Hey everybody! It's been a while, and I'm so happy to be back posting. If you don't follow us on instagram (you can here!) then you might've missed the craziness that was the last two weeks for us. First, we spent the first few days of the New Year snowshoeing and skiing all over Mammoth Mountain...and we got ENGAGED!! After 6 years together, we're so excited to take this next fun step. We're not planning a wedding until late 2017, but I will absolutely keep you guys updated. This past Friday I turned in the first copy of my completed cookbook manuscript to my publisher as well, which was both super stressful and a huge weight off my shoulders. Now I'm just waiting on feedback and corrections while I work on editing photos for the book! To top it all off, we spent the last two weeks moving into a cute little bungalow in Fullerton, about 35 minutes from where we'd been living in Long Beach. Now we're moved in, engaged, and the book has been submitted, so it feels like everything has fallen into place. And we're really happy! 
Since this is the first free day I've had in a while I wanted to share a simple, delicious recipe that has become a real favorite at our place. Brussels sprouts are one of those foods people love to hate, but I actually just really love them. Roasted, grilled, fried in vegan butter, sliced into a raw salad- it's all good. But if you're hesitant to try these vitamin-rich veggies, you should start with this super flavorful recipe. It comes together so easily and is great as a side dish, snack, or whole Meatless Monday dinner! These tiny cruciferous vegetables are packed with vitamin C + K and are far heartier than you'd imagine, so they'll keep you fuller longer than your average green veggie. Have I convinced you yet? Let's preheat the oven! 

INGREDIENTS
1/2 lb. brussels sprouts, trimmed
1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
1 tablespoon miso paste
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon soy sauce or aminos
1 teaspoon sriracha

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 400ºF.

Wash and trim your brussels sprouts, halving the largest ones. Place them into a medium cast iron pan or oven safe baking dish. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, miso paste, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce and sriracha. Drizzle the mixture over the brussels sprouts, tossing to coat evenly. 

Place in the oven and roast for 20-25 minutes, flipping about halfway through. Serve + enjoy! 

NOTES
Leftovers save in the fridge about 3 days. 

I love this recipe because it's easy, full of flavor, and will make your dinner guests think you went to a lot of trouble - when all you had to do was sprinkle some herbs and bake. Okay, so there is slightly more to it than that, but you get the gist: it's easy! Carrots are usually drowned in sugar at the Holiday table, stuffed into brown sugar syrups and caramelized, even though they're pretty sweet on their own.  Our take on these gorgeous heirlooms is rather to add a little flavor and spice and let the carrot flavor shine through, 'cause cooked carrots are delicious and don't deserve to be smothered by sugar! The combination of fresh ginger and garlic adds a ton of savory, salty flavor and the fresh thyme just accents the combo. These would be perfect as a side dish at your Holiday gathering or as a quick addition to a normal Monday night meal - everyone will love them! Let's get cookin'.

INGREDIENTS
1.5 lbs heirloom rainbow carrots (regular orange carrots work great, too!)
1-2 tablespoons olive OR coconut oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
fresh thyme, for garnish

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Wash the carrots and remove any green tops. Chop the larger carrots in half lengthwise, and lay the carrots on a lined baking sheet. Drizzle with the oil and sprinkle the garlic, ginger, salt and pepper over the top. Use your fingers to gently flip the carrots, covering them as evenly as possible in the oil and spices.

Bake for about 30 minutes, flipping about halfway through. Carrots are done when they are fork tender and beginning to brown. Remove from oven, sprinkle with fresh thyme, and serve immediately!

NOTES
Serves 4. 

Leftovers can be reheated in a low-heat oven or a microwave, but are best enjoyed fresh. They will last, covered in the fridge, about a week.

Thanksgiving is really all about the sides for vegans. I feel like a nut loaf is okay and Tofurkey is fun, but I would be really happy with cranberry sauce, 'taters, some delicious veggies, and a big ol' slice of pie instead. In at attempt to come up with creative and delicious ways to squeeze more veggies onto the table, we came up with this impressive dish. It packs so much flavor you're friends and fam won't believe you whipped it up yourself and looks so good you might not be able to believe it, either! We love squash, but roasting it in garam masala and pairing it with tangy lemon tahini sauce, sweet pomegranate arils, crunchy pepitas and a sprinkle of fresh parsley takes it to a whole new level. Plus, it really couldn't be easier -  and who really wants to spend extra time in the kitchen while everyones catching up around the dining room table? This recipe calls for 1 squash and serves 4, but can easily be doubled for larger parties. Let's eat!

[Oh and just so you know, this is just the start of all the Thanksgiving goodness we'll be posting this month. Look for a new table-approved recipe from us every couple days until the 26th!]

INGREDIENTS
1 medium-sized acorn squash
1 tablespoon coconut or olive oil
3/4 teaspoon garam masala
salt + pepper to taste

1/2 cup tahini 
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 - 1/2 cup water, as needed

1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
2 tablespoons pepitas
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Slice both ends off of the squash and scoop out the seed goop. Slice the squash into 1/2 inch slices and lay in a single layer on the lined baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with garam masala, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast for 20-25 minutes, until squash is fork tender and browned.

While squash roasts, combine tahini, lemon juice, and salt in a food processor. Add water a little at a time until you reach the desired consistency. Scoop into a bowl.

When squash is roasted, remove from the oven and serve warm with tahini sauce, pomegranate seeds, pepitas, and fresh parsley. Enjoy! 

NOTES
​Serves 4. Leftovers can be saved in the fridge overnight. but it's a dish best served warm!

Don't have garam masala? Try curry! Don't have acorn squash? Try delicata! This recipe is easily customizable.

Prepping for a holiday meal? Prep everything ahead except the roasted squash and save lots of time!

We're in the full swing of autumn and I'm taking every chance I get to make and eat soup. I love soups of all kinds, shapes, and sizes and will put just about anything into a pot with some vegetable broth. One of my favorite cozy fall soups right now is this super easy Roasted Butternut Squash + Apple Soup. It packs a ton of flavor into a ridiculously easy recipe, and is such a great way to throw some beta carotene-rich butternut squash into your diet! We like to use tart green apples, but you can use whatever apples you have on hand. We also like to blend the soup to an ultra velvety texture in our blender, but keeping some chunks in it is great if that's your style, too. It tastes great paired with naan or crusty bread and a sprinkle of toasted pepitas and nutmeg. Make a batch for dinner tonight or pour it into a thermos and take it for lunch at work all week long. Let's get cooking!

INGREDIENTS
1 teaspoon coconut oil
1 - 3 lb. butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into 1 inch cubes
1 tablespoon coconut oil
2 small yellow onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
2 tart green apples (any apples work though), cored and chopped
4 cups vegetable broth or water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
​pinch of nutmeg
toasted pepitas, garnish (optional)
sprinkle of nutmeg, garnish (optional)
 
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel and cut butternut squash into 1 inch cubes and place on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon coconut oil and a sprinkle of salt + pepper and bake for about 30 minutes, flipping halfway through. Set aside to cool. 

While squash roasts, heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil over medium heat in a large pot or dutch oven. Sauté onions and garlic about 5 minutes, until they because fragrant and softened. Toss in carrots and celery and sauté together with the garlic and onions another 2-3 minutes. Toss in apples, vegetable broth and spices and bring to a boil.

​Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove from heat, toss in roasted squash, and blend using an immersion blender or (for extra creamy soup) a high-speed blender. Blend in batches, if needed. Pour blended soup back into the pot and serve immediately with toasted pepitas and a sprinkle of nutmeg for garnish. Saves well in the fridge for about a week, and freezes indefinitely. Enjoy!

NOTES
Don't have butternut squash? Substitute any type of squash you like, or use sweet potatoes!

We've been fans of Field Roast for a few years now and have always loved incorporating their flavorful grain-based sausages in jambalaya, soups, and on their own in a bun and slathered in mustard and onions. At Expo West this year, we FINALLY tried the long-awaited and AMAZING Chao cheeses in all three flavors - tomato cayenne, creamy original, and coconut herb. They're super realistic in flavor + texture to what I remember munching on a kid and they are the perfect filling for an ooey-gooey grilled cheese. Alex is big on finding the PERFECT veggie burger- and as far as texture and flavor goes, Field Roast's Hand-Formed is his first choice. Is it the most realistic looking burger to a meat patty we've seen yet- especially pre-cooked. You could convince any meat eater that whats in the plastic is a turkey burger for sure...if you trash the label, of course. The burger base is a blend of whole barley, carrots, garlic, onions, and celery- and of course, a secret blend of spices! They're high in protein and non-GMO, and are hand-made in small batches, by hand, in Seattle. 
When we were sent a few extra samples after the Expo, we decided to create (what we're calling) a Fiesta Burger smothered in Firecracker Sauce, Roasted Poblano Peppers, and Cilantro Lime Cabbage Slaw...and its fucking delicious. So, let's just pretend we're celebrating Cinco de Mayo three weeks early, grab a margarita, and get cooking. Olé!

INGREDIENTS
2 Field Roast Hand-Formed Burgers 
2 slices of Field Roast Chao Tomato Cayenne Cheese
2 focaccia buns, sliced
1 large or 1 medium poblano peppers
2 cups shredded purple cabbage
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegan mayo
1-2 tablespoons hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 avocado, pitted and sliced

DIRECTIONS
Roasted Peppers:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Roast washed, halved, and seeded peppers on a lined baking sheet for 15-25 minutes, until skin gets bubbly and brown. Remove from oven, let cool, and peel off bubbly skin so you're left with just the meaty part of the pepper. Set aside. 

Cilantro Lime Cabbage Slaw:
In a large mixing bowl toss together cabbage, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Set aside. 

Firecracker Sauce:
In a small bowl combine mayo, hot sauce, and paprika. Stir well to combine. 

Fiesta Burger:
Heat a teaspoon of oil over medium heat in a large cast-iron pan. Fry Field Roast patties until crisp and browning on one side. Flip burgers, toss on a slice of tomato cayenne cheese, and let burgers cook until equally crisp and browning on the bottom side. 
While the burgers cook, slather bottom patties with about 2 tablespoons each of the Firecracker Sauce. Top with the cooked burger and melty cheese, then layer on the roasted poblano peppers, Cilantro Lime Cabbage Slaw, and sliced avocado. Spread a bit more Firecracker Sauce on the top bun, add it to the pile, and enjoy! Serves 2. Leftover slaw + firecracker sauce can be refrigerated for up to a week.