
What’s for Dinner?
It is easy to get stuck in a rut, or just feel out of ideas, when it comes to making meals. I created this page to help my family remember the options, to keep track of foods and recipes we love in a way that is easy to navigate, like a menu. Maybe it helps you find some great meals too. I linked recipes in most cases, but some things I just do. If you have questions, please ask. All pics by me. Got a great suggestion for a vegan meal we should try? Send it my way. We can take better care of the animals, the planet, and our body while still finding delicious food. Let’s eat.

Smoothies & Juices
⋆
Smoothies & Juices ⋆
-
Black Forest Smoothie
With cherries and cocoa powder. Cacao sweet nibs sprinkled on top.
-
Berry Smoothie
With blueberries and black raspberries.
-
Peanut Butter Smoothie
My kids’ favorite. With peanut butter and a teaspoon of vanilla. Simple but delicious.
-
Mango Plum Smoothie
With fresh mango, plum, and cucumber
-
Green Smoothie
With frozen pineapple chunks, natural peanut butter, parsley, turnip greens, spinach, and wheatgrass. But use whatever calls to you.
-
Honeydew Smoothie
Add some honeydew to your basic smoothie recipe.
-
Morning Break Smoothie
With oats, plum, Granny Smith apple, celery, and peanut butter.
-
Kiwi Berry Smoothie
With a handful of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, a nectarine, and a kiwi.
-
Strawberry Fennel Smoothie
With chia seeds, fennel, almond yogurt (vanilla), strawberries, and blueberries.
-
Better than Lemonade
1 lemon, 2 carrots, 1 pear, and 1 peach in the juicer
-
Carrot and Celery Juice
Carrots, celery, apple, orange, grapes, and a few strawberries in the juicer
-
Beet Juice
An apple, two carrots, part of a beet, a few sprigs of parsley, a few stalks of kale, two slices of lemon, and part of a red cabbage in the juicer
-
Apple and Fennel Juice
Apples, carrots, fennel, and lemon in the juicer
-
Orange Fennel Juice
1 apple, 2 carrots, 6 broccoli stems, 1 stalk of fennel, 1 orange, part of a golden beet, with part of a lime and/or lemon in the juicer. With fennel for garnish.
-
Watermelon Juice
Watermelon in the juicer. I’d add some mint if you have it.
-
Hot Apple Cider
Cider heated on the stove with a cinnamon stick and grinds of cinnamon.

Breakfast
⋆
Breakfast ⋆
-
Tofu Scramble
I make scramble a lot and maybe never quite the same way twice.
-
French Toast
Top with maple syrup and serve with lots of fresh fruit
-
Cocoa and Toast
A childhood favorite that remains a favorite to this day. Trust me.
-
Avocado Toast
This has earned its popularity.
-
Breakfast Potatoes
One of our favorites, whether we start with shredded potatoes or whole. So many options on what to include and how to season.
-
Breakfast Sandwiches
Tofu patties coated in seasonings and cooked until crispy with plant-based sausage. Recipe courtesy of my friend, Angela.
-
Crispy Rice Paper Pancakes
I don’t know if this simple veggie filled deliciousness is a breakfast, an appetizer, a side, or an entrée, eat whatever time you want.
-
Smoothie Bowl
Make your smoothie a little thicker then top it with fruit, coconut, oats, seeds, and more.
-
Banana Muffins
Yes, it is basically dessert for breakfast, but yum.
-
Banana Bread
Recipe from Nora Cooks
-
Waffles
Six ingredient recipe. Not counting the fruit and maple syrup for on top.
-
Pancakes
My Aunt Linda’s pancake recipe plus oats, bananas, and chocolate chips.
-
Granola
My mom’s homemade recipe
-
Oatmeal
An easy, healthy breakfast
-
Overnight Oats
Easy prep the night before and you have a grab and go breakfast to eat at work. Top with some fresh fruit.

Soups
⋆
Soups ⋆
-
Peanut Chickpea Stew
Rich and creamy. This has become a staple for us.
-
Ethiopian Lentil Stew
This is a favorite with a nice kick. The recipe is designed for an instant pot, but I sauté in a soup pot, then cook 20 minutes or more after adding the lentils.
-
Creamy Peanut Miso Ramen
This delicious recipe is from Bosh! I was instantly a fan.
-
Pinto Bean Poblano Soup
A bean-based soup with great flavors, especially when you add in the toppings.
-
Chili
Crystal’s Chili. A spicy chili with soyrizo and corn.
-
Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup
A favorite new find.
-
Minestrone Soup
A tasty vegetable soup my mom has been making for years.
-
Asian Dumpling Soup
With packaged dumplings (I use Nasoya Thai basil vegetable dumplings) and bok choy.
-
Cuban Black Bean Soup
We recommend topping with cilantro, scallions, and diced avocado or vegan sour cream.
-
Three Sisters Stew
Squash, beans, and corn build this hearty, delicious soup.
-
Egyptian Lentil Soup
Recipe calls for red lentils, I used green here. Recipe from Food.com.
-
Red Lentil Soup
A simple and delightful soup.
-
Butternut Squash Soup
Creamy squash and apple soup

Main Dishes
⋆
Main Dishes ⋆
-
Panang Curry with Tofu
A household favorite. I know the recipe by heart.
-
Rice and Beans with Squash
A teaching friend gave me this recipe for arroz con habichuelas years ago.
-
General Tso's Tofu
I’ve served this to many friends and students.
-
Orange Tofu
A new favorite dish.
-
Cinnamon and Nutmeg Dal
Adapted from my Indian Home Cooking cookbook.
-
Simple Alfredo
Simple, delicious, six ingredient alfredo. I recommend doubling the recipe (it works great as leftovers too).
-
Alfredo (option 2)
This one uses silken tofu and is more complicated, but also delicious.
-
Cold Noodle Bowl
Raw veggies over rice noodles never tasted this good. With a sriracha peanut crumble and hoisin lime dressing.
-
Asian Cold Noodle Salad
Fairly simple and a great make the night before lunch to take on the go. Adapt the recipe however you’d like.
-
Sushi
So many options. Ours often include baked tofu, avocado, cucumber, and carrots. We make it as our meal.
-
Sweet and Sour Vegetables
My mom has made this recipe for years and always delightful. Serve over rice.
-
Fried Rice
Leftover rice works best for this. With whatever veggies you desire.
-
Egg Rolls
We tend to make a meal of these, but you can use them as appetizers if you prefer.
-
Pad Thai
This recipe from Colleen Patrick-Goudreau that I found when I first went vegan.
-
Tofu Lo Mein
Carrots, napa cabbage, onions, garlic, and tofu mixed with noodles. Flavor with soy sauce or any other sauce desired.
-
Scallion Oil Noodles
Simple and tasty
-
Gochujang Sizzling Smoked Tofu
Recipe from Veganezer
-
Korean Fried Tofu Sandwich
Recipe from prunchme
-
Japanese Curry
A hearty delicious curry made for me years ago by my friend, Hiroko.
-
Goi Ga
Vietnamese Tofu Salad. Recipe from my friend Madalyn’s mother.
-
Empress Dal
From my Indian Home Cooking cookbook
-
Chana Masala
One of our favorite Indian dishes.
-
Chickpea Curry
We add bell peppers and cashews to the recipe from Susan’s Family Kitchen
-
Bolognese
A delicious pasta sauce with vegan sausage, porcini mushrooms, carrots, and celery
-
Lasagna
With Garlic-basil cashew ricotta (recipe from Artisan Vegan Cheese)
-
Baked Rigatoni
Baked rigatoni with cashew ricotta.
-
Pasta with Sausage and Greens
A quick favorite.
-
Salsa Cruda
Some fresh tomatoes and basil, served cold over hot spaghetti. A great summer dish. Recipe from my Aunt Linda.
-
Pesto
Pick your green and nut, serve over pasta
-
Spaghetti with Meatballs
This is just plain old delicious spaghetti and meatballs. Store bought Arrabbiata sauce, Impossible Meatballs, Follow Your Heart parm. And we all love it.
-
Fridge Raid Tempeh and Broccoli Noodles
Recipe by Ben Rebuck. I didn’t have the cool looking noodles he had, so I cooked lasagna noodles, then cut them in half at an angle, then cut them in three strips each.
-
Golden Beet and Greens Pasta
Sautéed golden beets, onions, and diced mustard greens in coconut oil served over fusilli col buco pasta with vegan parmesan
-
Gnocchi
I like mine with sautéed spinach, scallions, garlic, and spices.
-
Dorito Salad
My friend, Angela, made this for me and then I made it for my kids and it has been a hit every time.
-
Straw Hats
Like a taco salad, but served on Fritos. I’ve been eating these since I was a kid.
-
Tofu Enchiladas
Works great to make in advance and then heat in the oven later.
-
Tacos
Always delicious
-
Tofu Tacos
Cubed, marinated, and baked tofu with avocado and salsa in soft tortillas.
-
Burritos
A flexible meal that keeps everyone happy.
-
Hummusadillas
This can be a side, an appetizer, or a main dish. Better when topped with some guac and hot sauce.
-
Caramelized Tempeh Shawarmas
The veggie mix is pretty delicious as pictured, but it gets even better when you caramelize tempeh, make a tahini sauce, and put it all in a wrap.
-
Curried Chickpea Salad
Serve as a salad or in a wrap. Recipe from Simple Veganista, by way of my friend Kim.
-
Cranberry Walnut Chickpea Salad
Serve as a salad or in a wrap. Recipe from What Carry Eats, by way of my friend Kim.
-
Tofu Salad
With veganaise, green onion, red grapes, celery, pistachios, lemon juice, a little sea salt, and zest from an orange
-
Tofu Salad Wraps
Delicous wraps for at home, on the go, or takng to gatherings.
-
Black Bean Pesto Wraps
With avocado, kale, tomatoes, carrots, and cucumbers.
-
Quinoa and Kale Wraps
With carrots, avocados, and a creamy dressing.
-
Kale Salad
A bed of lacinato kale, spinach, and red cabbage. Topped with chopped apple, broccoli, diced onion, smoked tofu, and coconut bacon
-
Plant-Based Meatloaf
A big hit at our family holiday dinners.
-
Broccoli Burgers
Recipe from way back in the day before veggie burgers were in restaurants or grocery stores. I still prefer these.
-
Beyond Burgers
This one has Follow Your Heart smoked gouda, smashed avocado, onions, tomato, and barbecue sauce on a toasted everything bagel.
-
Veggie Pot Pie
So much better than any store bought pot pie.
-
Mushroom Rice
Inspired by Kathryn Harlan’s short story, Fruiting Bodies. Buttery mushrooms with thyme and rice.
-
Polenta
Polenta sautéed with onions, garlic, shallots, and field roast spicy grain sausage.
-
Fennel, Avocado, Seitan
Sautéed onions, garlic, bell peppers, fennel, and chorizo seitan. With nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and fresh avocado. Served over rice noodles.
-
TLTs
Tempeh, lettuce, tomato sandwiches might be my favorite sandwich. If you used to love BLTs, or even if you still do, give this a try.
-
TLT wraps
Like the sandwich, but rolled in flour tortillas and cut into bite-size pieces. Great for taking to gatherings.
-
Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly
Long-time favorite. If you’ve never had one, you don’t know what you are missing.
-
Pizza
Mom’s homemade dough recipe. Then make it your own. You can use vegan meats and cheese, or keep it all veggies. BBQ, pesto, whatever.

Appetizers & Sides
⋆
Appetizers & Sides ⋆
-
Angeled Potatoes
My friend Janine found the perfect replacement for deviled eggs. Filled with hummus, onions, and seasonings.
-
Cauliflower Bites
Buffalo or Barbecue. I have made buffalo cauliflower for countless friends and students. A huge hit.
-
Spicy Noodle Rolls
I’m listing this as an appetizer, but I’d be pretty happy with this as my meal. Dip in Thai peanut sauce.
-
Lettuce Wraps
Delightful appetizers. Or sometimes our meal.
-
Bruschetta
Delicious. You can make this with salsa cruda as your main dish and use the same tomato mixture for both.
-
Garlic Bread
A household favorite, especially on Mom’s homemade bread. You can use olive oil and fresh diced garlic or vegan butter and granulated garlic. We often add parsley, red pepper flakes, and Follow Your Heart’s vegan parm.
-
Bread with Olive Oil Dip
Good homemade or bakery bread toasted. For dip: olive oil, back pepper, granulated garlic, dried parsley, and nutritional yeast.
-
Breaded Tofu
Can work great as an appetizer or can be a great way to prep tofu for a main dish.
-
Elote
Mexican street corn
-
Roasted Potatoes
I like these as much as french fries.
-
Cheesy Potatoes
Also known as Funeral Potatoes, or in my family, Aunt Esther’s Potatoes.
-
Corn Casserole
A common holiday dish when I was younger.
-
Roasted Veggies
Red potatoes, onions, beets, and zucchini baked with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
-
Spring Rolls
Vary the vegetables as you wish. Peppers, greens, onions, and garlic are staples for me.
-
Cucumber Salad
Peeled and sliced cucumbers with a dressing of vegan mayo, the juice of half of a lemon, dill, salt, and pepper.
-
Tomato Salad
Tomatoes, bell peppers, fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, pepper, and garlic powder.
-
Apple and Carrot Salad
Send the apples and carrots through the food processor and add an apple cider vinaigrette.
-
Beans
Dried beans soaked overnight then cooked the next day.
-
Thanksgiving Dressing
We only make this once or twice a year, but great flavors. We often make a plant-based meatloaf as the main dish with this.
-
Peas and Potatoes
A favorite from Aunt Esther. Very simple but a great combo. With some olive oil or vegan butter, fresh parsley, salt and pepper.

Snacks
⋆
Snacks ⋆
-
Fruit Plate
Pretty, healthy, and delicious
-
Guacamole
One of my favorites
-
Pico de gallo
Homemade salsa is the best
-
Corn Salsa
I’ve not matched Chipotle’s yet, but still pretty darn good
-
Cashew Cheese Dip
A tasty dip for crackers.
-
Veggie Tray
Whatever veggies you desire. It doesn’t have to look this cute, but it can.
-
Celery with Peanut Butter
Super simple, but a great snack
-
Peanut Butter and Berry Dates
A pretty and delightful snack or dessert
-
Peanut Butter Apple Slices
Cored apple slices topped with peanut butter, oats, and chocolate chips.
-
Trail Mix
Great on the go snack. Whatever combo of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit calls to you. You can even add some pretzels or chocolate chips.

Sauces
⋆
Sauces ⋆
-
Thai Peanut Sauce
Great for dipping the spicy noodle rolls pictured and so much more.
-
Five Ingredient Peanut Sauce
A simpler but equally tasty peanut dipping sauce. This one from Minimalist Baker.
-
Uncheese Sauce
A cashew based sauce that can be a dip for tortilla chips or top roasted veggies or pasta.

Breads
⋆
Breads ⋆
-
Bran Rolls
One of the recipes my mom is most famous for. We use oats now instead of bran, but the name has stayed regardless.
-
Mom's Homemade Bread
My mom’s homemade oatmeal bread. One of my favorite things.

Desserts
⋆
Desserts ⋆
-
Chocolate Chip Cookies
These are loved wherever I take them.
-
Cookie Brownie Bars
These might be my favorite dessert I make.
-
Monster Cookies
When I was a kid, my aunt Helen made these for everyone’s birthday.
-
No Bake Cookies
One of my favorite cookies.
-
Chocolate Peanut Butter PiIllow Cookies
Another favorite.
-
Strawberry Shortcake
One of the joys in life.
-
Oatmeal Cake
Super moist and delicious.
-
Buckeyes
Chocolate peanut butter deliciousness.
-
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls
I ended up finding elements of several different recipes and trying variations and this is what ended up being my favorite combo.
-
Chocolate Covered Treats
Berries, pretzels, peanuts, Oreos, Pringles. So many chocolate covered options.
-
Peanut Brittle
A really easy microwave recipe. Works great with cashews and pecans too.
-
Chocolate Pudding
My friend Georgeann found this recipe to feed us when we visited. And it was great, so she sent us home with the recipe.
-
Banana Ice Cream
A delicious and super adaptable ice cream in minutes.
-
Mango Ice Cream
One of my favorite of the ice creams I’ve made.
-
Caramel Pecan Rolls
This is a somewhat complicated recipe, but my goodness.
-
Peanut Butter Bars
Recipe from my friend, Wendy
-
Graham Cracker Cheesecake
Cheesecake as a vegan? Oh yeah.
-
Apple Pie
A beautiful and delicous dessert.
-
Apple Raisin Cakes
Another great recipe from my mom
-
Raspberry, Chocolate, Peanut Butter Pie
Super healthy and delicious dessert recipe from Chef AJ. Walnuts and dates crust, peanut butter and cocoa middle, and frozen raspberries through the food processor on top
-
Christmas Cookies
You can, of course, make these anytime of year.