My Plant-Based Family

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

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Plant-Based Recipes for Game Day

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I don’t care about football. I’ll admit it. I do care about food and friends and that is the important part of game day and the Super Bowl for me. Plant-Based recipes for game day is a must because I spend all my time chatting by the food.

I try to have a nice mix of healthy and not-so-healthy. I’m not talking complete junk but I’m not eating salad. I like to divide my favorite party snacks into two categories: sweet and savory.

I hope this list of recipes inspires your Super Bowl menu!

Sweet Plant-Based Recipes

Gluten-Free, vegan brownie

I love Brownies and these are perfect for any occasion.

Chocolate Fruit Dip

Chocolate Fruit Dip made from So Delicious yogurt is perfect for dipping fruit.

Chocolate No Bake Bites

Chocolate No-bake Bites are very addictive. You’ve been warned.

Savory Plant-Based Recipes

Jalapeno Hummus is plant-based and oil-free recipe will win over any critic.

Jalapeno Hummus is perfect for dipping veggies but chips are great too. See my other dips, I especially love the Spinach Artichoke Dip.

pizza mushrooms 600x400

Pizza Stuffed Mushrooms are a healthier version of pizza. You can eat all of them guilt-free, but sharing is nice too.

Chickpea Nuggets are vegan, gluten-free, and a fun kid food. They are easy to make and delicious.

Chickpea Nuggets are a fun finger food and you can also put them on slide buns.

BBQ Cauliflower Bites

It may be my barbecue sauce addition talking but we can’t forget BBQ Cauliflower Bites.

Whatever you end up eating on game day (and no matter who wins) remember the important part is having fun with friends.

Smoothie Bowl

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If you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary I invite you to try a Smoothie Bowl.

I know, I’m not really a smoothie drinker but sometimes smoothies are an easy dessert or meal on the go. A smoothie bowl is even more fun! You family will be delighted at this gluten-free treat that is made from fruit and a little bit of plant-based milk.

Smoothie Bowl Plant-Based Gluten-free

This bowl reminds me of when I was a kid. We’d regularly have ice cream as a dessert. I would usually add milk to mine and make it more of a milk shake consistency but still eat in from a bowl.

This Smoothie Bowl is very sweet, thanks to the strawberry and banana but the extra added fruit help me feel like I’m having something with a little more substance.

Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie Bowl
 
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Prep time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: Smoothie
Ingredients
Smoothie Bowl
  • 4 ounces plant-based milk
  • 1 banana
  • 6 frozen strawberries
Toppings
  • 1 banana
  • 6 fresh strawberries
  • ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1 tsp. hemp seeds (optional)
  • 1 Tbsp. raw pepitas (optional)
Instructions
  1. Pour plant-based milk into a high-powered blender.
  2. Add the banana and frozen strawberries.
  3. Blend in blender until smooth and pour into bowls.
  4. Top with fresh sliced banana and strawberries, blueberries and seeds.

You can change up your Smoothie Bowl to cater to your cravings. Who’s to say you can’t add some Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips on top of your Smoothie Bowl.

 

Smoothie Bowl

Sweets For Your Sweeties

I’ve partnered with some of my favorite gluten-free bloggers to offer you an incredible round-up and giveaway. All of these recipes are gluten-free but may contained ingredients that are not plant-based.

Sweets for Sweeties Gluten-free Recipes Collage 600

15 Sweets for Your Sweeties – Gluten-free recipes to share with your loved ones for Valentine’s Day or anytime. Listed in the order they appear in the photo, left to right, row by row:

This is a wonderful (and delicious) collection of recipes! Make sure you visit them and add them to your “I’ve got to make this” list.

KitchenAid Giveaway (Giveaway is Closed)

We have teamed up to offer a KitchenAid 5-Qt. (Artisan Design Series with Glass Bowl) Mixer with a Stainless Steel Bowl. Plus, you get to pick the color! How cool is that?

 

sweets for your sweeties kitchenaid mixer giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to U.S. residents only,18 and older. Winners will have 48 hours to respond before new winner picked. Contest ends 2/10 at 11:59pm Mountain Time. 

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Plant-Based Meal Plan

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I spent about half of last week sick. Thankfully last week’s Plant-Based Meal Plan had delicious soups (Minestone Soup and Broccoli Potato Soup) to help me recover.

Each week I share a plant-based meal plan this is usually gluten-free and allergy-friendly. My hope is that you’ll be inspired by the meal plan and able to adapt it to meet your needs. See the 2015 Archive for more!

This last week I sent out my Newsletter with some plant-based tips. If you missed it you can sign up here. The next one will go out in two weeks and it’s always a quick and easy ready.
Plant-based meal plan that is vegan and gluten-free [Read more…] about Plant-Based Meal Plan

Broccoli Potato Soup

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Soup has a way of making you feel better. It doesn’t matter what kind of soup it is, but homemade is the best. This Plant-Based Broccoli Potato Soup is one of my all time favorites!

Broccoli and Potato Soup

I never loved soup until we transitioned to a plant-based diet. After that, I couldn’t get enough soup.

 

I think one of the reasons was that although tasty, a lot of soups contained meat and dairy and were not refreshing. They were greasy, heavy or gave me a stomach ache. This never happens with plant-based soups.

Broccoli Potato Soup

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If you take a look at the ingredients you’ll see why! There is no dairy yet the soup is total comfort food.

I recommend this soup to anyone who is new to cooking because it’s so easy. You basically just cut up veggies. Having a decent knife and cutting board is important but that is all. If you have an Instant Pot you can use it, but it’s really easy to make on the stove. (This recipe was updated and Instant Pot instructions were added.)

Speaking of Instant Pot, I love mine! Here are 10 reasons I decided to buy and Instant Pot!

If you don’t have an Instant Pot, a big soup pot will work perfectly. Plus, you’ll enjoy the glorious smell of it simmering on your stove.

Broccoli Potato Soup

Broccoli Potato Soup

broccoli potato soup

Broccoli Potato Soup

 Broccoli Potato Soup

Broccoli Potato Soup

Instant Pot Broccoli Potato Soup

This simple soup is best for people who don't want to be overwhelmed with strong flavors. The veggies bring the flavor!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 to 2 pounds potatoes + enough water to cover potatoes
  • 1/2 a onion, diced
  • 1 stick celery, sliced
  • 1 carrot, sliced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 crown of broccoli, chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 cup plant milk

Instructions

  1. Scrub and chop potatoes. Place them in a pan of water and bring to a boil. You can also use vegetable broth for a heartier flavor.
  2. Add diced onion, carrot and the bay leaf (you will remove the bay leaf before serving).
  3. Once carrots and potatoes are almost tender add broccoli and spices.
  4. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
  5. The soup is ready to eat as is. For a more savory soup add 1/4 cup of plant milk and 1 Tbsp of nutritional yeast.

Notes

If you'd like strong flavors. I recommend adding my Dry Veggie Broth Mix or more spices like garlic, onion, and nutritional yeast.

Did you make this recipe?

We'd love to see it! Tag us and use #MyPlantBasedFamily!

© Holly Yzquierdo
Category: Soup

Instant Pot Instructions

If you are making this Broccoli Potato Soup in the Instant Pot, you’ll add all the ingredients to your pot. Then you will close and seal the lid. Cook on manual for 10 minutes, with a natural pressure release. If you have an newer Instant Pot, it won’t say manual, there will be a button that says Pressure Cook.

When possible, I will allow my pot to sit undisturbed so the flavors have a chance to blend together. This will also give the pot time to naturally release pressure.

Broccoli Potato Soup

Another great thing about this soup is that it is very inexpensive to make. We almost always have the ingredients on hand so it’s a no brainer.

Yield: 4+

Instant Pot Broccoli Potato Soup

Instant Pot Broccoli Potato Soup

Instant Pot Broccoli Potato Soup is an easy and delicious soup your family will love. This soup is big on veggies!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 to 2 pounds potatoes + enough water or veggie broth to cover potatoes
  • 1/2 a onion, diced
  • 1 stick celery, sliced
  • 1 carrot, sliced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 crown of broccoli, chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast (more if desired)
  • 1/4 cup plant milk

Instructions

  1. Chop veggies and add them to your Instant Pot.
  2. Cover with water or veggie broth, then add spices.
  3. Close and seal the lid. Cook on Manual (Pressure Cook) for 10 minutes. The pot may take 20-30 minutes to come to pressure before cooking begins.
  4. Once done cooking, allow pressure to release naturally. This may take 15 minutes or so. Carefully open the pot.
  5. Remove the bay leaf. Add salt or other spices if desired.

Notes

This soup has a mild flavor. It's perfect for kids who don't like "spicy" foods but enjoy veggies. For a richer flavor, add my Dry Veggie Broth Mix or more nutritional yeast.

Did you make this recipe?

We'd love to see it! Tag us and use #MyPlantBasedFamily!

© Holly Yzquierdo
Category: Instant Pot
Broccoli Potato Soup

If you like this, check out my Crock Pot Potato Soup too!

Photos by Melodee Fiske. 

Instant Pot Oatmeal

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My love affair with my Instant Pot isn’t confined to dinner. No, my morning rendezvous with my Instant Pot are a common occurrence.

Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe that is plant-based, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free oats

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I love steel cut oats (I usually buy these that are gluten-free) but the standard 10-20 minutes of stove top cooking most packages recommend seemed to take me longer. Instead, I use my Instant Pot!

I got the idea from Jill Nussinow on her blog The Veggie Queen. I tell people, she isn’t only the Veggie Queen she is queen of pressure cooking. Her blog mentions the instructions for using a regular pressure cooker but it’s easily adapted for Instant Pot Cooking. By the way, her book, Vegan Under Pressure is great!

Instant Pot Oatmeal with banana

Instant Pot Oatmeal

If this is your first time cooking with the Instant Pot it is important to note that it takes a while for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure. That means once you start it, it may take 15 minutes for more before it starts cooking. This is normal. After it’s done cooking, it takes time for the pressure to drop.

It’s still easier than cooking it on the stove because you have to watch your pot and stir regularly. With the Instant Pot, you can walk away and come back to perfect oatmeal. You may want to start it when you wake up, then come back to it after you’ve gotten ready.

Instant Pot Oatmeal with Berries
Yield: 3 servings

Instant Pot Oatmeal

Instant Pot Oatmeal

Steel Cut Oats have never been easier than this Instant Pot recipes. Your family will love this recipe that can be customized to each persons preference. See video for ideas!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Additional Time 20 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup steel cut oats
  • 3 cups water
  • optional spices (cinnamon shown)
  • toppings of your choice (apples shown)

Instructions

  1. Dump oats into the Instant Pot followed by the water.
  2. Close the lid and close the vent.
  3. Press manual and use the arrow buttons to go down to 3 minutes.
  4. After the oats finish cooling, press the off button or unplug the Instant Pot so the pressure will release naturally.
  5. After the pressure releases, open the lid and give the oatmeal a good stir. It will probably have extra liquid, this will absorb as it cools.
  6. Add cinnamon or other additions and allow to cool slightly before serving.
  7. Top oatmeal with fresh fruit of your choice, apples are shown.

Notes

Tops with your favorite fruit, nuts or seeds for an incredible meal. You can sweeten with maple syrup.

Need more? Double the oats and water, cook for the same amount of time.

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Did you make this recipe?

We'd love to see it! Tag us and use #MyPlantBasedFamily!

Category: Instant Pot

This recipe makes about 2-3 servings depending on how hungry you are and how much fruit you add for the toppings.

You can easily double this recipe (no need to change the cooking time) and store it for easy breakfasts all week.

Oatmeal recipe using the Instant Pot that is plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free. (Vegan)

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Plant-Based Diet Meal Plan

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Are you wondering what to eat on a plant-based diet? You are not alone.

Let’s keep it simple and place what to eat and what not to eat into two categories.

Don’t eat thing that come from animals like meat, dairy and eggs.

Do eat things that are grown, focusing on whole foods.

I know, you’re thinking, Holly, it’s not that simple.

You are right. It’s hard for most people to decide what to eat every day. You can read about how much I used to hate the “What are we having for dinner?” question. When you are transitioning to a plant-based diet away from the standard American diet it takes a lot of dedication and work. You can get extra help with that by joining my Plant-Based Basics eCourse!

What to Eat

Focus on eating whole foods that are grown.

Whole foods are beans and rice, not chips made from beans and rice. Do you get my point?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of Beanfields Snacks (I love them!) but I can’t make them the cornerstone of my diet. I do have some in my pantry though but I won’t eat them every day.

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Plant-Based Diet Meal Plan

This weeks plant-based meal plan will be perfect for beginners just starting to transition to a plant-based diet. [Read more…] about Plant-Based Diet Meal Plan