On a warm summer evening in Durango, Colorado, I sipped mojitos on the back deck of my friend’s home overlooking a den of pines. Not only is she an amazing cook, but she surprised me with vegan grilled vegetables, these Killer Vegan Black Beans and guacamole! I feasted on handmade tacos until we ran out of tortillas. The beans were so delish, I needed the recipe.
Category: Soups, Stews, and Beans
Kitchari with a Twist
I’m intrigued with Ayurveda, the”holistic” healing system developed in India over 5,000 years ago. This wellness approach depends on the delicate balance between mind, body, and spirit. One of the main dishes in Ayurvedic cooking is Kitchari (pronounced kich-uh-ree) – an easy to digest stew used to cleanse, detox and re-balance the body. This mixture of split mung beans, Basmati rice, veges and warming spices is a humble dish, but don’t let that fool you!!! It’s also packed with flavor so bring on the cleanse!!!!
DALishious: Vegan Dal Makhani
Indian food has always been a comforting staple in my life. I was raised on 6th St and 2nd Ave across from “Indian Row” in NYC. On special nights, my mom would take us to our favorite dark restaurant 3 steps below street level. I remember walking through the jingling bell door, hearing the exotic music and smelling the foreign spices. There’s more:
Warming Red Lentil and Spinach Stoup (Soup/Stew)
Do you ever go through food infatuations where you want to eat the same thing every day? Well, for the past 4 months, I’ve been obsessed with this nourishing red lentil and spinach soup!! It’s cozy, warm and comforting but also delivers a hearty serving of iron rich spinach (or other dark leafy greens). On Sundays, I prepare a batch that I can re-heat throughout the week. I serve it alone or accompanied by a salad for a highly satisfying and healthy meal.
Homemade Vege Broth Fast
During the holidays, it’s pretty easy to increase your sugar intake with all the parties, cocktails, and extra chocolate. You may notice your clothes fitting tighter or heightened sugar cravings…hello Chestnut Praline Chai Latte!!! To keep my weight and sugar cravings in check, I’m fasting one day a week on homemade vege broth. At first I thought fasting a whole day would be unbearable, especially with all the sweet temptations around, but actually, it’s not that hard once you get over the mental hurdle of “wanting to eat”. In fact, it actually feels good.
Spring Coconut Red Lentil Soup from Oh She Glows
Spring this year in Southern California has been hot, cold, hot and cold and I’m so confused. I keep swapping our down comforter for the cotton one only to replace it the following day with down again. Well, this crazy Spring weather is perfect for this light, healthy, vegan and gluten-free Coconut Red Lentil Soup. It’s warming spices, sweet coconut milk and bright spinach feels like you are eating sunshine in a bowl. I don’t often think of soup in the Spring but this uplifting soup really hits the spot.
15 Minute Vegetable Soup (Great if you are Sick)
Hot soup is the BEST when you are fighting a cold or flu and this 15 minute vegetable soup soothes the throat, clears the nose, and warms the body. It’s light and healthy and only takes a few minutes to prepare. Make it for yourself or a loved one who’s feeling under the weather.
Cooking is the LAST thing you want to do when you’re ill, but eating fresh healthy food is medicine for your body. This fast, vegan soup is loaded with fresh veges and dark leafy greens and only requires a minimal amount of chopping, sauteing and simmering. It’s simple.
Worlds Easiest Tofu: No Pressing Required
This is the world’s easiest tofu recipe and my favorite way to eat it – crispy browned cubes with a tamari/tahini coating. There is no pressing required, only 3 ingredients (plus salt if desired), a non-stick pan and quick 15 minute cooking time. I mostly devour these cubes immediately but when I can manage self-restraint, I love adding these tasty chunks to salads, soups and Buddha bowls.
Lentil Quinoa Protein Salad With (My Favorite) Lemon Tahini Dressing
This healthy lentil quinoa protein salad was one of the first recipes I made from Oh She Glows, Angela Liddon’s amazing vegan cooking blog (and still my favorite). It’s got all the things I love mixed together in a mouth watering bowl of plant based protein. Lentils, grains, leafy greens, cherry tomatoes, and a tangy Tahini dressing that would make anything taste divine.
Guest Worthy French Lentil Soup
Do you ever get stuck when deciding what to serve your dinner guests? I do! Actually, I’m terrible at it. I fret and overthink it until I’m paralyzed. It’s a bad habit that can interfere with the joy of having company. This guest worthy French Lentil Soup will stop all that fruitless worry. It’s easy, delicious, healthy, and pretty enough to share with even your pickiest guests.