Let's turn up the heat...in our ovens 🌡

It’s time to bake up some plant-based goodness.

I’m not sure about the weather in your neck of the woods, but the crispy night air in Northern California is finally cool enough to warrant turning on the oven.

And I can’t be more excited about that because one of my favorite ways to get dinner on the table FAST with minimal prep is to make oven-baked meals.

If you’re not an “oven overlord” yet, here are 5 reasons you should embrace cranking up on the heat:

1. Enhanced flavors and textures: Oven cooking imparts a unique flavor profile and texture to a wide range of ingredients. The dry heat helps caramelize sugars, intensifying natural flavors and creating appealing textures that may be harder to achieve through other cooking methods.

2. Hands-off cooking: Once you've prepped your meal and popped it in the oven, the cooking process is largely hands-off. This means more time for your favorite puzzle or a cup of tea in the evening!

3. Super versatile: Baking is inclusive, accommodating a variety of dishes from roasted vegetables and casseroles to baked goods to even broiling (if your oven allows).

4. Less added oils: The dry heat in the oven can yield flavorful results without the need for excessive oils, which makes it a generally healthier cooking method.

5. Consistent Results: The consistent heat distribution in an oven ensures even cooking throughout the dish, reducing the likelihood of unevenly cooked or undercooked portions.

If you’re not sure where to start making more plant-based meals at home, using your oven is a great first step!

Turn on the heat with these oven-baked dinners 👇

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