Chocolate Spelt Cast Iron Cake

Dear  Turkey,

I have a "sweet" cast iron pan and a "savory" cast iron pan; that way my cast iron baking doesn't end up tasting like onions. Cast iron pans are awesome for baking in general, but they are really awesome for recipes like this that seem to get drier and drier on the outside while never getting totally done on the inside.

This cake definitely meets my breakfast-or-dessert criteria, and it can easily be made vegan if you use vegan butter (I like Earth Balance), and I bet it would work with a gluten-free flour. It's chocolatey enough that you feel like you really ate something, but not so sugary and greasy that you feel gross after. I could eat it right before a run. Or after.

Tomato Potato Curry

Dear Turkey,

Potatoes. Rice. Naan. Sounds like I'm going to run ten miles tomorrow.

Even if you're not running ten miles tomorrow, this easy, wintry curry is really satisfying. You can make it in the morning before work, and if you use brown rice, it's not really unhealthy.

Sweet and Spicy Baked Tofu

Dear Turkey,

One of my friends doesn't like umami foods. I know. She didn't even know what umami was. The fact that we are still friends is a testament to her awesomeness in all other areas.

The other day at lunch with our co-workers, this friend said, "Tofu, I think that we are at the point in our relationship where you can invite me over for dinner and cook for me." It was right at one of those moments when all other conversation had ceased, and everybody laughed. Well, Umami-hating Friend, I will have you over for dinner, but not for this awesome dish.

Healthy Vegan Pumpkin Maple Cookies

Dear Turkey,

Yup, another episode of healthy, vegan, delicious breakfast cookies. If you are sick of this topic, maybe you don't like breakfast. Or cookies. Either way we can't be friends.

I made up this recipe because  I wanted to show everybody that I am that good at baking I had some things in my fridge that I needed to use up. I don't usually bake with coconut milk and I was not disappointed. These cookies are not too sweet, so they can definitely rock breakfast or dessert, but the coconut fat makes them smooth (but not coconut-y) and the maple syrup really rounds out the satisfying factor.

Black Bean Enchiladas

Dear Turkey,

I love. enchiladas. I think they are my favorite Mexican dish. However, I felt like mine were always missing something, especially in the sauce department. So I was excited when I found a recipe that had some new strategies: broth and flour in the sauce (and way more chili powder than I usually use), canned black bean soup in the filling (cheating? okay with me).

These enchiladas were really delicious. It did seem like cheating to not actually cook anything for the bean mixture, but I will definitely be making them again.