Photo source: wikimedia commons For as long as I can remember green beans have been a staple at our family dinner table--and a must for most holiday meals. My family's southern style green beans were swimming in a brine of fat back, lard or smoked neck bones and usually cooked to death. My childhood [...]
If you’re looking for a meatless meal that satisfies vegans and non-vegans alike, look no further. A steaming platter of herb roasted vegetables--featuring a variety of flavors and textures--is sure to be a hit with family and friends. It's simple to make and you can vary the ingredients based upon seasonal availability or which vegetables you have [...]
Vegan Veggie Delight: Warm Asparagus Spears with Pine Nuts When I was growing up, the only asparagus I ever remember eating came from a can. Those soft, soggy, pale green spears were clearly not one of my favorite foods, but I was usually chided to "eat your vegetables" so I valiantly struggled to swallow [...]
Do you like portabella mushrooms? I certainly do. In fact, I absolutely adore them. And I eat them a dozen different ways. I can always count on portabella mushrooms to elevate the taste and texture of most of my dishes to another level. In my kitchen you'll find them added to soups, stews, steamed or stir [...]
Traveling While Vegan on a Cruise Ship? No Problem! When the temperature drops in our neck of the woods, we love to sneak away to warmer climes as often as possible. And when we booked our latest trip to the Bahamas on Norwegian cruise lines, the question of what will I find to eat [...]
And the Winner of the Urban Naturale Crock-Pot Slow Cooker Giveaway is...Photo source: Amazon.com screen shot This month, one lucky reader has won a Crock-Pot Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker from UrbanNaturale.com's FREE Giveaway! I am thrilled to announce that the winner is: D. Cosmo This lucky giveaway winner has been notified and the [...]
Book Love: The Vegan Slow Cooker: Simply Set It and Go with 150 Recipes Plus FREE Crockpot Giveaway When the weather gets nippy in my neck of the woods, for me there's nothing better than coming home and finding a hot, hearty vegan soup or stew ready and waiting. All I have to do [...]
Each year when fall rolls around, I mysteriously develop a particular passion for pumpkin recipes. From pumpkin seed milk to roasted pumpkin, pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie to pumpkin pudding, pumpkin granola and pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin is quite likely to be on the menu in some way, shape or form--whether raw, steamed, baked, sauteed or pureed. Sure, jack-o-lanterns [...]
This time of the year, my local farmer's market feels like pumpkin heaven. Pumpkins of all colors, shapes and sizes dot the market everywhere I look. So of course I have to lug one or two home with me to make some pumkin seed milk and other goodies! On your next trip to the farmer's market, [...]
It's officially fall. The air is crisp. The foliage is changing to orange, yellow and red. Bright, round pumpkins abound--and apples are everywhere! It's the most colorful time of the year. But that's not all... What I love best about fall is the food! I've fallen in love with so many of the delicious culinary creations [...]
Now you can avoid carrageenan and make your own organic hemp milk. For many years, I have replaced cow's milk with nondairy, plant-based milks. Of course, I am not alone. There are growing concerns about the benefits and safety of cow's milk, and many people are looking for alternatives. Also, lactose intolerance and allergies [...]
Don't believe the hype! Just because the processed additive in your ice cream sundae or hemp milk is derived from an innocent-sounding seaweed, doesn't mean that it is healthy or harmless. Carrageenan is a common food additive has been used as a thickener and emulsifier to improve the texture of a wide variety of processed foods. In short, it helps products [...]
Until recently, I used to dismiss this humble vegetable as way too bland for my palate, but I have finally learned to appreciate cauliflower. And I'm so glad I did. Lately, I've been pretty busy catching up on many of the wonderful cauliflower dishes I've been missing. Just this week, I bought several fresh, firm heads [...]
It's fall at the farmer's market. Time to fall in love with eggplant again. Eggplants are at their best from August through October when they are in season. Different varieties of eggplant vary slightly in appearance, taste and texture, but most eggplant boast a pleasantly bitter taste and spongy texture. For centuries, eggplants have been a dietary [...]
Why an Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away: 20 Great Reasons to Love Them It's apple-picking time in my neck of the woods! And hopefully yours too! Well, not exactly in my city, but a relatively short day trip will land us in a nearby "upstate" apple orchard. And what a fun time [...]
