Chris Cooks
A Non-Vegan's Favorite Vegan Mushroom Taco Recipe
I have a thing for tacos. They're just everything you could want in a tasty little handheld package. I've done smash burger tacos, chicharron de ribeye tacos, al pastor tacos, and grilled steak tacos. But when I want to serve tacos to some of my vegan friends and family members, I put mushroom tacos on […]
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July 14, 2024
Chris Cooks
How to Bake a Potato Perfectly, Every Time
I'm an Idaho boy. I lived there for almost my entire life (until moving to NC a couple years ago). And while there are many areas in Idaho, I grew up deep in the heart of potato farming country and I loved it. Every October our schools would close for two weeks so all the […]
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March 10, 2024
Chris Cooks
Dairy Free Dessert - Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Parfaits
I am so happy with this one, y'all. When I tell you this is one of the best desserts I've made, I mean it - massive hit with everyone who tried it. Dairy free, grain free, gluten free, and high protein to boot (20grams per serving). Happens to be vegan (depending on how you feel […]
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January 28, 2024
Chris Cooks
Plant-based and Dairy-based Protein Ice Creams for the Ninja CREAMi | Chris Cooks
Jules and I have been trying to increase our protein intake and hitting those macros can be tough, especially when you're craving treats nonstop. So I set out to make two low calorie, macro-counting-friendly desserts that can be whipped up in our favorite kitchen appliance, the Ninja CREAMi. Shop this pic We've been using the […]
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June 25, 2023
Chris Cooks
Iceberg Wedge Salad - Grain, Dairy, & Pork-Free
The classic "wedge" salad is one of my favorites. Crispy bacon, creamy blue cheese dressing, and the crisp, cool lettuce. But when Jules told me she was craving one, I knew that the version I made would need to stand on its own, and not just try to kinda recreate the original. No, the flavor […]
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February 26, 2023
Chris Cooks
Vegan-Friendly Chocolate Peppermint Caramel Corn | Chris Cooks
I've shared a version of my caramel corn in the past, but since that time I've tweaked the recipe a tad and I really think it's become something out-of-this-world special. Especially considering that it's dairy free. Now, Jules is typically grain free. But every year around Christmas she asks me to make a batch of […]
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December 18, 2022
Chris Cooks
5-minute Side: Fall-Spiced Blistered Shishito Peppers | Chris Cooks
Blistered shishito peppers are a great appetizer you can find at a lot of restaurants right now. If you're unfamiliar, shishito peppers are not spicy (maybe one out of a handful has a tiny kick to it), and their flesh is pretty thin. That means you can cook them at a super high heat, and […]
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October 23, 2022
Chris Cooks
Dairy-Free Rosemary Salted Caramel Sauce | Chris Cooks
This is the one, folks. This is the recipe that changed it all for me. I have to be honest - as someone who loves to cook and experience every kind of food, once Jules and Greta developed their food allergies, there were times I would feel a little like my hands were tied behind […]
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September 4, 2022
Chris Cooks
Fire Roasted Salsa | Chris Cooks
Salsa has been tricky for me, which sounds silly. I've made several versions, and historically the best ones I've made have used canned tomatoes. As someone who is trying to move to "fresh" as much as I can, that's been frustrating. But it makes sense, because canned tomatoes usually contain additional things that make the […]
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June 5, 2022
Recipes
Chris Cooks: Watercress Chimichurri
So many diets out there, it's so nice when you come across something that is safe for just about all of them. Chimichurri is one such thing. Chimichurri is a condiment made with fresh herbs, garlic, and olive oil (and a few other things) that is amazing on meats and vegetables alike. I add fresh […]
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January 31, 2021
Chris Cooks
Winter Salad and Sweet Potato Dressing
Salad doesn't always feel "wintery" to me, but once the holidays pass and my body can't take anymore sugar, I just need something fresh. But I also like to eat seasonally, when I can. Serving Platter This Winter Salad features a lot of vegetables (root and otherwise), shaved super thin, and dressed in a sweet […]
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January 10, 2021
Recipes
Chris Cooks: Vegan Holiday Brittle
You know that friend with the dietary restrictions? Well guess what. They actually love treats! Of course they do - don't you? Food restrictions can be rough, especially during the holidays when you can't have all the things that maybe you used to. Or having kids with restrictions and wishing you could just give them something […]
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December 20, 2020
Recipes
Veggie Bowls with Fire Roasted Salsa
The battle to eat more vegetables is an uphill one, to say the least. Modern meals are centered around the protein (usually meat of some kind), starch (grain or potatoes), with a small portion of vegetables on the side. We're all familiar with those sad few spears of asparagus tucked next to our 12oz steak […]
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July 26, 2020
Recipes
3 Delicious Toasts to Try for Breakfast or Brunch
I don't eat breakfast often, and when I do it's usually late morning as the first of two meals I'll have the entire day. So when I have do eat that first meal, I love amping up something simple so it's special, but still easy. Huge fan of toast, for that reason. Sometimes I'll pair […]
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July 19, 2020
Recipes
Grilled Sugar Snap Peas and Mushrooms
The flavors of summer are lemon, garlic, fresh herbs, and whatever the grill adds during cooking. This dish takes all of those and applies them to fresh peas and mushrooms, and it's a winner. Make this dish to go alongside any grilled protein, or eat by itself as a light lunch. It just works and […]
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July 12, 2020
Recipes
Creamy, Classic, 5-Minute Hummus
I'm not vegan, or even vegetarian, but I aim for 70-80% of what I eat to be plant-based. I just feel better that way. So foods that have been around for generations and are already plant-based are worth memorizing, because they're usually simple to make and super tasty. Enter hummus. It's a favorite around here, […]
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May 24, 2020
Recipes
Roasted & Candied Cauliflower (vegan, grain free)
You gotta give it to cauliflower - they've really come into their own in recent years. They can be anything! But to me there are few better ways to eat cauliflower than roasted and glazed. This simple cauliflower dish is rich, sweet, and a great side for anything you have planned. It takes less than […]
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March 22, 2020
Recipes
Stir-Fry with Cauliflower Rice (Vegan, Grain-Free)
The best allergy-friendly meal is one that doesn't taste like it's being restricted. As a non-vegan with vegan and vegetarian friends, it's important to me that, when they come over for dinner, we all enjoy our meal together. When everyone eats the same thing and loves it equally, regardless of their diet, that's a win. This […]
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February 9, 2020
Chris Cooks
Dairy Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Corn (Also Gluten Free, Vegan)
Early in our marriage, I would make caramel corn every week or two. It started off pretty simple and straight forward, but I wanted to switch things up so I started experimenting. I landed on a combination of chocolate and peanut butter in the caramel, plus a mix of Chex and popcorn, finished with nuts, […]
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December 1, 2019
