Veggie 101

Product Review: Cafe Rivva Juice Cleanses

2012-04-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

My first ever juice cleanse, thanks to the fabulous Cafe Rivva! For the sake of the being able to say I've done it, I hopped on the latest bandwagon to check out this booming, oh-so-LA trend. Although I was a bit apprehensive, it ended up being quite an experience.

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Cilantro-Lime Rice

2012-04-15T12:38:00.001-07:00

Cilantro and lime, one of the great Mexican flavor combinations. Apply that to rice, and you've got an excellent side dish waiting to be paired with bold, spicy flavors. With a few adjustments to the original recipe, this can be a staple for almost any meal.
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Apologies

2012-04-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

Update! (4/11/12) I've corrected all broken links with the exception of the following categories: Italian, Main Dish, Side Dish, and Soup/Stew. Thank you for your patience!

So it looks like Vegetarian Times, the magazine I've gotten most of the recipes on the site from, has revamped their website. And like a not-so-smart web redesign, they've changed the titles of each and every one of their recipe links. This means for me, and probably many other bloggers out there, that there are broken links galore running rampant through this site (probably around 400 recipes!).

I plan on fixing each and every one, but as you can probably imagine, that's not going to happen overnight. Please bear with me, and if you can't find a recipe, it's probably easiest to just do a search on the VT website.

Sorry for any inconvenience!

Product Review: Lightlife

2012-04-06T21:47:00.000-07:00

The Lightlife you've come to know and love--featuring vegan and vegetarian products in major supermarkets across the country--has a new look and a load of new items. They've expanded into the veggie burger and frozen meal realm, with four new varieties for each, available everywhere in June. The new items are only vegetarian (not vegan), which is strange, considering that seems to be the direction most companies are headed these days. But fret not veggies, you'll be able to add most of these new products to your quick meal option lineup.
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Product Review: Sol Cuisine

2012-03-17T09:00:00.111-07:00

With so many veggie burgers on the market, how do you know which to choose? The possibilites and varieties seem endless: some are more "natural" than others, some taste flat out horrible, and some even contain egg whites and dairy (watch out, vegans!).

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Product Review: Galaxy Nutritional Foods

2012-03-03T21:28:00.120-08:00

With so many "uncheese" cheeses in the market these days, how do you know which to choose? For over 20 years, Galaxy Foods has offered a wide range of cheesey products, including vegetarian, vegan, and rice-based slices. But it's perhaps their newest products that are giving other companies a run for their money...

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Restaurant Review: Sky's Gourmet Tacos

2012-02-25T17:02:00.168-08:00

It baffles me that more Los Angelenos don't know about Sky's Gourmet Tacos, the self-proclaimed Mexican restaurant with a "splash of soul." Let me be the first to tell you, this place is WAYYYYY underrated. It's also the true definition of a hole in the wall: small and obscure, but some of the best food that may ever cross your palate. Plant-eaters and carnivores alike can dine here in culinary harmony, as there's an entire vegan/vegetarian menu containing faux meat, tofu, vegan cheese, and more!

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Kung Pao Tempeh Triangles

2012-02-18T13:46:00.052-08:00

I'm still on the fence about tempeh. That bitter, slightly sour flavor just does not appeal to me. Well, until now, that is. Apparently, marinating it in a delicious, addictive sauce and broiling it is the way to go. Although this isn't a traditional kung pao dish in the sense of the ingredients, it's an absolutely wonderful Asian-inspired dish that you won't be able to get enough of!

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Orange Chipotle-Glazed Tofu

2012-01-17T19:50:00.001-08:00

So I think I've found my new favorite way to cook tofu: broiling. It does things to tofu that you'd never think possible. This recipe is so delicious that you'll be amazed at how simple it is to make, and you may find yourself making it again and again. If you're trying to turn someone on to the joys of this soy food, this may be just the recipe to use.

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Curried Squash, Broccolini, and Tofu

2012-01-02T15:55:00.001-08:00

Butternut squash, tofu, and broccolini in a Thai-inspired curry-coconut sauce...sounds amazing, right? Unfortunately, this dish was a disappointment on many levels. Although I did adapt the recipe a tiny bit, I can assure you it's the recipe (and not me!) that has problems. If you're a big fan of this type of dish, make your own modifications, but read on to see where things went wrong.

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Sun-Dried Tomato and White Bean Bruschetta

2011-12-27T11:48:00.001-08:00

I wanted to use up a bag of dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, so this recipe seemed like a sure winner. Unfortunately, it turned out to be something quite different from what I expected. It wasn't a total disaster, but look elsewhere if you're looking for a true bruschetta recipe.

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Product Review: Funky Monkey Snacks

2011-12-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

Dried fruit is sooooo 2011. Enter Funky Monkey Snacks for 2012 and beyond! Freeze-dried fruit (as opposed to regular dried fruit) is where it's at, from flavor to texture to nutrition. This stuff is perfect for a quick snack any time, and it travels so well!

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Pesto "Pasta"

2011-12-17T13:32:00.000-08:00

Pasta made out of...squash? And not the spaghetti kind? I can't tell you how frightened I was to try this. I know this is what a raw foodist's dreams are made of, but I'm not quite on that level myself. Still, the pesto on its own sounded delicious, so I was willing to give in to the idea of raw pasta.

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Product Review: Sophie's Kitchen Seafood

2011-12-03T12:45:00.001-08:00

Seafood is probably one of the hardest vegan things to emulate AND make taste good. You can find a lot of faux fish products at your local Asian markets, but (speaking from experience) they're often unpalatable and always have a strange not-quite-right smell. Enter Sophie's Kitchen...

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Restaurant Review: Pepple's Donuts/Donut Farm

2011-11-26T11:47:00.000-08:00

The glowing red neon "vegan" in the window and the huge pink sprinkled donut is all that distinguishes Donut Farm from the outside. This inconspicuous, cruelty-free Oakland bakery not only creates some of the tastiest and creative vegan donuts around, but there's also a fabulous weekend brunch that is clearly a popular choice with nearby residents. Don't be put off by its no-frills, hole-in-the-wall appearance: Donut Farm (aka Pepple's Donuts...actually, I'm not sure which is the "correct" name) is one of the Bay Area's best kept secrets.

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Restaurant Review: Flacos

2011-11-23T14:32:00.000-08:00

There aren't enough vegan Mexican restaurants in the world. I mean, there's plenty of Asian places, with mock duck and chicken drumsticks galore. But what about some good old-fashioned comfort food Mexican? What if you don't want to take your chances at a "regular" place, where all you can order is guacamole, chips, rice, and beans (and even then, you have to wonder about the lard factor)?

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Product Review: Go Max Go Foods

2011-11-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

If I told you there were vegan versions of America's favorite candy bars (Snickers, Three Musketeers, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, to name a few) that tasted amazing and contained no artificial ingredients, would you believe me? Probably not, right? Well then this post is for you. Get ready to be more excited than a kid in a candy store!

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Restaurant Review: Streets of India Cafe

2011-10-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

Indian cuisine is certainly known for their wide-ranging vegetarian options, but strangely enough, vegan options are often nil. Sure, some places can make dishes vegan by request, but that's where Streets of India takes that notion to a whole new level. Not only do they offer tons of vegan options, but they have something that most places don't: faux meats!

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Summer Rolls with Miso Sauce

2011-10-15T14:56:00.001-07:00

Most people get these confused with their very similar kin--crunchy, deep-fried spring rolls--but summer rolls really do live up to their name. They're light, fresh, healthy, and chockful of veggies and herbs. But perhaps the most noticeable difference is that summer rolls are served cold in clear rice paper wrappers. This version is served with a delicious tangy dipping sauce. Perfect for hot weather snacking!

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Lemon-Herb Pasta with Artichokes and Green Beans

2011-09-26T13:15:00.000-07:00

A super easy and creative pasta dish with the light and fresh flavors of summer. Although this is nothing more than pasta and veggies, the addition of salty feta, tangy lemon, and a unique twist on pesto makes this quite an interesting meal.

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Artichoke-Parmesan Turnovers

2011-09-04T12:27:00.000-07:00

Mmmm, puff pastry. Anything is good in puff pastry, and this recipe is no exception. Although there are a few issues with it (which I'll help you sort out), it gives you a gourmet-tasting, rich, decadent finger food...which can actually end up as two different appetizers.

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Feta, Pistachio, and Carrot Salad

2011-09-03T12:27:00.001-07:00

Remember those old school carrot salads loaded with mayo and raisins? You either loved it or hated it, and I think I was somewhere in between. Well, this recipe takes that lunchbox staple and turns it into something fresh, summery, and absolutely delicious.

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Avocado Pico de Gallo "Cocktail"

2011-09-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

If you like salsa, this dish is for you. If you like guacamole, this dish is for you. And if you like salads, this dish is also for you. This quick and simple recipe is an interesting combination of the three, so of course that means it's super versatile. Whether you eat it with chips, atop any Mexican dish, or even as a small side, it's so delicious that one serving definitely won't be enough.

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Quinoa with Pistachios, Parsley, and Mint

2011-08-14T15:13:00.001-07:00

If you're looking for an absolutely delicious, summery, and cinch-to-make side dish that can pair well with just about anything, look no further. This simple but fully flavored quinoa dish is light, healthy, and strangely addictive.

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Fresh Corn Chowder

2011-08-14T15:12:00.001-07:00

Chowder isn't typically served in warmer seasons. It's thought of as a winter dish, served piping hot, rich, and thick to warm your body up on cold nights. This recipe, however, takes a different approach: it's light, dairy-free, and uses only the best summertime produce.

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