Tips For Eating and Living Well
As much as my husband and I love lasagna, I’ve found that most of the vegan lasagna recipes out there just aren’t worth the effort. Many of them use tofu with several ingredients added to make it taste like cheese, but it never quite gets there. However, a couple of weeks ago I decided to come up with a vegan lasagna recipe that’s simple and delicious. I had an idea to try combining soaked cashews with a can of hearts of palm to make the ricotta, and the result was better than I’d imagined! …
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I have a major sweet tooth. I try not to indulge too often, but sometimes I need a bite of something sweet after dinner. For someone who loves sweets but tries to eat healthfully, dessert can be a challenge. I created this Magic Bar Fudge to help fuse these two desires — nutrients and treats! …
It’s finally time for Part III of my three-part series of roasted Brussels sprouts recipes, and I’ve saved the best for last! I personally love the “Cheesy” Roasted Brussels Sprouts and the Ethiopian Brussels Sprouts, but these Maple Mustard Brussels Sprouts are a family favorite. They’re slightly sweet, tangy, and savory — perfect for a nutritious snack or a side dish! If you try this recipe and still don’t like Brussels sprouts, I doubt you’ll ever like them. Sorry….
A couple of weeks ago, my husband came up to me and said, “You know what you haven’t made in a long time? Cashew cheese. Can you make that pizza cashew cheese that I like?” Um . . . I’ve never made pizza cashew cheese before, but that sounded delicious! He was probably thinking of a sun-dried tomato basil version I made a long time ago, but regardless, I set out to make him a pizza version. What resulted was my new favorite cashew cheese flavor, so I had to share the recipe! …
One of the most difficult aspects of changing to a plant-based diet is giving up cheese. Many people are unable to make diet changes for this very reason. But once you know that there are many cheese replacements that are creamy and satisfying, you may never want to go back! Today I’m sharing a basic cashew cheese recipe that I’ve been using (and perfecting) for about seven years. I’ve served it during the holidays and at parties with great reviews! Honestly, I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to post this recipe. It’s a family favorite! …
Apparently National Donut Day was just last week, but if I’d realized that, I would have gotten my act together and perfected this recipe in time to post it then. But really, do we need a special day of the year to enjoy a good donut? NOPE.
I’d recently bought half a peck of peaches from the Abbott Farms stand, and I was eager to use them in some sort of dessert recipe. I’d also been wanting to experiment with buckwheat flour, so out of my test kitchen came these earthy, peach buckwheat donuts that are surprisingly good for you!…
For some reason I’ve been on a huge roasted Brussels sprouts kick lately, so this post is really Part 1 of 3 roasted sprouts recipes (woohoo!). Now don’t get me wrong — plain roasted Brussels sprouts are great, but it’s fun to change things up every now and then. This first recipe turned out beautifully, which resulted in my eating a pound of sprouts while standing over the baking pan. Seriously, these Cheesy Roasted Brussels Sprouts are addictive! …
Roasted chickpeas are the perfect snack. They’re crunchy, salty, and packed with protein and energy. I love playing around with the flavors of these warm little beans and serving them to my husband and 3-year-old while they watch sports on the weekends. My latest creation — these Smoky Maple Chickpeas — were a must-share! I decided to try for a maple bacon flavor, so I went straight for the liquid smoke, smoked paprika, tamari, and of course, the maple syrup/sugar.
The result? Slightly sweet, slightly salty, smoky, and addictive chickpeas!…
In preparation for the warm weather, I decided to dust off my beloved ice cream maker and get to work creating a new ice cream flavor you guys. And I hate to brag, but this Date Ice Cream with Toasted Almonds is fantastic! The dates are naturally sweet and caramelly (now an adjective), and the toasted walnuts, cinnamon, and vanilla impart their own subtle flavors that round out this perfectly creamy dessert. Add some freshly toasted almonds, and you have arrived at dessert heaven! …
I typically get my recipe inspiration from all kinds of sources — books, magazines, cooking shows, restaurants, etc. — but my idea for this healthful Orange “Julius” came from a dream I had about drinking the Dairy Queen classic beverage. I haven’t had one in years, but I remember how creamy and refreshing they are. After my dream, I decided I must have an Orange Julius. Of course, the ingredient list for the DQ version is abysmal (egg white solids???), so I set out to create a nutritious version. …
It had been way too long since I’d made granola, which is a shame because it’s a nutritious snack or breakfast that’s easy to take on the go or give to friends and family. I’ve found that the store-bought granolas are full of oil and sugar, and thus empty calories. So if I eat granola, I prefer to make it myself and use nut butter instead of canola oil, and maple syrup or coconut sugar instead of cane sugar. It’s still fairly high in calories, but it’s also packed with protein, minerals, and fiber to keep you full and energized.
For some reason I wanted to try my hand at a savory coffee granola because, duh, I love everything coffee-flavored. With Abby’s help, I came up with this nutritious coffee almond butter granola that my father-in-law described as “almost as good as [my husband’s] shot on hole 17” last weekend. Apparently it was his best golf shot of all time, so I decided to take that as a major compliment. …
I really fell off the sugar wagon this Easter, so I’ve been craving sweets way too much lately. In an attempt to wean myself off of the pure sugar desserts, I concocted this nutritious strawberry crisp — which is not only full of fruit, nuts, and oats, but is also so easy to throw together when you’re wanting something sweet….
