Hearty Meals for Heavy Times

One of the first items I noticed disappearing from grocery store shelves when this crisis began was beans. Canned beans, dried beans, they were all gone. Seems like everybody got the same memo and decided to buy beans in bulk. That means many of you have tons of beans sitting in your pantry and you’re probably wondering what to do with all of them. Beans … Continue reading Hearty Meals for Heavy Times

Cuban Congri – Rice and Black Beans

This dish goes by a few different names, depending on which part of Cuba your family came from, but in my household we always called it congri. Congri is one of the few Cuban specialties that is traditionally vegan, although some restaurants add pork fat, so always ask and check. This dish, where you cook the beans and the rice together, results in a greyish rice … Continue reading Cuban Congri – Rice and Black Beans

Vegan Chili con Kinda Carne

I woke up this morning and it was snowing unexpectedly, and I immediately thought, I should make chili today. Something about chili makes you feel warm and cozy inside. This recipe packs a lot of heat and smokiness that is sure to do just that thanks to the mixture of herbs and spices. Spices affect your palate and senses differently, that’s why I like to … Continue reading Vegan Chili con Kinda Carne

Black Eyed Peas aka Hoppin’ John

Happy New Year! Celebrating the turning of the page of the calendar fills most of us with hope, ambition and the intangible feeling of what could be. It allows us to dream big and make promises to ourselves and to others without our usual skepticism or cynicism. Oh the possibilities! The truth is every new day is an opportunity to get closer to a goal, make progress towards a dream, … Continue reading Black Eyed Peas aka Hoppin’ John

Smoky Sweet Potato Grits

I didn’t grow up eating grits. Though I grew up in  what could be considered the South geographically speaking, south Florida couldn’t be further from what most people would consider the South culturally. In fact the further north in Florida you go, the closer you get to actually experiencing southern culture, which includes of course, southern cuisine. Occasionally my grandparents ate grits, but I never did as … Continue reading Smoky Sweet Potato Grits

Arroz con Fauxllo (Vegan chicken and yellow rice)

Now that I’ve shown you how to master vegetarian paella, I believe it’s time to introduce you to it’s second cousin, arroz con pollo, or in this case arroz con fauxllo, since I’m going to use a chicken substitute. Whereas paella was usually saved for special occasions, arroz con pollo was a regular staple in my grandparent’s culinary arsenal. They were masters at preparing this … Continue reading Arroz con Fauxllo (Vegan chicken and yellow rice)

Tofu Scramble

As I’ve discussed in prior posts, I have been making a conscious effort as of late to reduce my overall egg consumption. My daily omelet or scrambled eggs ritual is a thing of the past. Subsequently, I have been trying loads of new breakfast recipes in an effort to get the perfect marriage between  tasty, high protein, filling and fast. This quest has of course led me … Continue reading Tofu Scramble

Mexican Style Carne Asada Fake Steak Tacos

Original recipe adapted from Tyler Florence Food Network I attended a very large high school with close to 1,200 kids in my graduating class alone. Lunch time was nothing short of a carnival. Food trucks would line the sidewalks serving varying degrees of what I would call food. Lines were often long and patience was often short. This was way before the recent trend of what we consider the … Continue reading Mexican Style Carne Asada Fake Steak Tacos

Spicy Peanut Sauce Soba Noodles

Original recipe from Will Cook for Friends I couldn’t imagine my life without peanut butter and am thankful to my genetics that I am not allergic in any way. It’s a perfect food. It’s a protein, it’s a little sweet, a little savory. It pairs well with fruits and vegetables alike or any variation of bread or cracker, it’s chocolate’s perfect mate. My love affair … Continue reading Spicy Peanut Sauce Soba Noodles