Easiest Mexican Black Bean Dip Made in Minutes

With the holidays and holiday parties just around the corner, you will be happy to have this quick and easy guilt-free Mexican black bean dip on hand that can be made last minute and in minutes to help spread the cheer! Tired of hummus? 

Vegan Green Bean Soup Made With Frozen Green Beans

Have you ever heard of green bean soup? 

From my research, it seems that this soup is of German origin and is called Grüne Bohnen Suppe which translates to Green Bean Soup. 

This is my vegan version of this delicious soup.

4 Amazing Thanksgiving Salads

Dazzling Thanksgiving Salad 

Wilted kale, roasted squash, pomegranate, red onion and greens make an interesting salad that will dazzle your guests. 

Grated Carrot Salad with Cashews, walnuts and Cranberries

I shared this salad recently but it is so good and so perfect for Thanksgiving that I wanted to share it for anyone who missed it. 

Tomato Salad 

This is a nice light tomato salad for the holiday made with tomatoes, red onions, and olives. Yum

Quinoa Tabouleh Salad

A wonderful way to combine quinoa with vegetables. Light, easy to serve since it doesn't need to be warmed up. 

Instant Pot Black Friday Sales and Recipes

Instant Pot 6 quart (affiliate link) is by far the tool that I use the most in the kitchen. There was a very short learning curve which involved going on Youtube and watching a short video or I could have read the instructions but I was too lazy. 

After using the pot just ONCE , I felt like a pro and started using it for steaming vegetables, making potatoes, quinoa, rice, beans, and spaghetti and all kinds of pasta, soups because I'm vegan. But you can certainly cook roasts, chicken, firs and meat in it!  You have no idea what a great tool it is until you actually start using it. 

I could be making even more, but I am not adventurous enough to make baked goods in it or make gourmet foods- but many people do. 

An easy recipe for the Instant Pot is Broccoli soup (link to the recipe) - an very nourishing and delicious way to eat broccoli. 

I also make my own creamy chickpeas in the Instant Pot (link to the recipe). It is so easy. You don't even have to soak the beans overnight if you don't want to, but for better digestibility I often do. Cans are in aluminum which get into your system.

I make quinoa in Instant Pot  (link to the recipe) in just 2 minutes cooking time and it comes out light and fluffy. Just the way we like it. The Instant Pot is so easy to clean that I would not want to cook it any other way.

For couples or families, trust me, it will not feel like just an extra appliance on your shelf. It will be a fabulous tool for weeknight cooking and when entertaining.

Who do you know who love an Instant Pot for the holidays? 

Now is the time to get one while it is on sale for Black Friday.

Instant Pot 6 quart (affiliate link to take a look on Amazon)

Spaghetti (or any pasta) link to the recipe in the Instant is one of my favorite ways to make it. You cook in directly in the sauce, so no need to boil water, drain, and then toss. No Mess!!! and it is delcious.

If you have not purchased an Instant Pot you might want to look into during Black Friday Sales. 

Instant Pot 6 quart (affiliate link to the Amazon sale)  is on sale for $79.00 which is a good buy. I've had mine for 5 years now and it still works great. It's worth having one. 

Great advantages

It is VERY easy to clean, it doesn't spill over, you can set it and leave it and it will automatically shut off and still keep food warm. I use it for everything. Oh it doesn't heat up the kitchen and if your stove burners are full on Thanksgiving or another holiday, you've to another burner to cook.

It comes in 3 quart, 6 quart and 8 quart. 

I have the 6 quart and the 8 quart that I use all the time ( I am a snow bird and have one at each location).

Instant Pot 6 quart (affiliate link to look at the Instant Pot) is on sale right not for Black Friday Sales. Go Take a Look

 

Disclaimer; I'm an affiliate for Amazon. I you click on a link on my site and make a qualified purchase, I receive a very small compensation at no cost to you. It helps defray the cost of publishing a free blog and I thank you for your support. It means so much. 

Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer. (affiliate link) 




This is the air fryer that I use and love it! It's on sale too.

10 Vegan and Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Sides

Sweet Potato, Apple, and Prune Bake

This a traditional Tzimmis when baked melts together for a chunky delicious mix of fall flavors.

The photo is before it was baked. It becomes creamy and delicious when baked.

Baked Apple, Yam, and Dried Apricot Casserole

A healthier choice for yam casserole with apricots and apples adding to the sweetness for a wonderful yam bake.

Before Baking

Chunky Cranberry Apple Chutney

The perfectly healthy cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving using fresh cranberries with sweet apples spiced with interesting flavors.

Thanksgiving Shredded Carrot, Cranberry, and Cashew Salad

One of my favorite salads. It's sweet and crunchy and perfect for Thanksgiving since it is best to make it the night before to give the incredible flavors a chance to mingle and the carrots a chance to relax.

 Dairy-free Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom Gravy

Enjoy this rich vegan gravy over dairy free mashed potatoes. A real comfort food without the heavy fats and calories.

Roasted Asparagus and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

A simple but delicious combination of two complementary vegetables. 

Roasted Vegetable Platter Tray 

Roasted vegetables are perfect for Thanksgiving because they can be served hot or at room temperature so they can be made in advance. It's all in the presentation. Make a variety of vegetables in advance and arrange on a platter. 

Asian Quinoa Slaw Salad 

A wonderful quinoa side that is both flavorful and delicious. Your guests will keep coming back for more. 

Green Bean Casserole

A healthier alternative to the more traditional high fat green bean casserole in a mushroom cream sauce.

Crunchy and Creamy Roasted Brussels Sprouts 

Roasting is the tastiest way to cook Brussels sprouts. They are crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Even Brussels sprouts haters are swayed by this recipe.

I have both of these appliances and love them both. They are both on sale on Amazon just click on the photo.

Easy Plant-Based Cookbook for Two- Review and Recipe

Lei Shishak, author of Farm-to Ladle Desserts and Beach House Baking, has published a new cookbook called Easy Plant-Based Cooking for Two - and I think it's impressive and worth a look!

Warm Up Your Thanksgiving: 7 Plant-Based Soup Ideas

In our family the Thanksgiving meal is not complete without soup. The temperatures are often cold, if not frigid, so a hot bowl of delicious fall soup hits the spot to warm up. Today I'm sharing 7 soup plant-based healthy recipes.

A Plant-Based Thanksgiving- 4 of My Favorite Appetizers

           

Whether your family gathering is large or small, Thanksgiving is a time when lasting memories are made and the aroma of delicious traditional holiday foods ooze from the kitchen. 

Making a plant-based Thanksgiving can be a challenge, but it is not as difficult as you might think. 

Most Thanksgiving sides are plant-based or can easily be made plant-based.  The greater challenge is finding the perfect entree to replace the Turkey. 

I sharing some of my favorite recipes from Thanksgiving's Past to help get think plant-based and gluten-free if you, a family member or guest have special eating needs this Thanksgiving. 

Appetizers Anyone? 

If you are like our family, we like to convene about 2:00 PM, hang around with some appetizers (and drinks)🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 share some mingle time together, and then enjoy the Thanksgiving feast. 

In today's post, I will share appetizer ideas. 

Following posts will address the other parts of the meal: 

Soups, salads, sides, desserts and entree. 

Extraordinary Hummus Platter( recipe link) - Homemade hummus is always the best, but whether you decide to make your own (recipe provided for homemade hummus- recipe link) or use prepared hummus you can still make a wow presentation with this delicious hummus display. 

Avocado Vegan Caprese Appetizer  (recipe link)

A beautiful display of tomatoes, capers, basil, avocado and cucumbers. Healthy, tasty, and appealing. 

Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms (recipe link)

These are a little more work but absolutely delicious. Could be a side dish or an appetizer. 

Indian Style Vegan Vegetable Pakoras (recipe link)- Baked not fried and oil free. Easy to make and your family will love them. Again, serve them with the meal or as an appetizer. 

What time does your Thanksgiving meal begin? 

Do you mingle with appetizers and drinks or get right to the meal? 

Be on the lookout for My next 4 posts which will share ideas for Plant-based Thanksgiving recipes: 

• 
  
• Thanksgiving Soup Ideas and Recipes
• Thanksgiving Salad Ideas and Recipes
• Thanksgiving Sides Ideas and Recipes
• Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas and Recipes
• 
  

Winter Squash In The Instant Pot- Fast and Easy

Do you love winter squashes but find them hard to cut and difficult to peel?  I either buy them pre-cut up or struggle to cut them. 

But no more!! I found a solution.

Updated Tofu (Egg-Like) Salad

Before I became vegan about two years ago, egg salad was one of my favorite things to eat. Honestly, I still love that creamy, comforting flavor—but as a vegan, I choose not to eat eggs anymore. Instead, I make a simple egg-free “egg salad” using tofu, and it’s surprisingly delicious.

This tofu egg-style salad is quick, easy, and made with ingredients you may already have on hand. I simply drain and mash firm tofu, then add turmeric for that classic yellow color, chopped parsley, capers, and a dollop of hummus instead of mayonnaise. Everything gets mixed together into a creamy, flavorful spread that really does remind me of egg salad.

 

It turns into a delicious "egg salad like" dish. I then like to top it with sliced tomatoes, baby spinach, and sliced red onion and eat it on a gluten free wrap. Sometimes I even add leftover cooked vegetables or other salad veggies (grated carrot, slices of cucumber, radishes etc. or I might eat it with gluten-free crackers. 

Have you tried tofu? It is sold in almost every supermarket in the refrigerator section usually near the produce. I buy the firm tofu (it comes in soft and medium as well) for this recipe and drain off some of the water. 

This is an example of a plant-based lunch that provides protein and calcium from the tofu, vitamins and antioxidants from the spinach, tomatoes, and red onion. 

Plant-based eating is good for your health and for the environment. 

Are you concerned about global warming? Eating animal foods is a major contributor to global warming.

Less Animal Meals; Less Greenhouse Effect

Did you know that the greenhouse effect helps trap heat from the sun, to help our temperatures remain tolerable. But the huge production of animals by manufacturers (meat, chicken, dairy) are giving off an abundance of methane gasses which significantly increasing heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, causing the earth to keep warming up too much.

An article in Stanford News (source) explains: 

"The worldwide phase out of animal agriculture, combined with a global switch to a plant-based diet, would effectively halt the increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases for 30 years and give humanity more time to end its reliance on fossil fuels, according to a new study by scientists from Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley."

Eat less meat, chicken, eggs, and dairy to help halt global warming!! 

Eat less animal meals and more plant-based meals.

As more people start understanding the role that animal based eating is playing in destroying our atmosphere, perhaps individuals will start to make important decisions to eat a more plant-based diet- if not entirely but at least for a majority of meals. 

If you come from an ethnic background, your ancestors probably ate a lot of plant-based meals using rice, beans, quinoa, yams, potatoes, in soups, entrees, and salads.

Ingredients: 

4 ounces of firm tofu, drained and mashed with a fork

1/4 cup of chopped parsley

1 tablespoon of capers

1/2 teaspoon of ground turmeric

1 heaping tablespoon of hummus

Cracked pepper and Pink Himalayan Salt to taste

Topping for wrap: 

3 slices of tomatoes

4 leaves of baby spinach

1 slice of red onion 

Directions: 

Add the mashed tofu to a bowl. Add the turmeric, capers, parsley, and hummus and mix well. Once it forms a spread, add it to a wrap and top with the tomatoes, baby spinach, and red onion. Close the wrap and enjoy or eat with GF crackers.

My Notes: 

Last May I posted a recipe for tofu egg salad but this is my updated  recipe that  includes hummus. I think it takes it to a whole new level. It holds together better and tastes better.

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Sharing on The Intrepid Reader and Baker for Weekend Cooking where any blogger can share a food related post.