December 26, 2020
Have you decided to go plant-based for the month of January, but don't know where to start? Knowing what to eat can be the hardest part of a new diet, but it can also be the most exciting part! If you approach it as an adventure, going vegan for a month (or longer) can be a great opportunity to try new foods you never knew you would love so much.
December 09, 2020
I called this chocolate-açaí smoothie a pudding smoothie, because that's what it tastes like. More accurately, it tastes like something of a cross between pudding and chocolate-raspberry cheesecake. Either way, it's absolutely delicious. I'm happy to use this to replace dessert, without feeling like I'm missing anything at all.
The flavors in this smoothie are so nicely balanced, as the cacao brings out the açaí's flavor, and the bananas and yogurt add creaminess. It's a little bit of an indulgence, but as indulgences go, this one's relatively healthy!
December 09, 2020
Pineapple and ginger are a refreshing combination known for their healing properties. Pineapple contains a group of enzymes known as bromelain, which assist in digestion and help reduce inflammation (which can show up in a variety of conditions, from the common cold to arthritis). It's also a good source of vitamin C. Ginger has its own anti-inflammatory substances called gingerols, which are also helpful for arthritis. And it's known to reduce nausea and improve gastrointestinal health. Açaí is thought to have its own health benefits, but there's not enough research yet to make any conclusions.
Either way, this smoothie is a light and refreshing, but flavorful drink. If you've never had fresh ginger in a smoothie before, be warned: it has a little bit of a bite. You might want to reduce the amount of ginger until you get accustomed to the taste. Or, if you really don't like it, you can leave it out entirely!
December 09, 2020
I was first introduced to açaí berries in 2011, when I visited Rio de Janeiro. It was a hot day on the beach in Ipanema, and my Brazilian friend led me to the vendor selling açaí cups along the beach walkway. She said most Americans don't like açaí, but I loved it. Later, it became more popular in the United States and now I can easily buy frozen acai packets at my local grocery store.
While acai bowls and cups are the "normal" way of consuming acai, I really like acai in smoothies as well. I've experimented a lot, and one of my favorite smoothies is "PB & Açaí", with, you guessed it, peanut butter. I also used homemade cashew milk in this recipe to make it even creamier, and frozen strawberries to balance the mellow flavor of the peanut butter.
December 09, 2020
This strawberry-açaí smoothie is my perfect summer smoothie recipe! It's light and refreshing, and oh-so-delicious. Strawberries and açaí create a classic flavor combination that's tart but sweet.
If you're unfamiliar with açaí (pronounced ah-sigh-EE), it's a fruit that grows in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. Brazilians have been enjoying it in cups and bowls for a long time, but it only recently became more popular in the United States. Because the fruit doesn't last very long, the best way to get it here is either in frozen or powdered form.
December 09, 2020
I had my first taste of açaí in 2011 at a beachside stand in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was a simple cup of frozen tart fruit topped with granola and banana slices. Since that time, I'm happy to report that açaí has become more widely available in the United States, from juices to powders to frozen packets. Unfortunately, the fruit spoils too quickly to be transported here fresh.
Açaí bowls are the most common way to enjoy this exotic fruit, but I've come to love acaiaçaí smoothies just as much. It's a really versatile flavor that makes great combinations with other fruits, and even chocolate and peanut butter. I've decided to share my four favorite açaí smoothie recipes with you so you can enjoy this fruit just as much as I do!
November 12, 2020
Toss out that store-bought frozen vegan lasagna. Scrap all the other vegan lasagna recipes you've tried. Yes, this vegan lasagna recipe is that good.
Before we get to the recipe, I need to mention that the flavor of a good lasagna is highly dependent on the sauce you use. So if you don't make your own, I strongly recommend that you use a high-quality sauce, like Rao's or the Silver Palate. (Although these brands are pretty expensive, I can often find one or the other on sale at Whole Foods, and I stock up when I see them).
November 09, 2020
Sometimes, I create a recipe, and even I can't believe how amazing it turned out. This frosting is one of those recipes.
As I've mentioned in previous recipes, I used to have a cupcake business many years ago. I've been (slowly) working on creating vegan versions of my old recipes. When I created my vegan carrot cake recipe, I wondered how I was going to recreate a cream cheese frosting to go with it. I wanted to avoid using store-bought non-dairy cream cheese because they vary so widely in their taste and ingredients.
October 27, 2020
Some of my favorite childhood Christmas memories are of the holiday cookies. Each member of my dad's side of the family would make one or two types of cookies each year and bring them to my grandmother's house. In the basement were two long folding tables with endless tins of cookies of all types. After dinner, my grandmother would let us go downstairs and pick whatever Christmas cookies we wanted.
We also got to participate in making some of the cookies. As children, that usually meant roll-out sugar cookies that we got to decorate.
October 22, 2020
French toast is another one of my Sunday morning brunch favorites. It's pancakes' quicker and easier cousin. But both are equally delicious! It's also a traditional Christmas morning breakfast in the United States.
When I set out to make this vegan French toast recipe, it was important to me to get both the flavor and the texture right. That means I needed a little bit of a savory egg-like flavor, a touch of cinnamon, a firm toasted exterior, and a soft, chewy center. The nutritional yeast in this recipe helps to create the savory flavor, while a flax egg and aquafaba create the perfect texture. (Aquafaba is the liquid from a can of garbanzo beans.)
