The kitchen is the heart of our dwelling spaces and our yoga practices can take root in the very preparation of a meal. The following offerings of recipes are from my heart to yours and I hope you enjoy them in the best of health.
It has been my aim to create recipes inspired by seasonal foods with omission of dairy, meat, eggs and refined sweeteners. This is not based on a judgement of those ingredients, but simply a reflection of my personal interests and abilities.
Cooking has always been a part of my life and was my first exposure to the heart of yoga. The kitchen was a gathering place and a space to be nourished. My Italian mother and grandparents extensively gardened and delighted in the process of taking something from it’s purist form and shifting it to bring out it’s best qualities was a daily ritual.
I offer my deepest gratitude to my family for exposing me to the passion and integrity of whole foods cooking in this collection of recipes. As my Mom would say, Mangia!
Almond and oat flour are the base for this succulent cake that goes great with a warm cup of tea or coffee.
cranberry white chocolate almond cake raw cacao butter
Butter, sugar, seasonal fruit...need I say more? These are a simple yet decadent treat.
ground cherries bosc pear dufour puff pastry
Nut butter base, sweetened with brown rice syrup and dotted with dried strawberries. These rice crispy treats store well in the fridge and are a healthy fun snack.
A creamy dairy-free alternative to cheesecake that's just as rich and luxurious.
vegan cheesecake white chocolate freeze dried strawberries nut based cheesecake
Densely nutritious bite size ball with matcha buckwheat crunchies.
matcha flax buckwheat sesame
Deliciously moist muffins that satisfy all needs pumpkin and apple.
almond flour apple pumpkin autumn muffins
Olive oil adds a nutty flavor to these oatmeal cookies. They also have a lot less oats than traditional cookies and satisfy the craving for a healthy shortbread like experience.
oatmeal oats vegan cookies olive oil cookie
Not just a St. Patty's vegan breakfast but a smart way to get some greens into your comfort food. Lindsay Skarbek of Twisted Tree Yoga posted these on IG and they've been on our morning rotation ever since.
kale spinach vegan pancakes
A "My New Roots" inspired salad with a tender crunch and bold flavor. Sarah Britton's Shaved Turnip and Radish Salad rekindled my love fro the ever present radish.
asparagus radish watermelon radish mint
Melt in your mouth cold weather comfort food!
cauliflower maitake sun dried tomatoes
Got 5 minutes to devote to healthy greens in your life? Try this super quick and sumptuous brussel sprouts. I was inspired by a recipe in Cook's Illustrated that tossed them with romano cheese and lemon. Here it's just olive oil, salt and a fraction of the time it takes to roast in the oven. You get tender sprouts with a crisp edge glistening in their green jackets.
cast iron brussel sprouts
Who doesn't love cheddar broccoli soup? Well, those of us who struggle with slurping down a dairy product. Unlike many vegan cream soups with a nut base here I used butternut squash for this creamy soup.
butternut squash broccoli nutritional yeast mellow miso
Sushi is not a health food with all the sugar, simple carbs and traditional western additions like cream cheese and sweet spicy mayo. Swapping brown rice for white rice takes some finesse but it can be done easily at home. Here I've used vegetables you would find in a Japanese maki that we have available at local American groceries. Additional ingredients like pickled daikon, umeboshi paste are excellent additions that can be found at Mitsua or H Mart (Chicagoland) or your favorite Asian grocery.
vegan sushi nori maki umeboshi vinegar
It's not clear to me what makes a slaw a slaw other than summertime, shredded cabbage and vinegar. This simple salad is a fresh take on picnic food that is influenced by my recent taste of tabbouleh. Crunchy cabbage takes the place of grain in a traditional tabbouleh. Call it what you want but it's simply delicious.
parsley slaw cabbage mint leaves
Grain-free cake with lemon and frozen blueberries to bring a warm grounding cake a pinch of brightness to your winter "blahs".
blueberries coconut sugar almond flour
Guest food blogger Jennifer Lynne Le Vine shares her warming, vegan ideas this week. Her stew will have you feeling recharged, renewed, and re-you!
vegan spinach turmeric winter Jennifer Lynne Le Vine goji
Adapted from Yamuna Devi's Lord Krishna's Cuisine: The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking, I take on a recipe with only the ingredients in my pantry and surprise myself with a fantastic new dish. It might not look like much but it's flavorful and satisfying on a 22 degree night. I leave out the eggplant, replace raw tomatoes for roasted, omit the spicy chilies and cayenne of the original to make it more kid friendly.
vegan Indian food brown basmati spinach garam masala turmeric
Easy chickpea flatbread loaded with flavor.
kale leeks farinata maitake
After leading a 3 day retreat in Michigan and spoiled with the delicious foods prepared for us, I came home craving some granola just like we had there. Turns out, I had a very limited pantry and got out my thinking hat to make due with what was around. Much like the retreat taught us, good things come when we open up to being present.
flax almond meal granola orange zest chia
It's exhausting trying to get nutrition into my kids that are out in the world, exposed to snacks from big box stores they've never seen now that full-day kindergarten is in session. All it took was a simple name game to get back into a rhythm of asking for homemade snacks. They might not come in a bright package but the name "mermaid food" got them hooked. Better for you and the environment, here's a snack with energy and flavor!
hemp green-powder sesame seeds
Finally a year of gardening to put in the books! My tomato harvest has not let up since July and this is one way I have made good use of them. This was born from the necessity for low impact cooking- I did not want to deal with splatters, the time it normally takes to cook tomatoes down before even making your sauce, or standing and stirring often. Here you pretty much toss ingredients on a sheet pan and then into a blender. Use this marinara for your favorite pasta, spread on a pizza or use to swirl your chickpeas in.
roasted tomatoes
Sweet peas are finally ready to pop from their pods. Enjoy a simple, savory dish with hints of spring as well as warmer temps. Very light and grounding.
peas sweet potatoes brussels sprouts
Put your coffee grinder to use in this easy recipe full of powerful ingredients.
maca peanut butter cacao nibs
Simply the best muffin. Could not stop eating them!
almond meal coconut flour bananas
My food photography needs help but this bread was too delicious to pass up posting. It's NOT vegan but neither am I so you may be in the wrong place. However, it is made with unconventional "flour" and sweeteners. Seriously, let those Fuyu persimmons ripen so much that their skin begins to wrinkle and then chop them up and bake them in this bread. Perfect for late autumn and early winter snacking or light lunch.
persimmon cranberry almond meal garbanzo bean flour
This tastes like Greece in your mouth. The roasted garlic off-set by the sweet and tart lemon are perfect with creamy greens.
kale roasted garlic lemon parsley
Easy homemade raspberry fig jam with a shot of pomegranate molasses compliments a simple almond meal cookie sweetened with maple syrup.
raspberry fresh figs almond meal
Soba with a vegetable and herb twist that is known to the Plaine States.
soba cucumber baby greens beet greens
Quick, crispy Brussels sprouts dotted with yellow mustard seeds adds a fresh accompaniment to many spring meals.
brussels sprouts chives mustard seed
Quinoa porridge with coconut milk, cashews, hemp and pumpkin seeds.
vegan cardamom coconut milk quinoa cashews breakfast kid approved
Vegan brownies that are super moist and not made with weird replacement ingredients. Also, best trick for frosting- a bag of chips melted onto the brownies themselves (no double boiler!!).
spelt brown rice syrup brownies
Move over kale, brussels sprouts are here to stay. This salad is a perfect blend of comforting fresh seasonal ingredients.
vegan lentils sage brussels sprouts
Nothing says simple like a tray of roasted veggies. Whether it's roots or shoots, season to season you can easily pack a veggie punch to your meal and not spend a whole lot of time in the kitchen. This simple grain dish highlights the bounty of spring.
Door to Door Organics fava beans dark miso green beans
Heather Crosby's Yum Universe is absolutely the yummiest vegan (gf, soy free) food on the planet and quite possibly the universe. She recently published a cookbook and here is a snippet!
yum universe pancakes gluten-free
A combination of fall flavors in a warm, savory side.
vegan heirloom tomato delicata squash rainbow chard autumn cooking
What's the difference between a salsa, a relish or a sauce? Let's not get to technical. This recipe could apply in a lot of different circumstances on the plate. Basically I had an abundance of cucumbers, kale and peaches (because how can you NOT at this stage of summer) and needed to do something quick!
kale peaches cucumber lime salt
Simply delicious and versatile recipe for roasted veggies.
sugar snap peas honey
Here's a Native Foods knock-off for all you fast food lovers who also love easy and at home. The cafe sounds so great: vegan, healthy, and to your table in 8 minutes. But is it actually healthy?
kale tempeh gomashio
Grab for on the go, enjoy as an afternoon fuel-up, or share with a toddler. This bar is easy and chock-full of awesome.
puffed millet
Kale makes it's way into most things in my kitchen. Currently Whole Foods is claiming collards are the new kale but I am a loyal cooked kale fan so here's yet another easy 1-2-3 recipe to get it in your rotation. To be technical, a ragu is a meat based dish served over pasta. This is a vegetarian spin on a family favorite.
kale tempeh fire roasted tomatoes
Japanese eggplant are slender, vibrant purple and do not carry the bitterness that most globe eggplants do. Check out a recipe I learned while living in Geihoku that is full of spice, comfort and authenticity.
miso Japanese eggplant donburi
If Hoppin' John is supposed to bring you good luck if you eat it on New Years Day, what kinda luck comes from eating it all month long? Seriously easy dinners that are incredibly scrumptious are in order for a growing family and this vegan Hoppin' John fits the bill.
black-eyed peas miso
Getting in the spirit of the season of giving has inspired me to revamp a classic cookie. It's vegan, it's crispy, and it has grown-up ingredients that may just make these cookies stick around for just you to enjoy. Macadamia nuts and crystallized ginger amp up the traditional gingersnap into a seasonal favorite.
vegan gingersnap coconut palm sugar molasses macadamia nut crystallized ginger
Vegan cake is hard to get right. This cake is deceivingly delicious. Happy Birthday to my Dad and Todd, who are some serious chocolate cake eating people!
vegan frosting chocolate
Brussel sprouts can become a favorite in your kitchen once you learn how versatile it is! Sure, roasting them is great but shredding and sauteing can make you a delicious side in minutes.
vegan brussel sprouts black sesame honey mustard
The month of November is one huge taste test for the Thanksgiving holiday. This stuffing recipe is a product of me trying to find ways to insert healthy into glutton fest. It's neither stuffed into a bird nor made of bread crumbs that came out of a box but is full of warm, earthy notes that are satisfying.
figs sweet potatoes holiday cooking
Homemade granola is a cinch to make. Highlighted here is a superfood blend of hemp seeds, raw pepitas and flax seeds with extra cinnamon pumpkin spice. Enjoy by the handful, over Greek yogurt or your favorite vegan version, add some crunch to your coconut ice cream or even over chopped bananas. It's a hit in our home with our toddler. Since some of the chunks are big depending on the size of your layering when you bake them, you might get some nugget sized ones perfect for little hands.
vegan flax pepitas hemp maple syrup
Get grounded this autumn by tasting the roots and grains native to Asia. Hato mugi, shiitake and daikon radishes team up with some healthy favorites like kale and garlic to reinvent the macrobiotic palate.
kale hato mugi daikon
After months of popping the sweetest little tomatoes off the vine we are amazed to still have such an abundance. This vegan grain salad is a reflection of my earnest attempts to get these tomatoes eaten in another creative way. Truly, we've been popping them like grapes but it was time to dress them up rather than cook them down in a frittata. Take advantage of the last remaining weeks of fresh tomatoes and basil coupled with the heartiness of a cooler crop like lacinato kale. Sunsugar are an heirloom variety well suited for urban gardening. Don't fret if you can't find them, just swap it with another fave.
vegan heirloom tomato miso pesto kale umeboshi
August is stone fruit season in the Midwest and we've been finding ways to enjoy our Michigan peaches. Of course, any crumble goes well with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream/coconut cream so feel free to smatter your crumble with extra goodies.
vegan peaches maple sugar pistachio crumble
Has your CSA box ever delivered you something you had never encountered before? Yah, well we got purple broccoli and purple basil in the same box so I figured the universe was giving me a sign. Purple food is to be eaten and enjoyed!
purple cauliflower purple basil ume plum vinegar
Celebrate the freshness of Spring with a trip to your local farmer's market or co-op to procure the ingredients for this seasonal gem of a salad. It's unbelievably easy with big flavor (if you just get someone else to shell your fresh peas) .
peas arugula fava
Matcha is a mellow flavor that is very distinct. In contrast to it's palate pleasing taste it will amp you up if you are sensitive to caffeine. This is a lovely dessert to round out the evening with a warm cup of tea.
matcha okara
Treat your sweetheart to a decadent dessert made with wholesome ingredients. These little slivers of love are very intense and you'll want to share with your beloveds so you aren't tempted to eat them all.
brown rice syrup cacao butter raw cashews
Nut butters plus winter squash will always equal a win.
butternut squash peanut butter
squash, sweet potato, kale, celery, onion, mushroom, garlic, olive oil, thyme, bay leaf, chipotle, almond milk, olive salsa, sea salt & pepper
kale delicata corn chowder chipotle
Perfect on their own as an antipasti or mix into your fresh summer tosses of tomatoes and green beans. Nothing compares to the succulent sweetness of these terrific little onions.
cipollini onion fresh herbs
Food enthusiast and yoga teacher extraordinaire Claire Mark's cookbook Cooking with a Yogaview features 2 recipes from my collection. Check it out!
cookbook yogaview Claire Mark Chicago seasonal
Cast Iron is incredibly versatile and lends well to creating the most perfect crust texture here with Michael Stack's famous semolina dough.
vegan pizza cast iron pizza semolina
Satsuma plus fresh cranberries equals a power combo. You will not be disappointed by these muffins due to their festive seasonal look and deliciously moist flavor.
vegan satsuma cranberry coconut
Most perfect vegan scone ever! I modeled it after one of my favorites from Bleeding Heart Bakery and even surpassed it.
maple sugar cardamom vegan scone butternut squash
"O-ishi" is how you say delicious in Japanese. Having lived there for 2 years and deeply studied the science of macrobiotic cooking while there, oishi came out a lot! This recipe highlights one of the most delicious root vegetables I ate there and was delightfully surprised to see these at the Green City Market in Chicago (grown by Nichols Farm and Orchard) and seasonally at Whole Foods. This recipe is a great segway in to cooking Japanese food without cane sugar and moving into more nutritious varieties of seaweed.
satsumaimo japanese sweet potato hijiki
We love Indian food in our house but I'm always striving to leave out ghee. I realize it's the fat that makes it taste so delish but alas was successful in my attempts to bring both the comforting flavors and heart healthy qualities to this recipe.
cast iron vegan Indian eggplant peas
Mana Food Bar across from Yogaview on Division Street is by far one of my most favorite vegetarian restaurants. They emphasis vegetables in their dishes rather than meat-friendly copycats, which I find delightful. Their sliders could easily be the most delectable recipe of my collection of faux-Mana recipes.
burgers forbidden rice mushrooms
My sweet tooth runs deep. Here was a way for me to eat a cookie yet not experience pangs of a sugar high.
macrobiotic cookie spelt almond agave
Lovely spring shoots enveloped in creamy goodness!
vegan asparagus coconut milk leeks
Kabocha squash is a hard squash that I had the delight of enjoying in Japan, as it is a Japanese squash. Luckily they are grown in Wisconsin and end up in the Whole Foods' squash bins. This squash is enormously different than an acorn squash and is an exquisite addition to your cold weather cooking.
vegan curry kabocha squash
With our without the maca, this smoothie is a staple for my morning routine.
vegan maca sun foods superfood green powder
Persimmons! What do you do with this fruit? Lots, it's all about consuming when they are ripe.
spelt brown rice syrup persimmon flax
Easy and nutritious comfort food could easily describe my desires come late autumn. Here's one from my heart to your belly.
vegan Indian ajwain seed cauliflower
This dish is homey,comforting and easy to make. Try it on a Sunday night and have a few leftovers for great leftover lunches.
kale Ezekiel sweet potato herbes de provence
Sea vegetables are high in iron and a great addition to a salad where the dressing compliments their inherent coastal flavor. Try arame in this summer salad and you might not even know you are eating seaweed but you still get to absorb all their healthful benefits.
kale arame shiso