Our new Italian Cuisine Weekly Meal Plan is here, featuring comforting, flavor-packed dishes inspired by the vibrant flavors of Italian cooking. Think fresh herbs, garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, hearty legumes, whole grains, and plenty of vegetables. The goal isn’t just to follow a meal plan—it’s to make cooking feel exciting, approachable, and enjoyable while showing just how satisfying plant-based food can be. From breakfast to lunch and dinner, I hope these recipes inspire you to get creative in the kitchen, try something new, and enjoy the process. Buon appetito!🍅🌿 What’s the first Italian-inspired meal from this week’s plan that you’re excited to try?

Happy Friday, everyone. One thing I always tell people in the kitchen is this: don’t be afraid of seasoning your vegetables. A lot of plant-based dishes fall flat because people stop at salt and pepper. Try building flavor in layers instead. Start by getting some color through roasting, grilling, or sautéing. Then add aromatics like garlic, onion, ginger, or fresh herbs. From there, bring in spices, and finish with something acidic like lemon juice or vinegar. That final touch of acid can completely wake up a dish. It can make the flavors brighter and help balance richness, sweetness, and spice. You also don’t need to reinvent your entire diet overnight. Take one dish you already enjoy and start making small changes. Add more vegetables, swap part of the meat for beans or lentils, or experiment with a plant-based ingredient you’ve never cooked before. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is to build confidence in the kitchen and discover that eating more plants can be satisfying, flavorful, and enjoyable. So this weekend, challenge yourself to try one new plant-based ingredient and one new cooking technique. You might be surprised by what you create. 🌱 Keep cooking, keep learning, and keep making plants the star. — Chef Ed Harris 👨🏾‍🍳

What's up, everybody! 👨🏾‍🍳🌱 Ever find yourself opening the refrigerator and thinking: “What am I supposed to make with this?” Or making the same 3–4 meals because you know they work? I want to help you get out of that cycle. This week, I’ve got two new cooking tutorials that show you how to take simple ingredients and turn them into meals with serious flavor. SPICY COCONUT CURRY LENTILS + GARLIC DILL POTATOES A simple dinner doesn't have to mean boring. In this tutorial, I’m making spicy coconut curry lentils, garlic dill red bliss potatoes, beautifully seared oyster mushrooms, and a fresh colorful salad. But I’m also showing you the techniques behind the meal: 👨🏾‍🍳 How to properly sear mushrooms without making them soggy 👨🏾‍🍳 How to build layers of flavor in lentils 👨🏾‍🍳 How to keep fresh dill bright and flavorful 👨🏾‍🍳 How to create a balanced plate using different textures and flavors 👉 Watch the tutorial: https://youtu.be/GzMrKJF8fBA VEGAN NIGERIAN OKRA SOUP + CRISPY TOFU & CREAMY GRITS Want to explore something different? In this tutorial, I’m taking inspiration from Nigerian cooking and creating a hearty plant-based okra soup with crispy seasoned tofu and creamy grits. We’re building flavor with onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, bay leaves, spices, and homemade vegetable broth—then putting our own spin on the dish by serving it with creamy grits. You'll learn how to: 👨🏾‍🍳 Build flavor instead of simply adding more seasoning 👨🏾‍🍳 Properly caramelize aromatics 👨🏾‍🍳 Create crispy, flavorful tofu 👨🏾‍🍳 Work with okra to create a rich, satisfying dish 👨🏾‍🍳 Adapt traditional flavors while still making a dish your own 👉 Watch the tutorial: https://youtu.be/wc0NeH6bBO4 👨🏾‍🍳 YOUR TURN Don't just watch these tutorials—get in the kitchen and try one. You don't have to make it exactly the way I do. Take the techniques, use what you have, and make the dish your own. That's how you become a better cook.