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lemon juice

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30 Minutes or Less

Autumn Harvest Bowl with Maple Tahini Dressing (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

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Autumn Harvest Bowl

Drizzled with creamy maple tahini dressing, this vegan and gluten-free autumn harvest bowl uses in-season produce like apples, sweet potatoes, dried cranberries, kale and pumpkin seeds. This makes it the perfect Fall meal for when you want something fresh and delicious that can be made under 30 minutes.

Don’t you just love Fall produce? I know I do, and I try to make the most of it while it’s still in-season. This healthy vegan salad features all the best Fall ingredients. Topped with maple tahini dressing, it’s a standout salad that’s always a hit!

MAIN INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE AUTUMN HARVEST BOWL

  • Sweet Potato – High in fiber and antioxidants, it’s one of my favorite Fall root veggies.

  • Apples – Any variety works but I recommend something nice and crisp like Fiji or Honeycrisp.

  • Chickpeas – This will give you some major protein to help keep your energy levels up.

  • Kale – This is one of the most nutrient-dense foods and a key ingredient to this dish. Any variety works!

  • Dried Cranberries -Adds a tart, natural taste to the bowl. When cranberries are dried, they lose most of their vitamins, but they hold on to other nutrients such as potassium and calcium.

  • Tahini -If you’re unfamiliar with what Tahini is, it’s a smooth paste made by grinding sesame seeds. It kinda looks like peanut butter, but it’s not as sweet. The nutty flavor is strong and earthy, and can be a little bitter.

  • Maple Syrup – Maple has a distinctly sweet flavor which helps balance the earthy flavor of the tahini.

ADJUST THIS RECIPE TO YOUR DIET

  • Nut option: Replace the pumpkin seeds with walnuts.

  • Gluten: You can sub the quinoa for something like freekeh (it has notably more fiber than brown rice and even quinoa!) 

TIPS FOR MAKING THIS VEGAN AUTUMN HARVEST BOWL

  • You could use any fruits and vegetables that you have one hand – be creative!

  • Store leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
Autumn Harvest Bowl with Maple Tahini Dressing (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
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Autumn Harvest Bowl with Maple Tahini Dressing (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: LunchCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

1

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes
Calories

300

kcal
Total time

30

minutes

Drizzled with creamy maple tahini dressing, this vegan and gluten-free autumn harvest bowl uses in-season produce like apples, sweet potatoes, dried cranberries, kale and pumpkin seeds. This makes it the perfect Fall meal for when you want something fresh and delicious that can be made under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

  • For the bowl:

  • 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

  • ¼ cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil

  • Salt and pepper, to taste

  • 2 cups kale, chopped

  • ½ cup quinoa, cooked

  • ½ apple, sliced

  • 2 tablespoons dried cranberries

  • 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds, raw or roasted

  • For the tahini dressing:

  • ¼ cup tahini

  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 425° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Place sweet potatoes and chickpeas on baking sheet then drizzle with avocado oil and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Toss potatoes and chickpeas to coat, then roast for 20 minutes, tossing halfway through.
  • While chickpeas and potatoes roast, add all tahini dressing ingredients to a bowl and whisk together until combined.
  • Place kale in a bowl and pour in half of the tahini dressing. Toss and massage the dressing into the kale with your hands.
  • Once chickpeas and potatoes are done, assemble harvest bowl by adding remaining ingredients to the bowl with the kale then drizzling with remaining tahini dressing.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Storage: Store leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
  • You could use any fruits and vegetables that you have one hand – be creative!

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30 Minutes or Less

Vegan Apple Crisp Without Oats Recipe (Gluten-Free)

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Apple Crisp Without Oats Recipe

This delicious Apple Crisp Without Oats recipe is a vegan and gluten-free take on a timeless classic. With a crumb topping that’s easy and quick to prepare and full of flavors from brown sugar and cinnamon, this makes for an irresistible fall dessert!

One of the best things about fall is that it’s apple season! The key to this recipe is that there are no oats in the topping, just flour, brown sugar and pecans. Oats are great, but sometimes a simple streusel-like crumb texture is nice to have. Not only is this delicious recipe easy to prepare, but it’s also made with simple ingredients. Most of which are pantry staples!

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE APPLE CRISP WITHOUT OATS

  • Apples – Get apples that are best for baking. I used gala apples this time, but honeycrisp or good ol’ granny smith apples will work perfectly too!

  • Brown Sugar / Cinnamon – Brown sugar and cinnamon adds incredible flavor and aroma to this recipe. Wouldn’t be the same without it!

  • Pecans/Walnuts – Chopped nuts like walnuts and pecans adds a perfect crispness to the topping. You can also add raisins or dried cranberries.

  • Gluten-Free Flour – I use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1:1 Baking Flour, though if you’re not gluten-free, you can easily sub all purpose flour for the gluten-free flour in this recipe.

ADJUST THIS APPLE CRISP WITHOUT OATS RECIPE TO YOUR DIET

  • Add Gluten: Use all purpose flour instead of gluten-free flour in this recipe.

  • Add Dairy: Use regular butter in this recipe if not vegan or dairy-free.

TIPS FOR MAKING APPLE CRISP

  • Slice the apples fairly thin. Anywhere around 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thin will work perfectly in this recipe. Don’t overdo it though – you don’t want them falling apart during the baking process because they’re too thin.

  • Substitute pears for apples. If you want to try something different, or if you just aren’t a fan of apples, pears are a great substitute.

  • While this dessert is pretty sweet in and of itself, I love adding a scoop of ice cream on top. It makes an amazing addition to the cinnamon/brown sugar flavor.
Apple Crisp Recipe Without Oats (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
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Apple Crisp Recipe Without Oats (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

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

4

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

45

minutes
Calories

300

kcal
Total time

1

hour 

This delicious Apple Crisp Without Oats recipe is a vegan and gluten-free take on a timeless classic. With a crumb topping that’s easy and quick to prepare and full of flavors from brown sugar and cinnamon, this makes for an irresistible fall dessert!

Ingredients

  • For the apples:

  • 4-5 Apples, chopped

  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • For the crumb topping:

  • 1 cup all purpose flour (I used gluten-free)

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • ½ cup pecans or walnuts, chopped

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg

  • ½ cup butter, softened (I used vegan butter)

Directions

  • Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
  • Add all apple ingredients to a large bowl, toss until apples are evenly coated, and transfer to a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  • Mix all crumb topping ingredients together in the same bowl as before and sprinkle over the top of the apple mixture.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes, then remove from oven and let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Storage: You can keep it on the counter for a few days or in the fridge for 4-5 days. It’s also freezer-friendly – you can store it in an airtight container for 3-4 months (although this may affect the texture of the topping).
  • You can easily reheat a small dish in the microwave, however, if you want to reheat the entire pan, heat in the oven at 350°F for approximately 10-12 minutes.

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OTHER VEGAN AND GLUTEN-FREE DESSERTS

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Dairy-Free

Healthy Cheesecake (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

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overhead image of healthy cheesecake with fresh strawberries

This healthy cheesecake is light, tangy, and only tastes indulgent! It’s entirely vegan, gluten-free, and made with the healthiest ingredients. Enjoy a big slice of this healthy cheesecake with some fresh berries for dessert, a snack, or even breakfast – yup, it’s THAT healthy!

close up overhead image of healthy cheesecake with fresh strawberries of healthy cheese

I didn’t always love cheesecake. Most I tried were too dry, dense, and/or sweet. Therefore, in developing this cheesecake I made sure it was light, almost fluffy, and perfectly sweet! And it wouldn’t be a SDHB recipe if I didn’t make it healthier too. I took the best cheesecake recipes I could find, substituted a few simple ingredients, and voilà this better-for-you cheesecake recipe was born!

Ingredients such as vegan cream cheese, vegan yogurt, and a touch of maple syrup make for a more nutritient dense recipe. I wish I had recorded the look on my boyfriend’s face when I told him this cheesecake was SO healthy he could, in fact, eat it for breakfast! Once he processed the near too-good-to-be-true news, he excitedly inhaled a massive slice of this vegan and gluten-free treat.

What You Need To Make Healthy Cheesecake

Gluten-Free Graham Crackers – I used my own recipe for gluten-free graham crackers, though you can use your favorite store bought gluten-free graham crackers instead. To turn them into graham cracker crumbs you can either seal them in a ziploc bag and crush them with a rolling pin or heavy object, or add them to a food processor and give them a few pulses. Once all crackers have been ground into crumbs and no large pieces remain, you’re ready to use them in this recipe!

Vegan Cream Cheese – I used and love the Kite Hill Plain Vegan Cream Cheese in this recipe! Though feel free to use your favorite vegan cream cheese instead. If not vegan, you can use regular cream cheese. However, be sure to avoid flavored cream cheeses, plain is necessary for this healthy cheesecake recipe.

Vegan Yogurt – Similar to the vegan cream cheese, make sure your vegan yogurt is plain and unsweetened. Any added flavors or sugar would completely throw off the balance of this recipe. I used plain coconut yogurt and had great results, though any non-dairy plain unsweetened yogurt will work!

Corn Starch – Most cheesecakes contain eggs to help bind the filling once baked. However, this cheesecake recipe is both healthy and vegan with the use of corn starch instead. Corn starch is imperative in getting this cheesecake to firm up and set to its perfectly light and soft consistency. If you don’t have corn starch, you can use arrowroot starch instead.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

  • Add Dairy: Use regular butter, cream cheese, and yogurt in this recipe if not vegan or dairy-free.
  • Make it Paleo: Use paleo graham crackers, coconut oil instead of vegan butter, and arrowroot starch instead of cornstarch to turn this into a healthy paleo cheesecake recipe!
Healthy Cheesecake (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
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Healthy Cheesecake (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Intermediate
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Chilling Time

8

hours

This healthy cheesecake is light, tangy, and only tastes indulgent! It’s entirely vegan, gluten-free, and made with the healthiest ingredients. Enjoy a big slice of this healthy cheesecake with some fresh berries for dessert, a snack, or even breakfast – yup, it’s THAT healthy!

Ingredients

  • For the graham cracker crust:

  • 1 1/2 cups gluten-free graham cracker crumbs, see Notes

  • 5 tablespoons vegan butter, melted

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil

  • For the cheesecake filling:

  • 16 ounces plain vegan cream cheese

  • 2 cups plain unsweetened vegan yogurt

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1/2 cup maple syrup

  • 3 tablespoons corn starch, see Notes

  • Pinch of salt

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
  • Add all graham cracker crust ingredients to a large bowl and mix together.
  • Transfer crust to the springform pan, flatten into an even layer across the bottom, then bake for 7-8 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
  • Beat all cheesecake filling ingredients together in a large bowl then transfer to the pan and smooth over the crust.
  • Fill a pan with 1-inch of water and transfer it to the oven on the lower rack.
  • Place the cheesecake on the upper rack, above the water and bake for 30-35 minutes. Crack the oven door and allow cheesecake to cool in the oven for 1 hour.
  • Remove from the oven and chill in the fridge for at least 8 hours before slicing and eating.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Gluten-Free Graham Cracker Crumbs: I made my vegan and gluten-free graham crackers, then turned them into crumbs by pulsing them in a food processor. However, you can use store bought gluten-free graham crackers instead if you’d like.
  • Corn Starch: Feel free to use arrowroot starch instead!

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Drinks

Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe (Iced Tea Lemonade)

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lemonade being poured into a glass of an arnold palmer drink with lemon slices on the side

This arnold palmer recipe is the only one you’ll ever need! A simple lemonade meets a home-brewed iced tea for a beverage that is perfectly light and refreshing. Enjoy an arnold palmer on a hot summer day as a slightly sweet and cooling drink!

lemonade being poured into a glass of an arnold palmer drink with lemon slices on the side

Ask me what my favorite non-alcoholic beverage is and I’ll say an arnold palmer every time. I look forward to every summer when the only thing that will refresh and cool me off is one of these half ice tea, half lemonade drinks. While this arnold palmer recipe isn’t limited to just the summertime, it’s just something I’ve associated with very hot days over the years. Let me tell you, the combination of fresh brewed iced tea and a homemade lemonade simply hits different when it’s a billion degrees outside.

The funny thing is, for the longest time I thought of this drink like it was one of those things I could only order while out to eat. But what I didn’t realize for all those years is how freaking EASY it is to make at home. The lemonade for this arnold palmer recipe consists of just three ingredients (one being water) and the iced tea consists of just two ingredients (again, one being water)! I’m talking like stupid easy, ladies and gentleman. And because it’s me who created the recipe – this drink is refined sugar-free, too.

What You Need To Make This Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe

Lemons – Lots and lots of lemons! If you have a lemon juicer, go ahead and whip that baby out for this recipe. In the end, you’ll need an entire cup of lemon juice. Which may sound like a lot, but will actually only end up being about 6 to 8 juicy lemons. My trick for super juicy lemons is to roll them between my palm and the counter before slicing them in half. By rolling them, you’ll soften up the inside making it easier to squeeze as much lemon juice out of them as possible.

Honey – This natural sweetener is the only sweetener you’ll need for this arnold palmer drink recipe! I love honey for its high dose of antioxidants and strong anti-bacterial properties. It’s also perfectly sweet and makes a delicious addition to this refreshing beverage. If you don’t have honey, you can use either maple syrup or simple syrup instead.

Black Tea Bags – Any black tea bags will work! I’ve also used green tea instead of black tea and had great results. Brew your own tea by adding the tea bags to water and leaving it to steep in the fridge for at least 8 hours, or preferably overnight. Homemade iced tea couldn’t be easier to make, and is essential to this simple arnold palmer drink recipe!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

  • Make it Vegan: Substitute maple syrup for the honey to make this a vegan arnold palmer drink recipe.
Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe (Iced Tea Lemonade)
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Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe (Iced Tea Lemonade)

4 from 5 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: Better Than Takeout, Made Healthy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

40

minutes
Calories

300

kcal
Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

This arnold palmer recipe is the only one you’ll ever need! A simple lemonade meets a home-brewed iced tea for a beverage that is perfectly light and refreshing. Enjoy an arnold palmer on a hot summer day as a slightly sweet and cooling drink!

Ingredients

  • For the lemonade:

  • 1 cup lemon juice (about 6-7 lemons)

  • 1/2 cup honey, see Notes

  • 2 cups cold water

  • For the iced tea:

  • 4 black tea bags

  • 4 cups cold water

Directions

  • Make the iced tea by placing the tea bags in 4 cups of water then transfer to the fridge to steep for 8-12 hours.
  • Make the lemonade by adding all lemonade ingredients to a large jar or pitcher and stirring until honey dissolves completely.
  • Fill a cup with ice and fill halfway with iced tea, then the rest of the way with lemonade.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Honey: Feel free to use maple syrup or simple syrup in place of the honey in this recipe!

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30 Minutes or Less

Strawberry Spinach Salad

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overhead image of strawberry spinach salad on a plate with a fork

This strawberry spinach salad is both light and satisfying! Sweet strawberries, hearty farro, fresh mint, and healthy spinach are tossed together in a simple honey balsamic vinaigrette. Enjoy this strawberry spinach salad as a quick and nutritious lunch or serve it alongside your favorite protein for a well-rounded lunch!

overhead image of strawberry spinach salad on a plate with a fork

I am SO here for strawberry season! I’ve challenged myself to eat as many strawberries in as many different ways as possible before this delicious season is over. And as someone who loves a good sweet and savory combo, I will forever be pro-fruit in salads. There’s also just something about a strawberry and balsamic combo that is SO incredibly perfect. Also, as someone who loves and needs more quick and easy salad options in her life – this strawberry spinach salad checks all my boxes!

What You Need To Make Strawberry Spinach Salad

Farro – Farro is a grain that’s full of fiber, iron, protein, and magnesium. I know, it’s the total package. If you’ve never had farro before, I highly recommend you give it a try. It tastes like a heartier brown rice. Though it has more than twice the amount of protein as rice! Follow the instructions on the package for how to cook the farro. The method is typically similar to pasta or rice. You’ll boil it in water for about 10-15 minutes, then strain it and let it cool for this recipe.

Spinach – Spinach is another major superfood in this recipe! Along with protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals – spinach is chock-full of antioxidants. The antioxidants found in spinach have been shown to reduce the risk of common diseases and even cancer. Yup, Popeye was seriously on to something with the whole spinach thing…

Walnuts – Here we go again with another superfood! Walnuts are also rich in antioxidants, are an incredible source of heart healthy omega-3s and have also been studied and found to reduce the risk of some cancers. Not only are they good for you, but walnuts give this salad a delightful crunch. I’m telling you, this strawberry spinach salad is the most well-rounded salad in both flavor and nutrition!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

  • Add Protein: Feel free to add a flakey salmon filet or your favorite grilled/roasted chicken to increase the protein in this strawberry spinach salad recipe.
  • Make it Vegan: You can easily make this salad vegan by using maple syrup in place of the honey.
  • Use a Different Grain: Swap the farro for your favorite grain if you’d like! Cooked brown rice, quinoa, or even barley would taste great in this recipe.
  • Add Dairy: Sprinkle some crumbled feta over the top of your strawberry spinach salad.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
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Strawberry Spinach Salad

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

This strawberry spinach salad is both light and satisfying! Sweet strawberries, hearty farro, fresh mint, and healthy spinach are tossed together in a simple honey balsamic vinaigrette. Enjoy this strawberry spinach salad as a quick and nutritious lunch or serve it alongside your favorite protein for a well-rounded lunch!

Ingredients

  • For the salad:

  • 1 cup farro

  • 1-2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

  • 3 cups spinach, sliced

  • 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

  • 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, sliced

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • For the honey balsamic dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

  • Cook farro according to package instructions then set aside to cool completely.
  • Toss all salad ingredients together in a bowl, including cooked and cooled farro.
  • Whisk together salad dressing ingredients in a small bowl, then drizzle over salad and toss again to coat.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • If you don’t have strawberries, fresh blueberries or sliced apples would taste great in their place!

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