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Vegan No-Churn Chocolate Ice Cream (refined sugar-free)

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three cones of vegan chocolate ice cream lying on a table

No ice cream machine necessary for this easy three ingredient vegan chocolate ice cream! This non-dairy frozen dessert is perfectly chocolatey and sweet. With minimal time and effort, you’ll have an irresistible vegan summertime (or anytime!) treat.

three cones of vegan chocolate ice cream lying on a table

The Story Behind This Recipe

What most people don’t know about me is that my first job ever was actually at an ice cream shop. I worked there almost all through high school (before my dairy-free days) and ate ice cream literally every. single. day. Ohhhh what I wouldn’t do to have my high school metabolism again! So as you can imagine, once I went dairy-free in college I deeply, and I mean DEEPLY, missed ice cream. Back then, vegan/dairy-free ice cream wasn’t much of a thing. My options were typically limited to sorbet, which is already made without dairy. And while sorbet definitely helped cool me down and curb my sweet tooth, I longed for a big ole’ cone of classic chocolate ice cream.

These days, vegan ice cream isn’t nearly as hard to find, but what is hard to find is one that checks off all my boxes. I don’t want any funky ingredients such as fake sweeteners, gums, etc. Those cause just as much of a digestive nightmare for me as eating regular ole’ ice cream does. And most importantly, I don’t want to have to sell a kidney to afford it! The better the ingredient list, the more expensive it almost always is. Therefore, I came up with this vegan chocolate ice cream to both suit my needs and save me some money (because it’s either my bi-weekly manicure or $10 pints of ice cream, and I’d choose the former any day!).

The no-churn part of this recipe simply derived from the fact that I don’t own an ice cream maker. I’m looking into purchasing one now, but until I find one that doesn’t take up half of my freezer I will continue to make this no-ice-cream-machine-necessary recipe!

What You Need to Make Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream

Full Fat Coconut Milk – None of that low-fat or lite coconut milk here! We need all that luscious healthy fat to achieve a thick and smooth texture. You could even use two cans of coconut cream if you’d like, only adding to the creaminess of this vegan chocolate ice cream.

Coconut Sugar – Coconut sugar keeps this three ingredient vegan chocolate ice cream completely refined sugar-free. This natural sweetener is more nutritious than regular sugar and contains 25% less sucrose than white sugar. Though if you don’t have coconut sugar, you can easily swap this out for cane sugar or white sugar if you’d like!

Cocoa Powder – This ingredient seems pretty self-explanatory. However, I will say that if you’d like you can substitute cacao powder for the cocoa powder in this recipe. Cacao has more nutrients and antioxidants than cocoa powder and would make this three ingredient vegan chocolate ice cream that much healthier.

Vegan No-Churn Chocolate Ice Cream (refined sugar-free)
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Vegan No-Churn Chocolate Ice Cream (refined sugar-free)

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Freezing time

8

hours

No ice cream machine necessary for this easy three ingredient vegan chocolate ice cream! This non-dairy frozen dessert is perfectly chocolatey and sweet. With minimal time and effort, you’ll have an irresistible vegan summertime (or anytime!) treat.

Ingredients

  • 2 (14 ounce) cans full fat coconut milk or coconut cream, see Notes

  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar

  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder

Directions

  • Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Transfer to a parchment-lined container and freeze for 8 hours or until firm.
  • Remove ice cream from freezer 10-15 minutes before serving.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Coconut Milk: I used Let’s Do Organic heavy coconut cream for this recipe, but any full-fat coconut milk or cream will work!

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30 Minutes or Less

Sous Vide Asparagus

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fresh lemon being squeezed over sous vide asparagus

This sous vide asparagus is incredibly tender and delicious! This method yields perfectly cooked asparagus with minimal effort every time.

fresh lemon being squeezed over sous vide asparagus

If you own a sous vide throw ya hands in the aiiiiiir! I’m still pretty new on the sous-vide-scene, having only owned mine for a few months now. Though I gotta say, I already can’t stop using it! The sous vide is the new crockpot in my opinion. It gives you the magical ability to throw something in there, then return to a perfect meal or side dish without worry every time. This sous vide asparagus is no exception to that. Except, thanks to asparagus’ quick-cooking abilities, you’ll only need to leave it to cook for about 10 minutes. Once done, you’ll have the tastiest, most tender fool-proof asparagus of all time!

What You Need To Make Sous Vide Asparagus

Asparagus – This easy vegetable pairs well with most meals, making it a year-round favorite. Though when cooking asparagus, there is always one thing to cook in mind – it cooks quickly. Despite setting the sous vide to a pretty low temperature, you will still only need to set the time to 10 minutes. Your cook time may vary slightly, depending on the thickness or thinness of your asparagus. Though my recommendation is to start slowly, give your asparagus a quick check, then continue to cook if needed. I used pretty medium-sized asparagus and found that just 10 minutes left my asparagus tender with a slightly crunchy bite – yum!

Butter – The butter is used for flavor in this recipe, and just a tablespoon gives delicate asparagus that delicious savory taste. I used vegan butter since we like to keep things dairy-free around here, though any kind of butter will do! You can even leave the butter out altogether if you’d like.

Lemon Juice and Zest – A touch of lemon right before serving brings some freshness back into the sous vide asparagus. Lemon juice and zest is totally optional in this recipe, but highly recommended!

Why Sous Vide?

  • The sous vide does an incredible job at keeping the temperature consistent, giving you amazing results every time.
  • Cooks slower in seasoning, giving the flavors time to permeate and develop throughout the food.
  • The sous vide does all the work for you – just set it, then walk away and return to a perfectly cooked meal or side dish!
Sous Vide Asparagus
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Sous Vide Asparagus

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: SidesDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Total time

15

minutes

This sous vide asparagus is incredibly tender and delicious! This method yields perfectly cooked asparagus with minimal effort every time.

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch asparagus

  • 1 tablespoon butter (I used dairy-free)

  • 1 garlic clove, minced

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

  • Fresh lemon juice and zest, optional

Directions

  • Toss all ingredients to a zip-top bag, toss asparagus in bag to coat in spices then remove air from bag.sous vide asparagus process photo 1
  • Drop in sous vide bath set to 180° Fahrenheit (or 82° Celsius) for 10 minutes. If the bag floats to the top, add a few metal utensils to help weigh it down.sous vide asparagus process photo 1
  • Remove bag from bath, then remove asparagus from bag and finish off with fresh lemon juice and zest.sous vide asparagus process photo 3

Notes

  • If you’re not vegan or dairy-free, finish this asparagus off with some shredded parmesan cheese for even more flavor!

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30 Minutes or Less

Gluten-Free Pasta Salad (Dairy-Free)

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gluten-free pasta salad in a big bowl with a wooden spoon

This gluten-free pasta salad recipe will be on repeat all summer long! A quick and easy homemade Italian dressing is the cherry on top of this delicious dish. Make this simple gluten-free pasta salad for your next summer barbecue or party – everyone (including gluten-eaters) will love it!

gluten-free pasta salad in a big bowl with a wooden spoon

Pasta salad has always been my favorite part of every summer barbecue. Even as a child, I’d fill my paper plate to the brim with pasta salad and nothing else. There’s just something about a chilled pasta salad in the warm weather that is so light and fresh, yet satisfying. Most pasta salads contain both gluten and dairy, but making one without is surprisingly easy! I opted for brown rice pasta since it has the best taste and texture when chilled. And I simply left out the cheese while boosting the flavor of this dish in other ways to make up for it. This gluten AND dairy-free pasta salad won’t leave you feeling deprived, like at all. Enjoy this recipe as a side to virtually any meal, or if you’re like me – find the biggest plate you can, fill it up and eat it on its own!

What You Need To Make Gluten-Free Pasta Salad

Gluten-Free Pasta – Brown rice pasta reigns supreme in both taste and texture. While you can definitely use whatever kind of gluten-free pasta you’d like for this recipe, I highly recommend you give brown rice pasta a try. And not just any brown rice pasta, I specifically recommend the Tinkyada Brown Rice Spirals. I bought mine at Whole Foods, but have seen them at a variety of grocery stores. Now, if you’ve been reading my blog for a little while now, you know that I live and die by the Jovial Brown Rice pasta. However, when cold, Jovial brand pasta tends to get hard and chewy – which is not ideal for a pasta dish we plan on enjoying cold. Therefore, of all the gluten-free pasta brands I have experimented with for this gluten-free pasta salad recipe, I found Tinkyada to be the best!

Pepperoncini – We loooove pepperoncinis around here. I love having a jar in my fridge to add to any and all salads, while my boyfriend is obsessed with putting them on his sandwiches. If you’ve never had/heard of pepperoncinis (you’re missing out) they’re mildly spicy pickled peppers. Most commonly sold whole, you’ll want to slice them before adding them to your gluten-free pasta salad. If you’re sensitive to spice, I recommend slicing and using only the bottom half of the pepperoncinis. The closer to the stem you get, the hotter that part of the pepper will be.

Salami – Any kind of salami will work in this recipe! My only recommendation would be to avoid using thinly sliced salami. Try purchasing a whole salami and slicing into bite-sized pieces yourself. Feel free to go as big or as small with these pieces as you’d like.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan: Use chickpeas instead of salami, or just leave that part of the recipe out altogether!

Add Gluten: Feel free to use regular pasta instead of gluten-free pasta in this recipe.

Add Dairy: Throw a little mozzarella into this gluten-free pasta salad if you’d like.

Gluten-Free Pasta Salad (Dairy-Free)
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Gluten-Free Pasta Salad (Dairy-Free)

4 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: SidesCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

30

minutes

This gluten-free pasta salad recipe will be on repeat all summer long! A quick and easy homemade Italian dressing is the cherry on top of this delicious dish. Make this simple gluten-free pasta salad for your next summer barbecue or party – everyone (including gluten-eaters) will love it!

Ingredients

  • For the pasta salad:

  • 1 pound gluten-free pasta

  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced

  • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced

  • 1/2 cup pepperoncini, sliced

  • 1 cup basil, chopped

  • 1 – 2 cups salami, chopped

  • For the dressing:

  • 1/2 cup olive oil

  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, see Notes

  • 1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup)

  • 1 garlic clove, chopped

  • 1/2 tablespoon salt

  • 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning

Directions

  • Cook pasta according to package directions.
  • While pasta cooks, make the dressing by adding all ingredients to a jar, securing with a lid, and shaking to combine.
  • Let the pasta cool before adding all ingredients to a bowl and tossing together.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Apple Cider Vinegar: You can use lemon juice or white wine vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar if you’d like.
  • Prep this gluten-free pasta salad ahead of time and let it chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving to give the flavors time to develop!

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30 Minutes or Less

Pistachio Milk

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Pistachio Milk Recipe

Learn how to make homemade pistachio milk in just a few easy steps. This new-on-the-scene dairy-free milk is totally creamy and delicious! Add a splash to your morning coffee for a tasty, naturally sweet addition.

pistachio milk being poured into a glass of iced coffee

I don’t know about you, but I’m seeing pistachio milk everywhere these days! However, the store-bought version of this naturally vegan beverage often times comes with a hefty price tag. When I realized what was in pistachio milk (literally just pistachios and water), I knew I could and had to come up with a method for us to make it at home! Oh, and the great thing about this homemade pistachio milk recipe? It costs a fraction of the store-bought price.

Pistachio Milk Recipe Ingredients

Pistachios – Not just any pistachios, but raw and unsalted pistachios with the shells removed. You could very well get lucky and find this exact type of bagged pistachio at your grocery store. Though if you can’t find raw and unsalted pistachios with the shells removed, simply purchase raw and unsalted pistachios, then remove the shells yourself.

Water – I used filtered water, but any water you’d like will do! Bottled water, tap water, rain water… seriously whatever water you want.

Pinch of Salt – You might be thinking, why buy unsalted pistachios if we plan on adding salt anyway?? Well, that’s because we want just a tiny bit of salt. Salted pistachios would contribute WAY too much salt to this pistachio milk recipe. However, just a pinch of salt will bring out the natural sweetness of the pistachios and contribute more depth of flavor to this vegan beverage.

What Are The Benefits to Pistachio Milk?

To put this bluntly, pistachios are super healthy. Compared to their cousin, the almond, pistachios offer more Vitamin A and C than almonds. Vitamin A is amazing for a vast variety of things, but specifically important for your vision, immune system, and reproductive health. Then vitamin C, like vitamin A, has a ton of health benefits, though most notably it promotes collagen in the skin (bye bye wrinkles!) and helps to regulate blood pressure. Pistachios are also extremely high in antioxidants. So much so that they pretty much have every other nut beat in this category. Aside from these specific antioxidants increasing eye health, they may also help prevent cancer and heart disease. So there you have it. Pistachios are crazy good for you and more than worthy of finding a way into your everyday diet! So, pistachio milk is the perfect way to do this.

Optional (& Tasty) Pistachio Milk Recipe Add-Ins

  • 2-3 Dates
  • 1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup
  • Sprinkle of Cinnamon
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Pistachio Milk
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Pistachio Milk

5 from 2 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: DrinksDifficulty: Easy
Servings

1 1/2

quarts
Soak time

6

minutes
Assemply time

5

minutes

Learn how to make homemade pistachio milk in just a few easy steps. This new-on-the-scene dairy-free milk is totally creamy and delicious! Add a splash to your morning coffee for a tasty, naturally sweet addition.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw unsalted pistachios, shells removed

  • 5 cups water

  • 1 pinch of salt

Directions

  • Soak the pistachios in cold water for at least 6 hours and up to 12 hours.
  • Drain and rinse the pistachios, then add to a blender with 5 cups of water and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth.
  • Pour pistachio milk through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer, then discard the pulp.
  • Store pistachio milk in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Feel free to replace the pistachios with whatever raw and unsalted nut you’d like!

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30 Minutes or Less

One Pan Breakfast (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

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All ingredients for one pan breakfast arranged on a plate with a cup of coffee on the side.

This easy one pan breakfast recipe has everything you need to start your day off right! Savory bacon, crispy potatoes, and fluffy scrambled eggs are all cooked in the same pan. Whip this one pan breakfast up on mornings when you need something quick, yet satisfying and delicious!

All ingredients for one pan breakfast arranged on a plate with a cup of coffee on the side.

I’ve been making this exact breakfast for my boyfriend and I for a couple of months now. Well actually, I started with only cooking the eggs and bacon in the same pan while the potatoes baked in the oven. Then one day, I was short on time (and energy) so I decided to try cooking the potatoes in the same pan too. And voila! The world’s easiest/best one pan breakfast was born.

I actually have no good reason as to why I haven’t shared this breakfast hack earlier. It just became such a common part of my cooking routine that I failed to realize it was worth sharing. Which is crazy because it is by far one of the smartest, if not THE smartest recipe I’ve ever created. The entire breakfast-making process could literally not get any more efficient than this. I promise this one pan breakfast will change your breakfast game forever! Just like it changed mine.

What You Need To Make This One Pan Breakfast

Bacon – Ahhh beautiful, beautiful bacon – I just love you. No breakfast is complete without bacon or sausage. In my opinion, bacon reigns supreme, though sausage is OK too. Though the main reason I’d recommend you stick to bacon in this recipe, is because the fat rendered from the bacon will become the “cooking oil” we use for the rest of the recipe. If you find that your bacon renders too much fat, simply remove some from the pan before cooking the rest of your one pan breakfast.

Baby Potatoes – Any kind of white potato will work here. My recommendation is baby potatoes for their creamy, almost buttery interior. When pan-fried in this recipe, the outside gets deliciously crispy while the inside stays pleasantly soft. If you opt for using a different kind of white potato in this recipe, just make sure that it is chopped into similarly sized pieces.

Eggs – Another breakfast staple, eggs are the last item cooked for this one pan breakfast. I scrambled my eggs in this recipe, though you can cook your eggs however you’d like. I can image that fried eggs would also taste and work great here! However, if you do choose to scramble your eggs, do not forget to lower the heat of your pan, as scrambled eggs require a much lower temperature to cook.

Delicious Additions

Below are a few ideas of what you can serve with this one pan breakfast…

  • Avocado
  • Gluten-Free Toast
  • Fresh Fruit
  • Arugula/Lettuce
  • Fresh Tomatoes
  • Crunchy Carrots
  • Sweet Peppers
  • Fresh Herbs
  • Dairy-Free (or regular) Cheese
  • & Coffee (DUH!)

Tips and Tricks for This One Pan Breakfast

  • Choose a pan large enough to fit all potatoes in a single layer. If you overcrowd the potatoes in the pan, they’ll have less contact with the pan resulting in less crispy potatoes!
  • If you find that your bacon rendered a little too much fat, feel free to remove some bacon fat from the pan before cooking the potatoes! And if cooking this one pan breakfast in bacon fat isn’t your thing, simply remove all of the fat and use avocado oil instead.
  • Add as much salt, pepper, or any other spices you’d like! A dash of garlic powder and/or smoked paprika over the crispy potatoes is delicious.
One Pan Breakfast
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One Pan Breakfast

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: BreakfastCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

25

minutes
Total time

30

minutes

This easy one pan breakfast recipe has everything you need to start your day off right! Savory bacon, crispy potatoes, and fluffy scrambled eggs are all cooked in the same pan. Whip this one pan breakfast up on mornings when you need something quick, yet satisfying and delicious!

Ingredients

  • 4 bacon slices

  • 1/2 pound baby potatoes, quartered

  • 6 eggs, whisked

  • salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

  • Cook bacon in a large pan over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side, then set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Increase the heat to medium-high and add in the potatoes in a single layer, sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover with a lid and cook undisturbed for 5-8 minutes.
  • Flip potatoes, cover again and cook undisturbed for 10 minutes, or until crispy. Remove potatoes from the pan, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
  • Pour in the whisked eggs, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 4-5 minutes sturring frequently. Serve eggs with bacon, potatoes, and whatever else you’d like!

Recipe Video

Notes

  • If you’re concerned about the bacon and potatoes getting cold while the eggs cook, I’d recommend leaving them in the oven on warm. Though I found that the eggs cook so quickly, the bacon and potatoes are still at an ideal temperate when served.

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