I had all sorts of plans to publish this post over a month ago but it seemed like a beast of an article to write so I kept postponing it. But as the saying goes, all good things are worth waiting for, so I hope you will agree that there will be a lot of valuable info (and recipes!) in this post.

Risotto is one of those dishes many are intimidated by, and less likely to attempt making…There’s nothing really magical or scary about it, and when you take a bite into a well-made risotto, well… it’s definitely worth standing over the stove for the 20-30 minutes it requires your undivided attention.

I love noodles in all forms, and when I want a healthy, flavorful, quick, and easy meal I almost always resort to some type of Asian cuisine. This version of a sesame noodle dish with peanut sauce is more of a Chinese-American dish that I like in part because you don’t have to stress about serving it right away after you cook the noodles.

Both corn and zucchini are the quintessential summer foods. They are plentiful this time of year, both at farmer’s markets and in grocery stores and if you are a member of a weekly CSA, I’m sure you have received plenty of summer squash thus far. So what to do with them, week after week? My mission is to always experiment with different recipes, discovering the versatility of these gorgeous vegetables.

Lately, I’ve enjoyed cooking with tofu. This fermented soybean product is a very versatile product filled with protein, iron and calcium, and many other proven nutritional features and health benefits…The good news is that tofu makes for a brilliant food on the grill and can be seasoned, marinated, and prepared in so many ways, depending on what you feel like cooking and eating.

With everyone baking sourdough bread these days, I figured I would try my hand at something a little bit different. I often get the question “What do you miss most since going vegan?” and I can honestly say I have gained so much more than I’ve “lost” (no, I don’t miss eating dead animals) but one thing I do remember fondly is a slice of cheesy pizza. Nowadays, we’re so lucky that we have several amazing vegan cheeses out there and I’m using one of them in today’s recipe; an ooey-gooey cheesy garlic bread that is to die for! And I don’t say this lightly.

Falafel is one of those universal foods everybody eats and loves. Nobody even gives a thought to the fact that it’s vegan (ooh the charged ‘v’ word…) It’s simply delicious. Versatile. Simple. It’s food. For some reason it’s the one vegan food non-vegans will accept and eat without judgment or wonder where they will get their protein… and falafel is a common item on many restaurant menus across the world.

Today’s recipe is for those times when you feel like a hearty dish that looks impressive but that you really have to put minimal effort into. If you have some leftover vegetables like carrots, onions, celery, broccoli and/or mushrooms that you are needing to get rid of but have no idea what to do with – read on.

Coming from a chef background, I typically love to make everything from scratch and as a vegan, I’m a fan of whole, plant-based foods when cooking. On the other hand, I’m a vegan married to a non-vegan, who is also a chef and happens to be a meat-lover. While you may think that may pose challenges…I am here to tell you as long as you get a little creative and resourceful and stay dedicated to your desire to eat more plant-based foods, your significant other, children, friends and family will make big strides towards eating more plants too! (it’s contagious 🙂

One of my favorite comfort meals is a creamy soup paired with a grilled cheese sandwich. In the summer I love a good tomato soup made from fresh tomatoes I’ve grown in my garden, but in the winter there’s nothing quite like a broccoli-cheddar soup. The green color makes me happy too, which I find particularly welcome on a cold and grey day.