loaded nachos

ingredients:

blue corn tortilla chips

red + white onion

cilantro

tomato

lettuce

refried black beans

meatless grounds (pictured below)

extra virgin olive oil

vegan cheddar cheese

dairy free sour cream

directions:

chop: 1/2 cup red onion

1/2 cup white onion

1/3 cup cilantro

stir meatless grounds in pan on medium heat until thawed

mix in 1/2 of chopped onion and all of the cilantro

cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

preheat oven to 350F.

cover an oven safe pan in tortilla chips.

top chips with a layer of refried beans

followed by a layer of cheese.

when meat is done heating,

pour over the cheese.

bake nachos in oven for 5 to 10 minutes, until cheese is melted.

note: most vegan cheese melts differently than regular cheese

so be sure to check it closely.

take pan out of the oven and move nachos onto a plate.

let nachos cool for several minutes.

while cooling, dice tomato

and cut lettuce into shreds.

put lettuce, tomato, and onion on top.

serve with sour cream and guac.

guac

ingredients:

2 avocado

1/2 cup diced tomato

2 tblspn cilantro

1/2 cup chopped red + white onion

2 tblspn dairy free sour cream

directions:

mash avocado and sour cream together until smooth.

stir in remaining ingredients.

serve with corn tortilla chips.

spinach & portabello mini pizza

ingredients:

small corn tortillas

vegan mozzarella cheese

fresh spinach leaves

mushrooms

marinara sauce

directions:

place tortillas on a baking sheet.

layer marinara and cheese,

put spinach & mushrooms on top.

add another layer of cheese

over the mushrooms + spinach.

bake in oven on 350 until cheese is melted

(should take about 15 minutes)

serve with spinach + herb salad.

salad dressing: woodstock by annies naturals

black bean burrito bowl

ingredients:

cilantro

onion

baby tomatoes

2 cans of black beans

extra firm tofu

dairy-free mozzarella cheese (optional)

white rice

corn tortilla

(this recipe makes 2-3 burrito bowls)

directions:

cook the rice and beans.

while they are cooking:

chop one cup cilantro and one cup of onion. mix together.

divide the mixture into two equal portions.

dice tofu into cubes. i used about 2 1/2 cups,

you can use as much/little as you want.

mix the tofu and one of the cilantro + onion portions into a pan.

cook the tofu on medium heat for five minutes.

while cooking: chop two cups of tomatoes.

strain the black beans and place

back into their cooking pan.

mix the tofu in with the black beans,

stir on medium heat for three minutes

heat a corn tortilla on stove top,

place tortilla into a bowl.

pour rice into the tortilla,

when the tofu and beans are done, pour on top of rice.

mix tomatoes and the second cilantro + onion portion.

layer mixture on top of the beans.

finally, sprinkle some vegan cheese on top and enjoy!

7-Eleven goes Vegan

Even connivence store chain 7-Eleven is jumping on the vegan band wagon. Select stores in New York are now carrying vegan-friendly meal options, and rumor has it that if all goes well, they will begin carrying the products nation-wide. Read more on the topic here. I will be interested to see what the home of artificial flavoring and preservatives' idea of vegan friendly meals will be---just because its vegan doesn't make it healthy.

cucumber salad

Organic Spring Mix Lettuce

Sliced Cucumbers

Chopped Cilantro (2 tbsp)

Pine Nuts (2 tbsp)

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing