Happy Saturday! Fall has arrived and the weather is quickly changing in my neck of the woods. The air is crisp and it’s officially cozy warm sweater weather! The evening gets pretty darn chilly now too. I get inspiration this time of year and then I try creating some healthy seasonal recipe options. I’m all about trying to create healthy treats at home instead of buying store bought goods whenever possible.
I really like to try new recipes and creating healthy versions of some of our favourite meals. I still want to enjoy a sweet treat every once in a while but I still want to stay within my wellness goals.
The holiday season is upon us and Thanksgiving is around the corner. It’s my favourite time of year because it’s a time to reflect on all the blessings we have in our lives. I feel so grateful for the life I have created! I also love the warm and cozy dishes that come along with the fall/autumn season too. I will be making my Pineapple Upside-Down Cake this year for my family celebration. It’s comforting and delicious. It’s always a hit every time I make it!
Today I’m sharing my super yummy and easy to make Pineapple Upside-Down Cake recipe with you all. I love creating healthy versions of some classic recipes. I wanted to feel good about bringing this dessert to a family get together because it’s healthy and very delicious at the same time. I want my family to enjoy a sweet treat without loading them full of unhealthy and unpronounceable ingredients.
In order to sweeten the cake you can use a variety of options. I like using Date or Coconut sugar the best. If I can’t find it at the store I will buy whatever options are available to me. I sometimes have to buy cane sugar because nothing else is available. I just recommend you trying the best you can to find the healthiest options. Everything can’t always be perfect in life and we just have to accept that and not feel guilt around it. I also remind people that although we might personally enjoy treats with little or no sugar in it other people maynot. If you decide to share baked goods with others then please add the recommended amount of sugar. I feel like compared to other recipes or store bought cakes I’ve already cut down on the sugar considerably. You want other people to really enjoy it fully! When spending time with friends and family I always try and restrict a little less in order for everyone to enjoy the meal to the fullest. Time together building memories and truly enjoying the food is most important.
I also wanted to create a recipe that included easy to find ingredients as always. You guys know I’m all about keeping things fuss free! I wanted everyone to be able to find everything they needed at any local grocery store or market. Things like canned pineapple is pretty cheap to buy and works perfectly! Fresh pineapple can sometimes be quite costly depending on where you live. I didn’t want the cost of the cake to be too high overall so I stuck with staple pantry ingredients. We don’t need to break the bank in order to create a homemade treat! A simple, homemade, healthy and comforting cake was my goal. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and I do!
PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE
Topping Ingredients:
⁃ 1/4 cup apple sauce
⁃ 1/3 cup Brown sugar or Maple Sugar
⁃ Pineapple slices
Ingredients:
⁃ 1/2 cup Soy Milk + 2 Tbsp.
⁃ 1 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
⁃ 1/4 pineapple juice
⁃ 1/2 cup apple sauce
⁃ 1 tsp. Pure Vanilla extract
⁃ 1/3 – 1/2 cup sugar of choice (I use coconut or date sugar most of the time)
⁃ 1 1/2 cups flour of choice (I use brown rice or oat flour)
⁃ 1 1/2 tsp. Baking powder
⁃ 1 flax egg = 1 Tbsp. Flax meal & 3 Tbsp. Water. Combine, set aside and allow to thicken.
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Make the topping and add to the bottom of a 9 inch round baking pan. Arrange pineapple slices around the pan as well.
3. Next you’re going to make your flax egg. Add 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal into a small bowl and 3 tablespoons of warm water. Combine well and set aside to thicken up.
4. Next add the milk,apple cider, pure vanilla extract, sugar and applesauce. Mix well.
5. Next add the flax egg to the wet ingredients and combine it well.
6. Now in a large bowl combine all your dry ingredients be sure to mix it well.
7. Transfer all the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and combine all the ingredients.
8. Pour over the pineapple rings in the pan evenly distribute the batter out.
9. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in a 350°F oven.
10. Once it’s baked allowed to completely cool before transferring to a plate or serving dish. Once it’s cooled you can place a plate on top of the pan and flip it over. The cake should slide out easily if you have a nonstick pan if not you may have to pre-oil your pan in order to ensure the cake can be removed easily.
Enjoy! 💚
I will include the video version of this yummy cake! If you haven’t already Subscribed to my YouTube channel then please consider doing so now. That way you don’t miss any upcoming cozy & comforting recipes upcoming! Thank you for the support and love on the channel!
I wanted to share another very easy to make recipe with you all. I’m often asked about how I make my homemade veggie burgers. I always share my favorite recipes so you can all enjoy them too. I usually throw everything I want to add into my burgers into a big bowl and wing it. I don’t normally measure things and I just eye ball my measurements old school. This makes it difficult to pass on to others though so I’m trying to change my ways. I’m now forcing myself to measure things out and write them down as I create my meals. The notes section on my cell phone has been very useful for this. I don’t have to search for paper, pen or an excuse not to jot it down!
I used to complain to my mom about her never having written recipes and winging her meals back in the day. I thought “how on earth will I learn to make these meals if she doesn’t have a recipe written down to follow”? Well, I’ve become my mother it seems. Sorry guys like I said, I’m trying to change my ways!
I love to make healthy twists to my favorite meals. Making homemade vegan veggie burgers is one of my absolute favorite meals. I can pack in an abundance of nutrition into my burgers by making them at home.
I also like to control what’s going into my burgers because then I know that no added oil has been put into them. I feel like that’s unnecessary extra calories that don’t give me any nutritional benefits. Every tablespoon will run an extra 120 calories and that sure adds up quickly at each meal! I will pass on that and just eat more real unprocessed food for the same calories.
I enjoy my burgers with Spinach and sprouts on sprouted bread.
My feedback after posting the recipe video on my YouTube Channel has been wonderful. Everyone has told me that they love how quickly these burgers come together. I’m thrilled! I love helping people save time in the kitchen and still get wholesome food on the table.
You only need 4 ingredients to make the most epic burgers.
This recipe only uses four ingredients to make. I wanted to create a recipe that everyone could pull together easily. I wanted to make sure that even the most inexperienced cook could still whip these burgers up and eat a healthy burger alternative. I also wanted to make sure that it was a low cost meal. Not everyone has the ability make certain recipes because food costs are quite high these days. I often stick to basic ingredients that can be found anywhere and cost little to buy. Spices are definitely optional because they will taste great even if you don’t have any to add to them. Even something as simple as salt and pepper is all you really need for extra flavor. Use whatever you can afford, have on hand or that is easy to find in your local grocery store if you add extra seasonings.
My favourite veggie combination.
GF Oats bought in bulk!
Save money with low cost meals
One of the best things about this burger is how easy it is to make a variety of things using just one recipe. You can use this mixture not just to make burgers but also for veggie bites, tator tots, falafels, and veggie “meat” balls. The possibilities are endless! I love creating recipes like this!
You can change up the spices and trade out the ketchup for another oil free sauce of your choice to change things up every once in a while. You can also change up the veggies for different flavors or to use up whatever veggies need to be eaten first. I don’t like food waste! This recipe is great with a variety of veggies so use them up.
Optional: Spices & herbs. I like adding garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and dry oregano.
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
2. Cook up veggies of choice in a frying pan using water instead of oil. I like to use a mix of broccoli, cauliflower and carrot most often.
3. In a large bowl add the rice, veggies, ketchup & oats. Combine well and if you use spices or herbs toss those in now too.
4. Add the mixture to a food processor and pulse until combined well. Be mindful of not over blending it.
5. Add to a lined baking sheet and shape the burger patties.
6. Toss in the oven at 375°F and bake for 20- 25 minutes depending on the size of the burgers. Flip them at the half way mark.
ENJOY!
I’m adding my video of how to make these yummy burgers below for your reference.
If you make this recipe please comment below or tag me on IG! Thanks for the love and support here on the blog as well as on YouTube. Welcome to all the new Subscribers and Followers. If you haven’t already, check out my YouTube Channel and give this video a Like. Subscribe to my channel for more quick and easy recipes. You will also find wellness tips and be able to take a peek at my veggie gardens.
The last couple weeks have been difficult. I’m still on the mend after feeling super ill. I had to get tested for COVID-19 and thankfully it came back negative. It’s just a regular flu that needs to run its course.
I’ve been focusing on getting lots of vegetables into my diet. I need those extra nutrients more than ever right now! Packing a variety of fresh and frozen vegetables and fruits will help my body fight illness and provide me with extra energy.
I decided to create a healthy veggie sauce using frozen vegetables to add to my meals. I used this sauce on my pasta and it worked out fabulously. It’s a completely guilt free sauce using only two ingredients. I used a frozen mix of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots to make my veggie sauce. You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand to make this delicious veggie sauce. I’m sure the possibilities are endless and many combinations would be fantastic.
I used beetroot noodles for my pasta dish because that’s what I had on hand. They ended up being absolutely delicious. I actually found them at my local Dollar Store. They only cost my $1.50 and provided meals for two days. I ate large portions along with my partner and we still had lots left over for lunch the next day. I love saving money! I will definitely buy those again if I see them at the store. You can use whatever type of pasta you have or prefer for this recipe. I suggest using something like a whole grain pasta for added nutrition.
This is also a great way of cleaning out your fridge and making sure all the veggies you bought get used up. I hate food waste so I try creating recipes like this one in order to use everything up. We tend to buy a lot and don’t plan out our meals very well. Creating recipes like this is great to use it all up and not waste hard earned money. Nobody wants to throw away spoiled food.
Many people are also cutting back on food spending and trying to create cheaper meals. Grocery store spending can be quite high for all of us no matter what our diet is these days. If you live in a place where you can’t grow anything yourself due to the climate then these costs can be even higher unfortunately. I’m in that boat myself because it’s too cold most if the year where I live sadly. I can only grow my veggies for a short time every summer.
I hope you all enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I need quick and easy recipes because life is just too busy! I also need to keep my diet as clean as possible so I can feel at my absolute optimal. This is why I create simple and healthy recipes like this one. If you enjoy these fuss free recipes then consider Subscribing to my YouTube Channel where I have loads of quick and healthy video recipes.
2 Ingredient Veggie Pasta
Ingredients
– 300-400g of Pasta – 5-6 cups of veggies (I used frozen broccoli, Cauliflower and carrots).
– Save 2 cups of the pasta water for the sauce. This will add great consistency and flavor.
Optional: – Seasonings and spices of choice (optional) – 1 tsp. nutritional yeast (optional)
Method
1. Boil a large pot of water for the pasta.
2. Add the veggies to a pan and cook them up. Just use water or veggie broth to cook them up. Don’t use oil because that will increase the calories significantly.
3. Add the cooked veggies to a blender. Add spices, seasonings and nutritional yeast if you are using them.
4. Add the pasta water to the blender. Start with 1 cup and decide how thick you want your sauce.
5. Drain and plate your pasta. Add the sauce. Combine well.
ENJOY!
I will add my video of how to make my easy veggie pasta below in this blog post for those of you who enjoy watching recipe videos.
I will make my best effort to get more recipes up on this blog this year. I’ve had a lot of people asking me to post more often here. I will do my best my friends! Thanks for the support, encouragement and love.
Who needs a recipe that can be made super fast but will still help you stick to your wellness goals? Fast food can definitely be made with a healthy twist if you put some thought behind it.
I love making Potato and Veggie patties because they taste super delicious and keep me on track with my health and wellness goals. I also love how I can use the same mixture to make a variety of things too. I make patties and veggie bites using the same simple mixture. I love easy recipes like this that can provide us with many different meal options. Let’s face it if we don’t have a variety of quick recipes then we will seek unhealthy alternatives.
Easy Potato & Veggie Patties with Hot SauceSuper simple & delicious Potato & Veggie Patties
The number one excuse people make for not eating healthy is that they don’t have time to cook.
I just don’t agree with that because I can cook up a healthy meal using just a few ingredients on a normal basis. In the time it takes you to order food and get it picked up or delivered you can make a healthy meal at home. It doesn’t take much effort to cook up potatoes, rice, open a can of beans or legumes and whatever veggies you have on hand. Frozen or canned veggies are wonderful to have at home because they cook up really fast. I feel like these types of convience foods are extremely helpful in order to keep us on a track with our wellness goals.
I use my instant pot to cook up most of my meals because I’m short on time. You can make pretty much anything in this amazing small appliance quickly. I love to fill up my instant pot with healthy starches like potatoes or rice. Having it pre-made gives me the opportunity to make a meal super fast. I also love having precooked potatoes in the fridge so you just have to grab them and reheat them when you get hungry. Rice can also be frozen which I find very helpful when I know it’s going to be a super busy day.
Having time saving hacks will prevent you from going out and buying terrible junky foods. Being prepared will help you stay successful and on the right track.
POTATO & VEGGIE PATTIES
Ingredients: – 4-5 lbs of potatoes – 4-5 cups of veggies (I used frozen veggies, my favorite is brocolli and green beans) – seasonings of choice (optional)
1. I cook my potatoes in my 6 quart Instant Pot (about 4-5 lbs of potatoes) for 20 minutes and allow it to naturally release. You can also cook potatoes in a regular pot on the stove if you don’t have an Instant Pot.
2. Cook up 5-6 cups of frozen mixed veggies on a frying pan using water or broth to saute them.
3. Add the potatoes into a large mixing bowl and mash them up. Depending on the size of the bowl, you may need to do this in batches.
4. Add in the cooked veggies and mix well.
5. Add in any optional seasonings or spices of choice.
6. Shape into patties and pop them into the air-fryer to cook up. You can also use the oven if you don’t have a air-fryer available to you.
I cook mine at 350 F for 14 minutes, flipping them half way. Adjust the timing according to the size of patty you make.
I dip mine in sugar free ketchup most of the time. I also like to make veggie burgers using this recipe too.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do. I’d love it if you could tag me on IG @VeganMommyDee if you make the recipe.
Happy Sunday to you all! I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy. It’s pretty crazy how quickly things have changed in the world and it’s definitely a scary time.
With all the extra time on most people’s hands I’ve noticed a lot more people cooking up a storm. People are trying new recipes and getting inspiration from each other. I think this is fantastic because we can now get back to basics and learn how to prepare healthier homemade meals.
Many people are worried about weight gain because of all the inactivity during isolation. This is definitely valid but It’s pretty easy to keep our diet clean. By eating whole foods, drinking plenty of water, and making those homemade meals this is easily controlled. Yes we will snack a little more but if we choose wholesome foods then we shouldn’t worry to much about weight gain. When weather permits then get outside and take a walk or go for a run. It’s not only good for our waistline but also for our mental health.
I’ve had many people ask me for my simple instapot immune boosting veggie soup. I decided to make a little video making it so you can see how easy it is to make. It’s filled with amazing immune boosting veggies and you can use fresh or frozen veggies. It will all work for this easy soup. At this point in time it’s sometimes difficult to get certain foods because of the COVID-19 situation. We are also limited to how many items we can buy so this can be difficult at times. I’ve been making this soup a lot because it’s easy to make, fast, I can use whatever veggies I have and I feel like my family could benefit from the immune boosting properties in the soup. It’s a win in every way! Let me know what your go to meal is these days in the comments.
Enjoy my recipe and please tag/mention me here or Instagram if you make it. If you haven’t already followed me on YouTube I would truly appreciate your support. Please Like and Subscribe to my channel. Don’t forget to stay connected with me across social media as well. Stay Healthy my friends!
~Vegan Mommy Dee~ 
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