Who doesn't like lasagna?  I think most everyone I know loves it.  This lasagna is super easy to make, vegan and gluten-free, and as moist as any other except without all the bad cholesterol and heaviness.  And it makes a great leftover.  Enjoy! Spinach Vegan Gluten-Free Lasagna 9 to 12 no-boil uncooked rice lasagna noodles 15 oz package of extra firm tofu washed and dried 2 teaspoons of dried oregano 16 oz package ...

This is a great dish that can be easily made from leftover risotto.  You'll find that risotto turns into a sticky blog the next day, so risotto cakes are a great transformation to an elegantly recycled meal. And, of course, this meal is vegan and gluten-free. Risotto Cakes 4 cups of cooked risotto (cold) olive oil for the pan and extra for drizzle on the cakes 1 teaspoon of Earth Balance spread Work the cold risotto w...

These caramelized apples are light yet sweet and satisfying.  They also make a beautiful, quick and elegant dessert for a dinner party.  Because of their consistency, caramelized apples keep very well in the refrigerator for a few days for snacking or to serve to an unexpected guest. Definitely a healthy treat for both kids and adults. The cardamom and cinnamon in the mix give the caramel complexity and a zingy bite.   I have tried d...

Tahini is not only superb in taste but it is also a high-protein spread that we can use in anything from desserts to dressings.  It's nutty taste mixes well with other ingredients to give a vibrant and complex bite.  When mixed with Miso, an anti carcinogen and also a protein source,  it creates a creamy, deep dressing with oaky undertones.  For this dressing I have used a sweet Miso, Mellow White Miso by Miso Masters.  The ginger ...

Most people I know have had a difficult time getting  restful sleep at one time or another, myself included. Through the years I have tried different things and have narrowed it down to a few simple ways that are the most powerful in getting me at least a few good hours of snooze, which is key for good living.  Even on nights when we get a few good hours of sleep, I venture to say that given our busy and fast-moving lives that most of...

While living in Buenos Aires I was always amazed by the beautiful tarts or "tartas" that you could buy in most restaurants and as quick to go meals on the cheap.  I realized that it was just as quick and as inexpensive to make my own tarte and with a variety of vegetables.  The most popular tartes are made with spinach or collard greens and they are traditionally made with eggs, dairy and breading.  I replaced the last three  ingred...

Most people think of risotto as a special occasion dish because the perception is that it takes a long time to make and a ton of stirring. It takes a bit of time and a little stirring but not as much as we tend to do here in American versus Italy, where it is a popular everyday dish.   I use to slave over risotto as well until I watched my friend's mother who was visiting from Italy make a most effortlessly and delicious risotto. The k...

I know this is a food blog and although my life is made of many parts, they are also symbiotic and do not act separately from one another.  I lost a very important part of my life yesterday and I thought I would share it here with my readers.   But I can promise you that out of my pain always comes something in the kitchen.  Cooking helps me grieve, it helps me to be happy and it helps me to feel alive. Creativity comes in mysterious...

We all have days when the funk is hanging like a heavy cloud over our heads.  The worst part is  that the funk can get into our hearts and souls and drain us of hope, and hope is  key to living as a happy Homo sapiens.  I know  I've had a few funky days here and there and I always have to look back to the Buddhist wisdom that so wisely teaches us that all is temporary, including the funk.  If you think about it, moods, whether goo...

Roasting anything is one of my favorite cooking things to do. So why did I combine tempeh with asparagus in the same dish? The simple answer is that I love both and I often mix them together as a side dish or throw them in salads or over quinoa. I get my veggie from asparagus and my protein from tempeh and I got it mostly covered. Asparagus comes out especially yummy as the roasting brings out the juiciness and flavor, that is as long a...