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

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

Smoky Split Pea Stew (Cuban Chícharos)

My grandfather was one of eleven brothers and sisters, and my grandmother had six brothers. It was common place for their houses to be filled regularly with aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and every other family member imaginable. This made dinner time quite challenging. Family meals were often scrounged together from limited resources,  and they felt fortunate on the instances when meat was included with … Continue reading Smoky Split Pea Stew (Cuban Chícharos)

QuiCK (Quinoa, Corn, Kale) Protein Muffins

I’m the type of person that eats the same thing for breakfast almost every day without batting an eyelash. Lately, I’ve been thinking about what that really means since breakfast for me typically consists of a 3 egg (2 white 1 whole) omelet with veggies. That’s a lot of eggs per week friends. I am well aware of the terrible things that go into getting … Continue reading QuiCK (Quinoa, Corn, Kale) Protein Muffins

Beefless Tips and Broccoli

Full disclosure: I never tried beef and broccoli for the short period in my young life when I was a meat eater, so I have no idea how close (if at all close) this recipe comes to the real thing. What I do know, is that it is quite delicious and my other half really loves this sauce. It is smoky, slightly sweet with just a … Continue reading Beefless Tips and Broccoli