(Almost Raw) Vegan Key Lime Cheesecake

(Almost Raw) Vegan Key Lime Cheesecake - Gluten-Free

This rich yet refreshing, almost raw, gluten-free and 100% vegan key lime cheesecake is the perfect summer treat. This recipe is based on Allyson @ Manifest Vegan’s Pretty Darn Raw Vegan Cheesecake. Ever since making my first  raw vegan cheesecake, I’ve been thinking about making a key lime version. The slight coconut flavor and taste … Read more

Rhubarb Crumble / Crisp & Ginger Ice Cream

Rhubarb Crumble (Crisp) & Ginger Ice Cream (Vegan)

This vegan rhubarb crumble and ginger ice cream recipe is another one that originated from the LCBO’s Food & Wine magazine. I earmarked the recipe a while ago in the hopes of eventually veganizing it, and I’m really happy that I finally got around to doing it last week. The ginger ice cream nicely compliments … Read more

Vegan Caesar Salad

Vegan Caesar Salad - Easy and also Gluten-Free!

My mom makes a killer Caesar salad and it was one my favorite dishes growing up. She left the anchovies out of it for me when I went vegetarian, but when I went vegan a couple years later, it was “bye bye Caesar salad” for me. Over the years, I played around with various ingredients … Read more

Vegan Borscht (Beetroot Soup)

Borscht (Beetroot Soup) - Vegan and Gluten-Free

This week, I had a lot of fresh beetroot on hand so I decided to make Vegan Borscht (beetroot soup) for the first time. I love making fresh soups, because other than eating veggies straight-up, I find that a homemade soup is the best way to bring-out the great flavor of fresh vegetables. Nothing is … Read more

Black & White Bean Quinoa Salad

Black & White Bean Quinoa Salad - Vegan & Gluten-Free

My mom subscribes to Canadian Living magazine, and it usually includes a really good vegetarian or vegan recipe. She diligently puts the vegan (or easily made vegan) recipes aside for me, and better yet, she makes a couple of the recipes for me whenever I’m in town. She  made me this black & white bean … Read more

Quick & Easy Tofu Sandwich

Quick & Easy Tofu Sandwich - Vegan & Gluten-Free

This quick & easy tofu sandwich is satisfying and takes next to no time to make. It’s vegan and can easily be made gluten-free! I started making this tofu sandwich back in high school, and although I don’t consider it a real “recipe”, it’s something that I make from time to time when I’m craving … Read more

Mushroom Mini Quiches

Mushroom Mini Quiches

Warning: this is another post for mushroom-lovers. If you’re not a fan of them, then you may want to escape to chocolate-land and forget that you ever saw this. Ok, onto the fungi. Once again, I have gone overboard at the farmer’s markets, and last week I found myself with way too many mushrooms. What can I … Read more

Chili Soup (Kidney Bean Soup w/ Guacamole)

Chili Soup (Kidney Bean Soup) - Vegan & Gluten-Free

Check out this awesome kidney bean soup. Until I made this the other day, I had never had a kidney-bean based soup before – just the usual black or white bean variety. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I think we have a new favorite. I’ve nicknamed it “chili soup” because it has a wonderful comforting and … Read more

Puff Pastry vs. Phyllo Dough

Puff Pastry vs. Phyllo Dough

While working on my next big post,  I realized something. I’ve been mixing-up my terminology when it comes to puff pastry. Although this isn’t a uniquely vegan ingredient,  it’s one of those things that instantly (and easily) adds a lot of elegance to any meal. So I’ve chosen it as the next topic in my … Read more

Spicy Peanut Quinoa Salad

Spicy Peanut Quinoa Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

I love peanut butter. Peanut butter cookies, peanut butter dipping sauce, peanut butter out of the jar… peanut butter anything! So when a late-night Google search returned a recipe for quinoa salad with spicy peanut dressing, I didn’t hesitate to bookmark it and use it as inspiration for my lunch the next day, this Spicy Peanut … Read more

Healthy Vegan Quinoa Chili

Quinoa Chili - Vegan and Gluten-Free

About 5 years ago, I veganized my mom’s chili recipe by replacing the ground beef with Yves veggie ground round. I made it like that for years, doubling the recipe, and freezing it so that there was always a warm comforting meal available at the drop of a hat. Then I moved to Sydney, Australia, … Read more

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa

The next topic in my What’s That? series is… Quinoa! I’ve got a few amazing quinoa recipes on the way, and thought it might be nice to first explain the origins and benefits of this genius little grain. Chances are that you’ve seen this ingredient pop-up everywhere over the past couple years – from recipes … Read more

Fried Cauliflower, Chickpea and Swiss Chard

Fried Cauliflower, Chickpea and Swiss Chard - Vegan and Gluten-Free

Back in December, I enjoyed a lovely salad of fried cauliflower, chickpeas and silverbeet at Bodega Tapas Bar here in Sydney. It was hardy yet light with highlights of fresh lemon and toasted cumin seeds. As you can tell, I was making a mental note of the ingredients and flavors because I figured that it … Read more

Roasted Butternut Squash, Lime & Coconut Soup

Roasted Butternut Squash, Lime & Coconut Soup (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

I cut this soup recipe out of the Ottawa Citizen newspaper many years ago – and it’s been one of my favorites ever since. The coconut milk makes it so rich and creamy and the cilantro (fresh coriander) and lime give it such a fresh, summer-taste, any time of the year. I veganized the original … Read more

What is Coconut Oil?

Coconut Oil

The next topic in my What’s That? series is Coconut Oil. You may have been hearing about it a lot lately so I thought that it would be nice to summarise some of the myths and facts surrounding it. I’ve only just discovered it relatively recently myself, but have to say that it is quickly … Read more

Cauliflower Purée with Mushroom Compote, Seared King Mushroom and Shitake Bacon

Cauliflower Puree with Mushroom Compote, Seared King Mushroom and Shitake Bacon - Vegan & Gluten-Free

Warning: if you suffer from Mycophobia (fear of mushrooms), you should turn back now or maybe read this nice post on swiss chard. For everyone else, welcome to the mushroom orgy! I cut the Cauliflower Purée with Mushroom Compote recipe from the LCBO’s Food&Drink magazine back in 2009 and have been lugging it around with me … Read more

What is Swiss Chard (Silverbeet)?

Swiss Chard (Silverbeet)

Next up in the What’s That? series: Swiss Chard. If you’ve seen these beautiful leafy greens at the grocery store or farmer’s market and have been reluctant to try them, hopefully this information will inspire you to give them a go. As you’ll learn below, swiss chard is a great alternative to spinach or other greens. … Read more