10 Ways to Cook with Bagels

I love cooking with bagels. Bagels are a versatile and delicious bread that can be enjoyed in many ways. If you are looking for some vegan recipes using bagels, here are 10 ideas that you can try:

• Vegan Bagel Toppings: You can make your own vegan cream cheese, hummus, pesto or chocolate spread and top your bagels with them. Add some fresh or dried fruits, nuts, seeds, or herbs for extra flavor and texture
• Vegan Bagel Sandwiches: Vegan bagel sandwiches are a great lunch or dinner meal. You can fill your bagels with tofu or tempeh for a meaty flavor. You can even use store bought veggie patties and use the bagel like a bun. Add vegan cheese, vegan mayo, mustard, ketchup or barbecue sauce for extra moisture and flavor. 
• Vegan Bagel Pizza: You can slice your bagels in half and spread some vegan pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings of your choice. Then bake them in the oven or toaster oven until the cheese is melted and the bagels are crispy. Try using vegan pesto or alfredo as the base sauce instead of tomato sauce. 
• Vegan Bagel Salad: Make your own bagel croutons by cubing your bagels and toss them with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Bake in the oven until they are golden and crunchy. You can use them as croutons for your salad or mix them with some roasted vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and dressing1
• Vegan Bagel Casserole: Make a vegan bagel casserole.You can cube your bagels and layer them with some vegan cheese, cream of mushroom soup, milk, and spices. Then bake them in the oven until they are bubbly and cheesy. You can also add some broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, or other vegetables to the casserole3 
• Bagel French Toast: Use bagels instead of bread to  make your own french toast.You can slice your bagels and dip them in a mixture of plant-based milk, cornstarch, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Then fry them in a skillet until they are golden and crisp. You can serve them with some maple syrup, vegan butter, berries, or whipped cream3
• Bagel Soup: You can cube your bagels and simmer them in some vegetable broth, onion, garlic, carrot, celery, and bay leaf. Then blend the soup until it is smooth and creamy. You can season the soup with some salt, pepper, nutmeg, and parsley. You can also add some vegan cheese, cream, or yogurt to the soup3
• Vegan Bagel Bread Pudding: You can cube your bagels and soak them in a mixture of plant-based milk, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, and spices. Then bake them in the oven until they are set and custardy. You can add some raisins, chocolate chips, nuts, or coconut flakes to the pudding3
• Vegan Bagel Scones: You can shred your bagels and mix them with some flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and vegan butter. Then add some plant-based milk and knead the dough until it is smooth. You can shape the dough into rounds and cut them into wedges. Then bake them in the oven until they are golden and flaky. You can add some lemon zest, cranberries, chocolate chips, or nuts to the dough3
• Vegan Bagel Chips: Slice your bagels thinly and brush them with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Then bake them in the oven until they are crisp and crunchy. You can use them as a snack or dip them in some salsa, guacamole, or hummus if 3

I hope you enjoy these vegan recipes using bagels. Let me know which one is your favorit

Easy Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to make side dishes. These are some of my favorites.

These Vegan Mashed Potatoes are a great version of mashed potatoes to try. They use garlic and chives to give them flavour.

If you love cranberry sauce and stuffing, try this Slow Cooker Cranberry Pecan Stuffing. It is a delicious version of stuffing to make this Thanksgiving.

All you need for these Rosemary Roasted Carrots are carrots, olive oil, rosemary and salt.

What are your favorite side dishes to make? Leave a reply in the comments.

How to Make a Veggie Dog for Fourth of July

Grilling veggie dogs is a great way to celebrate Fourth of July. If is a fun way to enjoy an alternative to traditional hot dogs. Here’s a quick guide on how to barbecue them to perfection:

Choose the Best Veggie Dogs

Start by choosing a vegan veggie dog. Look for veggie dogs specifically designed for grilling so they hold up better on the grill and provide a realistic texture. My favorite brand right now is Lightlife Smart Dogs. Field Roast is another good choice for veggie dogs. Try their Signature Stadium Dog Plant Based Hot Dog. Beyond Meat has a hot dog form of their Beyond Sausage that is perfect for grilling. You can also make your own veggie hot dogs like this recipe from Fat Free Vegan that use pinto beans and vital wheat gluten. to give them texture. 

Grill the Veggie Dogs

Place the veggie dogs on the preheated grill using tongs. Rotate them occasionally for even cooking. Watch for grill marks which will add visual appeal and enhance the flavor of your veggie dogs. Cooking time varies, usually 5–10 minutes. 

Serve with Toppings

Once done, serve on a whole grain bun and top with your favorite toppings. Veggie dogs can be customized with a variety of fun toppings! Here are some ideas:

1. Classic Mustard and Ketchup: A timeless combination that works well with any hot dog, including veggie dogs.

2. Relish: S

   weet or dill relish complements the veggie dog nicely. You can also use dill or sweet pickles that are chopped. 
3. Hot Sauce or Sriracha: If you like a spicy kick, add hot sauce instead of ketchup.

4. Grilled Veggies: have you tried grilled vegetables? Use your favorite veggies like peppers or mushrooms for variety. Also try caramelized which will bring sweetness and depth of flavor.

5. Chopped Tomatoes: This is a great way to replace ketchup. They also add a burst of color. Try using fresh tomatoes. 

6. Vegan Cheese: Melted vegan cheese (such as Daiya cheddar) will take your veggie dog to the next level.

7. Sprouts or Microgreens: Add greens to your veggie dog. Use sprouts or microgreens. You can also add avocado slices which will pair well giving a creamy texture. 

Remember, the best toppings are the ones you enjoy the most! Feel free to mix and match to create your perfect veggie dog. 

Have you ever made a veggie dog? Let me know in the comments what you like on your veggie dog. 

How to Make Fourth of July S’Mores

Here’s a delightful twist on traditional s’mores for your Fourth of July celebration: red, white and blue S’mores. These patriotic treats are easy to make and perfect for your Fourth of July party or barbecue. I found the original recipe from Sheri Silver. Let’s get started! 

Ingredients:

• Graham crackers 
• 1 cup red candy melts
• 1 cup blue candy melts 
• Decorative sprinkles
• Vegan marshmallows (I use Dandies to make them vegan, but you can use any brand)
• Chocolate squares (I use vegan dark chocolate)

Instructions:

1. Melt the red candy melts in the top half of a double boiler set over simmering water. 

2. Dip a graham cracker into the bowl of red candy melts and gently tap on the rim to remove any excess. Place on a lined sheet pan to cool. Repeat with as many graham crackers as you want.

3. Top with patriotic sprinkles if using.

4. Repeat the above process with the blue candy melts (do not top with sprinkles, if using). Let set.

5. To roast your marshmallows, you can do using a campfire or stovetop. Just find a stick in the woods or use a long metal skewer and toast the marshmallow over the flame until toasty. You can also use an oven or microwave as another method to toast s’mores (do this after placing them on a graham cracker).

6. To assemble the s’mores, start with a blue graham cracker. Add 2-3 squares of chocolate. Add 1-2 marshmallows on top of the chocolate. Gently press a red graham cracker with decorative sprinkles on top.

7. Serve warm and enjoy! 

10 Companies You Didn’t Know were Vegan

Vegans avoid all animal products when possible. Part of being a vegan is avoiding non vegan brands in other products besides food. It can be easy to shop vegan. Though it may not be possible to use vegan products 100% of the time, people who are vegan may come up with personal items they avoid (e.g. they avoid leather, but still buy beauty products with beeswax). Here are some vegan alternatives to products other than food.

1. Did you know glue sometimes isn’t vegan? EcoGlue is a completely vegan glue you can use for daily use or any of your craft projects. Animal glue is traditionally used in paper and wood processing, bookbinding, painting, conservation/restoration and for making musical instruments and furniture. Making your own items or buying handmade or vegan brands is one way to make sure the glue used is vegan.
2. Do you use beeswax? Beeswax is used in bookbinding and some beauty products. I found a vegan beeswax called
3. Poppy’s Cleaners
4. Faux leather, sometimes caused pleather, is not too hard to find. Did you know that products that qualify as vegan or faux leather can be made from materials as varied as cork, barkcloth, glazed cotton, waxed cotton, paper, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyurethane.
5. Photos, both printed commercially and at-home, use paper that contains gelatin. Non-photo quality paper avoids gelatin.
6. Bone fine china tableware can contain animal bones. Earthenware or porcelain that’s creamy white is usually vegan. Find china that’s origin is mineral.
7. Many makeup brands are vegan if you check the labels. Urban Decay came out with a Vegan Palette that’s both vegan and uses vegan inspired colors. I have seen seen popular brands, like Bobbi Brown, carry vegan products. Looking for natural brands or handmade beauty products is always a good idea.
8. Lush often has vegan bath products that use natural ingredients. I also love being soap on Etsy. Just search for “vegan” in the search bar and tag your items vegan if you carry vegan products in your shop.
9. Vegan clothing is not hard to find. High end brands often carry vegan products. For example, Nine West carries some high end vegan products.
10. Kat Mendenhall sells the first 100% vegan true Texas style cowboy boots on the market.
11. Love shoes? Just type in the word vegan when searching for products on Zappos. vegan http://ift.tt/2fmGgol Mendenhall sells the first 100% vegan true Texas style cowboy boots on the market.

Want to find more vegan brands. Get my free printable with a list of vegan brands.

 

10 Ways to Cleanse Your Body

You may wonder how to cleanse your body at home naturally. Here are 10 easy ways to detox your body. If you are feeling sick or out of touch with your body, cleansing your body can be a good way to get rid of bad toxins and feel better again.

• Dry skin brush before you take a bath or shower. I also like dry brushing my face, but use a brush made especially for your face so it has softer bristles.
• Take a warm salt water bath or steam in the shower.
• Deep breathing can help calm you down. Do yoga. Try just doing 20 minutes of yoga a day or picking up a yoga DVD or video series.
• Drink water. Try adding a couple extra glasses a day.
• Try eating healthier. Go on a cleanse or add a couple healthy foods in to your diet. 
• Use a neti pot to naturally cleanse your sinuses.
• Try the hydro therapeutic technique of taking a shower with hot water and then switching to cold. Afterwards, get under covers.
• Go for a run or walk. Try exercising at least 20 minutes a day or move your body in some way.
• Get a massage or do a self massage with your favorite oils.
• Try drinking hot tea with herbs in it or taking an herbal soak bath.

What do you do to cleanse yourself? Let me know in the comments.

Graze Review

Graze is a company that sends you a box of healthy snacks either every month or every week. You get a box with four snacks. You can choose on the website what types of snacks you like  and if you have any dietary requirements. I get all vegan snacks since I’m a vegan. It costs $6/box, but you can get the first box free. My favorite flavor sofas was Pina Colada. 

You can also upcycle the box to use it again. I think I might try decorating one of mine. It would be good for holding small items in each of the slots.

How to Make Vegan Products

Want to make handmade products that are vegan to sell on Etsy? I always try to make sure my products are vegan and cruelty free. These are some tips I use:

Source your materials.

When finding materials, check to make sure they are vegan. Do they use leather? Do they use beeswax or animal products? When bookbinding. I make sure not to use beeswax in my products.

Check if an item is tested on animals.

Do they test on animals? Are they organic? Make sure they don’t test on animals, especially with beauty products.

Ask if something is vegan.

If you are not sure if a product is vegan, ask the shop owner or email the company. It doesn’t hurt to ask or double check.

Make a note that your products are vegan.

In your policies or about page, mention your products are vegan and don’t use animal products.

What are your best tips for making vegan products?

What’s On My Vegan Bookshelf

Thinking of going vegan? These are some of my favorite vegan books with recipes or tips on going vegan.

• Student’s Go Vegan Cookbook by Carole Raymond: This was one of the first cookbooks I picked up when I became vegetarian. I like these recipes because they are easy to make and don’t need a lot of complicated ingredients. It is a great book to start with if you are a new vegetarian or vegan or if you are a student going to college.
• Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser: I read Fast Food Nation when I was younger when I first became vegetarian. I liked the information in this book and learning about the fast food industry. There is also a film version of this book.
• The Kind Life by Alicia Silverstone: This book has tips for following a vegan diet. It was written by the actress, Alicia Silverstone. I like this book because it talks about the health benefits of a macrobiotic diet.
• Color Me Vegan by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau: This author has a lot of good cookbooks. I found the author from listening to her Food for Thought program. This cookbook takes a different approach and breaks up recipes by color. It also talks about the nutritional value of different colors. I especially loved the avocado pudding.
• The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions by Jonie Marie Newman: This book has a lot of helpful information about vegan substitutes with lots of recipes to try. I haven’t tried a lot of recipes in this cookbook myself, but I like to keep tr book for reference.
• Food Rules by Michael Pollan: Not necessarily about being vegan, but this book has a lot of good tips about food and cooking in general. For examples, some tips are to eat slowly, eat mostly plants and don’t eat products with more than five ingredients when you can. I like the tips in this book because they are simple rules for eating well. The tips are organized as a manual so it is a good book to just keep in your kitchen or read a page a day. I actually met Michael Pollan because I heard him speak and got this book signed when I met him.
• Vegan Stories: I picked up this book on a swap website. It has stories from vegans all around the world. It also has poems related to veganism. I haven’t read a lot of it to be honest, but I liked the concept of this book so I wanted to include it on the list too.
• Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin: This is a fun book about going vegan and starting a healthy lifestyle. It uses lots of swearing in its writing style. It talks about the food industry and the health benefits of going vegan. It also has a recipe plan for new vegans.
• Cooking with Compassion: This cookbook is from Etsy and had vegan recipes from the members of Vegan Etsy, Cruelty Free Etsy and EtsyVeg teams. I actually have a recipe in this book from being part of the EtsyVeg team. It is a small, paper book that has recipes from other Etsy members. I do not know if this book is still for sale, but you can look on Etsy or similar places for vegan cookbooks or recipes.
• Vegan Made Easy by Anna Leehey: I have my own vegan cookbook all about going vegan. It is a simple guide for new vegans. Check it out if you want to support me and are interested in veganism.

What are your favorite vegan books?

How to Make a Sushi Bowl

Have you ever wanted to make your own sushi bowl? This recipe is easy to make and you can use whatever ingredients you have

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sushi rice
• Nori sheets
• Carrots
• Avocado, chopped
• Salad greens (optional)
• Soy sauce or other toppings

Instructions: 

1. To prepare the ingredients, chop the vegetables how you like them. I sliced the carrots in to thin strips. You can add other vegetables you have. Cut the nori sheets in to thin strips lengthwise. I also cut my strips in half.

2. Cook the sushi rice. To cook 1 cup sushi rice, boil with 2 cups of water. Reduce the heat to low and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Let the rice sit for 10 minutes and fluff with a fork.

3. To prepare for serving, add the salad greens to a bowl if using greens. Add the nori sheets. Assemble the rest of the vegetables.

4. Top with additional nori sheets and about 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Add your own favorite sauces or toppings. Enjoy!

Let me know if you try this out in the comments. 

Interview: Vegan Cheese from Three Girls Vegan Creamery

Three Girls Vegan Creamery is an organic, plant based and dairy free creamery. They make artisan cheeses from nuts and aged to perfection.

Describe what you sell in your shop.

We do not have a storefront YET! We are planning a crowdfunding effort on Indegogo in April to help us setup our very own facility. Right now we are working out of a family restaurant’s commercial kitchen in Madison, CT. It is an Italian restaurant and they began offering vegan options with our Mozzarella “di Bufala”.

You have three people who run your shop. How did you decide to work together?

The Three Girls Vegan are a mom and two daughters. We have been a team forever.

Why did you choose Etsy as a platform?

Curiosity. We have always heard great things about Etsy. To test the waters we just posted a few of our items. So far it has been fun and we have met some wonderful people!

Why did you become vegan?
We are 100% Italian and were raised on a traditional Italian diet. Once we went vegan, it was the cheese that was the hardest to give up. We began creating the recipe for the Mozzarella. We ferment and culture to make authentic cheese, but instead of using any animal products, we use the cashew as our cow. The process of creating the Mozzarella recipe took over 9 months and more attempts than we care to remember. It was so important to make a mozzarella that was perfect in a caprese salad but also melts, stretches and is ooey gooey when in a lasagna or on a pizza.

What is your favorite thing to cook?
We have veganized all of our traditional Italian dishes. We make Mozzarella en Carrozza sandwiches, eggplant rolotini with almond ricotta and grated parmesan and romano topped with mozzarella. We make fried calamari from oyster mushrooms, crabcakes from artichoke hearts, homemade gnocchi with creamy alfredo. All dairy free, animal free! This is our culinary activism. We have converted 6 family member to veganism because the food is so good!

What other vegan products or companies do you like?

We love to support as many vegan products as possible.

Do you sell wholesale or consignment in other shops or restaurants?
Yes, we sell wholesale to several Connecticut, NY and MA stores. You can see a listing on our website (http://ift.tt/2lfYYlj) store locator.

Do you do craft/food shows?
We do a local Farmers Market monthly. We are super duper excited to be a sponsor at the upcoming New England VegFest in Worcester, MA on April 30th. We will be serving our famous Mozzarella en Carrozza Sandwiches!

Do you have a blog or use social media?
Yes, we are on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and of course our website. @threegirlsvegan

What do you hope for in the future for your shop?
We are praying to raise the funds necessary to open a small shop. We will always remain small batch artisan and need our own place to grow!

Three Girls Vegan Creamery also sent me some products to try – Assorted Aged Cheese Wheels and Mozzarella “di Bufala” Pearls and Assorted Aged Cheese Wheels. I love that these products imitate traditional cheese that can be used in Italian and other dishes. I have never tried a vegan mozzarella that was not shredded or a cheese wheel that was vegan.

The Assorted Aged Cheese Wheels were cashew based. The flavors were Pistachio/Cranberry/Fresh Thyme/Pumpkin Seed, Vegan Maple Bacon/Pecan/Herb and Old Fashioned Fireball. The texture was great. I liked the Old Fashioned Fireball the best. 

The Mozzarella “di Bufala” Pearls was cashew based, fermented and cultured. It had a great texture that is the same as regular mozzarella. I really liked the mozzarella cheese and think it is something I would buy in the future. I did not think try cooking it so I do not know how well it melts, but I enjoy it would taste great in any recipe or that calls for fresh mozzarella.

I did not cook anything with these ingredients this time, but I think I will buy from in the future and try out some recipes. Let know what types of recipes. 

How to Do a Chocolate Bath Spa Treatment

How about bathing in a bath full of chocolate for Valentine’s Day? Chocolate is a common spa ingredient that softens and rejuvenate your skin.

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons cocoa powder or dark chocolate
• 1 cup bubble bath or unscented shampoo (optional)
• 1/2 cup powdered milk or soy milk powder
• 2 tablespoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 drops peppermint or chocolate fragrance oil
• Handful of large marshmallows (optional)
• Chocolate scented candles (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix cocoa, powdered milk, cinnamon and vanilla.

2. Run a hot bath. If you want to create bubbles, add bubble bath or unscented shampoo. You can even use dish soap.

3. Pour the powder mixture in to a hot bath. Finally add the drops of peppermint or chocolate fragrance oil and marshmallows. The marshmallows will dissolve in the bath.

4. Light some candles (this is optional, but I think it sets the mood). Chocolate scented candles are perfect, but you can’t use whatever you have. Play some romantic music if you have it. Soak for 20-25 minutes and rinse off in the shower.

5. You can also choose not to do a full bath and instead soak feet or hands in the mixture for 10 minutes. Just put hot water in a large bowl and add the mixture using the instructions above. This is perfect to do before a manicure or pedicure.

Let me know if you try this out.

How to Meal Prep

 

Do you meal prep? Meal prep is a method of preparing meals on bulk ahead of time. 

Plan Ahead

Keep a meal plan so you can plan ahead. You can find free meal plan printable at the bottom of this post. Also keep a grocery list for when you go shopping. Use apps like Yummly to help you find recipes in advance. I like that Yummly allows you to find recipes on different blogs and add ingredients to a shopping list the makes it easy to grocery shop. 

Prepare in Batches 

When you cook, try making your meals all at once in batches. You can chose a day of the week to make your meals for that week, such as Sunday. If you make a meal, make it on bulk so you can split it up throughout the week. For example, many soups and bean dishes are good to make in bulk in advance. Cut up vegetables and other items in advance. For example, carrots can be chopped up and saved to snack on. 

Store Food

You can store meals in tubberware, such as 20 piece sets you can find. Check how long certain foods last for and if you can freeze certain meals. Some foods will store better than others.

I sometimes try to meal prep if I am on a busy schedule. I like preparing my meals in advance to save time. It also a good way to know exactly what you are eating and eat healthy.

Do you meal prep? 

How I Went Vegan

I have been as vegan for several years. A vegan avoids all animal products for health, animal rights or environmental reasons.

My interest and love for animals started when I was little. I had lots of pets growing up and I loved horse back riding. I thought animals were just like people.

I became interested in animal rights in junior high. I discovered the PETA website and started learning about animal rights. I also read the book Fast Food Nation which talks about the fast food industry. I became cegetarian. 

 

In college, I volunteered for Mercy for Animals in New York City. I also worked at a local farm near my campus. I made a switch to a full vegan shortly after. I also read the book Skinny Bitch and became interested in veganism for health reasons as well as animal rights. 

I love being vegan because it benefits animals, my health and the environment. I also like experimenting with different vegan foods and recipes. 

You can check out my eBook, Vegan Made Easy  all about going vegan here. It contains recipes, nutrition tips and more. I think I am going to write another eBook about living.a vegan lifestyle. It will have more tips about going vegan such as where to find vegan beauty products, how to deal with social situations and more.  

If you are vegetarian or vegan, let me know in the comments. 

Amy's Single Serve Non-Dairy Rice Crust Cheeze Pizza Review

One brand I like a lot for vegan foods is Amy's. They offer a variety of frozen foods that are vegetarian and vegan. I have been trying out different vegan pizzas so I decided to try this Single Serve Non-Dairy Rice Crust Cheeze Pizza that is dairy and gluten free. 

This pizza is a single serve for one person so I thought it was a good size. You don't have to cut it and it is easy to prepare. You can cook it in the oven or microwave. I think it tastes better if you use the oven, but it is faster in the microwave. 

The pizza uses a rice crust that is gluten free. It is topped with dairy-free, soy-based mozzarella cheeze. The tomato sauce on the pizza uses organic sub ripened tomatoes with a blend of herbs. 

Overall, this pizza was just okay to me. The taste was alright. I liked the sauce because I thought the flavoring was pretty good. I did not like the taste of the cheese. It did not melt well and I did not like the texture. I have had better vegan cheese before. I also did not prefer the texture or taste of the gluten free crust. It had a kind of cardboard texture to me. 

I would eat the pizza again, but would not buy it. It was easy to prepare, but the taste wasn't worth it to me. One suggestion on Amy's website is to top the pizza with your favorite toppings so I might try this next time. Overall, I prefer other meals by Amy's better and this was more of a miss than a hit for me.

Tell me in the comments what vegan pizza brands you like. 

Do you have a vegan company or product? Let me know and I will review your product.

No Chill Vegan Molasses Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

2 tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon clove

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 cups brown sugar 

6 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce

2 tablespoons molasses

3 tablespoons sugar, for rolling

Note: If you want to make sure these are vegan, use vegan sugar and molasses. 

Instructions:

 

 

1. 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F or 165 degrees Celsius.
2. 2. In a large mixing bowl, sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt.
4. 3. In a medium sized bowl, combine brown sugar, vegetable oil, molasses, vanilla and apple sauce.
5.  
6. 4. Combine dry and wet mixture to form the dough. Stir until just combined.
7.  
8. 5. Using a tablespoon measure, scoop up dough and form round cookie balls. Roll the doughs of balls in to sugar (I forgot to do this step so they turn out okay either way; they just won't be as sweet without the sugar). 
9.  
10. 6. On an ungreased cookie sheet, add the dough balls. Press them down slightly with your fingers. 
11.  
12. 7. Bake for 13-16 minutes in the oven. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 
13.  
14. Overall, these cookies came out pretty good. They were not my favorite cookie ever, but they were pretty good. I think I will try rolling them in sugar next time. The texture was good and I liked the flavoring. I also like that you don't have to chill the dough so they were easy to make.
15. What kind of cookies do you like to make? Let me know in the comments.

I love the flavor of gingerbread and molasses. I made these Vegan Molasses Cookies from Food.com. They are pretty easy to make and take about 20 minutes.

Desserts

 

Random Food Photos

These are a couple of photos of food I took recently. 

 These are dried pinto beans I made. I have been experimenting with different types of dried beans lately. I do not know if I prefer the taste over canned beans, but they are cheaper to buy. 

 

 

I like using the beans in bean and rice dishes. The photos above use brown rice and black beans. I like just mixing then together and adding salsa or another ingredient to give them flavor.

 

 

I love the vibrant colors in these two photos.

 

I have been having oatmeal for breakfast a lot. I am looking for more ideas of what to put in my oats. Let me know in the comments what you like to put in your oatmeal or what you have been cooking lately. 

10 Recipe Articles to Check Out

I love checking out recipe articles on the internet. If you are vegan or thinking about going vegan, there are plenty of recipes you can find by searching the web. Here are ten recipes that are great recipes to try whether you are vegan or not.

Veggie Chili - This veggie chilli from Pioneer Woman uses a variety of vegetables and beans. Just skip the cotija cheese to make it vegetarian or vegan.

Watermelon Salsa - I like this video series by the Pioneer Woman. This recipe is for watermelon salsa.



The Ultimate Vegan Cheese Sauce - This cheese sauce takes 5 minutes and you can use it on pasta, vegetables or rice. I like that it uses white beans which is something I have never tried.

Raw Cookie Dough Recipe - This raw cookie dough recipe uses chickpeas or white beans to get a cookie dough texture. I love the unique recipes on the Chocolate Covered Katie blog.

Homemade Veggie Frozen Pizza - I love the idea of making your own frozen pizza. This recipe is vegan friendly and you can add any toppings you like.

Banana Coconut and Chia Popsicles - This recipe from A Beautiful Mess is a healthy dessert to try out. It uses coconut milk, chia seeds, bananas and dark chocolate chips.

Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowl - This burrito bowl uses cauliflower rice and black or pinto beans.



Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream - This vegan version of ice cream from Minimalist Baker uses coconut milk and vegan dark chocolate.

Coloring Book Cookies - If you want to try something fun, try making coloring book designed cookies.

DIY Rainbow Cookies - Another fun recipe to try is DIY rainbow cookies. I love the bright colors int these cookies.

Let me know if you try any of these out. Also let me know which one you want to post on this blog.

20 Vegan Substitutes

This post is part of the 7 Days to Getting Back Your Blogging Groove challenge on ProBlogger. 

 

Thinking of going vegan? A vegan diets  avoids all animal products including meat, fish, eggs, dairy, honey and refined sugar. There are many brand substitutes you can buy, but I think it is even better to make your own substitutes. Here are 20 substitutes you can use in place of non vegan ingredients:

1. Craving a meaty texture? Use seitan for a ground beef flavor and texture.
2. Tempeh can replace bacon. It is made from soybeans and has a meat like texture.
3. If you love tuna, use mashed chickpeas in tuna recipes. Chickpeas are rich in folate and protein.
4. Tofu works well in a number of dishes. Bake tofu in place of meat. Scramble tofu to resemble scrambled eggs. Use crumbled tofu in place of ricotta or cottage cheese in lasagna dishes.
5. Use unsweetened applesauce in place of eggs in baking dishes. Just substitute 1/4 cup for every egg.
6. Mix 1 tablespoon vinegar with 1 teaspoon baking soda for an egg replacement.
7. 2 tablespoons cornstarch combined with 2 tablespoons water work as an egg replacement in baked goods.
8. Use 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds with 3 tablespoons water for every egg as another egg replacement. Flaxseeds are high in Omega-3.
9. Mashed bananas also work well as an egg replacement in sweets. Try using 1/4 cup to make one egg. You can also  use blended frozen bananas to get the texture of ice cream.
10. Soymilk is good to use in place of regular milk. Use it to drink or cook with. It can also be used as an egg wash.
11. Rice milk is made for ground rice to get a liquid. You can use in place of milk or in ice cream dishes.
12. Almond milk is great for baking goods and sweets.
13. Craving a cheesy flavor? Use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese in pasta and macaroni dishes. Nutritional yeast is also high in vitamin B12.
14. Coconut oil is good for sweets such as fudge or granola bars. You can also use instead of a butter spread.
15. Olive oil is great as a cooking oil or butter replacement. 
16. Organic or date sugar can replace white sugar, which some vegans avoid because it is refined using bone char.
17. Maple syrup makes a good sweetener replacement for honey. Use in baked goods or to top breakfast foods like pancakes and oatmeal.
18. Agave syrup is a sweeter that is sweeter than sugar and thinner than maple syrup. Use in desserts and teas.
19. Agar flakes can replace gelatin, an animal product used in some desserts to give them a jello like texture. 
20. If a recipe calls for chicken or beef broth, use vegetable broth or water instead.

Let me know your favorite vegan substitutes in the comments. Have you ever tried to go vegan?