Pumpkin and beans vegan "meatballs" (EN/ RO)

Another pumpkin recipe on this blog? Yes! Why? Because I like pumpkin... and I can find it in all the stores right now, so it's the perfect excuse to make more pumpkin recipes. 

And not only sweet recipes, as you already saw :) 

Actually, this recipe came to be more like an accident or a joke in the beginning. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. I tried it one day and guess what? I liked it! 

The pumpkin keeps the meatballs moist while bringing a bit of sweetness, the tahini brings some healthy fats and a nice depth of flavor. And all the spices complement each other and make these "meatballs" delicious. And you can serve them for your holiday meal too! With some mashed potatoes and your favorite gravy... Yummy! 

You can also make a "meatball" sandwich with all the fixings too! 

I think that now it's time to go to the recipe, so you can make it at home too!

Ingredients:

Broccoli, carrot and onion pakoras (EN/ RO)

As you know, I love chickpea flour, because it's so versatile and goes well in so many combinations, sweet or savory! 

And these broccoli, carrot and onion pakoras are delicious, gluten and oil free (if you choose not to fry them), healthy and perfect for this weather too!

And paired with a cooling sauce made with (vegan) yogurt and dill they're divine! Even small children love them! And I know this because I had a collab with a local vegan and vegetarian restaurant and even children loved the food that I made! It was awesome to see so many people enjoy my food! 

So you have to try this too!

Ingredients:

Tomato basil frittata (EN/RO)

Before I went vegan, I used to make frittatas sometimes, because I could just bake it without oil and I added more veggies than to a "normal" omelette. 

And now, as a vegan, I still enjoy a good frittata from time to time. And why shouldn't I? Frittatas are delicious, healthy and highly customizable!

And the best part? The vegan version is higher in protein, doesn't have any cholesterol, is as delicious second and third day... 

And it's really easy to make too! And quite cheap also!

I think that this is quite perfect for any meal you'll like to have it, even to pack for a work or school lunch. It's only your choice! 

And you can always change the veggies if you want, make it your own! I love to add greens, maybe mushrooms, broccoli... The sky is the limit for what you can add :)

Ingredients:

Buckwheat cacao nibs waffles (EN/ RO)

I still love to experiment with waffles! And now I thought I would share with you another delicious waffle recipe, made with buckwheat flour. It's fluffy on the inside and a bit crunchy on the outside.
I prefer to top it with fruits, some peanut butter and a drizzle of maple syrup or agave. Delicious!

Ingredients:

Fluffy carrot cake (with a coconut frosting) (EN/RO)

I love cakes and breads made with vegetables, like carrot cake or zucchini bread because they are delicious and you get some veggies with your dessert too :)
And why shouldn't I love them? I make them quite healthy, full of nutrients and deliciousness. So I can nourish my body as well as my soul :)
And this is a recipe perfect for spring, because carrots are delicious, crunchy and fresh. And if you celebrate Easter, I believe that this recipe deserves a try!
And you can make a coconut frosting to top the cake if you want. Or you can eat it plain, or with some plant yogurt. Delicious!
Also, it's perfect for morning or for a breakfast or snack on the go if you bake it into mini loaves or muffins.
Let's see the recipe now!

Ingredients (EN):

Tofu and veggies curry

Here, in Romania, it's still winter and cold and all I want is to stay indoors and cook and eat good food :)
This curry recipe is warming, tasty and perfect for the cold season!
Also, is oil free, gluten free, cheap, easy and made in only one pot. It hits the spot every time!
Also, this recipe is perfect for meal prep, as it keeps in the fridge for at least 3-4 days and it freezes well. So you can double or triple it and enjoy for a longer time!
You can add some chili powder if you want more spice :)
Let's see the recipe now!

Ingredients (yields about 3 servings)

Strawberry pancakes

Yes, I have yet another pancake recipe. Why? Because I like pancakes and they are tasty, fluffy, easy to make and a little bit different than the usual recipes but still very delicious!
Also, they're sugar free, oil free and accidentally gluten free because of the oats.
I really love making pancakes every day if I have the time (unfortunately, I don't).
I hope that you try and like my recipes, because I sure like developing them and sharing them with you!

Ingredients:

Cranberry banana bread

I love fruit and veggie breads, and especially pumpkin and banana bread. As I already have a recipe for pumpkin bread here, I had to post one for banana bread too.
This recipe is inspired by Caitlin Shoemaker, but I changed it, because I like to customize every recipe that I try (or to develop them from scratch :)
For this bread I used some dried cranberries and cacao nibs, because I love this combo!
And the bread it's still fluffy, delicious but filing and quite healthy. Also, it's oil free and gluten free too. It's a must try!
Let's go to the recipe now!

Ingredients:

Tofu and peas fried rice

If you want something fast but still tasty, then I'll recommend you this fried rice with tofu and green peas. 

Bonus: it's cheap to make, gluten free, oil free while still tasting amazing! 

What do you say? Let me know if you try it :)

Ingredients:

Oat and chickpea savory pancakes

Because I'm on a pancake kick right now, I wanted to create a savory pancake recipe too, for those who still want pancakes but are tired with the traditional ones.

Also, these are gluten free, oil free and quite high in protein also! So you check a lot of boxes with just one meal :)

You can have these with your favorite gravy or savory sauce. I prefer to eat them with a tahini and miso sauce or a peanut and miso sauce. And if it's a late meal maybe I add some tofu too :)

You have to try them and let me know how you found them!

Ok, let's go to the recipe now :)

Ingredients:

Coconut and rice flour pancakes

For some time now I started experimenting with gluten free recipes, because I know some close people that are gluten intolerant and I love cooking for friends and family.
And I like sharing my recipes too! But you already know that :)
It occurred to me (with the help of my husband 😊) that I didn't post breakfast recipe for some time now, so here it comes.
This time I made some coconut and rice flour pancakes.

Here comes the recipe:

Ingredients:

Stuffed potato skins with a sunflower "cheese" sauce

Here it's a cold and a gray winter, without snow, but with fog and sometimes rain.

That's why I love to cook recipes that are comforting, and make me feel good. It's the season of comfort food! And this recipe it's not only tasty, but looks good too. That's why I think that should be a part of my "Vegan Holiday" series...

And because usually the best cheese sauce is made out of cashews, which are quite expensive, I made a cheese sauce out of sunflower seeds, because they are less expensive and quite easy to find :)

Let's see the recipes down below!

Buckwheat stuffed potato skins

Ingredients:

Quinoa and veggies stuffed mushrooms (with vegan parm)

Guys, I think that an apple tart and a custard pie are ok for desserts, at least for now. But we have to cover the savory part of the meal, don't we?

I think that mushrooms are perfect for appetizers, especially when they are stuffed, and with some vegan parmesan on top... 

They are so tasty!

And you are lucky, because in one post you have my recipes for the mushrooms and for the vegan parm :)

Ok, these are the recipes:

Quinoa and veggies stuffed mushrooms

Ingredients:

No bake coconut lemon custard pie

If you want a pie but you don't like to bake, then you can definitely make this one!

The second recipe in the Vegan Holidays series (and maybe the last dessert) is a no bake lemon coconut pie, sweet and sour, creamy and so fragrant from the lemon zest! And then you have a crust that it's sweeter and a little bit chewy :)

Ok, enough for now. Let's go to the recipe...

Ingredients:

Coconut crust apple tarte tatin

(With video too 💕😊)

For me apples and apple desserts, alongside pumpkin foods, mean fall and winter holidays. And what can be better than something sweet, fast and tasty for your holiday table?
It's not the healthiest dessert in the world, but it's a lot healthier than other desserts (or even other apple tarts), it's quick, tasty and really fragrant!
Also, it's oil free and gluten free if you don't eat oil or gluten.
The crust has a slight peanuty taste that goes really well with the spices and the filing.

Ingredients (for a 8 inch or 20 cm pie dish or tart pan):

Cauliflower and leeks curry

If you like Indian and Thay cuisine, then you like curries for sure.
This one is really easy to make, even if you didn't meal prep for the week. It keeps well in the fridge for at least 3-4 days (if you can resist the flavor and not eat it all :) ).
Also, the flavor is really nice, not too strong, but strong enough to have a great taste. 
And if you have you veggies prepped for the week, then you can have this ready in about half an hour. 
And it's not very high in calories either...
Ok, this is the recipe.

Ingredients:

Fudgy guilt free chickpea brownies

What can be better than a dessert that is in the same time tasty, decadent, healthy and guilt free?
With these brownies you eat your dessert and a healthy portion or your legumes in the same time😊
They are also oil free for added goodness 😊
I know that usual people use black beans for brownies, but I LOVE chickpeas, and I couldn't let them out from my desserts either.
You cannot taste the chickpeas at all, and these brownies are really fudgy, decadent, moist and they hit the spot when you want something sweet.
Ok, even now, when I'm writing this, I'm salivating 😁
Enough of the description, let's go to the recipe now!

Ingredients:

Warming chickpea coconut curry

Here it's fall, and so cold that all I'm craving is warming and hearty food, like stews, chilies, curries soups and stuff like that.
And because I like experimenting in the kitchen I made my own rendition of a coconut curry that is hearty, pretty high in protein, oil free and really tasty.
It's not a traditional curry, but I know that at least a few other people besides me love it!
So it has to be good 😄 😉!
Jokes aside, even if this isn't a traditional curry, it is really warming and satisfying and it makes a really good dish for this weather.
The recipe is quite simple and easy to follow too 😊
You can make it in bigger batches and you can freeze it too. It keeps well in the fridge for 4-5 days (if you can resist as much without eating it all 😀)

Ingredients:

Chickpea flour omelette

If you used to love omelettes and scrambles before you went vegan, then I understand you.
I used to love them too. And I love them still. But now I don't use eggs for my scrambles and omelettes. I use tofu or chickpea flour. Because I get the same feeling of comfort food (ok, not the exact same taste, but the feeling is the same) without the cruelty, fat and the heavy feeling in the stomach.
If you ask me, I love this way of life a lot! I still have foods that I loved before, but I don't have the guilt and all those heavy feeling as before. Which is so much better!
Ok, I think that this is enough rambling for just one post :)
Let's go to the recipe now

Ingredients:

Pumpkin chickpea pancakes

Because the fall means pumpkin for me (you already know this if you saw my last post) I love cooking and experimenting with pumpkin.
I also love chickpea flour. And for a high protein, oil free and healthy breakfast I made these pancakes one day when I had some freshly made pumpkin puree and a need for something different :)
They are fluffy, really tasty and perfect for fall due to the pumpkin and the warming spices :)

Let's go to the recipe now!

Ingredients (2 servings):