Vegetarian

Try this healthier version of French fries! By baking the fries instead of frying them and using sweet potatoes instead of the classic white Russet potato, you can keep more of the nutrients and leave behind some of the extra calories and fats. The seasonings can be used as moderately or as generously as you like and feel free to try out your own flavors! 

Ingredients:

Sweet Potatoes

Olive Oil

Salt

Black Pepper

Garlic Powder

Paprika

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Craving a cheesy sandwich? Try this simple and delicious panini! With just a few ingredients you can create a complex meal in minutes. The cool tomato, gooey cheese and slightly bitter spinach melt together with the balsamic vinegar and form a perfect balance of textures and flavors. I suggest using mozzarella-style cheese, but feel free to experiment with any of your favorite vegan slices. 

Ingredients:

2 slices of bread

3 leaves of spinach

2 slices tomato

4 slices of vegan cheese

Vegan butter

The agave plant ranges from the southwestern United States down through Central America to the northern regions of South America. It is the same plant that is used to make tequila. For centuries, the native peoples gathered the plants and removed the leaves to extract the sap from the core. They boiled the sap to form a thick nectar. Agave nectar did not find its way into modern America until the 1990’s when the process of hydrolysis could be applied to the agave. This process heats the extracted agave juice in a mass production, making it a viable commercial product.

How on earth can lentils taste this good?!

Daal actually means “lentil” but it can also mean a thick lentil stew often prepared in Indian cuisine. The way Daal is prepared makes it seem like a hybrid between a lentil soup and a lentil stew, but stew is definitely the right word.

As the weather gets colder in the Northern Hemisphere, we often find ourselves looking for warming soups, stews, and other hearty meals. This recipe is perfect for a warm fall meal! Since fall is the season of the Vata dosha (light and airy), warm hearty meals are also particularly beneficial for grounding. Whip up this recipe for a nice lunch or dinner that you and your guests are sure to enjoy!

Chickpea Turmeric Soup with Fresh Cilantro

1 tbsp. coconut oil

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

½ white onion, sliced lengthwise

It’s getting colder, and comfort foods seem to be everywhere. Those comfort foods that are full of sodium and/or loaded with pounds of sugar are staring you down; what do you do? I’ll tell ya what you do—you get out of that situation, as fast as you can. I know it can be difficult, but you don’t have to succumb to those temptations that are lurking at every corner. I’m not just saying that, either. For me, there are two food groups—sweet and salty. Whenever I eat something savory, it has to be promptly followed by something sweet. You wouldn’t want me to feel imbalanced, would you?

It is sweet potato season! This yummy recipe is one of my absolute favorites for fall and is a great complement to a meal with roasted chicken or turkey or as the main course in a vegetarian meal with a side salad. The combination of the sweetness of the potatoes and the savory flavor of the black beans with the added accent of the herbs used here is simply divine. Sweet potatoes are a wonderful source of Vitamins A and C and potassium, and they also help regulate our blood sugar and contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

As the days grow colder, I love a good bowl of soul-warming soup. This one will do the trick in a jiffy and is perfect to make when you feel a cold coming on. It does require some time to make, so make sure you start preparing and cooking it at least an hour or two before dinnertime. This recipe should make anywhere from 6-10 servings, so be prepared for leftovers (no worries, they'll taste just as yummy).

Ingredients:

1 large can of vegetable broth

5-7 large carrots (peeled and chopped)

3-4 cups of water

One of my favorite things about fall is buying Brussels sprouts on a stalk. The first time I saw the giant stalk, I couldn't wait to get home and experiment with recipes. After trying different soups, salads, and roasted pairings, this is one recipe that has become a staple in my home.

I am a self-proclaimed healthy eater, but I would be completely lying if I said that I never eat packaged convenience food. The easy and quick nature of something nearly ready-prepared is hard to beat, but the nutrition is often lacking. On nights when we can’t seem to possibly get everything done, I reach for an old standby: packaged ramen. Now I know what you’re thinking, “You can’t be serious! Ramen? Those heavily processed bricks of noodles?” Yes, I mean that ramen!