Vegan Lasagna with Lemon-Basil Cashew Cheeze

Vegan Lasagna with Lemon Basil Cashew Cheese

A meatless lasagna that will knock your socks off. The star of the show is the Lemon-Basil Cashew Cheese Sauce, which is incredibly creamy and flavorful. Vegans and meat-eaters alike love this recipe. And it’s so easy to make!

Vegan Broccoli & Chickpea Rice Bowl (Gluten-free)

Vegan Broccoli and Chickpea Rice Bowl

I’m back! I’ve missed you. How are you? I hope your new year is off to a good start. If you resolved to start eating healthier this year, then you’re in the right place. Today, I have an especially healthy, nutritious recipe for you. It’s vegan of course, and also gluten-free. The flavor is light and refreshing, but it’s also a hearty, filling dish.

Vegan Broccoli & Chickpea Rice Bowl Gluten-free

Often I’ll make a big batch of brown rice at the beginning of the week. It makes recipes like this one so quick and easy. Reheat the rice, steam the broccoli, whip up the dressing and toss it all in a bowl. Done. See, this is what drives me nuts. This is such a cheap, quick, easy meal—why can’t I find something like this on the menu at most restaurants? Maybe it’s just where I live—rural midwest America. But that’s about to change.

Vegan Broccoli & Chickpea Rice Bowl Gluten-free

Soon, we will be moving from Michigan to North Carolina! We are so excited! The Michigan winters are brutal where we live (very close to Lake Michigan). Sometimes it starts snowing in October and doesn’t let up until March, or even April. I’m not a fan of the cold. I hate putting on snow boots and a bulky winter coat every time I leave the house. The gray days are a bummer and the rare sunny ones are deceiving. It might look all bright and cheery, but just step outside and the single digit temps tell a different story. NO THANK YOU!

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Vegan Quinoa Kale Bowl with Mushrooms & Asparagus (Gluten-free) + Butcher Block Giveaway!

Vegan Quinoa Kale Bowl with Mushrooms and Asparagus

I’ve been struggling with food lately. For health reasons I’d rather not discuss right now, I was put on a gluten-free, anti-inflammatory, low-fat, nightshades-free diet. Plus I’m vegan. I felt like there was nothing left to eat.

(Side note. I got about zero results when I googled recipes with these restrictions. Which is why I’m a huge fan of this idea. For $25, you can get 3 months access to their new site, plus 2 holiday eCookbooks. Sweet deal.)

For several days, I ate brown rice with steamed vegetables. And fruit. And gluten-free oatmeal. I made a vegetable soup that was okay, but I grew tired of it quickly. Finally, I started to experiment.

Vegan Quinoa Kale Bowl with Mushrooms & Asparagus Gluten-free + Butcher Block Giveaway!

Using a base of quinoa and finely chopped kale, I came up with a couple of recipes that I quite like. One is an awesome salad that I’ll share with you soon. The other is this Quinoa Kale Bowl with Mushrooms and Asparagus. It’s very healthy and nutritious, but it’s also hearty and flavorful.

Vegan Quinoa Kale Bowl with Mushrooms & Asparagus Gluten-free + Butcher Block Giveaway!

This recipe requires a fair amount of chopping and slicing. Fortunately, I welcome these tasks due to a love affair with my new 14″ round walnut butcher block chopping block from McClure Tables.

When McClure offered to give away two butcher blocks (one for me, one for you), I jumped at the chance to team up for this giveaway. Little did I know it would become my new favorite tool in the kitchen.

Both beautiful and functional, it looks great on my counter even when not in use. And it makes a gorgeous serving piece.

Vegan Quinoa Kale Bowl with Mushrooms & Asparagus Gluten-free + Butcher Block Giveaway!

I have a drawer full of plastic cutting boards. Since receiving my new chopping block, I haven’t used a single one of them. Which means a kitchen purge is just around the corner. ;)  Here are a few of the benefits to choosing a wood cutting board:

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Vegan Chickpea Ratatouille (Gluten-free)

Vegan Chickpea Ratatouille

Wow. What a week. The Boston Marathon bombing (which continues to unfold as I type this post), the explosion in West, TX, and then storms/flooding in our area. Sure does put our “problems” into perspective, …

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Vegan Mushroom and Spinach Pockets

Vegan Mushroom and Spinach Pockets

I’m not really sure which teams are in the Super Bowl. Well, now I am. I just googled it. 49ers and Ravens. While I love to watch college football (Michigan Wolverines, in particular), pro football …

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