Meatless Monday: Vegan Garden Fresh Breakfast Potatoes

Hello Darlings!

I am not the biggest breakfast fan. Brunch, sure, but breakfast? Functioning that early in the morning is not exactly my thing. However, when you have a box of CSA goodies hanging out on the counter calling to you and leftover potatoes just about to sprout, you get to cooking.

These potatoes turn out crispy, the perfect accompaniment to normal, super soft breakfast foods, without losing their fresh-from-the-garden taste. Plus, leftovers mixed with a scoop of vegan yogurt turns into a delicious potato salad!

Raspberry-Mint Limeade Frozen Yogurt Sponsored by Yulu Yogurt

Hello Darlings!

With the Solstice come and gone, it is officially summer! And now that the crazy Denver weather has (somewhat) subsided, it is hot, hot, hot here in Colorado! I don’t know about you, but when the temperatures reach the 90s all I want is frozen yogurt and lemonade. So, when Yulu Yogurt reached out and asked me to try their new Aussie-Style yogurt I decided to create a recipe that would cool down my body and perk up my taste buds. Enter: Raspberry-Mint Limeade Frozen Yogurt.

Garlic Scape Pesto Shrimp with Rainbow Stir-Fry

Hello Darlings!

Farmers’ markets make me SO happy. Fun people, pups in tow, great food, and live music- can’t get better than that. This last weekend I popped over to the Cherry Creek Farmers’ Market here in Denver with a one-track mind. I wanted garlic scapes, badly. Ever since I discovered them from a farmer down the road when I lived in rural Connecticut, I’ve been in love. But they have a very fleeting season, twice a year for a few weeks apiece. However, the season is now! So pop over to your local market pick some up and have SO much fun creating garlic-y wonderfulness.

Recipe Makeover: Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dip (No Mayo!)

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I love comfort food- rich, creamy, delicious, not necessarily great for you comfort food. And, when it comes down to it, spinach-artichoke dip is one of my favorites. I have been subbing Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise in recipes for quite a while now. The creaminess without all of the saturated fat? Yes, Please! (Healthy Chicken Salad anyone?)  So I set out to finagle my family’s go-to artichoke dip recipe into a healthier, but still delectable version of itself. I have to say, I succeeded with flying colors. Yep, totally tooting my own horn. It is that good.

Meatless Mondays: Candied Kumquats (Two Ways)

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I always say that I should never be allowed in Whole Foods when I’m hungry. I go in for a few things on a list and walk out with a basket full of goodies I technically didn’t need. However, this time it worked out in my favor!

I spotted the cute little kumquats and knew I needed to have them; they’re in season now, so I know that they’d be perfectly tart and sweet. I always forget that kumquats are so sour, so when I popped one into my mouth and thought ‘this needs sugar’ I knew I had the idea for my recipe this week. I candy oranges and lemons often so why not kumquats? I am SO glad I did because this recipe (totally tooting my own horn) made candied kumquats one of my all-time favorite foods!

Meatless Monday: Pepper-Stuffed Artichokes

Hello Darlings!

Artichokes are EVERYWHERE right now, (yes, I know the reason why is because they’re in season!) but the look so deliciously deadly I thought I needed to bring a couple home. Deliciously deadly you say? Yes. Those little pokey leaves are a pain- literally- they draw blood! So be careful, but the pain is totally worth it!

Now, I like artichokes in every way, dips, steamed then dipped in butter, so I thought I’d try something different- stuff them. Stuffed artichokes are a bit more filling than just the leaves and the peppers give them a fresh, zesty pop!

Meatless Monday: Squash Noodles with Spinach-Basil Pesto

Hello Darlings!

Now, I am all about pasta. I have definitely eaten my way around Italy, devouring it in all its shapes and sizes. But I do have to say, it isn’t exactly the lightest meal. So with spring having sprung, squash noodles are a great alternative to the heavy deliciousness. Topped with flavorful (and anti-oxidant rich) pesto you really can’t go wrong!

Meatless Monday: Tropical Chia Seed Pudding (Vegan)

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Winter in Colorado is strange. It will be 70 degrees and sunny one week and the next it will be 16 and snowing. Maybe the crazy weather is just a Denver phenomenon, but when I had the chance to jet off to Florida to visit a friend I jumped at the chance. Salt water, sand, and warm sun? Yes please!

Meatless Monday: Every Beet of My Heart Arugula Salad (Vegan)

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Okay, I admit it- this is the cheesiest recipe (and name) that exists on this blog and I ADORE it. With Valentine’s Day coming up red, pink, and white have everywhere and I knew I wanted to do something fun and festive as a side dish for the day set aside to celebrate our love (whether that is another person, or yourself it doesn’t matter!).  I spotted these gorgeous beets while perusing the produce section and my cheesy self turned on, “aww, every BEET of my heart.” Yep, that’s me- weirdo extraordinaire.

Meatless Monday: Sautéed Mushrooms and Shallots with Brussels Sprouts

Hello Darlings!

I feel like I have been ridiculously busy for months on end. And with that I know that my healthy eating has been slipping. So I decided that this weekend I was going to take a bit of time to ready myself for another packed-to-the-gills week and meal prep just a bit.

Meatless Monday: Dutch Apple Pie Pancakes

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A while back I shared a snap of a delicious breakfast I had up at my mom’s house on Instagram (not following me? Get on that!) and got quite a few requests for the recipe and I aim to please! These Dutch Apple Pie Pancakes are super simple and tasty; the recipe originally came from a friend of my mother’s but because I am incapable of leaving any recipe as is I added my own spin!

Meatless Monday: Hearty Winter Egg Cups

Hello Darlings!

I have been insanely busy this autumn and winter. For me being super busy usually involves me accidentally forgetting meals-especially breakfast. So, enter super easy, very delicious, prep ahead egg cups! This winter version is chock full of potatoes, onions, and mushrooms to give you energy and keep you full all morning.

Meatless Monday: Vegan Double Onion Chip Dip

Hello Darlings!

Now, I’m a hockey girl through and through. However, I do happen to enjoy some delicious Monday night football-watching probably not-so-good-for-you snacks. Since coming to Denver I have noticed that I have made quite a few friends who are equally as enthused about sports as I am, but have vegan eating habits. So I decided to do a bit of a recipe makeover to make one of my favorite dips vegan!

I have been enjoying Vegenaise for a quite a while- I actually like the taste (milder) better than regular Mayonnaise! So when Vegenaise decided to send over a box of my favorite vegan mayo I was super pleased!

Meatless Monday: Pumpkin Spice- Oatmeal Smoothie

Hello Darlings!

The weather has turned to autumn here in Denver, so in the fall spirit I have been pumpkin-ifying (yes, real word, I promise) my breakfast! This Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Smoothie keeps me energized until lunch- it is chock full of fun ingredients like chia seeds, oatmeal, Skoop (my favorite superfood powder), Greek yogurt, and almond milk!

I can’t get enough of pumpkin everything (pumpkin donuts-? Yes, please!) this fall so I am sure that you will be seeing more pumpkin-centric recipes in the days to come!

Meatless Monday: Vegan Pumpkin Pie Chia Seed Pudding

Hello Darlings!

So, I’ve said a few times that I am very much so a summer baby, sunshine and hot weather all day everyday, thank you! But I do enjoy autumn as well, even if it is paving the way for winter (brrrr..). One of my favorite things to embrace during autumn is the array of delicious belly-warming flavors, especially pumpkin and the spices that go along with it!

My Pumpkin Pie Chia Seed Pudding is a decadent breakfast (or dessert!) that is full of nutritious ingredients (read: good for you) and incredibly easy to make, whether you’re concocting two jars or ten! I love being able to pop open the fridge, have breakfast ready to go, and getting to savor the spicy flavors of fall each morning!

Meatless Monday: Sautéed Tomato and Herb Summer Salad

Hello Darlings!

I am clinging to summer with two (very tight) fists. While hiking this weekend I noticed the leaves starting to fade into autumn’s very beautiful colors yet I kept telling the colors to “go away.” Seriously, my hiking companions must have thought I was crazy, but alas, I’m a summer girl. So with that being said I absolutely love the tastes of summer, the gorgeous colors of ripening tomatoes, the fresh tastes of herbs, and the deep greens of kale and spinach. So I’ve added them all together and created a Sautéed Tomato and Herb Summer Salad, which is tasty now and is sure to keep your belly happy in the upcoming fall months.

Summer Drink Series: Spiked Blackberry-Sage Lemonade

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I have loved lemonade for as long as I can remember. However, as I’ve aged I like to think my tastes have become a bit more elegant (except you still can’t beat a box of Annie’s make and cheese- I’m not 100% adult, promise). So I’ve moved on from scooping instant lemonade to squeezing my own and creating more of a flavor profile.

Meatless Monday: Honey-Balsamic Glazed Figs & Homemade Whipped Cream

Hello Darlings!

It is fig season! *Does a little happy dance* I love figs, their versatility (did you see them as a pizza topping?), how robust their flavor is without being overpowering, and, of course, they are gorgeous to boot!

Summer Drink Series: Lavender-Peach Spritzer

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Now, I know I’m not in Georgia but I still think that the smell of peaches is summer’s perfume. Fresh, sweet, not too overpowering, it blends well with an incredible amount of things and yet is still perfect on its own. Its well documented here on Chickadee Says that lavender is one of my favorite flowers and my favorite flavors (if you follow me on Instagram you might notice I have a slight obsession with lavender kombucha) so, the combination of peaches and lavender, to me, is heaven. Add a bit of vodka, and you’ve got a party I most definitely want to attend.

Meatless Monday: Sautéed Vegetable Quinoa

Hello Darlings!

This summer has been crazy, and this upcoming week even more so! I am really bad about eating when I get super busy because I tend to graze- eating whatever is close by and easy rather than eating more nutritiously. So I decided to help myself out a bit and make big batches of delicious food so I have something quick to grab when I’m hungry that will both fill me and fuel me!