My Plant-Based Family

Feeding My Family a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet, On a Budget

Tips for Plant-Based Living

Plant-Based Chickpea Recipes

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I love chickpeas! They are a versatile plant-based staple in our house. I have a whole bag in my pantry and several cans, it’s one food I don’t want to run out of. If you aren’t in love with chickpeas, you should check out my Favorite Plant-Based Chickpea Recipes!

Plant-Based Chickpea Recipes

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In case you don’t know, Chickpeas and Garbanzo Beans are the same thing. You may see the terms used interchangeably. 

You can buy chickpeas at most grocery stores in the dried bean area or the canned bean area. I prefer to buy chickpeas in bulk. My favorites are the Palouse Brand. You can taste the difference. The chickpeas are Non-GMO Project Verified,  non-irradiated, USA Grown and field traced so you’ll be able to find out the exact field they were grown in. 

Garbanzo Beans | Non-GMO Project Verified | 4 lb | 100% Non-Irradiated | Certified Kosher Parve | USA Grown | Field Traced (Kraft Bag)
Garbanzo Beans | Non-GMO Project Verified | 4 lb | 100% Non-Irradiated | Certified Kosher Parve | USA Grown | Field Traced (Kraft Bag)
  • These Kabuli Sierra Garbanzo Beans are as fresh as you can find! How many other people can tell you the exact field location and date we seeded and harvested?
  • Field Traced (Identity Preserved) - each bag comes with a code you can enter on our website to identify the field the product was grown in and harvest date.
  • We are proud to be Certified Kosher Parve, Non-GMO Project Verified, Food Alliance Certified and carry the quality seal from the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council.
  • Our food products are NOT Irradiated (an accepted practice that exposes your food to radiation for sterilization). Our Garbanzo Beans will sprout!
  • BRAND NEW RE-SEALABLE KRAFT Packaging! 4 LBS [Launched 3/10/2020]
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When I buy dried chickpeas, I usually cook them in my Instant Pot. It’s quicker and easier than cooking them on the stove.

Plant-Based Chickpea Recipes

I always have canned chickpeas in my pantry. They taste delicious when made into dips, added to salads, and mixed into stir-fry’s. You can even transform them into something else entirely like my Chickpea Nuggets.

Even the liquid you get when cooking chickpeas, aquafaba, can be turned into a whipped consistency like meringue. 

Plant-Based Chickpea Recipes

Love Chickpeas? If you do, you'll love this list of Plant-Based Chickpea Recipes! These are some of our favorite plant-based recipes!

Chickpea Nuggets

Plant-Based finger food is getting real! These Chickpea Nuggets use simple pantry staples! Your whole family will love these nuggets!

Serve them as a meal or a snack. These can also be made in your air fryer.

Oil-Free Hummus

This classic oil-free hummus skips the extra fat but delivers on the flavor. Use this hummus recipe as your base recipe and add your favorite flavors.

Photo Credit: www.veggieinspired.com

Chickpea Veggie Burger

Jenn's Chickpea Veggie Burger is a flavorful meatless burger with a great taste and texture.

Plant-Based Mediterranean Bowl

This Plant-Based Mediterranean Bowl is gluten-free, nut-free, and perfect for the veggie lovers in your house. This meal is easy to make ahead during meal prep and take for lunch or enjoy it at the end of a long day.

Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus

This Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus is a quick and easy plant-based recipe! This oil-free hummus is the ultimate dip for veggies.

Lemon-Pepper Roasted Chickpeas

Need a crunchy snack? Try roasting chickpeas! It's easy and you can add your favorite seasonings. I'm a fan of lemon pepper.

Photo Credit: passtheplants.com

Oven-Baked Falafel

Beth has a trick to make these oil-free falafel's quick and easy....and delicious.

Instant Pot Chickpea and Rice Soup

Need some comfort food? Chickpea Rice Soup is warm and comforting. You can make it on the stove or Instant Pot!

Chickpea Quinoa Stir-Fry

Change up your regular stir-fry by adding chickpeas! They go perfectly with your favorite veggies. I love adding a surprise fruit like pineapple or mango.

Chickpea Noodle Soup

Say goodbye to the classic chicken noodle and hello to Chickpea Noodle Soup! This delicious soup is easy and ready in about 20 minutes! Can't beat that!

Do you like chickpeas? Do you eat them whole or make hummus?

Plant-Based Recipes Kids Can Make

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Instead of our normal weekly plant-based meal plan, I thought I’d switch it up and share Plant-Based Recipes Kids Can Make! Many of us are home with our kids more than ever. If your kids are like mine, they love to help cook.

Plant-Based Recipes Kids can make

Part of our new routine includes me cooking with my boys a couple of times a week. It gives us a chance to have one on one time and helps build their cooking confidence. 

Part of building their confidence means I’m not constantly correcting them. That’s why I choose recipes that don’t have to be exact. The measurements can be a little off and they still turn our great. 

I definitely oversee the cooking and chopping but I do my best to let them do it themselves. 

 

Plant-Based Recipes Kids Can Make

Do you kids love cooking? Try these plant-based recipes kids can make!

2 Ingredient Fruit Dip

This 2 ingredient fruit dip is perfect for little helpers. They only need to stir! Bigger kids can help wash and cut up fruit.

The World's Best Banana Bread

My kids love helping make Banana Bread. My 10 year old can do it all by himself but I still handle putting it in and out of the oven.

Chickpea Nuggets

Chickpea Nuggets are super fun to eat! Kids will need a little direction because the steps can be complicated but doable for kids old enough to read and write.

Fruit Salad with Simple Citrus Dressing

Fruit Salad is a great way to introduce new fruit to your kids. Include their favorites and something new! The Citrus Sauce is optional.

Tip: If you are nervous about your kids using a knife, let them cut soft fruits (or fruit you've precut and peeled) into smaller pieces with a plastic knife.

Instant Pot Refried Beans

Instant Pot Refried Beans is easy because you mostly just dump everything in the pot. If you use a potato masher kids can help mash the beans. If using a food processor they can push the button.

Refired Beans are great because you can use them to make Nachos, Bean Burritos, Tostadas and more!

Plant-Based Nachos

My kids love Plant-Based Nachos! We usually make a nacho bar so everyone can build their own! Your kids will love making their own with only their favorite ingredients. You might be surprised what they will choose! One of mine always tries to take ALL the tomatoes.

Pineapple and Tofu Kabobs

I might be in the minority but my kids love tofu! Tofu Kabobs is just a fun way for them to play with food. They can make their own kabobs. I like to offer a little guidance and encourage veggies.

Tofu Scramble

Tofu Scramble is a great recipe for kids to learn on. I do the seasoning but let them watch and stir it while on the stove. They can't really mess it up!

Simple Veggie Sandwich

A Simple Veggie Sandwich is a great way to get your kids to eat more veggies. Pick a bread, a spread like hummus and let your kids pick their favorite veggies.

My youngest son just discovered a love of tomato sandwiches.

Smoothie Bowl

My 10 year old is obsessed with Smoothie Bowls! He likes to top his with granola! My youngest loves fresh fruit! They are eating so much good stuff in these bowls!

Plant-Based Tostadas

Plant-Based Tostadas is one of those recipes everyone in the house loves! Of course, everyone gets to make their own tostada so everyone gets their favorite toppings.

When it comes to cooking with kids, keep it as simple as possible. Instead of focusing on everything being perfect, focus on creating a good experience for both of you.

If your kid is inexperienced in the kitchen or really young, it’s best not to try to cook together when you are in a hurry. That will just lead to a stressful experience for both of you.

The benefit of cooking with your kids is more than giving them confidence and making memories together. It’s also creating an expectation that food is made at home and not just in restaurants. More important than that, your kids will be more willing to eat food they help make. It’s not “weird” if they make it!

One day, your kids will be able to make meals for the whole family without any help! We aren’t there yet but my kids do often get meals for themselves. 

What are your favorite recipes to make with your kids?

Plant-Based Basics is Open

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If you are new to eating a plant-based diet or if you need a little motivation to start again, you will be happy to hear that Plant-Based Basics is open for enrollment. 

Plant-Based Basics is a course to help you transition to a plant-based diet. It’s designed for people who are new to plant-based eating. You can sign up here! 

Plant-Based Basics Plant-Based Course

What You’ll Learn

You’ll learn everything you need to know to start eating a plant-based diet. There are about 20 lessons that are delivered over a month. You’ll also get weekly plant-based meal plans that include a shopping list, and you’ll be a part of an exclusive Facebook group with a weekly Q&A. 

How Much Time Does it Take

Don’t worry if you have a busy schedule, each lesson is only about 5 minutes long. We cut to the chase! If you can find about 25 minutes a week for the lessons, you’ll learn what to eat, how to shop, time saving tips, money saving strategies and more! 

The course only last 4 weeks. That doesn’t sound like a lot of time but we will make the most of it. 

Plant-Based Basics plant-Based Course

Why Plant-Based Basics

There are a lot of doctors, dietitians, and bloggers with plant-based courses and resources. I have nothing bad to say about any of them. What makes Plant-Based Basics different is that we are regular people who went plant-based for health. We both work full time, we have kids that keep us busy, and have to figure out how to make plant-based eating a priority with limited time and resources. 

Course enrollment is only open until January 4, 2020. That means we will have a small community going through the course together. If you have questions or need someone to bounce ideas off, we’re here for you.

What’s Changed

Plant-Based Basics has recently undergone an overhaul! We kept our favorite parts, updated lessons that were out of date, and threw out some that weren’t really relevant. We have completely new Plant-Based Meal Plans with recipes that I’ve never shared publicly. 

Plant-Based Basics has it’s own site! You can log in from your computer, tablet or smart phone to view lessons, download PDFs, or listen to audio of the lessons.  

Sign up at Plant-Based Basics!

The Best Plant-Based Cookbooks

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If you are new to eating a plant-based diet or just looking for some new recipes, a new plant-based cookbook may be a good thing to add to your wish list! Today, I’m going to share a list of the Best Plant-Based Cookbooks! Ok, it’s totally my opinion but these are the books I have on my shelf or hope to add soon!

Best Plant-Based Cookbooks

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The Best Plant-Based Cookbooks

I believe this list of plant-based cookbooks has something for everyone! Most of the authors mentioned have websites where you can do a little research to see if the recipes are your style before purchasing. 

Budget-Friendly Recipes

I’ve always been a fan of Toni Okamoto! I’m pretty sure we would get along great if we ever met in real life and we would definitely enjoy the same foods. I love how she makes plant-based eating attainable for people on a budget. Eating plant-based does not have to be expensive and Toni proves that and gives you quick recipes to help you get going.

If easy and budget friendly plant-based recipes are what you are looking for, try Plant-Based on a Budget. 

Family-Friendly Recipes

Are you looking for recipes your whole family will eat? Then look no further than The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook. Jenn Sebestyen knows how to make delicious plant-based meals that her family love! I’ve been a fan of Jenn for years and know you will be too! 

Instant Pot Recipes

 

I have recommended this book many times and will continue to do so. If you are looking for plant-based recipes for your Instant Pot then buy The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook for your Instant Pot! Kathy Hester is a genius! Her vegan queso is life changing and the recipe is in this book!

Plant-Based Newbies

 

I don’t know as much about Gabriel Miller’s new cookbook, the Plant-Based Diet for Beginners, but I’ve seen a lot of excitement about it, and well, it’s contagious! This book is SOS free (salt, oil and sugar free) for people who are avoiding those. I think this book would be helpful to anyone new to plant-based eating but especially young men who could benefit from a former athletes perspective.

 The Most Flavorful

If I had to choose one word to describe Vegan Richa’s Everyday Kitchen it would be FLAVOR! Richa Hingle is known for her amazing recipes and flavors from all over the world. She is passionate about making vegan recipes easy and delicious but admits that many recipes have a long list of spices to create that amazing flavor. Richa provides plenty of substitutions for allergy or dietary needs, FYI some recipes do include oil.

Air Fryer Recipes

I purchased the Vegan Air Fryer by JL Fields in 2017! I really wanted to tackle foods like crispy french fries without the oil! If you have an air fryer and are wondering what to do with it, get JL’s book. 

The Most Variety

 

No list of plant-based cookbooks is complete without mentioning The Forks Over Knives Cookbook written by Del Sroufe. I bought this book in 2012, about a year after I went plant-based. It’s the ultimate plant-based cookbook with over 300 recipes. There is a lot of variety in this book and something for everyone. 

There is no way I could include every book in this list! There are so many good ones! I hope this list has something for everyone! 

If you have a favorite plant-based cookbook, let me know! Maybe I’ll add it to the list!

If you are looking for more book recommendations, check out my list of my The Best Plant-Based Diet Books. 

Best Veggie Broth

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Do you use Veggie Broth in your plant-based cooking? For us, a good Veggie Broth can make or break a meal. Thankfully, I’ve found the best Veggie Broth options!

Best Veggie Broth

Shortly after switching to a plant-based diet I created my Dry Veggie Broth Mix. I missed the deep, savory flavors from my previous diet but wanted to continue to eat healthy. I tried several brands but liked mine the best. Luckily, I’ve discovered a few that I enjoy when I’m not up for making my own.

Best Veggie Broth Options

I’ll share all my favorites and why I like them. I’d love to hear if you know some I should add to the list.

Dry Veggie Broth Mix

Dry Veggie Broth Mix

I may be biased but I’ve heard from countless people that say this Veggie Broth Mix is life changing. Not just good, LIFE CHANGING! I have to agree.

The good news is that you can easily adapt this recipe to suit your tastes. If you can’t have nightshades, just remove those ingredients. If you can’t have salt, leave it out! It still tastes great. The only ingredient that you need to include is nutritional yeast. It pretty much gives it the flavor and is the carrier for the rest of the spices.

I always double the recipe and keep it near my stove for a quick and easy broth. It lasts a long time in a glass jar.

My recipe uses one tablespoon of mix for each cup of water. If you blend it in a blender or food processor it will be finer and you can use less. I add it to soups (obviously) and many other foods like rice, pasta, popcorn and even sprinkle on potatoes or other veggies.

Veggie Broth

Veggie Scrap Broth

No doubt you’ve seen videos and heard of people who use veggie scraps to make veggie broth. It’s a great way to use up the odds and ends of veggies. You just need a bag or big jar and room in the freezer. Then once your bag is full, boil, then strain your veggies.

The downside of this is that you will forfeit room in your freezer, first for the scraps, then for the broth. You’ll also want to make sure you don’t have too many spicy or bitter scraps that may give your broth an off putting flavor. No one wants to sit down to a warm bowl of soup and taste bitter flavors.

Veggie Broth

Store Bought Broth Mixes and Bouillon

Seitenbacher Vegetable Broth and Seasoning is a favorite introduced to me by Anne at Recipe for Life. It tastes great and is perfect for a quick broth. The ingredients are really similar to my homemade version but I’ve been enjoying this one. I haven’t made a batch of mine since we started packing up our kitchen to move.

Better Than Bouillon Organic Vegetable Base is another favorite and the first veggie broth I tried. This one has to be kept refrigerated so it might be slightly less convenient but it tastes fantastic! I’m not as crazy about the ingredient list but the flavor might persuade you.

There are many others out there that I haven’t tried. I encourage you to read the ingredients and buy a small package to make sure you like the flavors. I’ve tried some brands that were not good but had so much I didn’t want to waste.

What’s the best veggie broth for you?

That will depend on your dietary needs and tastes. If there are foods you are allergic to, sensitive to, or just avoiding, making your own broth is the way to go! If you have room in your freezer and a good variety of veggie scraps, try making your own and store it until you are ready. If you don’t have room in your freezer, give my Dry Veggie Broth Mix a try!

Broccoli Potato Soup

Using your Veggie Broth

Veggie Broth isn’t just for soups! I use my veggie broth to give a little more flavor to pasta and rice dishes. It also works well when cooking veggies without oil. Just use a little broth to deglaze the pan and keep veggies from sticking.

I’ve even been known to make me a cup of broth when it’s cold. It’s so comforting!

And yes, soups are always a great choice. Here are a few of my favorites!

Do you use veggie broth? What’s your favorite? 

Freezing Plant-Based Foods

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A few weeks ago I sent out my weekly, with tips for freezing plant-based food. It was a popular topic and I often get questions about which meals can be frozen.

tips for freezing plant-based foods

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It takes some trial and error to figure out which plant-based foods freeze well. I’ve found foods like soups and casseroles typically do OK when they’re frozen and reheated though the texture may change. For example, I always cook my rice so that it’s sticky. Frozen and defrosted rice will lose it’s stickiness every time. It still makes a great addition to soups, burritos, etc.

Tips for Freezing Plant-Based Foods

Cool Before Freezing

The important thing is to make sure you are freezing food that is already cooled off. You may need to let foods cool on the counter, then further cool them in the fridge before putting them in the freezer.

Do not put containers straight from the freezer into the oven. Even high quality baking dishes can shatter from rapid temperature change. There are some companies that make bake ware specifically for freezer to oven use but don’t assume yours will work. I haven’t tried this. I’m too afraid of shattering my pans.

Avoid Contact with Air

If you are freezing something like Banana Bread or Bean Burritos, wrap it in parchment paper or wax paper, then place in a freezer proof container or freezer bag. I used to make big batches of burritos and wrap them in parchment, then reuse the same freezer bag forever! I’m eyeing a set of reusable storage bags that look perfect for the job.

Even casseroles or other foods will taste best if they are carefully wrapped to reduce open air exposure. If you are freezing something in a casserole dish or bowl, consider covering it with a layer of foil or some other type of wrap to minimize the exposure to air. This will help with freezer burn.

Leave Room for Expansion

Soups and casseroles need room to expand once they’re frozen. If you are using a jar or glass container, make sure you leave a couple of inches at the top for expansion. Containers can break if there isn’t enough room for the food to expand as it freezes.

Flash Freeze

Some foods like fruit, veggies, burritos and any other foods you don’t want frozen in a clump, should be flash frozen. After the food cools, place it on a baking sheet or cutting board, and place it in the freezer. Once it’s frozen, place the individual items in a freezer bag or container.

My Favorite Plant-Based Foods to Freeze

I don’t freeze things that have pasta but there are many frozen food companies that sell frozen pasta dishes that it should work. If you’ve successfully frozen recipes with pasta send us your tips!

What are your favorite foods to freeze? Do you have tried and true methods for freezing your favorite foods?