Blog Archives - HAPPY VEG

White Cheddar, Leek & Scallion Mash

1/31/2025

After I made my Broccoli Cheddar Mash, I knew I had to find some other goodies to fold in to these ridiculously creamy and delicious mashed taters. Leeks butter, and potatoes, are pretty much a match made in heaven, so this mashed tater mashup was inevitable.

I fried up some leeks with scallion, pepper flakes, and garlic until tender, and once my taters were cooked, I strained them and mashed them up with hot cream, butter, and some of the starchy tater water. Then, I folded in the buttery cooked leeks, parsley, extra old white cheddar, and more scallions to really reinforce that green onion flavour.

Finished with heaps of butter, gorgeous pea shoots, and more scallions. These are addictively good y'all! Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Mini Meatball Pastina-Ish

1/28/2025

This soup was SO LEGIT you guys! I came up with it on a whim and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. I'd never made pastina before, but I was craving a nice, veggie soup and also happened to have some Impossible Beef defrosted in the fridge. I thought, huh, why not kind of mesh two ideas together; Italian Wedding Soup & Pastina.

I baked the mini meatballs off while the soup simmered away. After blending all of the veggies and returning them to the pot, I cooked some mini pasta until tender and added the cooked meatballs. Finished with heaps of grana padano and fresh parsley, it's velvety, vibrant, and so delicious. You guys are going to love this one if you can get passed the tedious nature of making 50 tiny little meatballs lol so worth it! Head to the RECIPES page <3

HAPPY VEG

Pesto & Pepper Bucatini Bolognese

1/26/2025

I've made Bolognese a variety of ways but this recipe came to be after I realized I had taken plant-based beef out and really didn't have a plan. Next, I was looking through my crispers and realized I had a million bell peppers that needed to go lol VOILA! Pesto & Pepper Bolognese!

I made a pretty standard Bolognese featuring mirepoix, loads of peppers, fresh thyme, and garlic. After the beef and tomato paste have cooked down, some good wine, broth, milk, and salt. I cooked the sauce down for almost two hours until it was rich, thick, and "meaty".

Once the bucatini went in, I finished with my favourite pesto recipe, grana, and fresh parsley. This bucatini is SO glossy and gorgeous. I served it up with burrata and a quick broiled baguette. Head to the RECIPES page <3

HAPPY VEG

Giant Stuffed Russets

1/24/2025

As far as I'm concerned, there's two different types of russets for baking; side russets, and gigantic, meal sized ones. When I spotted these enormous russets at the grocery store, I immediately knew I was making some meal sized, stuffed taters.

I baked the russets until the skin was ridiculously crisp, and the inside was fluffy and gorgeous. After I mashed the insides a bit, I topped them with heaps of butter, Mexican seeasoned pinto beans, and Monterey Jack, and returned them to the oven until melty and glorious.

Finished with spicy green salsa, onions, jalapenos for heat, and fresh cilantro. These were INCREDIBLE y'all! Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Guacamole Burgers

1/21/2025

When that hankering for burger takes over, I always give in. There are so many plant-based burgers available and a lot of them nowadays are absolutely delicious. When it comes to just eating a burger, I prefer the Beyond Meat or Impossible patties as they're most burger like. They're a once and a while treat and I want the best experience lol

I'm team toppings when it comes to burgs. I can't do the whole, "just cheese and ketchup" sitch. I need toppings and I need loads of them. I went with a Tex-Mex vibe her with crisp lettuce, melty Monterey Jack, spicy jalapenos, red onion, spicy guacamole & green salsa. The combination was perfect. Creamy guac, crisp jals & uns, melty cheese, heat, and that savoury patty. Yum. Head to the RECIPES page.

Are you team toppings or team plain patties? What are your go-to burger toppings? Tell me in the comments <3

HAPPY VEG

BYPASS or BUY - Campbell's Pho broth

1/19/2025

I've been obsessed with Pho now for almost a year. It's something I crave and enjoy at least once a week. I'm a firm believer that home made is always best, (in this case, going to a restaurant lol) but I figured I'd give Campbell's Pho Broth a try at home. If I could make a delicious bowl of Pho at home, I could save myself some money here or there as opposed to going out all the time.

Can we just look at this bowl of pho though? Inviting, colourful, slurpable noods, spice, it has it all upon first glance. How did the broth taste? Was it worth a buy, or should you just stick to visiting your fave local spot / making your own from scratch? Is this good in a pinch? You'll need to head to the BYPASS or BUY page for more information <3

HAPPY VEG

Broccoli Cheddar Mashed Taters

1/17/2025

YOU GUYS!! I'm literally OBSESSED with this recipe and I just know y'all will be too. Look, mashed potatoes should be their own food group. They're dreamy, fluffy and fabulous in all of their starchy deliciousness and comfort vibes.

With that being said, my Broccoli Cheddar variety kicks things up a notch and let me tell you, these might be my new favourite mashed taters. Once the broc and taters were cooked, I mashed them together with hot cream, butter, and some of the starchy potato water. I folded in some old cheddar and parsley for extra green colour, and that's it.

I had to refrain from eating the entire bowl myself as I had dinner plans but trust me, you're going to be hard-pressed to stop yourself lol. Head to the RECIPES page <3

HAPPY VEG

Cremini Cheddar Melt Toasties

1/14/2025

Admittedly, I don't always love mushrooms and I know I've talked about this before. When it comes to mushrooms, the basic varieties are my jam. Cremini, white button, and even shitake I can handle, but outside of that, the texture really throws me off.

With that being said, I looooove cremini mushrooms and these toasties are super delicious. I cooked down some mushrooms in aromatics, pepper flakes, and wine, until tender and delicious. I grilled up some gorgeous sourdough, topped with the mushrooms and old cheddar, and broiled until melty.

Garnished with extra pepper flakes for a kick and gorgeous pea shoots. Quick and delicious. Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Garlic Bucatini with Pesto Meatballs

1/13/2025

This recipe actually came to be after seeing one of my foodie friends on Instagram post a recipe for pesto meatballs. As soon as I saw them, I knew I wanted to throw some pesto meatballs on top of my creamy garlic bucatini.

I made some Impossible meatballs and baked them up while my sauce / pasta cooked away. I made a fresh batch of pesto and once the meatballs were finished, tossed them in a mixing bowl with the fresh pesto until saucy and gorgeously green.

Once the bucatini was finished and the sauce was glossy and perfect, I served it up with some of the pesto meatballs on top & finished with grana padano, basil, and parsley. So delish you guys! Head on over to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Pesto Grilled Cheese

1/11/2025

Look, you can't beat a good grilled cheese sandwich. Crispy, toasty bread, melty, stringy cheese, it's pure happiness in every bite. With that being said, they're even better (if you can believe it) with a few simple additions that take it to that next level.

I had a batch of my favourite pesto in the fridge and knew that that needed to be slathered on my grilled cheese. Along with my fresh pesto, I used pizza mozzarella for its desirable stringiness, sliced tomatoes, pepperoncini for some heat, and heaps of grana padano.

Grilled to perfectsch, you can't beat it. The recipe is for one but it's ridiculously easy to double or triple if you have the pesto. Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG