Author: writinstuff

Contemporary romance writer, political comedy writer and editor. Lover of coffee, off-key singer and all around crazy girl!

Graffiti Eggplant & Courgette Couscous Salad ~ Easy Vegan Meals

Categories Bowls, Grains, Plant Based, Salads, VeganLeave a Comment on Graffiti Eggplant & Courgette Couscous Salad ~ Easy Vegan Meals

Have any of you noticed that it’s not as easy to find all the foods you need at one supermarket these days? I used to be able to hit up Kaufland and get most of what I needed, using a delivery service for the rest. But given everything going on in the world, it seems to be hit or miss with lots of things.

At the top of that list I would put lettuce. Romaine lettuce has been gone for months, which leaves very few options because I’m not a fan of bagged lettuce or salad mix. There have just been too many problems over the years so I try to stay away from those. But I LOVE to eat a big, hearty salad for lunch on most days.

So, what am I to do?

Improvise, of course.

This warm couscous salad with graffiti eggplant and zucchini fits the technical definition of a salad, and it was delicious to boot, so here we go!

I came across some beautiful graffiti eggplant and my husband asked me to get some because he loves the stuff. I, on the other hand, have just started to like eggplant and not out of necessity. Here in Romania there’s a dish called vinete, which is basically an eggplant dip. For me, it’s hit or miss but we were recently visiting Sinaia and I actually slathered it on two slices of bread…and ate them both.

Continue reading ➞ Graffiti Eggplant & Courgette Couscous Salad ~ Easy Vegan Meals

Vegan Chicken & Soba with Peanut Sauce

Categories Asian Food, Grains, International vegan cuisine, Noodles, Plant Based, Sauces & Creams, VeganLeave a Comment on Vegan Chicken & Soba with Peanut Sauce

You know what I love that I don’t eat nearly enough of? Peanut butter. It’s creamy and delicious and the expensive stuff tastes like you just ate a handful of peanuts. There’s nothing about it that I don’t love, except the calories. My life would be complete if I could find calorie-free peanut butter for cookies or international stews, or did I mention cookies?

But my love of Asian food means that occasionally I do give in to my love for peanut butter to make a quick sauce to accompany whatever noodles I’m craving at the moment. Try my Mongolian Fire Noodle recipe!

If you love nuts or nut butters, this is an excellent way to indulge without going overboard, just remember that the key is always…moderation.

This vegan chicken and noodle dish seems small, right? I know, but when you add peanut butter you have to make certain adjustments. It’s still delicious, though. I promise.

This vegan dinner has a few unusual ingredients but I think you’ll find them wonderful additions that make this dish taste like it was made my a professional.

Continue reading ➞ Vegan Chicken & Soba with Peanut Sauce

Spicy Tuna Bowl for Vegans!

Categories Asian Food, Bowls, Grains, International vegan cuisine, Seafood, VeganLeave a Comment on Spicy Tuna Bowl for Vegans!

Have I mentioned how much I love to experiment with new vegan food products? They can be hit or miss, but when they hit, they hit BIG.

And today I have a quick and healthy vegan recipe that uses vegan tuna from Vantastic Foods that I think you’ll find easy to make and delicious to eat.

It’s another Buddha Bowl recipe, technically but there are plenty of fresh veggies that could easily slide this into the vegan salad category. If you enjoy bowls, consider this vegan sushi bowl! Call it what you want, just call it tasty.

Crunchy and refreshing, the perfect vegan lunch idea during a heatwave!

Don’t worry, this is an easy vegan recipe that only requires basic knife skills.

Continue reading ➞ Spicy Tuna Bowl for Vegans!

Quick & Easy Vegan Dinners

Categories Plant Based, Potatoes, Sauces & Creams, VeganLeave a Comment on Quick & Easy Vegan Dinners

It’s no secret that I love to spend time in the kitchen, whipping up vegan recipes from around the world. For me, cooking is another creative outlet that allows me to stay healthy and fit, while forcing me to take a much needed break from my excessive daily screen regimen.

But some days I am just too busy with writing for clients, publishing my books, catching up with family back home in the U.S., and even just doing stuff for me. Days are long and days are busy, but that doesn’t mean I want to crack open a frozen pizza and call it a meal. But there is something in between vegan junk food and elaborate vegan dinners.

Right?

For me, yeah.

So today let’s take a look at a very simple vegan dinner that doesn’t require even an hour in the kitchen. What is this mythical vegan recipe, you ask?

Easy. Vegan falafel balls with a delicious barbecue sauce and one of my favorites…vegan garlic mashed potatoes!

Even the photos look as simple as this meal is to make, which means there is no reason to reach for takeout menus that probably don’t have enough vegan offerings to satisfy your hunger. Do it yourself.

It’s easy, I swear.

Continue reading ➞ Quick & Easy Vegan Dinners

Spicy Vegan Cheese & Sausage Fries

Categories Cheese, International vegan cuisine, Plant Based, Potatoes, Sauces & Creams, VeganLeave a Comment on Spicy Vegan Cheese & Sausage Fries

As much as I try to eat healthy, enjoying big colorful Buddha Bowls, salads and other healthy vegan options, some days you just want something greasy and good. At least I do.

After a week of nonstop marketing and promotions across all time zones for my latest romance novel, Bared., I was in desperate need of some vegan comfort food. Other than a million different types of ramen, nothing says comfort to me like potatoes.

And what is greasier and more comforting than cheese fries? Vegan cheese fries with sausage, of course!

Potato & squash fries are the centerpiece of this vegan dinner!

With a few fun vegan hacks, you can enjoy this (mostly) guilt-free version of cheese fries, or you can make a few small adjustments and make comfort food light.

Continue reading ➞ Spicy Vegan Cheese & Sausage Fries

Vegan Chicken & Penne Arrabiata

Categories Chicken, Grains, International vegan cuisine, Italian, Pasta, Plant Based, Sauces & Creams, VeganLeave a Comment on Vegan Chicken & Penne Arrabiata

When I’m not in the mood to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, I go for something that’s simple and tasty. Not necessarily comfort food, but delicious home-cooked food that’s easy to make. Something that always satisfies.

Like pasta.

Whether you just like pasta or you want to try something new, enjoy this easy vegan fried chicken and penne Arrabiata.

If you love pasta, quick cooking times and delicious vegan tomato sauce, this is a dish you’ll love and add to your roster of old faithfuls.

Continue reading ➞ Vegan Chicken & Penne Arrabiata

Vegan Sushi Salad Bowl

Categories Asian Food, Bowls, Dips, Grains, International vegan cuisine, Plant Based, Salads, Vegan4 Comments on Vegan Sushi Salad Bowl

As I’ve mentioned before, I have been working on upping my salad game and so, the trend continues into a new week. I had a dental appointment today which was, let’s just say, less than quick & easy. We went grocery shopping today because tomorrow is my release day for my newest novel, and it was 32 degrees Celsius all day.

All day.

So what else is an exhausted, overheated vegan, author and wife to do? Salad.

But I wanted to do something a little bit different from what I usually do, while also making a salad that was substantial enough to satisfy.

Enter, vegan sushi salad bowl. We probably need a better name, don’t we?

Yeah, but this is the name we got and I promise, the dish tastes much better than the title.

There are quite a few components to this vegan salad recipe, but it’s not difficult at all. Honestly, this recipe is all about the prep work. If you’re willing to prep, this is another easy vegan recipe you can add to your repertoire.

Continue reading ➞ Vegan Sushi Salad Bowl

Grilled Corn & Smoked Tofu Salad

Categories Bowls, Plant Based, Salads, Vegan2 Comments on Grilled Corn & Smoked Tofu Salad

Are we back on salads, again? Yes! Yes, we are.

It’s still hot and last time I checked, salad was still delicious. And today, we have a completely different salad for you test out, tweak and enjoy.

There isn’t much to say about making vegan salads that I haven’t said already, so let’s keep this post short & yummy, shall we?

Grilled corn and smoked tofu…what?

I know, right?

But hear me out, you get to eat corn, which is delicious, and grilled smoked tofu which is smoky and delicious and the perfect thing to eat after an exhausting strength training workout.

I used a grill pan because I REALLY wanted to get the grill marks on the corn, even though I totally cut it all of the fresh corn cob. What can I say, I’m complicated. The grill pan isn’t completely necessary but I was trying to be more creative so there you have it.

Continue reading ➞ Grilled Corn & Smoked Tofu Salad

Vegan Summer Salads ~ Broccoli, Sweet Potato & Chickpea Salad

Categories Beans, Grains, Herbs, Plant Based, Potatoes, Salads, VeganLeave a Comment on Vegan Summer Salads ~ Broccoli, Sweet Potato & Chickpea Salad

With this unbelievable and sometimes, unbearable, heat, I have been working to up my salad game.

We’ve all heard the vegan jokes about munching on lettuce nonstop to fuel our malnourished bodies, but the truth is that if I’d known how amazing I could make salads in my pre-vegan days, my life might be very different today. Thank goodness, I didn’t figure it out until now.

This is what my friends think I eat.

Nothing wrong with this…as a side salad.

But this is what my salad actually looks like.

Sweet potato, chickpea & broccoli salad

See the difference?

Continue reading ➞ Vegan Summer Salads ~ Broccoli, Sweet Potato & Chickpea Salad

Hiking, Sightseeing & Eating Vegan in Sinaia, Romania

Categories Asian Food, Bowls, Curry, International vegan cuisine, Travel, Vegan1 Comment on Hiking, Sightseeing & Eating Vegan in Sinaia, Romania

Whenever we’re in the mood to get away for a while without actually hopping a flight somewhere, Sinaia is one of our go-to places. It’s about a sixty-minute drive from our apartment and it has gorgeous scenery if you just want to walk around, visit a castle and be in the outdoors.

Because of the events of 2020 (and beyond), as I like to call the year that wasn’t, it’s been a long time since we’ve done any real traveling, so this was a much needed trip.

The trip started with a visit to Peles Castle. I’ve been there before but there’s always so much to see, plenty of great photo opportunities and on a nice, sunny day, the perfect place to walk around for a bit.

After an hour or two in the sun, you know what it was time for.

Continue reading ➞ Hiking, Sightseeing & Eating Vegan in Sinaia, Romania