belly bites

Cajun 15-Bean Soup

2011-11-27T18:11:00.000-08:00

This is from FatFreeVeganKitchen... a site that I found and have been checking out for a while... and finally decided to make something from. And honestly, it's been almost 2 months since I made it and I can't remember how much we liked it... but I know we did. 20 ounces dried mixed beans (you can find these prepackaged in most grocery stores), rinsed 12 cups water 1 large onion — chopped 1 rib

8-Vegetable Soup with Mixed Herb Pesto.

2011-11-21T17:53:00.000-08:00

I just had to try this soup because it was originally vegan by Rachael Ray. I was worried about the flavor, and hoping it'd have some. And wow, it sure did. LOTS of flavor and so healthy. A hit. 1 small butternut squash EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for drizzling, plus 3 tablespoons Salt and pepper 2 red bell peppers 1 small bulb fennel, chopped, reserve a handful of fronds 2 carrots,

Mediterranean Veggie Burgers with Provolone and Italian Ketchup.

2011-10-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

I've been following Rachael Ray for a long time now... and for a girl who claims to be "Queen of Burgers" and never had a veggie burger until now... I wanna say - it's about time!! I was totally excited while watching her show and she had veggie burgers on the docket to make at the end. Yay! I really like the beef-free bean burgers... but wanted another stanby. This for sure is a keeper. And yes,

Cherry Chipotle Chili.

2011-10-23T06:17:00.000-07:00

This should be called "Cherry Chipotle Chili, Hold the Chipotle." That's what the title said, but there was no chipotle in the recipe (checking to see if it was left off). Anyhow, my first go at any recipe I usually cook it exactly like the recipe says... and then adjust the next time if it's a hit. I was more intrigued to make this because it sounded totally interesting, and I'm currently

Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms.

2011-10-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

Appetizer Night.

2011-10-21T06:17:00.000-07:00

I was trying to think of something fun for Friday night's meal because we weren't going out... and let's face it, things have gotten a little boring around here. I only blame myself. Then I thought to do a "dippers" or appetizers only night when I realized there was a few I wanted to try. It turned out good, and shall I say a little fun to break from the norm.carrotshummus with pita chipspesto

Baked Zucchini Sticks and Sweet Onion Dip.

2011-10-21T06:04:00.000-07:00

These were realllly good. Mine didn't turn out as pretty as the ones they did, I blame it on not using the cheese. Shayne and I think we would have liked them without all the crust and just some herb seasoning. The dip was good, but wasn't worth all the work just for us. Does that sound bad? I'll have to roast more zucchini this way to eat. SO good! recipe from King Arthur Flour

Monkey Buns.

2011-10-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

Itty Bitty Garlic Pumpkin Knots.

2011-10-17T20:51:00.000-07:00

Soooo yummy from Oh She Glows.

belly bites by week: 16th addition

2011-10-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

SundayChicken Fajitas{My family over while Jeff & Ruth were in town... I hadn't cooked chicken in a year and a half, and didn't miss snipping of the fat!} ----- MondayVegetarian Mixed-Bean Chili Express-----Tuesdayleftovers-----WednesdayOUT: Bosses Pizza{Mandy put it in my mind, and I couldn't get it out... so we had to make it a mid-week outing}----- ThursdayFiesta Ranch Rice Bowls-----

belly bites by week: 15th addition

2011-10-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

SundayMEAT Alert! BBQ Burger with Chipotle-Ranch Sauce{Shayne's parents in town, Ellis' over for family dinner... These are seriously the BEST burgers you can make at your house!!} -----Mondaychick-fil-AJDR Foundation fundraiser for Robby-----Tuesdayroasted tomato bisque, peasant bread & salad{I have mastered this peasant bread... it's SO good and have been told it tastes like Macaroni Grills

Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce.

2011-10-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

While I was searching for a copycat recipe of my newly in-love-with-pasta Pomodoro from Cafe Express, I found this Emeril Lagasse one that looked scrumpy. And it was. I added 6 sun-dried tomatoes and next time I'll use half roasted cherry tomatoes. It was a good start to the "penne pasta with grape, oven roasted & sundried tomatoes, basil" that I dream about. It also makes a lot, so I froze it

Cajun Oven Fries.

2011-10-05T13:03:00.000-07:00

An awesome go-to for homemade steak oven fries. Nice and spicy! Although, don't eat with leftover BBQ Chipotle Burgers and Sweet & Spicy Cucumbers. Holy Moly, our family was one big sweaty mess by the end of dinner. Ok, not that bad. But way too much spicy for one meal! 4 medium thin-skinned white potatoes 3 to 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper sauce 1 teaspoon

belly bites by week: 14th addition

2011-10-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

Sundayslow cooker seitan carnitasthese were good and easy... next time I'll omit the salt because i felt like there was enough in the seitan. Thanks Mama Pea! MonLos Vaqueros(thank you restaurant.com deal!) Tuesdaymexican spaghetti Wednesdayblack bean & sweet potato enchiladas Thursdaymexican bowtie pasta Fridaynew pizza place by our house, Pollenzo'syum! Love that there's a good, yet expenisve,

Raw Cashew Dreamcake.

2011-09-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

These are sooooo good! A for sure treat staple in my house. I first had these at Mandy's house, who got the recipe on our friend Brooke's blog, who got it on My New Roots (just giving credit where credit is due... very important). And holy yum! It's originally made in a pie pan, but I converted them to mini muffin tins so I could freeze and have them on hand whenever the hankering for some

Slow Cooker Seitan Carnitas.

2011-09-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe I just had to try on one of my favorite websites, Peas and Thank You. I love her website, but have taken a couple misses to find a true hit from her site. This is one of them. I loved the crockpot aspect of it, and figured I'd give seitan a try. Pretty darn good and made me feel a little more "normal" eating something with a meaty texture. Next time I'll omit the salt, since

belly bites by week: 13th addition

2011-09-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

Sundayleftover Papa Murphy’s pizza and corn{exhausted pregnant woman meal} Mondaylentil taco salad Tuesdayspaghetti & no-knead peasant bread wednesdayrollover jerk lentils with roasted veggies and brown riceI veganized this old Rachael Ray staple... cooking the lentils in the chicken marinade mixture. I also didn't have pineapple so I roasted some oranges. Umm, yum. When I do it again, I'll save

Rollover Jerk Lentils with Roasted Peppers and Pineapples.

2011-09-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

A Rachael Ray favorite that I veganized by taking the chicken out and putting in lentils. Yum! I didn't have any pineapples so I roasted to oranges. Um, double yum! Totally concentrated their flavor. 1 red onions, roughly chopped and divided 4 cloves garlic 4 scallions Juice of 1 lime 1 jalapeño or serrano peppers, seeded 1 to 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1/4 cup orange juice 1/2 tablespoon

belly bites by week: 12th addition

2011-09-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Sundayhurry up alfredo MondayWalls house for Memorial Day Tuesdaynutrient rich black bean soup (chopped 134) Wednesdayblack bean taco salad with lime vinegrette & tortilla bowls Thursdaybaked rotini with roasted veggiesOne of my old favorites that I veganized... adding smoked sundried tomatoes and a little nutritional yeast, and omitting the cheese. So good! Friday mexican spaghetti

Tender Barley Cornbread.

2011-09-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

This cornbread is awesome. Super healthy and super fast. It's our new staple. I just ground barley up in my food processor instead of buying overpriced barley flour. Plus, I love the texture the little pieces that don't get quite so ground give. When it's all done baking, while it's still warm, I spread a little agave nectar, maple syrup or honey on top to sweeten it a little more. 3/4 cup

belly bites by week: 11th addition

2011-09-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

Sundaylentil taco salad, a.k.a Ava's “birds nests” Mondayartichoke pesto pasta Tuesdaytomatillo enchiladas (leftovers) Wednesdaybaked potatoes, vegan ranch & steamed broccoli Thursdaylentil stew Fridayout SaturdayUltimate Chipotle BBQ Burgers, steak fries & fruit salad

belly bites by week: 10th addition

2011-08-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

Tues – chorizo black bean soup Wed – spaghetti Thurs – tomatillo enchiladas Fri – out Sat – mom & dad's for Stas' Birthday

Chocolate Mudballs.

2011-06-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

So yum, and the kids love making these too. A cross between chia snowballs and chocolate balls. 1/2 cup natural peanut butter 1/2 cup brown rice syrup (honey or agave) 1 1/2 cups puffed millet or brown rice krispies 1/2 cup oats 1/4 cup wheat germ (or ground flax) 2 tablespoons powdered cocoa 1/4 cup chocolate chips, optional unsweetened flaked coconut, optional Heat the peanut butter and brown

Sweet Potato-Peanut Soup with Nutmeg-Molasses Cream.

2011-06-26T19:10:00.000-07:00

Someday I'll get my family to love sweet potatoes as much as I do. Until then, this soup will have to be shelved. Bummer.

Beanballs.

2011-06-21T15:26:00.000-07:00

I use these for beanball subs and beanballs with tomato-balsamic gravy but figured they needed a post of their own. 1 (20-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained (about 3 cups) 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons steak sauce or tomato paste 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus additional for frying or baking 2 garlic cloves, grated or minced finely 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest 1/2 cup plain

Blueberry Pie Pancakes with Glaze.

2011-06-18T15:09:00.000-07:00

I drool over most of the stuff on Chocolate Covered Katie... including these. Though her suggestion to top with her "Glazy Doughnut Glaze" is what had me. The stuff rocks. Not even close to my own personal achilles heel that I call a blueberry donut... but it's good to be healthy. Blueberry Pie Pancakes (makes 12) 1 1/2 cup blueberries (I used frozen mixed berries) 1 cup flour (ww pastry, white

Black Bean Taco Salad With Lime Vinaigrette & Taco Bowls.

2011-06-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

These yummy bowls are recipes from my friend Brooke's blog, Simply Real Foods. I think I made them the day that I saw the recipe. Everyone loved them... and the only change I made was cutting the olive oil. Awesomeness Brooke, thanks! Vinaigrette 1/4 cup chopped tomato 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon grated lime peel 1 tablespoon

Roasted Eggplant and Spinach Muffuletta Sandwich.

2011-06-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

When first flipping through Veganomicon, the picture of this sandwich made me totally want to try it. With it's 70's film and all (seriously needed better photography for this book!). It looked interesting. It looked good. And I really want to like eggplant. It wasn't the eggplant that ruined it... it was all the salty olives. I should have listened to their little forward when it said, "Only

Rainbow Tomatoes and White Beans.

2011-06-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

I drooled over this one in Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine... I love tomatoes, white beans, capers and pine nuts - so this was a shoo-in for me. But I knew I'd be the only one eating it (sadly, no one likes tomatoes in my family except for Nolan-and I don't think he was there yet when I first made this) and so I halved it. BIG mistake. I could have eaten it all in 2 lunches. The picture had me

Vegan Berry Shortcakes with Lemon and Thyme Scones.

2011-05-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

It was high time to veganize one of my favorite desserts... these yummy shortcakes. And I done gooooood! The combo of thyme and lemon with berries still floors me that it actually tastes good - but it does. And the crust the raw sugar makes on the scones is yummy! berries 4 cups fresh berries (21 to 22 ounces), rinsed, drained well 1/3 cup maple syrup 2 tablespoons water biscuits 1 cup old

Ultimate BBQ Burger with Chipotle-Ranch Sauce.

2011-05-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

After Shayne ate these burgers, he said, "This is probably the best burger I have ever had. Ever." Not bad coming from a chick who's only cooked meat a handful of times in the last year and a half. On the other hand - you may say that Shayne's opinion is scewed because he's a plant-based man now... but I've got family and friends that will back these babies up too! It's a Rachael Ray... I saw it

Penne with Grilled Summer Squash and Sweet Corn.

2011-05-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

I saw this beaut in my Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine... and the picture sold me. I seriously laid it on my nightstand and would just look at it before I went to bed. Did I really just disclose that!? Anyhow... then when I remembered the cashew ricotta recipe I saw on Crysta's blog - I had to make it. SO good!! The flavors worked so good together... and with the creaminess of the ricotta - I

Cashew Ricotta.

2011-05-26T10:38:00.000-07:00

I saw this cashew ricotta on my friend Crysta's blog... and totally wanted to try it - for 2 reasons. It looked good and was another new technique to making something animal based into plant based. I'm loving these little challenges. Plus, it's a Tal Ronnen recipe... so I knew it'd be good. And if it worked, it could open up the door to sooo many, now vegan, meals. It worked. I had to wait to

Ranch Lentil Taco Salad.

2011-05-25T22:25:00.000-07:00

I remember having taco salad growing up and my mom would mix everything in this big ole yellow Tupperware bowl to feed her family of 7. I loved to put ranch on mine... maybe that's weird, but I'm a ranch girl. So when I found the vegan ranch recipe, I knew I had to try it in the taco salad. Oh wow... SO yummy! It's now Ava's favorite because she helps me make everything and then "plates"

Taco Seasoning.

2011-05-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

Packets of Taco Seasoning have milk products in them (whey solids) and sugar - which is totally not needed. Pus some have MSG. No good. I got this recipe from Mandy, and it totally works. It's awesome. You know what everything is... and it's not loaded with salt. It's perfect. Especially when you don't have a taco seasoning packet, but always have these spices on hand... and have a hankering for

Vegan Ranch Dressing & Dip.

2011-05-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

Ranch dressing was and will forever be one of my most favorite condiments. Plant-based living I had to say good-bye to Hidden Valley and was on the search for an awesome vegan one. I found it. And it's like magic. Magic because anything it's over, my kids eat. SO awesome. They dip all sorts of veggies in it, on baked potatoes, over lentil taco salad, regular salad... Magic, right? Mama thinks so

Veggie Spring Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce.

2011-05-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to try this for about forever. First dilemma, I couldn't find them - I'm blind. They're basically in every grocery store. Second dilemma, needed a good dipping sauce -- not from a jar. When I went to my friend Kelly's baby shower - her sister (Crysta) had this awesome spread of yummy food. And there were her spring rolls. I knew she'd have my back, since she's a crazy healthy

Vegan Reeses PB Cups. aka "Hockey Pucks"

2011-05-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

This is another from Chef AJ in her book, Unprocessed. I totally agree with her on using dates as a sweetener... it's totally my favorite. The date paste makes the filling for these so creamy and sweet. SO yummy!! And with only 5 ingredients, can't beat it. This recipe almost made 48 mini cups... I think it was a few shy of 2 full pans of them. The original recipe in the book she has you make

Sweet Potato Fries with Basil-Garlic Mayonnaise.

2011-04-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

I loooooove sweet potato fries. And these are good. And the mayo to dip 'em in are even better! SO good. It's a Giada de Laurentiis that I veganized. It wasn't hard... swap out the mayo for vegenaise and you're good. Although I'd like to think there was some more skill to it. I haven't gotten my family to love sweet potatoes the way I do... I blame it on their father's revulsion to them. So, I

Tamarind Lentils with Poppy Seed-Cornmeal Roti.

2011-04-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

We're big fans of lentils around here... and these were a hit. The roti were really good too... a lot of work... and I'm still debating if they were worth all the work. I've realized that sometimes it's just fun to learn a new technique in cooking... doesn't mean I've got to make it again. Sometimes once is enough. The jury's still out. Veganomiconpg 123 pg 221

Cheezy Popcorn.

2011-04-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

I loooooove this popcorn. In fact, after typing this up - I've decided I need to go make it now... Super simple, and healthy (minus the vegan butter). air pop popcornmelt some earth balance... drizzle over the topsprinkle the nutritional yeast over topand a little saltshake it upand dig in!

Black Beans in Chipotle Adobo Sauce Burritos.

2011-04-15T18:28:00.000-07:00

These black beans were scrumpy with the chipotle adobo sauce. Total win, and totally easy. I served them in a tortilla with mexican millet and guacamole on top. I just mixed the beans and sauce all together... but the next time I'll do the drizzle thing so the kids won't get as much heat. Beans:2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed (3 cups)1 bay leaf3 cups cold water1 large onion,

Blender Mac & Cheese.

2011-04-14T23:17:00.000-07:00

Yet again, another ole college try to find a healthy version of Ava's favorite junked out mac & cheese. She wasn't a fan... (and now I officially give up trying to find one - I think that's just gonna be her 'thing')... but everyone else liked it. I love that you dirty only 2 things and it comes together super fast. Thanks again "GlowGirl". 1 pound vegan pasta (or regular if you prefer!) 1 1/4

Grazing Tray.

2011-04-14T12:49:00.000-07:00

Carrots & hummus, cherry tomatoes, craisins & raisins, almonds and "cheerios". I've seen this idea a couple of places, love it, and finally did it. It's a perfect way to have a snack and having a wide variety of things to fill them up with. trail mix, craisins, apples, carrots, vegan ranch & broccoli

Juice.

2011-04-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

If you looked in my fridge today, you may get the wrong impression. You'd think my kids were total juice feen. But they're not. In fact I rarely, never ever basically let them drink juice.I've found that I've been using it a lot for cooking. It's awesome. I buy the big bottles, bag it up and freeze it up so I'll have it for any of the recipes I use it for. apple juicegrape juicewhite grape

A Hummus Recipe.

2011-04-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

I posted this forever ago when I posted my Rainbow Wraps... but never posted it's on it's own... with a picture. Love how it looks in the blender. All fluffy, yummy and creamy. 2 (15 oz.) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed {i've used navy & pinto beans in here too}1/3 cup fat-free oil substitute (or olive oil) 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 3 tablespoons sesame tahini 2-3 cloves garlic, crushed 1/4

Fruity Kale Salad with Coconut Lime Dressing.

2011-04-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

When I saw this on Crysta's blog, I immediatly wanted to try it. It sounded so, so good. And it was. I was totally worried about the kale tasting bitter... but knew being soaked in the lime juice for a while would break it down. I didn't know how my kids would like it... but knew there was enough of what they like in there they'd be happy. And then for Shayne... he's a man... and salads typically

Shrek Shake: Nutrient Rich Chocolate Smoothie.

2011-03-11T10:03:00.000-08:00

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... my #1 who once asked for Shrek Shakes now refuses to eat them. And now that she's 6, I really don't feel right about forcing her to eat them. And she doesn't take bribes anymore with her food. She's a stubborn one, enter the red hair. I thought this would be a winner with the chocolate and the juice and the fact that it's not green... but no bueno.

Spicy Doritos Cheezy Dip.

2011-03-08T09:50:00.000-08:00

My friend Crysta turned me onto the blog, loveveggiesandyoga. And what I've tried has been some pretty good stuff. This one included. I have a dream of my kids sitting in front of a platter of all raw veggies and gobbling them up with some really yummy and healthy dip. The did like, but didn't gobble... at least not yet. But I'll try again. But that night for dinner we had this with nachos... yum

Nachos.

2011-03-08T04:53:00.000-08:00

Had a hankering for nachos. Same undeniable, unshakable craving when I had the chili cheese fries one. We're trying to get pregnant... and I think I was trying to create real cravings in my head... hoping that'd help. It didn't. But these are good! Don't ask me why I threw the peas on there... seriously - I think I was trying to get some greens in a place that had no business being there. corn

Carrot Oatmeal Cookies.

2011-03-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

After loving Nikki's Healthy Cookie on 101 Cookbooks, I saw a related to link for these... read the ingredients and fell in love as I made them in my mouth. I was so excited to make them... and they did NOT disappoint. A tad crumbly... but so, so awesome and moist. And can you say healthy!? I made them and then sent the link right to Natalie... hoping I could pay her back for the first healthy

Holiday Soup.

2011-03-01T04:29:00.000-08:00

This stuff was goood... especially with a little faux parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped 1/2 cup red quinoa, uncooked 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 medium sweet onion, finely chopped 1 medium zucchini, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 vegetable bouillon cube (not low sodium) I used it, and yum! 6 cups water, boiled One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes

Faux Parmesan.

2011-02-28T17:52:00.000-08:00

Parmesan cheese is something I use to love. It's like the perfect finish to a soup, a salad, bread sticks, pasta... you get the idea. And this isn't like the real thing. But it's a yummy substitute. My kids love to dip things, sprinkle things and scoop things. And this is a good sprinkle. While I'm still experimenting with what all I can use it on, Chef AJ puts it on air popped popcorn, potatoes

Spicy Peanut Noodles with Broccoli.

2011-02-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

This month my parents went to Dr. McDougall's advanced study weekend seminar (so jealous!) and they took a class from this amazing vegan, unprocessed, salt-free, sugar-free chef, Chef AJ. My mom loved her class, loved her personality and loved her food. She was sold. Bought her book. Bought me her book. And now we're both sold. I skipped the reading and went straight to the recipes. She doesn't

Chili Cheese Fries.

2011-02-22T10:21:00.000-08:00

I had a craving for chili cheese fries... you'd think I'm pregnant - but I'm not. Who has those sort of cravings?! I worked up this little combo and loved it. We had a huge garden salad to make the not-even-naughty meal seem a little less not-even-naughty. It just felt like the right thing to do. Fries 4 large Idaho potatoes, cut lengthwise into 6 wedges grill seasoning Chili 1-2 cups cooked

Baked Vegan Mac & Cheese.

2011-02-20T09:52:00.000-08:00

So I've been struggling with my almost 6-year-old with all things healthy eating. She use to be an amazing eater and eat any and everything healthy. Would ask me for healthy food and beg for shrek shakes. Long gone are those days, and I blame it all on kindergarten. It's like after seeing how the "other side" eats... and setting her eyes on that cafeteria line - it's all she wants. It's a

Nut Dust.

2011-02-19T09:33:00.000-08:00

In a food processor I grind any kind of nuts together. I usually do a mix of almonds, walnuts, pecans and sunflower seeds. Put it in a freezer ziplock and put it in the freezer to keep fresh. I use it for a ton of stuff... oatmeal, veggie cookies, sprinkle on yogurt. I learned it from Dr. Fuhrman's book, Disease Proof Your Child (if you have little kids and babies and are interested in a

Yogurt Cakes.

2011-02-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

Ingenious idea. Combining frozen wheatberry pancakes from the freezer and fruit-flax yogurt for an after school snack. The kids loved it. So easy and so filling... and no begging for food before dinner. Why had I not thought of this sooner?!?

Shepperd's Pie.

2011-02-13T08:51:00.000-08:00

I loved this... and possibly loved it even better the second day. Very mild flavor and great with all the veggies. And that's just not too common when you've got mashed potatoes. First time using miso, and me like. Filling: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 carrots, diced 2 cups cabbage, broccoli, or kale, finely chopped ½ cup water, vegetable stock or lentil cooking

belly bites by week: 9th addition

2011-02-06T23:26:00.000-08:00

mondayfajitas with tex-mex fried rice tuesdaymexican spaghetti wednesdayhurry-up alfredo & steamed broccoli[i knew this'd be a new staple] thursdaypizza inn[HUGEST bomb... what we get for being snowed in for 3 days... we were craving pizza] fridayartichoke pesto pasta saturdaygranola sundaybean and barley soup [made it for super bowl sunday... not a typical football food - but ok when you're

Peach Crumble.

2011-02-06T11:41:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to make this for about forever... but always forgetting the kuzu when I was at a health food store. We were celebrating 2 birthdays, the super bowl was upon us... My parents, my sister and her family were coming over... so, I said forget it... and just subbed arrowroot. SO glad I did... and I think they were too. It was quickly gone and everyone wanted more. I put a dollop of

Wheat Muffins.

2011-02-04T20:23:00.000-08:00

Other then the Texas Governor's Mansion Sweet Potato muffins, these wheat muffins were another one of my mom's staples while growing up. Now, I just veganized them. So simple, but so yummy. 3 tablespoons water2 tablespoons ground flaxseed1/8 teaspoon baking powder1/8 cup maple syrup or other sweetener {play with how sweet you like them}1/4 cup coconut oil1 cup almond milk1 teaspoon apple cider

Nikki's Healthy Cookie.

2011-02-03T20:04:00.000-08:00

My early on healthy-eating inspire-er friend, Natalie, passed this recipe onto me. She told me that I needed to try them... so I, of course did... and they made me very, very happy. All normal stuff everyone should have on hand. So, get to cookin these up peeps or patiently wait for your bananas to ripen so you can!Another great thing about eating a plant-based diet - no worries on eating the

Fajitas with Tex-Mex Fried Rice.

2011-01-31T13:47:00.000-08:00

These are yumm.... love it with the tex-mex fried rice inside. roast peppers & onions saute mushrooms warm up some black beans smash up some avocado make sunflower sour cream add salsa whole grain tortillas yum.

belly bites by week: 8th addition

2011-01-30T19:00:00.001-08:00

monday: hurry-up alfredo tuesday: ancho chili wednesday: whole wheat penne with san marzano tomatoes thursday: freebirds friday: 13 bean soup [i need to tweak it a little for my tastes ... love me still, please Natalie!] saturday: sage beanballs with balsamic gravymashed potatoessteamed broccoli sunday: butternut squash soup

Butternut Squash Soup

2011-01-30T13:19:00.000-08:00

Looking for a good crockpot recipe that I can put together before church, I found this one from my friend Brooke's food blog... which she got from Better Homes and Gardens magazine. It was perfect for after church and took no time getting it all together. I love butternut squash, and this creamy soup was sweet and different. Belly Biters [me: yum] [nolan:yummy] [shayne: alright] [coco: eh.] [ava

Sage Beanballs with Tomato-Balsamic Gravy.

2011-01-29T19:06:00.000-08:00

I first morphed this meat lovers fave just using the regular beanball recipe. But this time I converted all of the mini meatloaves spices into the beanballs. I'm not sure which ones I like better... probably the sage ones. Both delish. But I do know that I love, love, love this gravy. So yum. Make sure when you make the beanballs to double or even triple the batch. Bake and throw what you

Whole Wheat Penne with San Marzano Tomatoes

2011-01-26T12:51:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to try this one out because I love fennel... knowing full well that I'd need to puree it before I fed it to the kids to avoid any nose turning ups. It was good but it didn't shine the way I thought it would... I think the pureeing mutilated the tastes. If that even makes sense. I'm not giving up on it that easily though... next time: I won't puree, cut the fennel really small,

Ancho Chili.

2011-01-25T11:43:00.000-08:00

I've had this recipe in my arsenal since it aired on the Rachael Ray Show over 2 years ago. I figured it was about time because I was sick of seeing it, along with about 50 other bookmarks on my google homepage. It was good... Ava loved it... but wasn't exactly worth the 2 year wait. Still trying to decide if it'll go into the much coveted rotation around this house. Although, while I was typing

Hurry Up Alfredo.

2011-01-24T20:46:00.000-08:00

Ya'll are going to love me for this one. Like, "L-O, L-O, L-O, L-O-V-E, L-O, L-O, L-O... I'm talkin bout... I'm talkin bout love!" (Any Ashlee Simpson Wentz fans out there? Nope? No one? Yeah, me neither!) Anyhow, back to this amazing pasta. It's for sure going into the Hatch Family rotation. It couldn't be more delicious. It couldn't be more easy. And it couldn't be more any on-hand, go-to meal

Chia Energy Porridge.

2011-01-23T20:34:00.000-08:00

Don't judge this by the picture... I almost didn't post it because it totally looks unappetizing. But trust me, it is goooood! Maybe a good sub for the morning oatmeal, but I am for sure liking it for after school snack! 1/2 cup hemp/almond milk 1 1/2 tablespoons chia seed**(bulk at Central Market) 1/2 apple, shredded 1 tablespoon raisins 1 tablespoon maple syrup 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon Stir

belly bites by week: 7th addition

2011-01-23T18:18:00.000-08:00

I got really laxed on planning my meals out the whole month of December... and it only confirmed to me more just how important it is for me to do it. I hate the dread of having to figure out what we're having for dinner in the 4:00 hour of the day. No bueno. So... as long as I keep planning our weekly belly bites, I'll try to keep posting them here. I did this on my personal blog before the

WHAT I buy & WHERE I get it...

2011-01-22T19:37:00.000-08:00

I get a lot of questions on where I buy my stuff. So, I thought I'd compile from my spreadsheets where I get everything and how much. I'm not saying this is the cheapest place you can buy some of this stuff... but I've found what works best for me and not hauling all around town shopping all day to do so. I hate grocery shopping, so some of the 'specialty items' I have just gone straight to

Mesclun Salad with Tarragon, Grapes, and Apple

2011-01-21T20:00:00.000-08:00

Shayne was not excited when he came home and saw that we were having salad, leftover soup and muffins for dinner tonight. Mainly because he was worried about the salad. When he took his first bite, it was "Now that is good!" Score. For vinaigrette 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 3 tablespoons oil substitute 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves or 1/4 teaspoon

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas.

2011-01-20T20:16:00.000-08:00

My friend Natalie gave me this recipe with a few of her other staples. This one will for sure be in the rotation in my house too. When I texted her to tell her "thanks, it was awesome!..." she was having it at her house that very night too. Shayne's stomach had been feeling sick all day, and when he took a bite - the cumin was much too much for him. He's decided that after 6 years into marriage

Fruit-Flax Yogurt.

2011-01-20T18:39:00.000-08:00

Back in September of 2009 - when I first read Dr. Fuhrman's book, Disease Proof Your Child, I knew this recipe was a first-try recipe. I knew the only way I'd be able to get my kids off dairy was to find a proper replacement for their yogurt on their morning waffles. It was a hit! We also subbed peanut butter, banana slices and a little honey too. Yum. So, when a friend asked how she could ween

Corn Chowder.

2011-01-19T04:23:00.000-08:00

I am totally diggin on Tal's [as if I personally know him] book. Every recipe I've tried from it has been awesome! This one included. Knowing my texture obsessed family, I pureed it and then added the corn because I didn't want anything to stop them from lovin this one. I also added a splash of liquid smoke, because this recipe just kinda feels like bacon would be good in it too. ;) 2 cups

Tex-Mex BBQ Tamale Pie.

2011-01-18T19:21:00.000-08:00

Saw this on Rachael Ray... it looked gooood... made it vegan... with almond pepper jack cheese at that. It was good, just not goooood. I'm still deciding if it's worth an insert in the rotation - so, it's for sure not worth my cut and paste time right now. If you do make it, cut the ground turkey - add black beans, cut the beer, change to veggie stock and almond/soy milk.

Sunflower Seed Ranch Dip.

2011-01-17T20:19:00.000-08:00

I think that those that have known me from way back only knew it was a matter of time before I layed up here a vegan version of ranch. I love ranch. I use to put it on everything. Salad, pizza, salsa, hamburgers, popcorn... My kids like carrots, but I thought if they had a little dipper they may just love them. Turns out I know my kids better then I thought I did. They love this. Coco loves this

Chia Snowballs.

2011-01-16T19:04:00.000-08:00

These are so, SOOO good and pretty cute. 1 cup peanut butter (natural, without added sugar) ½ cup honey (don't use agave, it's not sticky enough to form into balls or keep in bars) ¼ cup brown rice syrup (or date syrup) 2½ cups brown rice cereal (i used puffed millet) ½ cup oats 2 tablespoons chia seeds optional: 1 cup finely shredded coconut Mix all of the ingredients together except for the

No-Knead Multi-Grain Peasant Bread.

2011-01-11T17:24:00.000-08:00

I am not a good bread maker. I know the more I practice, the better I'll get... but let's face it... with a Mom that can make bread as good as mine can, sometimes it's just not worth it to go through that sort of self destruction each time a new loaf comes out... [Look at that texture!] So, when I found this bread - peasant bread - totally different from my Mom's whole wheat homemade bread... I

Pepper, Mushroom, Tomato, Spinach & Garlic Pizza.

2011-01-05T21:17:00.000-08:00

This is another one of those 'if you don't think about the real deal stuff, and think of it as something different - and not just a healthy version of pizza' - it's good, reallllll goooooood. Don't ever think of it as a pizza replacer because I don't think there's such a thing. Part of the joy of eating a pizza - at least for me - is that I'm eating something so yummy but so bad for you!

Banana-Date Scones.

2011-01-04T19:07:00.000-08:00

These were a perfect way to use some really ripe bananas. Really moist and cake-like. Yum.8 ounces dates1 tablespoon all-purpose flour1 cup mashed, very ripe bananas (about 3-4 bananas; their skin should be almost black)2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds1/3 cup rice milk1/3 cup canola oil/coconut oil1/4 cup brown rice syrup1 cup all-purpose flour1 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour2 teaspoons baking

Banana-Ginger Pancakes.

2011-01-03T21:03:00.000-08:00

I love a good breakfast for dinner, and these were a hit. Although the Sweet Potato Hash with Peppers from the same cookbook was not. I knew it wouldn't be... my family is not a fan of sweet potatoes unless I'm sneaky about them {which I did with the leftovers... pureed them up with some black beans and they devoured them as black bean burritos}. Coco actually ate a few bites... but that's really

Lemon-Poppy Seed Poundcake.

2010-12-24T11:33:00.000-08:00

I made this poundcake to take to a couple of friends during Christmas... but only one of the mini loaves actually made it out to them. Why? Anything that happens at my house that is crazy can usually be related back to Coco. While cutely bowed, labeled and wrapped in saran wrap... she got a hold of them with her little fists and squeezed the crud outta them. Sigh. At least I got a picture before

Homemade Crackers.

2010-12-21T19:23:00.000-08:00

I've been desperate to try and find a good cracker recipe. Graham crackers I've got figured out... but I need real crackers. Like our favorite Milton crackers that I totally don't like paying $3 a box for. The first time I tried this original recipe it lacked a lot of flavor that we were use to with our favorite crackers... and lacked the crunch. Turns out I didn't roll it out thin enough with my

Thank You.

2010-12-16T20:23:00.000-08:00

I've basically never put anything personal on this blog - other then my add ins to a recipe write up. But I just wanted to THANK YA'LL for getting on here and using this blog. I've slowly heard more and more people find this thing useful and I love it! It makes me feel good that something I've been working so hard on for the past year has become beneficial to a couple of you out there. I'd love

Vegan Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding.

2010-12-15T20:09:00.000-08:00

I found this on LovesVeggiesAndYoga and it's Ava's favorite dessert to go in her little ziploc lunch container for school. Yeah for all the protein, fiber and little Omega 3's these little seeds have! Hardly a dessert! I usually double or triple this batch. 2 tablespoons chia seeds 1/2 cup nut milk 2 tablespoons agave and/or stevia to taste 1 tablespoon cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Italian Chili.

2010-12-12T04:02:00.000-08:00

This is one of my most favoritest soups... ever. The Rachael Ray original is made with turkey - but here is my vegan version. I loved it... so did the kids... but Shayne swore it was too sweet. Huh. Don't know where that came from. 3-4 cups great northern beans (2 cans) 2 onions, chopped 2 carrots, peeled and grated 6 large cloves garlic, 3 grated & 3 smashed Salt and freshly ground black

Gooey Chewy Caramel Corn.

2010-12-11T20:53:00.000-08:00

In attempts to find a healthier treat for Shayne to take to a couple people this Christmas season, I turned to some of the GreenSmoothieGirl holiday recipes I've been wanting to try. This one's not full of the expensive ingredients that I don't want to hand out if I don't think people will really appreciate it... and it's not junk that I'll feel bad giving to people. I've come to realize that

Tomato Bisque.

2010-12-01T11:42:00.000-08:00

You are going to loooooooove me for telling you about this soup. I saw Tal Ronnen on Oprah, he's a gourmet vegan chef. He sold me on how yummy his Celery Root Soup with Granny Smith Apples looked. I instantly put myself on the waiting list for his cook book at the library. When it came in months later, I picked it up and almost went right to the grocery store to buy the stuff for half of his

Texas Governor's Mansion Sweet Potato Muffins.

2010-11-30T19:20:00.000-08:00

I actually remember the very first time my Mom made these muffins. I was home from college, sitting on the bench at the kitchen table in our old house, entranced by the smell of these things... bit into it and thought... I.was.in.heaven. I told her they were awesome and she said she found the recipe in the paper and they were served at the Texas Governor's Mansion. If they were good enough for

Green Beans with Toasted Walnuts and Dried-Cherry Vinaigrette.

2010-11-25T23:40:00.000-08:00

snagged from bon appetit.com This recipe was in the Thanksgiving issue of my Bon Appetit magazine. I was in charge of a side for the big day and figured I'd give it a try, along with the maple-braised butternut squash with fresh thyme. I know they say not to try new recipes for such a big day... but after looking at the ingredients and making it in my mouth... I knew they'd both be awesome. And

Maple-Braised Butternut Squash with Fresh Thyme.

2010-11-25T19:05:00.000-08:00

snagged from bonappetit.com Here's my other new fave that I discovered for Thanksgiving dinner from bon appetit. The flavors are so yummy together. The 3 stores I went to were out of fresh thyme so I had to use dried and it was really good still! Yeah for dried herbs. 3 tablespoons earth balance "butter" 1 3 - 3 1/2 pound butternut squash, cut lengthwise in half, peeled, seeded, cut into 1-

Mexican Millet.

2010-11-18T12:46:00.000-08:00

We love this, Shayne loves this, and use as a side for fajitas, sweet potato black bean burritos or any other latin flared dish. Easy and I love using different grains. 1 garlic clove, minced 1 cup millet 1 small yellow onion, diced finely 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced 2 cups vegetable broth 3 tablespoons tomato paste 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/3 cup finely diced

Garden Bounty Tortilla Soup.

2010-11-16T12:01:00.000-08:00

I got this recipe from Jami, who got it from her Peacocks on My Porch cookbook (read this if you're interested in what the name means... a clue: I loved it being the wife of a cyclist and somewhat of a cyclist myself). And I just veganized it. I love all the vegetables in here... but didn't quite understand why it was tortilla soup (maybe I copied it down wrong). Either way, next time I'm going

Chewy Chocolate-Raspberry Cookies.

2010-11-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

Love these cookies I adapted from Veganomicon. I made the already vegan cookies into naturally sweetened ones and used the healthier coconut oil instead of canola and swapped out most the white flour for whole wheat. Love the texture of the raspberry seeds in the soft cookie. 1/2 cup raspberry preserves 1/2 cup maple sugar (or 1 cup sugar) 1/3 cup coconut oil 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1

Artichoke Pesto Pasta

2010-11-03T12:04:00.000-07:00

I made this for the first time back in May (which feels like worlds away with how far I've come on all this foodstyle thing)... and have revamped it a couple of times. Every time it got better and better. Because my kids weren't big fans of eating the actual artichokes, I now puree them, and it turns them into this thick, cream-like stuff. Yum. Which has made this amazing pasta even yummier

belly bites by week: 6th addition

2010-10-30T18:43:00.000-07:00

it's the end of the month and i'm out of money... but i think i managed fairly well with what I had on hand. so glad i didn't have to revert to ramen... which was recommended to me by my facebook friends. and so, sooo glad that my coconut oil arrived in the mail - which I had forgotten I ordered - just in time to make some granola since i ran out of steel cut oats for breakfast. so between that

Black Bean Pumpkin Soup.

2010-10-27T22:26:00.000-07:00

I don't know what I was thinking trying yet another black bean soup... we've got 2 that we love. But, when I saw this one from Swanson's with pumpkin, flour, balsamic vinegar & ham... I had to give it a whirl. Tis the season for pumpkin, right!? It turned out awesome, the 2nd day. Good the first, but awesome the 2nd. Why? In the original recipe it tells you to use flour, but it never tells you