Vegetable Tian

Sorry I haven't updated this in a few months. I was busy with moving and working. Going to be moving again, this time to New York to live and work on a homestead. I'm sure I'll have plenty more recipes to share soon! I'm also veganish these days so no more recipes with meat and very few with other animal products. However, my host family will be cooking for me most nights, sometimes utilizing milk from the goats and cows and eggs from the chickens. I've been trying not to cook this week so I won't have to take any leftovers on my road trip but was suffering from low energy levels and decided to make this super healthy dish. It's delicious and simple!

Chili Cheese Mac

Hamburger Helper was one of my favorite meals growing up. And since my parents didn't know anything about nutrition, we had it quite often! This is a healthy but still comforting version of that old favorite. It's also an easy clean up one-pot recipe!

Maple Bundt Cake

My partner's mother passed this recipe along to me and it is amazing! I used local Michigan maple syrup and it is perfectly sweetened without any added sugar.

Banana Blueberry Ice Cream

Who doesn't love ice cream? However, I don't love the prices of store-bought vegan ice cream which can be over $6 per pint! This is a healthy, no-sugar-added recipe that is best served slightly softened. Best of all, you just put all of the ingredients in a blender and you're done in less than 5 minutes. If you're feeling a little more indulgent, scoop it into balls to make Unfried Ice Cream. I also turned this into a smoothie by adding some vanilla protein powder and enough soy milk to make it a creamy texture.

Mediterranean Hummus Pizza

I can't remember where I saw the idea for using hummus instead of tomato or garlic sauce on a pizza but it sounded so good! I used tomatoes and peppers from my garden but feel free to mix it up. The tomato and basil flavored feta was amazing and really kicked it up a notch.

Sun-dried Tomatoes

I always love sun-dried tomatoes when I get them on an entree at a restaurant but considered them too expensive to buy. I never knew how easy they are to make yourself! I used 13 tomatoes from my garden and made almost 2 cups of these flavorful bites. I've used them on Mediterranean Hummus Pizza, a toasted sandwich with mozzarella, feta, lettuce, and avocado, and chicken pasta with tomato sauce.

Blueberry Tart

I loved making this tart with local Michigan blueberries! It was so much simpler than I imagined it would be and tasted great. I used lemon juice and zest instead of the listed orange, but it came out just a little too tart so I suggest sticking to orange.

Cinnamon Raisin No Bake Protein Bites

These are a scrumptious yet relatively healthy combination of chocolate no bake and cinnamon raisin cookies. Make some cinnamon raisin granola ahead of time and preparation is super quick. Michael loved these so much he shared them with his co-workers who felt the same way!

Cinnamon Raisin Granola

Fairly simple and delicious homemade granola that costs a fraction of the price in stores!

Black Bean Burgers

These burgers include just enough vital wheat gluten which helps the ingredients stick together and gives a slightly chewy, meat-like texture without being too dense. I've had many meat eaters tell me how delicious these are. You won't even want to put ketchup or mustard on them. Thanks to my friend Jameson for passing on this recipe!

Naan

This bread is quite easy to make at home and is the perfect addition to an exotic Indian meal.

Vegetarian Chili

This is a super easy and quick way to make a healthy, thick chili that is packed with veggies and beans.

Homemade Ketchup

So the next time we needed ketchup, I planned on buying some that didn't have any high fructose corn syrup. Then my local farmer's market posted this recipe for homemade ketchup that sounded very easy and yummy. It is! It's very flavorful and hard to remember that it's ketchup and not a dip.

Chana Masala

Indian is my favorite ethnic food because it's flavorful, healthy, and exciting. While the upfront cost for the spices is somewhat expensive, the vegetable ingredients are cheap and you only use a little of the spices at a time. You could also try to find a local Indian grocery store where they will likely be more affordable.

Pasta Salad

I was craving vegetables this week and a local farmer's market posted this recipe that is very easy to make your own.

Sweet Potato Fries

I had an extra sweet potato left over from baking the cake and my mom was craving sweet potato fries so I came up with this recipe.

Sugar-free Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake

I am so excited to share this recipe with you! Not only is it refined sugar-free, but it has healthy ingredients like sweet potato, millet, banana, and avocado. I was nervous about the strange components but it is very similar in flavor and texture to a banana cake that my mom makes.

Pita Chips and Hummus

I love pita and hummus but the store bought stuff is so expensive and full of sodium. This is an easy way to make healthier and cheaper. I made these for my classmates who ate them all up!

Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

I'm embarking on a refined-sugar-free journey until June but I couldn't resist sharing this amazing recipe for vegan cheesecake. I was hesitant about the texture and flavor since most vegan cheesecakes I've had fail in one or both areas. However, this recipe is very mousse-like and deliciously rich.

Blueberry Chocolate Oatmeal

Simple oatmeal enhanced with fiber and protein powder for an extra boost. You will feel full and strong all morning. The combination of soluble and insoluble fiber helps you keep your digestive system regular. The 30 grams of protein provide a ton of energy for your workout.