Showing posts with label veganmofo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label veganmofo. Show all posts

Friday, September 19, 2014

Vegan MoFo, Day 19: Cajun Red Beans and Rice


Cajun Red Beans and Rice Mix form Vegan Food Gifts (page 105)

Today's recipe is from Vegan Food Gifts: More Than 100 Inspired Recipes for Homemade Baked Goods, Preserves, and Other Edible Gifts Everyone Will Love. And while it's true that this jar of goodness makes a yummy gift, it's also true that these types of mixes also make for great pantry staples.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Vegan MoFo VIII, Day 12: Kahlua Ice Cream


Kahlua Ice Cream from 500 Vegan Recipes (page 486)

I'm not gonna talk too much about this recipe...because KAHLUA and ICE CREAM!  I you want to make the sundae as shown, you can use THIS recipe for the cake, then top with your favorite chocolate sauce.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Vegan MoFo VII, Day 10: Potato Cheese Soup


Potato Cheeze Soup from Cozy Inside

Cheeze?  Oh, geez.

There was definitely a time when I thought it was super cute to purposely misspell the names of foods that were vegan versions of non-vegan foods, like cheeze and creem.

Yeah. I don't do that anymore.

Spelling it wrong, is like admitting that it's not real food, and vegan food is far from being fake.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Vegan MoFo VIII, Day 8: Red and White Quinoa Kale Salad


Red, and White Quinoa Kale Salad  from Going Vegan (page 111), photo by Celine Steen
Today's recipe comes from my newest release, Going Vegan: The Complete Guide to Making a Healthy Transition to a Plant-Based Lifestyle, featuring photos by Celine Stten, and written along with my friend, nutrition expert and food scientist, Gerrie Lynn Adams.  Gerrie is "one of those" vegans. One who cooks without added sugar, oil, or salt. Since you know me, you know that is certainly not my way of cooking...or eating. But, Gerrie knows what she's talking about! As a food scientist and nutritionist, Gerrie has taught me so much about how one can cure what ails them through the food choices that they make. And I was honored to be able to teach Gerrie about some of the horrors of factory farming, animal rights, and the effects animal agriculture has on our environment. And that is exactly the point of this book.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Vegan MoFo VIII, Day 7: Key Lime Coconut Cream Pie


Key Lime Coconut Cream Pie from Fusion Food in the Vegan Kitchen (page 164)

And, the first full week of MoFo comes to an end.  I think that deserves a piece of pie!  With tropical storms looming all around Baja and Southern California, I figured a Key Lime Coconut Cream Pie from Fusion Food in the Vegan Kitchen: 125 Comfort Food Classics, Reinvented with an Ethnic Twist! would fit the bill nicely.

So many times I have been asked, "Which one of your books do like the most?" and like a good mommy, I reply, "That's like asking me to choose which child I love most."  But, I will let you in on a little secret...it's this one.  This was the first time I did a book that did not utilize ANY store bought substitutions, like mayo, or cream cheese.  Everything in this book is made from scratch, and it is really representative of how I love to cook and eat.

Vegan MoFo VIII, Day 6: Bloody Mary Mix



Bloody Mary Mix from Vegan Food Gifts (page 173.)  Photo by Celine Steen 

Today's recipe is just in time for a Sunday morning hangover cure.  The Bloody Mary.  And it comes to you in the form of a gift from Vegan Food Gifts: More Than 100 Inspired Recipes for Homemade Baked Goods, Preserves, and Other Edible Gifts Everyone Will LoveA book I wrote to bring my two most favorite things in the world (crafting and cooking) together as one.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Vegan MoFo VIII, Day 3: Tortilla Soup


Tortilla Soup from The COmplete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions (page 213)
Today's recipe comes from a little old book known as The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions: Veganize It! Foolproof Methods for Transforming Any Dish into a Delicious New Vegan Favorite. I say little, because this tome actually is little.  It's the size of your typical paperback novel, and fits easily into a purse or bag, so you can take it with you easily on shopping trips. 

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Vegan MoFo VIII, Day 2: Yalanchi Dolmas


Yalanchi Dolmas from 500 Vegan Recipes (page 108)

Next up is a recipe from 500 Vegan Recipes: An Amazing Variety of Delicious Recipes, From Chilis and Casseroles to Crumbles, Crisps, and Cookies, my first collaborative effort with Celine Steen and our first book published by Fairwinds Press.  It was the beginning of a wonderful relationship.  I am so lucky to have met and worked with (and continue to work with...) Celine. she is crazy talented in the kitchen, and her photos are absolutely breathtaking...although, unfortunately, none of them appear in this book.

Monday, September 1, 2014

What's up MoFos? Day 1: S#@! on a Shingle from Cozy Inside





That's right, today is day numero uno of what is going to be one amazing Vegan MoFo.  "What is Vegan Mofo" you ask?  It's only the coolest month on the blogosphere all year long.  A month full of vegan food, pictures, inspriation, stories, and recipes from bloggers all over the world.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Vegan MoFo 2013: Fat Free Fridays: The China Study Cookbook, Southwestern Salad, plus a Giveaway!



The China Study Cookbook by Leanne Campbell
I've talked a few times about how I am not a huge fan of SOS (no sugar, no oil, no salt) cooking.  All things in moderation has always been my motto.  That being said, there is a certain clean-ness that these types of food offer, and with Mother Nature unleashing the heat this late in the summer, these lighter dishes actually offer a bit of reprieve from the heavy feeling you sometimes get from a decadent meal.  So while I won't commit to a SOS way of life, there really is no reason why I can't incorporate some of these types meals into my regular rotation.

The China Study Cookbook by Leanne Campbell, is the perfect companion to the original China Study by T. Colin Campbell.  While the original book is full of all sorts of information on why a vegan diet is optimal for health, the cookbook gives you the how.  Whole foods combined with minimal effort to create pleasant dishes.  That's what you get with this cookbook.

The lengthy introduction is kind of a mini nutrition course and how-to for newbies (Though, there is still a lot of information seasoned veg heads might learn as well.) which is informative, easy to read and full of graphics and pictures to break up what might otherwise be an overwhelming bunch of text.

The recipes section is also plump with shiny color photos taken by the author's own son.  Most are macro shots that really show off the ingredients.

The recipes themselves are varied with everything from breakfast to dessert.  The pages are well laid out, and the recipes easy to follow.  And the ingredients are super easy to find, everday whole foods that anyone can find at any supermarket.

When I first began experimenting with SOS cooking, I will be honest, I found the foods to be a bit bland.  But I learned a lot of the tricks, and so has Leanne.  She has been able to pack a lot of flavor into a lot of these dishes with creative use of spices, nuts, avocados, fruits and grains.  And then there are the recipes that let the fresh produce provide all of the flavor, like in this simple Southwestern Salad.  No dressing required!  Quick, easy, fresh and flavorful.  Especially on these hot end of summer days.

The fine folks at BenBella Books have graciously agreed to send one lucky reader a free copy of this book.  This giveaway is only open to residents of the US and Canada.  Simply follow the prompts in the widget below to enter.

Southwestern Salad from The China Study Cookbook (page 114)
Southwestern Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Makes 8 servings

8 cups salad greens
1 small red onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 tablespoons minced cilantro
3/4 cup avocado, diced
3 medium tomatoes, diced
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-ounce) can corn, drained
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup baked tortilla chips, crushed

Combine salad greens, onion, green pepper, cilantro, avocado, and tomatoes in a
large salad bowl.
Heat beans and corn for 4 minutes over medium heat. Add oregano and salt. Add to salad right before serving, together with tortilla chips.
Sprinkle with rice vinegar, if desired.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Thoughtful Thursdays: Blissful Bites by Christy Morgan



Blissful Bites by Christy Morgan is a book that kicked me in the pants.  It is a sweet reminder that Daiya Cheese and Tofutti Cream Cheese, while they are vegan, should not be main ingredients in 2 out of my 3 meals per day! 

Reminding me that good food grows out of the ground, and tastes good (delicious, actually) exactly how mother nature intended it.


Each chapter in this beautifully photographed book is broken up into seasons, which makes it fantastically easy to find recipes that use foods that are naturally in season.  Which, in turn, makes it easier to cook with locally grown ingredients.



I recommend this book to any vegan, or health conscious cook.  The recipes are clean, easy to follow and full of flavor, even though onions and garlic are missing from the whole shebang!

Worknight Wednesdays: A Nap Before Bed


This is days late and dollars short.  We didn't make a thing for dinner on Wednesday.  I didn't even eat dinner.  I came home from work, plopped down on the couch.  Covered up in a fuzzy blanket, invited my girls to join un keeping me cozy, and fell asleep.  Woke up, had a bowl of cereal while watching CSI, then went to bed.  Pretty pathetic.  You don't have to tell me.

But if I were to make a nice big dinner last night, I probably would have made a batch of enchiladas.  I think I have to finally admit that Mexican food is my absolute favorite (followed by Italian, I think...) and a big batch of cheesy enchiladas always hits the spot.  But on a busy weeknight, I sometimes don't feel like spending the time necessary to properly roll up a batch, so I cheat and make an enchilada casserole.  Same ingredients, just layered like  lasagna, instead of rolled up.

enchilada casserole plated


Enchilada Casserole (from 500 Vegan Recipes)

Easy to toss together and throw in the oven, a hot, hearty meal is less than an hour away, and most of that time, is bake time.


Nonstick cooking spray
2 cups (473ml) enchilada sauce, divided, store bought or homemade
2 recipes Seitan Chorizo Crumbles (from 500 Vegan Recipes), or 1 package store bought Soy Chorizo, divided
1 recipe Nutty Cheeze (Mexican Variation, from 500 Vegan Recipes) or Mexican flavored vegan cheese, like Daiya Pepperjack
6 to 8 flour or corn tortillas
2 cups (320 g) diced onion
2 ounces (56g) sliced or chopped black olives
8 to 10 slices of jarred nacho style jalapeno slices (optional)
Vegan Sour Cream and green onions for garnish


Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C, or gas mark 6).
Spray a glass 8×8-inch (20 x 20-cm) square baking dish with nonstick spray.
Begin to layer all ingredients starting with a single layer of tortillas on the bottom. (You can cut your tortillas into strips about 2 to 3″ wide so that you can put straight edges against the edges of the baking dish.) Then about 1/4 cup of sauce, more tortillas, then chorizo crumbles, and onions, tortillas, more sauce, some of the cheese, more tortillas, more sauce, more crumbles, more cheese…you get the picture…yeah?
When you get to the top, finish with a whole tortilla, a bit more sauce, a crumbling of cheese, olives and jalapenos.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese begins to brown. Remove from the oven and let sit for about 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Garnish with sour cream and diced green onions if desired.


Yield: 6 servings

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Tuesday for Two: Pasta with Cream Sauce


Pasta with Cream Sauce topped with Coconut Bacon

Who can say no to a big plate of pasta smothered in a rich creamy sauce?  Of course I threw in a few veggies just to be on the safe side...

I was caught up in the moment, and didn't write down the exact measures, but this is a huge plate of linguine noodles with steamed broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and a cream sauce made with:
Earth Balance
Almond Milk
Nutritional Yeast
Garlic Powder
Sea Salt
Black Pepper
a pinch of Nutmeg
and thickened with all purpose flour.
I sprinkled some of yesterday's Coconut Bacon on top and dinner was served.

On a different note...Today when I got off work, it took me less than 30 minutes to get home.  If any of you know what I've been dealing with over the last 6 months with regards to my daily commute, you'd believe me when I told you I almost cried when I pulled in my driveway! 

Life is good.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Ketchup



Sheesh.  Last week kicked my butt.  I am here, now, to ketchup on last week's posts all in one. 

Two for Tuesday: Long Beach Vegan Eatery
I skipped out on Dan Tuesday to check out the new Long Beach Vegan Eatery.  I am so excited to have this option in Long Beach, which up until recently has had no strictly vegan restaraunts. (Now there are 3!) And after reading about their mission to have vegan "stick to your ribs" comfort food...well, if you know anything about me, well then you know that this is my kind of menu.  I was there on the 2nd day of their soft opening.  (I don't think they've had their official "Grand Opening" yet).  I got the California Chick'n Sandwich and Sweet Potato Tots.  Yes.  Sweet.  Potato. Tots.  

California Chick'n Sandwich and Sweet Potato Tots from Long Beach Vegan Eatery
After having a chance to chat with Jeff (owner/operator) a few days later, he was excited to report that a lot of the early kinks have all been worked out, and each day just keeps getting busier and busier.  How awesome is that?  I can't wait to go back and have to wait in a really long line.  I am always eager to wait in line at a vegan establishment.  It really warms my heart.

Worknight Wednesday: Red "Meat" Lasagna
This one goes all the way back to 500 Vegan Recipes.  But it is a classic.  And definitely makes enough to have leftovers for the rest of the week.

Red "Meat" Lasagna

For the Lasagna:
12 uncooked lasagna noodles
1 recipe Meaty Marinara (BELOW)
1 recipe Tofu Ricotta (BELOW)
2 tablespoons (15 g) nutritional yeast
2 tablespoons (14 g) ground cashews or ground walnuts


Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C, or gas mark 5).
A quick note before assembling the lasagna: be sure to keep some sauce and ricotta to apply at the very top of the lasagna. You will have 4 layers of pasta in all, so divide each ingredient accordingly.
In a square 8-inch (20-cm) or 9-inch (23-cm) baking dish, start with a thin layer of sauce, add three noodles in a single layer, add another layer of meat sauce, then a layer of tofu ricotta another layer of noodles.       
Repeat until you get to four layers of noodles.
Top with a final light layer of sauce and ricotta and then sprinkle with nutritional yeast and cashews or walnuts.
Bake, uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top is beginning to brown and your noodles are nice and tender.
Let stand for at least 15 minutes before serving, so that the portions don't fall apart when cut.


For the Meaty Marinara:
28 ounces (784 g) canned diced tomatoes with the juice, no salt added
8 ounces (227 g) tomato sauce
6 ounces (170 g) tomato paste
1 tablespoon (2 g) dried basil, or 3 tablespoons (9 g) fresh, chopped
1 tablespoon (13 g) granulated sugar
1 tablespoon (22 g) molasses
2 tablespoons (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
6 cloves (or one head) garlic, minced
1 cup (160 g) finely diced white or yellow onion
1 1/4 cups (120 g) TVP granules (textured vegetable protein)


Place tomatoes, sauce, tomato paste, basil, sugar, and molasses in a large stock pot.  Bring to a simmer on medium-low heat.
Meanwhile, in a skillet place the olive oil, garlic and onions and sauté until garlic is fragrant and onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and onions to the pot. Cover and continue to simmer for 20 more minutes. Uncover and simmer for ten more minutes. Stir in TVP, cover and let sit for ten minutes.

For the Tofu Ricotta:
14 ounces (397 g) extra firm tofu, drained & pressed
1/4 cup (35 g) raw cashews, finely ground
1/4 cup (30 g) nutritional yeast
3 tablespoons (45 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons (6 g) finely chopped fresh basil, or 1 tablespoon (2 g) dried
Salt and pepper to taste


After you have drained and pressed your tofu very well, crumble it into a bowl until it resembles ricotta.
Add in all the other ingredients and mix together with your hands.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Should keep at least a week.

Thoughtful Thursdays: Green is the New Red by Will Potter

green is the new red book cover
Green is the New Red by Will Potter
I bought this book at Food Fight Grocery when I was in Portland, Oregon for Vida Vegan Con in August.  It was a very eye opening read.  I've been fired up ever since.  If you are vegan, vegetarian, or even just someone who cares about our planet, YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.  Rather than tell you what I liked about this book, I am going to tell you what I didn't like.  The truth.  I don't like it.  I will be honest with y'all.  I have been a naive person.  I trusted too easily and had too much faith in things I didn't fully understand.  No more.  Will Potter's book has taught me that our laws are not there to protect us.  They are there to support the money, and those that have it.  It is timely that I read this book just before the "Occupy" movement began, because, man, I am really down with the 99%, of which I, my family, and virtually everyone I know is a part of.  I am not going to get to philosophical, political, or opinionated here, because afterall, this is a blog about great vegan food, but please read this book, check out the website, and GET FIRED UP!

Freedom Fridays:  Pizza and Beer
Going out to dinner with my dad can often present a problem.  One would think that if 2 of your daughter's are vegan you might be a little bit more open minded when it comes to trying new things.  Yeah, well, no.  Not my dad.  So we often end up in uninspried chain restaraunts or a pizza joint.  Pizza is pretty easy for me.  No cheese.  done.  So that's what we did on Friday.  Spent a couple of hours with my dad, his wife, Laura, and Dan.  Noshing on cheeseless pizza, and sipping on beer.

Wonderful Weekends: A Very Lazy Saturday Spent on the Couch watching Lifetime Movies, and Avoiding any of my Real Responsibilities
Well, that pretty much sums up my weekend.  Today I head out to work.  It is my last day in Venice.  So it will be a bittersweet day.  I will miss my Venice peeps, but I will not miss that drive!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Monday Mash Up: Pumpkin and Potatoes






Pumpkin Potato Taquitos (Sorry for the shoddy cell phone pic!)

Pumpkin Potato Taquitos
10 smallish red potatoes, skin on and quartered
7 ounces (half a can) canned pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon chipotle powder (more or less to taste)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried red chile flakes (more or less to taste)
1 tablespoon dried chives (fresh is certainly okay too!)
1/2 a package any flavor of shredded Daiya Cheese (optional)
1/2 a tub of Tofutti Better than Cream Cheese
sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
24 (6 inch) yellow corn tortillas
Canola Oil for frying
24 toothpicks

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to boil.
Add potatoes, and boil until fork tender.
Drain excess water and return potatoes to pot.
Add remaining ingredients, (except tortillas, oil and toothpicks!) and smash together until well mixed.  Leave some potato lumps for texture.




Add about 1" of oil to a large flat frying pan (I use my cast iron skillet), or heat the oil in your deep fat fryer to 350 degrees F.
Add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of the mixture to the center of the tortilla and roll up.*
Secure with a toothpick.



Fry for about 30 seconds on each side, turning carefully with a pair of tongs.



Repeat with remaining tortillas.
Transfer to a plate lined with paper or a kitchen towel to absorb excess oil.


Remove toothpicks before serving.
Serve with nondairy sour cream, mole, guacamole, or salsa for dipping. 

Yield: 24 pieces

*Some tortillas (especially all natural ones) tend to crack when rolling.  You can battle this by carefully and quickly dipping the tortilla with tongs in hot oil prior to filling and rolling.  Lay the oiled tortilla flat on a work surface, and allow to cool a few seconds before handling.

Wonderful Weekends: Hotel Motel Holiday Inn



Last Thursday was my birthday.  On my actual birthday, I went to Glen Ivy Hot Springs, relaxed by the pool, soaked in the mineral baths, basked in the sun, and sipped on Pina Coladas all day long.

Map of the Grounds at Glen Ivy Hot Springs
Then Dan whisked me away to The Veggie Grill for Dinner.  I got the Grilled Chick'n Sandwich with Sweetheart Fries.  Dan Got the BBQ Sandwich with Mac and Cheese and we split an order of Buffalo Wingz.  All was delicious (except we didn't really care for the mac and cheese much, but no fault of the Veggie Grill..it is great for a GF option, we're just not big fans of rice pasta.)  and I brought home a piece of carrot cake to enjoy in bed while watching TV.

Dinner at the Veggie Grill in Irvine

We headed to Long Beach to the Holiday Inn to meet up with friends for drinks in the penthouse bar.  For those who are familiar with Long Beach, this round tower of a hotel is in a pretty random spot. Sure it's pretty close to the airport...but so is all of Long Beach.  Neither Dan or I had ever been there, but would always tease about how when we made it big, we would stay in a room at the Long Beach Holiday Inn and have drinks in that bar.  Silly us.  Anyone can hang out in that bar, and you certainly don't have to be highfalutin to enjoy a nice room on the 11th floor overlooking the runway.  Since most of our friends and family still live in Long Beach, we thought it would be a great place to meet up.  Dan and I got a room, so we wouldn't have to worry about driving (Thank goodness, because we both had way more than our fair share of drinks!)
Holiday Inn of Long Beach
Sunday morning we headed to an old, old favorite...The Potholder, to get a greasy breakfast to fight off the hangovers.  We hadn't been there in many years.  So long in fact, that I didn't remember whether or not they had any vegan options.  Well, they didn't haved much, so I settled on a side of breakfast potatoes, a dry veggie burger, and some toast.  Ha.  It's a good thing I'm not too picky, and was happy just to get some food in my belly.  And we were a day off because I did find out a bit of interesting news.  Long Beach now has its very first vegan restaurant.  Long Beach Vegan Eatery opened its doors today.  I'll be heading there tomorrow to check it out!

We headed home to our girls and spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around watching TV and snacking on pita chips and hummus. 

A wonderful weekend indeed.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Freedom Fridays: VeganMoFo HUMP DAY!

I interrupt the regularly scheduled Freedom Friday for VeganMoFo HUMP DAY! We are about half way through VeganMoFo and the Amazing Leslie Hall has graced us with this amazing new song to celebrate.  Click on the animated gif below (made by Kittee Berns! Thanks for setting all of this up Kittee!) and  listen to the song.




Lyrics:
"I eat the finest cuisines, in the finest of places Stuff my mouth full and always say thank you. But if it's raised in a cage, and it can't even move, if it's hormone filled and in a bad mood. I'm gonna pass on that. Reach for something better. The only milk I'll drink comes from the nipple of a soy bean. Veggies make you live forever, and they seem to taste much better. when they're cooked and grown with love. So give a chef who knows what's up a hug. Momma just can't seem to get it, Papa he just rolls his eyes. When I tell them I'm much healthier, they just say that it's all lies. But beans, nuts, fruits and veggies can really fill the belly. Get you vitamins you need, shiny hair and extra speed. Don't take that meat-wich any further, I want a marinated, deep fried, hand-tied mushroom burger. I like it! We gotta stand strong for our feathered furry sometimes scaly animal friends and their little babies. 'Cuz I wouldn't want to live in a cage in a dark warehouse killed at an early age. Pumped full of hormones, sleeping in my feces. Never met my mother, raised by machines. Never get sunshine never get green, but that's just me. [That girl loves fruit leather.] So ask us what we're eating. Delicious and repeating, fruits and veggies are so nice. With a slice of tempeh, yes, I'll have that twice. Don't forget the legumes!"

I personally fell in love with Leslie and the Lys many years ago when my cousin Leah introduced me to her Gem Sweater museum.  I have always been a fan of gem sweaters and never thought anyone could take that love to such a level as Leslie.  Through her website, I found her music videos and was an instant fan of such classics as "Zombie Killer" and "Tight Pants." Only since Kittee let me know about this new song, did I even know she was vegan!  Bonus love!



Check out Leslie's videos HERE!
Check out Leslie's website HERE!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Thoughtful Thursdays: The Vegan Slow Cooker by Kathy Hester



The Vegan Slow Cooker by Kathy Hester is a book every busy vegan needs to own. And seriously, what vegan isn't busy?



Let's just talk about the book itself for starters.  It's beautiful.  The matte cover and photos are gorgeous, the page layout is fantastic, the fonts are easy to read and interesting.  The Chapters are logically organized and the index is short but efficient.

Now let's talk about the content...the book is full of recipes intended to be made in the slow cooker!  I am the first to admit that I have only used my slow cooker a handful of times in the past.  I always assumed it was only for stews or big chunks of meat (I mean, that's what my parents used theirs for!)  So, that big old appliance that was a hand-me-down from Dan's dad just collected dust in the cabinet not getting the attention it deserved.

Recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, staples like beans and tomatoes, sauces, soups, snacks, pastas grains, even breads and cakes!  I (who thought I had a pretty good handle on this whole comfort food and vegan cooking thing) am learning so much from this book! 

My favorites (so far) are the delicious oatmeal recipes (she has even more on her blog!) and the amazingly easy (only 10 minutes of prep time!) Smoky Mac and Cheese.  There are also some amazing recipes in here that I just haven't gotten to yet, like the pinach Artichoke Dip and the Mango Coconut Rice Pudding.

I am so looking forward to working my way through this book chapter by chapter, page by page, because honestly, I haven't seen any recipe in this book that doesn't absolutely sound fantastic! 

Finally, I would like add that the intro chapters are really informative, and the canned vs. homemade info on beans and such is also really helpful.

All in all, this book gets two big thumbs up from me, and I highly reccommend it.




2012 Copyright/Permissions/Disclaimers

All recipes written by me, Joni Marie Newman, unless otherwise noted. Please feel free to refer to or link back to any of my recipes, but please ask for permission, and remember to give credit when reprinting recipes in their entirety. I do provide links to affiliate programs (such as Amazon) in which I receive a small commission for items purchased. I do not provide paid reviews. All reviews done on products or books are of my own unsolicited opinion. On occasion I may receive a book or product to review. I will note when this is the case, but rest assured, it will not affect the authenticity of my review. Thanks!--Joni