za'atar hummus // kalamata + garlic

Justin and I plow through so much hummus in a week it is kind of embarrassing - it is our snack of choice and I love adding it to my veggie wraps. 

Hummus is also our go to if we are heading to a party or on a road trip and it is something our friends always have on hand for us too. 

I mean you can't really go wrong with hummus, am I right?

chao cheese pineapple chorizo queso

Let's end August with a spicy bang, this dip is the perfect way to end the Summer and begin the fall - totally Labor day party worthy and perfect with a Corona or two!

Justin and I are hoping to fit in some R + R this weekend with Friends and Family, our Summer completely blew by but we are excited for the Fall and nearing the end of our home reno (definitely by Christmas!). This dip is definitely on the menu for me this weekend with a round of tacos for good measure, I mean who doesn't love Tacos + Cheesy Dip?

sweet pea millet cakes

My garden is performing amazingly well this year, the tomato plants are taller than I, baby butternuts and cheese pumpkins are sprouting up everywhere I look and cukes, kale, carrots and peppers couldn't be happier. However this year I do have one garden bed that is refusing to cooperate and it just so happens to be the one I planted first in early spring without amending the soil ( I got a little too excited the first sign of warmish weather I couldn't be bothered to take 1 extra step and add a bit of compost- lesson learned!) So far, this bed has produced a 1/2 cup of spring peas, I have planted Swiss chard on 3 different occasions and for the life of me I cannot figure out where the seeds and or/seedlings are disappearing too. I also planted (after I gave up on the Swiss Chard) a section of green beans and not one has sprouted. At least my oregano and Borage is pretty happy in this bed so I'm not at a total loss.

sweet & sour tofu spring rolls

I absolutely love spring rolls; to think a couple years back I was intimidated to try my hand at making a basic spring roll. Don't let the paper thin wrappers scare you off, they are quit forgiving. Plus the more you make them the easier they are to roll, all you have to do is get your own rolling technique down. The beauty of a spring roll ; the endless filling possibilities. Check out this version & this one - both are incredibly easy to make and please most crowds. You really can't go wrong with fresh veggies, some sort of protein such as quinoa or tofu; crispy mushrooms or avocado are also insanely good!

mini bbq tempeh tacos

These adorable mini tacos have been my go to summer appetizer; I can recall at least 5 gatherings this summer where they have made their appearance. Way cute, simple to make & easy to eat; totally meeting all the requirements for the perfect party food. I really cannot get enough of these mini tacos, not only because they are mini, but I also have a thing for tacos- they are my second love.

za'atar crusted eggplant // tomato basil naan flat bread's

If you are not a fan of eggplant these just might change your mind; mind blowing good. Homemade garlic naan, vine ripened tomatoes, za'atar crusted eggplant, pesto & fresh basil, super simple and amazingly good - they were a huge hit at our book club meeting last week, of all the people, my gram loved them the most and let me tell you, she can be finicky lady when it comes to food.

roasted rainbow carrot salad

After one bite of this salad I had expletives shooting out of my mouth- so much so I immediately thought to myself, this is what Chris from Keepin' it Kind must feel like after he devours incredible vegan food (if you follow Kristy's Blog you will know that Chris tends to swear while eating super delish vegan food).

My inspiration, once again, came from a bundle of beautiful rainbow carrots from Sanborn Mills Farm. I am sure going to miss them once the farmer's market season comes to an end. They have a way with the vegetables they grow, always so breathtakingly beautiful - a beauty that draws you in. Yes, I am obsessed with beautiful food- call me crazy or call me full 'cause that's what I was after eating this salad.

individual crudités // white bean basil hummus

I hosted our bi-monthly book club gathering last week. If you know me, you are well aware how much I love hosting parties; amazing food, cocktails, music and conversation. The best part about entertaining is being able to see to it your guests go home happy and full with a big smile on their faces & leave talking about when the next gathering will be. Our book club gatherings not only focus on the book content and conversation surrounding the book but also the good food that goes along with the meeting. Easy to eat, conversation friendly food is a must for book club - these individual crudites with white bean basil hummus is the perfect fit for any gathering, plus you totally bypass the double dippers out there!

charred rainbow beet + pistachio salad

Oh boy, it feels like forever since my last post - almost a month, craziness! Between a long 4th of July weekend at my sister in laws family camp on the lake in Maine, a trip to Chicago for a work conference and lazy summer days there hasn't seemed to be much time for posting. Coupled with unbelievable hot summer days I just have not had the motivation. However that did not last long, at the market I came across the most beautiful rainbow beets from Sanborn Mills Farm. I tell you, week after week they lure me in with their beautiful produce- absolute food porn.

fiddle head + asparagus crostini

Asparagus and fiddle head season is entirely too short. This time of year there is nothing better than freshly picked asparagus roasted with olive oil, salt and pepper. I could live on roasted asparagus for the entire month of May & June- it is just that good. Add fiddle heads lightly sauteed with lemon and red pepper flakes atop and lemony white bean spread loaded up on a toasted rye crostini - you just might think you hit the jackpot. Truth- I ate a whole plate of these for lunch while lounging in the backyard in the sun. Perfect for a summer party, lunch or hanging by the pool. 

But hurry, fiddle heads and asparagus won't be around much longer!

virtual vegan potluck: hot spinach & artichoke dip

Oh man, I am so excited for today! So many of my favorite bloggers coming together& sharing amazing vegan food. What's better than that you ask? Getting to meet a whole slew of new to me bloggers through the potluck- so awesome. A huge thank you to Annie, Somer and Jason for all your hard work organizing the potluck - you all amazing!

I knew immediately what I wanted to contribute to the potluck - this recipe was in my pre vegan binder of tried and true recipes. This dip has been made for Superbowl Parties, Birthday's, Celebrations & Neighborhood Dinners and has never let me down -always a crowd pleaser. 

crispy matsutake spring rolls

This is one of the most beautiful dishes I have made to date - when you simply need a hint of color other than white & brown mother nature comes to the rescue.
Spring rolls in their own right are the epitome of fresh - I never feel weighted down after enjoying a few of these in a sitting...well maybe more like five or six at one go.
Spring can't arrive soon enough, especially after another major storm hit the northeast a few days ago, dumping another 8" inches of snow on my garden. But for now, I have these spring rolls, they provide a bit of bright happiness until the real spring rears its beautiful head.

spinach pistachio pesto

I love a good pesto. Pesto is so versatile; slather it on pizza, add it to a wrap or toss it with some pasta and veggies- you really can't go wrong however you serve it up !

Not only does pesto have a ton of heart healthy qualities, it is super easy to make. I had been dreaming of pesto pasta...and pesto pizza and pesto wraps - it was obvious that I needed to make a batch sooner rather than later. Thus, the spinach pistachio pesto was born.

roasted carrot + sweet dumpling squash bisque {gf}

so you can be honest with me - have you tired of my soup posts?

i sure hope not! this time of year Justin and i literally enjoy soup at least 2-3 times a week.

soup is warm, satisfying, makes for great leftovers and tastes even better the next day.

what more could you want?

for pennies on the dollar, soup has a lot of goodness to offer.

plus, it's pretty hard to screw up soup or if you want to get all fancy and call it bisque like i do you can!

soup with its fancy pants on = bisque (but really the truth is its just a creamy soup)...wow i am pretty sure this creamy soup is having an identity crisis since it doesn't have cream in it either.

pumpkin black bean soup

it is a beautiful time of year.

the smell of woodsmoke in the air.

breathtaking crimson, gold and orange leaves whose colors deepen with every day that passes.

i love starting a pot of soup on sunday morning, letting it simmer away until mid afternoon then serving a piping hot bowl with a big hunk of crusty bread.

rustic pumpkin toasts

sometimes i just want toast - prettied up toasts, plain toast, pb & jelly toasts.

after making the rosemary & olive peasant bread i was totally craving a big ol slice toasted with a whole lotta goodness piled high. almost like an open faced sandwich that thinks it's classy.

a classy little rustic pumpkin toast is what it turned out to be.

a few of these beauties served along side beluga lentils & butternut squash and

you could say i was one happy girl

smokey tempeh sliders

i am in love...

with these sliders - i know i say this a lot, but really, these are incredible.

plus, they are so much fun to eat - mini foods are just so adorable.

this was my first time preparing tempeh, i have no idea why i allow certain foods to intimidate me. 

i watch from the sidelines, let everyone else play for a little while - then when i gather up the courage i go for it.  this is after a few packages of tempeh have been thrown out because i didn't muster up the courage soon enough - expired, good as gone.

well, i'm glad i took the leap into tempeh making - seriously guys, if you too have been intimidated don't be. preparing tempeh is super easy and fun - you just have to plan a little ahead for marinating.

really, do it - make that tempeh work for you!

green curry corn chowder

there is nothing better than a steaming bowl of soup after coming back from a fall hike.

once we enter into the Fall and Winter months Justin and I have soup at least twice a week - quick, easy and delish. plus we are usually left with a couple bowls worth for lunch the following day.

i have been making corn chowder since we have been together - it was one of the first "go to meals" I learned to make when we started living together. every now and then i like to put a new spin on our classic corn chowder. the building blocks of the classic are still found here but also tucked away are a few additional flavors that bring this soup from humble to incredible.

eggplant caponata

i have never eaten so much eggplant in a year, let alone in a month. we, meaning my farm CSA apparently has had a stellar year for eggplant - add in the one i grew in the garden and i have more eggplant than i know what to do with!

then i remembered an amazing meal justin and i enjoyed on one of out trips to church street in burlington. we found a great little restaurant that sources as many local items as possible and creates all their meals from scratch - that night i went for the eggplant caponata and it was amazing. so i decided i would recreate this dish at home, and you know what - it was even better than i remember.

roasted winter squash + arugula salad // toasted curry croutons

you know fall is just around the corner when beautiful winter squash starts popping up at the farmers market. truthfully, i look forward to the transition into each new season. winter to spring, spring to summer & summer to fall all have something special to offer us and bring with them a renewing energy.

fall is definitely my favorite season - warm sweaters, skinny jeans with boots, apples, pumpkins & winter squash are just some of my favorite things about fall - really i could go on and on....cool crisp fresh air, fall foliage, halloween & thanksgiving. okay, i am sure you get it - i ADORE fall!