Meatless Meatballs

An old friend of mine from high school had been a strict vegetarian for seven years when one day someone in her office ordered a meatball sub. According to her, instead of being repulsed by the smell (as was usually the case) the smell drove her so insane with desire that she immediately ordered not one, but two meatball subs AND a chicken parmesan sub to be … Continue reading Meatless Meatballs

Easy Frijoles Negros (Cuban Black Beans)

When I think of black beans I think of my abuelita, slaving over a cazuela all day, stirring and sweating making sure that it was just right. My grandfather would come into the kitchen periodically stick a spoon into the broth and say “a little more salt,” in Spanish of course; then they’d give each other a besito and she’d add the salt and he’d … Continue reading Easy Frijoles Negros (Cuban Black Beans)

American Style Beefless Tacos

Some of you may wonder why I call these American Style tacos. Probably because all your life you thought you were eating authentic Mexican style tacos when you eat the hard-shelled, yellow corn tortilla, ground beef filled type tacos, covered in cheese, salsa, sour cream and lettuce. Well my friends, I’m sorry to tell you that you’ve been misled. Please read this insightful and entertaining article … Continue reading American Style Beefless Tacos

Veggiestrone Soup

Original recipe by Wendy Roupp of Eating Well magazine I found this recipe a few years ago and it has been a lifesaver. To make it my own I’ve added a lot of seasoning and extra beans to make this recipe even more delicious than the original. This soup is extremely satisfying and flavorful. It makes enough to feed an army, so if you don’t have … Continue reading Veggiestrone Soup

Omega 3 Energy Bars

The first question people ask when they find out I’m vegetarian is “Where do you get your protein?” This is an unfortunate side-effect of the meat industry’s effective campaign that has basically brainwashed people into thinking that the only source of protein is meat. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I get plenty of protein from my diet and iron too. The one nutrient … Continue reading Omega 3 Energy Bars

Pot Roast (Kinda Carne con Papa)

Before I became vegetarian, I remember saying I could never be a vegetarian because I couldn’t imagine giving up Carne Con Papa. So deep was my love of this classic Cuban comfort food. Carne Con Papa is akin to American Pot Roast with a few key differences: white wine vs. red, and cumin and oregano vs. rosemary and thyme . Cubans like Americans are very keen on … Continue reading Pot Roast (Kinda Carne con Papa)

Refried Bean Burrito

Original Recipe from Clueless in the Kitchen My other half and I have been together 13+ years. He is not a vegetarian. As you can imagine eating out at a restaurant is usually a compromise; seldom are both of us happy with the menu choices at the same restaurant. For this reason when we find a place we both really like, it is extremely rare. … Continue reading Refried Bean Burrito

Cuban Picadillo

My grandparents emigrated from Cuba in the fall of 1967 and settled in Queens, New York . In no time at all they became loyal fans of their new hometown’s baseball team. The only thing most Cubans love more than their family is baseball, and the only thing my grandparents loved more than that was having something to passionately argue about. It was no surprise to us kids that my … Continue reading Cuban Picadillo