Blog Archives - HAPPY VEG

Every week is Potato Week

4/15/2017

After scouring my recipes looking for the two I wanted to upload this week, I couldn't help but notice that I had an abundance of potato recipes in the archives. I didn't want to feature another potato week because I just had one a week or so ago. It soon dawned on me that I'm always going to have an abundance of potato recipes because I eat them nearly every day. So screw it, it's potato week again and frankly, every week is potato week is in my books!

POTATO LEEK SOUP

I've always enjoyed a creamy bowl of potato and leek soup. I love the subtlety of the leeks and the creamy, luxurious soup itself. At the end of the day, the flavours really work together for me and I decided to make a fresher version of a traditionally creamy soup. Fresh leeks, a mix of potatoes, and a delightfully light and delicious broth make this Potato Leek Soup recipe a keeper!

CREAMY GNOCCI, BROCCOLI, AND CHEESE BAKE

Everything about this delicious dish will leave you completely satisfied. From the ultra cheesy, deliciously rich sauce to the pillowy, tender gnocci, this cheesy bake is where it's at. The broccoli not only adds flavour but a much desired crunch that provides the perfect amount of texture for this pillowy bake. Who needs traditional, boxed mac and cheese? This is how adults Mac and Cheese!

2 New Posts

4/13/2017

I've got 2 new stories under the ALL ABOUT THE ANIMALS tab. I'm talking about the sale of bunnies over Easter and the Annual Canadian seal hunt.

As always, leave your comments! I love to hear from y'all over FB, Twitter, and Instagram!

HAPPY VEG

Panzanella with Lemon & Thyme Vinaigrette

4/12/2017

I remember learning about panzanella salad while watching Lidia Bastianich and was so intrigued by the idea of eating a bread salad. What a fabulous way to make sure your bread is utilized versus being thrown out.

This version is a little different because we took the time together to prepare some delicious multigrain bagel croutons earlier in the week. The croutons make this salad extra special and offer up a hearty and delicious crunch with every bite. A perfect contrast to all of the fresh, flavourful veggies that I've included in the salad.

The salad is dressed in a super simple lemon and thyme vinaigrette that really brings everything together.

You've got your bagel croutons ready, so head to the RECIPES page to get your salad on!

HAPPY VEG

NEW POST - MY PERSONAL BLOG

4/11/2017

I'm reflecting on my diet and making the plunge to a Vegan lifestyle. Catch up with me!

HAPPY VEG

Bagel Croutons

4/10/2017

Part 1 of my delicious Panzanella salad is posted! Typically, panzanella salad consists of stale crusty bread that rehydrates when dressed but I decided to prepare some croutons for the salad instead!

Using multigrain bagels gives you the crispiest, heartiest croutons. These croutons hold up extremely well to dressing and make for a fabulous salad.

You can also use them in other ways as well. Cut them a touch smaller and you can top your salads with them or finish a blended soup with a few crispy croutons. Such a simple recipe to have on hand!

HAPPY VEG

Here's the Menu

4/8/2017

Next week we'll be preparing this lovely salad in 2 parts. We'll start by preparing our own croutons using multigrain bagels and finish the week off with a delicious salad!

BAGEL CROUTONS

Making your own croutons is so very simple and so much better than store bought. I've taken advantage of a bag of multigrain bagels, seasoned them, and toasted them up until nice and crispy. These croutons can be cut smaller and used in salads or soups or left larger for my delicious bread salad later in the week!

PANZANELLA with LEMON & THYME VINAIGRETTE

Panzanella salad is turning out to be one of my favourite recipes to prepare. I love the concept of utilizing old bread and making it into something so beautiful and delicious. I've taken a different approach this time around by preparing some hearty and delicious croutons as opposed to leaving out bread to dry. Now that we'll have whipped up some beautiful croutons for the salad, I'll give you a delicious recipe for panzanella salad that features a fresh and delicious lemon and thyme vinaigrette. This salad is such a treat, y'all are going to love it!

10 of the most Vegetarian Friendly cities

4/7/2017

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/09/15/vegetarian-friendly-cities_n_11995626.html

For Vegetarians and Vegans alike, what you'll have access to food wise is a major contributing factor to where you'll stay. Having access to amazing restaurants or staying somewhere that is exclusively Vegetarian gives you the peace of mind of knowing you will not struggle to find delicious, nourishing food.

With that being said, I came across this post about 10 of the Vegetarian friendliest cities in the world from about a year ago. Would you base a trip solely around food options? Probably not, but you'd certainly appreciate your options upon arriving in one of these beautiful cities. Let's get to the list,

NEW YORK (U.S.A)
PORTLAND (U.S.A)
CHIANG MAI (THAILAND)
BERLIN (GERMANY)
HO CHI MINH CITY (VIETNAM)
PRAGUE (CZECH REPUBLIC)
LONDON (ENGLAND)
SEOUL (SOUTH KOREA)
DEHLI (INDIA)
TAIPEI (CHINA)

I'm not surprised that Canada didn't make it on the list. I can't even get someone to address the fact that you can molest animals in our country and it's legal. Sadly, I feel like Canada will always be behind as far as animal rights, they don't seem to see it as a priority.

Would you visit any of these places? Does knowing this perhaps ignite your desire to travel?

Visit the link at the top of the page for the full story!

HAPPY VEG

Potato Marinara Bake

4/5/2017

Head to the RECIPES page for today's recipe!

HAPPY VEG

Revisiting My Old Recipes

4/4/2017

When I look back at some of my original posts / recipes, it makes me feel quite nostalgic. In just two years, my recipes have become more involved and focused on flavours and techniques. My photography has also improved significantly as I've learned the importance of a good camera and proper staging / lighting.

With these new and improved skills, I thought it would be super fun to revisit some of my older recipes and put them to the test! In the coming weeks, I'll be retesting some of my favourite recipes from the beginning of my blog to ensure they are written perfectly and in doing so, I'll be able to update some of the photography as well. It's a win win!

Here are 5 of my original recipes that I'll be revisiting and updating in the coming weeks!

CREAMY WARM CORN CHOWDER

One of my original soups, this corn chowder was absolutely delicious. Beautiful in its simplicity, it was such a delightful soup to eat and the jalapeno peppers provided such a welcome heat. Corn and spicy flavours really go hand in hand in my opinion, they create a perfect spicy cool contrast that makes the soup so wonderful. I can't wait to revisit this recipe, test it, and take some much needed new photos!
http://happyveggie.weebly.com/recipes/creamy-warming-corn-chowder

CHUNKY GUACAMOLE

Guacamole is actually a specialty of mine. It's something that I thoroughly enjoy preparing and eating and often use it as my go to dish when hanging with friends. It's delicious and quite nutritious as well!
My recipe is bang on but the photography is very sad, so I'll be revisiting this one and updating everything for you guys!
http://happyveggie.weebly.com/recipes/chunky-guacamole

BRUSCHETTA

Who doesn't love bruschetta? Crispy bread with a vibrant and cool tomato salad topping, divine! Bruschetta is such a simple appetizer to make and everyone loves it so having a good recipe for it is key!
I'll be revisiting this recipe and making sure that not only is it written well, but that the pictures truly reflect the beauty of the dish. I can't wait to update this one!
http://happyveggie.weebly.com/recipes/bruschetta

MEXI TORTILLA TARTS

Little tort cups filled with creamy refried beans, cheese, and mexican rice. Such a delicious meal and absolutely simple to make. The problem? The pictures leave much to be desired!
I can't wait to revisit this one and update the photos giving y'all something to drool over!
http://happyveggie.weebly.com/recipes/mexi-tortilla-tarts

RICOTTA SPINACH LASAGNE ROLLUPS

This dish was one of my mother's specialties. Growing up, it was such a treat to enjoy these rollups and as kids, this was probably one of our favourite meals.
I recreated the dish and it was absolutely delicious. Creamy ricotta and spinach rolled up in lasagne noodles and baked under a layer of cheese and tomato sauce. So delicious, I can't wait to revisit this one and update the photography!
http://happyveggie.weebly.com/recipes/spinach-and-ricotta-lasagne-rollups

Cheesy Refried Bean Stuffed Potatoes

4/3/2017

These are going to be your new guilty pleasure!

Potatoes are amazing on their own, but when you stuff them with some seriously delicious stuff, they become even better. In this case, that delicious stuff is beans and cheese.

I've taken a can of refried beans and jazzed it up with some fresh vegetables and spices giving the beans a much bigger punch of flavour. The beans, along with a blend of monterey jack and cheddar cheeses, are stuffed inside crispy potato skins and finished in the oven until the cheese is bubbly and glorious.

A finishing dollop of sour cream and a drizzle of hot sauce and you've got a banging appetizer that everyone will love. Head to the RECIPES page to get your cheesy potato on!

HAPPY VEG