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.