Plant Based 411

October 2022
This month’s recipe pays homage to my grandfather’s homeland of Odessa, Ukraine. Many Ukrainian recipes descend from ancient peasant dishes, incorporating Slavic and European styles and techniques.

September 2022
Northern Italian farmers originally introduced polenta as a cornmeal porridge. Fast forward hundreds of years and Melissa’s offers a version of polenta (which is naturally plant-based) that is conveniently precooked and ready to slice, bake, fry or grill.

August 2022
Summer salads are usually cold and crisp, but here’s a salad recipe that takes seasonal vegetables to the grill, adding heat, smoke, and charred flavors to the proverbial meal starter. This salad is substantial enough to fill in as the main course.

July 2022
In honor of this month’s Bastille Day (July 14), commemorating the birth of the French republic, I offer this plant-based version of traditional French toast.

June 2022
The Earl of Sandwich may be the namesake of this food form, but he didn’t actually invent it; he was just its most ardent promoter. Actually, some type of sandwich has existed in numerous variations for thousands of years.

May 2022
Here’s a childhood favorite, reassuringly familiar but with a Mexican twist in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. A Sloppy Joe (Jose?) is traditionally a sandwich with a mess of cooked ground beef, onions, green peppers and spicy tomato sauce plopped into a basic hamburger bun.

April 2022
It’s that time of year again to spring forward with lighter but still satisfying and delicious plant-based dishes.

March 2022
Still a bit chilly where you are? Looking for something comforting, filled with warm, aromatic spices, two varieties of tender potatoes, and fiber and nutrient-rich legumes served piping hot?

February 2022
Lunar New Year 2022, the Year of the Tiger, begins Tuesday, February 1, and lasts thru the Lantern Festival on February 15th. Also known as the Spring Festival, Lunar New Year is celebrated by millions of people all over the world, with traditions honoring family and friends filled with festive and symbolic foods.