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Vegan Chili
Healthy, cozy comfort foods belong in our weekly meal rotation, and this vibrant chili delivers plenty of plant-based goodness. With a special blend of seasonings, it hits all the savory notes we expect in a meat-based version, except the protein comes from two different types of beans. Consider vegan chili a great option for meatless Monday or simply treat yourself when you’re in the mood for the tastiest dinner. The beans and vegetables in this recipe can easily be swapped for your favorites, especially when garden and farmers’ market options are plentiful. Backyard peppers and squash become so abundant at a certain point in summer that you’ll be happy to…
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Roasted Tomato Soup
With all the recent snow, it’s time for a clean comfort food recipe that’s satisfying and relies on pantry staples you can stock up on before the next storm. Since whole peeled tomatoes are packed at the point of peak flavor, they are reliable throughout the year and preferable during the months when garden grown ones are still months away. Roasting them increases their sweetness. Just make sure to reserve their juice as this will be added to the soup as well. For a vegan version, substitute vegetable stock and use olive oil instead of the tiny amount of butter. Pure tomato goodness is the best way to describe the…
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Tortellini Salad with Asparagus and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Green, how I want you green. Green wind. Green branches. – Federico García Lorca Spring jolts us with awakenings, fresh flavors, and everything green arriving at the market. For that reason, I choose spinach-filled tortellini and spears of asparagus when making this dish, which can be served room temperature or cold. With both green ingredients in season, consider this the ideal way to start cooking with a fresh crop of vegetables. Set this on the table for dinner or as a side dish and be reminded of the stirrings in the ground and in ourselves. Ingredients ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar2 teaspoons red wine vinegar¾ teaspoon honey¼…
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Beef Braised in Red Wine
Winter has arrived with the call for us to make the coziest dinners of the year, and this is a recipe you will want to make well into January and beyond. Beef braised in red wine becomes incredibly tender and will entice you to settle in for a warm night at home. The long braise means plenty of hands-off cooking time during which to enjoy other pursuits while everything cooks up to perfection in the oven. Alongside aromatics, I prefer to include whole baby carrots in this dish and a generous handful of sweet cherry tomatoes, which burst in the pot. Give everything a good stir before nestling the carrots…
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Create a Restorative Mealtime Ritual
Recently I introduced a class, Cooking as Creative Meditation, in which I share ways that home cooking can be a meditative practice supportive of our well-being. We take a new look at the entire cooking process from meal planning to experiencing a beautiful meal. We also explore gratitude for the many hands that make it possible for us to access and prepare food, a practice to carry out throughout the year. From the farmers who grew the baby potatoes we will roast in the oven to those who harvested them, there are many to thank for the dishes we make. There are those who laid out the vegetables at the…
food + love + creativity
