Monday, December 28, 2020

Red Lentil Flatbreads Are Delicious and Easy

                 Fritters, Village Pancakes

Got Red Lentils? 

These tasty flatbreads were made from just 2 ingredients: 
red lentils and water (and seasoning). Yes red lentils!! It's hard to believe that just two simple ingredients yield such a tasty flatbread that doesn't really taste anything like lentils

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Italian Spinach and Garlic Soup is very easy and tasty

spinach and garlic soupT

This is just one of the amazing soup recipes that you will find in my new cookbook on page 133- I've also posted this easy recipe for you at the bottom of this post.

 Easy Plant-Based Soups From Farm to Ladle has over 80 soups recipes that everyone will enjoy along with the 60 inspirational quotes to encourage self-care! For your convenience, I've included both stove top and Instant Pot directions.
The recipes meet gluten-free, vegan, and kosher-parve standards

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Fresh Blueberry Raspberry Pie with Nut Crust -Vegan and GF




If you love blueberries and raspberries, you will love this wonderful juicy berry pie. And it couldn't be easier to make. It's oozing with fresh berries, low on sugar, and doesn't require baking- truthfully my family loves it ! 

Thursday, December 17, 2020

French Creamy Mushroom Soup is Easy and Delicious


vegan mushroom soup

Looking for a thick and creamy mushroom soup? 
You can't go wrong with this flavorful French recipe.
It is one of my favorites and yet one of the easiest to make.

Friday, December 11, 2020

Cauliflower with Creamy Lemon Sauce-Zero points and Vegan



If you are a lemon lover and looking for an idea to perk up your plain vegetables, this creamy lemon sauce over cauliflower is not to be ignored. 

Thursday, December 10, 2020

It's Hanukkah! Latkes or Donuts?


Hanukkah, Hanuka, Judaism, Chanukah

Latkes or donuts for Hanukkah? We light candles and eat foods made with oil, usually fried foods, for Hanukkah. Why? Hanukkah is the commemoration of a miracle that happened many years ago. 

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Red Lentil Golden Borsht - Instant Pot or Not


red lentil borsht

This red Lentil borsht takes traditional borsht to a whole new level. Its hearty, satisfying, vegan, and provides lots of plant-based protein. In other words, it could be a meal in itself. 

Monday, December 7, 2020

Driving To Florida- Covid and Hotels


Beach, Miami, Florida, Ocean, Sand

My husband and I are snowbirds and we spend the winter in Florida. My husband has health issues that are aggravated by the cold weather. For the past 10 years since we retired, we have been driving to Florida for the winter.The long drive necessitates that we sleep at least one night in a hotel and with Covid this is what we encountered and how we prepared for it.

Thursday, December 3, 2020

A Walking Youtube Routine for Pandemic

Woman, Person, Cyclist, Bicycle, Movement, Exertion

I like to walk outdoors every morning, both for fresh air and movement. I have a walking buddy that I meet every morning. Sometimes when I'm alone, I ride a bike. However when it rains, I need to find an indoor way to exercise- Youtube offers amazing walking exercise videos. This is my favorite.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Egyptian Molokhia (molechaya) Soup


Molokhia soup

Yum! We love this soup! Molokhia is the Arabic word for a soup made from jute leaves which are a highly nutritious greens that are very popular in Middle Eastern countries. Once again, I am sharing one of my mother-in-laws authentic recipes.

Friday, November 27, 2020

Thanksgiving Leftovers ? Fast and Easy Sweet Potato Soup -vegan


Pumpkin Soup, Soup, Pumpkin, Autumn

Got leftover cooked sweet potatoes? I make this quick & delicious spicy 5 minute sweet potato soup that you can find in my new soup cookbook and recipe shared below.

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Simple But Tasty Butternut Squash and Apple Soup- Instant Pot or Not


Pumpkin Soup, Soup


Butternut Squash makes a delicious soup that is slightly sweet, thick, and satisfying. Add some fall apple and you have a genuinely nourishing rich autumn soup. The beautiful bright orange color, so reminiscent of the season, brings warmth and a glow to our fall table. 

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Announcing My New Soup Only Cookbook




ANNOUNCING MY NEW SOUP COOKBOOK 

  

I published my favorite collection easy plant-based soup recipes that appeal to and satisfy meat-eaters as well as vegetarians. My easy seasonal recipes make it easy for everyone to add lighter health-giving foods to their diet without sacrificing taste.  


My friends (most of them are meat-eaters) say, "these are some of the best soups they have ever tasted."

Many of the soups can be prepped in 5-10 minutes and some cooked in as little as 5 minutes in the Instant Pot or 45 minutes on the stove top. 

I make nourishing tasty food that gets you in and out of the kitchen as fast as possible!

The vegan recipes range from creamy soups such as broccoli, butternut squash soups, pumpkin soups, carrot ginger, cauliflower soups, mushrooms soups, old fashioned vegetable soups, lots of bean and lentil based soups, to Moroccan, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Egyptian, Turkish, Hungarian, Indian, and Russian soups- all quick, easy, and delicious. 

Not only are the recipes plant-based, they meet gluten-free, vegan, and kosher-parve standards making it perfect if you, a family member, or a guest has special dietary needs- but you won't miss any of it. The soups offer solid homemade flavor that everyone (even meat-eaters) enjoy. AND to satisfy all cooks, most of the recipes have directions for making the soup on the stove top or Instant Pot!

The first 200 cookbooks that I published are a special edition made in a spiral bound binding which I find is easiest for laying flat while cooking. 

There are over 80 recipes and over 40 inspirational quotes.

If you would like one of these special edition cookbooks the cost is $20 per book- shipped in US only or for multiple copies with reduced shipping text me at 257-981-4546 to order.

$20 + $1.20 tax + $4 additional shipping charges apply 

Each book comes in a pretty gift bag.


 
https://paypal.me/JudeeAlgazi?locale.x=en_US

A New Cookbook -Best Soups Ever



                                         A New Cookbook!
               It's finally finished and it's getting great feedback!


I published an exceptional collection easy plant-based soup recipes that appeal and satisfy meat-eaters as well as vegetarians. My seasonal recipes make it easy for everyone to add lighter more health-giving foods to their diet without sacrificing taste.  

My friends(most of them are meat-eaters) say, "these are some of the best soups they have ever tasted, and they are very easy to make.".

If time is an issue, many of the soups can be prepped in 5-10 minutes and some cooked in as little as 5 minutes in the Instant Pot or 45 minutes on the stove top. 

My goal is make nourishing tasty food,  but also to to get you in and out of the kitchen as fast as possible!

The recipes range from creamy soups such as broccoli, butternut squash soups, pumpkin soups, carrot ginger, cauliflower soups, mushrooms soups, old fashioned vegetable soups, lots of bean and lentil based soups, to Moroccan, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Egyptian, Turkish, Hungarian, Indian, and Russian soups- all quick, easy, and delicious. 

Not only are the recipes plant-based, they are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and kosher-parve making it perfect if you, a family member, or a guest has special dietary needs- but you won't miss any of it. The soups offer solid homemade flavor that everyone enjoys.

The first 200 cookbooks that I published are a special edition made in a spiral bound binding which I find is easiest for laying flat while cooking. 

There are over 80 recipes and over 40 inspirational quotes.

If you would like one of these special edition cookbooks,
 email me at vegyid2@gmail.com to secure a copy.  I am accepting Venmo or Paypal payments and will ship a personalized signed copy of this special edition to you. 

$20 + tax 
shipping charges apply

Friday, November 13, 2020

My Easiest Black Bean Soup Recipe


black bean soup

I enjoy soup all year round but when the weather starts to get cooler, I start to crave heartier soups made with beans. 
This hearty black bean soup is thick, delicious, and satisfying and one of the easiest soups I make. 


Love This Trick
I use a simple trick to eliminate  cut down the prep. I use a jar of chunky organic salsa to replace many of the vegetables.

Think about it. Chunky salsa is made with onions, peppers, tomatoes, etc. The very ingredients that I usually prep this type of soup recipe. So, instead of cleaning, cutting, and chopping, I simply open a jar of organic chunky salsa and use the salsa with all it's chunky vegetables in my soup. 


I appreciate that it is organic, because sometimes it's difficult to find organic onions, peppers, etc. I prefer using organic when available. 

All the Prep Ingredients in One Jar
Surprisingly, chunky salsa has all the ingredients to make this delicious 3 ingredient soup. I am not specifically promoting Aldi's (in fact, the salsa flies off the shelves, and I sometimes can't even get the mild salsa) but it is the best and most economical one that I've found. It's $1.89 as of this post in 2020 (update 2023 - it has gone up in price to $2.19) As I mentioned, it's organic. It comes in mild, medium, or hot- so you can have it your way- and it is packed in glass, not a can. It meets all my criteria for a healthy safe product. 

Make it in the Instant Pot 
It doesn't get easier than opening the jar, pouring it into the Instant Pot, adding soaked and drained beans, vegetable broth and water. Since my uncooked beans were soaked overnight, I set the Instant Pot timer for 25 minutes. 

If I don't pre-soak the beans (which I usually do because I think it helps digestibility), I would set the Instant Pot timer for 40 minutes. 

When the soup is done, I remove the lid an partially blend using an immersion blender. This hearty, thick, easy soup is a favorite.

Sweet Potato Salsa Soup
I make another soup using salsa too- try my spicy sweet potato soup.

Do You Plan a Menu for the Week? 
I don't usually create a menu plan for the week, do you?  but I thought if I did, I would make this soup every other Monday in the cooler weather. Since I keep my own individual sized bags of cooked rice in the freezer (link to see how I freeze cooked rice), I have the convenience of adding some rice to my husband's bowl which he loves. 


Ingredients: 
1 pound of dry black beans, washed, soaked overnight, and drained.
1 jar of organic chunky salsa (mild, medium, or hot) 
3 cups of vegetable broth
3 cups of water 
Optional: cumin, salt, cracked pepper, squirt of lime or lemon juice,  fresh garlic
Toppings: chunks of avocado or cooked white rice

Directions:
Add everything to the Instant Pot. Secure lid, close steam valve, and set to pressure cook for 25 minutes. When done, allow to sit for 15 or more minutes and then release steam manually according to the manufacturer's directions. When all steam is released, remove lid and blend with an immersion blender to desired consistency.

Notes: I you don't have time or forgot to soak the beans overnight, simply pressure cook for 40 minutes.

Sharing on Souper Sunday at  Kahakai Kitchen where anyone can share a soup, sammie, or salad recipe.


NOTES:
Looking for more healthy recipes?  
My blogging friend Nancy Andes at her inspiring blog, Colors 4 Health, has published a Holiday Guilt-Free Recipe Guide which you can view with the link. Nancy says, " This post features guilt-free vegan holiday recipes to savor and tips to make meals healthier, budget friendly, taste-tempting, and joyful." 

Nancy has included a recipe for my delicious and easy vegan stuffed peppers in her  Holiday Guilt-Free Recipe Guide for holiday eating.

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Eggplant Tofu Lasagna


tofu lasagna


If you are looking for a tasty plant-based meal because you are running out of ideas, try my eggplant tofu lasagna.

Friday, November 6, 2020

Farmers Market Friday



Shopping at my local farmer's market each week is an enjoyable, healthy and useful activity. Look at what I bought and what I cooked.

Monday, November 2, 2020

Cauliflower and Za'atar - A tasty side dish



cauliflower and za'atar side dish

Say good-bye to boring and spice up your cauliflower with Za'atar- Enjoy this easy deliciously spiced combination of interesting flavors.

Sunday, November 1, 2020

Peek Into My Week- Reviews and Food




Reading: 
















What I'm Reading : 
The Orphan Collector by Ellen Mari Wiseman
If you are not nervous enough about the Covid Pandemic, read this realistic piece of historical fiction set in Philadelphia in 1918 at the start of the Spanish Flu epidemic. Sad, touching, informative, and gripping, this powerful NY Times Bestseller was difficult to put down. 

What I'm Watching: 

Add caption

Watching: The Queen Gambit- Netflix Series
I enjoyed this series about a young orphan who turns out to be an intuitively extremely gifted chess player. While still a teenager,  she begins to play in highly competitive chess tournaments with large cash prizes. Although chess is the theme, the stories also revolve around relationships, pain of her past, drugs and alcohol, learning from mistakes, and her evolution into a powerful woman. Worth the watch!




Also on Netflix: Holidate 
A perfect movie for when you want something light and fun! Holidays are wicked for singles but co-stars Emma Roberts  and Luke Bracey find a solution when they agree to be each others date for any and all holidays and occasions. Kept me laughing and I totally enjoyed it.



Fall Cooking: Lots of Soup

Fall vegetable soup
Fall Potato Dill Soup (click link for recipe)

brussels sprouts soup
Brussels Sprout Soup- Quick about 12 minutes (click link for recipes)



My Kids and Grandkids Had My Lawn Decorated For an Early Birthday Celebration. (It was the last day before winter that they company decorated lawns and it was 30 degrees yesterday!) 


Doing: 
  • Walking one hour each morning
  • Finalizing my plant-based cookbook for publication next   month
  •  Dinners on the Deck with my kids and grandkids


Also sharing on Weekend Cooking at the Intredpid Reader and Baker where anyone can share a food related post. 

Thursday, October 29, 2020

How to Freeze an Avocado -2 Easy Hacks


Avocado, Lemon, Food, Vitamins, Nutritious, Healthy


These are two of the best freezer hacks for preserving avocados.

How many times have you purchased avocados only to have them ripen too quickly or turn dark inside before you were ready to use them? 

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Homemade Falafel- Vegan and Gluten-free




falafel


Homemade falafel tastes the BEST! 
It's fresh, delicately spiced, absolutely delicious and can be made relatively easily in your very own kitchen! This is our favorite plant-based recipe that can be eaten for lunch or dinner.

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Greek Lemon Soup


If you like lemon, you'll love this citrusy Greek lemon soup.

Imagine a simple vegetable soup in a tangy lemony broth that is easy to make and a delight to eat. This interesting ethnic recipe is one of my mother-in-law's recipes and has been in our family for generations. It is simple, delicious, lemony, and healthy. It's one of our favorites.

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Have You Been "BOOed? ???

Halloween sign


Have you been Boo-ed??

We had just finished dinner on my older son's backyard deck (with  him and his family). 
As they walked us to our car in their driveway to say good night, the kids started to scream with excitement, 

"We've been BOO'd"!!!! what a great idea for safe Halloween fun!

Friday, October 9, 2020

3 Ingredient Pumpkin Cookies - WW 1 point





I love when I find a tasty treat that is healthy and yet low in Weight Watcher points! This delicious 3 ingredient pumpkin cookie has ONE point PER SERVING (3 cookies) without the chocolate topping (on purple program)💜💜 and is made with whole oats (I use gluten-free whole oats), pumpkin puree and or applesauce(more points), and pumpkin spice. 

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Creamy Radish Soup











   



Do you like radishes? It's fall and I am definitely into making all kinds of soup. Creamy radish soup sounds unusual to say the least, but I assure you it tastes comforting and delicious. 

Sunday, October 4, 2020

Instant Pot Red Lentil and Quinoa Soup




Are you ready for soup? This
 Instant Pot red lentil and quinoa soup is thick, spicy, and creamy! (of course any soup you can make in the Instant Pot can be made on the stove top with more liquid and longer cooking time-see notes for directions below)

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Egyptian Dukkah - An Interesting Dip



Egyptian dish with Dukkah

If you love nuts, seeds, and Middle Eastern spices, Dukkah may well become one of your new favorite dips. Eaten with bread (gluten-free) and olive oil, dukkah is a popular Egyptian favorite. Dip you bread in olive oil and then dip it into the Dukkah! Yum!
You can also add dukkah to salads, sprinkle it on vegetables, add it to rice or quinoa dishes. 

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Moroccan Quinoa -Easy, Tasty, and Healthy


Moroccan quinoa recipe

Moroccan cooking is all about the spices! This super easy Moroccan quinoa dish won't disappoint. Whether you serve it as a warm side dish for dinner or a cold salad for lunch, you'll enjoy this versatile, easy, nutritious, and plant-based recipe dusted with cinnamon, cumin, turmeric and pistachio nuts.

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Beet and Cardamom Soup


Calling all beet lovers! I made a gorgeous deep pink beetroot soup that is mixed with apples, walnuts, cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon. 

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash- Vegan and Gluten Free


stuffed acorn squash quarters

Quinoa stuffed acorn squash is a delicious fall dish that is easy to cook, mild tasting, and filling. It provides a good deal of fiber, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants. Making it a healthy choice for a beautiful looking and nutritious side dish.

Monday, September 21, 2020

Light and Fluffy Quinoa Made in the Instant Pot


Bowl of white fluffy quinoa

Are you a quinoa lover?
 
The Instant Pot is the perfect way to cook it!
I set it to pressure cook for 2 minutes and then allow it to naturally release for 12 minutes.

I have an on and off relationship with quinoa. I do really like it, but I often forget about it, and rice usually wins out as a side in our home. 

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Honey Cake for Rosh Hashanah-Egg-free, Gluten-free, Dairy-free


Honey Cake



Honey cake is one of the traditional desserts that we eat on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year! My mother always made her honey cake using a cup of strong black tea and added chopped walnuts to the batter.

Monday, September 14, 2020

Fall Potato Dill Vegetable Soup- Vegan


Fall vegetable soup

We loved our flavorful potato dill vegetable soup! 
The weekly local outdoor farmer's markets are thriving and have lots of beautiful seasonal vegetables and herbs for sale! This week I decided to make a fragrant fall vegetable soup with the produce that I bought from the market.

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Monday, August 31, 2020

Peach and Cardamom Breakfast Tea Cake

small cardamom bundt tea cake


Looking for a nice breakfast cake to eat with a cup of tea? 


The simple cake is not too sweet, and it is laced with a touch of aromatic cardamom. 
I used a bundt pan and filled it half way. The small delicate gluten-free| egg-free| dairy-free tea cake yields 8 medium slices.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Fresh Peach Bellini





Have you ever had an Italian "Bellini" Cocktail?
It's an incredible drink made with fresh summer peaches and mixed with prosecco. (I made a virgin version too that I mix with seltzer for the kids).


The first time I was introduced to a beautiful Bellini cocktail was many years ago at the exquisite Bellini Bar inside of the The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. It was a memorable cocktail and memorable experience!

Monday, August 24, 2020

A Falcon in My Neighborhood



Last night, when returning from my evening walk, I looked up and there on the roof of my next door neighbor's house was a large magnificent bird that I'm guessing was a peregrine or prairie falcon (professional photo from free Internet site)


Thursday, August 20, 2020

The Plant-Based College Cookbook -Review and Recipe

The Plant-Based College Cookbook


I'm thrilled to have a copy of The Plant-Based College Cookbook in my cookbook collection! Although the book is intended for college students, I think that any vegetarian household would welcome these recipes.

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