What's new at Candied Figs?

Two weeks into our vegan challenge, we were craving something hearty, meaty and just a little rich. This chili fit the bill perfectly--without all the added calories that come with its non-vegan counterpart. The inspiration from this recipe came from (surprise, surprise) my go-to vegan recipe blog, Oh She Glows, but I made a few notable alterations to suit our tastes.

This chili is sweet, smokey, savory, and all-around delicious. The recipe makes quite a lot, so save some room in your freezer unless you're planning on having a chili party. Don't worry, though--this is a recipe both vegans and non-vegans alike will love, so chances are any leftovers won't be hanging around your kitchen for too long.

Don't get me wrong- I love a good cheeseburger. So much so, in fact, that mention of them even made its way into the "about" section of this blog! But when dinnertime on day 10 of our vegan challenge called for burgers, we turned to the veggie alternative.

I came across the inspiration for this torte on one of my favorite vegan food blogs, Oh She Glows. I made the original recipe once and was blown away by how fantasticly smooth, creamy, yet still healthy it was. Made with avocado, the original torte recipe manages to have just as rich a texture as those made with full fat whipping cream.

When I have the hankering to cook, I have a tenancy to go overboard. Instead of experimenting with one recipe, I'll whip up 2 dips, a side dish, and 3 desserts. That's exactly what happened while I was finagling with this seed bread recipe. While the bread cooked, I made: