Sometimes I crave the
distinctive qualities of a good old fashioned chile relleno…you know- the
one stuffed with cheese, battered, and fried. Well, I do indulge from time to
time, but just to make a point, you can create an entirely healthy, and just
as satisfying chile relleno experience, that might even resemble some
real Mexican authenticity. And, you’ll get a bonus of added clean
nutrition! Use a ceramic or safe clay baking dish with a lid if possible, for
a great even bake, and a magnificent smell from the oven during preparation.
If enjoyed with an open mind and a sense of adventure, this dish should stave
off the unhealthy chile relleno craving for quite some time.
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Vegan-Paleo Squash Blossom Fritters
“Vegan-Paleo Squash Blossom
Fritters” is about as complete a description as I could get for these
very interesting, chewy-yet-crisp treats that were basically an experiment.
But I guess that is how it’s supposed to work on here, right? I started
thinking I was going to make a gluten-free, vegan squash blossom pancake, but
the texture of these, coming from the tapioca flour, is definitely more
“fritter”- like. These seem best right out of the oven, but I’ll
bet they would be great cold or reheated also. The problem is, I gobbled them
up so fast I didn’t have any to save for later, so now I have to wait until I
get some more fresh squash blossoms on my hands. Technically, these only
fulfill the ingredient guidelines of being “Paleo.” In order to be
truly paleo from a macronutrient standpoint, they wouldn’t be so heavy on
carbs. But, they are gluten, grain, dairy free and totally vegan as well. So
enjoy these as a healthier indulgence and as a great way to enjoy the
season’s squash, zucchini and other blossoms from the garden or the Farmers
Market. I’ll bet the chewy texture of these is unique from many things you
have tried before. Read More
Spiced Sweet Potato & Pear Soup
Here’s a perfect, Autumn comfort soup without any unhealthy ingredients- this Sweet Potato & Pear Soup does the trick with sweet potatoes, fresh seasonal pears, and some unique spices and fats from sesame tahini. And, it’s super easy to make, requiring only one pot and a Vitamix or high-speed blender. Enjoy this on your next chilly autumn evening, with some toasted rustic bread.
Sicilian Eggplant Wraps with Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette
> These Sicilian Eggplant
Wraps are a perfect example of how the slightest ingredient hacks can make a
big impact on the quality of nutrition you consume per calorie. Eggplants
have some surprising health benefits and are rich in essential nutrients like
manganese, folate, potassium, vitamin K, vitamin C, and fiber. And they are
particularly rich in essential fatty acids. In this recipe we are simply
replacing wraps or flatbread made from flour with grilled eggplant slices,
making this a simple healthy solution for any busy schedule.
Spaghetti Squash with Crispy Sage & Garlic
Greetings! I know it’s been a
while since the last post. To be honest, my creativity took a brief leave of
absence. I also became fixated on creating the perfect homemade vegan ice
cream, that also stores well. That sort of consumed me for a few weeks. No
ice cream recipe to post yet, and now it is becoming irrelevant, as summer is
going away. So, on to one of my favorite subjects: Quality kitchen time
during the fall season. Let’s kick it off with a very simple, and
surprisingly filling dish using just five key ingredients. Fresh sage, garlic
and winter squashes are good friends in my book. This recipe sort of takes
the traditional squash ravioli with sage, and sort of deconstructs it and
puts a yummy vegan spin on it. Don’t be afraid to ramp up the garlic and the
sage. Enjoy! Read More
Baked Ratatouille with Fresh Basil
Baked ratatouille is super easy, delicious, and this recipe comes just in time for your summer vegetable harvest. It makes a great whole-food plant-based meal served with wild rice, pasta or polenta. It can also be used as a vegetable side dish. One recipe makes enough to enjoy a dinner and a couple easy lunches on the go. I used a handmade ceramic oven dish, which fills the air with a really nice aroma when baking, but a simple Pyrex will also do the trick.
Superfood Veggie Frittata
Try this superfood veggie frittata for an easy way to seriously kick-up your breakfast nutrition. One recipe makes enough frittata for 4 breakfasts or any other meal on the go! Add this to your weekly healthy meal prep.
Cocoa-Mint Spirulina Chia Pudding
Spirulina has been around the
block a few times with all of us. But in spite of its past trendiness and ups
and downs with the limelight, it is definitely worth keeping in your pantry
due to its many awesome nutritional benefits. Luckily for all of us, there
are companies out there that are passionate about keeping spirulina relevant
in our lives and finding new, innovative ways to deliver it to us. Whenever
that happens, if I happen to be in the know, I get my hands on it and get to
work seeing what can be done to enjoy it the best ways possible. That brings
us to this incredibly simple dessert that is more of a nutrition powerhouse
than it is a transitional dessert, packed with almost 20 grams of vegan
protein, vitamin b12, and essential fatty acids. It can be enjoyed as a
sugar-free dessert, or as a quick breakfast or snack on the run. This
immediately became a regular in my kitchen. It is worth adding that it’s also
paleo and keto friendly! Read More
Chickpea & Hempseed Salad Sandwich on Portobello
If you are keeping away from grains, gluten, and other forms of refined carbohydrates, you should definitely give this Chickpea & Hempseed Salad Sandwich a try. The marinated, roasted, and cooled Portobello mushrooms are used as a base, like an open-faced sandwich. And of course, you can always enjoy these ingredients together on a traditional sandwich as well.
Hearty Warm Salad with Potatoes, Broccolini & Asparagus
This hearty warm salad is a quick, easy way to get a plant based, super nutritious, and filling meal into your busy week. All you need is to make sure you have a good variety of vegetables and starchy vegetables on hand. You can pretty much substitute any ingredient here for whatever you want to use up in your kitchen. This recipe proves that healthy doesn’t have to be hard!