The Happy Gluten Free Vegan

There are still a few hot days left this summer until September brings the autumnal breezes. We often find ourselves with a surplus of tomatoes, and when this situation arises, we know exactly what to do –make gazpacho!

The waning days of summer have us longing for the tropics. You may feel the same way. Though a beach vacation is out of reach right now, you can prepare our sweet but hearty, pineapple-based dish instead.

You might not be able to take an actual trip to Italy right now, but you can make this yummy vegan, gluten-free focaccia with a minimal number of ingredients.

Tofu is pretty bland on its own. However, marinated and cooked properly, these plain white slabs become exotic and delicious!

There’s nothing more delicious on a hot summer evening than a bowl of fresh guacamole and a pile of crispy tortilla chips! This stellar dish is so easy to make, a great way to use up those old tortillas, and is naturally vegan and gluten-free!

Potatoes are one of the most commonly utilized foods — so basic, so inexpensive, and so delicious. This tuberous vegetable can be used in just about everything.

Sometimes, you just need a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs breakfast. But you don’t want animal products or gluten. It is indeed possible to enjoy a robust morning meal without sacrificing your principles or your health.

We live in a part of the country where people love to put salsa on everything. Sure, you can spoon it onto your tacos and burritos, or use it as a dip for tortilla chips.

We recently discovered the most refreshing gazpacho imaginable — made with pineapple and cucumber! You probably have a cucumber or two lounging around your kitchen, especially if you have a garden.

We recently acquired a large pile of red bell peppers, and wondered what we might possibly do with them (other than makes dozens of stir-fries). Fortunately, we discovered a sensational curry recipe.

We won’t judge you for devouring these muffins in one day, we promise! Our vegan, gluten-free chocolate and banana muffin recipe will help you create a tin of delectable confections that’ll be impossible to resist.

Recently, a neighbor bestowed a box of tomatoes upon us as a gift. We live in a warmer part of the country, so tomatoes are already ripening here. However, there may well be snow in the ground in your region. The weather is crazy and quite varied at this time of year!

Has this ever happened to you? You check your cupboards for pancake mix, only to discover that you’ve run out. You’re still in your pajamas, so you don’t want to go to the store. There’s no reason to despair, however, because you can easily make your own vegan, gluten-free pancakes with surprisingly few ingredients. No need for store-bought mix!

We don’t know what the weather is like in your neck of the woods, but it’s cold and gloomy here. The skies are pitch-black by 5:00 PM, and we do whatever we can to stay warm. Nothing soothes you more on a cold December evening than a bowl of creamy potato/broccoli soup. The texture is like manna for the throat, and the robust, yet delicate flavor comforts as it fills you up. Invite some friends over for a soup party! Everyone will rave about this delicious meal.

Brrrrrr! It’s getting cold outside, and we’re craving comfort food! Shepherd’s Pie is an excellent meal for these chilly nights. It’s packed full of lentils and potatoes, combined with mushrooms and spinach, and served on top of gluten-free breadcrumbs. We made this hearty offering as a main dish for our recent Thanksgiving dinner, but it’s also perfect for the December holidays. You’ll feel pleasantly full in no time, ready to brave the cold winds.

You’re faced with a dilemma: you want to eat an elegant international meal, but you don’t have much time and/or cash on hand. What’s a hungry gourmet to do? The answer is simple — whip up a platter of our Pepper, Peanut, and Potato Sabzi! Though it looks deceptively like a simple, stir-fried dish of potatoes and peppers, once you experienced your first bite, you’ll know there is something special going on. The exotic flavor comes from the addition of cumin and fennel seeds, spices that are popular staples in Indian cuisine. The peanuts add protein, and the potatoes are hearty and filling. Just perfect for these chilly autumn nights!

There’s no dessert quite like cheesecake. Smooth, creamy, sweet, decadent — what’s not to love? However, most of the cheesecakes you encounter in restaurants and coffee shops are made with tons of dairy and gluten. Since we love this delectable confection so much, we decided to make our own, using plant-based ingredients. The filling utilizes cashews and coconut milk, blended to perfection. Stunned by our stellar results, we decided to share the secret with you. You can thank us later.

You’ve undoubtedly had the disheartening experience of going to a potluck and encountering a slew of dairy-based dips and spreads. This can be frustrating if you’re doing your best to follow a vegan, gluten-free diet. Don’t despair! Here is a delicious, creamy spread you can make from tofu that tastes just as good as the dairy-based variety! Even your non-vegan friends will love it. They may even beg you for the recipe. The spread is healthy, since it utilizes basil and Italian parsley, herbs that are rich in vitamin C. The tofu adds protein and calcium. Much healthier than your average spread, and so easy to make!

Autumn is well underway, and our desire to devour pasta dishes continues in earnest. Pasta puttanesca is a traditional Italian dish that tastes great, even without the addition of anchovies. It’s hearty, filling, delicious, and so easy to make. Though most pasta puttanesca recipes utilize thin spaghetti noodles, we had some dried, gluten-free fettucine noodles in our kitchen and decided to use those instead. We were delighted by the results. You don’t need many ingredients to make this wonderful meal. It’s super inexpensive! In fact, you probably have most of the ingredients in your cabinet or refrigerator already.

Do you still have a few leftover zucchinis from your summer garden? You may be wondering what to do with them. Most likely, you’ve given several of them away to friends, and they’ve made it clear they don’t want or need any more. Try as you might, you can’t get rid of all of them! Never fear — our sweet bread recipe will give a whole new purpose to those succulent, green vegetables. The addition of unsweetened cocoa and walnuts will send you into orbit. Good thing this recipe makes two loaves, because you won’t have any trouble devouring the first one.