Vegan dishes at Thanksgiving

Holiday Cooking: Vegan Recipes for Thanksgiving

The holidays can be tough, especially for a new vegan or someone trying to change their eating habits. I can remember my first holidays as a vegan. I think both my family and I were defeated with trying to figure out how I can still feel comfortable and have something to eat, while everyone else was enjoying their ham, turkey, and all the sides that were still made with meat and milk. The first year, I ended up just making my go to sweet and sour eggplant as my main dish and picked over the sides I could actually eat from the main meal.

Now that my family and I are more comfortable with my vegan lifestyle, I actually bring some of my favorite dishes to the holiday meal, so that I can have a full meal the way I like it and if any of my non-vegan family members want to try something they can, there’s enough for that too! You can see that from the photo above, all the vegan items are on one side of the table but still in the rotation for everyone to try.

Below you’ll find recipes for my vegan mac n’ cheese, collard greens, and roasted veggies. As well as  “meat” substitute options for a 3 bean sausage wrap and king oyster mushroom pulled pork.

Give it a try and let me see your creations on social media by using the hashtag #veggiecurls

Continue reading “Holiday Cooking: Vegan Recipes for Thanksgiving”

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Chickpea Salad Stuffed Pita

I was never much of a fish or seafood fan growing up (expect crabs), but this play on tuna salad is one of my go to lunch dishes. Quick, easy, and convenient — My favorite combo.

This doesn’t have a fishy taste, but it does mimic the texture of tuna fish and has a great combination of flavors with the mustard, mayo, garlic, onion, and pickles.

Give it a try and let me see your creations on social media by using the hashtag #veggiecurls

Continue reading “Chickpea Salad Stuffed Pita”

Easy Summer Salad

Fall is already here and the weather is beginning to cool, but I don’t want to begin putting on layers before I share this summer salad. This is great as a starter, side salad or a light meal. And it’s super simple to make.

Give it a try and let me see your creations on social media by using the hashtag #veggiecurls

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Crispy Baked Tofu with Sesame Orange Dipping Sauce

Baked Tofu Sesame Orange dipping SauceI’m still cooking my way through Karina Inkster’s “Vegan Vitality – Your Complete Guide to an Active, Healthy, Plant-Based Lifestyle”. This recipe was quick and easy with just 3 simple directions- just the way I like all my recipes :). The dipping sauce is great but if it’s not your taste, feel free to use another sauce. You know tofu is a blank slate, so you can jazz it up with whatever flavors you like.

Give it a try and let me see your creations on social media by using the hashtag #veggiecurls

Continue reading “Crispy Baked Tofu with Sesame Orange Dipping Sauce”

18 Vegan Foods for Gorgeous Hair

Natural-women-eating-healthy-foods1I’ve been vegan for a little over a year and it has served my hair well so far. I hate to admit it but it’s been about a year since I’ve trimmed my mane and when I went to my stylist he only had to trim off 2 inches, which is awesome for a year of growth. In addition to great hair care maintenance, I owe my locks to a well-balanced diet.

It’s pretty easy to get the vitamins and nutrients you need for healthy hair and body on a vegan diet if you’re consuming enough food. Vegan foods are practically bursting with nutrients to make your hair, skin, and nails look fantastic, not to mention your mind and body.

If you’re considering including more plant based foods in your diet to improve your locks, check out these 18 vegan  foods for gorgeous hair.

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Basic Roasted Veggies

Basic Roasted Veggies

This recipe is a simple, colorful, and nutritious side dish. Feel free to experiment with different kinds of veggies, herbs and spices for additional flavors but this combo is perfect to impress house guest or to spice up a meal. 

Give it a try and let me see your creations on social media by using the hashtag #veggiecurls  Continue reading “Basic Roasted Veggies”

Homemade Hummus

Hummus

I was a little nervous about making Hummus for the first time but it came out really well and it was really quick and simple. If you want to make Hummus at home instead of buying it in the store, check out the recipe below:

Give it a try and let me see your creations on social media by using the hashtag #veggiecurls  Continue reading “Homemade Hummus”

Cooking Hacks: 7 Vegan Substitutes for Eggs

Vegan egg substitution

In many recipes eggs act as a binder and/or a leavening agent. A binder helps hold the recipe together, while a leavening agent helps baked good rise. The infographic above shows a variety of ways to replace eggs. Ground flaxseed is my usually choice for replacing egg, especially when making pancakes and waffles. I warm the water first and let the flaxseed soak into the water for a few minutes. I’ve also used applesauce and banana in baked good and they both worked well. If you need an egg substitution for a lot of eggs like for a quiche, try pureeing some tofu. Puree 1/4 cup of tofu per egg.

Smoked Paprika Hash Browns

Smoked paprika hash browns

I’m starting to cook through a great vegan book called “Vegan Vitality – Your Complete Guide to an Active, Healthy, Plant-Based Lifestyle” by Karina Inkster. This is the first recipe I tried from the book. It was quick, simply, and delicious.

Give it a try and let me see your creations on social media by using the hashtag #veggiecurls  Continue reading “Smoked Paprika Hash Browns”

Vegan Hack: Buttermilk

Did You Know that you can make vegan buttermilk by simply adding vinegar to any non-dairy milk?

I had to use buttermilk as a marinade to a dish I tried out this week. To my knowledge there isn’t any commercial sold buttermilk but with a little help from Google, I found that all I need to do was add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to my soy milk. Some also add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and lime juice as well and you can substitute for any non-dairy milk. Happy Cooking!

vegan buttermilk