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DIY: Homemade Vegetarian Hot Pockets Ever have that coworker who microwaves a Hot Pocket at lunch and the smell is somehow the best thing in the world even though they are just filled with garbage?  It’s actually really easy to make your own home version!  They’ll do okay in the freezer for a week or two if your freezer isn’t too sub-arctic.  And yes, when you microwave them, they will produce that magnificent smell.

Vegan Chili Teacup Appetizer These adorably tiny appetizers are a great way to use up weird quantities of vegetable leftovers.  It’s really forgiving to whatever you have in the house-- I’ve even thrown in a little leftover cocoa to mix things up!  Even non-traditional chili stuff like eggplant, nectarines and squash is just killer in this little dish.

Shrimp Scampi Creamy Risotto This rich, decadent dish hits a harmony of savory garlic and onion and sweet fresh shrimp in a creamy risotto.  It's easy to make and perfect for a luxurious weeknight dinner.

Falafel and Tzatziki You can serve the falafels over brown rice and steamed broccoli and peppers with the cold tzatsiki sauce for a more elegant dinner entrée.  Remember than there aren’t really any carbs (except for the light flour) on the falafel, so it comes off as a heavier meal than it really is.  Garnish with mint leaves.

My favorite is to lay the falafels in a flat bread with halved mini tomatos (heirloom if you can!) and whole mint leaves with the tzatsiki sauce.  They’re messy but portable, great for beaches and picnics and friends that love you no matter what.

You can serve the falafels over brown rice and steamed broccoli and peppers with the cold tzatsiki sauce for a more elegant dinner entrée.  Remember than there aren’t really any carbs (except for the light flour) on the falafel, so it comes off as a heavier meal than it really is. My favorite is to lay the falafels in a flat bread with halved mini tomatos (heirloom if you can!) and whole mint leaves with the tzatsiki sauce.  They’re messy but portable, great for beaches and picnics and healthy cool lunches.

Cactus and Purple Cactus Breakfast  Ok, so prepping the cactus is NBD.  No magic trick, just wash them and scrape a knife across them until anything you don’t want in your mouth scrapes off.  A rough scrub with a Brillo pad will do it too. Don’t bite into one before you cook it to see what it’s like raw.  I’ll tell you, it’s nasty.  There’s some sort of cactus goo inside that cooks out over low heat and becomes really delicious, but boy is it gross before then.  

This is so flavor country.  It’s subtle, but if your ingredients are even marginally fresh, you’ll have a savory veggie taste that doesn’t need anything but a sprinkle of black pepper.  I served this with queso fresca, a sunny side up egg and a spicy chicken sausage, but this can stand on its meat-free feet as well.  

Crab, Avocado & Shrimp Pasta Deliciously ripe avocado and crab make the perfect pair. Add to that some savory shrimp and the bright green flavors of your own homemade unique pesto and you’ve got a wonderfully creamy, flavorful pasta dish.

Sriracha Meatballs I didn't feel like grocery shopping yesterday, so I went exploring in my pantry and freezer to find something to take the reigns for dinner and lunch the next day.  The only perishable fridge item in this is an egg and really, if you just don't feel like it, you can do without. 

This is so awesome for a meatball sandwich or with spaghetti noodles and tomato sauce.

Easy Syrniki for Brunch If you are simultaneously craving cheese sticks and also pancakes, firstly, hello friend!  While you can just make peace with ordering cheese sticks and a small stack at a diner (good news, they will probably serve it to you and not give you any guff), you could also combine the two and whip up a batch of syrniki.  

They’re super brunch foods and can be dressed up with applesauce, sour cream, fennel or honey.  

Vegan Blueberry & Currant Silken Tofu Dessert This creamy vegan dessert is a beautiful substitute for ice cream.  Beneath its bright colors and slightly twee teacup presentation, it’s not overly sweet and has a flavorful richness that takes advantage of the full flavor of the fruits.  Because of this, it’s a recipe that definitely relies on fresh, ripe produce, so check out a local farmer’s market or organic grocers for the fruit.  

Haejangguk: Korean "Soup To Cure A Hangover" A sense of adventure might sound like the worst possible thing to cure a hangover, but this dark, rich Korean soup is known and named for its healing properties.  Its name translates to “soup to cure a hangover” so when your head is swimming, head for the Asian market and whip up a batch of magic.  (And maybe pop an ibuprofen.)

Vuelve a la Vida: The Mexican Return to Life Shrimp Cocktail Whether you’re pulling yourself together from a night of drinking, powering up from a strenuous workout or giving your brain a boost, this Mexican mariscos owes its name to a promise of a “return to life.”  Adjust the heat factor to your preferences and serve with an ice cold beer for dinner or an egg and toast for breakfast.

Spring Herring Salad This lightly delicate, mild potato salad is fresh as spring and goes beautifully in any springtime spread.  

Guajillo Chile Spaghetti Guajillo chiles, found dried in supermarkets, add a deep red color and kick, but are medium-low range in the heat index and okay even for wimpier eaters.

Gluten-Free Rosemary Chicken Pizza This rich, thin-crust gluten-free pizza is rich and flavorful with a delicate herbal flavor.  

Burgundy Olive and Sausage Rotini The burgundy adds a slightly sweet and mellow flavor to this stewed tomato sauce.  You can reduce the fat content by choosing a very lean or chicken sausage. 

Fennel Salmon Fishcakes

This tangy Mediterranean inspired dish is fun, easy and goes beautifully with a fresh salad or for a light lunch.  Regardless of what it’s like outside, this dish brings a nautical summer right to your table.  On a budget it’s okay to bring canned salmon to the table, although a fatty fresh cut adds an extra layer of decadence.

Vegan Pesach Baba Ganoush If you’re looking for a change in your hummus routine, Baba Ganoush will give you the same healthy vegan kick with a rich eggplant flavor.  There are a million baba ganoush variations-- it’s really good with tahini or mayonnaise-- but you might not want to use either of these ingredients (because vegan or because pesach).  So if you’re along for the challenge, here’s a baba ganoush recipe that stays its creamy, silky self without either.  Serve with fresh carrots, matzah, crackers or discs of cucumber.