Vibrant Plant Based Recipes
Avocado Lemon Basil Pesto – this quick and easy pesto sauce brings bright flavor and vibrant color – use as a dip or a spread, and over fresh pasta!
I have been craving pasta lately, but still want light and fresh flavors that aren’t always associated with a pasta craving.
Picking fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden, and whipping up a simple lemon basil pesto to drop fresh cooked pasta and tomatoes in – craving satisfied.
My friend …
vegan and gluten free Savory Sweet Summer Rolls with Raspberry Ginger Sauce – also known as Best of Summer Rolls – fresh basil and juicy nectarines wrapped with a buttery pan fried tempeh, crunchy pistachios, and perfect avocado for layers of summer flavor!
You know I am all about bright and vibrant, yes?
That is what we have going on here, rolled up color and flavor, all summer long. Fresh basil from our garden, juicy nectarines and perfect avocado. Green and purple salty crunch from chopped pistachios, and a few thin slices of buttery pan fried tempeh.
…
these sweet and salty vegan Pineapple Jalapeño Poppers are a unique flavor twist on everyone’s favorite party bite – sweet pineapple is a natural flavor pairing, and buttery cracker crumbs are a tasty topper to this spicy bite!
recipe originally published July 20, 2015
If you follow me on Instagram (you should! we have all day picnic parties!), you may have seen me mention a couple cookbook projects I contributed recipes to.
During the planning process, each of us submitted recipe ideas to the publisher. I love jalapeño poppers, and had some great ideas for this classic party recipe.
Those recipe ideas were cut early on.
I. know.
I didn’t even submit this particular flavor concept, so it wasn’t the reason for refusal – I think Jalapeno Poppers weren’t on the editors radar at all.
I have now made these for two different parties and once more just because, and I had to share because, oh so yum.
I should just make my own book, an All Jalapeño Popper cookbook. Ooooh, that’s not a bad idea.
Also, I must provide a Public Service Announcement. If you make these, and then have leftovers, and then want to reheat those leftovers, do not warm them in a Science Oven.
Apparently, peppers are spicy. That turns into vapor in a microwave – like 10,000 F vapor – which turns into fire. I now …
Soyster Po’ Boy with Spicy Garlic Sauce – crispy bites of oyster mushrooms and tofu, seasoned with a special ingredient for flavors of the sea. Piled high on a crusty roll with lettuce and spicy sauce, yum!
Well, hello there Monday.
Jason, Rosemary and I had a lovely four day holiday weekend, and spent most of it relaxing in the sunshine. It is still hot in Portland, which means slowing down, grilling outside, lots of ice cold drinks and chilled salads.
We have been listening to fireworks here on our hill all week – they started last Tuesday. Rosemary barks and growls at the booms, and wasn’t all that thrilled at seeing them flash across the sky (the park across from our house had a semi-pro display).
Jason grilled brats, peppers and onions. We ate salads. Jason baked cookies. I started a new book by one of my favorite authors. I organized my office in preparation for a new computer monitor. Tonight we are going monitor shopping. My office is getting a wireless and ergonomic makeover, courtesy of my husband.
and yesterday, I made my Soyster Po’ Boys for the third time.
Back in the early days of running a spa over in Northwest Portland, friends and I would …
Spicy Caprese Cocktail – say cheers to the classic summertime salad, in cocktail form! Mini Heirloom tomatoes, cubes of jalapeno havarti, and fresh basil – cheers!
Portland is experiencing a heat wave this week. Like, three digit heat. I have been wearing my favorite straw cowboy hat everywhere I go. I just need an old Jeep CJ5 to drive around in, all doors and windows off.
Despite the heat, evenings have been perfect.
In the summer, our family room extends to the back yard. Rosemary loves to sniff around – and terrorize the frogs in our pond – and we love to hang in the cool evenings, often with our laptops and a cocktail.
This week is far too hot for anything but an ice cold beer or a chilly vodka soda lime. After the heat wave breaks, we shall return to our latest libation of summer – the Spicy Caprese.
My favorite heirloom tomatoes are here! Big and small, I cannot get enough. For the spicy caprese, we use the small – aren’t they something? Another recent arrival to our liquor cabinet – a few bottles …
Santa Fe Taco Salad with Cool Salsa Ranch – peppery arugula and fresh Southwest flavors combine with crunchy ranch tortilla chips and a Cool Salsa Ranch for a perfectly simple and satisfying salad!
No, I am not really sharing a recipe for salad here today. Well, I suppose I am, but really? This is about the Cool Salsa Ranch.
Jason jokes about how much I love my ranch dressing. I make a new batch nearly every week, and pour it over pretty much everything. Dip everything into it. Think about dunking a straw into it. Buy chips flavored like it.
So you could say I am a ranch connoisseur. Not an incredibly lofty goal as titles go, but I’ll take it. I like my ranch cool, I like my ranch thin. I like my ranch new and different each week (as long as it is still cool and thin).
Last week, I got my ranch in my salsa. No, I got my salsa in my ranch? Please tell me someone remembers those old Chocolate In My Peanut Butter Reese’s commercials…
So yes, today I am not so much sharing a simple salad recipe, but really a vehicle.
A …
vegan Crispy Sweet Potato Veggie Enchiladas – with a perfect balance of sweet and savory, this comfort food dish brings layers of texture and flavor!
I make these enchiladas so often I don’t have to follow the recipe any longer. I was recently having a constant vegetable craving – could not get enough – and I …
Garlic Kale Stuffed Portobello Burgers – hearty mushrooms filled with protein packed quinoa and kale, topped with all of your favorite burger toppings – creamy avocado and juicy tomato!
recipe originally published September 1, 2014
I am getting married in a week.
I am surprisingly calm.
I hear other brides talk about stress and frustration, and all I am thinking is, I must be missing several huge aspects. That thought is enough to cause stress. Ha! But really, this has been all fun and little stress.
The only thing I am completely totally nervous about is being able to speak. Will I even be able to speak? Jason and I are writing our own vows, and the years we have shared and the trials we have faced do nothing to minimize my emotions of this day – I am still giddy excited to be marrying my best friend. Plus, I cry at everything. Guh.
I am lucky that one of my …
