If you love hot chocolate then this one is NEXT level and will impress everyone for the holidays! But it’s also perfect for a night alone cuddled up under the covers watching a movie! Although this is a vegan/dairy free recipe, you can easily sub in whole milk for the oat milk and use heavy …
Whipped Ricotta Board (Vegan)
This is my response to the butter board trend (which I find disgusting) by creating something that is only outrageous in it’s deliciousness not in its absurdity 🙂
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Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Muffins
I think we all deserve to indulge in a little pumpkin treat every Fall and these are just perfect because they’re filled with healthier alternatives to your regular baked good! They are totally dairy free and vegan and you would not know!!
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Greek Style Lemon Potatoes
These potatoes are probably the MOST flavorful potato side dish I’ve ever made! They also have the perfect texture with being soft on the inside and nice and crispy on the outside!
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Creamy Ricotta Pasta
This pasta is both dairy-free AND gluten free! It can be made vegan as well if you substitute the gluten free pasta I used for one without eggs. And, of course, you can always swap in normal pasta or ricotta cheese depending on your dietary preferences/restrictions… either way, it’s 10/10 delicious!
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Rainbow Salad w/ Tahini Dressing
I’ve been on a salad kick lately, trying to find salads that are delicious to make at home and I’m learning it’s equally the ingredients in the salad itself as it is the dressing! And this Tahini dressing is now one of my go-to’s in my house! It’s made from all clean ingredients, too!
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Spicy Garlic Noodles
I was inspired to make these after seeing a few viral videos on Tik Tok and figured I would give them a try! I made my own tweaks to make it to my liking and have since made them 4 times in one week so if that’s not a recommendation to try them…!
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Whipped Rosemary Ricotta (Vegan)
WOW this dish is tasty! I was actually pleasantly surprised after making this on a total whim hoping that I could add this to my holiday appetizer list and just could not stop eating it!
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Roasted Garlic Hummus
I promise you that after making this hummus at home you’ll never go back! I’ll show you a trick on how to cook your chickpeas beforehand to get the creamiest hummus texture!!
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Vegan Pasta Bolognese
I have to say bolognese pasta is one of my absolute favorite things to eat. I’ve made this recipe dairy free before and I’ve been meaning to try cooking with these new plant-based meat substitutes so this was my first attempt and was very pleasantly surprised… YUM!
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Pumpkin Spice Syrup for Coffee
It’s pretty clear that pumpkin spice lattes are pretty divisive… you either love or hate them. I’m on team LOVE and what I love even more is saving money so I figured out how to make my own pumpkin spice syrup to add to my coffees at home!
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Vegan Blueberry Peach Cobbler
Enjoying the last bit of summer produce with this delicious blueberry and peach cobbler that just happens to be vegan! It’s quite easy to make a vegan cobbler because the only substitutes are vegan butter and any non-dairy milk of your choice (I always prefer oat, I just think it’s the creamiest of all the …
Crispy Tofu Bowls
I’ve been experimenting with these for over a month to get it juuuust right! Also, I wanted to convince my boyfriend to eat tofu (he’s a believer that if you don’t have meat in a dish he won’t enjoy it) and I successfully not only got him to like this dish but he loves it! …
Perfect Loaded Baked Potato
In this post I’ll teach you how to make the absolutely PERFECT baked potato and, of course, add on all the classic toppings! I do provide suggestions on how to make this dairy-free and also vegan (by omitting the bacon).
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Soy Chorizo Tacos (Vegan)
If you follow me on Instagram (@thefoodjoy) you know that I’ve recently been participating in #MeatlessMonday and it’s been such a great personal challenge to myself to not only create new recipes but also be more mindful about eating more vegetables and reducing my meat intake at home!
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Vegan Avocado Crema
I love avocados… and I love tacos. Pretty sure I’m not alone in that! But I wanted to make a dairy-free and vegan version of a traditional Mexican avocado crema which contains sour cream without loosing the flavor or texture and violaaaa!
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Vegan Pistachio Pesto & Mozzarella Pizza
I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t love a good pesto! Have you ever tried a pistachio pesto? It has such a nice nutty salty addition to a traditional pesto that uses walnut or pine nuts.
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Chocolate Banana Date Smoothie
This smoothie has been my go to in the morning for breakfast or for an afternoon “treat”! And honestly.. sometimes I make it for a light dinner when I’ve eaten far too much that day!
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Charred Corn Guacamole
I mean who doesn’t love a good guacamole?! Want to take it to the next level? Add some charred corn! What I love about adding in the charred corn is that it not only adds a nice grilled flavor but you get these subtle texture pops that break up the creaminess of a traditional guacamole! …
Fingerling Potatoes with Chimichurri
Have you ever made chimichurri at home? It is SO fresh and jam packed with flavor and pairs so well with steak or chicken but I recently topped these crispy, salty fingerling potatoes with my homemade chimichurri recipe and it was a match made in heaven!
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Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Sometimes the simple things like a good crispy potato bring me just as much joy as a 3 hour braised short rib! These roasted fingerling potatoes are just the perfect side dish to any meal and foolproof to make!
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Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars (Dairy-Free)
These were SO good I kept forgetting they were dairy-free and made from a tofu based cream cheese..! And they received rave reviews from everyone who tried these (because I had to share them so I didn’t eat them all). Please see my notes for a vegan option as well.
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Cast Iron Vegan Pizza
Let me start off by saying if you’re vegan or dairy-free and you LOVE and MISS pizza as much as I do on the regular.. then you HAVE to try this recipe! Secondly, and very importantly, you can 100000% use this recipe to make any “regular” pizza you want by just swapping out the toppings. …
Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
If you like cherry tomatoes then prepare to be OBSESSED with them after roasting them in some olive oil, salt and pepper until they begin to burst (literally) with flavor…!
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Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta
How could you possibly make a great bruschetta even better? Using the BEST tomatoes possible.. which for me are heirloom tomatoes from my local farmer’s market. And why not use beautiful yellow ones for an even more unique version of this classic appetizer! And by appetizer I mean I totally so many that it qualified …
Vegan In-N-Out Fries
If you’ve been to In-N-Out then I don’t have to tell you how amazing the combination of their special sauce with their caramelized onions on either their burger or fries! Well I was craving them randomly and decided to recreate it at home (and make it vegan with the use of non-dairy cheese BUT feel …
Vegan Chorizo & Mozzarella Pizza
I’ve been working hard on perfecting my Vegan Mozzarella cheese and finally posted it a few weeks ago! Now it’s time to make recipes around it because for anyone who has a lactose intolerance, sensitivity, or is vegan.. this homemade (easy to make in just 15 minutes) mozzarella cheese is BEYOND better than …
Vegan Blueberry Muffins
These muffins are so fluffy and filled with delicious pockets of fresh blueberries that when eaten warm are just delightful! Oh, and yes, they are totally vegan!
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Rich Chocolate Cream Pie (Vegan)
I’ve been really craving a rich, creamy, chocolate cream pie that is not only dairy-free and vegan but that does NOT use tofu… which I’m sure works given how many people have posted about it.. but I think for many people this might be hard to mentally move past! SO I bring you this amazing …
Vegan Mozzarella Cheese
There are a lot of great sliced vegan cheese options in the grocery stores nowadays (especially at Whole Foods or specialty stores) BUT I will say that I have yet to find a great vegan mozzarella option. Sliced, shredded or stretchy. Miyokos does make a fairly good product that melts very well in a lasagna, …
Vegan Pina Colada Loaf
This recipe has been graciously shared with me by my friends over at NYC’s Red Gate Bakery which makes some really delicious homemade treats like homemade oreos, toffee cookies, and my personal favorite, their “Vegan Vacation Loaf” that I renamed the Pina Colada loaf because that’s what it reminds me of with all …
Vegan Caesar Salad
I used to LOVE Caesar salads growing up and always ordered one as an appetizer at restaurants… until I grew up and looked at how many calories are in the dressing and I (almost) never went back! But now I’ve perfected a vegan caesar dressing that is so much healthier and dairy-free! And let’s not …
Vegan Ceasar Dressing
Caesar salad used to be one of my favorite things to order growing up.. until I grew up and learned how incredibly unhealthy caesar dressing is! So I was determined to find a way to still enjoy this salad and its dressing but in a healthier way and this dressing is definitely IT …
Caramelized Banana Oatmeal
If you’ve never had caramelized bananas before OH MY does it bring out the flavor of the bananas and make them sweeter! And I’ve figured out how to do it with just two ingredients and a bit healthier by using coconut oil and maple syrup!
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Dalgona Coffee
Well, some fads are a fad for a reason… because they are AWESOME. And this Dalgona coffee is absolutely one of them. Basically, making this delicious frothy coffee makes you feel like you’re a trained barista.
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Everything Bagel Vegan Cheese Shells
This takes one of my absolute FAVORITE recipes (my vegan mac and cheese) and adds large shell pasta, more shredded vegan cheese and everything bagel seasoning.. yum!
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Quick Oats
Unlike overnight oats, these quick oats are ready in an hour! Make in the morning before you head off to work or just wait patiently for an hour at home to enjoy a bowl with your favorite toppings.
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Peanut Butter Acai Bowl
Nothing makes my day more than starting it off with a healthy smoothie bowl! I wish I had time to make this for myself every day 🙂
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Chocolate PB Cookie Balls
I wanted to make a chocolate version of my go-to chocolate chip oatmeal cookie balls that I love having in the fridge for a quick snack to tide me over to my next meal, so here it is!
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Spicy Red Pepper Pasta
I couldn’t believe myself how easy and full of flavor this pasta was to put together! I had the idea of blending in roasted red peppers with a jar of pasta sauce to make an easy, elevated pasta sauce at home and added in some other simple ingredients that really took this to the next …
Spicy Mint Pea Soup
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Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
If you’ve ever had a black forest cake… that’s where I got the inspiration for this MUCH healthier smoothie version but not any less flavorful!
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Vegan Carrot Cake Cupcakes
I’ve been watching a LOT of Great British Baking Show on Netflix recently and have been quite inspired to get my baking on. I was craving a moist carrot cake with a buttercream frosting… but I also wanted to experiment with making it dairy free and vegan. NAILED IT!
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“Cheesy” Roasted Broccoli
Cheesy is in quotes because this is dairy-free roasted broccoli but I add my secret ingredient to mimic that cheese flavor.. read more to find out what it is 🙂
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Dairy Free Spinach Artichoke Dip
I had to make one of my party-favorites into a dairy-free and vegan version for myself and for my other dairy-sensitive friends! As I quote my friend who tried it, “wait, this doesn’t have any dairy in it?” with a perplexed face. Well… I nailed it.
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Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes
I actually made these for my family this past year for Thanksgiving and let me tell you… not a single person knew that this wasn’t made with real milk or butter!
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Blackberry Raspberry Nice Cream
Why is this called “nice cream” and not “ice cream”? It’s because the base is made entirely of frozen bananas so no cream or sugar so you can eat this guilt free!
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Chocolate Chip Cookies (Dairy Free, GF/Vegan Option)
I swear on everything I love that you would have no idea these are dairy free! I’ve tricked many a people so far while recipe testing these. And after recently tweaking this recipe my Mom has given her feedback as, “this is the best cookie I’ve ever had in my life”. So there you have …
Skillet Cornbread with Honey Jalapeno Butter
If you didn’t grow up eating cornbread then I’m so sorry… but it’s never too late to let yourself indulge in this truly ultimate comfort food!
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Summer Corn Fettuccine
Is there anything better than fresh corn on the cob in the summer time? Okay, MAYBE summer tomatoes but it’s a very close tie for me. So I wanted to make sure I make a dish highlighting summer corn and this is definitely a winner!
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Peach Crisp
I love going to the farmers market whenever I get a chance, especially when I’m just looking for some cooking inspiration and this time I got it from these deliciously ripe and sweet peaches from the Union Square Greenmarket… so I made this “can’t stop eating it” peach crisp!
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Chocolate Banana Oatmeal
This recipe is one that I make often for myself at home or bring to the office for breakfast! It’s easy to make and can be made as overnight oats. too!
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Everything Bagel Dip
Growing up in New Jersey, bagels were a pretty essential part of the weekends for me and my family. There was nothing like my Dad bringing home fresh, warm bagels on a Sunday! And now that I live in NYC where you can’t go a few blocks without stumbling upon a bagel or deli shop. …
Eggplant Lasagna (Dairy-Free)
I was really craving some Italian home cooking but am still trying to get my summer body going on (struggles…!) so I decided to make this classic dish healthier…
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Guacamole
I’ve been making guacamole for years and it just dawned on me to share it with you all! I was probably subconsciously triggered by the upcoming Cinco de Mayo 🙂
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Spicy Lo Mein
I’ve been on a mini Asian-inspired cooking streak lately (see Pork & Chive Dumplings) so keeping it going with this really quick and easy lo mein dish! My favorite part is that you can adjust the spiciness on this dish really easily and make it not spicy at all to “I need …
Dutch Oven Bread
Spoiler alert: I’ve never made bread before. Never seen bread made before in my presence. This was my first attempt at making bread at home… so I’m basking in the glory of this beautiful loaf. And you can, and should, too!
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Banana Bread (Dairy-Free)
I tested this recipe out four times before it was absolutely perfect! Dare I say it’s better than any other I’ve tried..!? Yes, you MUST make this.
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Vegan Pesto
Growing up with an Italian mother, pesto has always had a special place in my heart (and stomach)! I’m very particular about my pesto and either make it from scratch or there’s 1-2 brands that I will buy pre-made. Some of you may know this, but I try to keep dairy-free at home since I …
Cranberry Sauce
This isn’t just any cranberry sauce… it’s the one I grew up with every year at Thanksgiving thanks to my Mom! I might be biased, but to me, this is the best version I’ve ever tasted! It’s more on the tart side than sweet because she doesn’t use as much sugar as most recipes call …
Cheese Flavored Vegan Fries
I was really craving some hand-cut french fries but I try my hardest to keep my apartment dairy-free–since I am sensitive to dairy and only indulge when I’m out at restaurants–and I wanted to make them taste like cheese fries. The trick? Nutritional yeast!
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Vegan Mac and Cheese
This is easily one of my favorite things to make… and the best part? It feels totally guilt-free because the base is made with roasted butternut squash and there’s no cheese or milk in it!
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Jackfruit Pizza
If you’re wondering what jackfruit is, don’t worry I was wondering
the same thing just a few months ago!
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Chocolate Oatmeal
I make oatmeal for breakfast pretty regularly, so I decided to switch it up a bit and make a chocolate one!
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Vegan Chocolate Cake + Matcha Frosting
This dessert really impressed my family—and myself!
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Spicy Olive Pasta
Green Smoothie Bowl
No better way to start the day than with a healthy green smoothie bowl packed with healthy ingredients!
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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Balls
I think this might be my new favorite recipe! I’ve already made them three times in one month!
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Pitaya Bowl
First and foremost… Pitaya is just Dragon Fruit! There are two types of Dragon Fruit: ones with a white inside and ones with a bright pink inside. Pitaya bowls use the pink version, giving it that beautiful, …
Dairy-Free Rigatoni Pie
I love this dish so much I’ve already made it three times in just two weeks!
I just love the presentation on this dish and the fact that it also tastes amazing is the cherry on top!
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Overnight Oats with Berry Compote
These oats are so tasty on their own, and absurdly easy to make, but the berry compote just makes for a delicious addition!
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Vegan Cheese Fries
I know post-holiday’s are tough for a lot of us as we try to ween …
Chia Seed Pudding
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Chocolate Banana Mousse Smoothie
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Cauliflower Fried Rice
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Acai Berry Bowl
I just love starting my morning with one of these Acai smoothie bowls or even having one for lunch if I know I’m having a big dinner, so with all the eating out and cooking I’ve been doing…I’ve been …
Paprika Roasted Potatoes
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Acai Smoothie Bowl
Beet Hummus
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Simple Sweet Potato Rounds
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Arugula, Wheatberry, Fennel & Pomegranate Salad
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