Category: Vegan


Oct
2018

Fig Balsamic Farro with Spinach, Cranberries, and Almonds

categories: Appetizers, Healthy, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan

A nutritious, delicious, Italian inspired dish the whole family will love.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Fig Balsamic Farro with Spinach, Cranberries, and Almonds is a delicious, nutritious, Italian inspired dish that can be served as an appetizer, side, or entrée. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #farro #emmer #ancientgrain #ancientgrains #ancientwheat #wholegrains #sides #grains #easyrecipe #easyrecipes

If you’re looking to incorporate more whole grains into your diet, here’s a great recipe to add to your rotation. Fig Balsamic Farro with Spinach, Cranberries, and Almonds is a flavor packed, Italian inspired dish the whole family will love. Whenever I make this I always double the recipe because we gobble it up so quickly. It’s great for lunch and as a side dish with dinner. The sweet, tart, fig balsamic flavor, along with cranberries and almonds, is an awesome complement to chicken and pork, but really, this dish goes well with just about anything. And, if you like tapas style dining, you can even serve it as a small plate appetizer, as pictured below. (more…)


Oct
2018

Herbed Sesame Sunflower Seed Crackers

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

Vegan, gluten-free, dairy free crackers with a wholesome taste and tender texture.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Herbed Sesame Sunflower Seed Crackers - Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free crackers with a wholesome taste and tender texture. Super nutritious. Delicious dipped in hummus. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #crackers #vegancrackers #glutenfreecrackers #dairyfreecrackers #vegansnack #vegansnacks #glutenfreesnack #glutenfreesnacks #dairyfreesnack #dairyfreesnacks #healthysnack #seeds

I put crackers into the same category as salad dressings. They’re not at all hard to make from scratch yet most people purchase these foods at the grocery store.  This is probably even more true for crackers than salad dressings. I once mentioned to a friend that I make my own crackers and she said she never once considered making crackers – that it was so easy to buy good ones, why bother.  And this is someone who loves to cook! Well, I’m here to tell you that making crackers couldn’t be simpler and you’ll be rewarded with ones that are healthier and taste so much better than store-bought crackers. These Herbed Sesame Sunflower Seed Crackers are nothing like any crackers you’ve ever purchased. They’re vegan, gluten-free, and dairy free and have a wholesome taste and tender texture. A few of these crackers dipped in Sun-Dried Tomato Red Lentil Hummus is the perfect, healthy snack to stave off those hunger pangs that sometimes strike before dinnertime. (more…)


Sep
2018

Sun Dried Tomato Red Lentil Hummus

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Sauces, Dressings, Condiments, Snacks, Vegan

A healthy appetizer made from red lentils and infused with savory sun dried tomatoes. Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy free.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Sun Dried Tomato Red Lentil Hummus – An easy, healthy appetizer with savory flavor and vibrant color. Great for parties. |QueenofMyKitchen.com|#dip #appetizer #appetizers #easyappetizer #easyappetizers #veganappetizer #glutenfreeappetizer #dairyfreeappetizer #vegan #glutenfree #dairyfree

When it comes to nutritious, plant-based appetizers, hummus reigns supreme, and thankfully, for health-minded people who love to snack, there’s no shortage of tasty and creative ways to make it. Most recipes call for chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) as the main ingredient,  but you can also make hummus with another pulse, red lentils, and it’s every bit as delicious as traditional hummus with the same smooth and creamy texture. This recipe for Sun Dried Tomato Red Lentil Hummus is proof! Make sure you have plenty of crackers and cut up vegetables on hand before you make this dip because you might not be able to stop eating it. I ran out of things to dip the first time I made it and resorted to using my fingers! It’s that good! (more…)


Sep
2018

Artichoke and Roasted Red Pepper Salad

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian

A no-cook, easy antipasto salad you can make in under 10 minutes. Great for picnics, tailgates, and casual entertaining.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Artichoke and Roasted Red Pepper Salad - A no-cook, quick and easy antipasto salad you can make in under 10 minutes. Great for picnics, tailgates, and casual entertaining. | QueenofMyKitchen.com |#salad #antipasto #artichokes #nocook #easyrecipe #roastedredpeppers #antipastosalad #quickrecipe #picnicfood #artichokesalad #vegan #glutenfree #dairyfree

If you enjoy shopping at upscale food markets that sell a wide variety of prepared foods then you’ll appreciate Artichoke and Roasted Red Pepper Salad because this is exactly the type of dish you’re likely to find at one these stores. In fact, I came up with this recipe after purchasing a small deli container of a similar type salad at my local specialty food store, for which I paid an insane amount of money. Since it contained only a few simple ingredients I decided to make my own version and I’m so glad I did. This salad is perfect for picnics, tailgates, and casual entertaining. It’s quick to throw together and can easily be scaled up to feed large crowds. (more…)


Sep
2018

Lemony White Beans with Garlic and Rosemary

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian

A healthy, Tuscan inspired dish you can make in under 10 minutes. Quick, easy, and delicious.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Lemony White Beans with Garlic and Rosemary - A healthy and delicious Tuscan inspired side dish you can make in under 10 minutes. Serve it as an appetizer, light meal, or side dish. Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #beans #whitebeans #cannellinibeans #healthyrecipe #vegansidedish #glutefreerecipe # mediterraneandiet #tuscanwhitebeans #sides

Next time you walk your hungry self into the kitchen and discover that there is very little in your refrigerator or pantry that can be made into a meal, I hope you remember this dish. Lemony White Beans with Garlic and Rosemary is what I make for a light, healthy meal when my cupboards are bare and I am way overdue for a trip to the grocery store. You can pull this dish together in just a few minutes with canned beans and some other staple ingredients you most likely already have on hand. (more…)


Aug
2018

Black Rice and Sweet Summer Corn Salad

categories: Gluten Free, Healthy, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclosure: I received free samples from Nature’s Earthly Choice to develop this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.  JUMP TO RECIPE

(#AD) Black Rice and Sweet Summer Corn Salad – A healthy, easy-to-make whole grain salad with sweet corn, savory sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil. Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #blackrice #forbiddenrice #sides #vegansidedish #glutenfreesidedish

I’ve served Black Rice and Sweet Summer Corn Salad several times this summer, always to rave reviews. This is one of those side dishes that’s served at room temperature so it’s great for cook-outs, picnics, and buffet tables. It’s easy to prepare, a little bit different, and absolutely delicious, all of which make it perfect for the type of casual dining we seem to crave on carefree summer days. It’s also a great way to showcase sweet summer corn, one of the best foods the season has to offer! (more…)


Aug
2018

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Flax Nut Bars

categories: Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks, Vegan

Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free nut bars.  Sweet, salty, chocolaty and delicious!  The perfect healthy snack.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Flax Nut Bars - Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free nut bars. Sweet, salty, chocolaty and delicious! Stop buying nut bars and make your own with this easy recipe. The perfect healthy snack.| QueenofMyKitchen.com|#vegan, #glutenfree, and #dairyfree #snack #snacks #snackbar #snackbars #nuts

Some people love to have a sweet treat after dinner but for some strange reason I’ve always had this craving following lunch. In my younger years this usually meant having a cookie or candy bar, but as I got older, and made a conscious effort to eat more healthfully, I sought out nutritious alternatives to satisfy my midday sweet tooth and this is when I got hooked on KIND snack nut bars. For years I had one almost every day after lunch and discovered, much to my delight, that they did a great job of keeping full until dinner (not true when I was in the habit of having a cookie/candy bar). But one day I realized how much money I was spending on them and decided to start making my own nut bars. These Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Flax Nut Bars are one version I came up with and they are REALLY delicious! (more…)


Jun
2018

Sugar-Coated Rosé Strawberries

categories: Appetizers, Desserts, Gluten Free, Healthy, Vegan

Disclosure: I received free samples of wine from a Stout & Cellar consultant to develop this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.  JUMP TO RECIPE 

Sugar-Coated #Rosé Strawberries – Strawberries soaked in clean crafted rosé wine and rolled in orange scented sugar. A light, healthy, and elegant summer dessert. #AD | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #strawberries #wine #rosewine #roséwine #lightdessert #healtydessert #seasonaldessert #glutenfreedessert #glutenfreedesserts #winedessert #winedesserts

Strawberry season is my favorite time of year. Not only because I love strawberries, but because once the warm weather arrives and the strawberries ripen, it means summer is finally underway. This year, strawberry season coincided with me receiving free samples of 14K Wines Rosé from Scout & Cellar, a direct to consumer distributor of clean crafted organic and vegan wines, and with it, I made these incredibly juicy and delicious Sugar-Coated Rosé Strawberries. “Clean crafted wines”, a term coined by Stout & Cellar, is a phrase you’ll probably start to hear more about. The clean eating movement has spurred health-conscious consumers to ask more questions about exactly what’s in their food and how it’s made/harvested, so it’s only a matter of time before they start demanding the same information about their wines. If you’ve ever woken up with a headache after drinking just 1 or 2 glasses of wine the night before, it doesn’t mean you’re getting old, it means the wine you were drinking had a lot of junk in it! And if you don’t like drinking reds because they stain your teeth, you should know that this is likely the result of a dye called Mega Purple or Ultra Red, an additive used in many mass-produced red wines. (more…)


May
2018

Broccoli Salsa

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan

A clean eating, no-cook salsa made from broccoli rice that’s fresh, light, and delicious.  Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.  JUMP TO RECIPE

Broccoli Salsa - A clean eating, no-cook salsa made from broccoli rice that’s fresh, light, and delicious. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #vegan #glutenfree #dairyfree #salsa #freshsalsa #broccoli #broccolirice #appetizer #appetizers #salad #salads #healthyrecipe #healthyrecipes

Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season but it also signals a shift in cooking habits for many people and serves as a cue to step away from the oven and stove top in favor of outdoor grilling, and to pick recipes with minimal prep time that use light, fresh, ingredients. This clean eating, no-cook, Broccoli Salsa fits the bill and is super versatile. You can serve it as an appetizer with tortilla chips or crostini, make it a stand-alone salad with a protein mixed in (chicken or shrimp would be delicious), or pass it off as a simple side dish. Add this to your arsenal of summer recipes – it will not disappoint! (more…)


Mar
2018

Red Lentil Lobster Crackers

categories: Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy, Snacks, Vegan

Unique crackers with gorgeous color made from super healthy ingredients.  Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.

Red Lentil Lobster Crackers – Unique crackers with gorgeous color made from super healthy ingredients. Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free. | QueenofMyKitchen.com | #crackers #glutenfree #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreesnacks #lobster #vegan #veganrecipes #dairyfree

I know it’s a little early to start thinking about summer, after all, spring just arrived, but I recently hosted a baby shower and made homemade crackers (in the shape of bunnies) as one of the appetizers. They were such a hit that I was inspired to pull out another one of my favorite cracker recipes – one that I make every summer. These Red Lentil Lobster Crackers are perfect for a summer picnic or lobster bake. They’re made with super healthy ingredients, and they happen to be the exact color of lobsters! I use them as a substitute for croutons in this lobster Caesar salad, but they are equally delicious dipped in hummus or guacamole. (more…)

%d bloggers like this: