This is an easy, delicious and flavorful snack or hors d’oeuvre. Find the Egyptian spice blend Dukkah at specialty or ethnic food market or if you’re the ambitious type you can make your own. Instructions: Thinly slice a bunch of radishes, top with a sliver of Miyoko’s Vegan Butter, a bit of Kosher or sea salt, and a sprinkle of Dukkah. Enjoy! xJacq
This is my favorite thing to make when people come over to watch football so I wanted to share it in time for the big game! Everyone loves these nachos and people always ask for the recipe. They are fresh, flavorful and satisfying without being too heavy or greasy. They’re packed with veggies and other wholesome ingredients so they’re super healthy, but still rich and filling. I make a couple of plates of these, one of my big party platters, and big bowls of popcorn sprinkled with truffle oil, sea salt, black pepper and nutritional yeast. This simple menu keeps everyone happy and since you can make most of it ahead of time, you won’t have to spend the whole game in the kitchen. Enjoy! xJacq Ingredients: Serves approx. 6 Cheese Sauce: 1 Sweet Potato 1/4 cup Raw Cashews, soaked 2-4 hrs and rinsed 1 1/4 cup Hot Water 2 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast 2 Tbsp Tapioca Flour 1 1/2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar 1 tsp Dijon Mustard 1 Garlic clove 3/4 tsp Kosher Salt 1-2 tsp …
I read an article recently that said young people are not hosting as many get togethers nowadays in part because they are intimidated by the trend of gourmet cooking. It made me want to put together a post to show how easy it can be to put together a beautiful spread for a party in less than an hour with no cooking involved! I really think there is nothing better than getting together with friends and/or family and enjoying some good food and sharing a laugh. We spend so much of our lives online that it’s important to make the effort to get together live and in person once in a while, and the holidays are the ideal time to do it. For starters we’ll make a big party tray so you’ll need to invest in a big platter if you don’t already have one. This is something you can use time and time again when you have people over. I have a couple of fancy ones that I bought at estate sales for the same …
Simple ingredients are elevated in these delicious mini toasts. They’re perfect for entertaining; easy to throw together and always a crowd pleaser. Salmon, cream cheese and veggies are natural partners and the lemon, dill and capers add a fresh and savory flair. I use pumpernickel cocktail bread as the base which is the perfect size and has a full flavor that pairs nicely with the other ingredients. You can also use your favorite sliced bread and cut it into quarters. This is the route to go if you want gluten-free or organic bread since I have not seen those offered in cocktail size. As for the salmon I always use wild Alaskan salmon. Alaska is known for responsible management of their fishery populations. Wild salmon is more nutritious than farmed because it’s eating a varied diet and swimming sometimes thousands of miles before it is caught. Farmed salmon is fed pellets that contain grains and soy and sometimes even chicken. They are often vaccinated and fed additives to make their flesh more pink. They’re kept …
The simplest salted-caramel drink is just too delicious to be true. Try it next time you’re craving something sweet and you’ll be shocked that two little dates can add so much caramel goodness to your milk. A little pinch of sea salt just gives it that finishing touch to balance the flavor. All of the ingredients are high in minerals plus you get filling fiber from the dates and heart healthy fats from the nuts. It’s an energizing refined sugar free treat which makes it a great afternoon pick-me-up or post-workout choice. Kids love the sweet taste of this one too. It’s so much better than those drinks made with artificial flavors. Enjoy! xJacq Ingredients: 1 serving 2 medjool dates, pitted 1/4 cup cashews, soaked 2-4 hours and rinsed 3/4 cups filtered water pinch of sea salt If your blender is on the weaker side, chop the dates. Blend all of the ingredients until smooth in a blender, serve over ice.
Sometimes you just want to yell “Cheese Please!” so if you’re avoiding dairy it’s best to have some fabulous plant-based versions that you can throw together when you want need a gooey, melty cheesy fix. This cashew mozzarella is perfect on Pizza, Lasagna, Pasta and as a topping for grilled veggies or steamed broccoli. It’s one of my favorite non-dairy cheeses to make because it requires only a little bit of cashews. A lot of recipes are made almost completely of nuts which can be a little too rich, not to mention pricey! It takes just a few minutes to make and uses simple wholesome ingredients, unlike a lot of the processed non-dairy cheeses at the market. Tapioca flour helps thicken this cheese and gives it a creamy, melted texture. It comes from the root of the cassava plant and is naturally gluten-free. The cheesy flavor comes from the nutritional yeast which has an almost parmesan-like taste. Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast that is high in B vitamins. Make sure you don’t mix it up with brewers …
For those of you that follow me on social media, you know that I had a canapé assignment for my plant-based cooking program at Rouxbe Cooking School. My last assignment was to have a party and make five small-bite appetizers to serve. That’s my kind of final! I was really pleased with how each one turned out, but if I had to pick a favorite, this would be it. It’s spicy, creamy, citrusy and meaty (from the tofu) all in one bite. It’s super flavorful, light and nutritious. I also love how beautiful it looks on a serving platter. It’s completely raw, so you can make this recipe quickly and still totally impress your guests. Baked tofu is denser and more savory than traditional tofu and you can find it at stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Black sesame seeds look cool, but can be a little hard to find. You can stick with plain white sesame seeds or use a sprinkle of black lava salt in their place. I like to use Organicville Sriracha …
This is a delicious fall treat to serve for breakfast or dessert. It has all the sweet and spicy flavor of carrot cake but is made with wholesome superfood ingredients. Chia are packed with omega-3 oils, fiber and protein, the spices are anti-inflammatory and aid digestion, and the carrot is high in beta-carotene so it’s the perfect way to start your day or finish your meal. I use a julienne peeler to make the carrot toppings which makes it really easy. It’s the perfect thing to throw together before bed so you wake up and have breakfast sorted, just add your toppings and go. My favorite chia seeds to use are the organic white chia from Nutiva. The white seeds just look a little nicer in this pudding, but black ones work too. If serving it for dessert candied walnuts are great on top for a little extra sweetness. Another nice touch for dessert is to top it off with a dollop of cashew sour cream mixed with maple syrup which gives it that cream-cheese frosting flavor. The …
All of these ingredients are available at most major super markets with the exception of the middle-eastern spice blend called za’atar which is found at specialty or ethnic food shops or you can make your own. If that proves too challenging, don’t worry, this hummus is great on its own or you could add some fresh cilantro on top instead. I prefer to use artichoke bottoms (crowns) in this recipe so it comes out very smooth, but artichoke hearts work well too. Ingredients: 4 cups boiled or 2 cans Garbanzo Beans 1 can artichoke Bottoms (or hearts if unavailable) 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp Chili Powder or Paprika 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp white pepper 2-3 Garlic Cloves 1/4 cup Olive Oil 1/2 cup Vegetable Broth 1/4 cup Tahini Juice of 1/2 Lemon 2 tsp Za’atar (optional) Reserve two tablespoons of Garbanzo Beans and 2 Artichoke Bottoms or 3 hearts for garnish. Place all remaining ingredients except Za’atar into a blender or food processor and purée until smooth. Place in serving dish and sprinkle with …
This Avocado Cream is one of my favorite things to keep in the fridge. I make it every week as part of my meal prep. The recipe seems almost too simple, but trust me, it adds an incredible amount of flavor and richness to so many dishes. Of course it’s wonderful on Mexican food, but I especially love to use it as a topping for my lunch bowls. You can also whip it up as a quick dip for a snack or to serve at a party. Somehow it seems more sophisticated and complex than regular guacamole, but it’s actually faster and easier to make because you throw it all together in the blender in seconds. You can even use it as a delicious spread to make pretty little appetizers. Even though it tastes rich and creamy, it is made of simple healthy ingredients. Avocado is one of the most nutrient dense foods around with both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been shown in studies to be good for both your skin and heart health. …
