Celebrating foods allergen-free & more
free of gluten and top 8 allergens
Enjoy the sweet, rich, and nutty taste of butternut squash in this elegant Italian risotto.
Arborio rice, slowly cooked in broth, with onion, white wine, butternut squash, spinach, and sage is the essence of fast and fancy.
For our bacon lovin’ friends, we’ve topped it with crispy pancetta. For those of us who prefer plant-based, simply omit the pancetta.
If you’ve never made risotto before, this easy recipe is a great place to start.
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free of gluten and the top 8 allergens
Traditional baba ganoush is vegan and allergy-friendly. In it’s most basic form, this middle eastern dish is made with eggplant, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. We’ve added a little ground cumin and smoked paprika to kick it up a notch.
When you get it right, baba ganoush is smooth, smoky, and irresistible.
It’s time to bring out your favorite dippers……
Citrus vinaigrette is bright, flavorful, and simple to make.
Even though bottled salad dressing is convenient, it’s expensive and often full of chemical additives, sugar, and salt. By making your own dressing, you know exactly what’s in it. And no preservatives here!
With citrus season in full swing, what a great time for a citrus vinaigrette…
Emulsification is Key
Oil and water don’t naturally mix. Forcing oil and vinegar to combine is called an emulsion, and we can do this in one of three ways.
Ingredients
Mustard is an emulsifier and will help the process of mixing the oil with the orange juice and vinegar. Honey is also an emulsifier and can be substituted for the pure maple syrup, if desired.
You can use different vinegars. Balsamic and white wine vinegar are other good choices.
Cilantro makes a great substitution for the Italian parsley.
The Ratio
Most vinaigrettes call for 1 part vinegar to 3 parts oil. This is said to be the perfect ratio.
While that may be true, we try to cut back on oil whenever we can. Our formula includes fresh orange juice along with vinegar. Our ratio is about 1-1/2 parts vinegar & orange juice to 1 part oil. We find it healthier and just as delicious!
If you don’t use the dressing right away and the oil separates from the liquids, simply whisk or shake to recombine the vinaigrette before using.
How about dressing up your salad with Bistro Croutons?
Make It A Meal
If you like making your own dressings, try our Creamy Ranch Dressing.
Yield 6 Servings
Free of: gluten and top 8 allergens.
A bright, flavorful, and simple vinaigrette!
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
2 tbsp pure maple syrup (or honey)
1 tbsp minced Italian parsley
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon style mustard
1 tsp orange zest
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup high quality olive oil
Courses Soups & Salads
vegan and free of gluten and the top 8 allergens
These chocolate cupcakes with strawberry frosting start with moist, fudgy chocolate cake. Then they’re topped with creamy strawberry buttercream that’s made with fresh strawberries.
Not just any cupcake…but no doubt one of the best cupcakes we’ve ever eaten!
Just in time for Valentine’s Day……
plant-based and free of gluten and the top 8 allergens
Mellow acorn squash is roasted and pureed with onions, carrots, and an apple to create a smooth and delicious soup. And we love the combination of spices that highlight the sweet flavor of the squash.
Acorn squash two weeks in a row…Yes, it’s that good!…
Lately, we’ve been enjoying acorn squash in so many ways. A couple of weeks ago, Joel posted on instagram a picture of his squash pancakes that we were devouring. A follower contacted us for the recipe. We sent Hope the recipe and thought, why not post it!
Acorn squash brings out a very mild flavor, offering a slightly buttery and sweet taste, which makes them perfect in pancakes. What an easy way to add some extra veggies to breakfast.
Sweet yet nutritious, these pancakes are delicious and perfect even for those picky eaters!
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Packed with amazing flavors, this Thai Beef Bowl is as fun to cook up as it is to eat.
A versatile sunbutter sauce combined with plant-based or the “real deal” ground beef, is served over yellow rice and garnished with pickled onions and cucumbers.
There are lots of plant-based meat options, but just how do they compare? Learn more as we talk about this trend at the end of our post. …
Smoothies are a great way to pack in extra fruit and veggies to your diet! We’re excited to share 2 of our favorites that we call the Green Machine and Berry Blast.
Get a head start on those New Year’s resolutions with these delicious blend-and-go healthy breakfast smoothies.
How much fruit is too much? Read more as we share a short video from Dr. Michael Greger. We also share the surprising facts about cinnamon and turmeric……
This soup is amazing. Healthy and chock-full of chicken, black-eyed peas, spinach, quinoa, onions, carrots, and celery. For a hearty and delicious plant-based soup, omit the chicken.
We love traditions surrounding the holidays. In the South, eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is thought to bring good health and prosperity for the coming new year.
Here’s to a healthy, happy and prosperous 2020!…
vegan and free of gluten and top 8 allergens
This Butternut Squash and Potato Gratin is the perfect simple side dish for any meal, whether it’s a holiday or weeknight dinner.
Thin slices of butternut squash and potatoes are tossed with cheese, a creamy white sauce infused with leeks and thyme, and baked until bubbling and golden brown.
Ordinary ingredients become extraordinary when combined in this casserole. If you thought au gratin potatoes required special cooking techniques or hours in the kitchen, let us take you through the easy step by step process for making this classic dish….