Tag Archive: Vegan

4 Killer Potato Recipes

It’s no secret that I love potatoes. They aren’t the healthiest vegetable for you by any stretch of the imagination but there’s not much you can’t do with some potatoes, oil, salt and pepper. Besides—they’re gluten-free naturally and less than a dollar a pound so there’s a lot to love.

I make potatoes a lot because they fit in as a side dish with just about anything. It helps that there are so many different ways to cook them. If I’m baking some, I’ll throw a few extra in the oven to dice later and turn into home fries. So that’s why I have enough potato recipes on this website to feed a small army; here are four of my favorites that I end up making again and again:

Vegan-Rosemary-Hasselback-Potatoes-Cooked

Rosemary Hasselback Potatoes are probably the most impressive to look at out of these recipes. They come out as fun to eat as they are to make. Using olive oil as the fat instead of traditional butter makes them healthier and have a lighter flavor while the slits let more of the potato soak up the oil to cook in. 

Perfect-Grilled-Potatoes-Grilling-Rack

Grilled Potatoes are a lot like thick-cut, deep fried potato wedges except without all the added oils, flour, and fat. They have a smoky, charred flavor that you can’t get in the oven or in a frying pan making them all the more irresistible in the Summer time. They also just look darn impressive coming off of the grill.

BalsamicHerbOvenFriesServing

Balsamic Herb Oven Fries are a step up from your regular fries because they already have a sweet tanginess baked into them. I’ve gotten into a habit of buying frozen fancy french fries at the store and popping them into the oven before dinner; fortunately recipes like this remind me it’s cheaper and almost easier to make them yourself.

Vanilla-Rosemary-Potatoes-Final-Product

Vanilla Rosemary Potatoes are great if you want to try something new and a little foreign with the same old ingredients you have at home. The vanilla adds a sweet and savory flavor that’s hard to put you finger on if you don’t know it’s there. This is one potato recipe where it’s better to skip the pepper and just enjoy a touch of salt.

Maple Hazelnut Granola

Maple Hazelnut Granola

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a recipe for granola. That’s mostly because I’ve been reluctant to pay $7 for a bag of gluten-free rolled oats at the grocery store near me. But this week I finally caved in because I’d missed a bowl of hot, soft oatmeal in the morning and chewy, crunchy granola on my yogurt.

I love the subtle flavor of maple syrup; when I sweeten my yogurt I usually choose maple syrup over honey. It’s even better with a little cinnamon and vanilla mixed in to remind you of warm french toast. This granola is great over some maple yogurt but also by the handful.

Maple Hazelnut Granola Sample

This granola isn’t too sweet on its own. If you prefer a sweeter granola, increase the maple syrup to 1/2 cup. You can also add some chocolate chips once the granola has cooled for a fun flavor.

Maple Hazelnut Granola

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients(Makes about 3 1/2 cups):

  • 2 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 2 Tablespoons cooking oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup hazelnuts
  • 1/2 cup raisins

Maple Hazelnut Granola Yield

Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, syrup, oil, vanilla, cinnamon and salt thoroughly.
  3. Lay the oats out on a non-stick baking tray in a thin layer.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the oats are toasted but not burnt.
  5. Remove the granola from the oven and let the oats cool.
  6. Once cool, toss the oats with the hazelnuts and raisins until thoroughly mixed.
  7. Store in an air-tight container at room temperature when not eating.

Maple Hazelnut Granola Serving

Balsamic Herb Oven Fries

Balsamic Herb Oven Fries

When I think about the foods I eat most often, potatoes climb that list far too high. Potatoes are almost always my side dish of choice; there’s just so much you can do with them.

Personally I’m a fan of any potato that’s roasted. These aren’t quite your traditional french fries; they’re more accurately roasted potatoes in your classic french fry shape. The balsamic vinegar and herbs add a unique flavor that puts these a step ahead of any fries you can get at a restaurant.

Balsamic Herb Oven Fries Tray

You don’t need to go very heavy at all on the wet ingredients and they bake off fairly quickly in the oven. If you don’t have herbes de Provence, make a mix of your favorite savory herbs and use that instead.

Balsamic Herb Oven Fries

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 45 minutes

Ingredients(Makes about 4 servings):

  • 1lb Russet potatoes, scrubbed and washed
  • 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon herbes de Provence
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Balsamic Herb Oven Fries Done

Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Slice the potatoes into 1/2-inch thick fries lengthwise.
  3. Toss the fries with the oil, vinegar, herbs and seasonings
  4. Lay the fries out in a single layer on a non-stick baking tray
  5. Roast the fries for 45 minutes to an hour until the ends brown.
  6. Remove the fries from the oven and serve hot.

Balsamic Herb Oven Fries Serving

With some tangy ketchup of course.

Homemade Granola Bites

Homemade Granola Bite

I don’t believe that things always taste better when they’re homemade; there are plenty of things that I’d rather just buy at the grocery store because it’s easier or tastier that way.

These thankfully are one of those things that taste better made yourself and the recipe couldn’t be easier. They’re slightly soft and chewy—a perfect snack in the afternoon or something to nibble on before a workout. And because you make them yourself you can adjust the flavor to be whatever you like. Personally I’m a fan of almond butter and chocolate chips.

Homemade Granola Bite Yield

To make these gluten-free make sure you’re using oats that are certified gluten-free. Make sure to mix the ingredients evenly and well to prevent them from falling apart in the oven.

Homemade Granola Bites

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients(Makes about 14 bites):

  • 1 1/2 cups oats
  • 1/2 cup natural almond or peanut butter
  • 3 Tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips or raisins
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 250.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients until it starts to form a dough. If there isn’t enough moisture to hold the oats together, add almond butter by the tablespoon until there is.
  3. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on a non-stick baking surface.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes until the outsides have browned.
  5. Let the granola bites cool and store them at room temperature for up to 2-3 days.

Homemade Granola Bite Baked

Scrambled Tofu

Scrambled Tofu

This recipe is an oldie but a goodie.

If I had to recommend one dish for someone who wants to eat less animal products it would be scrambled tofu. It looks just like eggs and you can really flavor it however you like. Not to mention it only takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.

I started eating less scrambled eggs and more scrambled tofu after watching Vegucated on Netflix. I won’t go into personal ethics on why I made the switch but it’s a good documentary to watch on Netflix in between marathons of Being Human and United States of Tara.

Scrambled Tofu Yield

You can easily change this recipe to make it more flavorful by adding herbs and sautéed vegetables into the mix. I usually use curry powder to make mine a little spicy.

Scrambled Tofu

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 5 minutes

Ingredients(Makes 2 servings):

  • 1 block extra firm tofu
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Scarmbled Tofu Easy

Method:

  1. In a large bowl, mash the tofu with a fork lightly until it’s textured to resemble scrambled eggs.
  2. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat.
  3. Mix the turmeric, salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder in with the tofu until it’s evenly coated.
  4. Sauté the tofu in the oil until it’s heated through and takes on a vibrant color.
  5. Remove from the pan and serve hot.

Afterwards I put a big pile of ketchup on the side of the plate. What’re eggs and hash browns without ketchup?

Orange Spinach Smoothie

Orange Spinach Smoothie

This is one of those moments where I have to eat my words.

I’m sure if you searched through all my tweets you’d find one about how I’d never, ever eat a smoothie with spinach in it. Well the joke’s on me because I’ve been having one or more of these a day for the past few weeks.

Once you get past the color that makes you think you’re drinking Kermit the Frog, you’d be surprised how good green smoothies can taste. And you know they’re better for you than whatever you can get at an Orange Julius in the mall.

Orange Spinach Smoothie Fruits

If you do add chia seeds or protein powder then I would recommend adding more water so the mixture doesn’t thicken up too much. For an ice-cold smoothie, freeze the banana ahead of time.

Orange Spinach Smoothie

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 0 minutes

Ingredients(Makes 2 cups):

  • 1 banana
  • 1 orange
  • 1/2 cup frozen spinach
  • 1/2 cup water
  • chia seeds(optional)
  • protein powder(optional)

Orange Spinach Smoothie Blender

Method:

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in your blender.
  2. Process until smooth.
  3. Drink immediately while still fresh.

Orange Spinach Smoothie Yield

I promise it tastes better than it looks.

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Smoothie

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Smoothie

Have you entered the Blendtec and Stonyfield Blends giveaway yet? There’s still a few days left!

Having a reliable blender has improved my eating habits in a lot of unexpected ways. I’ve started having more fruit smoothies and vegetable juices throughout the day. A lot of the time I enjoy them so much I forget they’re healthy.

By far my favorite is a chocolate peanut butter smoothie; I don’t think there’s any surprise there. It’s similar to having a Reese’s cup but you can have it everyday and still feel good. How does something like that even exist?

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Smoothie Cocoa

You can use milk, almond milk, or coconut milk in place of the water; however, I think this is deliciously creamy as is on account of the peanut butter. If you ever need to make peanut or almond milk in a jiffy, you can make it by blending ~1 Tablespoon of nut butter with a cup of water.

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Smoothie

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 0 minutes

Ingredients(Makes 1 serving):

  • 1 banana, chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
  • 2 heaping Tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1 Tablespoon honey(optional)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2/3 cup ice
  • 1 scoop protein powder(optional)

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Smoothie Ingredients

Method:

  1. Combine all of the ingredients in a blender.
  2. Blend until smooth and creamy.
  3. Pour and serve cold.

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Smoothie Yield

Simple and delicious.

Coconut Pistachio Bark

Coconut Pistachio Bark Pieces

I know Christmas was almost a month ago but bear with me for one more Christmas recipe. It’s easy to find delicious red food but green? Not so much. Unless you want to sneak spinach, kale, or peppers into a dessert, it’s hard to get the red and green theme naturally.

This bark looks like Christmas. The coconut seems like snow on the ground while the green and red toppings make it fun and festive. And it’s as fun to eat as it is to look at. The meaty pistachios and coconut match up against the tart craisins and bitter chocolate.

Coconut Pistachio Bark Overhead

This bark shouldn’t last long, but if you happen to have leftovers make sure to keep them in the refrigerator to keep the chocolate solid.

Coconut Pistachio Bark

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Ingredients(Makes about 16 servings):

  • 8.5oz dark chocolate OR 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • 3 Tablespoons dried cranberries
  • 3 Tablespoons pistachios

Coconut Pistachio Bark Unbroken

Method:

  1. Melt the chocolate in a microwave or over a double boiler.
  2. Spread the melted chocolate out on a sheet of wax paper or other non-stick surface.
  3. Sprinkle the coconut, cranberries and pistachios out along the surface of the chocolate.
  4. Gently press the toppings into the bark to make sure they stick to the chocolate.
  5. Refrigerate the chocolate for 20-30 minutes until it has set.
  6. Remove the bark from the wax paper and break it apart into 16-20 uneven pieces.

Organic Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade

Organic Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade

A new year brings new changes, right? I’m hoping in 2013 to share more drink recipes as I get comfortable trying to make them myself. When it comes to alcohol I’m not a big fan of gluten-free beer, cider, or wine, but I love hard liquor and mixed drinks which are just as fun to drink as they are to make.

One of the first mixed drinks I ordered was a sweet tea vodka lemonade. My roommate being from Texas always orders these and turned me on to them. They get a name for being a Summer drink given the flavors but these are delicious any time of the year.

Organic Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade Serving

I like to make the tea in advanced and refrigerate it for a day to get it extra cold. You can buy the lemonade or sweet tea on their own but the drink tastes noticeably fresher when you make it from scratch.

Organic Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade

Prep time: 1 hour

Cook time: 0 minutes

Ingredients(Make about 4 cups or 12 servings):

  • 4 black tea bags
  • 3 1/2 cups water, separated
  • 1/2-3/4 cup agave or maple syrup
  • 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • Vodka
  • Mint and lemon to garnish

Organic Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade Iced Tea

Method:

  1. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small pot.
  2. Remove the water from the heat and add in the tea bags. Let them steep for about 30 minutes up to an hour.
  3. Remove the tea bags and add in 1/2 cup of sweetener and the lemon juice. Stir well.
  4. Dilute the tea with 1 1/2 cups cold water. Add extra sweetener to your preferred sweetness.
  5. Pour about 1/3 cup sweet tea lemonade over ice. Add an ounce of vodka into each glass and stir well.
  6. Garnish with mint or an extra lemon slice before serving if desired.

Organic Sweet Tea Vodka Lemonade 2

Vegan Rosemary Hasselback Potatoes

Vegan Rosemary Hasselback Potatoes

Potatoes are one of my favorite foods. You can mash them, hash them, fry them, roast them—cook them just about any way imaginable(you can also distill them and make vodka but that’s a whole different blog post entirely). And they’re so healthy, too. It’s funny how many times I get asked if I can eat potatoes and if they’re gluten-free; they’re probably one of the foods I eat the most.

Hasselback style is just one more ingenious way to enjoy potatoes. Slicing them creates more surface area for the fat to coat the potatoes and cook in, adding tons of flavor. It also gives the potatoes a nice presentation that’s sure to brighten up a meal.

Vegan Rosemary Hasselback Potatoes Cooked

You can use any oil or solid fat in making these. Truffle oil would be a great way to add an expensive flavor. If you want to use butter or a butter substitute, melt it first before mixing it with the salt and rosemary and pouring it onto the potatoes.

Vegan Rosemary Hasselback Potatoes

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour

Ingredients(Makes 4 servings):

  • 4 medium-sized russet potatoes
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 Tablespoon dried rosemary

Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Slice each potato about 1/4-inch apart most of the way through without cutting through the entire potato.
  3. Place the potatoes on a baking tray.
  4. In a small bowl, quickly whisk together the olive oil, salt, and rosemary.
  5. Drizzle the infused oil over each potato, letting the oil drip into the slices.
  6. Bake for 60-70 minutes until the potato is cooked through and the edges are crispy.
  7. Serve hot.

Vegan Rosemary Hasselback Potatoes Serving

Enjoy!