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Chef Cindy

Sides

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

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Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

Mac & Cheese is voted one of America’s top favorite foods. Study after study showed it within the top 10! Is it because it goes so well with burgers & hot dogs – more of America’s favorite foods? Or is it America’s love of cheese? Whatever the reason, it was my desire to make a healthier version of it since it is loved by many.

Check out my post on how to select, cut and roast butternut squash.

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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

  • Author: Chef Cindy
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Vegan, Side
  • Method: Roast
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese is a creamy & delicious vegan version of Mac & Cheese. It is loaded with extra healthy ingredients including nutritional yeast and kale!

Scale

Ingredients

1 pound pasta, cooked

1 medium butternut squash, peeled & cubed

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves

1/4 cup tahini

1 cup vegetable broth or oat milk

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

2 cups chopped fresh kale (put aside 2 tablespoons and chop fine for topping)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven 375°.
  2. In a large bowl, toss the cubed butternut squash with olive oil and salt. Spread butternut squash on  a parchment lined baking sheet, and bake for approximately 30 minutes, shifting around halfway through.
  3. While roasting, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small fry pan and add chopped onion. When softened, add the garlic and cook 2 – 3 more minutes. Add the kale and cook until wilted.
  4. Combine the butternut squash and onion & kale mix to a food processor. Add tahini, broth or plant-based milk and blend until smooth.
  5. After straining the pasta, mix all the ingredients together in the same pot and stir until well blended. Heat and add additional salt & pepper if needed.
  6. Top with 2 tablespoons freshly chopped kale.

Notes

  • Equipment needed: baking sheet, food processor
  • Pasta: I used Cavatelli Pasta but any shape/type will do

Keywords: butternut squash mac and cheese, vegan kale mac and cheese

Green Bean Salad with Pickled Red Onions & Jalapeño Mustard Dressing

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Not your typical green bean salad!

Green Bean Salad with Pickled Red Onions & Jalapeño Mustard Dressing is not your typical Green Bean Salad! The flavor of the pickled red onions, chives and the jalapeño mustard dressing mesh together so well with the green beans and tomatoes. Even the pickiest of eaters will love this!

Pickled Red Onions

These pickled red onions are incredible! My inspiration came from one of my favorite food bloggers @loveandlemons. I decided to use them as a finishing touch for my green bean recipe. It’s as simple as cutting the onions, heating the vinegar mixture and placing all the ingredients in a mason jar. Just wait approximately 1 hour or overnight for the onions to become tender and turn a beautiful pink color. It’s a as simple as that!

The next step is to prepare your green beans. The batch of beans I used for this recipe were fresh from the Golden Earthworm Organic Farm CSA I belong to.

  • trim & steam
  • place in cold water bath & strain
  • pat dry & place in large bowl
Prepare the Green Beans
Prep the peppers, tomatoes, garlic, jalapeño and chives
Make the jalapeño mustard dressing
Plate the ingredients beautifully in a large serving bowl
Drizzle the dressing over the salad

And you are ready to eat a delicious & nutritious salad!

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Green Bean Salad with Pickled Red Onions & Jalapeño Mustard Dressing

  • Author: Cindy
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 10
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 salad servings 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Steamed
  • Cuisine: Vegan, Vegetarian
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Description

Green Bean Salad with Pickled Onions & Jalapeño Mustard Dressing is a delicious salad to make especially when entertaining. You can make this hours ahead of time and it will be just as delicious if not more! The colors of the salad make for a beautiful accent to your dinner table.

Scale

Ingredients

Salad:

Pickled Red Onions

4 cups green beans

1 cup sun gold tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes)

1/2 yellow pepper

1/2 red pepper

Jalapeño Mustard Dressing:

2 tablespoons vinegar

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons chives, chopped

1 garlic clove, chopped fine

1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon  chopped jalapeño

4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pickled Red Onions (1 hour before or overnight)
  2. Trim the ends off the green beans and cut into bite size pieces. Rinse and place in a heated double boiler until tender crisp (approximately 5-7 minutes)
  3. While cooking set up a cold water bath for the greens beans. When beans are done, immediately plunge the beans in the cold water (so they stop cooking). Let sit for a few minutes, them strain (pick out the ice cubes if any). Pat dry the beans and place in a serving bowl.
  4. Clean & cut the tomatoes in half. Seed & dice the peppers. Place aside.
  5. In a measuring cup, add the vinegar, mustard, salt , chives, garlic and jalapeno. Whisk in the extra virgin olive oil.
  6. Plate all the ingredients (as pictured) and drizzle the dressing over it.
  7. Toss before serving. 

Keywords: Vegan, Vegetarian,

Vegan Caesar Salad with Roasted Chickpea Croutons

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Vegan Caesar Salad with Roasted Chickpea Croutons

Caesar Salad lovers or not … this salad is for you!

Whether you are a traditional Caesar Salad lover or not, I’m sure you will agree that this Vegan Caesar Salad with Roasted Chickpea Croutons is “out of this world” delicious! It is packed with nutrition from the greens, and tons of flavor from the nuts, seeds and chickpeas. But, one of the key ingredients for flavor in this recipe comes from a vegan and vegetarian favorite – Nutritional Yeast.

What is Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast is a dehydrated yeast product. The yeast comes from the strain Soccharomyces cerevisiae, the same type of yeast that’s used to brew beer and bake bread. The yeast is harvested, washed, and then heated to dry which then makes it inactive. It is then crumbled into powder and then packaged for use.

What does Nutritional Yeast taste like and is it healthy for you?

Nutritional yeast has a rich, nutty flavor that mimics many taste aspects of cheese. Nutritional yeast is super nutritious. It is also one of the few plant sources of B12, which makes it a must have ingredient for vegans and vegetarians.  Just one tablespoon delivers slightly more than the daily recommended amount for adults.

Note: Vitamin B12 is known to help with our nervous system, blood-cell formation, digestion, brain function and much more. It is also a water-soluble vitamin, which means we need to replenish it every single day, since it doesn’t get stored in our bodies like fat-soluble vitamins.

Where can I buy Nutritional Yeast?

There are many brands of Nutritional Yeast (Bob’s Red Mill, Bragg”s Premium, Simply Organic, Whole Foods), and they are readily available at most markets or to purchase on line.

How do I prepare Vegan Caesar Salad?

There are 4 components to making Vegan Caesar Salad with Roasted Croutons:

  • Fresh Greens – Romaine Lettuce (or a mix with Lactino kale)
  • Roasted Chickpea Croutons
  • Caesar Dressing
  • Nutty Parmesan Cheese
Romaine Lettuce – clean leaves in salad spinner
Nut & Seed Parmesan Cheese Mix – pulse to mix in food processor

Roasted Chickpea Croutons – Season & roast in oven for up to 30 minutes

Caesar Salad Dressing – soak cashews overnight and blend all ingredients

Plate the greens, top with crotons & cheese mix and a drizzle of dressing
Vegan Caesar Salad with Chickpea Croutons on a serving platter
Lactino Kale (Tuscan, Dinosaur, Black) made a nice addition to caesar salad
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Vegan Caesar Salad with Roasted Chickpea Croutons

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Cindy
  • Prep Time: 30 min
  • Cook Time: 30 min
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Salad, Entrée
  • Method: Roasted/Raw
  • Cuisine: Vegan
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Description

Vegan Caesar Salad with Roasted Chickpea Croutons is a flavorful blend of nuts, beans and spices placed over romaine lettuce or a blend of greens.

Scale

Ingredients

1 large head of romaine lettuce (or 1 small head of romaine and 1 bunch of Lactino kale)

Roasted Chickpea Croutons:

1 container (13.4 ounce) or can of chickpeas

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Caesar Dressing:

3/4 cup raw cashews, covered & soaked in water overnight

1/2 cup water

1 medium lemon juiced

1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves

2 teaspoons capers

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon sea salt & pepper, or to taste

Nutty Parmesan Cheese:

1/3 cup raw cashews

2 tablespoons of sunflower seeds

1 garlic clove

1 tablespoons of nutritional yeast

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

sea salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Place cashews (for dressing) in a bowl or measuring cup and soak in water overnight. Drain & rinse.
  2. Lettuce: Break each leaf apart by hand (or cut) into bite size pieces, setting a few whole leaves aside for plating purposes. Clean in a salad spinner or bowl of water. Dry thoroughly. 
  3. Croutons: Preheat oven to 400°. Drain & rinse chickpeas. Place in a clean towel to dry. Remove the chickpeas from the towel and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Pour olive oil over the chickpeas and move them around  gently so they are coated evenly. Sprinkle the seasonings over the chickpeas and shift around again (I find it easiest to just rotate them around with my hands). Roast for approximately 30 minutes, until crispy golden brown, rotating after 15 minutes with a spoon or spatula.
  4. Dressing: Drain & rinse the cashews. Place all of the ingredients in a high speed blender and process until smooth & creamy. Add more water if necessary. You can also add more nutritional yeast if you desire.
  5. Nutty Cheese: Place cashews & garlic in a food processor and blend until fully chopped. Add the remaining ingredients (except oil) and pulse until blended well. Add the oil and pulse a few more times.
  6. Plate greens (or in a large bowl). Top with chickpea croutons, nutty parmesan cheese and a drizzle of the vegan caesar dressing. 

 

Keywords: vegan caesar salad dressing, roasted chickpea croutons, nutritional yeast recipe

Roasted Cauliflower Steak with Shiitake Mushrooms & Pine Nuts

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Roasted Cauliflower Steak with Shiitake Mushrooms & Pine Nuts

Why is it called Roasted Cauliflower Steak?

I imagine Roasted Cauliflower got it’s reference to being like a steak because the cauliflower is cut into a steak-like slab. And, with the right mix of flavors and texture, one can create a hearty plant-based meal … like a steak. So for those of you wanting to try a dish that satisfies your savory taste buds, this is the one! I combined some of my favorite ingredients all in one – cauliflower, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli and pine nuts, smothered in a pesto sauce with a hint of thyme.

Is Cauliflower healthy for you?

Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable just like broccoli, kale, and cabbage. It is a rich source of vitamin C, Vitamin K and folate. It provides vital minerals such as calcium and magnesium and is a good source of protein. It has a substantial amount of phytochemicals, unsaturated fats, and essential omega-3 fatty acids. 

Top 8 Health Benefits of Cauliflower

  • Anti-Inflammatory Properties
  • High in Antioxidants
  • Aids in Healthy Digestion
  • Boosts Immune System
  • Strengthens Bones
  • Cuts down Risk of Cancer
  • Helps Prevent Heart Disease & Stroke
  • Detoxifies your Body

How do I store Cauliflower?

Try and purchase fresh cauliflower that has creamy white florets and bright green leaves, and is free of spots or discoloration. It can store well in the crisper section of the refrigerator for up to 7 days. You can store it whole (or cut into florets), wrapped in plastic or a paper bag to protect the florets from discoloring.

Can I serve Roasted Cauliflower as a meal?

This is a great meal to make when having vegetarian/vegan guests over for dinner. Everything can be made ahead of time and just kept warm in the oven. Then when the guests are ready to eat, simply heat up the pesto sauce, individually plate the ingredients and cover with pesto and top it with thyme. Or you can present it nicely, on a serving platter. If the guests are vegetarian you can top it with a sprinkling of your favorite cheese!

Roasted Cauliflower Steaks plate so beautifully

What are other ways to serve Cauliflower?

  • Side Dish – simply cut the cauliflower into florets for smaller size portions. It can complement almost any type of protein – meat, poultry or seafood.
  • Cauliflower Rice – place in a food processor and pulse it until you have your desired texture. Sauté in a pan with olive oil.
  • Crust or Wrap – purchase frozen crust or prepare crust from scratch. Cauliflower wraps are available in most markets now as cauliflower has become very popular.
  • Mashed – boil and mash as you would potatoes.
  • Vegetable & dip – served raw or steamed in a Crudité platter.
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Roasted Cauliflower Steak with Shiitake Mushrooms & Pine Nuts

  • Author: Cindy
  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4–6 Servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Roasted Cauliflower Steak with Shiitake Mushrooms and Pine Nuts is a hearty plant-based meal that will satisfy your savory taste buds!

Scale

Ingredients

1 head of cauliflower olive oil spray 1 tbsp dry thyme 1 package of shiitake mushrooms, sliced thinly. 2 cups of broccoli florets, cut into bite size pieces 3 tbsp pine nuts 6 sprigs of fresh thyme Pesto Sauce: 4 cups basil leaves 1/2 cup olive oil 2 garlic cloves 1/4 cup parmesan cheese ** 1/3 cup pine nuts 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Clean cauliflower and slice into 1/4 inch sections from the top of the head down.
  3. Place separated on a parchment lined baking sheet. Spray with olive oil and season with salt & pepper and thyme. Turn and repeat on other side.
  4. On a separate parchment lined baking sheet, roast the shiitake mushrooms. Place on a separate rack in the oven along with the cauliflower.
  5. Bake for 15 -20 minutes, flipping the cauliflower over once and moving the shiitakes around to cook evenly.
  6. Cut the broccoli into bite sized pieces and steam until tender in a double boiler. Place aside and keep warm in a covered dish.
  7. Toast the pine nuts, in a separate pan, for approximately 5 min on low heat.
  8. Prepare the Pesto Sauce: Place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until well blended.
  9. Heat the sauce in a small pot.
  10. Plate the cauliflower first, then add the broccoli and shiitake. Drizzle with the pesto and top with some pine nuts and a sprig of thyme.

Notes

* Broccoli can be roasted alongside the cauliflower if wanted. ** If vegan, use 1/4 cup nutritional yeast

Keywords: Roasted Cauliflower Steak, Plant-based Meal

Roasted Potato and Green Bean Salad Recipe

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What to do with the green beans and potatoes from the farm … I know, make a Roasted Potato & Green Bean Salad!!

This Roasted Potato & Green Bean Salad is nutritious, delicious and beautiful to have alongside a summer barbecue or a fall meal. The color and taste from the yellow peppers and the zing from the mustard vinaigrette, make this the perfect blend!

I am all about simple recipes to fit into my busy everyday life. Since most of the meals I make are from scratch, and with very few processed ingredients, I try to create easy meals that I can whip up in a pinch. All of us have busy lives, so sometimes we need quick, without giving up on delicious and nutritious. This is definitely one of them.

How do I make roasted potatoes?

You start by cleaning the potatoes with a vegetable scrubber to get the dirt off. Dry them with a cloth or paper towel. Cut them into bite size pieces, keeping them all around the same size so they cook evenly.

Slice up some onions, and place the potatoes, onions and garlic cloves in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, salt & pepper and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Roast the potatoes for approximately 30 minutes, moving them around every 10 minutes, so that all sides cook and you get your roasted potatoes below.

While the potatoes are roasting, clean & cut the green beans.

How do I prepare the green beans?

Steam the green beans in a double boiler for about 10 minutes. Then plunge them in cold water bath to stop them from cooking further.

  • Steam Green Beans
  • Plunge in cold water bath

When potatoes are done, place the baking sheet on the counter or cooktop to come to room temperature.

Prepare the rest of your ingredients in the recipe. Blend everything together in a mixing bowl and serve!

This roasted potato salad tastes great for hours to come and even refrigerated overnight. My family usually picks on it thru the next day, until there is nothing left!

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Roasted Potato and Green Bean Salad Recipe

  • Author: Cindy
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Salad
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This is an easy & delicious Roasted Potato & Green Bean Salad that is vegetarian/vegan. 

Scale

Ingredients

2 lbs red potatoes, cleaned and cut into bite size pieces

1 yellow onion, sliced thin

3 garlic cloves, roasted

3/4 lb green beans, cleaned, trimmed & steamed

1 yellow pepper

1 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tbsp champagne vinegar

1 tbsp german mustard

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Prepare the green beans.
  2. Place the potatoes  and garlic on a parchment lined baking sheet and roast for 20 – 30 min until golden brown.
  3. Clean, trim and dice the yellow pepper.
  4. Prepare the dressing by mixing the mustard & vinegar together. Drizzle & stir in the olive oil to emulsify. Add in roasted & mashed garlic.
  5. Stir together gently the potatoes & onions, green beans, peppers, dressing and basil.
  6. Put in a bowl and serve.

Notes

* Vegetarian option is to add crumbled feta cheese – place on the side for individuals to add 

** Vegan option is to add garbanzo or black beans at step 5

Note: This is a great make ahead salad because it sits well for hours

Grilled Corn & Zucchini Salad with Cilantro-Lime-Jalapeno Dressing

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Grilled Corn & Zucchini Salad

An all time summer favorite … grilled corn salad!

What a great summer season it has been for corn & zucchini! So, I decided to combine both grilled corn and zucchini for this all time favorite summer salad – Grilled Corn & Zucchini Salad. With a little kick from the Jalapeno, and the refreshing taste from the lime & cilantro, it ended up being a big hit with my family!

My weekly CSA boxes have been overflowing with zucchini!

To grill “in the husk or without”?? … that is the question!

For this recipe, I decided to shuck (love that word!) the corn and put it directly on the grill. I love the grill marks I get when cooking them that way but it does tend to dry out the corn a bit. Since I was going to add it to a salad, I felt all the other ingredients would add the moisture I needed.

In general though, I love grilling corn in the husk! Simply, remove the silk strands from the cob by pulling back the husks enough to reach the silks. Once removed, pull the husks back in place. Soak the corn for 15 minutes to 1 hour before grilling to keep the husks from burning or catching fire.

Besides munching on watermelon slices, nothing brings me back to my “summer days as a kid” more than corn on the cob!

Is corn a vegetable or a grain?

Actually, it’s both.

Corn on the cob (sweet corn), is considered to be a member of the starchy vegetable group. Popcorn is corn that’s left to dry and is consumed as a grain.

Hominy, also considered a grain, is made by soaking corn in an alkali solution, which makes the B vitamins and amino acids more bioavailable.

Polenta is a grain made from coarsely ground corn.

Grilled corn on the cob

 Is corn healthy for you?

Yes! Corn is a natural source of magnesium, with sweet corn offering 26 mg per 100 grams and popcorn supplying 21 mg per serving. At least half of your magnesium resides in your bones, so diets that are high in magnesium, have been shown to increase bone density and may reduce the risk of osteoporosis in women after menopause.

Sweet corn provides fiber and is notoriously hard to digest – hence seeing it the following day in our stool! But with that being said, it does add bulk to help food move through your stomach, intestines and out of your body. This can help prevent constipation or diarrhea.

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Grilled Corn & Zucchini Salad with Cilantro-Lime-Jalapeno Dressing

  • Author: Cindy
  • Prep Time: 20 min
  • Cook Time: 30 min
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4 – 6 Servings 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Grilled
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Grilled Corn & Zucchini Salad is an all time favorite summer salad combining some of the freshest vegetables in season!

Scale

Ingredients

Salad:

2 large zucchini

3 tbsp olive oil

4 corn on cob

1 tbsp celery salt

8 cherry tomatoes, cleaned & halved (or quartered)

salt & pepper

4 oz crumbled feta cheese (optional)

Dressing:

2 limes, juiced

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp – 1 tsp diced jalapeno

2 – 3 garlic cloves, roasted & chopped

1/2 cup cilantro, cleaned & chopped

Instructions

 

  1. Fire up the grill to a low heat. Pre-heat oven to 325°.
  2. Clean & cut the zucchini into quarters by halving them lengthwise. Halve each section one more time. Cut each strip into 1 inch quarters. Place zucchini into  a bowl. Mix well with 2 tbsp of olive oil and salt & pepper to taste.
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread zucchini (*and garlic) on baking sheet and roast for approximately 20-30 minutes.
  4. While zucchini is roasting in the oven, shuck the corn. Rinse under running water to remove the remaining silks. Dry with a paper towel or cloth.
  5. Drizzle 2 tbsp of olive oil over the corn and spread evenly with a pastry brush (or hands). Sprinkle with celery salt.
  6. Place on heated grill and rotate every 5-7 min until golden brown.
  7. Remove corn from grill. When cooled enough to handle, cut the corn off the cob. 
  8. Remove zucchini from the oven. Place zucchini & corn in a bowl and mix together. Add tomatoes.
  9. Chop garlic.
  10. For the dressing: Whisk the oil in with the lime juice. Stir in the jalapenos, garlic & cilantro until well combined.
  11. Drizzle on top of the salad and stir until combined. Season with more salt & pepper to taste (feta cheese optional).
  12. Place in a serving bowl. Top with a few whole leaves of cilantro and it’s ready to serve!

Notes

* I like to roast my garlic while I’m using my oven for other ingredients but it’s not a must for this recipe. Simply cut the top off the garlic and drizzle with a little olive oil and place in the oven with your other ingredients.

Keywords: grilled corn & zucchini salad, vegetarian/vegan side dish, summer salad