Dinner
Vegan Not-Chicken Noodle Soup
I missed the soothing, “everything’s-right-with-the-world” feeling of homemade chicken noodle soup- but I definitely didn’t want the oil, chicken, or mega-salt load of the canned stuff I remember from childhood. This recipe tastes just as comforting as my memory, and feels 100% healthier. Pair with a great cornbread or biscuit for heartier appetites. Notes: You…
Read MoreVegan Perfect Gravy
I love gravy, and until I made this recipe I hadn’t found anything that rivaled the good ol’ fashioned gravy I remember eating from SAD (standard American diet) days. This is so good, I can’t keep it in the fridge- we want to put it on everything from salads to biscuits, mashed potatoes to toast!…
Read MoreVegan Cabbage Rolls Esselstyn Style
I love cabbage, especially red cabbage chopped up in one of my favorite soups. When I threw a couple of ideas out to my husband, his vote was cabbage rolls, so cabbage rolls it was! These turned out way better and more flavorful than I thought they would, and now my fridge is stocked with…
Read MoreHearty, Classic Vegan Chili
Last night as I was tucking my 7 year-old into bed, she said, “Mom, will you make chili for dinner tomorrow? I LOVE your chili.” What mama could resist that? This recipe is adapted from one my mother-in-law lovingly saved from me after she found out we were vegan. It originally called for oil and…
Read MoreVegan Goulash
I had a craving for my mom’s goulash, but I didn’t want the hamburger, oil and salt. This recipe uses pinto beans for a delicious substitute. You can also use black beans, lentils, or experiment with textured vegetable protein for different results. Let me know what you think in the comments below! Inspired by my…
Read MoreInstant Pot Beets
I’m on a mission to cook every vegetable in my kitchen in the Instant Pot. Well, every starchy, root veggie at least- I don’t see a reason for putting cucumber in it 😂 When I cooked beets in the Instant Pot for the first time, I was transformed. It was so easy! So quick! And…
Read MoreSpicy Chickpea Stew – Vegan, Esselstyn, Oil-Free
My husband and I love spicy dinners, but my kids are not as enthusiastic. On days when I have leftovers for them, I will make this for Mark and I, so we get something delicious without offending their delicate palates. We love this vegan, oil-free dinner- it’s hearty, satisfying, and delicious- everything we want on…
Read MoreInstant Pot Sweet Potatoes
A friend of mine casually mentioned the other day that she makes sweet potatoes every morning in her Instant Pot, and I admit I scoffed to myself. “Every morning?” I thought, “Psh, I make mine once a week and they’re always available in the fridge.” But… since I just got this Instant Pot… I thought,…
Read MoreInstant Pot Tomato Veggie Soup – Plant Strong, Esselstyn
Santa brought me an Instant Pot for Christmas, and I’ve been happily trying all my favorite recipes in it. It’s so satisfying to get a deep, rich, “all day cook” taste out of this little machine after just a few minutes of cooking. I love how the flavors of all my herbs and spices permeate…
Read More2021 Best Esselstyn Recipes
Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn recommends an oil-free, vegan diet in his book Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease . In addition to the great recipes in his accompanying cookbook, The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook: Over 125 Delicious, Life-Changing, Plant-Based Recipes, here are a few recipes that meet Dr. Esselstyn’s guidelines that we make almost every week,…
Read More