Surviving (and Thriving!) on the Engine 2 Challenge

Yes, you read that title right. Me, Joni Marie Newman, am on the Engine 2 Diet...for 28 days, at least. You see, when you are a cookbook author, you cook a lot of food.  Way more food than should ever be cooked in a household of two. Especially when one of those two has the dietary habits of a six year old and won't touch anything with onions or mushrooms in it, and God forbid if it's spicy.  So yeah, I cook way too much food, and therefore eat way too much food.  And while I like to think I cook somewhat healthfully, the truth is, I cook to make it taste good first and foremost.  

The Vegetarian Flavor Bible

I remember my first year of college.  Going into the bookstore to buy my textbooks, and bringing them home thinking, "Oh my god. These books are huge. There is so much information here. There is no way I am ever going to get through it all."  But I did.  I still have all of my college textbooks.  And every now and again, I find myself returning to those texts as a reference.

The Vegetarian Flavor Bible by Karen Page is the textbook I'd imagine would be passed out on the first day of class in a plant based cooking school.  I mean it's huge! 554 pages of hardcovered glory, complete with a ribbon page marker.  This book is definitely a reference text.

When it arrived in the mail from the publishers for review, I was flipping through the pages, thinking, "Whoa. She ain't messing atound!" And she isn't.  Karen Page has an entry for everything in this encyclopedic style text.  It's quite an undertaking.  Almost unbelievable how much work must have went into creating such a tome.

Gift-ivism Season is Upon Us! (A Vegan Food Gifts Giveaway)

Photo by Celine Steen

Gift-ivism
gif·tiv·ism ˈgif tə vizəmˈ
noun: the policy or action of using vigorous gift giving to bring about political or social change. In the case of vegan food gifts, to prove vegan foods can be delicious and fun, and that it is not necessary to kill or torture another living being in order to make a tasty meal or treat.

It's that time of year. The time where we are faced with buying, making, or in any case, giving gifts. I remember being a kid and absolutely thinking how wonderful it was to have a big family, because I got so many presents!  I mean, with divorced parents, I had two families, which meant I had two Christmases! (What's plural for Christmas?) The first year I celebrated Christmas as an adult, living in my own apartment, I had a complete emotional breakdown, because it wasn't until then, had I realized how hard it was on everyone to give so many gifts.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie

Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie
This bad boy has been in my repertoire for ages, and it never disappoints.  Creamy and pumpkin-y and autumn-y and cinnamon-y and nutmeg-y. It has all of the goodness that is required of a dessert worthy of a holiday feast.  Oh, and it's mega easy to make, to boot. (Oh, and hey, if you use a gluten free crust, this one is totally easy to make gluten free.)

A Vegan Thanksgiving Feast in Under an Hour?

Maybe you are the only vegan in the household this Thanksgiving?  Maybe this is your first year hosting a Thanksgiving in your home?  Maybe you aren't so surefooted in the kitchen and are nervous about pulling off the perfect meal?  Or maybe you have to work Thanksgiving day (like me!) and can't figure out how you are ever going to be able to make a full on vegan feast after a full day at work? I give you a Vegan Thanksgiving Feast ready in under an hour!  

I did a trial run last night to make sure that it still tasted home made, because a lot of this meal is made from a package.  But guess what?  This semi-homemade feast had all of the flavors and practically none of the fuss of a scratch-made Thanksgiving.

So what do you need to make a full on vegan Thanksgiving meal in under an hour?

Veg Subs 2 Sneak Peek: Potacos!

Potacos! Photo by Celine Steen (from The Complete Guide to Even More Vegan Food Substitutions)

You asked, and I listened.  Narrowly beating out Cheese Ball, Potacos was voted the most wanted sneak peak recipe from The Complete Guide to EVEN MORE Vegan Food Substitutions by the always amazing Celine Steen and me. (Now available for pre-order!)

Cooler Fall Weather Means it's Time for Comfort Food: Country Fried Seitan Steaks with Mashed Potatoes and Pepper Gravy

One of Dan's favorite pre-veg meals was chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes.  The mashed potatoes are easy, replace the butter with Earth Balance, and the milk with Almond Milk.  But making a Dan approved chicken fried steak was a bit more challenging.

The Complete Guide to *Even More* Vegan Food Substitutions

I am pretty sure that I have already announced that Celine and I were working on a follow up to The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions, but I thought I would share a few photos and ask you to tell me which of the following recipes you would like me to share as a super sneak peak now that we have turned in our final manuscript and are working on the final edits.

Julie Hasson's Vegan Casseroles: Book Review, a Recipe, and Two Giveaways!

Vegan Casseroles: Pasta Bakes, Gratins, Pot Pies, and More by Julie Hasson

There are so many vegan cookbooks out now.  I have a 3 foot tall stack next to my desk waiting for review.  No joke.  And I am sure they all have some amazing recipes in them.  I mean, I probably wouldn't have bought them otherwise, right?  (Well, actually, I think I may have a real problem.  I buy way too many vegan cookbooks.  I just can't help myself.  I need them.  I love them. I bring them into the bathtub with me for a romantic read. I whisper sweet nothings to them every night before I go to bed.)  In all seriousness, I love supporting other vegan cookbook authors, and I want them all to be successful.

Well, Hello!

Just a quick check in now that we've all had a chance to breathe after MoFo.  Oh my, wasn't is an epic year?  So many blogs, so much good stuff.  I am still reading through posts that I missed during the month.

A few updates on what's happening in the world of JustTheFood and Joni Marie in general:

If you didn't know already, I have moved back to the city.  I had a great time in Trabuco Canyon for the past 6 years, but it was time for Dan and I to be amongst people again. So we are back home in Long Beach, right where we belong. And, oh man, do I love it.  I am close to everybody and everything...except work...but that's okay, I was used to a long commute before we moved, so no big deal.  Best thing about the new house (besides that it's ours) is that it has gas.  I know that sounds silly, but for someone who loves to cook, having to cook on an electric stove at home for the last 6 years has been awful.  Now, I have a brand new stove with gas burners.  So. Very. Stoked.