Hearty Wild Mushroom and Barley Stew

This Hearty Wild Mushroom and Barley Stew served over a 1/2 open-faced baked potato is to die for. I made it last night and it’s a “10”. It was my first test drive cooking in an Instant Pot and I’m a believer! I spotted this on one of Jane Velez-Mitchell’s #LunchBreakLive shows when Lisa Karlan, of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, shows her best friend from elementary school, who is on the path to becoming vegan, Read more…

Crashing Romantic Valentine Dinners

  Before I became vegan, I spent a few years before that feeling somewhat reassured that sometimes, some of the restaurants I ate at, and some of the alternative grocery stores I bought my meat, fish, and poultry from, proclaimed, in some proud fashion, that their meat was “humane”.  To my credit, I was trying to be conscientious and make a best effort to do the right thing – it never occurred to me to Read more…

Did Someone Say Chocolate Chip Cookies?

This daring vegan does not miss out on fresh-baked, chocolate chip cookies. And they’re easy as pie to make. I use the recipe on the back of Trader Joe’s semi-sweet chocolate chips (they’re vegan!) as a baseline and tweak it so there’s no egg and a little less (vegan) butter and sugar.  Ingredients 2 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup packed organic brown sugar 1/4 cup organic Read more…

Celebrate the Superbowl with a killer ALL VEGAN spread!

    In slideshow: Roasted eggplant sliders on fresh-baked panini rolls; Grilled cheese; open-faced pizzas on toasted Italian bread; cauliflower ‘wings’ baked in homemade spicy BBQ sauce; Crispy Cowgirl “steak” bites in hickory-smoked BBQ sauce; crispy and tender burgers with chipotle Veganaise and mashed avocado; sauteed onions and peppers,  black bean, and quinoa tortillas with avocado and hot sauce; fresh baked kale chips in olive oil and spices; steamed edamame drizzled with olive oil, everyday Read more…

Women’s March-LA: Feminism & Animal Rights + AWESOME Slideshow

Feminists, hear me roar, in a nice way, and check out what I have to say about the benefits of expanding our circle of compassion. Check out the photo series of “Found the Vegans” in the various cities for the January 2017 women’s march, including one of yours truly in LA! http://www.eatplantsdrinkbeer.com/readup/2017/1/23/vegans-at-womens-march Dare to make a difference. Go vegan. Dani

Portland Animal Activism 2016 Retrospective

Thanks to a group called Portland Animal Activism, a local hub for all things animal rights-related, Portland, Oregon had a BUSY 2016! Watch this beautiful tribute by Bala S. to the brave and heart-centered, animal advocate folks in Portland. Thank you, everyone in PDX for being such a powerful and inspiring voice for the animals!  Dare to make a difference. Go vegan. Dani

We All Want The Same Thing

What better way to spend a couple hours on Martin Luther King day than to honor what he was all about – not staying silent about things that matter. So I got out my cardboard and markers and made a sign: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”, and headed to the nearest New Seasons supermarket. I got the best response from folks helping them make the connection that animal Read more…

Hot Chili On A Chilly Sunday!

    Cut up, toss, and pour a bunch of fresh, raw veggies and quinoa in the crockpot before noon and you have your early Sunday dinner by 6.  Ingredients Hearty sweet potato, black beans, veggies, and quinoa chili 3 cups sweet potato, diced 1 cup diced red onion 1 large bell pepper 1 zucchini or green beans 3 cloves minced garlic 1 can black beans 1 can fire-roasted tomatoes 1 can corn 3 cups Read more…

Just One Look Was All It Took

My going vegan had nothing to do with being an “animal lover” – I wasn’t. Like most people, I loved and cared about animals and I didn’t at all want them to come into harms way and, of course, I was against animal cruelty, but I never really saw them as equals. Until I saw their suffering – they suffer equally, and that’s all that mattered. All it took was to witness this and that Read more…