the blog

What is it about fall that screams comfort food? Longer nights, frequent family holiday gatherings, or colder temperatures? (Probably a mix of all three.) Shepard’s Pie is quintessential comfort food, usually filled with ground beef or lamb, a heavy gravy sauce, and topped with butter-filled potatoes. I came up with a gluten-free, vegan recipe makeover for this classic […]

Have you tried making your own juice? I’ve shared a number of juice recipes before, but today I wanted to talk about the elephant in the juicing room- that poor, sad, fiberous pulp that is usually shoved down the garbage disposal. Leftover juice pulp contains flavor, phytochemicals, and fiber. You may be wondering what the purpose […]

It’s almost Halloween which means it’s almost time for costumes, candy, and scary movies. I’ll pass on the scary movies but count me in for the costumes and (plant-based, date-sweetened) candy! I’ve always had a sweet tooth, but I’ve changed my diet substantially to eat gluten-free vegan. I came up with these Vegan Caramel Apples as a […]

Have you made a pumpkin spice smoothie yet this fall? If not, get on that! This version of a pumpkin spice smoothie incorporates turmeric, a bright yellow spice that contains the powerful curcumin compound. Curcumin has numerous health benefits including decreasing inflammation, reducing oxidative damage, and improving brain function. Pumpkin Spice Turmeric Smoothie Author: Lauren […]

There was a time when I loved jarred queso and tortilla chips. Calories were oddly low for a jar of (what seemed to be) cheese. Turns out, this yellow mystery jar is packed with modified corn starch, malodextrin, monosodium glutamate, and artifical colors Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. Not to mention, it’s a jar of cheese. […]

 Yes this recipe is made up of watermelon and peanut butter. I know that seems like a strange combination, but it’s delicious. I devised this combo one night when craving ice cream. Instead of blending up frozen banana and cacao, I reached for the melon and peanut butter. The results are so tasty, I would go […]

 I was excited to see that watermelons are still hanging around at the grocery store. They are super tasty when paired with some hydrating cucumber and zesty lime. This simple juice is not only tasty and hydrating, but it’s also packed with numerous health benefits, including: beta carotene & lycopene which help to combat the damaging […]

This weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer here in the US! If you’re celebrating, you may be headed to the beach. And if that’s the case, you might be around a lot of seafood this weekend. (Weird how my mind always goes straight to food.) If you’re vegan, this can be a little sad since you […]

Whether you’re packing lunch for work, school, or a long day of shopping, quinoa is one of your best bets. Sometimes thought of as a grain, quinoa is actually a complete-protein seed. It contains all nine essential amino acids (which our bodies can’t make and must acquire from food). It’s also very versatile; you can make dishes […]

 I’ve tried my hand at vegan ice cream before (check out this vegan Cherry Garcia), but recently I’ve been blending up all kinds of different ice cream-esque creations (including my favorite adult beverage as of late involving watermelon and tequila). Today, we’re making Vegan Cherry Coconut Ice Cream with fresh coconut, cherries, and ice. Let’s […]

 We talked about a childhood frosty favorite last Wednesday, the Fugsicle, and we made it vegan. Today, let’s make some Gluten-Free Vegan Ice Cream Sandwiches. Because what’s better than ice cream on a dreary Tuesday? This recipe is two parts – Fudgy Flourless Chocolate Cookies and creamy Coconut Whipped Cream. Both are pretty phenomenal on their own, but I suggest combining […]

 A friend of mine recently asked me about the chocolate avocado pudding concept. The idea that blending avocados, cocoa powder (or cacao), and a little bit of sweetener gives you tasty non-dairy chocolate pudding is fantastic. But we can take this one step further – freeze the mixture and we get healthy vegan fudgsicles! I was […]

Happy Monday Lovelies! I thought we would start the week with a great batch of oatmeal. Last week I posted the Strawberry Banana Oatmeal recipe; this week, our flavors are cherry and cacao, which both offer numerous health benefits. Sweet cherries are high in potassium, which helps to keep fluids balanced in the body and […]

Gluten-Free Flour Friday is back!!! Today’s Gluten-Free Vegan Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes are also just in time for strawberry week. Strawberries and Coconut Whipped Cream go well together, but when you add in fluffy sweet pancakes you have a match made in gluten-free heaven. You can use the leftover Coconut Whipped Cream from Wednesday’s post to top these pancakes- it’s […]

Continuing strawberry week, today I have a seemingly decadent Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie. It only seems decadent though; it’s actually gluten-free, vegan, and you’ll feel good after drinking it. A completely sinful-looking healthy summer treat that is packed with good-for-you ingredients? What’s better than that? The Coconut Whipped Cream and Shortbread Cookie toppings are completely optional, but […]

 I love making a batch of oatmeal for breakfast in colder months- it’s warm, comforting, and one of my favorite parts of the morning. Now that it’s warm outside, I haven’t made oatmeal in a few weeks. It’s all about green smoothies and banana fruit ice cream. For some reason (I blame air conditioning), I woke up […]

 Summer is a great time of year- beautiful weather, brightly colored clothing, and tasty, affordable produce.  One of my favorite veggies in late summer are fresh tomatoes, highlighted in today’s easy tomato soup recipe. You can make this vegan soup with fresh tomatoes or, if none are available, you can use canned. The Vegan Parmesan Cheese is something […]

 If you haven’t jumped on the beet bandwagon yet, my advice to you is to get on it!!! They are delicious on their own, but paired with crispy kale, buttery avocado, and Creamy Tahini Dressing they are perfection!! Start with a giant bowl of freshly chopped kale.  Next, pour on this heavenly delicious Creamy Tahini Dressing. […]

 I’m finishing out Smoothie Week with my favorite detox green smoothie recipe. It may be because of an allergy or a taste preference, but some people prefer their green smoothie without banana, which can sometimes be hard to come by in the green smoothie recipe realm. Today’s post is just that- a green smoothie without banana! Pear helps […]

 When I created this recipe, I had a ton of blood oranges (I got a great deal on them at a local market). We’ve passed blood orange season, but this recipe will be just as good using regular oranges, clementines, tangerines, or whatever is available. To make this smoothie into a meal replacement option, I […]