Comfort Food Archives - Strength and Sunshine

Air Fryer Gluten-Free + Vegan Chicken & Waffles (Allergy-Free, Oil-Free)

March 11, 2019 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 41 Comments

Comforting American soul food made healthy and plant-based! This Gluten-Free Vegan Chicken & Waffles recipe is not only a meatless wonder, but allergy-free, oil-free, made with crispy air fried cauliflower “chicken” and fresh, fluffy, homemade waffles. Serve it with maple syrup and maybe some hot sauce for an ultimate treat!

This recipe has been a long time coming! I’ve been tossing the idea around in my head for so long and finally got around to testing some variations out! Chicken & waffles is a dish so far from being allergy-friendly and gluten-free, let alone vegan! But, is that ever a problem on Strength and Sunshine? Not if I have any say! Lucky for you, I actually put an allergy-free, gluten-free, and vegan chicken & waffles recipe to the obsession with learning and reading about all types of Southern and soul food. From hot chicken to dirty rice, these dishes are rich with history and just begging to be made accessible for all special diets!Read More

Easy One-Pot Vegan Gluten-Free Louisiana Red Beans & Rice (Allergy-Free)

February 6, 2019 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 37 Comments

An easy one-pot recipe for the classic Southern dish! This Vegan & Gluten-Free version of Louisiana Red Beans & Rice is full of deep smoky and spicy flavors, rice, kidney beans, and veggies. It’s allergy-free, oil-free, and still a hearty and comforting meal without the meat!

They say rice and beans are two of the cheapest ingredients to have on hand and still be able to make a delicious meal. Hearty carbs and protein? Check. Add some veggies for those micronutrients. Check. Now just toss in some deeply flavorful and fragrant herbs and spices to pull the meal together. Check! That’s what you get with this vegan and gluten-free take on the classic Louisiana comfort food, Red Beans & Rice! A bit deceiving in name, since the authentic dish includes meat (pork, sausage) and isn’t just “rice and beans”. The kidney beans in this meatless version are hearty enough on their own and still make this a fantastic vegetarian dinner!Read More

Baked Creamy Vegan Gluten-Free Spinach Artichoke Pasta (Allergy-Free)

October 29, 2018 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 49 Comments

Your favorite party dip transformed into a creamy dairy-free pasta bake! This Baked Creamy Vegan Gluten-Free Spinach Artichoke Pasta is top 8 allergy-free, full of veggies, and cheesy flavor! It’s a cozy recipe for an easy weeknight family dinner that the kids will love too!

Spinach artichoke dip is something I always associate with my mom. She was always the one who jumped at any chance you could indulge in that creamy, cheesy, hot dip. It was something she would always order as an appetizer at restaurants or dig into first at parties and gatherings. Honestly, it was never something I chose to dip my chips into. I much preferred something like this, but alas, it grew on me as I got older (and ironically could no longer have it!) So I took it upon myself to remake spinach artichoke dip into a full on meal! One that’s gluten-free, vegan, allergy-free; most importantly dairy-free!Read More

Mom’s Best Classic Gluten-Free Vegan Baked Ziti (Soy-Free)

October 24, 2018 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 35 Comments

Our family’s favorite famous comfort food recipe, remade! Mom’s Best Classic Gluten-Free Vegan Baked Ziti without the dairy, but still under 5 ingredients! This make-ahead “cheesy” pasta dinner casserole is soy-free too, super easy, delicious, and baked in 20 minutes! Great as a freezer meal or having leftovers throughout the week!

My mom didn’t cook things from scratch much. She was more of a “throw these chicken nuggets in the toaster oven and this packet of rice in a pot” kind of cook. Every so often she would get the urge to make her “famous” baked ziti recipe. While this Italian pasta casserole only needed 4 ingredients (she used jarred sauce), it still tasted like home-cooked comforting love! While I grew up eating her baked ziti, she and I both can’t indulge in the cheesy carby comfort food anymore…until now.Read More

Easy Creamy Gluten-Free Vegan Mushroom Gravy (Allergy-Free)

October 15, 2018 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 35 Comments

An Easy Creamy Gluten-Free Vegan Mushroom Gravy that’s top 8 allergy-free, quick to make, and a perfect recipe for biscuits and gravy or topping your mashed potatoes! This homemade veggie-packed sauce is smooth, full of flavor, and a healthier version of your family’s comforting holiday classic!

It’s about time we whipped up some cozy gravy here on Strength and Sunshine! From gluten-free vegan buttermilk biscuits to rustic mashed potatoes, now the delicious food combining stars can finally align! I hope you’re just as excited as I am! I’ve actually never been a gravy fan, but this creamy mushroom gravy finally won me over! It’s all about the texture, flavors, and aromas when it comes to a good gravy. No chunky mushroom gravy here! This one is super smooth, creamy, and packed with aromatic herbs.Read More