Veganizing cookbooks

I recently found an amazing cookbook with a really cool concept called the Forest Feast. I personally like to get any kind of cookbook and veganize it. I enjoy the challenge and I love doing my own thing. Here is the first dish that I veganized. I just used vegan cheese instead of the cheese she asks for in the book and I left out the pine nuts and capers since I did not have any in the house. Here is the lovely Asparagus tart. I made mine with white asparagus for a change and added minced chives since that is what I had around the house. The book is not entirely vegan it is mostly lacto ovo but it is SO easy to veganize almost any cookbook. Give it a try if you ever get the chance :D I hope she comes out with an all vegan cookbook some day. I would love to meet this author she seems very sweet. I will be posting more veganized versions of different cookbook's recipes in the future.

Vegan Donuts and Coffee

I love love love Whole Foods selection of vegan donuts. I picked up strawberry, cinnamon, blueberry and an orange colored one. My room mate and I ate them all in one sitting. We thought since there was a storm coming we better stock up on delicious vegan treats before we put on our favorite horror movies and snuggle up in warm blankets. To my Pacifca and Santa Cruz friends please stay safe in the storm <3

Veggie Grill and Banana bread with walnuts and cinnamon

I was in the mood for comfort food. I went to Veggie Grill last week and got a delicious fried veggie chicken dish. It was sooo good! you must try it. I got a side of fries with dipping sauces as well and shared everything with my husband. I went home later and made a delicious banana bread recipe with walnuts. To make it very soft I put oil, three bananas and baking powder inside. I also put loads of cinnamon in. Here is the recipe that I copied but I added the cinnamon. I also decided not to use soy yogurt since I only had almond milk. It came out amazing though!

Vegan Banana Bread

Happy Compassionate Thanksgiving!!

I hope you all had a lovely and compassionate Thanksgiving. My sister made the most delicious vegan dinner for me. She had samosas with sauce, cornbread stuffing made with veggie stalk, rolls,  collard greens, vegan dip with chips, various vegan beers/wines and my husband made a delicious vegan apple crumble.

Day at the Farmer's Market

First things first I woke up and ate some food channel dip recipe that I veganized. 

I made vegan peanut butter cookies last night! 

Grabbed bagel and vegan cream cheese at cafe' and almond soy latte. I always bring my own cream cheese since most cafe's do not have vegan versions. 

Picked up some delicious persimmons, fresh almond butter and grapes at Farmer's Market. SO much vegan food and yummy things to eat there. It is always amazing. 

Vegan makeup review: Lime Crime's Venus: The Grunge Pallette

I saw this all over social networking sites and I loved the way it looked on the people who wore it. I am very pale so I wanted something cool and grunge that would look nice on my skin tone. This is definitely one of my favorite purchases this season and I love the way it looks on my skin! I am able to blend the colors perfectly and it looks so lovely. Go check it out here: Lime Crime Venus

Tofu coconut curry

I made some excellent tofu coconut curry and vegan sugar cookies for dessert. I went by the a recipe in the vegan a go go cookbook but added coconut and a few other ingredients to give it a creamier taste. The original recipe has another name. I added a side of hummus, avocado and hummus chips to dip. To pair with cookies, I made coffee out of my favorite coffee mug that I got from Stumptown coffee in Oregon. 

Vegan in Autumn

Veggie Grill one of my favorite new vegan restaurants in the Bay Area so far but I'd love to explore more delicious vegan places. They have some amazing places in San Francisco and San Jose as well. I love Fall time. Autumn is probably one of my favorite times of year. I break out my boots and warm leggings, scarves and bundle up. Make vegan sugar cookies, sip coffee and hot cider by the fire and create delicious veggie stews to warm me up. This fall I have enjoyed creating more art, hanging with friends and going for many hikes. I love hiking during fall time more than Summer because you don't get as tired from the sun. I went leaf picking with my husband the other day to find pretty maple leaves to hang by our chimney. I look forward to many more nature walks, hikes and celebrating. Winter will be wonderful and I can't wait for that. Below: some of my favorite things in Autumn. 

Delicious seasonal butternut squash soup at Veggie Grill. 

Warm up with a vegan latte' 

SO good! 

Beautiful fall leaves! 

Vegan sweet potato pie :D 

Simple vegan tacos

When I don't have a lot of time and want to make simple vegan tacos I just heat up a can of vegetarian refried beans, chop up half an avocado, salsa and tomatoes. You can heat up taco shells and add in some vegan cheese if you want but I prefer them just plain. 

Vegan pumpkin spiced latte DIY

Don't get too down about not being able to drink the pumpkin flavored coffees at cafe's if you are vegan. To be honest, most of the ones my friends have tried are far too sweet and full of junk. I personally enjoy to make my own healthier, less sugar, vegan version of a spiced latte.

What you need:

1. Pumpkin flavored coffee or if you want something sweet try regular coffee and pumpkin flavor syrup. (I warn you it does get sweet so use as much or as little as you like. I personally like a bit less sugar so I just sweeten my coffee with organic sugar. )

2. Vanilla flavored almond milk or vanilla flavored soy milk

3. Vegan whip cream to top

4. Dash of cinnamon or nutmeg


Brew espresso use one or two shots or if you don't have espresso maker you can brew medium to strong cup of coffee, warm milk up on stove top and combine with coffee. (Use as much or as little to your liking. To make it more latte' you can use more milk if you wish.) Top with dollop of vegan whip cream, throw a dash of cinnamon or spices on there and voila!

Lists of vegan options at a few shops I love to go to

Sometimes it can be a challenge to find vegan options if they don't have a vegan section. I usually will go to a list of vegan options at stores so I can write down items I'd like to get before I shop besides the obvious fruits and veggies. Here they are:

1. Trader Joes 
2. Whole Foods  (Couldn't find vegan whole foods list yet but did find vegan comfort food recipes! )
3. Starbucks  (There are many other vegan starbucks links but this one was cool and it had pics)

 This next list isn't a store but it is one of my favorites! The accidental vegan food list from PETA
4. Accidentally Vegan food List


And finally for your eyes to feast on...here area  few photos of the food I got with my hubby at Veggie Grill. If you haven't gone there yet, please go. It is amazing and sooo yummy!! Oh and EVERYTHING is vegan there :D

Summer Salad

This was a great idea for a summer spring salad. I have seen it on several blogs but my friend on her blog added kale to it. This seems like a great idea to get nutrients. 

Here is what I did to make mine: 

*bow tie pasta (make sure it doesn't have eggs)

*1 bunch of kale (chopped)

*two tomatoes (chopped) 

*tablespoon of grain mustard

*a few table spoons of olive oil

*tablespoons of vinagarrete 

*a splash of dried herbs

*2 cloves of garlic of half an onion

*chickpeas (My friend used kidney beans but you can use whatever beans you have in the kitchen for extra protein. I also added a small dash of salt. 

Directions:

Boil pasta to however soft you like it. 

Steam kale with some garlic or onion.

Throw in canned beans (drained) 

When pasta is drained add all ingredients together: chopped tomatoes, kale, herbs, kale mustard, vinegar, and olive oil. Top with vegan cheese or some avocado. 

Portland: Vegan Paradise

    I am blogging more when I travel about great places to get vegan food. I prefer San Francisco, L.A. and Portland for amazing vegan options. Recently I traveled to Oregon with my husband and we made so many fun friends there. People are extremely friendly not to mention the amazing cafe's, breweries and food there. At every restaurant I went to there were so many veg friendly options and most of it was organic. I love Portland and I will definitely be back. It was one of the few places where cafe's offer not only almond milk but rice milk as an option. Even some of the corporate places there are experimenting with coconut milk for their latte's. Very cool. I went to mostly indie coffee shops but it is good to know that there are so many great options for people who might have allergies. One of my favorite things about the culture there were the food trucks. A lot of those had vegan options as well.
    Aside from all the delicious vegan food there was so much beautiful nature and places to hike. We also visited the Portland rose garden and Japanese garden. I hope some of you are able to visit this wonderful place if you haven't already and to the people of Portland, you guys and gals were so super friendly! Thanks for making us feel at home. I think it was probably the friendliest city I have ever been to. I can't wait to check out Seattle, Washington next time I am there.

Delicious vegan donut at Blue Star donuts. 

Voodoo Doughnut also had vegan options! 

Breakfast at Stumptown with vegan muffin :> 

This food truck was awesome and had vegan option. 

There is a rad arcade called Ground Kontrol where you can order beer at night and get hummus and pita or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. So rad!