Healthy Burger Recipe for Vegans or Omnivores

One of my favorite go-to meal prep staples that I always try to keep on hand is the “Power Burger,” made from a healthy burger recipe that can be enjoyed whether you eat plant-based burgers or traditional ones! And, the benefits of the power burger for vegans, is that it allows you to turn fake meat like Beyond Burger or Impossible Burger into a more wholesome, whole food. That’s because it adds fresh spinach, whole seeds, and oats, making it more nutritionally complex with added nutrient-dense calories.

Read More


Savory Oatmeal with Fennel, Asparagus & Peas

Ever heard of savory oatmeal? Being that Oats are a grain, do you ever think about why we would restrict them to only being eaten sweet? Savory oatmeal can be extremely versatile and give you a great vehicle for enjoying more vegetables, fiber,  and other awesome nutrients  in a quick, convenient way. This recipe is just one example. Enjoy savory oatmeal on it’s own or as a compliment to a larger meal with fish, chicken, turkey,  or other proteins. But keep in mind that on its own, oatmeal provides a decent amount of protein. So don’t be afraid to experiment, knowing you’re getting a good meal from a bowl of savory oatmeal with veggies. Enjoy!

Read More

Chickpea & Wild Mushroom Cakes with Basil-Mint Tzadziki

Lately I have been thinking this a lot: “A tzadziki would go great with this dish.” But I hadn’t found a great, vegan plain yogurt. Although some will argue that dairy yogurt is good for you, if you are avoiding dairy, or keeping vegan, a dairy yogurt just won’t do. Then the other day I was headed to one of my local grocery stores, but coming from a completely different direction than usual. Surprise! I rode my bicycle right into the South Pasadena Farmer’s Market. I couldn’t get from one end of the market to the other without completely spending all of my cash. Then I found a vegan nut cheese maker called Blode Kuh. And there before my eyes was a sample cup filled with cashew yogurt. Yum and yay, because not only was the yogurt fantastic, the cheese maker accepted my credit card on his “square” thing. Gotta love technology! This recipe is devoted to the people at Blode Kuh! Thank you for your awesome yogurt!! Read More


Basted Duck Egg with Savory Tomato Basil Oatmeal

Do you ever wonder how “local” and “natural” your locally grown food really is? Yesterday I attended a street event in my neighborhood called El Mercado. It was planned around the opening of a new neighborhood city park, and it consisted of local community groups, and a lot of local vendors, craftspeople, food artisans, and other creative folks. I was delighted to come across a booth promoting a new store in the neighborhood called Arroyo General, a boutique-ish general store no larger than a shoe repair shop.

They sell really cool stuff sourced from the local Northeast Los Angeles area, including locally-grown produce and eggs. I couldn’t get my wallet out fast enough when I saw that they had duck eggs from a small urban farm about two miles from my house. So I ceased the opportunity to enjoy some animal based nutrition the way nature intended. This surprise encounter with local duck eggs, combined with the rainy weather outside, led to a morning fire in the fireplace and this yummy, healthy brunch dish.

Read More