Category: Uncategorized

  • Harvest-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

    Harvest-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

    recipe image

    Chloe Coscarelli|

    Harvest-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

    Here’s a healthy, tasty appetizer or side dish that’s quick and easy to make. There’s something pretty special about this dish, but it’s hard to tell with just a quick glance at the ingredients. They just look delicious. Take a closer look though, and you might guess it — that’s right, it’s actually vegan.
    Click here to see Just Stuff It — 10 Stuffed Vegetable Recipes.

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for brushing
    • 1 onion, chopped finely
    • 1 cup cashews
    • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 cup cooked brown rice (or grain of choice)
    • one 15-ounce can lentils, drained and rinsed
    • 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
    • 1/2 cup vegetable broth
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish
    • 6 portobello mushrooms, stems and gills removed
    • 1 tomato, sliced into thin rounds
    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    2. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cashews and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sauté until the onions are soft and lightly browned. Add the garlic and let cook a few more minutes until fragrant.
    3. In a large bowl combine the onion mixture, brown rice, lentils, breadcrumbs, vegetable broth, basil, and thyme. Mix together and season to taste with salt and pepper.*
    4. Brush both sides of the mushroom caps lightly with olive oil and place top side down on a lightly oiled sheet pan.** For each mushroom, stuff with about ½ cup of the lentil stuffing, and then press 1 tomato slice on top.
    5. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the stuffing is browned and mushrooms are cooked through. Garnish with extra fresh thyme leaves and serve.

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  • Baked Beans

    Baked Beans

    recipe image

    Baked Beans

    Photo by James Ransom
    • Prep time
      10 minutes
    • Cook time
      3 hours
    • Serves
      4 to 6
    Author Notes

    Baked beans may come out of a can more commonly than out of a pan, but we guarantee that a great homemade baked bean recipe will win over a tin every time. Whether you’re creating a classic line-up of sides for a “play the hits” barbecue, crafting a hearty game day feast for a crowd, or serving them as part of a loaded full English breakfast, baked beans in all their glorious forms are always welcome at the table.

    Thick, sweet, and savory, these beans are delicious no matter which variety you use—and you can use most types of beans. Pick your favorite, or use two kinds of beans to mix it up, and give them a full 24 hours of soaking to ensure they’ll fully tenderize during cooking (though this recipe is also a surefire way to make canned beans better if you’re in a hurry).

    I like to use bacon drippings as the fat owing to the famous flavor pairing of smoky pork and beans, but these baked beans can easily be made vegetarian by using butter, or vegan using your preferred cooking oil (or porkier by adding your smoked pork of choice). If you think the flavor of your beans would benefit from a dash of Worcestershire sauce, drizzle of molasses, or even a splash of tangy barbecue sauce—go for it! I add a little chipotle powder for added smokiness and a hint of heat that pairs especially well with grilled proteins and vegetables.

    —Merrill Stubbs

    • Test Kitchen-Approved

    Watch This Recipe

    Baked Beans

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 pound

      cranberry, pinto or cannellini beans, soaked overnight


    • salt


    • 2 sprigs

      thyme


    • 1

      clove garlic, smashed


    • 1

      small onion, diced (keep the ends for the beans)


    • 1 tablespoon

      bacon fat, oil, or butter


    • 1/8 teaspoon

      sweet paprika


    • 1 pinch

      chipotle powder (optional)


    • 2 cups

      chopped canned tomatoes


    • 2 tablespoons

      apple cider vinegar


    • 1 1/2 teaspoons

      Dijon mustard


    • 1/4 cup

      packed light brown sugar

    Directions
    1. Cover the beans by at least an inch with cold water. Add a few pinches of salt and the thyme, garlic, and onion ends, and simmer until tender, about an hour.
    2. When the beans are close to being done, heat the oven to 250°F. Using a heavy, shallow ovenproof pan, sauté the onion in the bacon fat over medium-low heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the spices and cook for another minute. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens slightly.
    3. Stir the beans and 1/2 cup of their cooking liquid into the sauce in the pan. Cover the pan and put it in the oven for an hour to an hour and a half, until the beans are very soft and the sauce has thickened a bit.
    4. Uncover the pan and cook until the sauce is quite dry and the edges of the pan are slightly caramelized, another 20 to 30 minutes, and serve.

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  • Pad Thai Redux

    Pad Thai Redux

    recipe image

    Pad Thai Redux

    Photo by James Ransom
    • Serves
      4
    Author Notes

    We may have found ourselves devouring a very indulgent version of this dish at Andy Ricker’s (of famed Pok Pok) Phat Thai the other day. Andy’s pad thai is very traditional and contains a lot of oil and probably some sugar. So because we couldn’t get it out of our minds we decided that we would make our own version – lots of vegetables, minimal oil and no sugar. We have to say this dish might be less traditional but it is still high on the delicious scale. And if you’re not too concerned with being vegan this works stupendously well with fish sauce and a scrambled egg or two. —Weird & Ravenous

    • Test Kitchen-Approved
    Ingredients

    • 4 ounces

      rice noodles


    • 2 tablespoons

      neutral oil (like grapeseed or canola)


    • 1

      large garlic clove, peeled and thinly sliced


    • 2

      bell peppers (whatever color you like), seeded, stemmed and thinly sliced


    • 2

      baby bok choy, thinly sliced


    • 1

      handful snow peas, ends trimmed, thinly sliced lengthwise


    • Coarse salt


    • 2 handfuls

      watercress, roughly chopped


    • 1 tablespoon

      toasted sesame oil


    • 1

      lime, halved


    • 1 handful

      mint leaves, roughly chopped


    • 1 bunch

      scallions, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)


    • 1 handful

      peanuts, roughly chopped


    • 1/2

      green jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)


    • Fish sauce for serving (optional)

    Directions
    1. Place the rice noodles in a large bowl and cover with nearly-boiling water. Let them sit until just softened, about 10 minutes. Drain them, cut them up a bit with scissors if they’re very long and set them aside.
    2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet set over high heat. Add the garlic and cook until it’s just fragrant, only about 30 seconds. Add the peppers and cook, stirring a bit, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the bok choy and the snow peas and cook until they begin to soften a bit too, just another minute or 2. Season the vegetables with a large pinch of salt and then stir in the reserved noodles and then fold in the watercress.
    3. Turn off the heat and stir in the toasted sesame oil and another pinch of salt while you’re at it. Squeeze all the juice from the lime over the pad thai and stir to combine. Serve immediately with the herbs, scallions, peanuts and jalapeño. If you’re not totally vegan, serve with a splash of fish sauce too.

    Cleo Brock-Abraham and Julia Turshen are the two best friends behind Weird & Ravenous, a production company that makes fresh content about food and the relationships it inspires. With a careful understanding of the many factors that go into preparing a meaningful meal, Weird & Ravenous is stirring the pot.

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  • Healthy Key Lime Pie Milkshake

    Healthy Key Lime Pie Milkshake

    recipe image

    Healthy Key Lime Pie Milkshake

    • Serves
      2
    Author Notes

    Last week I was delighted to receive an e-mail from Jen at Kelapo Coconuts. She had recently discovered my blog and wanted to know if she could send me some of her organic fair trade coconut oil. Being a huge fan of this trans-fat free oil I quickly replied with a resounding YES PLEASE! In the past I have not only cooked with it, but I also use it as a moisturizer for my skin and a conditioner for my dry chemically treated hair!

    When the box arrived on Monday I immediately knew what my first recipe would be; a healthy, dairy free, key lime pie milkshake! Key lime pie is one of my favourite deserts, however my recent healthy lifestyle change has prevented me from the wonderful bliss of pie. So sad! I decided life was not worth living unless I managed to find a suitable replacement and so this milkshake was born.

    The coconut oil combined with light coconut milk provides a smooth, thick and creamy base for this shake. The lime juice and zest add that wonderful citrus kick while the banana and agave syrup help sweeten it off.

    This shake is also very versatile! You could replace the coconut milk with Greek yogurt and protein powder for a shake full of lactic acid and protein. You could also substitute the graham cracker crumbs for almond butter to make it both vegan and raw! So dust off that blender and say hello to key lime pie 2.0! —munchinmunchkin

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons

      key lime juice


    • 1 teaspoon

      key lime zest


    • 2 tablespoons

      coconut oil


    • 1 cup

      light coconut milk


    • 1

      ripe frozen banana


    • 1 teaspoon

      pure vanilla extract


    • 1 teaspoon

      agave nectar


    • 2 tablespoons

      graham cracker crumbs

    Directions
    1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth
    2. Top with soy or dairy based whip cream, sprinkle with additional graham crackers and garnish with a lime slice.

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  • Saucy Peach Chicken

    Saucy Peach Chicken

    recipe image

    Saucy Peach Chicken

    Photo by sisaaacs1
    • Serves
      4
    Author Notes

    Are you like me in that even though you are an adult, you still go through “phases”? I remember when my kids were young, I would hope that so many behaviors were “just a phase”. Well, now I’m a lot older and I hope a lot wiser, but I still go through phases.


    Thankfully a lot of my phases are centered around my cooking and my eating, so nothing too bad can happen. Unless of course it’s a really fattening phase…


    The phase I seem to be in now is a cooking with fruit phase. I don’t know what it is, and I didn’t even recognize that I was doing it until recently, but every recipe I’m cooking lately has fruit in it. I’ve been using all versions — fresh, frozen, jarred… I’m Stacey and I’m addicted to fruit.


    Also a few months ago, everything I was making was vegan. Now, I’m in a chicken mood. I stopped trying to figure out why these food moods come and go, and I just assume that my body craves what it needs so I just go with it!


    The last recipe I posted was a recipe for orange chicken that used the whole entire orange — rind and all — it’s so good: Orange Peel Chicken.


    Today’s recipe uses fruit in a whole different way. There’s no fresh fruit in this recipe, but there’s a whole jar of amazing peach preserves in it. I got the idea for this saucy peach chicken recipe when I was reading one of my favorite food blogs: Half Baked Harvest. The sauce for this chicken is a fruity combination of the preserves mixed with the healthy equivalent of a Russian dressing. This is awesome and simple and so amazing, you have to try it! —sisaaacs1

    Ingredients

    • 8

      bone-in chicken thighs


    • 1 tablespoon

      coconut oil


    • sea salt and black pepper


    • 1-1/2 cups

      mayonnaise (use a healthy one)


    • 1 cup

      ketchup (use a natural one)


    • 3 teaspoons

      chili powder


    • 1 teaspoon

      turmeric


    • 1 teaspoon

      raw apple cider vinegar


    • 10 ounces

      jar peach preserves (use a natural one)

    Directions
    1. Preheat your oven to 400°F convection setting or 425°F regular bake setting.
      Grease a 9×13 baking dish with coconut oil.
      Season the chicken with salt and pepper and arrange it in a single layer in the baking dish.
      In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients and pour them over the chicken.
      Bake until the chicken is cooked through and starting to get a few brown patches on the top. (Mine took 35 minutes on the convection setting.)
      Enjoy!

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  • Coco-Nola, the Best Granola

    Coco-Nola, the Best Granola

    recipe image

    Alexandra Bornozis|

    Coco-Nola, The Best Granola

    This granola recipe is not only gluten-free, vegan, and incredibly simple to make, but it is absolutely irresistible! The granola crisps up in the oven and the dried pomegranate seeds add a nice tang of flavor. This is the perfect base recipe to experiment with different additions.

    Coco-Nola, the Best Granola

    • 2 1/2 cup rolled oats
    • 1 cup desiccated coconut
    • 2 tablespoon coconut or brown sugar
    • 1 cup chopped nuts*
    • a pinch of salt
    • 1/4 cup coconut oil
    • 1/4 cup creamy almond butter
    • 1/3 cup maple syrup
    • 1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
    • 1/3 cup dairy-free dark chocolate chips
    • 1/3 cup dried pomegranate seeds
    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    2. Mix the rolled oats, desiccated coconut, coconut sugar, salt, pepitas, and nuts together in a large bowl.
    3. In a small bowl, mix the coconut oil, almond butter, and maple syrup until well combined, and then pour over the dry ingredients.
    4. Once both bowls are thoroughly mixed together, spread the rolled oat mixture evenly onto a large baking sheet (making sure not to crowd the granola)
    5. Bake the granola for about 30 minutes, or until the entire mixture has reached a golden-brown color. Mix the oats around every 10 minutes or so to ensure even cooking.
    6. Once the granola reaches the golden-brown color, remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
    7. Once the granola has completely cooled, add in the dairy-free mini chocolate chips and the dried pomegranate seeds.
    8. Serve immediately, or keep in an air-tight container.

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  • Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Almond Pesto & Butter Beans

    Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Almond Pesto & Butter Beans

    recipe image

    Need some new meatless dinner ideas? This vegan recipe for grilled cauliflower steaks with buttery (but butter-free!) butter beans and almond pesto comes together in just 25 minutes but is impressive enough to serve to guests. We’re sorry to ask you to buy 2 heads of cauliflower to make this recipe when you only cut a couple of “steaks” from each, but it guarantees the best results. Just think of it this way: having leftovers gives you an excuse to try one of our many other healthy cauliflower recipes!


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    Ingredients

    • ½ cup almonds

    • 5 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley, divided, plus more for garnish

    • ¼ cup packed fresh basil, plus more for garnish

    • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, plus more for garnish

    • Zest & juice of 1 lemon

    • 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

    • 1 teaspoon salt, divided

    • 2 large heads cauliflower

    • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika

    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

    • 2 medium shallots, minced

    • 1 clove garlic, minced

    • 2 (15 ounce) cans no-salt-added butter beans, rinsed

    • ½ cup water

    • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

    • 2 teaspoons sherry vinegar

    Directions

    1. Preheat grill to medium.

    2. Pulse almonds, 4 tablespoons parsley, basil, chives, lemon zest and juice, 2 tablespoons oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor until chopped.

    3. Place cauliflower heads on a cutting board, stem-side down. Using a large chef’s knife, cut two 1/2-inch-thick slices from the center of each head to make 4 “steaks.” (Reserve the remaining cauliflower for another use.) Brush the steaks with 2 tablespoons oil. Combine paprika, garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture on both sides of the steaks.

    4. Grill the steaks, turning once, until tender and nicely charred, 12 to 14 minutes total.

    5. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and cook until the shallots start to soften, about 1 minute. Add beans, water, pepper and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until hot, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar and the remaining 1 tablespoon parsley.

    6. Serve the cauliflower steaks over the beans, topped with the pesto and more herbs, if desired.

    Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, April 2019

    Nutrition Facts (per serving)

    427 Calories
    27g Fat
    36g Carbs
    14g Protein
    Nutrition Facts
    Servings Per Recipe
    4
    Serving Size
    1 steak, 3/4 cup beans and 2 tablespoons sauce
    Calories
    427
    % Daily Value *
    Total Carbohydrate
    36g
    13%
    Dietary Fiber
    10g
    37%
    Total Sugars
    3g
    Protein
    14g
    28%
    Total Fat
    27g
    34%
    Saturated Fat
    3g
    16%
    Vitamin A
    1288IU
    26%
    Vitamin C
    64mg
    71%
    Folate
    84mcg
    21%
    Sodium
    664mg
    29%
    Calcium
    115mg
    9%
    Iron
    4mg
    24%
    Magnesium
    106mg
    25%
    Potassium
    807mg
    17%

    Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

    * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

    (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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  • Tofu Pesto

    Tofu Pesto

    recipe image

    Emily Jacobs|

    Tofu Pesto

    Even non-vegans will love this tasty tofu recipe, which includes firm silken tofu, Kalamata olives, and garlic. Serve with walnut pesto, asparagus and purple potatoes.
    Recipe courtesy of Makini Howell of www.PlumBistro.com and  “Plum: Gratifying Vegan Dishes”

    • 1/4 cup roughly chopped garlic cloves
    • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
    • 1/4 cup roughly chopped kalamta olives
    • 4 cup firmly packed fresh parsley leaves
    • 1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves
    • 1 cup olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
    • 4 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1 teaspoon cayenne
    • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
    • salt, to taste
    • 1 16-ounce package firm silken tofu, cut into 8 pieces 2-inch pieces
    1. Put the garlic, onion, and olives in the bowl of a
food processor and pulse until finely chopped (it’s important 
to stop before the mixture turns to a smooth puree).
    2. Add
 the parsley and oregano and pulse briefly, 1 to 2 seconds, until the 
herbs are also finely chopped but not pureed. Or, if working by hand,
finely mince the ingredients with a sharp knife and combine
in a small mixing bowl.
    3. Transfer the mixture to a medium 
bowl.
    4. Add the oil, lime juice, vinegar, paprika, sugar, cayenne,
 and red pepper flakes (or more to taste), and stir until the sugar
 dissolves. Season to taste with salt.
    5. Pour 1⁄4 cup of this 
marinade into a shallow, medium baking pan, reserving the rest.



    6. Heat a stovetop or outdoor grill to high heat.



    7. Spray the tofu pieces evenly with cooking spray on both sides.
    8. Grill
them for about 1 to 2 minutes on each side, flipping them with a long 
spatula, until distinct hash marks form.
    9. Transfer them to the baking 
pan, setting them atop the marinade and pouring the reserved marinade
 over.
    10. Cover the pan and refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours (or up to 
overnight for more flavor).




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  • Vegetarian Butternut Squash Chili with Black Beans

    Vegetarian Butternut Squash Chili with Black Beans

    recipe image

    This butternut squash and black bean chili is a satisfying vegetarian meal. Load up bowls of the butternut squash chili and top with Greek yogurt, cilantro and minced red onion. Or skip the yogurt and keep this healthy dinner vegan.


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    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon neutral oil, such as canola or avocado

    • 4 cloves garlic, minced

    • 1 large onion, diced

    • ½ teaspoon salt

    • 2 tablespoons chili powder

    • 1 tablespoon ground cumin

    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

    • ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle chile, or to taste

    • 2 cups no-salt-added vegetable broth

    • 3 cups cubed butternut squash

    • 2 (14 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained

    • 1 (14 ounce) can no-salt-added crushed tomatoes

    • 1 (14 ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes

    • ½ cup Greek yogurt, for serving

    • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, for serving

    • ¼ cup minced red onion, for serving

    Directions

    1. Heat oil in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add garlic, onion and salt; cook, stirring often, until starting to brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Add chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and chipotle and stir to coat. Cook, stirring often, until the spices are fragrant but not scorched.

    2. Add broth and squash; increase heat to high and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the squash is tender, 18 to 20 minutes.

    3. Stir in black beans, crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer, stirring often.

    4. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered and stirring often, until the flavors have melded and the chili is thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Serve the chili topped with a dollop of yogurt and sprinkled with cilantro and red onion, if desired.

    Tips

    To make ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

    Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, August 2019

    Nutrition Facts (per serving)

    246 Calories
    5g Fat
    41g Carbs
    11g Protein
    Nutrition Facts
    Servings Per Recipe
    6
    Serving Size
    1 1/3 cups
    Calories
    246
    % Daily Value *
    Total Carbohydrate
    41g
    15%
    Dietary Fiber
    13g
    45%
    Total Sugars
    8g
    Protein
    11g
    22%
    Total Fat
    5g
    6%
    Saturated Fat
    0g
    2%
    Vitamin A
    7857IU
    157%
    Vitamin C
    22mg
    25%
    Folate
    17mcg
    4%
    Sodium
    396mg
    17%
    Calcium
    128mg
    10%
    Iron
    4mg
    20%
    Magnesium
    91mg
    22%
    Potassium
    580mg
    12%

    Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

    * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

    (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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