Category Archives: Vegan

Sweet Potato Brownies

Sweet Potato Brownies by Alison's AllspiceI was first drawn to make sweet potato brownies because I am still trying to use up my sweet potatoes from last fall’s harvest.  Honestly, I cannot think of a better way to enjoy my plethora of sweet potatoes than fudgy brownies.

This recipe was inspired by a picture I saw on Pinterest that did not link back to a working site, so all I had to work from was the ingredients list and the comments (other recipes I found did not have great reviews).  Continue reading

Curried Tomato Sandwich

Curried Tomato Sandwich by Alison's AllspiceWhen quality heirloom tomatoes are in season, I never miss an opportunity to make a curried tomato sandwich. I adapted this recipe from an old Bon Appetite magazine and I like my version better because they are less messy with less waist.

This method of adding the curry powder and olive oil directly to the bread in the skillet is simple and avoids making a mess.  If you transferred oiled bread to the skillet, there would certainly be drips.  If you placed the oil and curry powder directly in the skillet, you need a lot more of it because the surface area of the bread is less than the skillet, and a lot of oil and curry powder would get waisted. Continue reading

Asparagus and Corn Salad

Asparagus and Corn Salad by Alison's AllspiceMy favorite spring vegetable is asparagus, hands down. For me it is partially nostalgic because I grew up eating fresh picked asparagus and now I grow it in my own garden as well. Asparagus lends itself well to many dishes.  Most often I eat it as a side dish, but it also works in pasta dishes and salads like this asparagus and corn salad.

This salad is also a side dish, but you could easily turn it into a simple meal by adding some protein, like canned chickpeas. Continue reading

Roasted Rainbow Vegetables

Roasted Rainbow Vegetables by Alison's AllspiceI pack vegetables into my work day lunches every day.  Having a side serving of veggies at lunch makes it easy to know that I am getting all the vegetables that I want to have in my diet, regardless of what else gets packed.  I have been making these roasted rainbow vegetables all winter long, and they are too pretty not to share!

Honestly, I didn’t even think about sharing this as a recipe at first.  It was my husband that said, you should make this into a blog post.  Why didn’t I think of that?  Continue reading

Thai Sweet Potato Soup

Thai Sweet Potato Soup by Alison's AllspiceI had a huge sweet potato crop in the garden this fall and I have been loving cooking with sweet potatoes all winter long. Soup season is just about over for me, so you should try this Thai sweet potato soup before spring weather sweeps us off our feet!

I almost always pair sweet potato with a spicy flavor.  Sweet and spicy are a perfect match and there are lots of ways to do it with sweet potatoes.  Usually I go with chipotle to add heat, but the red curry paste in this soup did a wonderful job as well. Continue reading

Roasted Poblano and Quinoa Vegetable Soup

Roasted Poblano and Quinoa Vegetable Soup by Alison's AllspiceDuring winter when I’m craving a big warm cozy bowl of soup, I always make a big batch of vegetable soup.  This year I switched it up from my best-ever vegetable soup and made this roasted poblano and quinoa vegetable soup.

The backbone of the two soups is the same, plenty of aromatics, flavorful broth, a sprinkle of seasonings and a balance of different flavored vegetables.  I love the heat of the poblanos balanced with the sweetness of corn and bell pepper in this version. Continue reading

Garlic and Nutritional Yeast Pangrattato Pasta

Garlic and Nutritional Yeast Pangrattato Pasta by Alison's AllspiceBefore I knew what Pangrattato was, I used to call it spaghetti with breadcrumbs. Pangrattato is Italian for breadcrumbs.  Most often when I see this title used, it is used as a topping on pasta.  Garlic and nutritional yeast pangrattato pasta is just one in a million ways to make pangrattato.

All you have to do to make pangrattato is to heat oil in a skillet, add breadcrumbs and seasonings and cook until toasted to crunchy perfection.  Use it to top all your favorite pasta dishes, or just put in on plain spaghetti with an extra drizzle of olive oil.  You can use it on casseroles, and many other dishes as well. Continue reading

Chickpea Harissa Bread Soup

Chickpea Harissa Bread Soup by Alison's AllspiceThis chickpea harissa bread soup is a variation of lablabi, a Tunisian chickpea stew.  The traditional stew has a thin broth with chickpeas served over toasted bread. This version is also served over toasted bread, but the broth is thick and creamy.

The Italians also have a version of bread soup, usually made with stale bread and tomatoes.  Italian bread soup has you add the bread to the pot at the end of cooking.  I prefer this version of bread soup where the bread is toasted and added to the bowls. It maintains more texture, kind-of like a crouton. Continue reading

Easy Whole Wheat Flatbread

Easy Whole Wheat Flatbread by Alison's AllspiceThis easy whole wheat flatbread recipe really takes me back to my roots as a recipe developer.  In my early days as a blogger, I was developing a lot of recipes to use whole wheat flour as a part of my journey towards eating whole foods.

My whole foods journey is an ongoing process.  I’m easier on myself now than I once was.  However, I still find that I feel better when I make baked goods with whole wheat vs processed flour. Continue reading

Smoked Tofu Schnitzel

Smoked Tofu Schnitzel by Alison's AllspiceI love my homemade smoked tofu recipe, and I love even more finding delicious ways to use it.  This smoked tofu schnitzel is crunchy, chewy, and flavorful.

When I considered trying a tofu schnitzel recipe, I was worried it would be bland, just like tofu.  You can make tofu delicious by letting it absorb other flavors, but simply breading and frying it didn’t seem like that would do the trick alone.

I decided to go with my smoked tofu instead because it is already prepped with loads of flavor.  All you have to do is slice it, bread it, and fry it!  Oh, and perhaps choose a sauce. Continue reading