HAPPY VEG - The Happy Veggie

Creamy Jalapeno Cheddar Cauliflower Soup

9/27/2023

Soup season is upon us you guys. This means I'm about to start pummeling you with endless, gorgeous soup recipes like my super simple, Cheddar Jalapeno Cauliflower Soup <3

I love this recipe because it really couldn't be easier to put together. Some good broth, a head of cauli, some heavy cream, and heat from jalapeno, habanero, and pepper flakes. Once blended, we fold in some gorgeous cheddar, and what you're left with is a velvety smooth, luscious cauliflower soup, that warms things up in all the right ways.

Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Bill To Ban Cosmetics Testing on Animals Reintroduced in the U.S.

9/26/2023

A bill to ban cosmetics testing on animals has been reintroduced in the United States. The Humane Cosmetics Act would ban cosmetics testing on animals, prohibit obtaining animals for the purpose of cosmetics testing, prohibit the sale of cosmetics knowingly tested on animals, and ban the transport of products tested on animals.

Cosmetics animal testing is nothing short of animal cruelty; subjecting innocent animals to numerous tests, until they are euthanized to make room for the next round of animals who will then be subjected to similar testing. It's undeniably cruel and needless. It's time to finally end cosmetics testing in the U.S.!

Head to the ANIMAL NEWS page for the story.

HAPPY VEG

Mixed vegetable Chowder

9/24/2023

Well you guys, I accidentally posted this recipe on my home page, instead of my RECIPES page, so instead of trying to redo the entire post, I'm just leaving it here instead!

A good chowder to me, is major comfort food vibes. Creamy, hearty, and full of gorgeous vegetables, it's a hug in a bowl. My Mixed Vegetable Chowder features a collection of veggies I happened to have in the fridge at the end of the week. One leek, a few stalks of Celery, a couple cups of cauli florets, and a cob of corn. A chowder doesn't need rules, just the right method to ensure it's rich and creamy. This means whatever veg you have will make a gorgeous chowder following along with this recipe.

I hope y'all enjoy :)

Mixed Vegetable Chowder

Prep Time: 25 Min
Cook Time: 45 - 50 Min

Yields: 4 + Bowls

WHAT YOU NEED

3 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter
1 Tbsp. EVOO
4 cloves Garlic, crushed & minced
1/2 Tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
4 Sprigs Fresh Thyme, leaves removed
1 Yellow Onion, diced
1 Leek, halved & thinly sliced
1 Carrot, peeled & chopped
2 stalks Celery, diced
1 Large Russet, peeled & cut in to cubes
2 heaping C. Cauliflower Florets
1 Yellow Zucchini, quartered & sliced
1 cob Fresh Sweet Corn, stripped from cob, reserve cob
1/2 C Frozen Green Peas
2 Tbsp. A.P. Flour
4 C Pres Choice Plant Based Chikn Stock (Or Other veg alternative)
1 1/2 C 2% Milk, room temp
1/2 C Whipping Cream, room temp
2 Tbsp. Fresh Parsley, chopped
Himalayan Salt & Cracked Pepper
Seasonings - 1 Tsp. Vegeta Seasoning, 1 Tsp. Clubhouse Roasted Garlic & Pepper Seasoning, 1/2 Tsp. Garlic Powder, 1/2 Tsp. Onion Powder, 2 Tsp. Dried Chives
G A R N I S H - Fresh Parsley, Grana Padano, Red Pepper Flakes, Smashed Up Ritz Crackers (Sub any buttery cracker variety)

DIRECTIONS

Begin heating the butter, EVOO, garlic, pepper flakes, and thyme, in a large pot set to just below medium heat. Once heated, stir and let everything sizzle for 30 + seconds without burning. Add the onion, celery, carrot, leek, and a good pinch of salt & cracked pep. Stir and cook 6 - 7 minutes before adding the potato, cauliflower, yellow zucchini, corn, and another good pinch of both salt and pep. Cover and cook 5 minutes.

Remove cover and stir in the flour until it is absorbed by the veg. Continue to cook another minute or so before adding the plant-based chikn broth & milk, and bringing the soup to a boil. Once boiled, add all of the seasonings and the reserved cob, and reduce to medium low. Cover with a tilted lid & simmer 20 - 25 minutes. Remove cover and continue to simmer for 10 mins, add the peas, and continue for another 5 mins or so. Remove from heat, p[luck out the corn cob, and stir in the room temperature cream & fresh parsley. Taste and adjust the salt / seasoning to taste.
For service, serve your bowls with some fresh parsley, finely shredded grana padano, smashed up Ritz crackers, and some pepper flakes. ENJOY!

NOTE:

Refrigerate leftover soup for up to 4 days. You may need to thin the soup out with water, broth, or milk when reheating.

HAPPY VEG

Naan Zas

9/22/2023

These little naan pizzas couldn't be easier to make for quick, weeknight eats, lunch, or even snack time. They're ready in under 20 from start to finish and are incredibly customizable. Whatever toppings you typically enjoy on your pizza, you can easily translate them to these little mini zas.

I went with pesto, pizza mozz, diced red peppers, some quartered grape tomatoes, and thinly sliced onions. They bake in under 12 minutes in all of their bubbly, melty, golden brown glory, and they're absolutely delicious. One tip? Look for garlic naans. They just have that extra oomph of flavour that is always welcome.

Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Sundried Tomato Pesto Bucatini

9/20/2023

It really couldn't be more simple or more delicious, than my Sundried Tomato Pesto Bucatini recipe. Minimal, fresh ingredients and minimal cooking make this the perfect, busy weeknight recipe.

It all starts with my classic, toasted pine nut pesto, but we're adding in some savoury sundried tomatoes to give it a boost of flavour. The pesto is so flavourful, has so much herbaceous flavour, and gives you that pop of sundried tomato flave that makes it so delicious.

Then, we toss our bucatini in wine & cooked tomatoes, finish with our pesto & pasta water, and serve. As I said, this recipe is so easy, so quick, and so delicious. Get on over to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Egg Salad Lettuce Cups

9/17/2023

Kind of obsessed with this recipe you guys, not going to lie. You get the wonderful crisp of that gorgeous romaine, pops of freshness from the dill & parsley, savouriness from the yolky dressing, and additional crunch from celery and red onion./ Frankly, every bite is utter perfection.

The egg salad couldn't be easier. Quick dressing of yolks, dijon, white wine vin, and mayo and just a few, simple, fresh add ons, and you've got a delicious egg salad. You could 100% serve this salad on crispy sourdough, wedged between multigrain, stuffed inside a bun, etc., but I loved the fresh lettuce cups.

Head on over to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Sundried Tomato & Sausage Zucchini Boats

9/15/2023

I'm living for this wonderful combination of flavours stuffed inside these gorgeous zucchini boats! The combination of savoury, spicy Beyond Meat sausages and the robustly flavoured sundried tomatoes are such a perfect pairing.

The filling features pepper, onion, wine, and loads of seasonings, finished with cooked brown rice & egg to keep everything together. Then, gorgeous zucchini boats are stuffed with the filling, baked, and finished under a layer of melty mozzarella and spicy red Thai chilis.

Baked to perfection, my Sundried Tomato & Sausage zucchini boats are delicious, easy to make, and available now under the RECIPES tab!

HAPPY VEG

Sausage & Pepper Melt Ciabattas

9/12/2023

The new handheld of your dreams right here y'all!

It has everything you could want in a sammie; melty cheese, seasoned veggies, flavourful beyond meat sausages, herby pesto, and perfectly toasty ciabattas. I love everything about this combination of flavours, and these ciabatta melts couldn't be easier to throw together for weeknight eats, or even a weekend lunch.

It's as simple as sautéing up some peppers, onions, and zucchinis, slicing up some melty pizza mozzarella, and frying up some sausages. Slap everything together and finish in the oven.

Hungry for this handheld? Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Spicy Chilaquiles

9/10/2023

Spice up your Sunday brunch with my Spicy Chilaquiles recipe. It all starts with frying up a batch of chips. Although you could also use store-bought tortilla chips, I had burrito wraps lying around so it made sense to use them up. Plus, there's nothing better than freshly fried up chips.

Once our chips are golden brown and seasoned, we toss them in some gorgeous red sauce, and top them off with perfectly fried, runny eggs. Then, we garnish to our heart's content. There are so many yummy options for garnishes with a dish like this. Think sliced jals, pickled onions, hot sauce, cilantro, feta, green onions; the options are endless.

Head on over to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Grilled Zucchini Lasagna

9/8/2023

Zucchini is still in season for a little while longer, which makes this the perfect recipe, because we're ditching the noods for some gorgeous, grilled zucchini.

Layers of tender, grilled zucchini, creamy ricotta filling, and my signature blended tomato sauce, baked under a layer of mozzarella until bubbly and gorgeous. I served it up with some fresh basil and finely shredded grana padano.

What I love about this recipe is it still gives you that comforting lasagna feeling, but cuts back on the carbs. This lasagna eats a lot lighter than your traditional lasagna which makes it perfect for both summer, and winter meals. Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG