Roasted Rainbow Carrots and Avocado Salad with Cilantro Pesto Dressing

OK. YUM. My mouth was literally in heaven for every bite of this. I really can't express in words how perfectly the sweet roasted carrots taste with the smooth buttery avocado lightly coated in fresh cilantro vinaigrette. Let me know if you agree when you try this recipe!

Ingredients:
Serves 4

• 15 large rainbow carrots, washed and quartered 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 1/4 cup cilantro
• Juice of 1/2 fresh lemon
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• optional: 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 ripe avocados

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 
2. Spread your carrots in an even layer on a baking dish. 
3. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, and place in oven.
4. After 25 minutes, gently toss the carrots, and bake for additional 25 more minutes.
5. While carrots are roasting, place cilantro, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt in a food processor. Blend until light creamy dressing.
6. Chop your avocados into big chunks, and using your hands lightly toss with cilantro pesto.
7. Once carrots are browned and crispy, allow to cool for 5 minutes until combining with cilantro avocado mixture.
8. THIS IS DIVINE.

Chocolate Salted Walnut Almond Bark

With my sisters both away at school, I turn to my boyfriend to model my recipes. Here's his first shot! So handsome. And the chocolate brittle with sea salt ain't bad either...

Ingredients:
Serves 10-12

• 1 cup raw almonds
• 1 cup raw walnuts
• (or sub with any of your favorite nuts, totaling 2 cups. Next time I am going to try pecan and macadamia! mmmm. Mouth.Is.Watering.)
• 1 bag dairy free chocolate chips. I used Enjoy Life Foods Dark Chocolate Morsels. They are my new obsession!!! And I love them!!!
• A few pinches of sea salt
• Optional add-ins: coconut flakes, raisins, goji berries, cinnamon, vanilla bean

Directions:

1. Melt your chocolate either in a microwave, or as detailed in this post.
2. When the chocolate chips are completely melted, mix in your nuts until thoroughly coated.
3. Spread mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet, and use a spatula to press it down pretty flat, so the nuts are essentially 1 layer and it's holding tightly together.
4. Sprinkle the top with sea salt, and any additional add-ins that speak to you.
5. Refrigerate for 4 hours.
6. Once the chocolate is dried, cut your cooled barked into pieces, or break it using your hands for an uneven but artsy look like mine ;)

Sweet Brown Rice with Dried Cranberries and Garlic Kale

Easy as pie rice. 

Ingredients:

Serves 4

• 1 cup long grain brown rice (uncooked)
• 2-1/4 cup filtered water
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/3 cup dairy free butter of choice (such as Earth Balance)
• 1 cup chopped kale, stems removed
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries

Directions:

1. Place rice, water, olive oil, and sea salt in a rice cooker, and cook according to package instructions.
2. Meanwhile, in a pan over medium heat, melt butter, and sauté with kale and minced garlic until kale is fully wilted, stirring frequently so it doesn't burn. Cover.
3. Right before the rice looks done (about 10 minutes or so, when there is still water visible), mix in dried cranberries and sautéed kale/butter from step 2.
4. Remove rice from heat once fully cooked and serve warm. Serving suggestion: this tastes great with avocado and tofu, and alongside candied brussels sprouts.

Brussels Sprouts and Pecan Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Thanksgiving may be a distant memory, but I still crave warm and nutritious comfort foods. Cue my sweet potatoes stuffed with roasted brussels sprouts and hearty pecans. True to Kale With Love form, this unique dish is basic and easy, yet healthy and satisfying. 

Ingredients:

Serves 4

• 2 large sweet potatoes or yams
• about 12 brussels sprouts, rinsed and quartered
• 1/2 cup pecans (I prefer raw organic)
• 4 tablespoons high quality extra virgin olive oil
• sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Wash the sweet potatoes, and pierce skin several times with a fork.
2. Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a knife can easily be inserted into them.
3. When the potatoes are about 20 minutes from being done, toss the brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and place on a baking sheet in the 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove when the leaves just begin to brown and turn crispy.
4. Slice the baked potatoes in half lengthwise, and use a fork to lightly soften up the insides. 
5. Toss the brussels sprouts with pecans, and place a quarter of the mixture on top of each open-faced potato half.
6. Optional: sprinkle the tops with a bit more olive oil, sea salt, and pepper. Impress your friends with this one at the next dinner party, or maybe even a Super Bowl gathering!

Truffle Oil Grilled Cheese with Kale and Tomato

It's been a while since my Mature-Girl Cheese post that everyone loved, so I decided to share another decadently nutritious gluten-free vegan grilled cheese recipe with ya'll. I was really excited to try out the new Daiya slices, and as you can see in the photo below, they did not dissapoint!

Ingredients:
Makes 1 sandwich

• 2 slices gluten free bread of choice
• 1 handful chopped kale, washed and stemmed
• 1 or 2 slices Daiya cheddar, or your preferred cheese
• 3-4 baby cherry tomatoes, sliced thin
• Optional: 1 teaspoon truffle oil

Directions:

1. Turn on a panini maker up to high.
2. If you are using the truffle oil, place in a small bowl with the kale and toss it up so the kale is lightly coated.
3. On 1 slice of bread, place kale, and top with cheese, then sliced tomatoes. Finish with the 2nd piece of bread.
4. Put the sandwich in panini maker for 7-10 minutes, and remove right before the cheese starts to melt over the sides of your bread.
5. Allow to cool for 2 minutes before slicing in half.
6. THEN EAT!!!!

Butternut Squash Cinnamon Raisin Bread

What does Fall mean to you? To me, it means the supermarkets start displaying squash everywhere, giving that warm and comforting Autumn feel. Serve your family and friends a moist, light gluten free vegan Butternut Squash loaf this Thanksgiving dinner! 3 words: MOUTH WATERING DELICIOUS.

Ingredients:
Makes 1 loaf, serves about 12

• 20 oz cubed butternut squash (tip: you can ask your grocer to peel and cut up the squash for you)
• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup almond meal
• 1 cup quinoa flour
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 cup organic maple sugar or coconut crystals (I like using sugar alternatives like these, but you can also use regular sugar here.)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup maple syrup or agave or honey
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. In a bowl, mix the cubed butternut squash with olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon. Distribute evenly and lay in 1 layer on a baking sheet.
3. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, combine almond meal, quinoa flour, remaining cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, sea salt, sugar of choice, baking powder, and raisins in a mixing bowl.
5. In a separate bowl, stir apple cider vinegar, vanilla, syrup, and coconut oil.
6. When your butternut squash is soft to the touch, remove from oven, and reduce oven heat to 350.
7. Allow squash to cool for 5 minutes, and puree in a magic bullet or food processor. Add in a few spoons of your wet mixture from step #5 to aid in the processing. You should yield about 1 cup of butternut squash puree.
8. Mix in butternut squash puree to your wet bowl, and then slowly combine into your dry ingredients. 
9. Spray a 9x5 loaf pan with non-stick oil. Add your dough, flatten on the top, and bake in oven for 1 hour or until a knife comes out clean if you poke it.

Fall also means pretty leaves...

The bf and I with some foliage in Chicago (hi baby!)

This recipe is approved by Dana Kofsky at Nutrition Styles.

Single-Serve BBQ Tofu Pizza

I remember the pre-Celiac days of CPK's Kids BBQ Chicken Pizza. My how perfect that was at the time. A baby pizza, 4 little slices of heaven. So like any other past dish I crave, I recreated my own gluten free vegan version. Below is the recipe if you want to try it too!

Ingredients:

Makes 1 pizza, 290 calories in the entire pizza

• 1 brown rice tortilla
• 2 tablespoons gluten free BBQ sauce
• 1/2 cup organic baby spinach leaves, diced
• 1/4 cup dairy free mozzarella
• 1.5 ounces extra firm tofu, cubed
• Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
• Optional add-ins: onion, scallion

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place tortilla on a square piece of aluminum foil.
3. Spread BBQ sauce evenly around the tortilla, leaving roughly 1/2 inch along the edge.
4. Combine diced spinach with your cheese, and sprinkle on top of sauce, patting down with a spoon.
5. Top with tofu and any additional add-ins you prefer.
6. Finish with a few dashes of sea salt and fresh ground black pepper.
7. Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes.
8. Eat while hot. OMG SO GOOD.

Oven "Fried" Tofu

OK. If you try 1 recipe from this blog, this is it. Seriously though. Finely ground tortilla chips make the perfect crunchy coating to complement tofu, and all without the mess of frying. Ready, set, go!

Ingredients:
Makes 4-6 servings

• 1/4 cup olive oil (plus more if needed)
• 1 bag tortilla chips (I used Food Should Taste Good Multigrain chips. They are my absolute favorite.)
• 1 package medium organic tofu (pressed and drained)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees and brush a large baking sheet liberally with oil.
2. Using a food processor, grind the tortilla chips until finely crumbled and transfer to a pie plate.
3. Slice your tofu into about 8-10 strips.
4. Brush the tofu on all sides generously with olive oil. Make sure it is fully coated!
5. Individually add each oiled tofu strip to the crumb mixture, and turn to coat on all sides. Press into the crumbs to help them stick, and then place each coated strip on the baking sheet.
6. Once all strips are coated, bake in the oven for about 40 minutes. The crust should be golden brown and toasty! Allow to settle a few minutes before serving.
7. I plated my oven "fried" tofu with steamed spinach and baby cherry tomatoes. Try dipping in your favorite sauces, too (i.e. ketchup, grain mustard, salsa, hummus, pesto...) Experiment and let me know!

The Secret to Perfect Oven-Baked Fries

I'm a potato lover. Potato anything, you name it. Baked potatoes, roasted baby potatoes, sweet potatoes, and of course, French-fried potatoes. I prefer to make French fries in the oven and avoid the whole "frying" situation. But this recipe here isn't just for your normal oven-baked fries. There is a secret step that really gives them the perfect texture. Crunchy on the outside, moist and soft on the inside. Scroll down to find out the secret step (highlighted in green)...

Ingredients:

Serves 4, 120 calories/serving

• 3 medium sized russet potatoes, washed and scrubbed
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• Course sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. OK, here is the secret step: poke a few holes and bake your potatoes whole in the oven for 45 minutes at 450 degrees until cooked, but not over-cooked and not too soft. The potatoes should still be firm but edible, as if you were to eat a baked potato right before it's about ready. Then slice in half the long way, and allow to cool until room temperature. Once cooled, wrap each potato tightly in tinfoil and refrigerate overnight. This extra step will end up making the inside of your fries delectably soft.
2. Now, when you are ready to make you fries, preheat the oven to 425 degrees, and pull out your cooked potatoes from the refrigerator.
3. Slice potatoes lengthwise into French-fry shaped strips. I like mine with the skin, but if you don't you can easily peel it off because your potatoes are already cooked.
4. Place the strips in a mixing bowl, and toss gently with olive oil, sea salt, and fresh ground black pepper.
5. Lay strips on a baking sheet, top with any olive oil remaining from your bowl, and bake for 15 minutes.
6. Remove from oven, flip the fries over, and bake for additional 15-20 minutes until desired crispiness. 
7. Finish with additional sprinkles of sea salt and serve immediately with ketchup. I'm a huge fan of Annie's organic ketchup. 

Banana Ice Cream Fudge Pie

Banana, chocolate, and almonds. Not many combos taste better. Try making this raw no-bake frozen creamy dessert with the kids. They will love it, and you will love feeding them a healthy treat! Perfect for these hot summer days.

Can I eat my computer screen?

Ingredients
Makes 1 pie, 12 slices, 160cal/slice

• 3 extra ripe large bananas
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil (melted)
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or agave
• 25 or so raw almonds
• optional add ins: cinnamon, vanilla bean, coconut flakes, peanut butter, walnuts 

Directions:

1. Using a Magic Bullet or blender, blend your bananas until creamy smooth texture, making sure there are no chunks left.
2. Pour your banana smoothie into a 9-inch pie pan so an even layer is formed. (see step-by-step pictures below.)
3. Place in the freezer overnight.
4. The next day, to make your fudge, thoroughly combine cocoa powder, melted coconut oil, and syrup. Using a fork, stir vigorously until uniformed texture. Immediately spread on the frozen banana layer and top with almonds. (The coconut oil cools very quickly so do not worry about melting the banana.)
5. Freeze altogether until right before you want to serve. Using a perforated knife, cut into slices and dig in. This was just fab-u-lous!
6. Optional flavors: Feel free to mix in cinnamon and/or vanilla bean when making your frozen banana layer. You can even mix in some peanut butter... oof! Try your own variations for toppings like coconut flakes, walnuts, or raisins. Make this uniquely you and let me know how it turns out.

One of my favorite fruits, that's for sure.

Creamy delicious bananas. Into the Magic Bullet they go. 

Pour banana smoothie into a pie pan. Feel free to add cinnamon, vanilla, or peanut butter.

Your finished product.