarred garlic from Spice World)

Salt & Pepper

Fresh Spinach

Olive Oil

What you are going to need to do:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Peel your potatoes and parsnips and cut into 1” cubes

Boil the potatoes and parsnips until tender, about 10-15 minutes.

In a small saucepan melt 1/3 stick or about 1/3 cup of butter.

A note on brown butter: I never knew what “brown butter” was until I lived up in Ohio’s Amish Country for about a decade. After melted, if butter is let continue to cook it will eventually go from bright yellow to a nice caramel color. Stir butter often so it doesn’t take on too much color or burn.

Once your butter has browned, remove from heat and add 1 heaping teaspoon of garlic. You will hear the garlic start to sizzle and the minced garlic should take on a nice toasted color as well.

Set your Garlic Brown Butter aside in a small dish and using the same pan add 1-2 cups of spinach and wilt on low heat. Set aside

When the potatoes and parsnips are soft drain and let sit for 1 minute in the hot pot to make sure they are very dry! This step is what will help make them extra fluffy.

In a stand mixer, with the whisk attachment, mash your potatoes and parsnips with sour cream, nutritional yeast, and salt. Whisk until soft and fluffy. No not overmix.

Serve topped with Garlic Brown Butter and wilted spinach, salt and pepper, to taste.

Enjoy!

Spicy Buffalo Tofu Chick'n Sub

Can we say football food? Buffalo Chick'n Sub with feta, pickles, and spicy mayo! Made with crispy fried tofu, it's literally the best of a Publix Sub and a Popeyes Sandwich all rolled into one! Seriously these subs are so good that even your non plant-based friends with gobble them right up!

In all the years that I have been plant-based, I only recently started preparing tofu, using this method, to use as a chicken substitute, in dishes. This recipe turned out so good and flavorful and it’s honestly way easier than you may think!! The trick to these subs is the buffalo sauce and, of course slathering them in spicy mayo!

What you are going to need to buy:

Extra Firm Tofu

Vegan Butter - (This recipe used Earth Balance)

Flour

Corn Starch

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Salt and Pepper

Paprika

Buffalo Sauce, or make your own! (See below)

Dairy Free Mayo

Hot Sauce

Sub Rolls or Hot Dog Buns

Dill Pickles

Butter Lettuce

Dairy Free Feta Cheese

What you are going to need to do:

To start, crumble your extra firm tofu into 2” inch bite-sized pieces, or larger, if you like

In a bowl, mix together equal parts corn starch and flour, along with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper (The quantities will vary based on the amount you’re making but the following should be enough for 4 portions.

1/3 cup of flower

1/3 cup of corn starch

1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper

Dredge the tofu pieces into the dry mixture and coat well. The better you coat the pieces, the better, and more crisp they will be.

In a skillet, melt 3-4 tablespoons of vegan butter, on low heat and once the skillet is good and hot, pan fry the tofu, until a nice crust is formed.

Remove from heat and gently pour over your buffalo sauce: Be careful not to tear up your tofu while saucing

Buffalo Sauce is simply your favorite hot sauce, butter, a splash of white vinegar, and garlic! But, to be honest…I really like the Frank’s Brand Buffalo Sauce

In a small bowl, mix vegan mayo and your favorite hot sauce and paprika, to taste and slather your buns with the spicy mayo!

Top your buns with lettuce, pickles, tofu chick’n, and dairy free feta cheese and serve!

Amish Broccoli Cheese Soup - Dairy Free

Anyone else absolutely in love with #soupseason? One of my favorites has always been broccoli cheese but it wasn’t until I lived up in Ohio’s Amish Country for about a decade that I ever had it made with any type of noodles or pasta in it!?! Think little one inch pieces of angel hair type tiny strands...you can find it under the name fiedo spaghetti, or sometimes pastina.
Whatever it's called...those Amish got it right! It's a game changer for broccoli cheese soup and I haven’t ever made it any other way since!

This dairy free version is definitely a deviation from what they served up there but, honestly, just as good...and bonus one more way to sneak a handful of kale from that huge bag you're trying to use up? Just me...hahah? But seriously, if you havent started adding finely chopped kale to your broccoli cheese soup...give it a try and thank me later!

What you are going to need to buy:

2 tablespoons Dairy Free Butter

1 tablespoon Flour

2.5 cups Plant Milk

1 tablespoon Veggie Bouillon

1 package Dairy Free Shredded Cheddar

1/4 cup of Nutritional Yeast

1 tablespoon Yellow Mustard

1 cup of Fiedo Spaghetti

1.5 cup Fresh Broccoli

1 cup of Fresh Kale

1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Salt and Pepper, to taste

What you are going to need to do:

In a medium pot, on low heat, melt about 2 tablespoons of butter and gently allow butter to brown, but not burn, because we’re going to make a roux.

Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of flower on top of the melted butter and whisk to combine. Cook mixture for about 30 seconds and then slowly add 2.5 cups of plant milk, whisking the entire time so that no lumps form. Bring to a boil and let boil about 30 seconds.

Stir in 1 tablespoon of veggie bouillon, 1 cup of water, and 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast.

Add 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard…don’t be afraid, just do it! (You can use brown mustard, if you like it!)

Reduce heat and add the cheddar shreds (yes, the whole bag), stirring to melt.

Add the fiedo spaghetti to the soup and simmer for 3 minutes.

Add the broccoli and kale.

Add salt and pepper, and garlic powder, to taste.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Serves: Four

Autumn Inspired Minestrone Soup with Sweet Potato and Fresh Kale

This Minestrone Soup is so easy and delicious you will wonder how you ever tolerated the canned stuff! A new twist on an old classic and inspired by the favors of Autumn this soup is made with roasted squash, zucchini, and sweet potato along with kale! It’s the perfect way to kick off #soupseason!

Homemade minestrone soup is one of my favorite ways to use of the bits and pieces of produce that are hanging around your crisper drawer! The secrte to this recipe is the roasted sweet potato and fresh kale! Of all the leafy greens kale is definitely king! It's one of the most nutrient rich foods on the planet and the Palmetto Gardens family has been growing some of the finest quality greens, locally here in the US, for 3 generations!

What you are going to need to buy:

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 medium white onion, diced

1-2 tablespoons of minced garlic

2 tablespoons of tomato paste

1 28 oz can of San Marzano Tomatoes

4 cups of water *

3 tablespoons of veggie bouillon *

*Note: Or use your favorite veggie stock

1 medium yellow squash, cubed into 1/2" cubes

1 medium zucchini, cubed into 1/2" cubes

1 medium sweet potato, cubed into 1/2" cubes

1 teaspoon each: onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper

1 16oz can of white chili beans or butter beans

1.5 cups of dry ditalini pasta or your favorite small shell

2 cups of fresh, chopped, kale

Dairy-Free Parmesan, to garnish

What you are going to need to do:

Preheat oven to 400°

Cut your squash, zucchini, and sweet potato into cubes, lightly coat with olive oil and sprinkle with the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper mixture.

Roast, uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring the veg halfway through roasting to get color on all sides.

While the veggies are roasting:

Into a stockpot, on medium heat sautee the diced onion, and minced garlic in olive oil until onion becomes soft and translucent.

Stir in the tomato paste and let simmer with the onion/garlic mixture for 2 minutes.

Add the can of San Marzano Tomatoes and with the use of a fork, or a potato masher, gently break up the big chunks of tomatoes into bite-sized pieces.

Bring mixture to a boil and then add your water+veggie bouillon or your veggie stock.

Add the dry pasta straight into the pot, along with the can of beans, only lightly drained.

Stir to combine.

Cook on a gentle, light, boil for 10 minutes until the pasta has softened.

Stir in your fresh Palmetto Garden's Kale, which has been chopped into 1-2" pieces, and gently fold into the soup to wilt the kale.

Turn the heat down to low/warm.

Retrieve the roasted veggies from the oven and gently add to the soup.

Taste for seasoning. Add onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, to taste.

Let simmer for 5 minutes and serve topped with your favorite grated parmesan cheese!

Store leftover soup in a mason jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Add up to 1/2 cup of water when reheating as the soup may thicken in the fridge over time.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Serves: Six

Easy Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Who doesn’t love bananas? Well, spoiler alert…I really don’t! But, I do happen to love banana bread so when I was at my Dad’s house this past weekend and saw the poor little bunch of spotty, sad, bananas on his counter I knew just what to do. Plus, the addition of peanut butter in this recipe is a total game changer!

To be fair, I am a far better cook than I am a baker and even before a took a step back from eggs and dairy, baking was never my favorite thing to do…but this Peanut Butter Banana Bread, made with dairy free butter, and JustEgg is so quick and easy, even I can master it…so I know that you can too! Not worried about it being vegan? No problem…it works just as well with the traditional ingredients you have in your fridge!

What you are going to need to buy:

4 medium bananas, very ripe

1/3 cup dairy-free butter, melted

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 pinch Salt

1 cup Brown Sugar

1/4 cup of JustEgg, egg replacer

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1/2 cup of creamy Peanut Butter

1.5 cups AP Flour

What you are going to need to do:

Preheat over to 350 degrees.

To begin, in a large bowl, mash 3 of the bananas with a fork or potato masher until a paste forms.
To your bananas, add the melted butter and stir until well combined.
Add the brown sugar, Just Egg, Vanilla, Peanut Butter and mix until smooth.
Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and slowly fold into the wet ingredients until well incorporated. Do not over mix.
In a standard loaf pan that has been sprayed with non-stick baking spray, scoop the batter into the pan and using a rubber scrapper, make sure that the batter is level, smooth, and fills all corners.

Dust the top with a sprinkling of brown sugar, for a nice crust, when baked.

Cut the remaining banana into slices and arrange on top of the batter.

Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the loaf.

Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Creamy Dairy Free Buffalo Mac 'n Cheese | Cashew Free with Rise OatMilk

The main comment I hear from folks who are just transitioning into a plant-based lifestyle or who are simply trying to eat less dairy is, “…but, I just love cheese so much!” Me, too, my friends! Me, too! This dairy free Creamy Buffalo Mac n’ Cheese is the answer for when the comfort food cravings come a knocking!

Is the OatMilk from Rise Brewing the most versatile ingredient in my plant-based fridge? It just might be! This ultra-creamy Mac ‘n Cheese is just another recipe that uses it! And, the best part is that this recipe is also cashew free…sometimes hard to come by in the vegan cheese world, for all of our allergy sensitive friends! (Yes, I’m looking at you, Jess!)

What you are going to need to buy:

Pasta - (whatever kind you prefer for your Mac!)

Non-Dairy Butter - ( We used Earth Balance)

Flour

Organic Oat Milk from RISE BREWING - (Can you use something else…um, yeah, but why?)

Non-Dairy Cheese Shreds - (We used THESE CHEDDAR SHREADS from VioLife!)

Non-Dairy Sour Cream - (in our opinion Tofutti is the OG…and also the best!)

Yellow Mustard - (yes, just trust us!)

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Garlic and Onion Powder, to taste

Hot Sauce - (Frank’s is our favorite!

Feta Cheese - (We like this BLOCK FETA from VioLife)

Fresh Dill and Diced Tomato for garnish, if that’s your thing! (And, it totally should be, because it’s delicious!)

What you are going to need to do:

The Cheese Sauce:

In a medium pot, on low heat, melt about 2 tablespoons of butter and gently allow butter to brown, but not burn, because we’re going to make a roux.

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of flower on top of the melted butter and whisk to combine. Cook mixture for about 30 seconds and then slowly add 1.5 cups of oat milk, whisking the entire time so that no lumps form. Bring to a boil and let boil about 30 seconds.

Stir in 1/3 cup of sour cream.

Add 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard…don’t be afraid, just do it! (You can use brown mustard, if you like it!)

Reduce heat and add the cheddar shreds (yes, the whole bag), stirring to melt.

Continue to stir, on low/medium heat, until everything is melted.

Add salt and pepper, and garlic/onion powder to taste. It will take more salt than you think…a full teaspoon isn’t too much!

…And, boom! vegan cheese sauce! If it seems thin, increase the heat and let simmer for 1-2 minutes, but remember it will tighten up as it cools.

A note about ingredients and brands: I’ve been plant-based for 20 years and believe me, I’ve seen quite the evolution of dairy-free products, particularly, when it comes to milks and cheeses! The products and brands that I recommend for this recipe are not sponsors and I don’t get paid to promote them…they are, simply, in my opinion, the best options, for this dish! Can you use something different? Sure. Can you substitute one brand for another? Of course…but this is legit the best cheese sauce that I’ve had, plus…it’s quick, easy, and also cashew free, so if you want to make THIS delicious version, in your home kitchen, I’d say, stick with these brands!

Assembly:

Boil your preferred pasta based on the boxed instructions. Drain pasta and add cheese sauce to coat. Serve with a dash of hot sauce…or several, crumbled feta, diced tomatoes, and dill.

Feta Tip: If you put your block feta in the freezer for just a few minutes before serving and let it get nice and cold, you can run the tines of a fork across the top of the block and it crumbles beautifully!

Unless you are serving a crowd, you are likely going to have cheese sauce left over. It keeps in the fridge just fine and re-melts like a dream! Use it to make your own version of a plant-based hamburger helper or cheesy potatoes!

Enjoy!

Vegan Hamburger Helper with Homemade Cashew Free Cheese

If you’re an 80’s kid, like me, and you grew up in the States, you most definitely experienced Hamburger Helper as a part of your childhood. My mother went back to nursing school the same year that I went to kindergarten and when my brother was just out of diapers so needless to say, she was juggling a lot. I guess it goes without saying that we had a lot of “boxed” meals growing up. This recipe is all the nostalgia of those family dinners without any of the meat or dairy!

If I’m honest, I was a little hesitant to post this as a recipe because it wasn’t one that I carefully sat down and planned out. Truth is, I was under the weather last week and wanted comfort food. This was thrown together with a lot of odds and ends but when I posted it on IG last week everyone went a little crazy, so here we are! Hope that you all enjoy.

What you are going to need to buy:

Pasta, I used orecchiette because I had it on hand but an small noodle will work. I do like this shape because they are like little noodle bowls for the sauce!

Your favorite plant-based ground meat - (I used the ground from Impossible Foods)

Small Sweet Onion, diced

Minced Garlic - (like this jarred options from Spice World!)

1/2 cup Vegetable Stock - Or half a cup of water and a veggie cube

Butter - (We love THIS ONE from Earth Balance)

Salt & Pepper

Liquid Smoke

Homemade Vegan Cheese Sauce! (Find that recipe HERE!)

What you are going to need to do:

To start, let’s make the sauce!

I make this cheese sauce every month or so and have it in the fridge to throw into all kinds of things, which is just exactly what happened with this recipe! Hope on over and make it! Will you have some left over? Yep. Is that a bad thing? Nope!

GO TO THE CHEESE SAUCE RECIPE HERE

Welcome back!

The rest is pretty easy.

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, begin to cook down your plant-based meat, along with the diced onion. Once you put them in the pan try not to stir or move them around too much because you want to get some good color/char on the meat.

After about 1-2 minutes stir the mixture and add a tablespoon of dairy free butter, a tablespoon (or more if that’s your thing…) of minced garlic, a pinch of salt and pepper, 8-10 dashes of liquid smoke and continue to cook until the meat is done and the onions are nice and soft.

While the meat and onions cook, bring a pot of salted water to boil on the stove and when it’s ready, drop 4 servings of your pasta (follow the box directions for portions and cook time.)

Next, add your veggie stock to the meat and onions and using a wooden spoon, scrape up any of the little bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan! This is where all the flavor is hiding!

Add in 1 cup of your cheese sauce and stir to combine.

A note about the cheese sauce: If you make the cheese sauce ahead of time, and I hope that you do because it stays good in the fridge for weeks…it will solidify a bit. It’s much easier to “melt” it back into your Hamburger helper if it’s runny so you can just scoop out what you need and toss it into the microwave for 10-20 seconds, stir, and that should do the trick!

Drain pasta, but save 1 cup of pasta water.

Add the pasta to the cheesy/meat mixture and stir to combine. If the dish is too dry and not all that “creamy” slowly add the pasta water to thin the mixture and help the sauce emulsify. You may not use all the water and that’s okay because if you get it too runny then you’ll need to cook it longer and let some of that liquid evaporate.

Taste for seasoning. Add salt, pepper, if necessary.

I like to top mine with fresh herbs to serve. Either thyme or rosemary work really well!

Enjoy!

Butternut Squash Shells Stuffed with Sage Sausage, Spinach, and Ricotta

Looking for a fall twist on an old comfort classic? While we’ve still got a couple more weeks until Autumn officially arrives…over here I was craving some fall flavors...and these Butternut Squash Shells stuffed with Sage Sausage, Spinach and Ricotta totally hit the spot!

The best part of this recipe is that, while the flavor profile is different, the assembly is basically the same, so if you’ve ever successfully made stuffed shells in the past, these will be a snap. The entire dish does take a bit of time to make because you’ve got to roast the butternut squash and make the sauce so I would recommend that you plan to make a couple of recipes with squash so you can do some prep for several meals at once! Once the sauce is made, (which can be done ahead of time) the rest of the dish comes together in less than an hour!

What you are going to need to buy:

Medium Butternut Squash

Jumbo Shells

Medium Sweet Onion, diced

Minced Garlic - (like this jarred options from Spice World!)

1 cup Plant-Based Milk

1.5 cups Vegetable Stock

Dairy-Free Ricotta

Dairy-Free Mozerella

1/2 lb Plant-Based Sausage

Fresh Spinach

Just Egg, egg alternative

Olive Oil

Butter - (We love THIS ONE from Earth Balance)

Salt & Pepper

Fresh Sage

Warming Spices (Allspice, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Ginger)

What you are going to need to do:

To start, let’s make the sauce!

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Chop your squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Liberally salt and pepper the cut side. Roast on a baking sheet for one hour, flipping halfway through, until the squash is fork-tender.

In a high-walled saucepan or medium pot, saute in butter, the diced onion and a tablespoon of garlic until soft and translucent. Reduce heat and set aside.

Scoop out the roasted squash from the skin and into the saucepan with the onion and garlic. Add the plant-milk and the vegetable stock. Bring the mixture to a simmer and add a teaspoon of each of the warming spices.

At this point, if you have a stick blender, it’s helpful to blend the mixture for a smoother texture but it’s not 100% necessary.

Let the sauce reduce until it’s the consistency of pasta sauce. Taste for seasoning. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Now, onto the filling!

In a small saucepan, gently wilt one bag of spinach over medium heat.

In a large mixing bowl combine the following:

sausage (does not need to be cooked)

the wilted spinach

the equivalent of one egg

1.5 cups of ricotta cheese

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

2-3 tablespoons of minced, fresh, sage

salt and pepper, to taste

The Shells:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Follow your package directions and cook your jumbo shells in boiling water.

After the shells are boiled and tender, remove and drain.

In a large skillet or baking dish fill the bottom of the dish with the butternut squash sauce.

Stuff each shell with the ricotta mixture and place into the baking dish.

Depending on the size of your dish you should be able to fit 15-20 shells. Do not overcrowd the dish. You want the sauce mixture to be able to rise up around the shells on either side.

Sprinkle mozzarella onto the top of the shells and cover with tin foil.

Bake for 15-20 minutes covered. Remove the tin foil and bake another 15 minutes until the sauce and cheese are hot and bubbly.

Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

While the shells are resting, fry up some sage leaves in Olive Oil until crispy and crumble the leaves onto the top of the shells for garnish.

Serve the extra sauce on the side.

Enjoy!

Baked Brussel Sprouts with Onion and Herb Sauce

I typically don't use much frozen produce but Publix had Birdseye veggies on sale a couple weeks back so I grabbed a few bags. Topped with a creamy sauce made with sauteed onions, nutritional yeast, garlic, oat milk from the Rise Brewing Company, and some herbed cream cheese from Miyokos Creamery I honestly wouldn't have even known the difference between fresh and frozen.

One of the things that really upped my at-home cooking game in a big way was when I learned to master making a roux (pronounced rue)! Literally, the vault of all the soups and sauces you love, is guarded by the culinary gatekeeper that is, roux. All it takes is a little butter and a little flour, some liquid and seasoning…once you get this down, you’ll never buy cream sauces or soups from the can or jar again. The cream sauce for this recipe is no exception and was literally whipped up with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

What you are going to need to buy:

Brussel Sprouts - (these were the ones used in this recipe)

One medium Onion, diced

Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)

Flour

Original Oat Milk from Rise Brewing

Nutritional Yeast - (If you don’t care about this recipe being vegan, you can use some grated parmesan.)

Butter - (We love THIS ONE from Earth Balance)

Herbed Cream Cheese from Miyokos Creamery

Salt & Pepper

Fresh Herbs, for garnish (pictured is Lemon Thyme)

What you are going to need to do:

Remove the brussel sprouts from the freezer and allow to begin to thaw.

Preheat over to 350 degrees.

To begin, in a medium skillet, saute your onions and garlic with a little butter until the onions are soft and have taken on just a little color. Add 3 tablespoons of nutritional yeast and mix well.

Reduce heat to low and add another tablespoon of butter. Allow to melt.

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of of flour over the top of the onions and the butter and with a large whisk, stir the flour into the onion until a paste is formed. Cook for 60 seconds and then gently add in 1 cup of oat milk, slowly, while you continue to whisk, so as not to get lumps.

Melt into mixture 1/2 cup of cream cheese.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Remove sauce from heat.

Remove the brussel sprouts from the bag. If they are still too frozen to cut in half, just pop them into the microwave for one minute. Cut all of the brussel sprouts in half

No need to drain any liquid from them. You sauce has likely thickened up and the moisture from the brussel spouts will help loosen it back up when combined.

It’s okay that your brussel sprouts are still cold at this point, even still slightly frozen.

Into an oven safe baking dish, mix the brussel sprouts with the sauce and top with another tablespoon of nutritional yeast (or parm.)

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes until bubbly. Broil for the final 2-3 minutes so the top takes on nice color.

Let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs.

Creamy Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup

This Tomato Soup is so easy and delicious you will wonder how you ever tolerated the canned stuff! The trick to really amazing tomato soup is super-ripe, almost mushy, tomatoes! The more ripe they are the sweeter and more complex their flavor, and the more tomato-y your soup will turn out.

The summer will soon be fading fast into fall but if you’re like me you probably still have a bunch of tomatoes hanging around. If you’re looking for an easy and quick recipe to help you transition in to soup season this dish does the trick! So flavorful and creamy even your non-veggie family and friends will ask for seconds! Bonus: canning this soup is super easy and because it’s tomato based doesn’t require any extra processing to safely preserve!

What you are going to need to buy:

Tomatoes - 8 small to medium vine ripened tomatoes will make abut 2 servings of soup. I recommend roasting 4 small - medium (think between the the size of a medium plum) for each serving

Sweet Onion

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

Sugar or Maple Syrup

Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)  

Veggie Stock - 1 cup, per desired serving

Your favorite Vegan Cream Cheese - (We used this one from Kite Hill Foods)

Cayenne Pepper, to taste

Salt & Pepper, to taste

Paprika, to taste

Basil, Chives, Oregano (optional)

What you are going to need to do:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Start my chopping an onion (1/2 for 2 servings or a whole onion for 4 servings)
Lightly oil a large skillet, (one with deep sides works the best)
Cut tomatoes in half. and arrange in skillet cut side down along with onions and 2-3 tablespoons of garlic.

Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of Balsamic Vinegar and a pinch of Cayenne Pepper.

Saute’ on medium/high heat until the onions are translucent and the mixture is bubbling.
Transfer your skillet to the oven and roast the mixture for 15-20 minutes checking occationally. If it’s looking too dry you can add 1/4 cup of water to the skillet to make sure that the mixture does not burn.

After 20 minutes remove the onions and tomatoes from the oven and add to the pot your veggie stock.

Simmer on the stove-top for another 10 minutes. You can also add any herbs you’d like at this time.

Using a stick blender, blend soup until smooth! No need to worry about small seeds and skins, they all get blended together. Optionally, if you don’t have a stick blender, carefully transfer the soup to a stand blender and blend until smooth.

Stir in the cream cheese 1/4 to1/2 cup depending on number of servings.

Add salt, pepper, and paprika to taste. You can also add a touch more cayenne at this time, if desired. If you like a sweeter tomato soup add another tablespoon of sugar or maple syrup at this time.

This soup is great garnished with toasted pine nuts and sun dried tomatoes!

Enjoy!

Spicy Jackfruit Carnitas Street Tacos with Apple Salsa

I don’t know about you but when the days get busier tacos always seem to be a go-to meal for me! Quick, easy, and who doesn’t love tacos? These Spicy Jackfruit Carnitas Street Tacos taste just like Summer to me. With an Apple, Onion, and Garlic Salsa, tossed with a balsamic glaze, and topped with some vegan crema and fresh herbs these sound weird...but taste amazing!

The smoky spiciness of the jackfruit with the cold sweet crunch of the apple salsa...in case you were wondering, yes...yes, this is one of best things I have put in my face in recent memory! I seriously could have eaten three more!

What you are going to need to buy:

Jackfruit - (Fresh or Frozen is fine. This recipe uses frozen from The Jackfruit Company)

Tortilla or Hard Taco Shells, whatever you prefer

Medium Apple

Medium Sweet Onion

Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)

Sour Cream - (I’m a pretty die-hard Tofutti fan, so that’s what I always use!)

Balsamic Vinegar

Spices for your Jackfruit - (we used oregano, cumin, paprika, chili and a touch of brown sugar)

Liquid Smoke

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Fresh Cilantro - (or flat leaf parsley, if you must!)

Lime Juice

What you are going to need to do:

Honestly, these tacos look so fancy but they come together so fast and easy!
To start you’re going to finely chop your onion and 3/4 of your apple (reserving some apple for large slices as garnish, if you like.)

Into a bowl combine the apples, onion, minced garlic, (to taste, maybe a teaspoon), and a tablespoon of your favorite balsamic vinegar. Currently, I am loving this cilantro and garlic option from The Ancient Olive!

Set aside.

Preparing the Jackfruit:

In a medium skillet you’re going to saute the Jackfruit until it becomes soft and begins to give up up some of it’s juices.

With 2 forks, gently pull the bulbs apart like you would pull pork.

Reduce heat and add to the skillet: a dash of liquid smoke plus oregano, cumin, paprika, chili and a touch of brown sugar. Measurements will vary based on the amount you are making. Start out conservative and you can always add more of the flavors you like.

Salt and Pepper, to taste.

Assembly:

Onto your taco shell of choice, layer your Jackfruit mixture and top with your onion and apple salsa.

Drizzle some sour cream that has been cut with a teaspoon of lime juice and sprinkle with paprika to garnish. Additionally, garnish with apple wedges and fresh herbs.

Here’s a taco shell tip from Sarah: Can’t decide between hard and soft tacos? Drape your soft shells over the grates/rails of a hot oven and let them “crisp up” for about 4 minutes and boom, best of both worlds.

Slow Roasted Hasselback Butternut Squash

I know squash is something. that a lot of people think about for Fall but Summer it’s the perfect time to start collecting and testing all of your harvest and squash recipes for the season and this Slow Roasted Hasselback Butternut Squash with a Sweet and Spicy Ginger Maple Glaze should absolutely be added to the list!

Okay, cards on the table…this is an adaptation of Chris Morocco’s 2016 Squash Hasselback recipe! (And if you know me, you know what a fan I am… of Chris, and of squash…not so much of 2016.) It’s also not a 30-Minute Meal. This dish takes some time! The good news? It’s actually perfect for entertaining! Nothing about this recipe is hard to make…if you can use a vegetable peeler, reduce some glaze on the stovetop and have a little patience, this dish will reward you and your guests with an amazing tasting side dish that looks five-star, for sure!

What you are going to need to buy:

Small to Medium Butternut Squash - (The size really depends on how many people you are looking to feed and the recipe can be adapted to a larger squash for Holiday crowds.)

1/2 sweet, yellow onion, small, diced fine

Minced Garlic - (Again, as always…we use the jarred kind from Spice World!)  

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Powdered Ginger

Vinegar (Apple Cider or Rice Wine)

Maple Syrup - (The real stuff, not pancake syrup)

Hot Sauce or Red Pepper Flakes/Your favorite spicy seasoning

Fresh Rosemary and Sage

What you are going to need to do:

To start, preheat your oven to 400 degrees

With a heavy, sharp, chef’s knife cut your squash in half, lengthwise, taking extra care with the stem. (The stem is super dense and can be difficult to cut through. Be careful! Do not cut yourself! If you’re not too concerned with magazine style photo ops then you can always cut the stem off and just slice the squash in half lengthwise.)

After you have bisected your butternut, using a good quality vegetable peeler, remove the skin from the outside of the squash.

Lightly oil, salt and pepper the exterior and inside of the squash and place cut side down on a roasting rack.

Bake for about 15 minutes, or until for tender.

Remove the fork tender squash from the oven and with a sharp chef’s knife cut 1/4” horizontal slits into the squash, being careful to slice as deep as possible without cutting all the way through. (If you slice all the way down to where your knife hits the baking sheet then your squash will have a hard time maintaining its shape.)

Return the squash to the oven for approximately 10 minutes while you make your glaze.

In a saucepan, over medium heat sauté diced onion and garlic until translucent.

Add an additional teaspoon of olive oil, 1/3 cup of maple syrup, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger, and desired hot sauce or red pepper seasoning, to taste. (For my glaze, I used 2 tablespoons of one my favorites, Pickapeppa Sauce)

Cook glaze over medium heat until it begins to thicken and boil and is just thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Reduce to low heat to keep glaze warm.

Baste the butternut squash liberally, every ten minutes with the glaze. Each time that glaze is added, remove any extra glaze that accumulates or pools on the baking dish that begins to brown or burn too quickly. Repeat glaze process 4 additional times.

On the 4th and final time that you are glazing the squash, nestle fresh sage leaves between some the slices and sprinkle finely chopped rosemary on the top. Bake for a final 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and brush one final time with glaze. Any glaze that is left can be poured onto serving dish and the squash allowed to rest in the mixture for serving. Garnish with fresh herbs, if desired.

Homemade Minestrone Soup

I feel like homemade soup sometimes can get a bad wrap…“it takes too long, I don’t know what to put in it, it’s bland, etc…” but this homemade Minestrone Soup is so easy and so flavorful I promise you’ll never want to eat canned soup again!

The weekends see a lot of soup-making at my house! Not only is it easy but it’s the perfect way to use up al of the odds and ends veg that is hanging around the fridge and countertops left over from the rest of the week…and this homemade minestrone soup is no exception! The best part? You can put the leftovers in a glass jar and it will keep in the fridge for a couple weeks, or freeze, for months!

What you are going to need to buy:

Tomatoes (3-4), small, diced - This is honestly the perfect way to get rid of tomatoes that have gone a little squishy in the fridge. As long as they are not moldy, they are going to be just fine for soup.

White or Yellow Onion (1), medium - (Cut into chunks. No need to be too pretty, it’s all going to cook down anyway.

Minced Garlic - (We like the jarred kind from Spice World)

Tomato Paste, 1 tablespoon

Olive Oil

Veggie Broth (2-3 cups) or your favorite veggie bouillon cubes - (we like THESE from Edward & Sons)

White Mushrooms, sliced

Non-Dairy Butter - (We used Earth Balance)

Veggie Stock or Bouillon Cubes - (We used THESE from Edward and Sons)

Roasted veggies of choice, about 3 cups, total (We used baby potatoes, carrots, broccoli, baby corn, and snap peas, but again, use what you’ve got on hand!)

Dry Pasta - 1.5 -2 servings (We like orecchiette for this but any small shell or noodle should do)

Fresh Herbs - (Use what you like, use what you have. We used some rosemary and lots of curly parsley!)

Salt and Pepper, to taste.

Parmesan Cheese for topping - (Our favorite is THIS DAIRY FREE OPTION from Follow Your Heart)

What you are going to need to do:

Start by cutting your tomatoes and onions into 1” pieces - No need to be too pretty, it’s all going to cook down anyway.

In a skillet, over medium heat, stew the tomatoes, onions, and 1-2 tablespoons of garlic until the veg is soft and mushy. (This should take 5-10 minutes)

Once a lot of the liquid has cooked out of the tomatoes and has evaporated, add the tomato paste to the skillet and stir to incorporate. Continue to stir so that the tomato paste cooks, but does not burn for about 90 seconds, to 2 minutes. Mixture will be thick.

Remove from heat and into a soup pot add the stewed mixture, the veggie broth and rosemary (or preferred herbs). Stir and return to stove-top, allowing stock to simmer, but not boil. Cover with a loose lid so that you don’t loose too much to evaporation.

Now, Roast those Veggies!

Cut all your veg into bite size (1/2 to 1 inch) cubes. Making sure everything is roughly the same size allows all the veg to roast at about the same speed. Oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

No leftover veggies and no time to cut and chop? THESE PACKS from Birdseye works just great. Simply dump the frozen veggies on a tray with oil, salt, and pepper, and roast like you would fresh!

Roast at 375 for 20 minutes, checking half-way through to make sure nothing is browning too quickly.

For the last 3-5 minutes of the roast you can turn the oven to a low broil to really make sure you get some nice color on the veggies. Watch this closely! All ovens broil at different rates…and you don’t want them to burn.

Assembly:

At this point, I like to use a stick blender in the stock liquid to bust up any remains of tomato skins, herbs, or large chunks of onions. We are not looking for it all to be super smooth, just not too chunky, so pulsing the stick blender in short bursts works better. You could also transfer and do this in a traditional blender, if you like.

After blended, into the simmering stock, add the pasta, and increase the heat to achieve a low boil. Allow pasta to cook for 8-9 minutes. Add more water, if necessary.

Add in all of the roasted veggies to the pot and like to add a bit more curly parsley at this point.

Simmer another 3-4 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with more fresh herbs and grated parmesan cheese.

Fluffy Pear and Pecan Pancakes

We don't have a partridge but we do have pears! These pecan and pear pancakes made with vanilla oat milk from Rise Brewing Company are super easy to make and are the perfect Christmas morning breakfast!

I’ve tried to make a lot of vegan pancakes in my day…a lot! Most aren’t bad…some have been terrible but these, THESE might just be the best that I have ever had! Light and fluffy, the texture is perfect, and with only a handful of ingredients they come together so quick and easy…the best part, no one even needs to know they are dairy free!

What you are going to need to buy:

1.5 cups of Flour

3 teaspoons of Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Salt

3 tablespoons Sugar

1/2 cup of small Pecan pieces

1 and 1/4 cup of Oat Milk - (We love the Vanilla Oat Milk from Rise Brewing)

1 Egg or your favorite vegan Egg Substitute - (We used Just Egg from Just Foods)

2 tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

Diced Pear

1/2 cup Maple Syrup

What you are going to need to do:

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, and cinnamon.

Stir in egg, oil, and oat milk until mixture comes together. If mixture is too dry add a bit more oat milk or and additional teaspoon of just egg.

Do not over mix.

Stir in pecans.

Let mixture set while you dice the pear into small chunks

In a small saucepan, over medium/high heat bring the diced pear and maple syrup to a quick boil, mix, and remove from heat. Stir in a pinch of cinnamon and a pinch of salt.

Heat a lightly oiled pan or griddle over medium heat and cook pancakes until brown on both sides.

Serve warm with your favorite plant based butter and pears drizzled over the top.

Cashew Sweet Potato Medallions with Fried Sage Leaves and Sweet Ginger Sauce

This recipe honestly feels a little like cheating because it’s just so, so easy that there isn’t much of  “recipe” to speak of. Sweet potatoes, like all potatoes do take some time to bake but slicing them into medallions will cut about 15 minutes off your total baking time. This makes a great mid-week “set it and forget it” kind of recipe. Just whip up the topping in the last 10 minutes and you’re ready to eat!

Sweet potatoes! They are cheap, full of Vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and magnesium and can help fight inflammation within the body. Naturally sweet, with far fewer carbs that white or yellow potatoes, they are pretty much a staple in any plant-based diet, but many people only seem to break out the sweet potato recipes during the holidays! Let’s face it, the traditional candied topping or old-fashioned marshmallow crust just doesn’t seem appropriate in the middle of Summer…but with under 10  ingredients, you’ll love this quick and easy recipe for Cashew Sweet Potato Medallions with Fried Sage Leaves and Sweet Ginger Sauce.

What you are going to need to buy:

Medium Sweet Potato, cut into slices

White Vinegar

Agave Syrup

Powdered Ginger

Fresh Sage Leaves

Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

Vegan Mayo - (we like JUST Mayo)

Cashews
 

What you are going to need to do:

Preheat your oven to 400.
Begin by carefully slicing your sweet potato into medallions. (This step is optional…but will decrease baking time.) Arrange pieces of sliced sweet potato in loose foil packet, sprinkle with olive oil and salt and bake for about 30-40 minutes depending on the size of your potato.

Toward the last ten minutes of baking, open the top of the foil packet, leaving the ends crimped so that all of the contents remains inside, and finish baking with the top of the potato open and exposed in the oven.

In a saucepan or small skillet heat 2 tablespoons of oil on medium heat. Once oil is shimmering toss in 5-6 small to medium fresh sage leaves. You will hear them spit and crackle. Fry for 1 minute and remove. Set on a paper towel to absorb excess oil. After oil cools, store your sage infused oil in a small container for use in other recipes.

In a small dish combine 2 tablespoons vegan mayo with a splash of white vinegar, agave syrup, and powdered ginger. (Add ginger to taste…but, be brave, don’t skimp!)

Take the largest two fried sage leaves and finely chop.

Remove sweet potato from oven and let stand 1-2 minutes before serving. Top the sweet potato with the Sweet Ginger Sauce, sprinkle with sage leaves, both chopped and whole, and add a handful of cashews.

Tip: Might as well double the recipe! These sweet potatoes reheat for lunch the next day like a dream! Reserve the ginger sauce and cashews and add after you reheat the sweet potato in the microwave, for an easy work-lunch that you’re coworkers will crave!

Toasted Sweet Potato Gnocchi served over Couscous with a Sweet Ginger Garlic Sauce

We’re back at it tonight with another sweet potato recipe. Yes, I know it’s smack in the middle of summer…who cares? Who says that sweet potatoes are only reserved for the fall? This Toasted Sweet Potato Gnocchi served over Couscous with a Sweet Ginger Garlic Sauce is super filling and a great way to get a “pasta fix” when you are craving carbs without all the guilt!

Admittedly, this recipe does have a few more steps than some of the dishes that I usually share on the blog because you do have to make the sweet potato gnocchi but the good news is that if you are are only cooking for on or two…or if you are super on-the-ball and are in the habit of meal prep, you have make a big batch and freeze what you don’t use tonight for another meal later! Personally, what I love about this recipe is making the gnocchi from scratch, even if it is a little more work because it means that I know exactly what is going into the food that I am eating…no excess salt or synthetic preservatives, just natural ingredients that I have prepared myself!

What you are going to need to buy:

Boxed Couscous - (we like the Near East brand and they have several to choose from!)

Veggie Stock or Bouillon – (we like the “Not Chicken Bouillon” by Edward and Sons

Olive Oil  

Red Onion, small, diced (only half)

Minced Garlic

Sweet Potato (Medium)

Brown Sugar

All Purpose Flour

Baking Powder

Salt & Pepper

Vegan Mayo (We Like JUST Mayo)

Agave Syrup

Lime Juice

Powdered Ginger

Fresh Thyme (We used Lemon Thyme)

Cashews

 

What you are going to need to do:

This recipe technically comes together in only two pots…but one of them is only used to boil water…so, does that even really count?

Making the Gnocchi:

Let’s get cooking. Preheat your over to 400.

Step one in this recipe is to roast your sweet potato(s). Yes, you need to roast them. No, please do not boil them. The key to really good gnocchi that isn’t too dense or gummy is to incorporate as little flour as possible to have the dough come together. By roasting your sweet potatoes, you are also dehydrating them just a bit, which means less flour needed later on. This, obviously, is why you don’t want to boil off your poatoes to soften them…more water = more flour. Not ideal. (If you are really in a pinch, you can use the microwave.)

Once your potatoes are roasted, soft, and cooled you need to remove the insides from the skin and mash or puree them. If you are only making a small batch (one sweet potato) you can easily do this by hand with a fork. Once the sweet potato mixture is smooth and free of most large lumps add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and one teaspoon of baking powder, per medium potato.

Next comes the flour. This is hard to measure, because of the size of the sweet potato used, and the water content left in the potato after roasting, the amount of flour for this step will vary. Slowly add in flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough comes together and is no longer sticky. Try not to overwork the dough. Gently incorporate the flour until just combined. We are looking for a texture that is slightly less dense than traditional pasta dough. You will need to be able to work/roll the dough into “snakes” on your work surface without the dough sticking to the counter, or your hands.

Once dough is rolled into 1/2” wide snakes, cut 1/2” pieces so you have little sweet potato “pillows” At this stage you can either roll into balls, roll into logs, leave in pillow shape, or use your thumb, and the back of a fork to create the traditional “gnocchi” shape. My advice? If you are making this at home…skip the fancy stuff…it all taste the same in the end, and after boiling and frying the fork/tine marks that are seen on traditional gnocchi get a little lost, anyway.

Making the Couscous:

At this point we are going to shift gears and make our couscous. The first step to this recipe, or any recipe involving couscous is to dry toast the couscous. This sounds more complicated than it actually is and in the end gives the finished dish a much more complex depth of flavor- It only takes two minutes! Do not skip this step.

In a medium saucepan, bring enough salted water, to cook the gnocchi, to a boil. We are going to boil the gnocchi like pasta, so think the amount of water you would use for medium pasta shells. The water should come up to boiling while your couscous cooks.

In a medium saucepan, on medium/low heat measure out the desired amount of couscous, according to the boxed directions, for the number of serving you need to make. Add to this the minced garlic, one sprig and onions. I almost always use the minced garlic that comes jarred in the produce section. One teaspoon for every half-cup of dry couscous you are cooking.

Let the couscous, onions, and garlic toast in the warm pan, stirring or agitating the pan often so that the contents do not burn. After about 90 seconds you should see the couscous pearls begin to turn from blond to light brown. When this happens take the saucepan off the heat. It will continue to toast, from the residual heat but you don’t want it to burn.

Bring your couscous saucepan back over to medium heat and add the veggie stock. (Follow the boxed directions of your couscous for the recommend amount of liquid) Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat and cover for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure that nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pan and that the liquid is being absorbed.  If, after 10 minutes) the couscous seems too runny, take the lid off the saucepan and some of that excess water should boil/evaporate off.

Once the Couscous has absorbed all the liquid and is creamy, remove from pan and place in a bowl or on a plate, covered, to stay warm. Clean out the pot/pan the best you can because this is what we are going to toast/fry our gnocchi in, after it comes out of the water, to make them crunchy.

Cooking the Gnocchi:

At this point your “pasta water” aka gnocchi water should be at a light boil. With a slotted spoon, add gnocchi to the water, being careful not to overcrowd the pot if you making a large portion. The gnocchi will immediately sink and will float when finished cooking.

In the original couscous pot/pan add a handful of cashews, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and, if you have it on-hand, a splash of your favorite balsamic vinegar. Once the gnocchi float in the boiling water, remove them and transfer to the pot with the cashews, over medium/high heat to toast or get a little crunchy. Continually stir or shake the pot/pan so that the gnocchi do not stick or burn. This takes about 4 minutes or so.

Making the Sweet Ginger Sauce:

In a small dish combine 2 tablespoons vegan mayo with a splash of agave syrup, lime juice, minced garlic and powdered ginger. (Add ginger to taste…but, be brave, don’t skimp!) Stir until smooth and well incorporated.

Plating and Service:

Serve the crunchy sweet potato gnocchi and cashews over the warm couscous, and top with the sweet ginger and garlic dressing. Add fresh thyme, to garnish.

Crispy Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Dates and a Sweet Balsamic Glaze

Anyone who thinks that they don’t like brussel sprouts, I dare you not to like this recipe. This dish is so good and so simple. It’s perfect for entertaining as we head into the holiday season because although brussel sprouts are often available year-round these days their peak season is from September to mid-February making them budget friendly for serving a crowd.

The trick to this recipe is, of course, fresh brussel sprouts, and really ripe dates! There is something kind of magical about the sugar content in the dates and how it almost caramelizes into a chewier crunch when they are roasted. If you are really time sensitive go ahead and get the pitted dates, but if you can spare a couple extra minutes I think buying dates with the pit in and removing yourself at home keeps them softer and sweeter. (I have no proof of this…it’s just been my experience.) With under 10 ingredients, including the spices, what’s not to love?

What you are going to need to buy:

Fresh Brussel Sprouts

Whole Dates

Pine Nuts

Salt and Pepper

Olive Oil

Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)  

Maple Syrup - (The good stuff, not pancake syrup. You could also use agave or honey.)

Balsamic Vinegar - (I get mine locally here in Orlando from The Ancient Olive)

What you are going to need to do:

begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees.

Remove all loose, witty, or soft outside petals from your brussel sprouts and cut in half length-wise.

Lightly oil, salt and pepper your brussel sprouts and place on a sheet pan or cookie sheet being careful that they are only one layer thick.

Cut your dates length-wise and remove the pit. Then cut each half length wise again so that you end up with 4 quartered wedges. Place on the sheet pan with the brussel sprouts. Roast at 400 degrees, on the middle rack for 25 minutes, flipping/stirring half-way through so that you can get some browning on all sides.

To make the glaze, mix equal parts of Olive Oil, and Balsamic Vinegar with minced garlic and maple syrup or honey, to taste. If you can’t find the thick balsamic vinegar, you can always take of of the extra soft and squishy dates from the package and scrape out the contents into the glaze. Use a fork or small wish to incorporate the date flesh into the mixture and it will thicken it up a bit. If you do this…you will need less maple syrup or honey because the dates are so naturally sweet.

After 25 minutes, turn oven on to a low broil and broil for another 5-7 minutes, checking every 90 seconds or so to make sure that nothing is burning. Note: The dates will get really dark in color, and you might be afraid that you have burned them…rest easy. You likely didn’t but this broil at the end is what makes them caramelize into a nice chewy crunch!

Once the brussel sprouts and dates are out of the oven, toss them with the glaze and allow to cool for 4-5 minutes before serving to let that glaze really thicken up. Garnish with pine nuts or chopped pistachios!

Enjoy!

Vegan Walnut Banana Bread

Vegan baked goods are actually much easier and tastier than you might imagine and this Vegan Walnut Banana Bread is a perfect example. Moist, with plenty of lift, and a crunchy brown sugar crust it’s sure to become a family favorite.

Homemade breads are the kind of comfort foods that I can never resist! One of the best things about Vegan Banana bread is that you don’t need to stress out over trying to figure out an egg substitute because the bananas do that heavy lifting for you! This delicious recipe is the perfect way to use up your over-ripe fruit and can be totally customized with whatever mix-ins that you love! As with a lot of vegan baking, the trick to this banana bread is cooling time. Make sure to let this loaf cool completely before slicing or it will be crumbly and want to fall apart. Even letting it sit overnight, covered, isn’t a bad idea.

What you are going to need to buy:

3 Over-Ripe Bananas (The more brown and spotty, the better: I have, in a pinch used two over-ripe bananas mixed with one regular one and the recipe has worked out just fine.)

1/3 cup of White Sugar

1/3 cup of Brown Sugar (+ 1/4 cup to sprinkle on the top before baking)

1/3 cup of Vegetable Oil

1 tablespoon of Vanilla Extract

2 cups of All Purpose Flour

1 teaspoon of Salt

1 teaspoon of Baking Powder

1 teaspoon of Cinnamon

1 teaspoon of Nutmeg

1/2 cup of Walnuts, chopped

What you are going to need to do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To begin, mash your overripe bananas together in a mixing bowl until smooth.

To your banana puree add your oil, sugar, and vanilla and mix until well incorporated.

In another bowl sift together dry ingredients (minus the walnuts) and then add slowly to the banana/sugar/oil mixture.

Do not overwork the mixture. Gently fold in flour until just incorporated. Batter will be thick.

Fold in walnuts (or whatever other mix-ins you prefer. (Chocolate chips, cranberries, etc…)

Spoon batter into a loaf dish that you have oiled and floured

Using the back of the spoon smooth batter into pan making sure mixture is worked into all corners.

Sprinkle 1/4 cup of brown sugar onto the top on the batter for a crunchy top crust (Don’t sip this step…is it a lot of sugar…yes! Is it the best part? Also, yes!

Bake on the center rack of your oven for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let cool completely before serving (several hours, if not over night)

Enjoy!