-
Mexican Spaghetti Squash Bake
I feel like I say this every year, but although there is far more produce available in the summer months, I am much more excited about cooking with the late summer, fall and winter produce. There is something so comforting and hearty about the foods in season right now, these are the vegetables you can create an entire meal around.
I am especially fanatical about it all this year, as I am very consciously trying to consume less grains and starches as I work towards learning to eat smarter for my body, given a recent diagnosis (more on that another time). I have been looking at food in new and different ways and trying to get creative with foods I have cooked with time and time again over the years.
In the summer months, I live on zucchini and yellow squash noodles, as an alternative to pasta, so I have been having fun coming up with the fall/winter equivalents. Sweet potatoes work great but all of the many squashes available come to the rescue time and time again. I’ve been enjoying butternut squash noodles, but most especially spaghetti squash, since no special tools are required.
-
Autumn Harvest Salad with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
This healthy, fall-inspired Autumn Harvest Salad with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette, is the perfect way to enjoy all of the many amazing flavors of the season in one flavor-packed healthy salad. It is light enough to not leave you heavy and weighed down, but also hearty enough to be a meal on it’s own. This makes 2 large meal sized servings or 4 side salad-sized servings. I like to make this salad and dress the servings individually so I can enjoy the leftovers later. This was the perfect lunch during a long day of yoga teacher training, a few weeks back.
Lately, this is one of my most favorite ways to enjoy raw kale and I find even those not super crazy about the superfood green, absolutely love it in salad like this. The key is to massage the kale to get rid of the toughness and the bitterness. Yup, I said “massage”! No, you don’t have to whisper sweet nothings to it or buy it dinner first, just a good ‘ol fashioned no-strings-attached massage.
-
Green Monster Smoothie
Kitschy halloween-inspired recipes aren’t exactly my thing. No judgement on those who dig it, I just personally don’t like food to look “gross”, even if it’s fake. So, while I think bloody witch finger cookies or a pumpkin puking up guacamole are kinda funny and probably great for a spooky, halloween-themed party, it doesn’t exactly make me want to eat. A lot of that stuff just turns my stomach a little. That’s just me. Maybe if I had kids I would feel different or maybe it’s just that I am the Halloween equivalent to Scrooge or the Grinch. I mean, I honestly can’t even tell you the last time I dressed up for Halloween. Bah humbug!
Either way, my good friends at Vega asked me to make a Halloween-themed smoothie using their amazing plant-based protein powders and I couldn’t say no. So, I took my simple, modern, toned down (see also, lame-o) approach to this challenge. This Green Monster Smoothie is about as “creepy” as I get, since I don’t do blood or guts as a meal, almonds as finger nails, brains on a plate, or rats and spiders crawling on my flatware.
-
How-to Make Crock Pot Pumpkin Butter
For all of the crazy detailed, tutorials I have shared here, with lots of steps and tons of testing on my part, I equally love super simple, one step DIYs, as well. This week I show you How-to Make Crock Pot Pumpkin Butter and it seriously couldn’t be any easier. Let’s first clear the air for those of you that don’t know… Pumpkin Butter has no butter in it. No dairy of any kind. Discuss. Seriously though, it’s just that it’s thick like butter I guess? I don’t know who came up with the name.
This super simple recipe requires very little of you. You literally dump the ingredients into your crock pot, stir, turn it on, let it cook. Done. I find the crock pot to be easier than the stove top and because it cooks low and slow, I like the flavor so much better. I do suggest still keeping an eye on the crock pot, since it can stick and you do not want scorched, burnt pumpkin butter, it won’t taste good that way. I personally recommend fresh pumpkin puree, which is stupid easy to make and provides the best flavor, but canned pumpkin will also work perfectly, I have made it both ways and they are both crazy delicious.
-
Maple Glazed Pumpkin Spice Coconut Flour Donuts
OK guys, so I didn’t want to make this the world’s longest post title, but check it out: these donuts are not only gluten-free, but they are also totally grain-free and even nut-free! Bonus round – they are also dairy-free and refined sugar-free. Best part is, even in being the most “free-friendly” donut recipe I have made yet, I finally impressed my donut-obsessed hubby with a homemade gluten-free donut!! This has been a many year long odyssey, so I feel like I should get a medal or an award or something.
To be fair, this is the first time I have ever actually fried donuts at home, so I am certain that has a lot to do with Mark’s adoration. None the less, these puppies are healthier than the white flour containing crap he has an affinity for, so a win is a win!
Whenever I make my usual baked donuts at home, Mark and I argue over the fact that they just aren’t real donuts. He always claims they are basically just a circular muffin when they are baked and not fried in any way. I now kinda have to agree with him there!
-
Za’atar Roasted Squash with Crispy Kale and Pomegranate
Squash season is my favorite of all the seasons! I honestly have a really hard time believing that squash is good for me, that it isn’t one of those foods you absolutely LOVE, but really know in your heart you should enjoy in moderation, like white potatoes or chocolate cake! This time of year, I find myself planning all of my meals around what squash we are going to eat.
Lately, I have been enjoying these beautiful Chile Delicate Squash Rings for breakfast with an egg , I made a bit pot of this Butternut Squash and Roasted Red Pepper Soup for lunch and I have been roasting butternut squash like it’s my job. Of course, though I haven’t yet, I will be making my popular Butternut Squash and Chickpea Slow Cooker Curry very soon, too! I could go on and on telling you the ways I have prepared squash over the last few weeks but instead I will share this amazing, simple new recipe with you.
This recipe features two of my favorite varieties of squash, at least this week, acorn and delicata. I love how sweet and delicate they both are and I love that you can eat the skin on both varieties. Both of these squash are insanely versatile and are wonderful in a savory dish, but just as good with a little maple syrup and some fresh cinnamon and nutmeg.
-
Pumpkin Spice Latte {Dairy-free}
It will forever irritate me how many “pumpkin spice” flavored foods do not contain even the smallest amount of pumpkin. I don’t get it. If it’s just cinnamon and other spices, why not call it “spiced BLANK” instead. Most irritating is the fact that Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Lattes are always fixing to suck me in. From time to time, I find myself in a weakened state, tempted and really thinking about ordering one! Ultimately, I simply remind myself how much sugar (a Grande contains over 50 grams of sugar) it contains. Then I think about the fake coloring (Class IV Caramel Coloring), the creepy “natural” and artificial flavors and the hidden dairy in the syrup by way of sweetened condensed milk (so vegans, you are getting hit with dairy, even if you order it with non-dairy soy milk). The list of reasons not to order one just goes on and on. I myself haven’t had one of these drinks in well over 5 years, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t think about it from time to time.
So, what’s a fall-loving, pumpkin-craving girl to do about all this scary Starbuck stuff? Well, she has to make one for herself. (OK, I will stop talking about myself in the third person now! Sorry.) I opted to first make a tasty homemade Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk, using my tried and true method of making delicious nut milks at home. Though this delicious, seasonally-inspired treat is super amazing on it’s own, in smoothies or as a creamer, it’s even better served warm and added to a steamy latte, like this.
-
How-to Make Dehydrated Apple Chips
I have said it once and I will say it again, apples do not get nearly enough love in the fall. It’s all – pumpkin this and pumpkin that. Apples are the red-
headedskinned step-child of the autumn.Life has been a tad busy as of late, so that has meant that baking has been totally out of the question. Beside that fact, it’s been so summer-like in Southern California that turning the oven on sounds quite miserable. In an effort to enjoy the amazing spiced flavors of a homemade fall apple pie or crisp, I decided to simply take some of the many beautiful apples we had from our farmer, the market and our own yard and make some yummy, healthy, cinnamon apple chips.
This simple tutorial works great with a dehydrator, but if you don’t have one, you can even make these in the oven. Easy. The best part about these cinnamon-dusted apple chips is how the whole house ends up smelling like you have an apple pie baking, the entire time they are dehydrating.
-
Ginger Apple Kombucha Cocktail
After a week in Western New York, I am in a fall mood! We we hit up the The Great Pumpkin Farm and went to the Mayer Brothers Apple Cider Mill, and I tried to enjoy as much fall food and flavors as I could in this short trip home. There truly is nothing like fall on the east coast.
Apple cider from the east coast, is probably one of my favorite things in the whole wide world! Sadly, I have yet to find anything quite like it, in our new home! I have found some OK ones in Southern California – but there really is no substitute. While it isn’t as good as the ones in Buffalo, I grabbed some decent cider a few weeks ago at a local market and was inspired to create this fall cocktail, featuring some of my favorite local kombucha – Fine Feathers Kombucha!
-
Roasted Curry Cauliflower with Feta and Cilantro
Can someone please help me figure out how to slow down time? As I type up this post, I am sitting at my parent’s house in Buffalo, N.Y. We’re here visiting for a week, enjoying family and friends and this cool fall weather – a far cry from the extreme heat we’ve been experiencing in California. I seriously don’t think there is any thing in the world that makes me happier than being around my family, smelling the amazing scents of home cooked food, spending time with my niece and nephew, laughing my ass off with good friends, visiting my favorite yoga studio and all of that good stuff that being home brings!
This trip has been an absolute whirlwind already and it is flying by so quickly! It’s just not enough time. We went to our good friend Dana and JP’s wedding Saturday night and we had our own little party yesterday, in hopes of seeing as many of our favorite people as we could over the weekend. It was wonderful. My heart is so full right now! This place will forever feel like home to me and give me a feeling that no other place in the world can.
-
Chile Spiced Roasted Delicata Squash Rings
If you have never had delicata squash, you are seriously missing out. This squash is so delicious, sweet and delicate and the best part is – you can eat that beautiful, colorful striped skin, no annoying peeling required. In my opinion, delicata squash really doesn’t get enough love – besides being so tasty, how adorable are those little scalloped edges on the rings?
These Chile Spiced Roasted Delicata Squash Rings are my new favorite thing – I love recipes like this that are versatile enough for any meal! They are great as a side dish to any meal, try them with some eggs and bacon in the morning and they are perfect with lunch or dinner, as a side or on top of a autumn-inspired salad. I have even enjoyed them as a mid-day snack! You can even cut them thinner to get them crispy and you have a squash chip of sorts, just reduce the cooking time, slightly so they don’t burn.
Head over to the Free People Blog BLDG 25 to get the recipe for these Chile Spiced Roasted Delicata Squash Rings
-
Slow Cooker Quinoa Chili (Gluten-free + Vegan)
I feel like I am really outing myself lately with how much of an emotional eater I am. But listen, I am totally aware of it, that’s a first step, right? I try to keep it in check and make sure that whenever it’s tied to junk food, I try to make the best decision and swap something healthy or just ignore it (most of the time). Otherwise, I am all about eating your feelings!
Tuesday, I was driving up to LA for a photo shoot for some yoga stuff (I will tell you guys more about that at a later time) and on my way there, on the obnoxious 405, I got into a car accident. It wasn’t anything too serious and everyone is OK, thankfully, but it was scary and I was very shook up afterward. That, plus the fact that my back and neck feeling a little “off”, meant I had to postpone the photo shoot until next week. So, that required immediately driving back home, in the terrible traffic on the highway I just got into a wreck on, (with my pretty, messy braid), feeling all scared. By the time I got home, I was starving, I was rattled, I was sore and was feeling pretty sorry for myself.
I wanted some warming, comforting food. I wanted spicy and I was wishing for a big bowl of authentic pho, some spicy thai food or some homemade chili! But, I was in no mood to cook after the afternoon I just had. I was bummed when I remembered our favorite Pho places don’t deliver and I wasn’t about to drive, the Thai place we love was closed, but then I remembered I had some of this delicious, leftover Slow Cooker Quinoa Chili in the freezer from when I made it to photograph for this post.
-
Apple, Tahini Toast with Honey and Thyme
I realize that this is less a recipe and more simply, instructions. It is after all – just toast. So let’s just consider this a how-to on making some of the tastiest, most kick-ass toast you will ever eat. Trust me.
I know we are all aware and obsessed with avocado toast, but let’s branch out a bit, shall we? As someone that doesn’t care much for simple toast and jam, I say we all need to put more things on our toast.
These days it is rare I eat toast or really, have any bread in the house, even. I tend to avoid grains much of the time, but on a rare occasion I want a little something of comfort and something easy – Hello there toast! Toast is another one of those things that I have a weird emotional tie to, it always reminds me on my grandmother, my Yia Yia. Her kitchen would always smell of slightly burnt toast and tea. I can’t ever help but think of her whenever the smell of toast is wafting through the air, so there is always a sense of comfort around that crispy, browned, morning goodness!
-
Creamy Power Greens Smoothie
In case you haven’t heard, it has been unbelievably hot here in Southern California, as of late! I know, I know, for those of you already dealing with overnight frosts and possibly even snow, I know you don’t want to hear about it. But, with temperatures near (and over) 100º for what seems like nearly two weeks – I am pretty much over it.
The worst part is that I have absolutely zero desire to eat or cook in this heat. Nothing is appetizing to me and in turn, when I am not properly nourishing my body with the healthy nutrients and other good things that it needs, I am left feeling tired and totally lacking in energy – it’s a vicious cycle.
Since a couple of scoops of freezing cold ice cream, as good as it sounds, isn’t an appropriate meal nor does it contain a bit of anything healthy, I decided to come up with a green smoothie, on the fly, that would satisfy those cravings but actually provide some sustenance.
-
How-to Make Chickpea Flour and Socca Pizza
{Have you entered the Blendtec Giveaway yet? It ends this Friday}
I know by now, I really don’t have to tell you guys how much I enjoy making things from scratch! I would say that is quite apparent after over 4 years of blogging. Mostly I choose this way of living because I would always prefer to know what exactly is in everything I am eating. I love knowing that things are safely gluten-free and not processed or filled with weird, scary junk.
Until I received The Homemade Flour Cookbook from Erin Alderson, the thought had never really occurred to me to try making my own flours at home. I know what you are thinking – ‘flour? you are gluten-free, what do you want with a book all about how to make homemade flour?’ (or something along those lines, am I right?) I too honestly thought that there may be a recipe or two for me in here, but there are several chapters filled with wonderful tutorials and tips on making flour from gluten-free grains to legumes, seeds, nuts and so on.
This wonderful book is an in-depth guide to a variety of nutritious flours, milled right in your own kitchen plus a wide range of tasty recipes to create with your homemade flours. The possibilities are endless and the delicious dishes are a testament to the amazing things you can do with homemade flour.
It is no secret I love soccas! I have previously shared recipes here and here. Soccas are just amazing. They are a pancake or crêpe of sorts, made of chickpea flour. Served hot and crispy, this chickpea pancake is a quintessential street food found in Nice, France. Many times it is browned or even blackened around the edges, and it has an almost custard like, soft and tender inside. Serving one as a pizza is quite brilliant and although the texture is slightly different from a traditional dough, it is delicious in it’s own right and it’s a totally unique way to shove pizza toppings into your face!
-
Spicy Southwest Loaded Sweet Potatoes with Cilantro Lime Avocado Cream
There are times in life that call for grand meals, several dishes, a theme, planning ahead and so on. Other times, when life has your brain in a million places, simple, easy, one dish and one thought is just what you need. This recipe is perfect for when you want something simple, light and healthy, but still hearty and comforting.
With the start of my level 2 advanced yoga teacher training (RYT 500 hour) over the weekend, life is back to being slightly hectic once again. From now until just a few days before Christmas, every Saturday and Sunday I will be up in Venice Beach for 9+ hours, completely submerged in the teachings of yoga! This means – easy meals, getting my stuff together throughout the week and being more organized than usual – are all back to being major priorities!
Besides loving simple meals, I am also a big fan of sweet potatoes, though I will admit I can forget how amazing they are. Sweet potatoes are highly underrated in my opinion, I don’t think they get nearly enough love. When I saw this great recipe from Gaby way earlier this year, I was inspired to make my own vegan version. Spicy Southwest Loaded Sweet Potatoes with Cilantro Lime Avocado Cream!!
-
Giveaway: Blendtec Designer 725 Blender + Twister Jar
If you caught my Tutorial Tuesday post this week on how to make the best homemade salsa ever, you have definitely been waiting for this post! Today I am super excited to be partnering with Blendtec on this amazing giveaway. One lucky Tasty Yummies reader will take home their very own Blendtec Designer 725 Blender + Twister Jar.
As I mentioned in the salsa post, this high speed blender is life changing!! I really mean it. I seriously didn’t know what I was missing out on with these run of the mill blenders I have been using all these years.
-
Red Wine Poached Apples and Pears with Cinnamon Whipped Coconut Cream
Your farmer brings you a bunch of Asian pears and apples, I mean really, what else is there to do with them then soak them in some booze? OK, yeh, I know, predictable – another blog post that I start out talking about my CSA. Snore! But, to be honest, every single week that box of goodies that shows up on my doorstep, delivered by my farmer himself, and it inspires me and my cooking in so many ways. Every Wednesday, I feel like I am on a game show, where a mystery box shows up and I have to get creative with whatever I am given.
Sure I could have just eaten the apples and pears straight up, but where is the fun in that? Plus, I have to assume if I am getting apples and pears in my weekly box, other folks are too, and they might want some fun ideas on how to prepare them. It doesn’t get much more fun than these Red Wine Poached Apples and Pears with Cinnamon Whipped Coconut Cream.
A friend of ours, John, works in the “wine biz” up in LA. What he exactly does, I am not 100% totally sure, but what I am sure of is that he gave me a huge case of some really nice wines the last time I saw him – so he is A-OK in my book. These days I don’t do a ton of drinking, if we have guests or it’s a special occasion, maybe, but generally I drink very little at home. But, cooking with wine, that’s far more my speed.
-
How-to Make Restaurant Style Salsa
As summer’s end nears, we are left with the last few bites of the season to savor. I feel like a bit of a hoarder whenever I go to the markets this time of year and I see the beautiful heirloom tomatoes, the beautiful Hatch chiles, fresh herbs and all the other goodness. I can’t help myself. I want it all.
What better way to enjoy the final tastes of summer than a perfect fresh homemade salsa. For me, though I love a chunky, classic-style pico de gallo, what I don’t love is the amount of time all of the chopping takes. This restaurant-style salsa is a smoother, classic salsa and it is a cinch to whip up.
When Blendtec offered to send me one of their beautiful high-powered blenders, I immediately became excited about all of the possibilities. The middle of the road KitchenAid blender we got for our wedding 7 years ago, was nearing the end of it’s life and though it’s made literally hundreds and hundreds of smoothies, it also never overly impressed me, it was no powerhouse and it definitely couldn’t handle anything too thick.
-
Greek-Style Roasted Green Beans and Tomatoes with Feta Cheese
Each week, when our farmer Tony drops off our CSA box, besides gabbing about all the luscious, seasonal produce he has for me and his perfectly perfect fresh eggs, maybe talking about the weather and how business has been, we always spend a few moments sharing our stories of growing up Greek. We chat about our favorite foods and our fondest memories of the traditions and I try to impress him with the 3 or 4 Greek words that I know. I love it!
This past week when Tony dropped off the box and I saw that I got some of his beautiful green beans, we spent a good couple of minutes talking about one of my favorite Greek dishes, Fasolia (aka Fasolakia Fresca), a traditional Greek Green Bean Stew. As much as I wanted to make a large pot of that with these beans, the idea of cooking a hot steamy stew on the stovetop all day, it just wasn’t appealing to me, with this crazy heat.
-
Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats {gluten-free and vegan}
This post is part of my restricted diet series on the Free People Blog BLDG 25
Since my daily yoga practice is as important to me as the food I eat, I try to plan ahead with my meals, to make getting to the studio as easy as possible. Lately I have been enjoying daily 6am vinyasa flow classes, so that means getting to bed at a reasonable time and being up at 5am. I don’t eat before I practice yoga, but the minute I come home and walk through the front door I am starving – so I love easy, simple, quick, and healthy breakfast options.
