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Final Making Vegan Easy Weekly Round-Up for 2012

December 31, 2012

At the beginning of 2012, I created a vision board for a vegan world and decided to provide a daily vegan tip on my Facebook  page to make being vegan easier for others. Below are the last 10 tips of 2012. I plan to delve deeper into my favorites vegan tips in 2013, so stay tuned for more vegan goodness. Happy new year!

Tip #356: Watch and share: Mercy for Animals 2012 Year in Review.

Tip #357: Adorable video promoting the boycott of horse-drawn carriages. Watch and share.

Tip #358: This year after all the Christmas presents are opened consider saving the used wrapping paper and gift bags to be used next year. Remember: Reuse before recycling!

Tip #359: Tomorrow is Christmas! It’s another holiday where families gather around the dinner table and meat plays a central role. I will be making a vegan breakfast of pancakes, faux sausage, potatoes and fruit cake for six people. I’m the only vegan. I’m not always comfortable being the only one, but that’s okay because the animals and the planet are better for it. Dinner will be out at a vegetarian restaurant that has vegan options. Remember, it’s not all about the food though. Enjoy being with your family and friends.

Tip #360: It bears repeating: Recycle, recycle, recycle. Keep this in mind when you and your family are opening presents this year. Merry Christmas!

Tip #361: My favorite new cookbook of 2012 is Artisan Vegan Cheese by Miyoko Schinner. I’m slowly working my way through it. My current favorite is Pub Cheddar with Chives. If you haven’t picked it up yet, you might want to treat yourself.

Tip #362: When I’m battling a cold, I use a neti pot. Years ago when I bought my neti pot, I let it sit in a closet for nine months before I gathered the courage to use it. Turns out, it feels really good and gives me some relief when I have head cold. Let’s hope you don’t get a cold this winter but if you do, you might want to try a neti pot.

Tip #363: My favorite non-fiction book of 2012 is Jenny Brown’s memoir, The Lucky Ones. Inspiring! If you like to read memoirs, pick it up today. (I found it at my local library.)

Tip #364: Palm oil is a nightmare for the environment, indigenous people and many animals including Orangutans, Bearded Pigs, Rhinoceros, Sumatran tiger, Sun bear and more. There’s a good article in the current issue of VegNews on the problems with palm oil (not online yet). If you haven’t given up palm oil yet, read up on it — do a google search — and decide if now might be the time to avoid it for good.

Tip #365: Go all the way in 2013. If you haven’t made the commitment yet to living vegan, watch this 60-second video from PETA. It may be just what you need to change your mind and go vegan for good.

Bonus Tip #366 (2012 is Leap year.): Tell everyone you know it’s easy being vegan. Shout. Sing. Speak. Whisper. Write. However YOU feel comfortable, use your voice for change. I’m so happy to walk this path with you. Thanks for being here.

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Recipe of the Week: Sun-Dried Tomato and Artichoke Burger

August 2, 2012

Sun-Dried Tomato and Artichoke Burger

I have been slowly working my way through The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet by Joni Marie Newman. This week we made the Sun-Dried Tomato and Artichoke Burger. It’s a winner and Joni has kindly given me permission to share the recipe with you. Enjoy!

Sun-Dried Tomato and Artichoke Burger
Makes 8-10 Burgers

  • 2 tbsp olive oil*
  • 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 yellow onion, roughly chopped
  • 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 can artichoke hearts, drained
  • 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil
  • 6 oz roasted red peppers
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 2 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 3 cups cooked brown rice**
  • Oil, for frying (optional)

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Favorite Vegan Cookbooks

October 14, 2011

It’s easy being vegan ’cause there are hundreds of vegan cookbooks. There’s nothing boring about eating vegan.

Just go to any bookstore or browse online to check out the many vegan cookbooks available. More come out every month! Choose from healthy to comfort-food to low-fat to raw food and to every ethnic cuisine under the sun. You’ll find cookbooks for quick and easy meals and books for the gourmet. Just because you’re eating vegan and remove animal products from your diet, doesn’t mean you don’t have choices.

My favorite cookbooks that I use time-and-time-again are:

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It’s Easy Being Vegan Reason #5

October 7, 2011

Vegan Parmesan

It’s easy being vegan ’cause there’s an alternative to Parmesan cheese — actually two tasty alternatives. One you can make and one you can buy. Something for everyone.

Almesan from the cookbook, Veganomicon. It’s a Parmesan-like topping made with almonds — a tasty addition to vegan lasagna, also found in Veganomicon. Easy to make.

Parma! is made with walnuts and is available at Whole Foods and other natural foods stores. It’s also available online. Easy to buy.

Next week I focus on meat alternatives, so keep reading and sharing It’s easy being vegan.

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It’s Easy Being Vegan Reason #3

October 5, 2011

Vegan Chef to the Stars

It’s easy being vegan ’cause Cashew Cream tastes delicious. It’s an easy-to-make alternative to heavy cream and cheesy sauces. Every vegan kitchen needs to know this recipe made with raw cashews and water. Yep, just two ingredients and a blender, and you’re all set. You can find the full recipe on Tal Ronnen’s website. Use Cashew Cream on pizzas, lasagna, pasta — the skies the limit.

Check out his beautiful cookbook, The Conscious Cook, too.

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