Tag: cookbook

DO Try This At Home

Home cooking has taken on greater importance over the past few years. Rising interest in food overall had already tipped the scales in favor of more homemade meals, and then the pandemic hit, making it a beacon of hope amid dwindling choices. For those with demanding schedules, tight budgets, tricky dietary restrictions, or limited experience, the shift has been anything but palatable.

Go ahead, take it easy. Laura Theodore is revitalizing comfort food as we know it, giving everyone the tools to create healthy, hearty, home cooked meals on their own terms. That means accessible ingredients, user-friendly instructions, and even low-impact clean up when it’s all said and done. If you’re craving a bite of nostalgia with better nutrition, Easy Vegan Home Cooking has exactly what you need.

BBQ Tempeh Triangles (p. 136)

Everything prepared in your own kitchen qualifies as “home cooking,” but there’s deeper meaning to the concept than such a basic definition can allow. Traditionally, the term implies comfort food, something made with intention, love, and care. It’s not fancy, and sometimes even downright ugly, but each bite feeds more than just the basic need for fuel. Takeout can never rise to such heights.


Laura’s Blueberry-Banana Smoothie (p. 41)

Easy Vegan Home Cooking includes over 125 cozy, comforting recipes that transform minimal ingredients into deeply satisfying meals. Bucking the conventional notion that soulful, crave-worthy cooking needs to make nutritional compromises, these dishes are notably low in added oil, salt, and sugar. Removing such cheap crutches lets fresh flavors do the talking instead.

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Butternut Squash Soup (p. 76)

You’ve gotta taste it to believe it. Easy Vegan Home Cooking by Laura Theodore may just redefine what your idea of what home cooking is.

Hannah (BitterSweet)19 Comments

Ice Cream Season

To anyone who decries ice cream solely as a summertime food, buckle up and put on a sweater. I’ve got numerous wintry treats in Super Vegan Scoops! tailor-made for the season that will change your mind.

Apple Pie Sundae

First gradually, and then suddenly, the seasons shift once more. Progressively cooler breezes blow in every night until thick, knit blankets reemerge from storage, unfurling upon beds like the triumphant victory flags of fall. Golden leaves tumble from their branches, crunching and snapping underfoot, dusting every pathway like freshly fallen snow. Tastes adjust as well, directing cravings towards the comfort of warmer, richer foods. When it comes to dessert, no dish better represents this transitory period than the classic apple crisp. A fool-proof formula for success, the combination of tender apples, bubbling away in their own cinnamon- and nutmeg-spiked juices holds universal appeal.

Bearing all the best characteristics of the classic pastry but in with a considerably cooler core, a rich scoop of apple butter-rippled ice cream perches atop warm, fork-tender apples, gently poached and delicately cradled by a single-serve flaky crust. Incorporating the faintly woodsy flavor of burnt sugar, these treats don’t just welcome autumn’s return, but celebrate it with gusto.

Frosty Pumpkin Roulade

The cult of pumpkin spice is unstoppable, growing in tenor and ferocity with every passing season. Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice candles, pumpkin spice cough drops, pumpkin spice lip gloss, and pumpkin spice scratch-and-sniff bandages; they’re all real! If it can be infused with the flavor (or scent) that dominates all of fall, it absolutely will be. Pumpkin pie is at the very top of the Thanksgiving dessert hierarchy of course, as the purest, original manifestation of the flavor sensation.

In light of the newfound fervor for pumpkin spice, I feel a revolution is upon us. Coming from another venerable line of traditional baked goods, ready to unseat the longstanding overlord, is the spectacular pumpkin roulade. Typically filled with airy mounds of vanilla-spiked whipped cream, each spiral of aromatic pumpkin crumb gains even greater appeal with buttery pecan ice cream instead. Wrapping up two desserts into one, pumpkin spice fanatics will have a fresh focus for their seasonal obsession, and fair-weather fans will be mightily pleased, too.

Mulled Wine Sorbet

Drawn to the kitchen by the heady aroma of citrus and spice, the soothing scent of mulled wine evokes memories of the holidays, as warm and cozy as a thick knit sweater. Though typically enjoyed steaming hot, to fortify against a cold winter’s night, it’s also quite delightful served over ice, which is where this much cooler rendition got its inspiration. Pull on your mittens and scarves to embrace this spirited yuletide treat!

Peppermint Bark Roulade

Regardless of holiday party plans, as host or attendee, no matter how long or short wish lists may be, I have two words for you: Peppermint Bark. All it takes is chocolate and crushed candy canes, yet it can elicit the same level of enthusiasm as a laborious multi-tier Christmas cake. You’d think the stuff was sprinkled with pure gold judging by the way some people clamor to snap up piece after piece.

Something about the combination of creamy chocolate slabs, festooned with crunchy red and white striped mint confections seems to strike a chord with everyone, young, old, jolly, and curmudgeonly alike. It’s all about the ratio and quality of ingredients that hits the sweet spot.

Plain peppermint stick ice cream is a wondrous limited edition treat, but without a chocolate crunch, something seems to be missing. Enter, the glorious peppermint bark roulade, complete with creamy candy cane ice cream, topped with crisp chunks of chopped chocolate, all wrapped up in a fudgy, tender chocolate cake. As if that wasn’t enough, the whole thing is smothered in another layer of snappy dark chocolate magic shell, and finished with a flurry of crushed peppermint candy. It’s a bite of holiday joy that’s far better than anything you could wrap up with a bow.

Santa’s Secret Stash Sundae

When he’s on his epic Christmas Eve odyssey, Stanta is powered by the laughter of children, reindeer magic, and the holiday spirit itself, but we all know he needs to stop and refuel on something more substantial every so often. If I were going to treat Mr. Klaus, it would be with this magnificent collection of seasonal specialties. It all starts with a thick, chewy sugar cookie, because tradition does mandate the classic offering. Instead of a wane glass of milk, though, I’m topping it with a generous scoop of eggnog ice cream, melting into the warm skillet while rivulets of tart cranberry sauce burst through each nook and cranny. Lightly spiced nuts crunch through each layer, adding a refreshing textural contrast. Old Saint Nick never tasted a midnight snack quite like this.

Don’t forget about all the evergreen, all-purpose scoops that always hit the spot, any day of the year. There’s never a bad time to slice into a Brooklyn Blackout Ice Cream Cake, or lick a Cannoli Cone, for example. So get cozy, blast the heat, and break out the frozen treats! It’s still ice cream season, as far as I’m concerned.

Hannah (BitterSweet)6 Comments

The Everyday Vegan Cheat Sheet

There is no such thing as too many cookbooks when it comes to practical, trustworthy recipes than both comfort and inspire. It’s a difficult balance to strike, but I’ve got the cheat sheet for sure-fire hits every single meal. It all starts with a sheet pan, and my upcoming cookbook, The Everyday Vegan Cheat Sheet!

Move over, one-pot meals: Sheet pans are here to stay! Offering ease, speed, and minimal clean-up, unlock a diverse array of bold flavors and satisfying textures with this essential kitchen staple. While there’s a certain charm to slowly simmered stews bubbling away on the stove, a relentless parade of mushy mains quickly loses its appeal. Banish boredom from the dinner table with over one hundred tried and true recipes for success. It’s time to put the stock pot away and start pre-heating the oven.

Bring back nostalgic favorites like plant-based meatloaf, prepared alongside buttery mashed cauliflower. Bake up bulgogi with broccoli that’s even better than takeout. Prepare pancakes for a crowd without flipping a single silver dollar. Heck, you can even mac it out with the creamiest, cheesiest mac and cheese ever, no boil, no fuss, no regrets.

For new cooks and seasoned chefs alike, there are tips and tricks for making the most of your ingredients throughout the year. Endless options for variations keep these formulas fresh, flexible, and adaptable to all taste and dietary preferences.

Eat well every day. You really can have it all with just one pan.

Pre-order your copy today!

Hannah (BitterSweet)4 Comments

Viva Vegetariana

Fledgling vegans are spoiled for choice, without ever realizing it. Beyond the obvious conveniences of readily available meatless meals in both restaurants and grocery stores, newbies might not know that the entire cookbook section has been turned upside down in the past decade. In fact, that distinct lack of vegan baking books is what motivated me to write My Sweet Vegan to begin with.

Compared to Nava Atlas, however, I was still late to the party. Truly a pioneer in the culinary world, activism, literature, and art, Vegetariana first hit bookshelves in 1984, before I was even born. It’s unbelievable how far we’ve come since then, thanks in no small part to such bold moves. Now, 37 years later, Nava’s premier work encompassing recipes, food lore, and imaginative illustrations has been reborn for a whole new generation of compassionate cooks.


Reprinted with permission from Vegetariana by Nava Atlas

While I’ve often flippantly declared that I could never use a cookbook without photos, Vegetariana has made me eat those words, along with a wide assortment of sweet and savory delights. Nava brings these recipes to life with her incredibly artful drawings and stories, giving them even greater presence on the page than a mere snapshot could allow.

These recipes have truly stood the test of time. Tested and tasted again and again, over the course of nearly four decades, they’ve been polished like diamonds, each one a culinary jewel. I’ve had the great fortune of working with Nava for a mere quarter of this book’s lifetime and can easily attest to this fact. Not once have I hit a single dud through the course of our collaborations.

Given such extensive experience with Nava’s work, it’s hard to pick even a dozen favorites from the bunch. Tofu Rancheros make eggs obsolete in this upgraded Tex-Mex standard. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, there’s no time I would ever turn down a heaping helping.

Sweet & Sour Cabbage Soup could soothe the soul better than any scrawny chicken. Tangy and tart, sweet and soft, every spoonful is bright, full of vibrant flavors the belie such a simple preparation. Humble, affordable, and accessible ingredients are transformed into exquisite creations with minimal effort.

Speaking of fast favorites, Quinoa Sloppy Joe or Taco Filling is the all-purpose meatless stuffing for any lonely bun, bread, or tortilla you’ve got on hand. Made for one or an unexpected hoard of visitors, it scales easily, keeps beautifully, and reheats like a champ.


Reprinted with permission from Vegetariana by Nava Atlas

Prepare to add a whole new collection of instant hits to your standard recipe arsenal. Nava Atlas has been so generous to kick-start that inspiration by giving away three copies of Vegetariana to those hungry for comfort food, and food for thought.

To enter, leave me a comment below about your favorite go-to recipe. What’s the dish that you’ve made a hundred times, and could easily make a hundred times more? Don’t forget to come back and fill out the entry form to log your submission, and unlock a number of additional methods to rack up extra entries.

Vegetariana: A Rich Harvest of Wit, Lore, and Recipes by Nava Atlas

Hannah (BitterSweet)11 Comments

School Daze

Summer has only just begun in earnest, which means school is probably the last thing on anyone’s mind right now. After such a grueling year in virtual and physical classrooms, this extended recess is a much deserved break from all that madness. I’m certainly not rushing you back to your desks, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared when that bell does begin to ring again. In fact, I have a very compelling incentive to get you started on back-to-school shopping a bit early.

Coming on August 31th, The Student Vegan Cookbook will arrive to solve all dorm room dining dilemmas! Besides, these recipes are pure gold well beyond the academic age. For anyone on a tight budget, a crazy-busy schedule, and limited kitchen equipment, you still can make amazing vegan snacks, treats, and meals.

Pre-order today to lock in your copy, and as an added bonus, you’ll get an EXCLUSIVE e-book with an additional trio of recipes, not otherwise available anywhere else! All you need to do is send proof of purchase to studentvegan@quarto.com at any time leading up to the official release date.

By simply ordering the book in advance, you can dig in right away with the recipes for Benevolent Bars, Cold Peanut Noodles, and Spring-a-Leek Soup. These staples will serve you well through graduation and beyond, so don’t delay! The school bell will start ringing again before you know it.

Hannah (BitterSweet)11 Comments

Peach of Perfection

The permanent nature of conventional cookbooks is both a blessing and a curse. Yes, there’s some wiggle room for updated editions with future editions, but once those first pages are printed, they’re set in place, bound together for life. Those original words will never change, no matter how many trends come and go. Sure, if the stars are aligned, you can pray for reprints to correct errors, though that’s the real extent of it. We’re not talking about massive renovations here.

Letting go of the project and officially marking it “finished” is a relief. As a freelancer who juggles scores of assignments at once, being able to put even one of those bouncing balls down is downright freeing. Finally, a bit of breathing room, more bandwidth for other ventures! Though daunting to relinquish that control, it does feel good to let loose a completed volume of recipes upon the world.

With every cookbook, inevitably, there’s something that doesn’t make the cut. When ideas keep flowing but deadlines loom, leftover recipes are unavoidable. Such is the case for Super Vegan Scoops! with these stunning Peachy Keen Nectarine Crème Brulees that simply showed up too late for the party.

Almost laughably simple in construction, the rich, deep flavors that result are dead serious. Employing melted ice cream in the custard, it’s a perfect example of the wacky and wonderful ways that the base of a frozen dessert reaches even loftier culinary heights outside of the churn.

Super Vegan Scoops! officially hits shelves tomorrow, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Stay tuned to the blog and social media for more fun extras, tweaks, and celebratory events!

Continue reading “Peach of Perfection” →

Hannah (BitterSweet)8 Comments