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Melanie daPonte

Plant-Based Personal Chef

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Tag: recipes

Original Ginger (O.G) Refresher

I am inspired once again by True Food Kitchen. This gingery, bubbly, slightly sweet and sour elixir  has become my … More

brunch, Cooking, Drinks, Food, meatless meals, Personal chef, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, Wellness

Buffalo Chickpea Tenders

Okay, I’ve really done it this time! I know there are vegan variations on chicken wings and I’ve tried them … More

chef, Comfort food, Cooking, Party Food, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Carrot-Coconut Soup with Fresh Ginger Root

  Summer is coming down fast and I find myself seeking light, refreshing meals. Here’s a quick soup that is … More

animal rights, Cooking, Food, healthy food, raw vegan, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Tofu Scramble

Tofu scramble, when I reflect on my day to day cooking, is probably the recipe I cook most often at … More

animal rights, Cooking, healthy eating, plant-based diet, recipes, Tofu, Vegan, vegetarian

Chik’n Noodle Soup

There’s nothing quite like the distinctive experience of a steaming bowl of fragrant broth brimming with fresh simmered vegetables with … More

animal rights, chef, Comfort food, Cooking, Personal chef, peta, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Never Bored: My Plant-Based Dinner Rotation

It’s no easier for me, as a chef, than for anybody else– to decide what to make for dinner at … More

animal rights, chef, Cooking, Food, meatless meals, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Homestyle Oat Bars

I really like those tasty, chewy individually packaged oat bars I find at Whole Foods Market. But I don’t like … More

chef, Comfort food, Cooking, granola, oatmeal, recipes, snacks, Vegan, vegan snacks, vegetarian

So You Want To Be a Personal Chef…

I love cooking plant-based and couldn’t imagine anything else I would rather do for a job. Becoming a  personal chef … More

chef, Cooking, culinary arts, Food, food business, Personal chef, personal narrative, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

When Life Gives You Bananas…

Is it just me? Or does the sight of those last couple speckled bananas languishing on the countertop trigger an … More

animal rights, Baking, Comfort food, Cooking, Forks Over Knives, healthy, Heart Healthy, recipes, t. colin campbell, Vegan, vegan personal chef, vegetarian

Easy Indian Curry Rice with Peas

Sometimes cooking is the most enjoyable when I really don’t have to cook, but I just want to. Certain dishes … More

chef, Cooking, diet, Food, healthy eating, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian, weight loss

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is one of those ‘I can’t believe it’s vegan’ recipes! Looking for ways to apply my new discovery, Maldon … More

animal rights, Baking, chef, chocolate, cookies, Cooking, Personal chef, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Gingerbread Cut-Out Cookies

These are the best gingerbread cookies I have ever baked, vegan or not! The flavor and spices are perfectly balanced, … More

animal rights, Baking, cookies, holiday, plant-based, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Recipe Test: Quinoa Pancakes

Here’s the thing about pancakes…I love the way they taste, but not so much how I feel afterward. All that … More

animal rights, chef, Cooking, dairy free, Food, Gluten-free, Oil-free, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan

Vegan Thanksgiving Gravy

I’m sharing here my favorite vegan holiday gravy recipe from my first plant-based Thanksgiving dinner in 2012. That’s a home-baked … More

animal rights, Comfort food, Cooking, Food, holiday, Personal chef, plant-based diet, plant-based personal chef, recipes, Thanksgiving, Vegan, vegetarian

Alternative Plant-Based Holiday Menus

I have nothing against Tofurkey or Gardein or various seitan roasts.  And of course there’s the “Festival of Sides” as … More

chef, Comfort food, Cooking, Food, holiday, Personal chef, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegan personal chef, vegetarian

Vegan Pecan Pie…Yes You Can!

Leave it to the folks at America’s Test Kitchen to dig into the science on this special recipe challenge! Traditional … More

Comfort food, Food, holiday recipes, Personal chef, pie, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegan personal chef, vegetarian

Sometimes Vegan Breakfast…

…looks like this. But more often, especially during the week, it looks like: Or… Now and then, weekend breakfast looks … More

animal rights, chef, Comfort food, Cooking, meatless meals, Personal chef, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegan personal chef, vegetarian

Best. Hummus. Ever.

What makes this hummus recipe so special? It’s simplicity. So, I’m not going to ramble on about the history of … More

animal rights, chef, Comfort food, Cooking, Food, plant-based diet, plant-based personal chef, recipes, Vegan, vegan personal chef, vegetarian

YakiZoodle with Veggies and Edamame

This is a spur of the moment post, just because I want to share an idea more so than a … More

Asian, chef, Comfort food, Cooking, Gluten-free, japanese food, raw vegan, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins (gluten-free, soy-free, vegan)

The best part about this recipe is it’s simplicity. Many gluten-free recipes read like a science project, but this one … More

animal activism, animal rights, dairy free, Gluten-free, recipes, soy-free, Vegan, vegan baking, vegetarian

Kidney Bean-Quinoa Burgers with Easy Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Okay, so I didn’t think about posting this recipe until I was plating it up for service. This was our … More

chef, Cooking, Food, meatless meals, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Cajun Potato Cake with Horseradish Cream

Doesn’t this look delish? It’s really simple to make. CAJUN POTATO CAKES 1 CUP LEFTOVER MASHED POTATOES ¼ CUP FLOUR, … More

Cooking, Food, plant-based, Potatoes, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Vegan Taco “Beef”

Hey, I can’t believe I haven’t shown up on the blog with this recipe until now. This one, from my … More

animal rights, chef, Comfort food, Cooking, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Tempeh Picatta

Tangy lemon and capers in a savory butter garlic sauce over pan-seared tempeh. A very easy, enlightened version of the … More

dinner, Food, Food photography, picatta, plant strong, plant-based, recipes, tempeh, tempeh picatta, Vegan, Vegan cooking, Vegan recipes, vegan restaurant classics, vegetarian, vegetarian recipes

Vegan Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

It goes without saying that this time of the year begs for pumpkin spice, especially on weekend mornings. These pancakes … More

animal rights, Cooking, Pancakes, plant-based diet, pumpkin, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Basil-Spinach Pesto

Yes, of course vegans can enjoy pesto!! I think it tastes even better without the cheese usually present in most … More

Comfort food, Cooking, dairy-free baking, meatless meals, pasta, plant-based, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Warm Apple Crisp (Oil-Free, Refined Sugar-Free)

Fall is my favorite time of the year. I look forward to the cooler temperatures,  anticipating the fun of preparing … More

apple crisp, apples, Comfort food, fat free, fat free desserts, Food, fruit desserts, healthy desserts, holiday desserts, low-fat desserts, Low-fat vegan, recipes

Two Bean and Bulgar Chili

I came across this recipe, while sifting through a kitchen junk drawer. It was a page torn from one of … More

Comfort food, Creativity, dinner, Food, Food photography, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Low-fat vegan, plant strong, plant-based, recipes, Simple recipes, Vegan, vegan chili, Vegan cooking, Vegan recipes, vegetarian, vegetarian recipes

Vegan Baked Ziti

  This recipe is more about method than it is about the ingredients. You could simply layer sauce, pasta and … More

animal rights, Cooking, dairy free, meatless meals, pasta, Personal chef, plant-based, recipes, Vegan, vegan personal chef, vegetarian

What’s In YOUR Smoothie??

I start most mornings with a cool, creamy blend of fruit and spinach or kale, kicked up with pure green tea … More

animal rights, Beverages, Cooking, fruit, healthy, raw, recipes, smoothies, Vegan, vegetarian, Wellness

Raw Lasagna Rolls

Tasty, easy and healthy—these rolls are an exciting twist on a classic Italian dish. I admit I was skeptical at … More

animal activism, animal rights, gluten-free vegan, healthy eating, Heart Healthy, plant strong, plant-based, raw, raw food diet, raw vegan, recipes, soy free vegan, Vegan, vegan italian, vegetarian

Easy Mozzarella Cheeze Sauce

So, you reach a point when you stop trying to replace cheese with processed substitutes like Daiya or Follow Your … More

animal rights, chef, Cooking, meatless meals, plant-based, recipes, Tofu, Vegan, vegetarian

Chana Masala

There will always be Indian food in my weekly meal rotation. Why? Because it’s delicious and nutritious, and need not … More

animal rights, chef, chickpeas, Comfort food, Cooking, Food, Heart Healthy, Indian recipes, meatless meals, plant-based, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian, weight loss

Lentil-Walnut Loaf with Sweet Tomato Glaze

This is a client favorite and a recipe I swear by, having grown up eating traditional meatloaf. This version has … More

chef, Comfort food, Cooking, Food, meatless meals, plant-based, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Crispy Marinated Tofu with Braised Kale

I can’t emphasize enough how tasty, simple and quick this recipe is. So much flavor, from so few ingredients! Crispy … More

animal rights, chef, Food, meatless meals, plant-based diet, recipes, Tofu, Vegan, vegetarian

Roasted Pumpkin Mousse

  Here’s a little something special to spice up your next vegan feast! Roasted Pumpkin Mousse 15 ounces PUMPKIN PUREE … More

animal rights, Cooking, desserts, holiday, meatless, plant-based, pumpkin, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Black Bean Fajita Bowl with Cilantro-Lime Chimichurri

I had an opportunity recently to work with a local vegan restaurant, helping them come up with new dishes to … More

beans, chef, Cooking, Gluten-free, meatless meals, Personal chef, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

“Meaty” Grilled Tofu

Through much trial and error over the years– I have come to a great appreciation and respect for the humble … More

animal rights, chef, Cooking, meatless meals, plant-based, recipes, Tofu, Vegan, Vegan recipes, vegetarian

Sloppy Joe Sliders

Here’s a new enlightened version of an old classic that is just perfect served in the traditional buns or over a … More

Comfort food, Cooking, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Blueberry Cheezecake

I’ve been reflecting today on where this all began.  I started this blog way back in the Fall of 2012, … More

blueberry, cheesecake, desserts, kitchen time, Lifestyle, Low-fat vegan, Oil-free, recipes, Tofu, Vegan, Vegan Desserts, vegan food, vegetarian, vegetarian desserts

Simple Italian Sausage

Going vegan doesn’t mean giving up comfort foods, oh no! No way. Although I have tried various vegan sausage brands … More

chef, Cooking, meatless meals, plant-based, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Tofu Vindaloo

This is a spicy Indian dish I decided to prepare without any added oil. It turned out  tasty and well … More

Comfort food, dinner, Food, Indian food, Indian recipes, kitchen time, Low-fat vegan, Middle Eastern Food, Oil-free, recipes, spicy, Tofu, Vegan, vegan food, vegan indian food, Vegan recipes, vegetarian, vegetarian indian food

Tempeh Sausage Crumbles

These tasty sausage crumbles are versatile, lending a satisfying umami flavor and a chewy  bite to gravy, sauces, rice or other … More

animal rights, chef, Cooking, meatless meals, plant-based diet, recipes, tempeh, Vegan, vegetables, vegetarian

The Benefits of Eating Hot Food

I like salad as much as the next plant-based lifestyle devotee, but there is something to be said for that … More

animal activism, animal rights, Comfort food, Cooking, Food, plant-based diet, recipes, soup, Vegan, vegetarian

Vegan Gorgonzola: A Passion Project

In between all the professional cooking I do, there is also all the household cooking I do, which includes, of … More

animal rights, Cooking, dairy free, plant-based diet, recipes, Tofu, Vegan, vegetarian

Super-Simple Flatbreads

Sometimes I like to skip the rice and just serve a hearty whole grain flatbread with my Indian Curries. But, … More

animal activism, animal rights, Breads, chef, Cooking, Indian food, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Easy Enchilada Sauce

In my experience, you can stuff a burrito with just about anything. But the sauce…now, the sauce can make it … More

animal rights, chef, Cooking, Food, mexican food, Personal chef, peta, plant-based diet, recipes, tomato sauce, Vegan, vegetarian

Restaurant-Style Marinara

The secret for marinara sauce that tastes like it’s been simmering all day? Tomato paste. The savory-sweet intensity adds depth … More

animal activism, animal rights, chef, Comfort food, Cooking, Food, meatless meals, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

Fast (and Easy) Whole Wheat Bread

Time was…young girls were taught to bake as an essential life skill. As with cooking in general, this knowledge and … More

animal activism, animal rights, Baking, bread, chef, Comfort food, Cooking, recipes, Vegan

Sourdough Baguette

Still in a baking mood, I embarked on a mission to create an old-fashioned, dense sourdough bread, like back in … More

animal rights, Baking, chef, Cooking, dairy free, plant-based diet, recipes, Vegan, vegetarian

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Top Posts & Pages

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