Last Minute Vegan Christmas Gift Guide

Last Minute Vegan Christmas Gift Guide

With only 3 days left to get it all done?

No problem! Let me show you a few simple DIY gifts you still have time to make, and a few you can buy and still have available to put under the tree on Christmas Eve.  

This list is a little different than most you will see out there this time of year. I have chosen each and every one of these items because they have meaning, both to the gifter and giftee. I know that the last thing I need is another candle or bottle of body wash because my friends and family have no idea what to get the weird vegan in the group (Newsflash! I love anything you think I will love and if it's a hug and a hand drawn card or photo of your kiddo, I love that even more!) And I am sure if you are the lone vegan, you feel the same way. Or if you are the family member looking to get something for the lone vegan, you might be a little confused, too.

Vegan Thanksgiving Survival Guide!

Maybe this is your first Thanksgiving as a vegan. Or maybe this year, the rest of your family has decided to come to your house for a cruelty free holiday and you are freaking out about how to make a meal to make converts out of all of them. Or maybe you just want an easy Thanksgiving dinner you can have on the table in about an hour. In any case, I'm here to help. I'll share some of my own recipes, and point you to a few of my favorite vegan bloggers out there who have done a damn fine job of making incredibly tasty Thanksgiving treats.

Hot, Sweet, and Sour Seitan Ribs with Lemongrass Bones

It's #ThrowbackThursday so I thought I'd throw it back to these amazing ribs from Fusion Food in the Vegan Kitchen. This was one of those recipes that gave me goosebumps. It's one of those things that my dad would eat. And he never likes to eat "weird vegan food." So, that, my folks, is a vote of approval if I've ever seen one.

This Burger is NUTS!

This Burger is Nuts! (page 82 of The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet) Photo by Kate Lewis

Nuts are pretty awesome, aren't they? I mean, sure, you can snack on them, or even throw them on top of a salad. But, I wanted to share how nuts could be used as the star of the meal...not as an afterthought.

An Open Letter to Arby's from the @UnhealthyVegan

My vegan version of Arby's Roast Beef and Cheddar as part of @UnhealthyVegan's Open Picture Book to Arby's

Maybe you've seen the Open Letter to Vegetarians that Arby's wrote last month. Then maybe you, like me, were like, "That's pretty f'd up!" Not to mention just plain stupid. (I mean, I'm up for a good joke, but this was just a dumb marketing idea.) A couple of vegan folks have written responses on their Facebook pages, blogs, and took over the comments...but the @UnhealthyVegan took it next level and started an entire book. A picture book, to be exact. Instagrammers united to post a vegan version of an Arby's menu item, but BETTER. Better for the animals. Better for the planet. Better for our health. Andre's there to make sure Arby's knows that #WeMadeArbysBetter and #WeMadeBaconBetter.

JJ's Snack Shack hits the California Hot Sauce Expo for it's Debut Pop-Up: Hush Puppies

This past weekend marked the inaugural pop-up event by vegan food recipe developer, photographer, blogger, and social media maven Jackie Sobon of VeganYackAttack and little ol' me as we put our heads (and cooking skills!) together to create JJ's Snack Shack (Get it? JJ's? As in Jackie and Joni? Get it? Get it?)

Our inaugural event was held at the California Hot Sauce Expo in Long Beach at Rainbow Lagoon Park down by the ocean. We put our thinking caps on to come up with a menu that was cohesive, delicious, and made sense for an event that was all about hot sauce. And being the only vegan option at the festival, we wanted to make sure our food was inviting to not only the veg-heads, but anyone looking for a delicious snack at the festival.

The Complete Guide to EVEN MORE Vegan Food Substitutions--A sneak preview recipe, and a giveaway!

Sweet Potato and Avocado Sushi, page 196, photo Celine Steen Photography

With an official book release date of July 1, it has been confirmed that Celine Steen and my newest book is now available! That's early, kids, and that almost never happens.

Just real quick...we feel it is very important to note that this book completely stands on its own two feet. It is not a reissue of the original. And it is not full of the same recipes and tips. It plays nicely with its predecessor, but you do not need to own the first one in order to reap the benefits of this handy little guide.

Vida Vegan Con Takes Texas

I returned home over a week ago, but it seems like a whirlwind. Like it was only a few days ago. I returned home from an epic journey that included bonding, eating a ton of amazing vegan food, the Texas Two-Step, eating a ton of amazing vegan food, learning, eating a ton of amazing vegan food, community, eating a ton of amazing vegan food, inspiration, and, did I mention, eating a ton of amazing vegan food?

Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale! This Saturday!

This Saturday, May 2, 2015 I will be hosting the Long Beach edition of the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale at Ahimsa Vegan Cafe in the East Village Arts District.

Special thanks to Ahimsa for allowing me to post up in front of their ALL VEGAN CAFE from 11 am to 3 pm.  It's very appreciated.  Make sure that if you decide to stop by, that you step inside for lunch, a sandwich or bowl to go, or a fresh pressed juice. YUM!

This year is my first back in Long Beach.  The last few years I have held my bake sale out in the rural community of Trabuco Canyon where I raised money for local charities like Hanaeleh Horse Rescue and Barks of Love.

So I searched for a local charity near Long Beach that needed my funds and I came across the Downtown Dog Rescue by word of mouth from a coworker of my husband who does some volunteer work for them.

Taco Tuesday! Recipes from the Vegan Street Fair

On Sunday, March 1, the first ever Vegan Street Fair was held on the streets of North Hollywood.  Rain, even hail, couldn't keep the almost 10,000 hungry fair goers from hitting the streets to get tastes of vegan foods from over 40 different food vendors.

Crowd shot at Vegan Street Fair courtesy of Blake Gardner via the Vegan Street Fair Facebook event page.

What an amazing day at the first ever Vegan Street Fair! Thank goodness Dan was there to help, and even my mom got behind the scenes ad helped out for a few hours. My sincere apologies to those who waited in line and didn't get any ‪‎tacos‬. Lesson learned: I should have made twice as much food. I sold out just after 4pm with a line at least 40 deep. I had no idea so many folks would be so into my food.