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6 Indulgent Vegan Comfort Food Recipes

August 4, 2015 by

You’re dedicated to your vegan lifestyle, but it can be hard to watch people around you indulging in comfort foods and not feel a bit jealous from time to time. These simple recipes will show you how to make gooey, crusty, and even downright hearty dishes that are all completely vegan.

Simple Vegan Tofu Lasagna [Whole Foods]
Versatile tofu miraculously transforms into ground “beef” in this classic dinner staple that’s covered in melted vegan cheese.

Baked Eggplant with Nutty Bulgur Stuffing [Whole Foods]
In this vegan dish that’s similar to stuffed peppers, baked eggplant is topped with a bulgur and nut blend that’s rich and flavorful.

BBQ Peanut Veggie Burgers [Lunch Box Bunch]
A burger is the ultimate comfort food, and this recipe adds a zesty barbecue peanut sauce for a unique flavor.

Black Beans with Mexican Beer [Chow]
This recipe cooks tasty black beans in beer to create one of the most indulgent comfort food dishes you could imagine—and it's entirely vegan.

Father’s Day Breakfast Casserole [PETA]
Though it was originally created for Father’s Day, this recipe is good any day of the year. It combines a vegan egg mixture with mock sausage and potatoes to create a truly hearty breakfast casserole.

Vegetable-Barley Pot Pies [PETA]
Try this vegan take on chicken pot pie that's just like Mom used to make.

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Rethink Pie Crust in These Savory Recipes

June 2, 2015 by

While pie has a seemingly endless number of different variations, the savory pie is often overlooked. For those whose taste buds skew toward the savory, there are a lot of reasons to love these savory pie recipes.

Lucinda’s Spinach and Ham Pie [marthastewart.com]
Equal parts salty and flaky, this Italian-style pie is everything that a savory pie should be. Eat it for breakfast, with a salad as a light lunch, or even as a dinnertime side dish—the possibilities are endless with such a uniquely versatile dish.

Mushroom Pie [allrecipes.com]
Mushroom lovers will simply adore this dense, flavorful pie that is filled with fresh mushrooms. Swiss cheese and heavy cream give it a deliciously rich taste, while bacon acts as a surprise ingredient to offset the earthy taste of the mushrooms.

Leek and Bacon Pie [huffingtonpost.com]
Although this dish technically looks like a pie, it doesn’t have the usual pastry crust. Instead, a savory custard layer acts as the base for all of the delicious bacon and leeks inside, and a crumbly top gives it just the right amount of extra crunch. It may seem complicated, but this pie includes only seven ingredients and takes just 45 minutes in the oven.

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Try These Tasty Alternatives to Cow’s Milk

February 3, 2015 by

There are a number of reasons to give up regular dairy milk, from food allergies to personal diet choices. If you’ve decided to take the plunge into dairy-free milk substitutes, these simple and tasty alternatives to cow’s milk will make the transition easy.

  1. Soy milk. This is one of the most popular milk alternatives, and it’s been around for quite some time. Soy milk is made with filtered water, whole soy beans, and thickeners that give it the same thick, creamy consistency as regular milk, and they also make it easy to bake with. Most brands of soy milk even contain the same amount of protein, Vitamin D, and calcium as cow’s milk.
  2. Almond milk. If you want to cut out milk in order to reduce your calorie intake, almond milk is a great alternative choice. This nutty mix of filtered water and ground almonds has only around 60 calories per cup, but it offers the same thickness and consistency as dairy milk.
  3. Rice milk. Rice milk has a more neutral flavor than many other milk substitutes, and it’s a bit thinner. However, it contains the same amount of calcium and Vitamin D as cow’s milk, and it offers a light, sweet flavor that’s mild and pleasant.

Meet the Milk Substitutes [Cooking Light]
Non-Dairy Alternatives to Cow’s Milk [SparkPeople]
5 Delicious Milk Substitutes [FitSugar]

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3 Quick and Healthy Pasta Recipes to Serve Tonight

December 2, 2014 by

Pasta is a comfort food that’s perfect for just about any occasion, but it is often packed full of calories and carbohydrates. If you’re on a diet but still crave spaghetti, lasagna, rice noodles, or any number of other delicious pastas, you might just love these quick and easy pasta recipes:

Mediterranean Pork Penne
This is certainly not your mama’s pasta dish, but it’s a welcome, unique addition to your usual pasta recipes. Using whole-wheat penne makes it a bit healthier, while stir-fry pork strips add a ton of beneficial protein to this complex and well-seasoned dish.

Bowtie Pasta With Chicken, Broccoli and Feta
Even children will love this simple, cheesy pasta dinner, and it’s a great way to get picky eaters to get a full serving of vegetables. Grilled chicken is a lean source of protein, and a full serving will leaving you feeling full without ruining your healthy diet.

Pasta Primavera
This Italian cuisine classic is jam packed with a variety of nutritious vegetables, and it takes just 20 minutes to prepare. Whole-wheat spaghetti and low-sodium tomatoes make this recipe an even healthier take on the beloved original. At just over 300 calories, this is a pasta dish that won’t make you feel guilty about indulging.

For more healthy, nutritious pasta recipes, visit the NIH website here.

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Sample These Acorn Squash Recipes This Fall

October 7, 2014 by

Acorn squash is a type of winter squash with a unique dark green rind, longitudinal ridges and a yellowish-orange inside that tastes sweet and mild. This squash is so versatile that even the most novice home chef can easily prepare it in a variety of different ways. Here are just three ways to try your hand at serving acorn squash this fall.

Baked Acorn Squash [allrecipes.com]
To really get a good idea of how acorn squash tastes, you should first prepare it all by itself. This simple recipe involves baking a halved acorn squash with just a bit of butter and brown sugar to create a healthy side dish or even a unique dessert.

Acorn Squash Soup with Kale [marthastewart.com]
With a hearty texture and autumnal flavors, this soup is perfect for those chilly fall evenings. Pureeing the acorn squash is one of the best ways to prepare it for use in a soup, while adding crispy bacon and finely chopped kale adds a darker, smokier flavor that contrasts the sweetness of the squash.

Spinach and Acorn Squash Ravioli [myrecipes.com]
Acorn squash makes a wonderful filling for pasta, and in this creative recipe it’s blended with creamy ricotta cheese and chopped spinach for added flavor. Plus, using wonton wrappers instead of the usual pasta dough saves on calories, and it’s much easier than rolling out that dough by hand.

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In a Pinch? Memorize These Common Cooking Substitutes

September 3, 2014 by

If you want to try out a new recipe but you don’t have time to run out to the grocery store, don’t sweat it. These helpful ingredient substitutions will show you how to use an item that you have on hand in place of one that you don’t, and they just may save your entire dish.

  1. Beef or Chicken Broth. Though it is easier to use a pre-packaged broth, there are ways around it. Simply mix one bullion cube with one cup of boiling water to create a simple broth, or blend one tablespoon of soy sauce with enough water to equal one cup.
  2. Brown Sugar. For sweeter dishes, substitute one cup of white sugar plus 1/4 cup of molasses in place of one cup of standard brown sugar, but be sure to decrease the liquid in the rest of the recipe by 1/4 up. 1 1/4 cup of confectioner’s sugar will also work.
  3. Buttermilk. Instead of less-common buttermilk, mix one tablespoon of vinegar with enough regular milk to equal one cup.
  4. Honey. 1 1/4 cup of white sugar plus 1/3 cup of water is an equal substitution for one cup of regular honey. You can also use one cup of corn syrup.

Common Ingredients Substitutions [All Recipes]
Cooking: Ingredient Substitutions [UNL Food]
Baking Ingredient Substitution Table [Joy of Baking]

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Deliciously Unique Uses for Fresh Parsley

July 8, 2014 by

Fresh parsley is a very versatile herb, and it’s also one of the most common in any at-home herb garden. If you love the bright, fresh taste of parsley but you’re growing tired of your usual recipes, all it takes is a bit of inspiration to come up with brand new dishes. Here are three unique uses for parsley.

Parsley Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce
Instead of the traditional Italian ravioli, why not spice things up with the decadent flavors of brown butter, ricotta cheese, and parsley. These homemade raviolis are made using won ton wrappers instead of pasta, and the robust taste of flat-leaf parsley really shines against the creamy flavor of the brown butter sauce.

Cucumber, Onion and Parsley Salad with Feta Cheese
This fast and easy salad is perfect for a quick lunch at home. The cucumber and onion make a crisp, crunchy base, while the lemon juice and olive oil blend to create a healthy dressing. Sprinkle some fresh parsley and crumbled feta cheese across the top before serving.

Chimichurri
This Argentinean sauce is similar to traditional pesto, but the addition of chili pepper gives it a bit of added spice. Fresh parsley, oregano, garlic, and olive oil create a lovely deep green color throughout the oil-based sauce. Argentineans use chimichurri as everything from a steak marinade to a pasta sauce.

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Greet a Snack Attack With These 5 Creative Popcorn Recipes

June 3, 2014 by

The typical movie theater buttered popcorn is delicious, but sometimes you just want a little something extra from your popcorn. These creative recipes will show you a variety of surprising toppings to spice up your snack, from sweet to savory and every flavor in between.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Popcorn [Swanky]
It may seem strange, but the sweet flavors from everyone’s favorite childhood lunch sandwich work just as well as a topping on your evening snack. Peanut butter and jelly popcorn takes only a few simple ingredients, and it even uses white chocolate for an extra boost of sweetness.

Nutted Popcorn [Real Simple]
Popcorn and nuts are both popular snacks, and this fun recipe combines the two into one filling bowl. Pecans, almonds, and pumpkin seeds stick to each popcorn kernel with a light, cinnamon flavored syrup, much like the kettle corn at county fairs and baseball games.

Samoa Popcorn [Babble]
Achieve the taste of the beloved Girl Scout cookie by drizzling toasted coconut, caramel, and chocolate over your salted popcorn.

Spicy Nutella Popcorn [Healthy Jalapeno]
Nutella is everyone’s favorite sweet spread, and adding spicy ancho chile powder takes this popcorn from a common snack to a gourmet treat.

Bacon and Cheese Popcorn [Popcorn.org]
Bacon is an increasingly popular addition to many dishes, and it works just as well on popcorn. In just five minutes and with a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy this bacon and cheese popcorn snack.

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Where to Find Online Pancake Recipes for All Occasions

April 1, 2014 by

Pancakes are a breakfast favorite for weekend mornings and other special occasions. The classic buttermilk pancake with butter and maple syrup is always a delicious treat, but there are a wide variety of other ways to make pancakes as well. Find some inspiration for your next pancake breakfast from these recipe websites.

All Recipes
The popular online recipe resource All Recipes offers a variety of unique, creative pancake recipes. Sunday Morning Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes are a delicious dish for a formal brunch with the family, while Chunky Monkey Pancakes with chocolate and bananas make a special treat for kids’ birthday breakfasts. If you want to improve your regular pancake recipe, All Recipes has a few tips and tricks for that as well.

Food Network
Learn to make fluffy, buttery pancakes from your favorite cooking show hosts! The Food Network’s website teaches you to make classics like potato pancakes, homemade “instant” pancake mix, and blueberry buttermilk pancakes, as well as more unique styles like the Tri-Berry Oven Pancakes or Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes. No matter your tastes, you can even search the Food Network website by ingredient to find the perfect pancakes for your family.

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