Blog Archives - HAPPY VEG

Herbed Goat's Cheese & Pesto Crostini

12/29/2023

So delicious, so easy to put together, so flavourful & rich, and the perfect little snack to serve up at your next get together. New Year's perhaps?

What I love about these crostini is that they're quite balanced, while also being rich and delicious, thanks to that herbed goat's cheese. There's the Calabrian Chili Pesto which is quickly becoming one of my fave ingredients. Not spicy, just super flavourful. You can however, sub any variety of pesto you have / can find.

Quite simply, some toasty grilled baguette slices are rubbed down with garlic, and piled with pesto, rich and tangy goat's cheese, heat from chili, freshness from lemon, and a nice, nutty finish from grana padano.

Your guests will love them, or you can just eat them all yourself as I basically did lol

HAPPY VEG

Butter Bean Saute

12/27/2023

Another meal for you guys that starts, and ends, with a humble can of beans. In this case, I used butter beans, also known as Giant Lima beans depending on where you get them from. They're enormous, and if cooked properly, so tender and delicious.

This sauté features a few simple, fresh veggies to help amp things up. A little wine, a little broth, and some time, and you've got a delicious sauté that's nutritious, flavourful, and super easy to make.

I served it up with some grilled bread, which was perfect for spooning some of the bean sauté on to and enjoying that way. Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Toriglioni

12/25/2023

I typically have a jar of roasted peppers in my pantry at all times. It's perfect for hummus, soups, and in this case, deliciously creamy and super simple sauce.

I love this recipe because it's a saucy one which means y'all better have a baguette handy. The sauce couldn't be easier in my opinion and takes less than 30 minutes to cook. Some wine, some heavy whipping cream, a jar of delicious roasted peppers, and a few simple add ins, are all you need for a velvety smooth, delicious pasta sauce.

I finished it with a healthy dose of nutty grana padano, and some fresh lemon zest that pairs beautifully with the roasted pep flave.

Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Pizza Eggs

12/23/2023

Why Pizza Eggs you ask? Originally, this was supposed to be the Feta Egg trend that I saw going around for a while. However, after we tasted it, we both kind of unanimously agreed that the whole sitch had a pizza-esque vibe to it. I assume it's the combination of Calabrian pesto, feta, and grana padano that give that taste.

Anyways, super simple breakfast vibes with this one. A couple pieces of perfectly grilled toast, some perfectly fried eggs cracked over piles of feta cheese, some gorgeous Calabrian Chili Pesto, and a finishing of fresh herbs, some grana padano, and a sweet balsamic drizzle.

You get heat, richness, nuttiness, sweetness, and deliciousness. What more could you ask for? Head to the RECIPES page <3

HAPPY VEG

New York Bans the Sale / Transport Of Horses for Slaughter

12/22/2023

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill that will effectively ban the sale / transport of horses for slaughter. The bill will spare hundreds of thousands of frightened horses from brutal slaughter every year. Meanwhile, the Canadian Government has yet to hold true to their word that they too, would the transport of horses for slaughter.

Learn more under the ANIMAL NEWS tab.

HAPPY VEG

Popcorn Chik'n Poutine Potato

12/20/2023

Can I just start off by saying that this thing is proof that giving up meat doesn't have to mean you eat boring ass food forever. Giving up meat doesn't mean you can't have this naughty, Popcorn Chik'n Poutine stuffed inside of a fluffy baked tater.

It all starts with my favourite vegetable / food on this planet...gravy. Just kidding, but I really love gravy lol Quite simply., we're roasting a gorgeous baked potato until the skin is crisp like a chip, and the inside is fluffy and gorgeous.

Then, we smother it in butter along with salt and pep, squeaky cheddar cheese curds, a smothering of gravy, and a finishing dollop of smooth sour cream and crisp green onions. This tater is an experience you don't want to miss.

Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Creamy Dill & Zucchini Rigatoni

12/19/2023

I am literally obsessed with this combination of flavours. I was inspired by a foodie friend on Instagram who posted this luscious, creamy dill sauce and I thought huh, that would be fun to try and recreate.

As with most of my pasta dishes, simplicity is key and we're featuring a simple collection of fresh ingredients. It is primarily zucchini focused which is the basis of the "sauce". I only half squeezed out the liquid so that the additional liquid would become part of the sauce.

Quite simply, some salt & pep, pops of fresh dill flavour in every bite, luscious whipping cream, and some grana padano to round everything out. I should also mention that this pasta packs a punch of heat but at this point, would y'all expect anything less? Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Peppers

12/17/2023

First of all, can we all just agree that anything with broccoli and cheddar together is sure to be a winner? They're like, the quintessential pair, two peas in a pod, the classic duo. That's why these peppers are already a win if you ask me!

First of all, these really couldn't be any easier. The filling comes together super quickly, it's simply seasoned, and finished with melty, flavourful old cheddar.

Once the peps are stuffed, they bake for less than an hour until they're ridiculously tender and the cheese is nice and blistered on top. They're so delicious, so easy to prep / make, and available now under the RECIPES tab.

HAPPY VEG

Coconut Curry Meatballs

12/15/2023

This was such a fun recipe to put together because I spent the afternoon at my sister's place, and she helped me every step of the way. We have so much fun together and she's come a long way in terms of her joy for cooking and palette. It's always a good time.

This recipe combines two of my favourite things on this plate; spicy coconut curry, and juicy meatballs. It really doesn't get simpler. Frying up some meatballs, simmering away a spicy yellow curry, and cooking up some gorgeous basmati rice.

It's an easy recipe that's full of delicious flavours, and just the right amount of heat in every bite. Head to the RECIPES page.

HAPPY VEG

Broccoli Fusilli

12/13/2023

I was such a huge fan of my Broccoli Tagliatelle, I decided to create another variety that was a little different, but kept that same delicious simplicity that I appreciated about the first recipe.

Quite simply, we're creating a sauce out of fresh broccoli, a little wine and cream, and pasta water, cooking it down until soft and tender, and mashing it all together to create a sort of broccoli pesto in the skillet.

Finished with lemon zest and grana padano, and tossed until glossy and delicious, my Broccoli Fusilli is simple, flavourful, and ready in 30 from start to finish. Easy eats for busy weeknights and simple, fresh ingredients. It doesn't get better than my Broccoli Fusilli.

Head to the RECIPES page <3

HAPPY VEG