Dinner

This fast & easy easy Italian white bean soup is cozy, comforting & delicious! It is also vegan, oil-free, high in protein, & super frugal. Long before I had any specific thoughts or preferences about beans in general, I loved bean soup. Not just any bean soup, but Campbell’s bean and bacon soup. It was …

A fit and frugal dinner: my easy split pea curry (also known as dal), made in one pot! It is vegan, oil-free, high in protein (17 grams) & gluten-free. I Love Curry (& You Will, Too) Oh, how I love a good curry dish. The fragrance of the spices reminds me of assorted curries made …

Grab the bag of split peas in your pantry and make a batch of baked split pea meatballs! They are vegan, gluten-free, high in protein & fiber, and so tasty, both for meals and snacking! Yellow Split Pea Love The only way I ate split peas for the first two decades of my life was …

Dinner, made simple: thick, spicy, 3-ingredient black bean chili made in under 30 minutes! It is vegan, oil-free, high in protein, and so darn good. Oh, dinner. Haven’t I made you six thousand times in the last two months?  And yet, I can’t quit you. My hunger persists. I propose a compromise: a hearty dish …

Amazing, delicious and ready in 20 minutes: high protein cherry tomato chickpea pasta! It is also vegan, grain-free and made with only 5 ingredients. Umm, can we just call this a skillet full of happiness? Hints of spring (cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley), the midwinter comforts of pasta, and enough nutrients (protein, vitamin C, antioxidants) …

Healthy and easy vegan chickpea pasta e fagioli (Italian pasta and bean soup). Made with chickpea pasta, it is grain-free, gluten-free, and high in protein (16.8 g per 1 and 1/2 cups serving)! This is exactly what your February, post-Superbowl Monday ordered: a quick, hearty, homestyle soup that doubles as a restorative. It’s also: Vegan …

3-ingredient roasted carrot soup (with white beans)! Vegan and grain-free, it is silky smooth, loaded with flavor, fast and simple to make, and a good source of protein, too! The Trifecta: Delicious, Nutritious & Easy If you have a bag of carrots, an onion, and a can of white beans, you have the ingredients to …

Stir-fried steel cut oats with vegetables! Its a fast, easy, gluten-free and vegan meal. Soak the oats ahead and the recipe comes together in minutes. As you may have noticed, I am fond of creating grain-free recipes here at powerhungry. But I still enjoy cooking and eating a variety of whole grains, especially in unprocessed …

Creamy, healthy and vegan spinach artichoke soup, made with pureed white beans. It is naturally gluten-free, high in protein, & low in calories. A Healthy Take on Spinach Artichoke Soup Here we are, a week into the New Year. How’s it going? I hope everyone is getting some much needed, post-holiday rest, and perhaps some …

Healthy stir-fried sesame ginger soba lettuce cups are fast food made extra-easy! Ready in 15 minutes, these noodle & vegetable wraps are both vegan & gluten-free. I love noodles. Always have. Pasta with sauce, noodle soup, and chow mein, I probably owe much of my height to the many bowls I ate throughout my youth.  …

High protein lentil bolognese served with grain-free (chickpea) pasta is a powerhouse supper! It is also vegan, easy, frugal, and boasts almost 20 grams protein per serving. Bolognese made with Lentils It’s pasta time. Hearty, satisfying pasta that tastes like it has been simmering all day. Pasta that makes you feel cozy, even when it …

Cauliflower rice paella! It is fast, easy and delicious, as well as naturally vegan, grain-free, & keto-friendly (with one simple sub). Only 92 calories per satisfying serving, too. Make a Healthy All-Vegetable Paella Traveling home to the San Francisco Bay Area always inspires me with regard to food. Especially when it comes to produce. It …

Versatile vegan oat mushroom ground beef ! It is soy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, high protein, and only 108 calories per 1/4 lb. One batch makes about 3 pounds.  Vegan Ground Beef made with Oats & Mushrooms Happy Meatless Monday, everyone! I’m about to make it happier with a versatile entrée recipe that will make tonight’s dinner …

Easy, DIY, vegan ground beef!  It is easy to prepare, high in protein (12.4 g per 1/4 pound!), and free of grains, gluten, soy and nuts. One batch makes about 3 pounds.  This post began life as a simple idea for a great summer burger recipe. But as I tested and tasted, I soon realized …

Caboodles – steamed cabbage noodles – are easy, frugal, & endlessly versatile vegetable noodles that do not require a spiralizer. They are keto, vegan, low-carb, low-calorie, oil-free and Paleo. Frugal Vegetable Noodles, Made without a Spiralizer Vegetable noodles are a delicious and simple swap for noodles of all kinds, as well as a fun (and …

Lentil & vegetable kefta that are vegan, grain-free and nut-free! High in protein and low in calories (9 grams protein &156 calories per 3 generous kefta), they make a great meal, snack or appetizer. Kefta. You may know all about them.  If not, allow me to make the introduction. Kefta is a popular street food …

Lentil & mushroom meatballs that are vegan and grain-free! High in protein and low in calories (10 grams protein, 149 calories per 4 meatballs), they are also nut-free, very high in fiber, and can be made without oil. Vegan Ground Beef Meatballs Given all of the cookie recipes I post here on Power Hungry, you …

Hearty, high-protein (13 grams), 3-ingredient lentil soup! It is fast, easy & frugal, and also naturally vegan, oil-free, and gluten-free. Simple & Perfect 3-Ingredient Lentil Soup As much as I enjoy cooking, I definitely have nights when I simply want  to eat dinner. A meal made with maximum ease, minimal fuss, and ingredients from the …

Creamy, healthy, vegan broccoli cheese soup–with neither milk nor cheese! Chickpea flour creates the creamy base in this high protein (12.7 g per serving) vegan soup. Super Nutritious Vegan  Broccoli Cheese Soup Broccoli cheese soup. Creamy, homey and satisfying. Perfect end-of-February comfort food. And I have a recipe for it unlike any other. My version …

This roasted tomato chickpea & cauliflower salad is a vibrant, mid- winter side dish, made with minimal (and familiar) ingredients. It is vegan, grain-free & high in protein, too. Lush summer produce is months away, but that doesn’t mean winter vegetables need to be boring. With a bit of ingenuity and (you”ll be happy to …

Say hello to a healthy, satisfying supper (in minutes) with my 3-ingredient vegan tomato soup! It is velvety, cold-weather comfort in a bowl. Simple, Nourishing Tomato Soup with 3 Ingredients Hello, all! I hope this Monday finds you in good form. In case the cold weather–or, perhaps, Super Bowl festivities– has kept you from stalking …

Perhaps the easiest option for Taco Tuesday, ever: my 3-Ingredient vegan enchilada soup, ready in 15 minutes! Serve it plain or add your favorite toppings. It is high-protein, oil-free, grain-free. and only 146 calories per large serving. An Easy Taco Tuesday Option: 3-Ingredient Vegan Enchilada Soup Happy Tuesday, everyone! It’s been a hectic start to …

Savor a hearty, satisfying meal while still kickstarting a healthy New Year with kale potato & white bean soup. It’s packed with classic Tuscan flavors, but also protein, fiber, and nourishment! Healthy Heart Soup for January Resolutions Happy 2019, everyone!!! Regardless of the resolutions you may have set for the year ahead–or whether you have …

So easy, and so good: my vegan sweet potato enchilada bake! Layered with kale, beans, corn and enchilada sauce, it is grain-free, oil-free, and high in plant protein! Healthy Enchilada Casserole made with Sweet Potatoes Tomorrow is New Year’s Day–time for new pursuits and a long list of resolutions! But we all need to fuel …

Grain-free vegan matzo ball soup made with chickpea flour and whole psyllium husks (a unique egg replacer). It is also gluten-free and  100% kosher. Matzo Ball Soup that is Vegan & Grain-Free My college cafeteria gets the credit for my matzo ball soup affection. They offered a great one, rich with fragrant broth, tender vegetables …

Stellar, grain-free lentil loaf made with  ease and humble pantry ingredients. Packed with flavor, it is vegan, gluten-free, high in protein (8.5 grams) and only 150 calories per jumbo slice! A Better, Simpler Lentil Loaf The first time I made a meatless meatloaf of any kind was in my tiny, windowless, graduate school kitchen. It …

Perfect for your next Taco Tuesday, this easy, delicious, vegan lentil taco meat is nutritious, soy-free, grain-free, high in protein (11 g per 3/4 cup!), frugal, easy-to-make, and ready for use in your favorite tacos, burritos, nachos, and taco salads. Vegan Lentil Taco Meat for Taco Tuesday It may be Monday, but I am already …

A hearty, delicious riff on a classic, my Vegan Lentil Cincinnati Chili is made with red lentils in place of the beef. It is easy, healthy, gluten-free, high in protein, and grain-free (if you like), too! A New Take on Cincinnati Chili The first time I stumbled upon Cincinnati Chili was more than 20 years …

California-style skillet supper, made super-simple: vegan avocado chickpea shakshuka! It is egg-free, grain-free, gluten-free, and ready in minutes. A Monday-Friendly Meatless Monday Meal I’m all for Meatless Monday, especially at dinnertime, but I have a caveat: Monday should be given equal consideration with Meatless. Mondays do not need to be capped off with complicated ingredients, …

Your new favorite veggie patties: my Vegan Grain-Free Beet Burgers! They are loaded with nutrition, oil-free, gluten-free, and absolutely scrumptious! It may only be March 2, but I am already dreaming of sunny summer days, lazy afternoons by the pool, and breezy sundresses. Summer weather will likely arrive in my part of Texas in another …

Moroccan Lentils & Roasted Carrots is a healthy, fast, frugal and high-protein meal that is naturally gluten-free, vegan and grain-free! A Fabulous Frugal Meal I’m not afraid of using the F word. It’s sprinkled throughout my blog. When I’m not using it, I’m thinking it. Pretty much all of the time. I’m letting it rip …

Easy, 3-ingredient vegan pesto muffins are the savory breakfast you are craving! Chickpea flour is the not-so-secret ingredient that makes this portable breakfast possible (as well as nutritious). Hallelujah: January is almost over.  January is a fine month in many respects (e.g., clean slate, new possibilities, and, personally, my birthday month), but sheesh, it is a …

If you love falafel, but need a break from the beans, try my easy, keto baked pepita falafel! In addition to being bean-free, they are vegan, grain-free, gluten-free, high in protein and fiber, and ideal for a meal or a snack on the go. Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you enjoyed the holidays and …

My acorn squash sheet pan dinner is a high protein & vegan meal made easy! Acorn squash, mushrooms, peppers and Burmese (chickpea flour) tofu are nestled onto one sheet pan for a  healthy and inspired weeknight meal. High Protein Vegan Sheet Pan Dinner As promised in last Tuesday’s post, I have another simple, delicious, plant-based, …

This eggplant chickpea sheet pan dinner is a Middle-Eastern blend of bold spices and ingredients, including pomegranate seeds, tahini, &  mint. It is vegan, oil-free, high protein and gluten-free. Easy & Amazing Vegan Sheet Pan Dinner Oh, dinner. I love to eat it, but sometimes the thought of figuring out what it will be, shopping …

Dinner just got easier and more beautiful with these vegan supper stuffed sweet potatoes! Filled with with hummus, toasted walnuts, pomegranate seeds, and mint, this easy meal is packed with big flavors, extraordinary nutrition, and supreme satisfaction. In addition to being naturally gluten-free, grain-free and vegan, a simple Paleo option is provided. I won’t beat …

Hearts of palm crab cakes are your new favorite vegan appetizer. Canned hearts of palm, when shredded, have a texture and taste that is remarkably like crabmeat. Making them into crunchy “crab” cakes is the natural next step! Oh, friends…I have a game changer recipe for you today. Crisp, crunchy, succulent crab cakes. Made without …

Jeweled cauliflower rice is a side dish everyone can love! Based on Persian and North African rice & couscous dishes, it is vegan, grain-free, gluten-free & Paleo. A Delicious & Healthy Side-Dish For All Picking sides is inevitable at holiday gatherings. Some choices may lead to joy and cheer; others may bring annoyance, grumpiness and …

Chickpea flour tofu (also known as Burmese tofu or shan tofu) is made with ease and is 100% soy-free. It is high-protein, grain-free, vegan, versatile, and so delicious! The New Tofu: Chickpea Flour Tofu  I thought I was done with tofu. I never liked it as an entrée, and I could always detect the flavor …

Welcome autumn with this delicious, beautiful and easy sweet potato kale chickpea flour frittata . It is vegan, soy-free, and oh so healthy! Only 152 calories per slice, too. A Healthy, Vegan, Make-Ahead Lunch Option Am I the only one who finds lunch a challenge? I am good with breakfast, possibly because I am still …

Parsnip chickpea flour pizza crust is the grain-free recipe you have been looking for! Only 3 ingredients (plus water and salt) it is vegan (egg-free & dairy-free), gluten-free and versatile. Whether you are new to or well-versed in the concept of grain-free pizza crusts, I have an original, vegetable-centric option that I hope will have …

Summer is here, and the options for delicious eating are too many to count! But if you insist on enumerating your options, do consider my vegan eggplant pizza slices! Easy, ready in under 30 minutes, and gobble-up-every-last-bit good, they are exactly what you want for dinner tonight (even if you did not know it until …

The amaranth recipes keep coming, so I hope that you are ready for an especially easy, delicious option: Green Onion Amaranth Fritters. These are so simple to prepare and taste like an expensive tapas, but they are definitely last-minute weeknight fare.

A fresh and very green take on falafel made with frozen peas and fresh herbs! The falafel are baked and are naturally grain-free, vegan, gluten-free, and only 54 calories per big falafel patty.

Healthy, baked mini burgers made from pumpkin, mushrooms and almond flour! They are vegan, grain-free and have only 75 calories apiece

Healthy, individual baked spaghetti, made in a muffin tin! It is vegan, grain-free, oil-free and gluten-free. Made with chickpea flour pasta.

My chickpea flour pasta broccoli frittatas are vegan, grain-free & so delicious! Chickpea flour batter and chickpea pasta make make these mighty muffins possible. They have 136 calories and 7.2 g protein each! Vegan & Grain-Free Pasta Frittatas Every once in awhile, I come up with a recipe that makes me pinch myself. Not because …

Healthy, baked falafel, made Swedish -style with yellow split peas! The patties are vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, high in protein, and only 68 calories each!

So satisfying, and packed with nutrition, my 90-calorie mushroom kale quinoa muffins are perfect portable mini-meals! They are vegan, oil-free, gluten-free, & flourless, too.     Hi everyone! I hope that it’s been a good weekend all around for each of you. I managed to squeeze in a long run on Saturday morning (before it …

My vegan quinoa muffin tin burgers are just what you need for a savory snack, packed lunch, or quick dinner (sliders!). They are oil-free, gluten-free, and only 91 calories each. Summer is coming to a close, and grilling will soon be replaced by stews, soups, and slow-cooker meals. But that doesn’t mean you have to …

Individual, portable, vegan paella baked in muffin tins. They are perfect for snacks or packing for lunches on the go! Only 155 calories each!

Baked Red Lentil Kefta that is vegan and grain-free! Similar to falafel, easy to make, and delicious. Each patty has 4.1 g protein and only 50 calories.

Portable jeweled turmeric brown rice cups, made with ease in a muffin tin! They are vegan, gluten-free, and easy to make–perfect for packed lunches!

Quick and easy mini chickpea flour soda bread with “everything” topping. They are grain-free, vegan, gluten-free, and so delicious! Oh my oh my. You are going to LOVE these: tender, fluffy soda bread minis, made vegan, grain-free and gluten-free. It’s all made possible with chickpea flour, which does the usual job of grain flour, but …

Baked in a muffin tin, this mushroom almond flour bread is 100% scrumptious, as well as vegan, keto, & grain-free. Great for snacks and portable lunches! Vegan Keto Bread Made with Almond Flour Creating grain-free bread is challenging. Creating vegan, grain-free bread ? Without the structure of gluten, grains and the volume and protein structure from …

Scrumptious chickpea flour vegetable frittatas, made with chickpea flour in place of eggs! They are vegan, grain-free, & only 77 calories each. Egg-Free Mini Frittatas for Brunch or Easy Breakfasts Frittatas are perfectly suited for weekends, brunch and guests, so that’s exactly what I whipped up today. These are not Martha Stewart’s frittatas, although I think …

Gluten-free tabbouleh, baked into portable, muffin tin “bites.” They are easy-to-make, vegan, gluten-free and perfect for packed lunches and snacks.

Red beans and rice, made into a portable, healthy snack that is baked in a muffin tin! They are vegan. gluten-free, and easy to make, too.

I have a very special snack to cap off this first month; it took some finagling to get it right, but, oh my stars, the final result is a winner. It’s my hummus and vegetables bites. Forget packing one container of hummus, another of cut-up vegetables. With a few humble ingredients, a muffin tin, and …

A favorite side-dish gets re-invented as portable snack! These broccoli, brown rice and cheese minis are vegan and gluten-free. A chickpea flour batter replace the eggs! Only 80 calories each too.

Chickpea flour tortilla Espanola muffins are perfect for healthy meals and snacks on the go. They are vegan, grain-free & only 105 calories each. Happy Mother’s Day! Confession: I almost took today off from posting. It is partly because it’s Mothers Day, but more to do with the fact that today was day two of tournament baseball …

Easy, brown rice sushi, made in a muffin tin! It is naturally vegan and makes a perfect portable snack or lunch.

Pajeon (Korean vegetable pancakes) made without eggs! Chickpea flour makes these baked pancakes vegan, as well as grain-free and gluten-free. They are healthy, high-protein and portable!

Healthy baked falafel, made in a muffin tin! It is quick and easy to make, as well as naturally vegan and gluten-free.

Tex-Mex black bean frittatas, made with chickpea flour instead of eggs! Vegan, grain-free, and high-protein, they are perfect for lunches and in lunches & high-protein snacking. Vegan Frittatas with Tex-Mex Flavors I am feeling a wee bit like Wile E. Coyote. Super genius. I owe it all to black beans. As well as frozen peppers …

It happens more times than I can count that my new favorite recipes are ones thrown together on the fly with what’s on hand. Add this Winter Tabbouleh to the list. A friend sent a message Thursday night inviting us to come to a “Friendsgiving” get-together on Friday before everyone heads out of town or …

Of all the ways you can make muffins — and, heaven help me, I know firsthand that the ways are many — going savory is among the best. Part of it is probably the unexpected: try a word association game with anyone, mention “muffin!” and the answer (99% of the time) will be “blueberry!” or another sweet variation. …

So satisfying, but still summery: my creamy vegan zucchini potato soup (the potatoes add creaminess, without cream!). The soup is vegan, gluten-free, and made with 5 ingredients! The other day, I mentioned that I am enjoying hot porridge and hot soup for breakfast and lunch, respectively, despite the Texas heat. Afterwards, some of you tweeted …

Chickpea flour zucchini fritters that are healthy, vegan, grain-free, and so delicious! Make them in minutes and vary the flavors to suit your tastes.

I love a hearty salad–beans, grains, lentils, mixed vegetables, whole grain pasta–when it’s a million degrees outside. With a few minutes of effort, I have delicious eats for quick mini-meals or snacks for several days. Even a petite bowl-ful is infinitely more satisfying than a handful of dry crackers or watery “baby” carrots. This beautiful …

Take a gander at this pretty pizza. It has a very special crust that is easy as can be to make comes together with a mere three ingredients. Yes, three  (I am refusing to count the salt, pepper, and smidge of oil used to grease the skillet). Moreover, not one of the three is flour or grains. This is …

Today is the last day of my month of portable power food (I’ll do a round-up of all of the recipes in a separate post), all of which I designed for staying on track through January in particular, but all year round, too. I’ve written only one savory option so far (Paleo Almond Flour Mushroom …

Oh, hi there everyone. Hope your Monday morning is off to a grand start. I know that you have a million things to do this morning, but I just wanted to nag remind you that you still have time to enter my cookbook giveaway! Here’s how: Enter here: Win 1 of 10 Copies of my …

Is lunch a challenging meal for anyone else out there? I can do a great, healthy breakfast before I’m fully conscious–for example, a green smoothie, egg or tofu scramble, or multigrain toast with PB&J or some smashed avocado. But lunch? I’m a mess. Largely because I fail to plan. But also because I forget. Even …

I’m going to bowl you over. With teff. Teff is an itty bitty, teeny tiny grain–considered the world’s smallest grain–that has a nutty, subtly sweet flavor (no bitterness). I am falling for it, hard! I am confident you will too. It’s indigenous to Ethiopia, and, if you’ve eaten at an Ethiopian restaurant, you’ve likely enjoyed …

Curried millet with raw apple relish has bright fresh flavors perfect for year-round meals. It is vegan, gluten-free, and frugal.   Are you vegan? Do you eat dairy? Or eggs? Are you following a Paleo diet? What do you think about eating grains? It’s not surprising that I’ve been getting these questions from readers lately. …

I’ve been in a state of denial about the coming of our Texas summer. It’s been a spring of multiple cold-snaps and intermittent days of cool breezes coupled with sunshine. I was lulled into complacency, even going  so far as to make crock pot meals and stews as late as mid-May (almost unthinkable in years …

I’m unsure of the proper nutrition protocol prior to running, and scrambling over obstacles, in a muddy cow pasture. Heavy on the carbs? A focus on protein? Antioxidants to ward off the scent of dung? Keeping in line with the rest of my lack of preparedness for my first official mud run, I chose to …

Right about this time of year, I crave fresh tomatoes. With a passion. But the tomatoes at the market are still very sad indeed–pink, cottony, and flavorless–and will be for several more months to come. If you are feeling the same way, I have a solution: roast whole canned tomatoes. They can be eaten hot …

“To make a good salad is to be a brilliant diplomatist — the problem is entirely the same in both cases. To know exactly how much oil one must put with one’s vinegar.” — Oscar Wilde Tired of eating the same old chopped romaine with a squirt of low-calorie ranch? Then don’t. It’s time to …

One of the perks of being married to an academic–coupled with living in a college town–is that I can continue to follow an academic calender. At this time of year, that means one thing: Spring Break! I was never very excited about spring break as an undergrad. I wasn’t that kind of co-ed. In fact, …

I have the flu. It’s not pretty. I’m a terrible patient, largely because I am so impatient. Doctors’ orders annoy me, and since I am reluctant to see my general practitioner, the closest doctor is Kevin, so I take my irritation out on him. This particular bout of illness was following my usual cycle; it’s …

Vegan yellow split pea soup is a healthy, protein-packed, and frugal soup that is delicious and satisfying! It can also be made with green split peas or yellow lentils. Yellow Split Peas are Creamy & Mild Yellow split peas. I like them. A lot. Cheap, easy to prepare, creamy, versatile, naturally gluten-free and vegan, and …

                                I know, dear readers, that you likely have a cozy relationship with quinoa. But what’s your status with it’s itty bitty cousin, amaranth? Like quinoa, amaranth is technically a seed, not a grain (specifically classified as a “pseudocerreal”), and …

Are you weary of the same rotation of summer salads? Last night, I realized that I was, most definitely. I love a green, fruit, potato, bulgur or pasta salad as much as the next person, but sometimes I need to step back and rethink my options. Lucky for me, a friend delivered a paper bag stuffed …

Socca (chickpea flour crepe) is the magic recipe you need! Made with 2 ingredients (plus water & salt) it’s grain-free, vegan & gluten-free. Hi, everyone! It’s been a wild and wacky day, so my original posting plans were obliterated by a slew of tiny errands and must-dos. In particular, I spent too much time teaching …

Sesame-ginger edamame carrot salad is a fresh, vibrant and high protein option any time of the year. The salad comes together in little time and can be enjoyed as a side or as the main event. I had every intention of crafting and posting a blog entry yesterday, but I found myself in full-blown grumpy-pants …

As promised, here is the grain salad I mentioned in yesterday’s post: an easy brown rice salad. I love rice salads, in large part thanks to my mother who has several in her repertoire. The cooked grains soak up so much flavor–whatever the dressing you choose, the results will be delicious (for days). It’s a …

Ready for an introduction to your new favorite go-to recipe? Meet koshari. Koshari is to Egyptians what chili is to Americans. Made of lentils, rice, tomato sauce and a kick of spice, it is a fast-food staple offered by street vendors in cities such as Cairo. And what a great fast food: combining lentils with …

I would not have guessed that I would be longing for a bowl of soup today; the temperature has been pushing 90 since the weekend and the humidity has been Texas with a capital T. But the wind was gusting last night, and the windshield sported a few sprinkles as Nick and I drove home …

3-ingredient black bean pumpkin soup is perfect for a quick, nutritious weeknight supper. It is vegan, oil-free, & scrumptious. Graduate school made me a better cook and more firmly directed me on to the road to recipe development. It wasn’t the examination of social theory, the fun-filled evenings in the library stacks, or trudging through …

Last night, I finally got around to using the remainder of sorghum that’s been sitting in my freezer for several months. I’ve used sorghum in place of barley in several soups, but I have yet to make a dish that has the grain as its primary focus. At this point, you may be asking yourself …

Like my recipe today, this post is quick and easy. I spent a few hours this morning finishing up Nick’s Halloween costume. On a scale of 1-10 on craftiness, I am about a 2.5, but I nevertheless found a cute, and (seemingly easy) costume–a crocodile wrestler–that instantly became the object of Nick’s desire. It would …

“Mommy, why are you eating brown noodles and marshmallows?! With LEAVES?!” I insist it is actually Japanese soba and tofu (your cousins Kenji and Hugh love both), bright, earthy kale, chopped and briefly blanched, then stir-fried with sizzling nut-brown garlic and ginger, and a salty-sweet sauce.   My 5-year-old conversation companion has left the room …

I am guilty of overlooking the obvious here at power hungry. For example, dinner. I’ll spend my days dreaming of and testing recipes that I think will be fun and exciting for a new post and forget to post the recipes I turn to time and again for simple suppers (often after a long day …

Cozy up to a bowl of velvety, 3-ingredient carrot & red lentil soup! It is vegan, oil-free, and decadent tasting, but only 108 calories per serving. When the going gets tough, the tough make soup for dinner. It’s been a long week for a variety of reasons, but a definite plus is that the weather …

TGIF, everyone! I hope it is as gorgeous where you are as it is here in Texas. I wasn’t sure if I would have time to post today due to my work schedule (combined with staying up too late last night watching Project Runway). But I am enjoying being back in a regular posting mode, …

Cheap. Easy. Fast. It reads like a less-than-discrete ad on Craig’s List. But it’s meant to describe my take on on a fast-food dinner. From the comments I receive, it’s clear I’m not the only one who loves healthy meals that are quick and easy (perhaps 7+ years of graduate school helped me figure that …

Whether you use quinoa frequently, or have a bag of the stuff gathering dust in your cupboard, then this recipe is for you. Despite the persistently warm (hot!) weather, I have been itching to make some cozy, comfort food to get me in an autumn frame of mind. These peppers came together after a long …

Lemony shredded Brussels sprouts salad will change your ideas about this petite green vegetable forever! Crunchy, fresh, crisp and delicious, the salad is also vegan, keto and paleo. Eating your Brussels sprouts suddenly got very easy. And incredibly delicious. Though the calendar says October, it  still feels like summer here in Texas (possibly winter where …

  A whole grain salad chock full of fruits, vegetables and nuts may not be most people’s first thought when “comfort food” is uttered, but if you’ve grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1970s with parents who love to garden, cook, and shop at the local Co-op, interesting salads are pure …

Aren’t mung beans pretty?   I know you’ve had mung bean sprouts in one form or another (perhaps an Asian stir-fry, Chinese take-out, or a Banh Mi sandwich), but it’s far less likely you’ve tried them whole. I couldn’t resist these jade beauties on one of my visits to Central Foods in Houston–I tend to …

My friend Kristen asked me if I could provide a brief tutorial for how to cut up and use cauliflower. I had made this very salad for her–roasted cauliflower with toasted walnuts–and she said  that, whle she loved it, she was completely intimidated by cooking cauliflower, especially cutting it up into pieces. So here goes (don’t …

Nick and his best buddy Jack had a fun-filled day this past Saturday, beginning with some “tennis” (i.e., whacking balls around the tennis court while Eralda–Jack’s mom, and my lovely friend–and I played ball girls) and ending with the dyeing of eggs back at our house (in actuality, it ended with tears when the two …

We have had some beautiful 80-degree days of late, and while I am loathe to look a gift-horse in the mouth, I’ve nevertheless been longing for more mild weather before plunging headlong into summer. Call me crazy, but summer in March is a bit much. My wish came true. I opened the back door to …

I’ve been eating far too much cake the past week. It’s all in preparation for a new cookbook (!) coming out in the not too distant future. I’ll share more soon. I’ve been giving away as much cake as I can, and limiting my consumption to “test bites,” but in sum, it’s still a lot of …

A bowl full of chickpea flour spinach gnocchi, topped with warm marinara and vegan Parmesan cheese, is sure to be your new favorite Italian supper! The gnocchi are vegan, grain-free, gluten-free, and high in fiber. It’s been cold–COLD–in Texas this February, and no, I don’t mean 50 degrees. I’m talking icy, single digit mornings, and …

Apologies for the short post today. But I am trying to keep to my pledge (to myself and all of you–how I assume a lot about the number of readers I have with my use of “all” :)) to post more often and regularly, even on busy days. Today is one such day. In addition, …

It’s a fresh new year! I hope this finds all of you happy and well! Today’s post is ridiculously easy. I happen to be a big fan of ridiculously easy. I’ve been infatuated with the Green Smoothie Revolution book I bought last fall. I’ve been stuffing spinach into my smoothies since I was in graduate school; slurping …

Happy Friday, everyone! I’m short on words today: my in-laws are en route for a short visit, I have a cook-off in Houston tomorrow, this weekend is Kevin’s birthday, and I am behind in my work. It’s the perfect equation for writer’s block. And grumpiness. And panic. It’s particularly frustrating, as I do have a …

I have come to the conclusion that everyone wants easy recipes for dinner. Come six o’clock on a Tuesday night, even those who proclaim steadfast allegiance to the slow food movement long for a delicious meal made with 4 to 6 familiar ingredients (give or take), even fewer steps (ideally while doing something else at …

It’s been a hectic Friday, one that began at 2 am when Nick screamed “MOMMY!!!” It was indeed an emergency: Ducky (the lovey of his life) was lost. Or more precisely, on the floor. A few more hours of fitful sleep (me, not Nick), then it was off to teach spin class at 6am, followed by …

I’ve been feeling guilty at the end of my yoga sessions of late. I am refreshed and rejuvinated by the final savasana and the caramel alto of my superwoman-of-an-instructor Amy’s voice. But then she asks us to wish for peace and harmony of all living creatures. And there’s the rub–because from late spring to early fall, I …

Every food blog needs an interjection of hilarity from time to time. Mine most often comes from kitchen mishaps: a soup explosion on the ceiling (be careful pureeing those hot soups in the blender!), a gray strawberry cheesecake (thank you aluminum springform pan), or a black bean pound cake (this deserves a post of its …

I know that fall and winter holidays are touted as the ideal time for cooking and entertaining, but the pressure and the presents, not to mention the dark, cold days, make the prospect daunting, the tasks overwhelming. But give me some sunshine, flip-flops and a grill, and I’m ready for a great time, anytime, with …

No once cares what you had for lunch. It’s a handy little book I picked up when I first contemplated writing a blog. Here I am, several hundred posts later, violating that first tenet. And I’m pleased to do it; it was a great lunch. Easy, too. Moreover, I think some of you may care …

Sunday in East Texas was clear and beautiful following a night of showers. Thank heavens. The humidity from the day before had me grumpy and lethargic; my downward dogs were droopy dogs in yoga class. The shift in weather–and Nick sleeping past 7 am, hurrah!–was merely the start of a great day, the highlight being …

For my entire childhood, I had a week’s notice of my dinner fare. Every Saturday morning, my mother plunked a pile of cookbooks and her overstuffed recipe box on the dining room table and mapped out a week of dinner menus before heading to the local co-op. It helped her manage her budget, shopping and …

Split pea & green pea soup is a fresh, bright variation on heavy split pea soup. It is vegan, high in protein, and both easy & frugal to make.  4-Ingredient Split Pea & Green Pea Soup I’m giddy with Olympic fever, and following the visions of snow-capped mountains night after night (oh, Canada…) I’ve had …

Easy vegan TVP meatballs! They are very high in protein (almost 30 grams per serving), simple to make with pantry ingredients and also grain-free and gluten-free. Hooray for fall! After months of blazing heat, suffocating humidity, and malevolent mosquitoes, East Texas is, virtually overnight, a tranquil haven. Praise be! Post-church, Kevin, Nick and I spent …

There comes a time in most every home cook’s life when the thought of setting foot in the kitchen seems abominable. The feeling may strike at any time; it bears no correlation to the home cook’s love or loathing of assembling a meal. It can last a few hours, a few days or several weeks …

Nick loves his new school, so much so that he was reluctant to leave at the end of the first two days. I am so happy he likes it. But to be honest, I am feeling out of sorts. Being Nick’s mommy has been a primary part of my identity for the last three years, …

Native Californians have their share of regional expressions, but in terms of interest, variety, and color, we can’t begin to compete with Southerners. Sadly, years of graduate school have expunged most of the phrases from my husband’s vernacular, but they always return, at least in small measure, when we spend time with my in-laws. I …

Have a mouth as sharp as a dagger, but a heart as soft as tofu–Chinese Proverb.

I’ve been on a vegetarian bent since Sunday, largely because it was my husband’s birthday last week, and that meant several days of Kevin’s favorites: steak, cherry pie, fried chicken, red wine… Yum. It was fun to slip into Southern kitchen queen mode for a spell, especially to celebrate, but I was in dire need …

Friendship Fiesta was an annual event at my elementary school, a weeklong celebration of the diversity of cultures and ethnic groups represented by students, faculty and administrators. We sang songs from Israel, played games from Kenya, made our own Peruvian flutes (I think some toilet paper tubes were involved), danced Russian folk dances, participated in …

A fresh & healthy take on a spring & summer side dish: my roasted potato & asparagus salad ! It is naturally vegan and simple to prepare. I have made a lot of mistakes falling in love, and regretted most of them, but never the potatoes that went with them. –Nora Ephron I have long …

Sometimes a food blogger feels compelled to post a recipe, even if she does not quite know what else to say, besides “ta-da!” I planned the last week of meals carefully; not so tonight. By the time the light had gone, the evening was underway and my supper ideas were scarce. I headed to the …

Easy, delicious, 3-Ingredient tomato lentil soup, with 14.5 g protein & only 135 calories per serving! It is vegan, oil-free, & gluten-free. A Healthy, Humble (Jellybean Detox) Soup Recipe This morning I awoke with a jelly bean hangover. It wasn’t altogether unpleasant. In review, it was more accurately a jellybean and chocolate bunny hangover. Rising …

The making of a good stew depends less on talent and more on will. Specifically, are you willing to let go and create disorder in the kitchen? Take my friend, Katy, for example. Katy is a baking marvel. She is the Muhammad Ali of the convection oven, pitying the fool who dares rival her in …

As it happens, quinoa–a superfood grain, high in protein & nutrients, and tasty, too–is an ideal post-root canal repast.

Even the most avid cook occasionally balks at the prospect of preparing dinner. When this happens to me, I respond by firing up the stovetop for one of my reliable, stress-free standbys, such as my barbecue tofu. Before I get to the sandwich recipe, it’s worth addressing the “why bother with tofu?” question. My answer …

If you can get nothing better out of the world, get a good dinner out of it, at least. –Herman Melville As I mentioned in an earlier post, I spent much of February wandering away from dinner recipes in favor of chocolate, desserts, and other sweet treats thinly veiled in the form of energy bars. …

When I was in graduate school, my California friends and acquaintances back home would invariably ask the same question with every return visit: “Remind me where it is you attend school? It’s one of the I states, isn’t it?” After years of replying “Indiana,” the abbreviated responses remained constant: in summer, “Ooh, Hot!” and in …

Hi everyone! Looking over my posts, I realize that my dinner offerings have been minimal, at best. This post will begin to remedy that. Dinner is a dilemma more often than I (usually) care to admit. When 6 p.m. rolls around, I relish the idea of a cozy cup of tea and a cookie—not a …

  Anyone who tells a lie has not a pure heart, and cannot make a good soup…Ludwig van Beethoven I’m keeping this entry short and sweet (or, more accurately, hot and sour) with a soup recipe; it’s what we had for dinner last night. . My next book (Enlightened Soups) is in process and I’m …

Need a last minute lunch or dinner in minutes? Try my 3-ingredient vegan bean burgers! You most likely have the ingredients–canned beans, rolled oats, and barbecue sauce– in your pantry right now. The upside of going out to lunch with friends is just that: going out to lunch with friends! The time feels even more …

The other day, my friend Lindsey and I had an email conversation in which she posed an innocent inquiry: “What are your favorite salsa recipes?” I was at a momentary loss. Before I go any further, let me explain my geographical location. Two and half years ago, my husband and I moved to Nacogdoches, Texas; …

In the midst of my cold, a friend dropped by with a goodie bag full of some beautiful produce from Central Market in Houston: a hunk of Irish Cheddar, a loaf of crusty bread, and a gorgeous bunch of beets. The cheese and bread require no recipe other than “Rip off hunk of bread. Apply …

With its unapologetic green color and earthy flavor, spinach is not a vegetable about which most people are indifferent. Particularly in the frozen spinach category, too many fall into the “you’ve got to be kidding” category, most likely based on memories of grade school lunches past where the innocent green was boiled to brownish-grey oblivion …

  It’s a cold, rainy day here in East Texas; I couldn’t be happier, because I love being inside and cozy. I wasn’t as thrilled with the forecast when I awoke to my vibrating alarm this morning at 5:20 (I teach a 6 am exercise class Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). But once I got my …

“How luscious lies the pea within the pod.” –Emily Dickinson   I made this soup for lunch today using the second of my three bags of frozen peas. I’ve made the basic soup before, but this is the first time I’ve added tarragon (I have a tiny patch growing beside the remains of a tomato …

I started thinking about the makings for this spicy, North-African-inspired chickpea & quinoa soup while visiting my parents over Christmas. We started talking about Boxing Day on the way home from the airport (on Christmas Day); it brought back a flood of recollections. Here’s why. Along with the trimming of the tree, the four hour-long …

I have not wrapped a single present…have been having too much fun cooking and writing blog entries. Plus, I’m excited about heading home to the bay area tomorrow. In addition to love of family, it is also about love of ingredients that I cannot get here, so it’s off to several haunts in the days …