(Vegan) Chocolate Almond Butter Crunch Bars

Chocolate. Almond butter. Maple Syrup. Coconut oil. Crispy Rice Cereal.
Surely, you can’t hold it against me. Who could resist? These are some of the most awesome words in the dessert glossary.
And if you think that my fave breakfast when I was a kiddo, was a huge bowl of Rice Krispies sprinkled with two tablespoons of chocolate Nesquik, you can pretty put together the story of how I ended up with these bars.
Look at them! Honestly, who can resist so much awesomeness?

(Vegan) Persian Eggplant Stew

A thing I have learned over the last 5 years here (has it been that long already?) is that people have very strong opinions on eggplant.
Some find it to the be awesome, especially when it’s spicy or paired with tomato sauce, others just don’t care about it, and no matter what you do with it, they’re never going to be converted.

Roasted Salted Paprika Almonds

Today’s recipe is brought to you by a couple of things: simplicity and an insatiable snack craving.
I’ve been so busy lately, I’ve found myself eating fewer meals, and nibbling throughout the day.
And despite the fact that recent studies have linked eating more meals during the day to better health, I’m not so sure about it...
Almonds though, of those suckers I’m pretty sure. They’re an excellent source of protein, good fat, and fiber, a constant staple in my pantry, and are one of my favorite snacks.

Mint and Ginger Iced Green Tea

I know, I know, “Mike, what’s up with putting up a iced tea recipe two days after an awesome long holiday weekend?”
But wait, I think you’re coming at this from the wrong angle; this Mint & Ginger Iced Green Tea is, in fact, three days early for next weekend and just in time for the summer heat.

Because we all know that a tall glass of iced tea, dripping with condensation, is an icon of relief from the summer heat. It quenches the thirst and satisfies the desire for flavor like no other drink.
All you need to do is pull up a reclining chair, sit back, relax, and sip away.

Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Zoodles

I know I haven’t made zoodles in forever, but with the official beginning of summer (i.e., Memorial Day weekend) I thought that some fresh and light crunchy zoodles paired with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and lemon juice would be the the perfect dish to celebrate the start of the hot season.

Homemade Twix Bars (Paleo & Vegan)

Most of the time, I like to cook for others. I like to cook things that I know (or hope) others like. Then, when I pulled it off and they tell me how great it tastes, I feel awesome. It’s an accomplishment.
I’m fairly certain that this has something to do with deep-rooted need for validation. Something I don’t go out looking for it, but that I do very much appreciate — especially in the cooking department.
It probably stems from something my parents did when I was young. Trust me, it’s always their fault. HA!

Mom's Parsley Potato Salad

If you grew up in a household where mayonnaise was almost forbidden — though she never admitted it, I’m fairly certain that Mom hates mayo — you can understand why I don’t have a family recipe for a classic (mayo-drenched) potato salad.
It was just not part of Mom’s cooking repertoire.
She did have her own version of potato salad though.
One that involved parsley, lemon, olive oil, capers, but — not surprisingly — zero mayo.

Homemade Almond Joy Bars (Paleo and Vegan)

The Almond Joy is one of the most iconic American candies (together with the Tootsie Roll, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Milk Duds, Butterfinger, etc.)
It’s famous for its creamy coconut filling topped with almonds and covered in milk chocolate.
It also has a sibling, the Mounds bar, which is basically the same, minus the almonds.
And though the recipes for these two candy bars are top secret — just like Coca-Cola or Nutella — it’s possible to recreate these amazing coconutty candies in your own kitchen.
With only a few ingredients you can whip up your own Almond Joy Bars in no time.
Needless to say it, these are way healthier than store bought. As in, gluten-free + grain-free + refined sugar-free + vegan healthier + paleo healthier.

No-Bake 4-Ingredient Chocolate Almond Butter Bars

Almond butter, almond butter, almond butter! It’s the classic saying: “When life gives you almond butter…”
…Or something like that.
When you’ve got heaps of almond butter on your hands, you don’t take that stuff for granted. Instead, you turn it into something even more incredible. Such as double chocolate almond butter brownies, almond butter blondies, almond butter cookies OR almond butter bars.
Yeah, you heard that right, almond butter bars.

Smashed Potatoes with Tapenade

This recipe comes from celebrity chef Francis Mallmann whom I’ve discovered thanks to Netflix Original Documentary Series “The Chef’s Table”.
He’s the Argentine god of fire and I’ve cooked a lot from his cookbooks Seven Fires and Mallmann on Fire.
And if it wasn’t for him, I never would have thought to put these two flavors together in all the world of combinations: On one side the tapenade so briny, savory, and aromatic, on the other the ever-so-mellow boiled potato.
Who would have thought that they’d be any good together?
Thankfully Chef Mallmann did and he had the fortitude to put it in his cookbook for me to find.

(Vegan) Creamy Chipotle Spaghetti

Okay seriously people, I can barely stand how delicious this is. It’s going to knock your socks off, roll them into a little ball, and return them to your sock drawer.
But it won’t blow your budget or your time, because you can make this in 15 minutes or less.
You in?
I love easy, quick, and delicious recipes that free up time for other things.
Having quick recipes you can get on the table in a snap is so helpful to anyone trying to juggle too many balls in the air. Which is pretty much everyone on earth nowadays. We are all so busy.

(I Can’t Believe It’s Meatless) Mushroom Lentil "Meatloaf"

I’m sorry guys for the long recipe title. I know that it’s annoying and I tried every which way to shorten it but I wanted it to describe the awesomeness of this dish, hence the long title.
But you see, when the process of perfecting a recipe takes time (a lot of time) and what normally takes a couple of days of testing ended up taking over a week to finally hit the mark, you want to showcase it in all its glory.
So there you have it: (I Can’t Believe It’s Meatless) Mushroom Lentil “Meatloaf”.
A title that requires parentheses and quotes.

(Vegan) Easy Coconut Green Curry Lentils

If you know anything about me, you know that I do love me a good curry lentil.
In my humble opinion lentils are perfect for curries: They pair perfectly with spices, help thicken the sauce, and cook down and get super soft and yummy.
I already have a couple of pretty awesome curry lentil recipes on this blog too. Including some spectacular red curry lentils, my worldwide famous red lentil and spinach tikka masala and a recent addition, the Crock-pot Thai curry lentils, that has quickly become a new favorite.

Mom's Chocolate Pudding

In my forced departure from chewable-food, I dusted-off some old recipes that I haven’t made in years and asked friends and family for their own recipes that don’t require heavy use of your jaws. Needless to say it, a large number of pudding recipes showed up in my inbox.
It’s funny that when somebody is in no condition to flex those cheek muscles to smile, let alone to chew food, pudding is the first thing that comes to mind.
Which hardly ever happens, pudding is not that popular. Seriously, when was the last time you had pudding? Or thought about pudding?

Minted Sweet Pea Hummus

Good morning guys, I hope that you all had a great week and that you're ready for the weekend.
Today I have a quick and delicious recipe for you guys.
Since I’m sure you already have these ingredients in your kitchen — because they are so basic/such a staple (at least in my pantry) — what about mix them all up and give yourself a treat? You interested?

(Vegan) Creamy Crock-Pot Eggplant and Zucchini Curry

Considering that my obsession with curry borders maniacal — I don’t mean to brag but there are so many curry recipes on this blog I can’t even count, including but not limited to, chicken tikka masala, chickpea tikka masala, sweet potato tikka masala, butter chicken, eggplant curry, coconut curry chicken, etc... — it should come as no surprise that today I have yet another recipe involving curry for you.

Vitamin C Bomb Smoothie

Is it me or it looks like spring is finally in the air?

The temperatures are still pretty chilly but the forecast says it will start warming up soon and the days are getting longer and lighter, if you know what I mean.
Although the approaching change in season has us rejoicing for the sunshine, warm weather, and blooming flowers that it brings, it also has us bracing for allergies and seasonal colds to flare up.
No matter how much you love spring, colds and allergies are not fun.
Luckily, there are natural ways to fend them off.
Such as charging on Vitamin C, which is considered the "muscle" of the immune system.

One-Pot Spaghetti with Kale and Cherry Tomatoes

So, kale is good for us. We all know this.
It also tastes great. And there are many ways to prepare it: gratins, casseroles, salads, chips, pesto, smoothies, baked, with quinoa, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
In fact, I’m unwaveringly certain that the last thing this blog — let alone the internet — needs is another kale recipe.
But I can’t help it.
I made myself some fantastic spaghetti with kale last weekend and I couldn’t not share it.
It would be just rude to keep it from you. Because you and I have no cooking secrets and it should always be that way.

(Vegan) Easy Flavorful Spanish Rice

Guys, we should definitely, definitely talk about this dish.
Here, I’ll go first: I think it’s essential that you not let another week pass without making it.
I realize that you might imagine rice cooked with tomato sauce to be something bland and unappetizing.
Maybe you already had it in one of those combination plates that are served in Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants all the over the country, and its dullness is still fresh in your mind.
Maybe you cannot imagine why anyone would consider Spanish rice (sometimes referred to as Mexican rice) noteworthy, being just rice and tomato sauce — arguably two of the most generic foods out there.
But this Spanish Rice is notable for being delicious in its simplicity. And you should take notice.

Salted Double Chocolate Almond Butter Brownies

I understand that when a website almost 6 years old has not one, not two, not three but nine brownie recipes, it’s possible - or at least highly likely - that the brownie category has been exhausted.
The archives are full.
I get it. I do.
Probably we should discuss about sesame chicken, coconut curry lentils or Ethiopian chicken stew.
Probably.