Posts

Recipes › Mains Easy Homemade Hamburger Helper By Samira Kazan updated November 19, 2023 This one-pot homemade Hamburger Helper recipe combines lean ground beef and macaroni in a cheesy, tomato-based sauce for a satisfying, crowd-pleasing dinner in under 30 minutes! Hamburger Helper is an American childhood classic “packaged meal” made with pasta and dehydrated “sauce” to combine with ground beef and liquid and transform into a hearty, one-dish, quick, and easy meal....

Recipes › DIYs Easy Raspberry Jam Recipe (No Pectin) By Samira Kazan published July 24, 2023 This classic 3-ingredient raspberry jam recipe is sweet, summery, tangy, delicious, and made with simple beginner-friendly steps and no added pectin. Plus, you can store it in the fridge, freezer, or can it in a hot water bath! Preparing batches of jams and jellies is one of my favorite ways to capture and preserve the delicious sweet, tart, juicy flavor of ripe fruits to enjoy year-round....

Recipes › Mains Greek Stuffed Vegetables with Rice By Samira Kazan updated November 02, 2023 A simple how-to for flavor-packed Greek rice-stuffed vegetables (Gemista/Yemista). This “one size fits all” recipe works wonders for Greek stuffed peppers, zucchini, eggplant, onion, and tomatoes! Best of all, this recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and packed with color, flavor, and nutrients! I recently posted a summer-ready recipe for Greek stuffed tomatoes . However, with summer quickly coming to an end, I realized it’s the perfect time to post these mixed Greek stuffed vegetables....

Seafood Healthy Tuna Salad (No Mayo) By Samira Kazan published January 31, 2025 This Healthy Tuna Salad is full of protein, carbs, and healthy fats, plus fresh veggies and chickpeas for an extra protein boost. It’s quick and easy to make in just 10 minutes—and it’s mayo-free! With a satisfying crunch from fresh vegetables and extra protein from chickpeas, this salad is perfect for meal prep or a healthy snack. Its Mediterranean-inspired flavor makes it a delicious choice for lunch or dinner, and it’s versatile enough to adapt to whatever veggies you have on hand....

Recipes ‚Ä∫ Vegan How to Make Coconut Yogurt (Thick, Creamy & Dairy-Free) By Samira Kazan published May 06, 2025 Thick, creamy, and tangy with just three ingredients — this coconut yogurt is a total keeper. No dairy, no fuss, and no fancy equipment (just a thermometer). It took a few trial runs (and a couple of flops), but I finally landed on a version that’s smooth, spoonable, and perfectly balanced between subtle coconut flavor and that classic yogurt tang....

Lebanese Lebanese Garlic Sauce (Toum) By Samira Kazan published November 15, 2024 This Lebanese garlic sauce (Toum) is the top condiment for grilled chicken in Lebanese cuisine. Made with a slow and steady emulsion of garlic and oil, my NO-FAIL recipe guarantees a perfect dip every time. This creamy and smooth garlic sauce, known as toum—which means garlic in Arabic—is an essential condiment when serving shish tawook , chicken shawarma , and other grilled chicken dishes in Lebanese cuisine....

Recipes › Sides Quick Easy Brown Vegan Gravy By Samira Kazan updated November 01, 2023 This quick and easy vegan gravy is made with just 6 (to 8) ingredients, without flour, and in under 10 minutes – perfect for serving over mashed potatoes, with a vegan roast, and as part of any vegan Thanksgiving/Christmas table! With fall officially here and holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas on the horizon, it’s time to start recipe testing for the holidays (is it just me that does that?...

Recipes › Sides Sautéed Broccoli By Samira Kazan published January 10, 2025 Make sautéed broccoli with olive oil, garlic, and parmesan for extra flavor. Quick and easy, this flavorful and nutritious side dish will complement any main. Learning how to sauté broccoli was a game changer for me. Whenever I need a quick and healthy side dish, I turn to steamed broccoli or this quick and easy recipe. Sauteed broccoli is so much faster to make than making roasted broccoli ....

Condiments Shawarma Seasoning By Samira Kazan published January 15, 2025 Make aromatic shawarma seasoning at home—an essential ingredient for Lebanese cooking. This spice mix is perfect for seasoning beef, chicken, lamb, and more! When it comes to spices, I love making homemade spice blends. I have already shared the best chicken seasoning , authentic taco seasoning , and Lebanese 7 spice . Now it’s the turn of this warming and aromatic shawarma seasoning....

Recipes › Vegan Simple Herby Vegan Feta Cheese By Samira Kazan updated September 17, 2020 A simple tangy, herby vegan feta cheese recipe – a wonderfully crumbly dairy-free cheese that’s perfect for salads and topping all sorts of dishes. Feta Cheese has always been a favourite of mine for its tangy briny (salty) flavor. It’s wonderful to add that little ‘something extra’ for a massive variety of dishes as well as to jazz up a salad bowl....

Pantry Simple Homemade Protein Powder By Samira Kazan updated August 12, 2024 This 5-ingredient homemade protein powder is made from wholesome seeds with no chemicals or fillers, is easy to customize, loaded with nutrients, versatile, and naturally vegan & gluten-free! This homemade protein powder uses a blend of 5 high-protein seeds for a cheaper (especially if they’re already in your pantry), cleaner way to boost your protein with no chemicals, fillers, or gums....

Pantry The Best Homemade Peanut Butter By Samira Kazan updated January 17, 2024 Make the BEST homemade peanut butter with just two ingredients. It’s simple to make, creamy, delicious, and cheaper than store-bought. Peanut butter is a tasty high-protein spread that everyone loves. But why pay for a jar when you can make it with a simple process? Also, grocery store versions tend to have too many ingredients. To this, I say: for a fraction of the price and with just 2 ingredients – roasted peanuts and salt, you can easily make your own peanut butter at home....

Recipes › Mains The Best Pepper Steak Recipe By Samira Kazan updated November 01, 2023 This 15-minute Chinese pepper steak stir fry combines tender, juicy steak with bell peppers in a flavorful, homemade brown stir-fry sauce for a quick and simple restaurant-quality meal to enjoy with rice or noodles! Stir-fries are already one of my favorite meals to throw together in no time and enjoy a delicious and nutritious meal. But when they double up as a healthy, cost-effective, yet restaurant-quality fakeout… even better!...

Recipes › Desserts The Best Pineapple Casserole Recipe By Samira Kazan updated July 02, 2025 Pineapple and cheese – should this bizarre combination ever be together? In the South, a pineapple casserole is a staple of the Easter table and super easy to make. The casserole is the staple of Southern eating, alongside Southern fried corn , Southern fried apples , and crispy fried squash . No matter how you’re feeling or what day it is, there’s a casserole fit for every purpose, including dessert....

Recipes › DIYs The Best Way To Soften Butter Quickly By Samira Kazan published May 31, 2024 Need softened butter in a pinch? With just ten minutes and my methods for how to soften butter quickly, you can bring even the coldest of butter to room temperature fast. How many times have you opened a recipe, gathered all your ingredients – and discovered you needed softened butter? For me, it’s more times than you can count....

Recipes › Breakfast 25+ Breakfasts From Around The World By Samira Kazan updated July 18, 2024 A look at 25+ (primarily plant-based) breakfasts from around the world and how different countries love to start the day – including pancakes, pastries, rice, and egg-based International breakfast recipes! For anyone that’s come across my blog (or Instagram ) before, then you’ll know that I love to celebrate and enjoy food from all across the globe....

Recipes › Breakfast Apple Pie Overnight Oats By Samira Kazan updated August 12, 2024 These apple pie overnight oats allow you to enjoy dessert for breakfast. Combining a warming cinnamon apple topping with hearty overnight oats and yogurt (dairy or vegan) yields an 8-ingredient naturally sweetened apple breakfast packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and tons of flavor! Dessert for breakfast never sounds like a bad idea – especially when it’s apple pie and in the form of these cinnamon apple pie overnight oats....

Recipes › Mains BBQ pulled jackfruit Japanese Donburi bowl By Samira Kazan updated November 02, 2023 A super easy Japanese inspired donburi bowl recipe with BBQ pulled jackfruit. A nutritious and quick to prepare rice bowl topped with a variety of rainbow vegetables and protein – perfect for using leftovers and as a lazy-night meal Is it just me or is everything just better when it’s served in a bowl. Smoothie bowls are what started Alphafoodie, after all....

Chicken Butter Chicken (Restaurant-Style, Easy + Creamy) By Samira Kazan published September 22, 2025 Butter chicken was one of the first Indian dishes I felt confident making at home. Over time, I’ve tested different versions and learned exactly how I like it. This one is rich, silky, and gently spiced — with marinated chicken cooked in batches so it doesn’t steam and the sauce stays smooth and balanced. Sometimes I also blend soaked cashews for extra richness, but cream works just as well....

Pantry Canning Peaches (A Step by Step Tutorial) By Samira Kazan updated July 15, 2025 How to can peaches – a beginner-friendly step-by-step guide to canning peaches in light syrup (or alternatives) to preserve them all year long! After a long and delicious summer filled with peach lemonade and peach burrata salad , the end of summer is nearing. This means it’s the perfect time to share how to can peaches to preserve them to enjoy all year long in peach crumbles , peach cobblers , and more....