The Squash It! Bowl with Buckwheat Noodles and Sesame Dressing | Easy Vegan Recipes

For Wellness Wednesday with the Children’s Hospital Staff I made this adapted Blue Zones recipe. No meat or animal products and super healthy.  . I also asked everyone in the group their favorite song as the best way to destress in these times. I got some awesome answers and creating my playlist now! My fav song I shared was Forca by Nelly Furtado.  .  I … Continue reading The Squash It! Bowl with Buckwheat Noodles and Sesame Dressing | Easy Vegan Recipes

What oil should I cook with? | 3 things to know about cooking oils

What kind of oil should I use? As a cooking teacher, I get this question a lot.  It’s hard to give a really simple answer because theres a lot to know about fats and oils.  But, in this short article, I want to give you a handy guide that condenses all the info in one place.  It will help you figure out what oil to … Continue reading What oil should I cook with? | 3 things to know about cooking oils

Best Vegan Pancake recipe from America’s Test Kitchen

Happy Halloween!! This is my version of celebrating 🎃👩🏻‍🍳 . I’m more excited about this new recipe I found. These are VEGAN pancakes that passed the test by non-vegan family members. (I only told them after 😂). . Best vegan pancake recipe I’ve made so far. This ones for the books. Recipe came from one of my favourite magazine indulgences- America’s Test Kitchen. Stay tuned … Continue reading Best Vegan Pancake recipe from America’s Test Kitchen

Plant Based Eating Help | 18 Ingredients to Plant Based Eating with Examples

I feel you.  When I started vegan cooking, I felt lost and intimidated.  I just wanted to find the most simple recipes to get started.  What worked for me, was that I started with breakfast.  Then, I started making more of my lunches and dinners plant-based. But breakfast was the easiest to transition to plant-based. The success early in the day gave me the sense … Continue reading Plant Based Eating Help | 18 Ingredients to Plant Based Eating with Examples

Knife Sharpening Explained In One Handy Guide

As a culinary teacher, I get this question a lot, “how do I sharpen my knives?” So, I put all the info here in one handy, quick guide.  First, let’s go over why knife sharpening is important.  Having sharp knives is not just so you feel like a chef.  A sharp knife is actually safer. Yes, safer.  When you use a dull knife they can … Continue reading Knife Sharpening Explained In One Handy Guide

Smashing Pumpkins Ravioli with Halloween Pasta

Smashing Pumpkins Ravioli today! This is the HALLOWEEN EXTREME PASTA edition.  . I colored the pasta dough with black squid ink, turmeric, and tomato paste to get a little more into the spooky spirit.  . The filling is butternut squash puree with ricotta, parmesan, egg, and a dash of nutmeg.  .  I had to do this in a decadent brown butter sage sauce because pumpkin … Continue reading Smashing Pumpkins Ravioli with Halloween Pasta

Pantry-Style Street Noodles (Indonesia, Malaysia) | Blue Zones Recipe

Today I shared my funny Pad thai story with the staff at Children’s Hospital. Okay, it was not so funny when it happened. These rice noodles reminded me of that young chef learning moment. . In college, I was getting ready to leave for the weekend. As a good roommate, I wanted to clear the fridge of any uneaten leftovers before I left. I had … Continue reading Pantry-Style Street Noodles (Indonesia, Malaysia) | Blue Zones Recipe

Salsa en Molcajete (Roasted Salsa) in a Squash head | Halloween Food Ideas

Ewww! You can only do this at Halloween time. So, I had to! .  All of this is edible. The Pumpkin head is a delicata squash. I burned it a little to give it a banged up look. When roasted you can eat this whole squash- skin and all. The hair is roasted poblano chiles. And then, the salsa of course! . Thank you Connor … Continue reading Salsa en Molcajete (Roasted Salsa) in a Squash head | Halloween Food Ideas

Whole Wheat Carrot Spiced Muffins (Adapted from Blue Zones)

Somedays you wake up early and want to make muffins. Today, I tried a spiced carrot muffin from the Blue Zones website. So, it has whole wheat and lower sugar than typical muffins. I also added some more spice and Joanna-ness to it.  . They turned out lovely, but a little more dry than a typical muffin. Using less oil always makes a drier muffin, … Continue reading Whole Wheat Carrot Spiced Muffins (Adapted from Blue Zones)

Spoooky Witch’s Pasta with Creepy Crawlies 👻| Halloween Foods

Check out @martascooking for an even spookier version with octopus!!  . This is the homemade Pici pasta made with black squid ink. It colors the pasta black and gives a faint seafood flavor.  . It was fun cooking with Marta for some Halloween fun! Thank you Marta! . Here is my version of this spooky dish: . Witch’s Pasta with Creepy Crawlies (Garlic Shrimp with … Continue reading Spoooky Witch’s Pasta with Creepy Crawlies 👻| Halloween Foods