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Tag Archives: vegan cooking

Cook the Pantry: Cookbook Review and Free Recipe!

30 Friday Oct 2015

Posted by itsgotveganinit in Cookbooks and books, recipes, Reviews

≈ 1 Comment

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Cook the Pantry, easy vegan meals, quick vegan meals, Robin Robertson, vegan cookbooks, vegan cooking

Cook the Pantry by Robin Robertson

When I first went vegan, one of my go-to cookbooks was Vegan on the Cheap by Robin Robertson. Actually, I still refer to it quite often as someone who lives on a budget. I love beautiful, gourmet, impressive recipes just as much as the next vegan foodie, but on a daily basis I need recipes that are uncomplicated, quick, and use everyday ingredients. For the sake of helping more people go vegan, I think cookbooks such as these are all the more valuable. With Robin’s latest cookbook, Cook the Pantry, that’s exactly what you’ll find — easy, nutritious vegan meals in 20 minutes or less using ingredients you most likely have on hand. 🙂

Robin Robertson is a tour-de-force when it comes to vegan cooking. She’s authored more than twenty cookbooks, many of which have been best sellers. With Cook the Pantry you’ll find easy instructions for vegan cooking, a pantry list of items to keep on-hand, information on plant proteins and essential kitchen equipment, time-saving tips, and of course, a wide variety of recipes for every course including:

  • soups, stews, and chilis
  • salads
  • pizza, burgers, and sandwiches
  • stovetop suppers
  • pasta
  • sweet treats

As I read through this cookbook I was so happy to discover Cook the Pantry really does live up to all that it promises. The ingredients list for each recipe aren’t unendingly lengthy, the cooking instructions are simple, and the recipes are pretty wholesome. There’s a decent amount of photos, too. (I need photos in a cookbook, people.) I think it’s a perfect cookbook for anyone who’s pressed for time in the kitchen or even someone who is new to vegan cooking as the recipes are vegan-newbie friendly. In fact, the recipe I am sharing with you today (with permission from Vegan Heritage Press) will demonstrate just how easy and delicious the recipes in this new cookbook are.

Cheesy Grits with Greens and Smoky Shiitakes

Cheesy Grits with Greens and Smoky Shiitakes*
Makes 4 servings

The addition of nutritional yeast and a little vegan butter give grits a cheesy flavor without the cheese. If you like, you may add 1/2 cup of shredded vegan cheddar for more cheesy goodness. The amount of time needed to cook the greens will depend on the type of greens you use and whether they’re fresh or frozen.

1 cup quick-cooking grits
2 teaspoons vegan butter (Earth Balance)
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
Salt and ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 scallions, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces mushrooms (any kind), sliced or chopped
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 cups chopped fresh or frozen greens (thawed and squeezed, if frozen)
1/2 cup vegetable broth

  1. Cook the grits according to package directions. (It should take about 5 minutes for quick-cooking grits.) Stir in the butter, nutritional yeast, and salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm.
  2. While the grits are cooking, heat the oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add the scallions and garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and cook 3 minutes to soften. Sprinkle on the liquid smoke and smoked paprika, tossing to coat. Add the greens and broth, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, until the greens are tender, 4 to 8 minutes, depending on the greens. Taste and adjust the seasonings, if needed. To serve, top the grits with the mushroom mixture.

Also, be sure to check out more recipes from and reviews on Cook the Pantry from around the vegan blogosphere 😉

  • Everyone’s Favorite Black Bean Chili on Chic Vegan
  • Easy as Chocolate Pie on Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen
  • BBQ Jack Sandwiches on Veggie Inspired
  • Stove Top Peach Blueberry Crumble on An Unrefined Vegan
  • Artichoke Muffaletta Po’ Boys on Glue & Glitter
  • Chipotle Corn Chowder on Zsu’s Vegan Pantry

*(Recipe from Cook the Pantry © 2015 by Robin Robertson. Photo by Annie Oliverio. Used by permission Vegan Heritage Press LLC.)

 

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7 Free Resources for Transitioning to a Vegan Diet

08 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by itsgotveganinit in Uncategorized

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Tags

go vegan, how to go vegan, vegan cooking, vegan eating, vegan guides, vegan lifestyle, vegan resources

We’re in our first full week of 2013 and while that’s cause for celebration, I know many people are already wondering if they can fulfill the New Year’s resolutions they vowed to make happen. I’m sure some of us have already said, “Oh, shoot! I meant to do ‘x’ and I already messed up!” The good news is that it’s never too late to pick up where you left off and regain momentum towards those resolutions.

I know some people probably are entering 2013 with a little more curiosity about converting to a vegan diet or even a vegetarian diet, or they are simply looking for ways to incorporate more plant foods into their diet (which are all wonderful!). In fact, within the past month, I’ve had two friends contact me through social media on how they can begin to add more plant foods to their diet! Woot woot! (It all begins with a question, right?) At any rate, I began thinking about all the great resources out there for learning how to cook and live the vegan way. What’s more, many of these resources are completely free! So if you’re looking for ways to transition to a vegan or vegetarian diet, but you’re strapped for some cash, here are my top resources that won’t cost you anything!

  1. The library. Yes! People (including myself) still use the library. Get thee to your local branch and secure a library card. Most libraries carry vegan cookbooks and lifestyle books and vegan or vegetarian magazine subscriptions. Check out a cookbook or magazine to do a little recipe testing at home and discover the amazing deliciousness that is vegan fare. Also, pick out a lifestyle/health book (such as The China Study) that will help you understand the science behind plant-based eating. Even if your local library doesn’t stock a particular book, most libraries can request it for you. Don’t under-utilize your library!
  2. The internet. In case the library makes you feel like you’re living in the dinosaur age, or if you are unable to leave your home for any reason, surf the internet. You can Google just about anything you’re curious about, whether it be recipes, questions about vegan toiletries, or to find out what nutritional yeast is. I know technically, you pay for your internet service, but it’s such a staple in many households that I sort of don’t consider it a major cost. And besides, if you don’t have the internet at home, refer to item number 1—they can “hook you up” there!
  3. Blogs. With the invention of blogging platforms (such as the lovely WordPress site I am using), anyone who has anything to say about health, cooking, vegan living, animal advocacy, etc., can blog about it! For my favorite picks, check out one of my first posts.
  4. Podcasts. I love love love podcasts! It’s possible I am a podcast addict. There are so many wonderful podcasts I love listening to on ITunes or on my mobile device. The great thing about a podcast is that I can tune in and get educated or inspired no matter where I am or where I am going. Whether I am working out, sitting at my computer working, or going for a drive, I always have my podcasts. Search on ITunes by simply typing in the word “vegan” in the search bar and you’ll see the option to further search through podcasts. You won’t be disappointed in the choices of vegan voices that are podcasting these days! (Some of my favorites are “Our Hen House”, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau’s “Vegetarian Food for Thought” and Unity.fm’s “Main Street Vegan” with Victoria Moran.)
  5. YouTube. YouTube is another internet site where you can search for vegan cooking demos or shows. In fact, VegNews magazine has a YouTube channel with cooking demos! One of my favorite internet vegan cooking shows is “Save the Kales” presented by Jaime K. She too has a blog, but she’s so darn cute and talented, you simply have to check out her YouTube channel!
  6. Meetup.com. Meetup is a website to where you can find groups of people who share your same interests and then “meet up” to gather and get to know each other. There are many vegetarian and vegan groups you can search through Meetup and hopefully you can find a group nearby. Okay, one side note: this isn’t technically “free” either, but usually Meetup groups ask for a donation when you arrive–just to keep the group going. But again, cost is so, so minimal that I just had to include it.
  7. 21-day Vegan Kickstart. The 21-day Vegan Kickstart is a program presented by PCRM that sends you shopping lists, meal plans, and inspirational and how-to messages and videos for those individuals seeking a trial-run in plant-based eating. Obviously, it’s a 21-day program, so if you’re veg-curious or just want to dabble in the vegan way of eating, this free program is already tailored for novices and guarantees that you’ll be eating nutritiously. (Hopefully, you’ll find that eating a plant-based diet is satisfying and fulfilling enough that you’ll stick with it!)

These are just a few ideas to get you started if you are testing out a new way of eating in 2013. For those of you already well-versed in the vegan lifestyle, please share this with your friends who might need some ideas and advice. We’re all in this together, as I always say. And if you have any more ideas or resources that are good guides for the new plant-eaters, please share them!

 

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It’s Got Vegan In It

It’s Got Vegan In It

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Who is this blogger?

I'm Melissa; a vegan who wants to share more about the vegan lifestyle whether it be about helping animals, good vegan food, challenges, or simply enjoying great vegan chocolate. LIfe is too short not to enjoy chocolate ;-)

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