Livin’ Veg

Vegan Chocolate Muffins September 12, 2008

Usually when looking for vegan recipes, I don’t go to standard websites. I like the Post Punk Kitchen and plenty of other places that have proven yummy recipes. So when I was looking through health tips on some random website and saw a healthy chocolate muffin listed, I clicked on it wondering how much garbage would be in it. None! It is totally vegan and apparently is the muffin Mariska Hargitay eats on the set of Law and Order SVU. The recipe even calls for dairy free chocolate chips. Yum

I’m going to give the recipe a try this weekend. Frankly, it sounds really tasty. The best part is that they are called “guilt free chocolate muffins.” And they sure are. Guilt free from animal suffering and global warming. I don’t think that’s what they meant. But that’s how I’m taking it.

For those that want the cooking information and the calories, fat, protein, sugar etc info, click here. Here are the ingredients for the curious.

Ingredients:
Cooking spray
1 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon canola oil
1/2 cup turbinado sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
3/4 cup oat flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup semisweet dairy- and gluten-free chocolate chips (such as Sunspire)
Powdered sugar (optional)

Go to the website and get the cooking instructions. Happy vegan chocolate muffin baking!

Sweet & Sarah Marshmallows September 10, 2008

Sweet & Sarah Marshmallows are so tasty they get their own post. My first experience with these delectable treats was not too long ago. In my fabulous goody bag from the Farm Sanctuary Gala this past May, there was a s’more. Yes a s’more. It was delicious. Graham cracker, a big ol’ layer of vegan marshmallow and of course a chocolate cap, made these treats the thing of vegan legend. I thought: Where do I get more of these?? And then, the next week when I stepped into my local Whole Foods, what did I see? S’mores and other of Sweet & Sarah’s products! There is nothing better than when yummy vegan desserts are easy to find. I love to bake. I love making sweets. But sometimes you don’t want to bake. You want something yummy and you want it now! These products will suit you just fine.

I’d go on more about how much I love them, but I think the picture above shows it all. But can I just say, Rice Crispy Treats! Marshmallows in my hot cocoa! And S’mores! It must be vegan Christmas!

Field Roast = Yum September 4, 2008

While doing the weekly shopping at our local Whole Foods this past weekend, I picked up a vegan product I had never tried. Field Roast’s smoked tomato deli slices. These deli slices are made from wheat gluten and lots of yummy spices like garlic, sea salt, Irish moss (no idea what that is) and paprika. I happened to pick up the smoked tomato flavor, but they also come in lentil sage and wild mushroom.

Field Roast is a Seattle based all veg company with a large variety of products - not just deli slices, but all faux meats. Check them out and find out where you can buy their yummy products. I give them a happy tummy two thumbs up.

Activism Through the Tummy August 5, 2008

What is one of the easiest things a veg can do to introduce others to vegan foods? Bake. Show the average omnivore how good life can be through food.

When most people hear the word vegan, they cringe thinking that vegan means cardboard health food with no taste. Combat those negative images with positive ones by making cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cakes, tarts, whatever you’d like. Bring those items to parties, gatherings, or as gifts. Spread the vegan love through the tummy.

You don’t even have to tell them that the treats are vegan right away. Let them ooh and ah for a moment about how good they are and then drop the bomb. Perception of food is in actuality more important than the food itself. Don’t believe me? Check out this article: Meat Eaters Live a Lie. They did taste tests with faux meat products and actual meat products. The findings showed that people make decisions based on expectation rather than experience. So if a person thinks they are about to eat a regular dairy filled cupcake, they will probably like the taste more than if you tell them right away that they are about to devour a vegan treat. Why? They may have a negative view of the word vegan.

So spread your vegan love by filling bellies with delicious foods. Here are some great cookbooks to start you on your way.

Veganomicon
Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World
The Joy of Vegan Baking