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My Plant-Based Family

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

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Vegan

Roasted Stuffed Winter Squash from the Forks Over Knives Plan

September 17, 2014 by Holly Yzquierdo 6 Comments

Roasted Stuffed Winter Squash from the Forks Over Knives Plan

Yesterday I shared a review of the new book The Forks Over Knives Plan by Alonda Pulde, MD and Matthew Lederman, MD. Today I’m going to share a recipe from the book! This recipe is shared with permission.

It’s perfect timing too because fall is on the way and soon we will be looking for comforting recipes just like this one.

Roasted Stuffed Winter Squash from the Forks Over Knives Plan

Roasted Stuffed Winter Squash

Winter squashes, such as acorn and butternut, can be tricky to work with because their tough skin is hard to peel. Preparing squash this way — stuffed with a savory filling and roasted — puts that sturdy shell to good use. The rice should be quite moist after it cooks in step 3; it provides good contrast to the squash and helps the stuffing mixture stay together without becoming chewy or dry during baking. — Darshana Thacker

Makes 4 stuffed squash halves

  • 2 medium acorn squash
  • ½ cup wild rice medley
  • 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth, plus more as needed
  • ½ medium red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1½ teaspoons dried rosemary
  • ½ cup finely chopped carrot
  • ½ cup finely chopped red bell pepper
  • ½ cup small broccoli florets
  • ½ cup small cauliflower florets
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Sea salt
  • 3 tablespoons pine nuts

1. Cut each acorn squash in half through the stem. Trim the stem and remove and discard the seeds (keep the skin on).

2. Bring a large saucepan or pot of water to a boil. Add the squash halves and cook until the squash is slightly soft when pierced with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the water and drain well. Set aside until cool enough to handle.

3. Meanwhile, bring 1½ cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the wild rice medley and cook, covered, over medium heat for 25 minutes. (Alternatively, follow the cooking instructions on the rice package, using a bit more water than called for so that the rice is moist after steaming.) Remove from the heat and set aside.

4. Use a spoon to scoop out the inner edges of each cooled squash half to create a wider and deeper hollow for the stuffing; leave about half of the squash flesh attached to the peel. Reserve the scooped-out squash flesh for the stuffing. Set the squash shells aside.

5. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

6. In a skillet with a lid, combine the vegetable broth, onion, garlic powder, ginger, and rosemary. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, covered, until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

7. Add the carrot, cover, and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the bell pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, black pepper, and salt to taste, cover, and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes more.

8. Add the reserved squash flesh and wild rice. Use a wooden spoon to mix the stuffing together; it should be a bit creamy. If all the liquid has dried up, add about ¼ cup broth or as much as is needed to make it slightly creamy. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Remove from the heat.

9. Arrange the acorn squash shells on a baking sheet and divide the stuffing evenly among them. Sprinkle the pine nuts on top.

10. Bake until the pine nuts are browned and the stuffing is heated through, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for a few minutes before serving. Serve hot.

The above is an excerpt from the book The Forks Over Knives Plan: How to Transition to the Life-Saving, Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet by Alona Pulde, MD, and Matthew Lederman, MD. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy and references.

Giveaway

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway to win you very own copy of the Forks Over Knives Plan and read my full review.

Have you entered the giveaway yet?

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Dairy Free, Forks Over Knives, Forks Over Knives Plan, Plant Based Diet, Recipes, squash, Vegan

Meal Plan Monday: Quick Meals and Comforting Soups

September 15, 2014 by Holly Yzquierdo 2 Comments

Meal Plan Monday

September signals fall sports, dropping temperatures and back to school activities (read homework). Thankfully, I’ve found my back to school routine for the most part. Our evening sports practices make for hurried dinners at least twice a week. I love making quick meals and comforting soups, especially when they are easy.

This weekend is my Gluten-Free Lunch Box Class. If you live in the Phoenix area you don’t want to miss it! The deadline to sign up is Tuesday! Next week I’ll be releasing the New Meal Plans so be on the lookout for more clues this week on Facebook and Twitter!

Meal Plan Monday

Breakfast

I know I’ve mentioned it before but I’ve fallen in love with Oatmeal again. The slightly cooler mornings make it my go to breakfast. I always use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Oats (it’s a 4 packs).

  • Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal
  • Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
  • Cereal (on busy mornings)

Lunch

I pack a lunch for my kindergartener but my preschooler and I eat at home.

  • Sandwiches with apple slices
  • Green Chili Dip and Tortilla Chips and Rice
  • Bean and Grain Bowl
  • Baked Potatoes
  • Leftovers

Dinner

I just restocked my pantry so I get to have some of my favorites this week.

  • Veggie Pad Thai (my favorite meal and it’s quick and easy)
  • Minestrone Soup made with Gluten-Free Pasta
  • Pasta covered in Creamy Italian Salad Dressing (yes it is also a fabulous pasta sauce) and steamed veggies
  • Fiesta Mac is coming soon!
  • Hearty Lentil and Barley Soup but I’ll substitute rice or millet for the Barley

I’m thinking of doing a little baking too! Maybe these Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins or Gluten-Free Apple Muffins with hit the spot. They would taste amazing with Sarah’s Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Spice Creamer (warning: contains nuts).

What do you have planned for the week? Have the temperatures cooled down enough for warm soups and comfort foods?

Filed Under: Meal Plan Monday, Meal Plans 2014 Tagged With: gluten free, Healthy, Meal Plan Monday, Meal Plans, Menu Plan, Plant Based Diet, Vegan

Oven Roasted Salsa

September 10, 2014 by Holly Yzquierdo 10 Comments

Roasted Tomato Salsa

Let me be up front about this. This is not one of my quick recipes, BUT it is incredibly easy AND delicious. This Roasted Salsa taste better than my favorite Mexican restaurant.

If you have an abundance of tomatoes from your garden or if you just can’t resist the low prices at the store and farmers markets then I have a recipe you really need to try. I’m addicted to it.

Roasted Tomato Salsa

Roasted Salsa

Ingredients

  • 8 Roma Tomatoes (more or less)
  • 2 Jalapeno Peppers
  • 1 head garlic
  • 1/4 of an onion
  • salt to taste (optional)

Do

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Wash your produce. Put tomatoes and garlic in one oven safe pan and put your jalapenos in a separate pan. You do not need oil! I didn’t roast the onion because I didn’t have much left but you could. Watch it so that it doesn’t burn.
  3. Roast veggies (1 hour for jalapenos, 2 hours for tomatoes and garlic).
  4. Remove from oven and allow everything to cool so that it can be handled.
  5. Once everything is cool put the tomatoes, jalapenos, half of the garlic and the onion in a high-powered blender. I used my Blendtec and pushed the “Dip” button. I also removed the skins from my tomatoes and the seeds from the jalapenos and tomatoes before blending them. You don’t have to do this, it’s just an extra step. (If you don’t have a Blendtec I recommend putting it on your Christmas List. You can even get a Reconditioned Blendtec for a great deal.)
  6. Blend until there are no large chunks, add a little salt if needed.

Serve

This is heaven with tortilla chips but I’ve also eaten it on Black Bean Tostadas and Tacos. Today I’ll have it on my Baked Potato.

You can mix things up and use roasted onion, roasted corn, whatever you have in abundance. This made about 2 cups for me but it will depend on the size of your tomatoes.

This page contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my link I will receive a small percentage at no additional cost to you. 

Filed Under: Mexican Food, Recipes, Sauces, Dips, and Salad Dressings Tagged With: gluten free, Mexican Food, Plant Based Diet, Unprocessed, Vegan

Meal Plan Monday: It May Be Fall But…

September 8, 2014 by Holly Yzquierdo 11 Comments

This time a year poses a conundrum for me. As you know if you’ve been here for a while I live in Arizona. I should be on the Arizona Tourist Bureau I love AZ so much.

The problem is that the weather here is different from the rest of the country. Most people here aren’t quite ready for soup and chili even though it’s “Fall” in many places. I try to strike a happy medium, plus I am ready for those delicious comfort foods. I made Veggie Pot Pie last night.

So I try to keep a middle of the road approach to Meal Plans. I know I can’t make the perfect meal plan for my friends in Michigan, Africa or Australia. Hopefully you will find something that inspires you. Or do what I do and take a look at the Recipe Page.

Plant-Based meal plan

Plant-Based Meal Plan

Breakfast

We recently reintroduced oatmeal to our house and we are loving it. We have a few other breakfasts for busy days though.

  • Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal
  • Apple Cinnamon Raisin Breakfast Rice
  • Toast with WOWBUTTER and Apple Slices (Wow Butter is a GMO-Free soy-based alternative to peanut butter. We love it!)
  • Cereal

Lunch

I usually utilize dinner leftovers for my lunch and pack a lunch for my 5 year old. I usually post his lunch pictures on Instagram.

  • Taco Salad
  • Chili topped Baked Potatoes
  • Soup and a Baked Potato
  • Veggie Wraps
  • Leftover Veggie Pot Pie ( I have an older recipe here but I’m working on a new one. This one uses a little Earth Balance and wheat flour. The new one I’m working on is GF and oil-free.)

Dinner

  • Texas Style Chili with Baked Potatoes
  • Burritos with Unfried Black Beans, Cilantro Lime Quinoa and Pico de Gallo.
  • Chickpea Noodle Soup (we use GF pasta)
  • Italian Bake (an oldie but a goodie)
  • White Enchiladas

Have you planned your meals for this week? What season are you cooking for?

Don’t forget! I have some very special Meal Plans available soon! Especially if you’ve been curious about my Custom Meal Plans.

 This page contains affiliate links.

Filed Under: Meal Plan Monday, Meal Plans 2014 Tagged With: fall meal plan, gluten free, Healthy, Meal Plan Monday, Meal Plans, Menu Plan, Plant Based Diet, Vegan, vegetarian Meal Plan

Cookie Bars (Vegan, Gluten-Free and Nut-Free)

September 3, 2014 by Holly Yzquierdo 7 Comments

Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Vegan Cookie bars

I first made this recipe when I was trying to make cookies. It tasted good but the consistency was off. I tweaked it to develop the Sunbutter Cookie Recipe (also GF and Vegan) that I shared last week. This recipe is easier and works really well as Cookie Bars. They are very sturdy and perfect for lunch box packing. My kindergartener ate them daily after school.

Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Vegan Cookie bars

I make this recipe with Sunbutter because my youngest son is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. You could try this with peanut or almond butter if you are not allergic. Also, if you do not have brown rice flour and sorghum flour you could use a gluten-free baking mix. If you make it with any adaptations I’d love to hear how they go. I’m considering making them with oat flour next. I imagine they would work fine with wheat flour also but I haven’t tried it.

Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Vegan Cookie bars

Cookie Bars

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup SunButter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup Brown Rice Flour (this is the best deal I’ve found)
  • 1/2 cup Sorghum Flour
  • 1/2 tsp Xanthan Gum
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/8 cup rice milk
  • 1/2 cup Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (optional)

Do

  1. Cream Sunbutter and Sugar together.
  2. Dump the rest of the ingredients together, except chocolate chips.
  3. Mix well, adding extra rice milk if needed.
  4. If using chocolate chips mix them in or just sprinkle them on top.
  5. Pour into a 9×9 pan that is lined with parchment paper.
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
  7. Allow to cool before removing from pan and cutting into bars. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for about 5 days.

Serve

This is perfect for an after school snack or in the lunch box.

The odd thing is that my super picky kid loved these and the one who eats everything didn’t like them. He doesn’t always want to try new things because of his food allergies so I don’t force it.

Do you need to work around various food allergies or restrictions? I try to make them as accommodating as possible. What restrictions do you deal with?

This recipe is part of the Virtual Vegan Linky Potluck!

This page contains affiliate links. 

Filed Under: Allergies, Back to School, Dessert, Recipes Tagged With: allergies, Back to School, Dairy Free, gluten free, Healthy, kids, Plant Based Diet, Recipes, Vegan

Meal Plan Monday: Some Plant-Based Fall Favorites

September 1, 2014 by Holly Yzquierdo 2 Comments

Plant-Based Meal Plan Monday

September is finally here and I’m wondering if it’s Fall in your neck of the woods. We are still hanging out over 100 degrees everyday but I’m still making hearty soups, Banana Bread and other fall favorites.

We are also juggling school, sports, church and other commitments while trying to eat healthy.

Plant-Based Meal Plan Monday

Plant-Based Fall Favorites Meal Plan

Breakfast

After a long break from oats I’m ready to reintroduce oatmeal this week. I’ve really been missing them and plan to make a few fun variations. I usually buy gluten-free oats.

  • Blueberry Oatmeal
  • Peachy Keen Oatmeal
  • Oatmeal Apple Muffins
  • Multigrain Breakfast with Overnight Chia Porridge and lots of fresh fruit.

Lunch

I pack a lunch for my kindergartener (did you see my new Lunch Box Guide?) but my preschooler still eats at home. We usually eat dinner leftovers, veggie soup or baked potatoes.

  • Baked Potatoes topped with steamed veggies and/or beans
  • Leftover Burrito Bowls
  • Tortillas Rollups with SunButter and apples
  • Leftover Soup with a baked potato
  • Sandwiches using Sunbutter or hummus and veggies

Dinner

I like to keep it quick when possible but I don’t mind doing a little prep on the weekends or earlier in the day if needed. This week I’ll cook beans and Brown Rice to be used in the burrito bowls and with the Red Lentil Curry ahead of time. I’ve considered getting a Rice Cooker but haven’t bought one yet. I’m not sure if I’d use it enough.

  • Stir Fry using carrots, peas, broccoli, yellow bell pepper and brown rice.
  • Gluten-Free Mac and Cheeze I’m working on a new recipe.
  • Burrito Bowl with Rice, Beans, and Homemade Pico de Gallo.
  • Chickpea Noodle Soup or Chickpea and Rice Soup using the same recipe except using 1 cup rice instead of noodles.
  • Red Lentil Curry this recipe is used exclusively in the Custom Meal Plans.

What are you eating this week? Have you made the shift to Fall yet?

This page contains affiliate links.

Filed Under: Meal Plan Monday, Meal Plans 2014 Tagged With: Meal Plan Monday, Meal Plans, Menu Plan, Plant Based Diet, Vegan

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