Food is one of the fundamental connectors between us and this big, beautiful planet we live on, but it can also be one of the greatest contributors to the degradation of the environment. From food waste, to plastic packaging and animal agriculture, what we eat each day can really have an impact for better or worse on our precious planet. Conscious Cass will share with you a slew of tips, hacks and recipes for living and eating in more eco-friendly ways. You’ll get to put all these ideas into practise by cooking and sharing a plant-based communal meal made with an emphasis on environmentally conscious, low-waste ingredients.

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Guacamole

Although often bought in a plastic tub, this appetizer is surprisingly simple to make and super customizable. When served alongside tortilla chips (bought in bulk with a container brought to the store), it makes for a plastic package-free app perfect for sharing.

Cornbread

Making bread from scratch may be intimidating to many, so cornbread is a great place to start! It’s surprisingly simple and can be made from mostly bulk bought ingredients, making it another low-waste recipe. A versatile recipe with a savoury-sweet flavour, it makes a great side to a soup or chili, or just as delicious on the sweeter side topped with honey or jam.

Chili Bowls

The secreat to a great plant-based chili? Lentils! Packed with protein from those and a bunch of beans, chili is a staple for the colder months ahead. It’s perfect for meal-prepping, freezes well, and is surprisingly versatile: use it as the base for a burrito or shepherd’s pie, throw it on nachos, or even turn it into a nice, cozy bowl of soup. For this meal though, we’ll be using it as the base for bountiful chili bowls. Customize your bowl with an assortment of additions, from rice to corn and roasted sweet potatoes, along with the usual suspects like lettuce and tomato, and rich and creamy plant-based alternatives to cheese and sour cream.

Classic Chocolate Cake

You might find it hard to believe this classic chocolate cake is plant-based and made with only eight ingredients, most of which can again be bought in bulk. It will be served alongside some seasonal fruit and a whipped cream made from a surprising plant-based substitute!

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$79 +HST

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Cassandra Della Mora (she/her) recently transitioned out of a decade-long career in teaching math to pursue her passion for sustainability. Over the last 8 years, she has developed Conscious Cass as a brand to share her journey of adopting a low-waste, plant-based lifestyle. She’s hosted events like a Cookie & Clothing Swap for the holidays as well as Conscious Cass Cafés where she brings together friends and family members in an attempt to build community around sustainable living.

consciouscass.ca | @conscious.cass

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The Depanneur is a place where Interesting Food Things Happen. For more than a decade The Dep has been showcasing Toronto’s remarkable culinary diversity through thousands of unique food events as well as the forthcoming Depanneur Cookbook, featuring 100 recipes from 100 cooks. After more than 10 years at its iconic College Street location, The Dep is now bringing all new Interesting Food Things to exciting venues all across the GTA. @thedepanneur