Beet and "Gorgonzola" Salad~ Beets always remind of dark burgundy lipstick, the kind worn by old Hollywood sirens.  Add the onions and the cashew Gorgonzola and it is like dressing and jeweling the siren to walk down the red carpet.  My grandmother used to tell me that her mother’s lips and cheeks were always a gentle crimson color (from eating beets) and I have been obsessed with that my whole life and, thus, beets.  As a teen...

Cashew Crumble~ Cashew everything has been all the rage in gluten-free and vegan magazines.  And rightfully so since it is a versatile seed.  Vegan cheese made from cashews is creamy, and has a similar texture to cheese.  But more on vegan cheeses in another post.  I have been using cashew crumb in desserts, like for a filling in a trifle, as breading on top of baked dishes, salads,  and as crumbled cheese, such as a blue chees...

Holiday Bread Pudding ~ I don't make this bread pudding too sweet  although I am a serious sweet monger.  The chocolate chips and raisins give it plenty of sweetness so much so that my husband and toddler love the resemblance of a chocolate chip cookie but in a bread pudding.  It's so difficult passing by the bread pudding sitting on the  kitchen counter without sneaking a bite...or two...or three... For the bread, I always u...

Low-Fat Spicy Hot Chocolate ~ Sweet, warming and less guilt than other hot chocolates.  What could be better than that on a winter chilly day?   Since I am using almond milk, it is lower in fat than regular milk or even soy milk.  I don't always love the taste of stevia so if you want to leave it out altogether just replace it with another teaspoon of agave.   I know, I know.  I always end up drinking all two serving portions s...

A recent clinical trial by the chocolate-maker Mars reports that consumption of cocoa flavanols (antioxidant compounds of dark chocolate) helps older adults with mild cognitive impairment.   This new report shows for the first time that cocoa has a positive effect in cognitive function.  Further research is still needed to expand on this information but given that these trials were done in a short time and already show promising res...

Agave Cranberry Sauce~ Since I have a massive sweet tooth (I know I always say this), I look forward to all things sweet at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Sometimes I just like to pretend it’s a holiday, most everyday in fact, so that I have an excuse to serve dessert.  Unlike Christmas, Thanksgiving became a new holiday for me when I arrived from Peru at the age of eleven. I didn’t quite understand the concept then, although it was...

I can whip up this topping quickly and use it on top of any dish like rice, pasta, steamed veggies, quinoa, etc., and it adds flavor and a bit of spice to what otherwise may turn out to be a borish meal. Serve it with crackers for a tasty snack. Save Print Curry Vegetable Topping Prep time:  5 mins Cook time:  15 mins Total time:  20 mins Serves: 2   Ingredients 1 large onion sliced in m...

Colder days are ahead and I crave hearty sandwiches.  Roasted veggies and creamy anything together, with every bite I am warmed right up.  I only use one slice of bread since this sandwich is very rich and there is no need for the second piece.  Also, you can cut these into pieces and serve them as a side dish with soup or salad.  For the bread I  used sesame Ezekiel, which is not gluten-free but the sprouted ingredients make the b...

Like creamy, warm soups? Who doesn't!  This  healthy and easy recipe was inspired by my good friends P & J who are the most creative vegetarian cooks I know.  And I promise that this soup is all you will need to warm your bones on a chilly night! Save Print The 20 Minute Cream of Garbanzo and Broccoli Soup Prep time:  5 mins Cook time:  15 mins Total time:  20 mins Serves: 3-4   In...

I love saag paneer and tofu is a great substitute for the cheese in this tasty Indian/Pakistani stew.  I have also found a quick way to make this dish so that I can make it anytime I have a craving and I don't have to spend a ton of time slaving over a stove. The quicker the better I say! Vegan Saag Paneer 1 Large sweet or yellow onion diced into medium size 5 cloves of garlic finely diced 2 teaspoons of fresh ginger fin...