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Vegan chocolate cake balls: they may be cute, but they pack a seriously decadent punchAbout 80% of the time, I consume nutrient-dense, lower-fat food. But every once in awhile I go off the reservation and dive into full-blown hedonism mode. Fact is, I've never been one for absolutes – in diet, politics, religion or anything. I'm much happier when I
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19 May 2012 at 3:24pm
"Meaty" vegan pasta sauce: healthy decadenceI raced in the Broad Street Run on Sunday, along with nearly 35,000 other runners. Considering I'd undergone two surgeries and several hospitalizations in late 2011/early 2012, had only returned to running again in late February, and had re-injured my hamstring about a week ago (!), I was hoping,
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10 May 2012 at 2:06pm
Porcini-Chantarelle Crusted Tofu: Hearty enough to satisfy omnivores. Fancy enough to appease hipster foodies.Mushroom Recipes in The Latest Vegan Culinary Experience Who doesn't love mushrooms? Two of my favorite mushroom recipes – Porcini-Chantarelle Crusted Tofu and Shiitake on a Shingle (from my first cookbook) appear in this issue
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4 May 2012 at 3:10pm
Easy fruit bars: perfect with tea or topped with vanilla soy ice creamWhat's not to love about fruit bars? They're carb-y enough to comfort, fruity enough to qualify as at least semi-healthy, sugary enough to feed your sweet tooth, and best of all, they're a snap to throw together for brunch on Sunday morning or for dessert after a long day at the office.
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29 Apr 2012 at 8:37am
Visionary breakfast. "Verrine" means "glass" in French. Use shot glasses, candle cups or other small glass vessels.They say you eat with your eyes first, and verrines are the perfect way to feed your vision. A verrine is simply a petite parfait, designed to showcase colorful, contrasting flavors and textures. They can be sweet or savory,
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22 Apr 2012 at 9:28am
Eggplants stuffed with tomatoes, onion and garlic: classic MediterraneanImam Bayildi is an inherently vegan Turkish dish, made with eggplant, onions, garlic, tomatoes and oil. Lots of oil. [The verb "doused" comes to mind.] In fact, "imam baylidi," loosely translated, means "the imam fainted"– probably owing to the extravagant amounts of oil used in
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15 Apr 2012 at 7:10am
Flavor packed soup: 2 grams of fat, 115 calories and only 10 minutes of hands-on time. Last fall, I received a gorgeous butternut squash as part of my CSA share. Thanks to its long shelf life, inherent beauty – and my lack of ambition – it's been adorning the basket on my island for the past 6+ months. The squash caught my guilty eye
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7 Apr 2012 at 1:40pm
Holy shirataki noodles, Batman. I live near Chinatown and often spy several varieties of shirataki noodles, made from yams and often flavored with lime or seaweed, dotting the refrigerated shelves in the Asian grocery stores. But lately, a "Westernized" version has been popping up at Whole Foods. It's made from tofu and therefore, tastes blander
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1 Apr 2012 at 2:51pm
Salad: a vegan cliche, but I just can't get enoughI know it's cliché, but the fact is, I eat a lot of salads. I just can't understand how anyone couldn't love a fresh bowl of greens, punctuated by an ever-changing kaleidoscope of add-ins like chickpeas, sweet roasted red peppers, sweet onions, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, or grilled eggplant. I eat
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25 Mar 2012 at 8:07am
What a year of firsts. A few days ago, F-Stop gave me my first vegan birthday cake. And now Violet has given me my first vegan birthday card [Cartoon by Mike Cappozola]. The times they are a-changing...
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18 Mar 2012 at 6:50am
My very first vegan birthday cakeYesterday was my birthday. Yes, I'm 29 again, in case you're wondering – but I feel 25. Really. Birthdays are no time to practice moderation. F-Stop took me out to dinner. We partied like rock stars, ate until we had no room left, and drank [too many] blood orange margaritas, among other libations. He
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15 Mar 2012 at 6:07pm
Kumatoes are known for their dark flesh and big flavor. Stuffed with couscous? Even better.During winter here in the Northeast, it's impossible to find a good tomato--which is normal if you're eating seasonal produce. But sadly, these days, uncovering a tomato that does not taste like pulp in any season is a rarity. When I was a kid, I snacked
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10 Mar 2012 at 7:56am
Win a coupon for a free carton of Good Karma Flax MilkOmega-3s. They're the big nutritional buzzword, and everyone knows we don't get enough in the right proportion to omega-6s. There are actually three different types of Omega 3s: DHA, EPA and ALA and it's best to consume all 3 in balance. [Registered dietician diva Ginny Messina does a great job of
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29 Feb 2012 at 7:02pm
Naturally blonde. "So, this blonde walks into a juice bar..." I've been a towhead all my life. So I've heard, endured – and gleefully shared – more than my share of dumb blonde jokes. [Not to mention Polish jokes. Oh, and let's not forget the ever-popular vegan jokes.] But seriously, folks. These formidable little blondies are no
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23 Feb 2012 at 5:39pm
Black bean hummus may not look pretty – but you can't judge a dip by its color. Chickpea-based hummus is a vegetarian classic – nutritious, easy to make and frugal. It's substantial on its own and is prone to infinitesimal variations – garlic, horseradish, edamame, red pepper, sun-dried tomato, to name just a few. That's part of its enduring charm.
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16 Feb 2012 at 4:27pm
Shower the people you love with sugar (at least on Valentine's Day)Anyone can hand off a store-bought box of chocolates as a Valentine gift. But nothing says “I love you” better than a batch of these adorably addictive heart-shaped cookies from my new cookbook, Celebrate Vegan. The slight pucker of the lemon zest and raspberry jam reminds
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11 Feb 2012 at 11:16am
What a life. From gutter kitties to feline odalisques...Pablo would like to announce the winner of the $20 gift certificate to Allison's Gourmet. [Buttons, as you can see, refuses to be woken from her beauty rest for such foolishness]. The lucky chocoholic is.....[drumroll!]....ANNE! Congratulations. Please email me with your mailing
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2 Feb 2012 at 5:42am
Cranberry-Cornbread squares, fresh out of the oven.Cornmeal-based baked goods are unfairly typecast. Cornbread tends to be savory or semi-savory while breakfast corn muffins usually lean on the sweet side. For this recipe, thinking "outside the savory box" required baking these tasty, sweet cornbread squares inside a box, 8" x 8" pan, to be exact. The
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30 Jan 2012 at 9:06am
Some of the hedonistic confections that Allison makes by hand: dark peppermint bark, peppermint creme patties, truffles and artisanal caramels. Last year at the Vida Vegan Conference, I met and hung out with Allison Rivers Samson, self-proclaimed "Maven of Mmmmm" and owner of the uber-popular Allison's Gourmet.
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26 Jan 2012 at 12:10pm
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie: Dessert in a glass Smoothie Basics The weather's growing colder, and I know it's more seasonally appropriate to write about warming libations like tea, coffee and cocoa. But the fact is, regardless of the temperature, when my tummy starts to rumble– usually around 10 a.m.– I crave a nice, tall smoothie.
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20 Jan 2012 at 5:25am
Beans, beans, they're good for your heart – and your walletThe 80-20 Ratio In terms of maintaing a healthy diet – and in maintaining equilibrium in most things in life – I'm all about the 80-20 ratio. Generally speaking, I aim for 80% healthy foods and 20% hedonistic. Some weeks are better than others. Sometimes without even trying,
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16 Jan 2012 at 9:14am
Last Saturday, I met JL of JL Goes Vegan for a girls' night out nosh. She came down to Philly for work and was dying to try Vedge. Of course, she didn't exactly have to wring my arm to join her; I had been to Vedge's press opening in November and was anxious to return for a full-on meal. Unlike most vegetarian restaurants, vegetables
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14 Jan 2012 at 6:45am
In my "clear out my pantry" crumble, I used a combination of bagged organic gala apples, and the remnants of bags of frozen blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Crumbles are so easy to throw together; I don't know why I don't make them more often. Besides being a tasty way to work more fruit into your diet, especially during these long
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10 Jan 2012 at 5:53am
Peanut Butter-Pecan Oatmeal with Bananas and Maple SyrupHappy 2012! Here in Philadelphia, today is the first day this season that truly feels like winter. There's a cold, biting sting in the air, I'm finally cranking up my heat – and I am experiencing a serious oatmeal hankering. As a rule, I tend to crave oatmeal in January and February.
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3 Jan 2012 at 8:54am
My Brown Rice Christmas Maki are red, green – and lean.It's almost 60 degrees in Philadelphia today– not exactly Christmas weather. But warm or cold, Christmas is coming. Despite my best efforts at staying organized, I am still trying to figure out what to cook for the upcoming Christmas festivities. For those of you who are, like me, still
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22 Dec 2011 at 11:04am
Cranky Brussels sprouts meet nicey-nice clementinesIt seems you can't enter a supermarket this time of year without facing a mountain of crated clementines – and buying a box or two. Part of their appeal is that clementines look and taste like little balls of sunshine – especially important during these cloudy, dreary months. While recovering from
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20 Dec 2011 at 7:13am
"Wearing this apron makes me feel like kicking Anthony Bourdain's ass – politely, of course!" Sorry, no recipes today, kidlets. Truth is, since I had my surgery, I haven't had much of an appetite, although it is finally beginning to reappear. But since it's the season of giving, and my blog supporters have been very, very nice,
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17 Dec 2011 at 4:29pm
Not your mama's stuffed pepperSorry I've been off the grid. Mid-week, I had a procedure done in the hospital for my ginormous fibroid. I stayed overnight and have been recuperating at home for the past several days. Since my appetite has gone on vacation and I've been in a bit of pain, I haven't been cooking much [thank goodness for smoothies and Satsumas!].
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11 Dec 2011 at 9:09am
A sunshine-yellow, gluten free side, rich in omega-3sOmega-3 fatty acids. You hear a lot about them in the media, because most Americans are deficient, but what are they. exactly? Omega 3s are basically good fats that support brain, eye and heart health. They are essential to the anti-inflammatory process. Most people [are primed to] think
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3 Dec 2011 at 2:24pm
Got pumpkin? Make scones.If you're frugal like me, you stocked up on canned pumpkin while it was on sale for the Thanksgiving holiday. Dive right into your canned pumpkin stash by baking these semi-healthy, maple-laced scones [Anything with pumpkin can be labeled "semi-healthy" because of its massive vitamin A content]. They hit the spot for breakfast,
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27 Nov 2011 at 8:19am
The secret of a crispy hash brown? Squeeze out as much water as you can.Want to succeed at hash browns without really trying? I have two words for you: squeeze and patience. [You'll see why once you read the recipe, below.] If you make them in a non-stick pan like I do, they can actually be semi-healthy – at least, say, compared to greasy spoon
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19 Nov 2011 at 8:07am
Vedge's "Cide" Car, made with cider, apple jack, brandy and the usual suspects – unusually addictive Philadelphia vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike have been waiting with baited breath for the opening of Vedge, Kate Jacoby and Rich Landau's new vegan restaurant. Like everyone, I was sad to see their firstborn, Horizons, close.
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17 Nov 2011 at 11:38am
Sweet, browned onions meet sweet Caribbean curry This asparagus-based soup is all about assertive flavors, namely a sweet-n-sassy blast of Caribbean curry and toffee-esque caramelized onions. Curry powders and pastes use various mixtures of local spices to create unique blends of heat and seasoning. Indian curries, for example, often
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14 Nov 2011 at 8:41am
Coconut-based creme brulee? What's not to like?Holidays like Thanksgiving can be stressful, especially for vegans and vegetarians who want to wow and amaze their meat-centric families with knock-your-socks-off recipes that disprove all the eye-rolling, smirks and nose wrinkles. That's why I wrote Celebrate Vegan: 200 Life-Affirming Recipes for Occasions
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10 Nov 2011 at 8:50am
This post first ran on November 29, 2006 on my original blog – time flies when you're having fun. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought it was a good time to repost my pumpkin and apple pie recipes [They also appear in The Urban Vegan]. Speaking of pies, please check out Terry Hope Romero's and Isa Chandra Moskowitz' adorable new book
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5 Nov 2011 at 6:14am
London Particular – an "easy, peasy" soup Happy Guy Fawkes Day! I am fascinated by this UK holiday, which has moribund origins but is now a rather lighthearted celebration. It all started when Guy Fawkes was executed for his traitorous role in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The grisly details of his death are actually pretty sickening, but are
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4 Nov 2011 at 10:57am
The bad news: I'm going to make you wait another day or two until I announce the winners of my contest.The good news: There's still time to enter. [Wink, wink!]If Kermit the Frig were a vegetable, he would be romanesco.Romanesco is an alien-looking vegetable. It reminds me of something that should live in the sea, like a Christmas
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2 Nov 2011 at 2:17pm
It's here – finally!I have in my hot little hands a finished copy of my new cookbook, Celebrate Vegan: 200 Life-Affirming Recipes for Occasions Big and Small. It took about 2 years to complete from concept to finish, and seeing it all "grown up" and ready to go out into the world in its own is a bit surreal. And talk about coincidences: the book
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31 Oct 2011 at 4:52pm
Monkey Bread after the second rise, ready to go into the oven.Who doesn't love Monkey Bread? Think of this gooey pull-apart sweet as part cinnamon bun and part Dunkin' Munchkin'. Recipes for Monkey Bread first started popping up in women's magazines in the 1950s, and although there's much speculation about the origins of its intriguing name, I haven't
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30 Oct 2011 at 2:58pm
Soupe au Pistou combines harvest veggies with the last of the summer's pesto."I'm dreaming of a white Halloween?"It's October 29, and it's snowing in Philadelphia. Yes, snowing! Looking out my window onto the city streets is like peering into a gigantic snow globe. Picturesque, yes, but it's a bit jarring for mid-autumn, not to mention
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29 Oct 2011 at 9:54am
"Use me, before I wilt!"I regret to inform you that this recipe was not inspired by an Indian cookbook, Bollywood movies, or Ganesh, my favorite Hindu deity, but rather, by unabashed laziness and boredom. For the past week, a succulent bunch of rainbow chard from my CSA share had been screaming out to me each time I opened
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26 Oct 2011 at 4:27pm
Working with phyllo is easier than you might think, Are you suffering from phyllo-phobia – an intense, irrational fear of cooking with phyllo? Many folks are intimidated by working with these thin sheets of flaky pastry. Fear not! It's all a matter of being well-prepared and organized. This easy, fun recipe for Mushroom Cups with Shallots
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25 Oct 2011 at 1:15pm
When I was in Portland for the VidaVegan Conference in August, Julie Hasson asked me to demo a recipe from my new cookbook for EverydayDish.tv in her killer kitchen. It was my first time cooking in front of a camera – a daunting task – but Julie and her husband/ cameraman/film editor Jay made the entire process stress-free
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23 Oct 2011 at 10:11am
I used frozen blueberries to create Julie's classic, all-in-one-pan cobbler. So much flavor for so little work. "In mathematics, two angles that are said to coincide fit together perfectly. The word coincidence does not describe luck or mistakes. It describes that which fits together perfectly."– Dr Wayne Dyer About 5 years ago,
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21 Oct 2011 at 1:10pm
No gluten in these feather-light breakfast muffinsI'm very lucky to not have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease. But I still think the standard American diet– even the standard vegan American diet – contains too much wheat, so I try to rotate my grains and flours. These easy corn muffins are polka-dotted with cheerful, ruby-red raspberries, A hit
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19 Oct 2011 at 2:13pm
Start this easy tofu marinade in the morning before you leave for work, and bake it when you come home.I adore the signature, hot-sweet-sour essence of Southeast Asian dishes. This flavor trinity inspired me to create this easy, fusion baked tofu. The sweet comes from apple juice and agave nectar, sour from apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard, and heat from
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18 Oct 2011 at 10:18am
This easy side showcases bold flavors and only takes about 10 minutes of hands-on time. Roasting cauliflower is not only super easy and flexible; it also gives the cauliflower a firmer, more toothsome texture. If you want a Caribbean-Style dish, add curry powder, which usually hails from the islands. For a Thai-centric dish, use curry paste.
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16 Oct 2011 at 9:07am
Colleen's Cinnamon Coffee Cake is just one of the fabulous recipes featured in the 30-Day Vegan Challenge The lovely Colleen Patrick-Goudreau was among the many inspiring authors I met at the Vida Vegan Blogging Conference. I've been a fan of Colleen's since her pivotal The Joy of Vegan Baking was published a few years back. She is passionate
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14 Oct 2011 at 9:25am
Think pink. Try my Breast Cancer Awareness Risotto.Besides being Vegan Mofo, October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I've never been a "rah-rah" joiner of causes. But since my oldest sister, Babs, and several of my good friends are breast cancer survivors, I'm sucking it up in their honor and am hopping on the "think pink" bandwagon,
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13 Oct 2011 at 9:44am
Kale makes a crunchy, flavor-packed salad baseAs I mentioned in my last post on anemic produce, these days, many supermarket lettuces taste frighteningly neutral and lack varietal individuality. Since a stellar salad requires an assertive base, I've been foregoing box-shop lettuces for flavor-packed baby organic spinach, baby greens, arugula, mâche
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12 Oct 2011 at 2:05pm
Organic produce from small farms looks better and tastes better "Stepford" Produce During my childhood, the flavor of fresh garden tomatoes – tangy, sweet, acidic – made my palate perform backflips of happiness. A sweet-tart apple induced bona-fide puckers, and snap peas tasted smiley-face sweet. These days, most supermarket
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11 Oct 2011 at 11:59am
Rosemary pesto over brown rice fusili Modular recipes are empowering. They not only teach you how to cook, as opposed to blindly following recipes, but they also give you the courage and impetus to ad-lib in the kitchen. Not surprisingly, most of us equate pesto with traditional basil-and-pine-nut variety. But remove the rules [which you have to
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8 Oct 2011 at 10:43am
Organic CSA share radishes. I love everything about radishes – from their insouciant heat and candy-cane colors to their sturdy crunch and voluptuous figures. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to find these flaming bulbs of happiness nestled at the bottom of my CSA share bag. As always, my share included a bevy of
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6 Oct 2011 at 5:11pm
I've been a fan of Bryanna Clark Grogan for years and finally got a chance to meet her and hang out with her at the Vida Vegan Conference. She is a lovely, down-to-earth person and a wealth of information, positivity, and of course, of vegan recipes. A surplus of CSA share organic carrots inspired me to try a recipe from Bryanna's
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5 Oct 2011 at 5:00pm
Noochy Broccoli is a versatile side and a fun way to get kids [and picky adults] to eat their greens. Of course, raw or lightly steamed vegetables are the most nutritious. This recipe from my new cookbook, however, requires you to cook the heck out of the broccoli in order to achieve a pureed texture. So consider it a guilty veggie pleasure.
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4 Oct 2011 at 5:23pm
Better than BarillaMy family is Polish, so the only spaghetti dinners I ate growing up came out of the Kraft box. And at that point, having nothing authentic to compare them to, I actually liked them. Fast forward about 20 years. I hooked up [and subsequently broke up] with a series of Italian guys, and became spoiled by real-deal-from-Nonna's-kitchen
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3 Oct 2011 at 6:18pm
You can't judge a soup by its color.There are so many reasons to love Carrot Potato soup, aka French Carrot Soup. First, there's the unapologetically autumnal flavor: earthy, comforting, slightly sweet and slightly starchy. Then there are the nutritional perks and frugality: vitamins A and B6, potassium, phytonutrients, fiber, etc – all for just pennies.
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2 Oct 2011 at 11:08am
Happy Vegan Mofo [That's Vegan MOnth of FOod, newbies]. I'm kicking off this year's celebration with Tempeh Bulgogi. You can enjoy these spicy-sweet BBQ strips in the traditional Korean style – wrapped in lettuce or collard leaves. Or you can serve them over rice or a rainbow bed of ginger-infused bok choy, mushrooms and red bell
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1 Oct 2011 at 11:51am
Concentric circles of fruit nestled in a sugar-studded pâte sucrée. It's the stuff of French pâtiserrie windows, so naturally, you'd think that galettes are time consuming and difficult to make. Quite the contrary: even novice bakers can successfully create this pan-free – and pain-free– tart in under 30 minutes. Galettes give you a huge
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25 Sep 2011 at 8:19am
I'm not into cute. But can I help it if these tiny raw cookies scream cute? Many raw desserts are quite complicated to make, but these wee treats are mercifully easy to put together [easy, that is, after you crack open a Thai young coconut]. They remind me of reverse Oreos, with the sinful "coconut creme" filling gracing the outside and sticky-n-sticky
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15 Sep 2011 at 7:26am
I think Frida would approve of raw chia pudding While attending the VidaVegan Conference, non-raw vegans like me were intrigued by – and came to love – the raw chia pudding that graced our daily breakfast buffet. Its subtle sweetness and gooey consistency imparted the same satisfying comfort as the tapioca pudding my Babci [grandma] made for me
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7 Sep 2011 at 9:38am
Cool old theater sign
I have returned from my excellent adventure in Portland, a bit jet-lagged, but definitely energized by my experience at the Vida Vegan Blogging Conference. The event was probably the best-organized conference I've ever attended, thanks to 3 smart vegan cookies: Jess, Michele and Janessa. I gave one workshop, "Extreme
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30 Aug 2011 at 8:03am
It's been as hotter than Andalusia here lately. And when the temperature soars, the last thing I feel like doing is adding fuel to the fire by turning on the oven or stovetop. Last week's CSA share, plus a care package from Aunt Regina's garden, provided me with more tomatoes and technicolor summer produce than I knew what to do with. Gazpacho
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21 Aug 2011 at 3:29pm
Use raw sunflower cheese as a dip or sandwich it between cucumber slices
Sugar-laden cupcakes overburdened with "buttercream" icing. Macho-strong espresso. Airy French bread crafted from white flour. Veggies swimming in oil. Wine, Earth Balance and Vegenaise with abandon. A self-professed hedonist, I've consumed more than my share of
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12 Aug 2011 at 8:03am
Please vote for me. I'll kiss your baby, will balance the budget and will get the US government's bond rating upgraded.
Holy guacamole! I've been nominated for "Favorite Cookbook Author" in the 2011 Veggie Awards. I'm honored to be on the same list with vegan cookbook goddesses Terry Hope Romero and Isa Chandra Moskowitz, as well as many other visionary
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8 Aug 2011 at 5:37am
Bossa Nova is appalled by food writing clichésIn a few weeks, I'll be leading a workshop called "Extreme Food Writing Makeover" at the upcoming Vida Vegan Food Blogging Conference. While preparing for this talk, I've been thinking about how cliché some food terms have become, even among the culinary cogniscenti. Language is as organic
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1 Aug 2011 at 9:34am
Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Dry-Fried TofuAs a cookbook author and vegan food enthusiast, I spend a lot of time blogging about my own recipes, cookbooks, and experiences with food. So, once I turned in my final Celebrate Vegan manuscript [250+ original recipes], you'd think the last thing I wanted to do was cook, right? Actually, the first
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23 Jul 2011 at 8:13am
A page from my overburdened passportI get a surprising amount of e-mail from vegans and vegetarians who admit they're afraid to travel, for fear of consuming something non-veg. As a veg-head who's been to 30+ countries--and counting--I'm here to tell you that you can--and should travel. Your lifestyle choice should open doors, not close them, and infuse
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13 Jul 2011 at 6:25am
Awhile back, I bought some amazing raw kale chips at Whole Foods. Damn tasty, but since they cost almost $8 for a small box, they could only be an occasional splurge at best. Last week, after receiving yet another ubiquitous bunch of kale in 3 consecutive CSA share pickups, the thought yet another pot of kale sauteed with garlic
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6 Jul 2011 at 8:02am
Roasted red peppers scream summertime. Their understated sweetness catapults so many foods to the next flavor level. Roasted red peppers taste terrific atop crusty bread, seasoned with fresh basil, salt, pepper, olive oil and enjoyed with a glass of dry rose. They can also elevate a humble sandwich from drab to fab. For an easy summer dinner,
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28 Jun 2011 at 12:55pm
Over the past few year, garlic scapes have become the darling of affluent foodies, culinary hipsters and gourmands. The gently curving scapes –- aka "stems" – are removed from the burgeoning garlic plants so that all the growing energy can divert to the bulbs. The early summer appearance of these undulating celadon bundles is fleeting,
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19 Jun 2011 at 3:12pm
???? ???? ???? The Caipirinha: Rio in a glass???? ???? ???? The heat and humidity have arrived. Now's the perfect time to slip on your Havianas and cool off with a caipirinha, preferably made while grooving to classic bossa nova by Tom Jobim. The caipirinha is Brazil's national drink, fortified with cachaca, or sugar cane
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10 Jun 2011 at 6:55am
? Strawberry and lime have a natural affinity.? The dog days of summer arrived early in Philly. Today, it's 93 degrees and humid, even though summer is still officially 3 weeks away. Personally, I don't mind: I love the heat. And it's a good excuse to pull out my trusty ice-cream maker. Strawberry Daquiri Sorbet 1 cup
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30 May 2011 at 9:09am
Fresh grape tomatoes, tossed with garlic, pesto and herbs, ready to roast There are recipes and there are Recipes. As I page through my ever-burgeoning cookbook collection, most recipes I scan are one-offs, calling for specific ingredients and directions. Fun to make? Yes, on occasion, but in the scheme of my busy life, they aren't always
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23 May 2011 at 9:28am
Forbidden rice retains its purple-black color, even when cooked and has a chewy, slightly nutty flavor.When you think of "forbidden" foods, empty-calorie noshes like cookies, ice cream and white bread probably come to mind. So when I first saw forbidden rice for sale in the market, I laughed out loud at the name. A whole grain – forbidden? As the story
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12 May 2011 at 6:12am
A damp, dense loaf of chocolate-banana goodness. Buddha wants a bite. Being thrifty, I always save peeled, gone-too-far bananas and store them in Ziplock bags in the freezer to use as smoothie and banana bread fodder. When I opened my freezer this morning, a bag of frozen bananas fell out and I took that as a sign from the kitchen gods.
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4 May 2011 at 11:18am
A light, heat-friendly veggie in 5 minutes.When I spy skinny, deep green asparagus in the markets, I know I can finally exhale and bask in the happy realization that the warm weather has taken hold and I can bid adieu to winter squash, potatoes and parsnips – at least for the next 6 months. I love asparagus, first, because it doesn't require much "gussying
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28 Apr 2011 at 6:10am
Help save my fuzzy butt. Bladder stones are no picnic. Poor Steve the Cat needs immediate, costly surgery to remove his bladder stones. Unfortunately, his mom, Amy, can't afford the vet bill. [Having 3 cats, I can totally relate.] If you live in the NYC area, you can hear some great live music, help Steve, and win fabulous, vegan-friendly schwag
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26 Apr 2011 at 9:08am
How cute are these zebra-inspired ballerinas? Coupon. Bourgeois Boheme shoes are gorgeous. Their motto is "Fashion with Compassion"; all Bourgeous Boheme leather-free kickers are made from sustainable materials used include microfiber faux leathers and suede and natural and organic fabrics. These nice folks are offering UrbanVegan
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19 Apr 2011 at 6:52am
Mediterranean flavors, minimal effortDing, dong the book is done. After 2 years of cooking-testing-writing, it felt liberating to finally cut the proverbial umbilical cord and watch the cookbook manuscript fly solo into cyberspace as I hit the "send" button. So, what do you think I did to celebrate? Indulge in happy hour cosmos? Go out to dinner? Buy
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7 Apr 2011 at 12:24pm
Spring is in the air, and that means it's time to pull out your bike, a good book, a bottle of wine and a picnic basket. I thought it was a good time to repost this golden oldie, which I originally published on 7/7/08. On the cookbook front, the manuscript is finished and will go to the publisher next week. So I should have more time
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2 Apr 2011 at 6:38am
Mac-n-cheese for rule breakers Warning: this is not your grandma's mac and cheese, although it's every bit as comforting and decadent. This vegan version is infused with subtle Thai influence. Its silky creaminess comes thanks to coconut oil and coconut creamer (Don't worry! It's much more figure-friendly than traditional
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29 Mar 2011 at 2:03pm
Just back from a much-needed, semi-working vacation in the Southwest with F-stop, where he was shooting for a month. I enjoyed experiencing the sense of space and endless skies: quite a contrast from living in the Northeastern megalopolis. Like much of the world, the Southwest is facing grave environmental concerns, so looking at these pictures feels
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22 Mar 2011 at 7:30am
A Jackson-Pollack-esque drizzle of dark chocolate takes the hedonism quotient over the top. When it comes to eating – and most things in life, really, I believe in the 80/20 rule. I eat uber-healthily about 80% of the time. Eight to ten servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. Whole grains. Healthy oils, in moderation. I eschew animal
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7 Mar 2011 at 7:21am
Zucchini "Linguine" with Lemony Spinach PestoSurprise of the century [gasp!]: just because one is vegan does not necessarily mean one follows a healthy diet. Now, I've been dubbed the vegan hedonist, but recent health problems remind me that I should be eating more raw food [and consuming less coffee, alcohol and Vegan Treats goodies]. Like many
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1 Mar 2011 at 4:04pm
Enlightened Linzer Cookies F-stop has a wicked sweet tooth, so for Valentine's Day, I made him some Heart-Felt Linzer Cookies. [The recipe will, of course, appear in my new cookbook.] Traditional Linzer cookies tend to be so heavy that you need to take a nap after eating one. Mine are lighter and impart a subtle citrus flavor, thanks
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16 Feb 2011 at 3:19pm
A supersize portion of baked polenta fries, from the new cookbook I created these grain-based fries especially for kids, as a fun, healthy alternative to regular, fat-laden French fries. You can easily whip them up using pantry staples. If you're of the "superparent" persuasion, you can bump up the "wow" factor by using cookie cutters to form
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7 Feb 2011 at 9:45am
As most of you know, I took down my original blog (urbanvegan.blogspot.com) several years ago after the dissolution of my marriage. It was too painful/weird for me to leave up what had become a visual diary of my life, meals and travels with my ex. While closing down the original blog was healing for me, it had its downside in terms of frustrated readers.
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4 Feb 2011 at 5:29pm
Flavor-forward coleslaw, at last Gentrification. It's happening everywhere: things that fell out of favor are suddenly resurrected, rediscovered, and reinvented. It was bound to happen to coleslaw sooner or later. I updated this classic, cabbage-based salad by adding hipster veggies like radicchio and fennel and a splash of
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28 Jan 2011 at 9:52am
Let them eat tarts! Here's another tease from the upcoming cookbook, inspired by all those hours I spent salivating in the windows of Parisian patiserries. This classic French lemon tart is a little puckery and a little sweet. You can also make it with lime juice and rind, if you need a change of pace. Filled tarts,
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21 Jan 2011 at 8:44am
Spicy Seitan Wings with Cumin-Harissa Dipping Sauce, from the new cookbook They're spicy. They're sassy. They're baked, not fried. And they take about 15-minutes of hands-on time to make. Meet my Spicy Seitan Wings with Cumin-Harissa Dipping Sauce. I'm calling them "wings" somewhat grudgingly, since no actual wings, real or imagined,
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12 Jan 2011 at 11:10am
Food porn from upcoming cookbook... My fabulous testers and I have been working feverishly at perfecting recipes for my upcoming cookbook. Take a gander below, and be sure to also check out the new shots that are added daily to our photo group on Flickr. Savory Harvest Crumble with Figs, Squash and Onion Clementine-Sweet
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9 Jan 2011 at 5:04pm
Limoncello Cupcake, wearing a confetti sugar necklace and ready to welcome 2011.I don't know about you, but I'm weary of omnipresent winter fare and creamy-chocolately holiday desserts. That's why, for tonight's New Year's Eve bash, chez Noah and Nadine, I decided to make my sunny new Limoncello Cupcakes [Recipe will be included in the new cookbook].
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31 Dec 2010 at 2:26pm
Movement 3 of my Paris sonata: the food. I would love to share photos of all 42 meals (plus ubiquitous snacks), but sadly, there's only room for a few culinary highlights... Crepe aux Champignons at The Loving HutQuiche du jour at the Loving Hut The Loving Hut's Coconut-milk based Pumpkin Soup...divinely rich
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28 Dec 2010 at 6:20pm
Ok, I'll admit it: I'm a Tofurky virgin. The nice folks at Tofurky must have gotten wind, because they sent me a coupon for a free Tofurky Vegetarian Feast. I'm bringing it as my contribution to Christmas dinner tomorrow. My very large, very omnivorous family will weigh in. And like me, they tell it like it is...so stay tuned for the
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24 Dec 2010 at 8:42am
A girl and her olive oil. When former VegNews editor, the lovely Aurelia D'Andrea first asked me to speak at Paris Vegan Day, I must admit I felt some trepidation. A bunch of herbivores getting together to celebrate animal-free living in the home of foie gras, fromage and steak tartare? I knew at best it would
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16 Dec 2010 at 11:19am
I interrupt my regularly scheduled Paris blog posts to deliver some breaking news. My second cookbook deal is official, via Globe Pequot Press/Fork, the folks who published my first cookbook, The Urban Vegan! The new book, which will contain at least 200 new recipes. will be printed in late 2011 or early 2012. More on the title and content
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11 Dec 2010 at 7:02am
Arc de Triomphe, adorned with fresh snowTwo weeks in my own apartment in the center of Paris. Paris Vegan Day: an extremely well-attended celebration of all things herbivore. Scrumptious, animal-free food shared with friends, on the go, at gatherings, and alone in my apartment. Obviously, there's lots to tell you about, so I've decided to blog
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8 Dec 2010 at 4:55am
The little cashew that could.... I'm off to Paris to do my demo at Paris Vegan Day, and also, to squeeze in a much-needed vacation. Since I've been frantically tying up loose ends before I leave, I have been living off leftovers for the past week. I was a bit disheartened at the fact that I didn't have any new and exciting food shots to post.
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20 Nov 2010 at 6:07pm
Sorry for the delay in putting up this post. I've been dealing with a slightly scary medical problem [not fun] – and preparing for my cooking demonstration at Paris Vegan Day [loads of fun!]. Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Terri Hope Romero, Virginie Péan of Absolutely Green, The Urban Housewife, and many other cool herbivores will also be giving talks/doing
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13 Nov 2010 at 11:14am
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