C'est La Vegan

Even though all the kiddies are heading back to school and we’re approaching labor day, I kind of feel like summer is just starting because it’s finally gotten really hot here.
When it’s super hot out nothing tastes better to me than a simple and refreshing salad, and this Corn-Quinoa Salad from Vegetarian Times makes good [...]

Before going vegan I used to love buffalo chicken fingers – not the wings, but fried chicken tenders in buffalo sauce.  I never really understood the point of eating a wing (I still don’t), and bones in food always freaked me out.  Obviously, it’s been a while since I’ve eaten real buffalo chicken anything, but [...]

Last week I caught a nasty summer cold and totally lost my appetite.  Every now and then it would rear it’s little head, but when it did, absolutely nothing sounded good to me.  I felt like there was something that I wanted, but I just couldn’t think of what it might be.
I had a bunch [...]

The Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota, and Sawbill in particular, are very special places for Ryan and his family. Up until the past few years, Ryan had gone there every summer of his life.  I’ve had the pleasure of joining him on several trips, including one where he proposed to me.  We also spent part [...]

If you’ve never tried this dessert it might seem a little strange – but trust me when I tell you that it’s delicious!  I had a non-vegan version of this grape salad years ago at a potluck, and I was so excited when I came across this recipe on skinnytaste.com. (Although I’m not sure how “skinny” [...]

Every time I sit down to write this post looking at the picture makes me so hungry that I have to go to the kitchen to eat something.  But nothing I’m eating compares to these nachos!  After making these I realized that I haven’t made nachos since going vegan.  It’s probably a cheese thing, especially [...]

For our Hollywood Bowl picnic dessert I decided to try something new.  I remember having a cream cheese-based fruit dip when I was younger, and I set out to try to make a vegan version.  It’s no secret that I love a good fruit tart, and once I found some non-vegan dip recipes to base my version [...]

Ah, hummus… the vegan’s best friend.  Hummus tends to be the first thing people choose to serve to vegans when they aren’t sure what else to make for them, and is often the only thing a vegan can eat a a party that’s chock full of cheese and salami plates.  You know, like at all [...]

This past weekend, we went to see “Planet Earth Live” at the Hollywood Bowl with our good friends Tim and Ildy.   I always love a night out at the bowl, complete with tasty food and wine, good friends and live music, all whilst tucked away in the Hollywood hills.  It’s definitely one of my favorites [...]

Over the years I’ve made lots of mushroom pates.  I keep trying to find the perfect recipe, and this one comes pretty close for me.  There are a couple tweaks I might try next time I make it, but for now this is really tasty.  I got the recipe from one of my favorite sources, [...]

Okay, right off the bat I have to tell you that yours truly took the above photo.  I don’t think I’m anywhere near Ryan’s level yet (although in my defense, he has been doing it for over fifteen years and happens to be amazingly talented), but I think I’m off to a good start!  He’s [...]

The best sangria I’ve ever had was at a restaurant in Madrid, Spain about fifteen years ago.  Wish I hadn’t done the math on that one… it freaks me out to realize how quickly fifteen years can fly by!  The sangria I had was made with red wine, citrus fruits and apples, and it was [...]