Nearly Raw Broccoli Slaw

Before I get to the other cookie recipe I made this weekend, let's have some greens, shall we?

Ok, so this technically might not be a slaw, but I just thought it had a nice ring to it ;-) This broccoli salad contains mostly raw ingredients, and just barely steamed broccoli, in a very light, slightly tangy and sweet, dressing. Barely-there dressing, but just enough to bring it all together. Crunch+sweet+fresh veggies= filling healthy meal love.

Coconut Collards with Spiced Chickpeas

Collard greens. Not something I tend to think of as a go-to green. If anything, collard greens make me think of a greasy-spoon, down-home Southern cooking restaurant we used to go to in New York called Mama's. They aren't something I'd really go out of my way for, usually. But they do work beautifully in my black bean very veggie soup. And now, I have another great recipe they shine in: coconut collards, complemented by spiced, nutty, hearty chickpeas. A filling side dish or meal.

Vegan Thanksgiving Spread!

I'm very excited to share my Thanksgiving with you! I was completely psyched everything turned out so well, and that my family enjoyed it too. I was crazed cooking all day, and the pumpkin pie didn't even get put in the oven until after the meal, but hey, we had tons of great food! I think we have some new traditions on hand...

Kale & Kabocha Squash Curry Coconut Soup

This would be a perfect meal to make Sunday night, and then store and have waiting for you when you come home after a case of the Mondays; it's comforting, delicious, and tastes even better the next day. But it's also easy enough to quickly whip together after a long work day, in keeping with the theme of many of my vegan MoFo recipes.

When I saw red kabocha at the farmer's market, with a little sign that described it's sweet flavor, I knew I had to have it. I use green kabocha pretty regularly now, but hadn't tried the red variety yet. Kabocha squash is delicious roasted on its own, in curries, or in soups -like this Asian udon noodle soup- or this Fall-themed soup.

Farro with Beets and Apple Cider Broccoli & Rapini

Before we move on to Halloween treats and sweets, how 'bout another healthy dinner?

Yes, this is my second post with apple cider this week. But I like having multiple recipes to use an ingredient in, especially those ingredients that you don't buy all the time and that don't last indefinitely. And this is also another simple, easy, filling, delicious meal that can be thrown together after work.

Coconut Greens and Kuri Squash

Nothing fancy here. Just another simple, easy, healthy but yummy weeknight meal to add to the mix!

Apple Cider Glazed Brussels Sprouts, Tempeh, and Greens

Sweet, warm Fall flavors. Filling and healthy. This dinner is a variation on a tempeh & Brussels sprouts dish I've made a few times before, but with plenty of fresh apple cider mixed in - perfect for a cool Fall day.

Fall Coconut Curry

This dish is a warm bowl of goodness, a blending of my farmer's market veggies this week. Sweet Fall squash, seasoned tofu, cauliflower, and kale all stewed in a blend of coconut and curry spice.

Pineapple Quinoa

Flavorful pineapple quinoa, served right out of the pineapple... definitely a good dinner party dish. This is easy to make, delicious, and filling. A great side or main for a summer pot-luck or BBQ! Yes, I realize it's now fall. But indulge me for just 2 more recipes...

Vegan Egg Pancakes with Sunburst Squash Sauté

Last week brunch was sweet, so this weekend I was craving savory. Hearty, eggy-tasting fluffy little rounds paired with plenty of greens, mushrooms, and beautiful sunburst squash, sauteéd in olive oil and seasoned with fresh thyme...

Beet and Avocado Salad with Beet Greens and Goji Berries

This dish is fresh, summery, light, and delicious, and jam-packed with healthy ingredients. AND, I used basil growing in my NEW and very own herb garden! I can't tell you how awesome it is to just open my door and pick a few leaves of fresh basil to use in my dishes. Well, ok, I can tell you. I just did. I love it. I'm going basil-crazy. I'm also ready to go golden beet crazy after making this meal.

Sweet Orange Tempeh and A Week of Asian Meals

Asian meals are great for summer because they are often light and quick to whip up. These noodle dishes taste great cold as well, so feel free to make the night before, have leftovers for lunch, or bring something more interesting than pasta salad to a picnic!

Vegan Dinner Party: Mango, Avocado, and Black Bean Quinoa Salad

We all know by now how much I love mango, so I will refrain from going on about it yet again. But needless to say, when I saw Kathy Patalsky's recipe for mango quinoa salad, it was pinned in seconds. We recently had a bunch of friends over for dinner, and since I didn't have much time, I whipped up this yummy dish (along with some new cookies) in no time. Uncomplicated, delicious dinner parties can be done! And yes, carnivores, vegans, and vegetarians alike were satistified (and went back for seconds).

AM Green Machine!

I have been having my pumped-up oatmeal consistently for breakfast for a whiiiiillllllleeeeee... but as the weather's getting warmer, I've decided to mix it up a bit. Literally.

This green smoothie is super healthy, and a great way to jump-start the day!

Citrus Salad

Got a case of the Mondays? This vibrant, refreshing salad should snap you out of it! It makes for a great reviving lunch; or, it could even be a breakfast salad. The citrus flavors are great for waking you up!

This was my first time using kumquats, so I was pretty excited to satisfy my veggieosity and test them out in this delicious salad...

Sesame Soy Dressing & Asian Salad

This dressing is so sweet & light, I love it. The soy sauce, agave, apple cider vinegar, and sesame oil add great flavor to the rest of the ingredients. And I altered the original recipe to make it lower-fat, too! This would go great on an Asian noodle salad, either as pictured above with shaved Daikon radish "noodles," and pea shoots, or with soba noodles and veggies.

Chard Florentine Toast

I know I keep saying it... but I love Vegan Yum Yum. I haven't tried a recipe in it that I haven't liked, and most of them I absolutely love. This is one of those love ones, which completely surprised me because... yes, it's a vegan cheese sauce. Now, please don't judge by the pictures. I didn't even bother trying to submit them to Finding Vegan. I know the pics aren't enticing. I was too hungry to care and couldn't wait to dig in. But trust me when I say: these are yummy.

They got eaten up in almost no time at my vegan dinner party.

Veggieosity: Chard

Have I mentioned how much I love my grocery store? Berkeley Bowl is sort of famous in the SF Bay area. Before moving here from across the Bay, whenever I mentioned Berkeley, people would almost always say, "Oh, have you been to Berkeley Bowl?!" I had no clue what all the fuss was about.

Now that we live here, Berkeley Bowl West is my go-to place. It is kind of like a more hippie Whole Foods, with incredible variety and the largest produce department you will ever see. I sort of feel like Julie Andrews in the Berkeley Bowl produce section - I'm ready to run around, grabbing persimmons, kabocha squashes, and Swiss Chard, singing.... OK, maybe not. My singing voice sucks. But, it's the kind of place where you get excited about fresh, healthy food, where you find new items every time you go, and where people will strike up a conversation in the aisle about this or that vegetable or health food product, and what to do with it.

On one such occasion, a fellow Berkeley Bowl-er was pondering what to do with rainbow chard.

Vegspiration: Salads

Tired of boring salads? I've posted before on big salads and ideas, but here's a little eye-candy and some recipe links to get you inspired:

Salads pictured above, clockwise from top left: Artichoke & chickpea salad, Fresh summer corn & avocado salad, Broccoli, mushroom & tofu salad, Kabocha squash salad, Asian spinach salad with miso dressing, Broccoli, chickpea, and tomato salad, and (middle): an easy big salad.

Black Bean Very Veggie Soup

Is it a soup or is it a stew? This dish is thick and hearty like a stew, but is completely vegan and takes only about 20 minutes to make. And did I mention it might be one of the best soups I've ever tasted? I know that's a big statement, but oh man, this is delicious and hearty. I was going to serve it with bread but I don't even think it needs anything else... (although, I do love soaking up yummy soup with a good bread). Filling, healthy, easy, and delicious. Exactly what I look for in a great dinner.