Simple Homemade Crusty Bread

Hello everyone,

My partner has been trying out different bread recipes for sometime now. I’m excited to say, he thinks he finally found “the one.” Cory stumbled on this Youtube video from Tasty and decided to give it a try. He ended up making a few changes, including proofing the dough twice instead of once and using a little more water. The result was an amazing—a simple homemade crusty bread with a soft center! I think the result is partially due to the new Lodge Cast Iron Double Dutch Oven 5-Qt that we picked up last month.

Side note: I did not want this dutch oven as my kitchen is quite small and it takes up some space, BUT it is so versatile and makes everything taste great—really, anything from sauteed peppers and onions to this bread recipe!

This recipe + Lodge dutch oven made the tastiest homemade bread with just the right outer shell crunch and soft, fluffy center. This bread is perfect for soups, sandwiches or even bread pudding! It’s visually pleasing with a nice golden color and the taste is perfectly yeasty! Watch the video and give our adapted version of the recipe a try!

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Cheers and happy eating!

Jocelyn

PS —Like this recipe? Check out my post on homemade pita bread, too!

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate and referral links. I may earn a commission or bonus if you click through to make a purchase.  All opinions are my own. I only work with companies and brands I personally support.

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Recipe: Crock-pot Red Lentil Potato Soup

Hello everyone,

Ah, soup season. A time to indulge in comforting, warm stews while binge watching your favorite Netflix show! Soups are also a wonderful “make it once” and “eat it all week” solution. Throw a slow cooker/ crock pot/ pressure cooker recipe into the mix and your job just got even easier (if that was possible)! I love making a huge batch of soup in my crock-pot on Sunday evenings, and my ridiculously easy Crock-Pot Red Lentil Potato Soup does not disappoint.

The ingredient list isn’t very long, with just a handful of vegetables, garlic, lentils and then some seasoning. Don’t let it fool you. This soup packs a serious flavor punch! I really like adding a touch of cayenne to give the after taste a little bite, but even without the heat, the flavor is wonderfully bold. Plus, this recipe simply couldn’t be easier. Simply toss the ingredients in your crock-pot and go. Voila!

Cheers & happy eating!

Jocelyn

PS – Like this recipe? Check out my hearty vegan chili!

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate and referral links. I may earn a commission or bonus if you click through to make a purchase.  All opinions are my own. I only work with companies and brands I personally support. Continue reading “Recipe: Crock-pot Red Lentil Potato Soup”

Spooktacular Vegan Graveyard Cake

Hello Everyone & Happy (almost) Halloween!

Are you planning a halloween potluck? Heading to a boo-tastic bash? A frightful party? Why not make a spooktakular vegan graveyard cake?!

This fun dessert is quick, easy, and devilishly delicious! It’s not a made from scratch piece of art—instead it’s a cake that is easy to whip up so you can spend all that extra time on the decorations! There are so many “accidentally vegan” baking items on the market that are perfect for this recipe. Just grab a boxed cake mix, follow the instructions, add icing, and then decorate your ghostly graveyard cake! I’ve been making graveyard cakes off and on since I was in elementary school so I can attest that they never grow old! Why not give it a try?

Cheers and happy haunting!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own!

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Simple Homemade Marinara Sauce with Garlic & Basil

Hello and happy fall!

If you read my blog you already know this—I’m Italian, and I love pasta. While I’ve been making my own homemade noodles for about a year, I’ve been hesitating on the sauce. Who wants that mess? You have to peel tomatoes and the juice splashes everywhere, etc. The list goes on. Or so I thought. Turns out I was wrong. Yes, it can be messy to make your own sauce, but it’s not that bad and it’s totally worth it. I never should have hesitated. I now LOVE making my own Simple Homemade Marinara Sauce with Garlic & Basil.

Not only is it way healthier to eat, but it makes your entire home smell amazing and it tastes so much better than that stuff from the jar. There is nothing better than the mix of fresh-snipped basil and ripe tomatoes with a splash of olive oil. There is a reason pasta marinara is a household staple, and it’s not just because it’s a cheap, quick fix. It’s really good, too. Pasta marinara is so simple, yet when you get a realllllly good noodle with an impeccable sauce, there’s just nothing better for a crisp, cool night!

My garden has been producing an overwhelming amount of tomatoes so my partner and I are hurrying to make sure none of our homegrown tomatoes go to waste. With a half dozen jars of salsa under our belt, we moved onto canning the following marinara sauce recipe.

Go ahead and give it a try. Let me know what you think!

Cheers and happy eating!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own!

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Recipe: Vegan Chocolate Chip Carrot Cake

Hello friends,

My dad loves carrot cake. Every few years for my parents birthdays  … Yes, you read that correctly—my parents were born on the same day two years apart! Anyway, every so often, I surprise them with a homemade carrot cake. This year, I started making the cake, got half way through the recipe, and realized I didn’t have any raisons! A carrot cake without raisons! Can you believe it? Well, it was much too late to head to the store. Or at least, I didn’t want to trek to the 24 hour Giant Eagle. So I started thinking about how to make a carrot cake with a twist. I looked around the cupboard and saw some chocolate chips, pecans and ginger powder. Voila! Why not make a vegan chocolate chip carrot cake?!

I have this saying—good food + good food = good food. It works with basic ingredients as well. The cake was perfectly moist, not too dense, and just sweet enough. It did not disappoint! Both my parents loved it! Why not give this recipe a try the next time you need an ‘inspired’ dessert?

Cheers and happy eating!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own!

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