Rarely have I had to experiment so much to get a recipe right. I’ve made cream cheese before from cashews, and the results were good. However, I can’t get raw cashews where I live, and the process is pretty long and involved. I can, however, get excellent tofu. I knew there had to be a…
It’s COVID-19 time and we’ve been staying at home for almost six weeks. I’ve been cooking almost every day. In fact, in six weeks we’ve ordered take-out meals exactly twice. All this time at home has me making dishes I haven’t made in years and trying some dishes I’ve never made before. That’s the case…
Coleslaw is easy to make and can take a variety of forms based on the dressing. This version features my Creamy Avocado Dressing mixed with finely shredded cabbage and carrots. It’s the perfect companion to a Mexican or traditional Guatemalan entrée. This dressing keeps well in the refrigerator for a day or two. If you…
I recently had a craving for Mexican chocolate brownies. After looking at a number of recipes, I found one that looked promising on mom.com. Unfortunately, the recipe had several typos and a horrible layout. I have no objection to ads on a blog, but don’t cover the recipe with them! The recipe was pretty good,…
A friend recently brought this dip to a couple of parties, and I could hardly pull myself away from it. Even if there had been no other vegan options (and there were plenty!) I would have been happy with nothing more than this dip and raw veggies. The dip is so easy to make. I…
I frequently sing in restaurants. I rarely pay attention to the food while I sing, but yesterday my attention kept wandering toward the plates of pasta being served at the tables near me. I don’t eat pasta often these days, but today it called out to me. When I saw the beautiful cauliflower Mark brought…
I recently completed a 72-hour water fast. I was never terribly hungry during the fast, and I felt great. The last night, however, I dreamed of peanut butter. I hadn’t had peanut butter in quite some time, so the next morning I picked up some roasted, unsalted peanuts and made my dream come true… fresh…
This year some friends hosted a vegan/vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner. It was a lovely gathering with a table full of vegan-friendly dishes, and the first time in years I didn’t make the whole Thanksgiving meal myself. Ahhhh. Among the dishes I contributed were a cashew-based “cheese” ball, pecan pie, and sweet potato dish made with pineapple…
I eat an enormous salad almost every day. Ever since I found out that whole food fats are needed for the body to absorb fat-soluble carotenoids from foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and leafy greens, this dressing has had a place of honor on my plate. This salad dressing is rich and creamy, and takes…
This curry is easy and quick to make, especially if you cook it in an Instant Pot. I took some liberties with the spices, as berbere is an Ethiopian spice. If you don’t have any, add a touch of cumin, clove, and cayenne. You can use any kind of vegetables–those in the recipe are what…
I’ve been on a cheesy sauce kick lately. Remember that potato carrot cheese sauce that everyone seemed to be posting about a few years ago? If you don’t remember, this sauce was everywhere on vegan blogs and Facebook groups. I, of course, have my own version. I’ve been making this sauce a lot, this time…
One of Guatemala’s blessings is our wonderful markets, filled with fresh local fruits and vegetables. Yesterday I went up to one of my favorite vendors, where I often buy basil and leafy greens. There was no basil on display, so I asked for it. The vendor pulled out a small paper bag: “Sí, hay.” She…
I made my first vegetarian mushroom nut loaf back in the 1970s. Back then it was filled with cheese and seemed like a ton of work. Much as changed since then: no more cheese, and I have a food processor to grind the nuts and a great chef’s knife for chopping other ingredients. It no…
I’m a bit of a soup junky. I make soup several times a week: sometimes hot, sometimes cold, but always flavorful and satisfying. You may have seen my recipes for Creamy Curried Cauliflower Potato Soup, Creamy Tomato Soup, and Gazpacho. This time, we’re going green! This soup is a powerhouse of nutrition. Tons of greens and…
Last week a friend was telling me about his wife making pita brea. “Of course,” he said “when you make it at home it never puffs up into a pocket.” Au contraire! Mine does! With a couple simple tools, you too can make beautiful, pocketful pita bread at home. I’ve been making pita bread for…
I haven’t posted much lately. I’ve had a slow recovery from hand surgery on March 30, which has limited my computer time. Basically I had to chose between computer and kitchen–guess which one won! Much of my time in the kitchen has been focused on completion of my Professional Plant-Based Chef certification program at rouxbe.com. Toward…
This is a companion post to the Qabuli Palao recipe. While my assignment for my Plant-Based Chef Professional Certification program was a rice and lentil dish, I wanted lots of greens to go with the Qabuli Palao. Sabzi is a popular Afghan stewed spinach dish with bold flavors that are a wonderful match with the Qabuli…
I first had this dish when my dad made it for me. He was looking for a vegan dish that everyone in the family might enjoy, and this arugula pesto certainly is a crowd-pleaser. My dad found the recipe on the Food Network website. Whenever we get a nice bunch of arugula, this is the…
When I first changed to a plant-based diet in 2007, I was at a loss for how to how to prepare meals–and especially desserts–that my family and friends would enjoy. A tofu-based chocolate pie quickly became my standard dish to bring for dinners and events–people were always amazed that it was vegan. However, the recipe…
This simple Creamy Avocado Dressing is one of our favorites. The creaminess comes entirely from avocados and non-dairy milk: refined oils need not apply. It’s wonderful on green salad, coleslaw, or with our Tropical Vegetable Salad. It also makes a great topping for Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers. Or you can just sit and eat it…