For those that do not already know, I was born in the suburbs of Chicago, so I have a natural affinity for hot dogs and sausages. But now, I only get down with the vegan versions. This sausage seemed like the next progression in my mushroom meat creations. I made a few changes to my chipotle sausage recipe and it’s even better than before. I wanted to see how the sausage would cook with shiitake mushrooms instead of lion's mane, and I am very pleased with the results. I also changed the process to create a more consistent texture when you bite. These sausages came out fire! Check out some grilling hacks I used to make this recipe: Use a smoker box or smoker to infuse flavors like cherry, apple, or hickory wood. Use your marinade throughout all steps. You can use it to marinate the sausage and then again to baste the food while cooking. When you are done cooking, add the sausages back to the remainder of the marinade until you are ready to eat. Spritz water around the food while cooking to keep the sausages juicy until it's time to enjoy.

Split Pea soup is one of those recipes that takes me down memory lane. My pops and I have never had a tight relationship, but he knows how to make bomb split pea soup. Here is my twist on his recipe with a Caribbean vibe. I added coconut cream, habanero pepper, lime, fresh cilantro, and toasted coconut. Keep this on heavy rotation during the Fall and Winter; it will keep you warm and full all season. Peace

All right, check it out, y'all. When it comes to mixin' up my food game, ain't nothin' better than explorin' new ingredients to add to the everyday. Keeps the mind sharp, you feel me? We are only scratchin' the surface here, with mad varieties of plants and mushrooms waiting to be discovered. Man, I get all fired up walkin' into the grocery store, coming across some new gems like these black chickpeas and finger limes. Let's talk about black chickpeas for a minute. Unlike the regular ones you might be used to, these little bad boys are brownish-black, smaller, and have a solid density. They're firmer too, and bring a rich, nutty, earthy flavor that'll change your whole chickpea game. They need a bit longer on the stove, but the pay-off is real – they're loaded with more antioxidants and fiber than regular chickpeas. Now, my recent masterpiece? Double-decker black chickpea tacos. Talk about a flavor bomb. I topped these off with finger limes – they got this unique taste, like if dill and lime had a baby. Straight fire, I promise you.

One of the first recipes I made back in 2020 was a Stuffed Jalapeño Cheddar Burger (vegan, of course). It was also one of the first recipe videos I did and I was mad proud of it. A lot has changed since then, as we are always improving. I remade this recipe using jackfruit as the star. I also added wild rice and lentils to help balance the texture. This burger was legit with a pretzel bun, lettuce and vegan mayo; stuffed with cheese and smothered with jalapeño sauce, jalapeño slices and fried onions. Enjoy!

This is a fun recipe to make even if you don't have time to make any of the ingredients from scratch. You can always opt for store bought macaroni & cheese, cornbread, and baked beans, if you are short on time.

I love chili crisp so much! It has become a staple in a lot of my recipes. It is also called chili crunch. I am sure this can be made at home, but you can purchase a version of this by brands such as Trader Joe's, Momofuku, and Fly By Jing. I have even found store brand versions of chili crisp at chain grocery stores like Ralphs and Vons. Paired with the crispy oyster mushrooms, you are in for a flavorful treat! This recipe calls for chili crisp to taste, so you'll have to gauge your preferred spice level. You could also leave the chili crisp out of the wet batter and use it as a sauce after frying the mushrooms.