My 13 Favorite Vegan Products of 2013!!

It’s time to ring in a new year, which means that it’s time to look back on 2013. In celebration of this, it is time to review the things that helped make 2013 so great!!  So in no particular order, here they are!

My 13 Favorite Vegan Products of 2013!!

1.  Amy's Kitchen Light and Lean Sweet & Sour Asian Noodle Bowl.

2. Anything from Taco Bell. Check out my reviews of their taco salad and taco.

3.  Mellow Mushroom

4. This vegan alternative to pot pie! 

5. Dinner at Olive Garden. 

6.  These blueberry muffins. 

7.  Vegan Green Bean Casserole

8.  This awesome vegan potato soup recipe. 

9. Oreos.

10.  Thanksgiving Stuffing gone vegan.

11. This chili, baked potato, and 'bacon' bits combo. 

12.  Making pancakes with my favorite kiddos. 

13. Vegan 4 Bean Soup!

What was your favorite vegan product of 2013? 

Vegetable Stuffed Green Peppers

I have always been a fan of stuffed peppers, and it’s easy to substitute Boca crumbles for the meat in a traditional recipe, but I wanted to make a recipe for an all veggie pepper filling. 

I've been playing around with this one all day, but I think I've finally found a winner. 

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Vegetable Stuffed Green Peppers

Note: This recipe makes enough for three peppers but if you cooking for someone that doesn't like peppers, like I was today, just put the stuffing in foil and bake it! 

Ingredients: 

3 peppers

2 potatoes

1 medium sized carrot

1 medium onion

2 cloves of garlic

1 small jar of tomato sauce

1/4 cup of ketchup 

3 Tbs of barbecue sauce

Directions: 

1.  Cut a whole in the top of the peppers and use a spoon to scoop out the insides. Set them aside. 

2. Mince the garlic, onion, and mushrooms and place them into a bowl. 

3. Peel and slice the carrot and potatoes. I recommend using smaller chunks. 

4. Mix the carrots and potatoes into the bowl of garlic, onion, and mushrooms. 

5. Mix in the tomato sauce, ketchup, and barbecue sauce and stir thoroughly. 

Stuff the peppers with the mixture, packing it in so that it is solid. 

Bake them in the oven at 350* for about an hour or until the potatoes are soft enough to eat! 

Don't these look delicious?!?

A Vegan Review: Amy's Light & Lean Sweet & Sour Asian Noodle Bowl

Check out this awesome new frozen dinner from Amy’s that I just recently discovered at my grocery store! 

This bowl is filled with various peppers, green beans, broccoli, carrots, tofu, and rice noodles. IT IS DELICIOUS! 

Seriously though, look how amazing that looks! The sauce it the perfect combination of sweet & sour, a little bit spicy and a little bit sweet. 

I think you have to go try this, like immediately. It really is that good. 

Give it a try & let me know what you think!

UTZ Kettle Classic Gourmet Dark Russets.

I love junk food!

Like I have said many times, if you have ever met me, you know. I love my salts & my sweets.

One of my favorite kinds of potato chips are the UTZ Kettle Classic Gourmet Dark Russets. 

They are simply delicious, with three simple ingredients: potatoes, peanut oil, and salt. 

Look how delicious these look! Plus, they are only 150 calories per serving! 

Check them out and let me know what you think!! 

No Bake Snack Mix Cookies!

Today marks day two of my Christmas baking which is an adventure in and of itself, to say the very least. In my house, every year, my Mom and I make literally everything. I’m talking fudge, chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, nuts, white trash, sugar cookies, and that’s just to name a few.

In honor of this, I’m going to share with you one of my favorite treats. I made these yesterday, in day one of my baking.

These delicious chocolate covers morsels are delicious and super easy to make. In fact, you can make these candies in three simple steps.

You Will Need:

½ cup of salted peanuts

½ cup of broken pretzel pieces

½ cup plain cheerios

½ cup of rice chex

1 12oz bag of Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet morsels

Directions:

1. Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Melt the chocolate and pour it over the mixture of dry ingredients. 

3. Mix the chocolate throughout, until all the pieces are thoroughly covered, and spoon small clusters on to wax paper.

Allow several hours for it to dry and then enjoy!

Vegan Gingerbread Cookies!!

For those fans of the & YES, it's Vegan! facebook page, you may remember this picture...

Yes, I was teasing you will these delicious looking, fresh out of the oven, ginger bread cookies. 

They tasted just as amazing as they looked and tonight I am going to share this super quick and easy recipe  with you. 



I started with this limited Holiday edition Betty Crocker bag of cookie mix and followed the direction of the bag, using Ener-G Egg Replacer to replace the eggs. 

See, I told you it was super easy! :) 

How To Survive a Non-Vegan Holiday!

The holidays can be a tricky time of year as they can provide lots of temptations for slipping back into old food habits and nostalgia for traditional foods. Tonight’s post is for those of you who may have just begun your journey in a new lifestyle, whether it is vegan or vegetarian.

I know, from personal experience, how hard it can be to be new at this life style and to be surrounded by familiar temptations. In fact, the first day I fully committed to a vegetarian lifestyle I was attending a college bowl game in the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium. Let me tell you, there isn’t a whole lot of vegetarian friendly tailgate or stadium food.

I’m sharing these tips with you tonight, so that together we cannot just make it through the holidays, but we can thrive this holiday season.

Let’s get started!

1. When you are faced with temptation, remind yourself exactly why you wanted to cut animal products out of your diet and if need be turn it into your personal mantra.

My main reason for adopting a vegetarian lifestyle was for health reasons. I wanted to cut the crap out of my diet, and so I would constantly remind myself of all of the fat, cholesterol, and hormones present in meat and then opt for vegetables.

Later, when I made the switch to vegan it was more for animal rights. So when I was faced with temptation, I would remind my self of the way animals are treated and how milk and eggs are made.

2.  When you are seeing friends and family for the first time after making the switch, it is normal for them to have a ton of questions. If they are anything like my extended my family, they may also have a bunch of criticisms.

You should answer their questions as thoroughly and politely as possible, after all it is human nature to be curious.

If you come across someone who wants to criticize your choices, you should respond to them as nicely as you can. After all, you can catch more flies with honey then vinegar. (:

3. To avoid temptation and to help quell any criticisms, I always like to bring something with me to share. That way, I have something to eat & something to offer other guests who may have questions about what you can eat.

I’d recommend making something that is a traditional food for you and yours. For example, my family always does Christmas cookies and every year I make ices sugar cookies of my own, that way I don’t miss out on anything.

With these tips, I’m confidant that you can be successful this holiday season. The most important thing to remember is to love yourself. If you slip up, it is important to forgive yourself and remember that (not to sound to cheesy) it’s a journey.

Join the conversation on facebook for support this holiday! :)  

5 Great Gift Ideas for the Vegan on your Christmas list!

Today marks exactly one week from Christmas and I don’t know about you, but I’m not even close to done with my shopping.

In fact, I haven't even figured out what I'm getting for half of the people on my list. So in case you, like myself, are a horrible procrastinator or you can't come up with any good ideas, I've complied the following list. 

5 Great Gift Ideas for the Vegan on your Christmas list! 

1. Kitchen Accessories

If they, like myself, are into cooking and baking, you can not go wrong with kitchen tools and utensils! 

Ceramic knives, like this one, are always a safe bet. I mean, who couldn't use more knives in their kitchen?! I'd recommend going with a pairing knife perfect for cutting up fruits and peeling vegetables. 

You can never go wrong with cute little animals, I mean how could anyone not like these adorable animal salt and pepper shakers?!

2. Cookbooks

A book full of new and exciting recipes to try? Yes please! 

I would recommend either PETA's College Cookbook or this book from the Post Punk Kitchen. 

3. Gift Cards

I know this seems like an obvious choice, but a gift card to your vegan's favorite restaurant, local famers market, or even a specialty grocery store like Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.

4. A Charitable Donation

If the vegan on your list is really passionate about animal rights, a donation to an animal rights group on their behalf makes a great gift. 

I would recommend the ASPCA, Humane Society, or you can always find a local shelter here. 

5. Go Vegan!

If you are looking for something really special, a pledge to go vegan or vegetarian. Even if it is only for one day a week for the next year! 

If you are open to trying new things with the person you love, you give them the opportunity to share something they are truly passionate about. What could be better then to explore new things with someone special?!

A Vegan Review: Mellow Mushroom

Last week my boyfriend and I celebrated an anniversary at the restaurant of my choosing. This year, I chose what I thought was a new local restaurant. As it turns out, I was mistaken and this new restaurant is a national chain.

I’m talking about Mellow Mushroom, a delightful pizza restaurant with a psychedelic flair.

I mean, how cute is this mushroom? This little guy is smiling right on the front of every to-go box and he perfectly matches the decor. 

For those of you who live in Richmond, this new location is on Carry Street in the heart of Carrytown. For those of you who live elsewhere, check the Mellow Mushroom website for a location near you. (:

They have quite an extensive menu, which at my location includes Daiya vegan cheese. 

I ordered a small pizza, which is 4 slices & perfect for one or two. The crust is normally brushed with a butter and a garlic sauce, both of which are not vegan. I asked for these sauces to be left off, but the gluten-free crust is also vegan. 

While any vegetables can be added to a pie, I chose to only add mushrooms and to only add them to half of my pie. 

Here is a slice, from the half with cheese. This oven baked deliciousness was the perfect combination of bread, tomato, and cheesy goodness. 

Add some mushrooms and red pepper flakes.... and BAM! This pizza goes one step further then amazing. 

A good vegan pizza is hard to find, especially on that tastes like pizza. On top of serving good pizza, they also have a great bar, and like I mentioned earlier the atmosphere was awesome. 

While we did have to wait close to thirty minutes for a table, I could totally see this being a great place to grab a bite to eat & a drink with friends after work or school; but I also saw lots of families eating a casual friday night dinner. 

If you find that there is a Mellow Mushroom near you, I definitely think that you should give it a try and of course let me know what you think! (: 

Join the conversation on facebook. 

Homemade Vegan Pot Pie Casserole

Yet again we find ourselves at the beginning of another week, a Monday. Today marks the last full week of shopping. While the hustle and bustle of your week is just beginning, I’m hoping that this recipe will ease the stress of the week and provide a delicious meal that you and yours can sit down and enjoy!

This recipe is an adaptation of a recipe that I originally saw in this year’s Holiday issue of Food Network Magazine, which should only go to show how easy it is to take your favorite recipes and make them vegan by substituting in new ingredients.

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Homemade Vegan Pot Pie Casserole

Ingredients:

1/2 a stick of vegan margarine 

4 carrot sticks, chopped into small pieces

2 stalks of celery, finely chopped

8oz of baby bella mushrooms

1 1/2 tablespoons of low-sodium soy sauce

3 tablespoons of flour

1 1/2 cups of soy milk

1/2 cup of soy creamer

1 14oz block of tofu cut into small squares (save the water*) 

1 15oz can of peas

7 slices of bread, made into bread crumbs**

Salt and peper to taste

Directions: 

1.  Melt you butter in a large oven safe dish. 

2. Add in the carrots, onions, and celery. Cook until they are slightly softened, remembering to still occasionally. Usually around 5 minutes.

3. Add in the mushroom and the soy sauce and cook until the vegetables are soft. Usually around 3 minutes. 

4. Add in the flour, stir, and cook for one minute. 

5. Add in the soy milk, soy creamer, 1 cup of water, and salt to taste.  

* I like to use the water my tofu was packaged in, if it is not quite one cup just add water to bring it to a cup. 

6. Bring your mixture to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and let simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened.

7. Add the can of peas and the tofu, bring to a simmer, and then add salt and pepper to taste. 

8. Remove from heat, stir thoroughly, and add the bread crumbs evenly to the top of the dish. Then bake in the oven @ 425 for about 8 minutes or until the top is slightly browned. 

**Cheap vegan bread crumbs are not an easy thing to find, so I tend to just make my own. I toast the bread, break it into small pieces separating the crust from the bread. In a food processor, I blend the bread first and pour that into a bowl. Then I do the crust, and mix it all together in bowl. 

For this recipe, I add both the crust crumbs and the bread crumbs into the food processor and add 1/4 teaspoon of garlic salt. 

I'm making this for dinner tonight with my Dad. I can't wait to share our reviews and of course some pictures with you! (:

Join the conversation on facebook!

A Vegan Treat: Twizzlers

Tonight I want to tell you about one of my all time favorite candies, Twizzlers. This delectable sweet treat it delicious, readily available, and best of all VEGAN.

Yes, you read that correctly. Twizzlers are in fact vegan.

A serving size, which includes 4 sticks, in only160 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, and has no cholesterol.

Check out the Twizzlers site for more information.

What do you think? Do you like Twizzlers?

Join the conversation on facebook.  

Vegan Creamy Potato Soup

Tonight, I’m going to share with you the great recipe I promised I would using the Silk creamer from yesterday’s vegan review. I’m talking about a delicious creamy vegan potato soup!

I mean seriously, who wouldn't want to try this soup?!

Here’s what you will need:

Soymilk

Silk Soy Creamer Original

Fresh Garlic

One Onion

Chili Powder, Salt, and Pepper 

Olive Oil

Stick Butter

Potatoes

Bay leaf

Directions:

1. Finally chop 2 cloves of garlic and 1 medium onion.

2. Sauté the onions and garlic in a little bit of olive oil in the bottom of a large stockpot.

3. When they begin to brown, mix in 10-12 medium to large potatoes, that have been peeled and chopped into small pieces.

4. Let these cook down, remembering to stir frequently.

5. After about 5 minutes or so (when the potatoes start to soften) pour in 2 cups of silk soy creamer and 2 cups of soymilk to the mix.

6. Add in the bay leaf, about 1/8 teaspoon of chili powder, a dash of salt, and several dashes of pepper.

7. Immediately bring the mixture to a boil and let boil until the potatoes are mash able.

8. When the potatoes are ready, turn the mixture down to a simmer and mash the potatoes.

9.  When the potatoes are mashed, mix in one stick of vegan butter (I’m using Blue Bonnet Lite).

Serve and enjoy! 

Soy Coffee Creamer

Tonight, I’m going to share with you a great vegan alternative to coffee creamer. I'm talking about Silk's Soy Creamer. 

This sweet and delicious cruelty-free product is the perfect add in for coffee and so much more. 

In fact it makes a great substitute in recipes that call for cream or even just to help thicken up the liquids in a recipe. 

In comes in three flavors; original, hazelnut, and french vanilla. 

Obviously, the french vanilla and hazelnut work the best with coffee. In fact, they make a great little mix in for a quick and delicious (not to mention much cheaper) then the brand name coffee house alternative.

Check out the silk website for more information on their creamers and their other awesome products!

Join the conversation on facebook! 

A Vegan Review: Taco Salad

Tonight I’m going to share another one of my favotite Taco Bell meals. Previously I had shared with you my order for bean and veggie tacos and now I want to show you a great tasting taco salad. 

 My Order: A beef taco salad, substitute beans for the beef. No cheese or sour cream. Add guacamole.

This taco bowl is filled with rice, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, and the red corn chips strips. I like to add mild sauce.

This runs about $5.38 plus tax, which is pretty reasonable for the amount of food you get here, it's a lot! 

I would totally recommend this meal to you guys if you are trying to mix it up from the usual. 

Check it out and let me know what you think! 

Join the conversation on facebook. 

Meatless Monday: Vegan Rice Toppers

I apologize for not getting a recipe up on Friday. I had some family fly in from Hawaii and they were only in Richmond for a few short hours. In maximizing my time with them, I totally forgot to post anything here. I have some really awesome stuff planned for the next couple of weeks though, so be on the look out for that. (:

Tonight’s recipe is quick, simple, and best of all meat free. Happy Meatless Monday y’all. (:

This is a super quick meal to make. 

In fact, it contains only three ingredients:

1. A bed of rice, I'm used boil in the bag white rice. 

2. A vegetable of some sort, as you can see I selected broccoli. \

3. A gravy of your choosing, I'm using mushroom gravy. 

This is a really simple and easy meal, that can be made using whatever vegetables you have lying around. :) 

Give it a try & let me know what you think. 

Join the conversation on facebook

Vegan Milkshakes!

Tonight, I'm watching the live performance of The Sound of Music & enjoying a delicious vegan milkshake! 

I whipped up a delicious treat by mixing some vanilla ice cream, soy milk, and Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. Of course I added a cherry too! 

Are you watching The Sound of Music? What do you think?!

Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream!!

Tonight, I'm going to provide the answer to a very frequently asked question. When I tell people that I'm vegan the first question that I get asked is, of course, about protein. The second question is always, "but how do you live without ice cream". 

In fact, yesterday a holiday party I had a woman and me how I could ever live with out ice cream. Well ma'am, this post is for you. :)

I want to share with you guys one of my favorite ice cream brands, SO Delicious Organic Dairy-Free Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert. 

I'm not a huge fan of vanilla, but I love the way that this tastes with the hints of coconut. 

I'm a pretty big ice cream sunday fan and these are some great ideas for building your own ice cream sunday. 

The first is to add just a little Hersey's Chocolate Syrup, sprinkles, and a cherry. 

Next, I like to take a warm cupcake or even some warm cake & top it with ice cream, Hershey's Chocolate Syrup, Oreo bits, and a cherry. 

A simple scoop of vanilla 'ice cream' goes great with a slice of Pumpkin Pie. 

Don't you just love ice cream?! How do you like to eat your ice cream?

Join the conversation on facebook.