Original Recipe - 'Chick'n' Taco Seasoning Mix

This seasoning is a clone recipe from a well-known spice house. You can use this with Soy Curls, chickpeas or to season any commercially available chick'n strip type product for tacos, like Beyond Meat or Gardein.

The original calls for jalapeno powder. If I don't have it in my kitchen, it isn't something that is going to be used often so I left it out. Most of the ingredients will be in a normal kitchen except maybe the Ancho powder. You can sub in whatever chili type powder you have if necessary.



Shelly's Chick'n Taco Seasoning Mix

1 Tbsp Mexican oregano
1 1/4 tsp Spanish paprika
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp onion powder
3/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cilantro
1/4 tsp ancho chile powder (add an additional 1/8 tsp if you like it spicier)
1/8 tsp black pepper

Blend together with a whisk.

I prefer not to add a bunch of oil to my food so I'd just cook or warm up whatever 'chick'n' I was using, sprinkle the seasoning over it and add in some water and cook it until it's coated and done. Not rocket science. I'd even add a squirt of lime juice if I was feelin' it.

The original recipe give these directions for the equivalent of one pound of chicken. If you're using pre-cooked items then you'll need to adjust the initial chicken cooking time.

In a large pan over medium heat, heat 2 tbsp of corn oil and cook chicken for 7 minutes , Stir in 1 tbsp lime juice and 2 tbsp of the seasoning mix. Cook 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water, reduce heat and simmer until done.

Original Recipe: Garlic Alfredo Mac & Cheese

Feel free to share.. just link back to this blog. 

I came across a recipe for a creamy garlic pasta. It wasn't plant based so it had yucky ingredients like chicken stock, heavy cream and lots of Parmesan. No thanks!


So, I got to work and modified it to create a deliciously mild, rich and creamy mac & cheese that will be especially perfect for the newly plant based! I think kids would like this too so if you try it on them, let me know.


Please make an effort to find the Ready Cut Spaghetti. Creamette makes it and it's very close to the traditional mac & cheese noodles from Kraft.


Shelly's Garlic Alfredo Mac & Cheese
This makes one large serving or 2 smaller side servings.


1 tbsp earth balance

          1 tsp minced garlic

         1.5 cups veg broth (I used water with 1 tsp of no chicken bouillon)

         4 oz Ready Cut Spaghetti

         1/4 c. cashew cream (recipe follows)

         1 tbsp nutritional yeast

Make the cashew cream and set it aside.

If you don't have a Vitamix or Blendtec blender, you will need to soak 1/2 cup cashews in water overnight. (or at least 4 hours) Drain and rinse and then proceed.

Take 1/2 cup raw cashews and 3/4 cup water and blend in blender until perfectly smooth. If you rub it between your fingers, it shouldn't be grainy. This could take a few minutes with a good blender, longer with a less powerful one. You will have left over cashew cream as you will use about 1/4 cup of it. You can save it for a few days to keep making this or check out the Isa Does It cookbook.. she uses cashew cream in many of her recipes so you can use leftovers there.

In a medium saucepan, heat the Earth Balance until melted. Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Stir in the broth and bring to a boil. When the broth is boiling, add in the ready cut spaghetti and boil until it's cooked al dente, about 6 minutes. The broth should cook down a little and start to thicken.


Lower the heat and DO NOT DRAIN the noodles/sauce. Add in 1/4 cup cashew cream and the nutritional yeast. Heat over low heat while stirring until the sauce thickens up and is absorbed by the noodles. If you'd like it saucier, add more cashew cream. Add salt and pepper to taste. (use white pepper to avoid the black specs if that matters to you)