Before going vegan, chicken salad sandwiches were a staple in our household, especially in the summer. They are quick to throw together while being light and refreshing. Since going vegan, I have found that chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) make a great substitute for chicken. Not only are they a good source of protein, but they taste great and have a  suitable texture for this.  So, without further ado, let’s get into my recipe for veganized chicken salad sandwich filling!

Before going vegan, a frequent dinner in our house was taco nights.  They were easy to make, everyone loved them, and they were pretty cheap to make.  Since going vegan in January 2018, finding a homemade, easy, cheap, vegan recipe for taco meat that everyone enjoyed was a challenge.  One night, I threw some things together and hoped for the best and it was a success! I have tweaked the recipe since that fateful night and recently measured out the exact amounts so I can share this recipe with the rest of you. Vegan and non-vegan family members alike have enjoyed this recipe so if you’re looking for a vegan taco meat recipe, I hope you give this recipe a try. 

Why buy broth when you can make your own?  Homemade broth is one of those things I have been experimenting with for some time.  I tried making liquid recipes.  I tried dry recipes.  Finally, I tweaked a dry recipe I came across to my liking and use it in everything that calls for broth.  It is completely vegan and gluten free.  In addition, it works great in recipes that call for chicken/beef broth or stock.  I love being able to make my own broth because not only does it save money BUT I am able to control exactly what goes in it.  I prefer a dry recipe because it is easier to make, it is easier to store because it doesn’t take up much space, and it is very shelf stable (there is no fear of it going bad, although the spices will eventually go stale if it takes you years to use it up).

Shepherd’s pie is one of those wonderful comfort foods that makes a great one dish meal.  I remember shortly after my oldest son was born someone brought it to us for dinner.  It was so delicious and soothing.  After becoming vegan, I decided to come up with my own shepherd’s pie.  I wanted to have that taste reminiscent of traditional shepherd’s pie without the dairy and meat.  Below is my own concoction and recipe for shepherd’s pie.