Crock-Pot Barbecue Pulled Chicken

The start of the new year has been overshadowed by the Corona pandemic and frankly far from ideal.
However, as my yoga teacher constantly says: “There’s always something to be thankful for".
And looking back at the past five weeks, there have been some cool things that have happened such as: Wordle, some sick NFL games, a brand new smartwatch, a delectable Poppy Seed Tea Cake, and — last but not least — this awesome Crock-Pot Barbecue Pulled Chicken.

Eggplant Bacon (aka Smoked Eggplant Slices)

Eggplant lovers rejoice and say hello to your new best friend: eggplant bacon.
Slices of our favorite purple-skinned vegetable are seasoned to smoky perfection with liquid smoke, paprika, soy sauce, maple syrup, and a few other ingredients to make the ideal companion to any sandwich, burger, wrap, tartine, crostini, flatbread, bruschetta, et cetera et cetera et cetera...

(Vegan) Mushroom and Eggplant Sloppy Joes

Did your mom ever make you sloppy joes growing up?
If so, welcome to the club.
If not, I’m sorry, you poor thing. Sloppy joes are awesome.
When I was in high school I would return home from sports practice starving and I’d eat two open-faced sloppy joes with a side of lettuce. Yum.
My diet has changed since then and nowadays I rarely make sloppy joes — although, wouldn't you know, I have a pretty solid healthier recipe for it.

Bacon, Spinach, Avocado and Tomato Sandwich with Goat Cheese

I believe there is something really satisfying about a good sandwich. Any time of year, any time of day or night, there are times when a sandwich is just the thing.
I have heard people say they don’t like sandwiches and I wonder if their school lunches consisted of bad sandwiches: dubious bread with three slices of baloney stacked over questionable mayo.
I tell them that they really need to try a good sandwich — such as a Rueben on whole wheat bread with sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese or chicken salad with curry, a Sloppy Joe or a French dip sandwich.

Turkey and Avocado Sliders

Sliders are an awesome easy food idea for any party, game day, or really any other gathering.
I like to serve sliders at parties because I believe they are a great way to make sure I can give guests a full food experience without filling them with a big burger.
They make killer nibbles to pass around and — last but not least — they’re also great for little hands.

Chickpea and Avocado Sandwich

For generations, the simple act of layering ingredients between two slices of toasted bread has made the sandwich the preferred lunch option around the world.
Sandwiches are almost inevitable and this is not necessarily a bad thing.
Even if you’re trying to stick to a healthy-eating plan, you shouldn’t feel excluded from the sandwich game.
If you’re smart about how to build it, a sandwich can be healthy and nutritious not only delicious.

French Onion Soup Grilled Cheese

Guys, I think I have a favorite new grilled cheese sandwich.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still fond of my cauliflower crust grilled cheese and of my zucchini crust grilled cheese but this French Onion Soup Grilled Cheese is really special.
I think it has something to do with my love for caramelized onions. In fact, I just realized that a good percentage of my recipes call for either partially caramelized onions or super caramelized onions.
Especially when I am making something vegan or vegetarian caramelized onions add a much needed umami flavor, such as in this sweet potato hash or on this focaccia.

Pepper Quesadillas

It’s about time you meet one of my fave go-to meal, Pepper Quesadillas.
When I’m feeling too lazy to make a proper meal but I still want something delicious, filling, and a tad on the healthy side too, I throw together these quesadillas in 15 minutes flat.

(Vegan) Sun-Dried Tomato and Chickpea Burgers

Here is the thing about veggie burgers — I found that once you bite into them, they are often mushy, or they tend to fall apart or even worse they are cardboard-like.
Even some of the good ones are more akin to a fritter than a burger and all miss that juicy burger texture.
Prepare to be amazed.

Black Bean Veggie Burgers

Can we please discuss for a moment the price of supermarket veggie burgers? Why are they so expensive?
One can argue that this happens because veggie burgers are made with a lot of ingredients.
Or maybe it’s because vegetarians are willing to pay more to avoid beef/pork, the manufacturers know this and thus charge more.
More likely is it because the production of veggie burgers is on a much smaller scale if compared to the beef counterpart and in addition vegetables and grains — though generally quite cheap pound to pound — are seasonal and can greatly fluctuate in price.
Whatever might be the reason: veggie burgers are expensive!

Fancy Egg Salad

I’m going to make a confession guys, this egg salad is (as the title suggests) fancy and high-maintenance.
Made from a few ordinary ingredients it's more than the sum of its parts: well balanced, with bright fresh flavors, and a texture that spans from rich and creamy to crunchy.
It really has it all.

Moroccan-Spiced Burgers with Harissa Mayo

It’s well known that I’m a harissa fiend.
I have a love affair with the North African fiery paste and I love putting it on…well, everything.
Spaghetti, chicken, potato salad, you name it.
So it was only a matter of time before I would put it inside a burger to create a — in my humble opinion — memorable meal.

(Vegan) Tofu, Zucchini, Sun-Dried Tomato and Cream of Basil Sandwich

Today I am sharing this stacked lunchtime sandwich that I made myself last week.
I had not made a big lunch sandwich in a while and this one really hit the spot.
I don’t think I’ve ever made a better sandwich than this, vegan or not. And though I’m reluctant to post sandwich recipes on the blog because I believe they are slap together meals, this...this I had to share.

Avocado BLT Sandwich

What is your all time favorite sandwich? The one you think is the ultimate sammie?
For me it’s the BLT. Sorry, let me rephrase that, it's the avocado BLT.
It’s my feel-good sandwich and my guilty pleasure, especially after a very hectic work deadline or a grueling workout.
Bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado on toasted bread with a bit of mayo.
So simple, so very delicious.

Curried Light Chicken Salad

As far as I’m concerned, I have a really clear idea of what a chicken salad should taste: crunchy, salty and sweet, juicy and tangy, fresh and light, flavorful and satisfying.
Believe it or not, this Curried Light Chicken Salad is all the above and maybe even more.
Which is the reason why I’ve been making big batches of this and snack on it throughout the week and pack it up for lunch.
YUM!

My Favorite Breakfast Sandwich

I love breakfast because it’s a way to sneak in a moment of quiet enjoyment before rushing off into your busy day. It’s an opportunity to take the time to eat something delicious and nutritious.
It’s also — without a shred of doubt — my favorite meal to cook, because there’s nothing fussy about it.
While most of the time I’m happy with a chia seed pudding or an energizing smoothie on some mornings I need something more, something more substantial, something like a breakfast sandwich.
Let me rephrase that, an AWESOME breakfast sandwich.

Zucchini Crust Grilled Cheese

Guys, today I made something awesome.
Awesome as in, literally awe-inspiring and awe-amazing.
But let’s start from the beginning. Almost three years ago I created what has become the most popular (and copied) recipe on this blog, my worldwide famous Cauliflower Crust Grilled Cheese.
A recipe that made headlines and sparked obsession around the entire globe. If you don’t believe me, read here
So today I decided the time was ripe to make something as incredible as my cauli crust grilled cheese.

Broccoli Flatbread

I don’t mean to sound corny but this broccoli flatbread is MMM MMM GOOD.
Made with only 3 ingredients (if you don’t count salt and pepper), these Broccoli flatbread not only are super easy to whip up but are also incredibly yummy, super colorful, and since they’re made with broccoli (aka one of the healthiest vegetable there is) they’re also good for you.
Wanna hear more?
I bet you do.

(5-Minute) Cinnamon Streusel Coffeecake in a Mug

There are many reasons to love coffeecake, but the fact that you can eat it for breakfast tops it on my list.
It’s like someone — just like myself — clearly wanted to eat cake at 7AM but was never allowed to because, say, their mother never let them.
But with coffeecake it’s different. So different that when your mom tells you that you can’t have cake for breakfast, you can answer:
“Hush Mom, this is not cake, this is Coffeecake. It’s completely different, you’re supposed to eat in the morning with coffee!”

Tuna Burgers For Two

 If you’ve been following me you know that I love me a good burger.
But who really doesn't?
Who doesn’t dig a messy, delicious, and flavorful burger?
It’s America's quintessential comfort food and can now be enjoyed in an impossibly endless number of ways.
It doesn’t have to be made from beef to give satisfaction. There are ton of options — chicken, turkey, tofu, sweet potato, and all kinds of fish.