November 15, 2012
I have been thinking about a big bowl of chili since the first shivers of an always-short autumn. A big bowl of chili makes weekday lunch easy. And it gets better with every passing day. Chili is quite the texture-fest… I gave the Follow Your Heart‘s sour cream because I Read more…
November 3, 2012
As I go on the 5th day without power, I’ll bring you a sweet picture spread of a recent VeganEssentials‘ order: a box of vegan chocolates from Sjaak’s, a worldly chocolatier specializing in vegan organic fine chocolates. It arrived early Tuesday, quite suprisingly, as I hunted down an open grocery store Read more…
October 17, 2012
Have you heard of JJ Sweets? They make coconut milk caramels! They’re completely vegan… GMO free… and absolutely delicious. I ordered a bunch on a whim, drooling since I saw them mentioned in some free health food store magazine. I had the high hope they’d fill another vegan niche. And Read more…
August 19, 2012
I enjoy flipping through an old magazine looking at their advertisements. From my teenage years I was fascinated with exploring subliminal advertising in old liquor ads. I remember clearly seeing the “S E X” spelled out in a pile of ice cubes, the women–open-mouthed–holding many-a phallic object, and the far-fetched, Read more…
July 16, 2012
Certainly a knife can accomplish most, if not all, types of cutting. But those who grew up watching Inspector Gadget or admiring the inventions of Data from The Goonies know that sometimes there is innovation in perfecting a tool for a singular use. Case in point: the wide selection of fruit Read more…
April 9, 2012
Apna Bazar is a large Indian grocer in Hicksville, Long Island. I spotted it the last time The Electrician and me doorbusted Ikea for some stuff for my classroom. I knew I had to return. So with spring break upon me, I stopped by one lovely afternoon not knowing what Read more…
February 5, 2012
Instead of looking at Tom Brady’s big head, I am blogging during the Super Bowl. I made killer nachos with some goodies from Vegan Essentials knowing things would be a little hectic at The Electrician‘s. First, Wayfare Mexi Cheddar cheese… this was the only flavor that was in stock but it Read more…
August 15, 2011
Last time I was in Ithaca, New York I had a horrible time. I exasperated an illness with the drive north and then had to drive home in miserable shape. I wrote my most scathing review thus far on the subpar eatery where my friends and I dined. It was Read more…
April 26, 2011
Little delicate weeds get no love. They look like shy, optimistic chit-chatters. “Hey! Hey you! Look how bright and pretty we are!” Holy stigma. “Hi. We’re less enthusiastic than the red ones. Notice us if you wish–or not; we’ll be fine either way.” “Mnmm mnnmmm.” So Delicious Turtle Trails… and Read more…
March 22, 2011
I feel like March is my least favorite month of the year. At this point, I am through with winter and impatient for April, when warmer and brighter weather is more consistent. March’s sunny teases leave me annoyed. And it’s a loooong month. Somehow, it is almost over. Bringing us Read more…
January 6, 2011
I got a TofuXpress for Christmas. Yes, a handy dandy tofu press that squeezes out excess water. No more balancing books on plates and no more slanted bricks of tofu. This heavy duty spring keeps pressing, and pressing hard, as excess water pools above. It’s sturdy and spacious… I shoulda Read more…
November 28, 2010
Deep-fried vegan Twinkies. Deep-fried vegan chocolate bars. Deep-fried vegan cupcakes {not pictured, eaten too soon} The Electrician and his dedicated fryer crisped up a slew of vegan goodies for Deep Fryday, proving that vegans can be greasy and gluttonous too. In my quest to never sacrifice for my eating ethics, Read more…
November 10, 2010
When it comes to being gelatin-free, vegans have some allies. Halal Muslims, Jews who keep Kosher, Hindus along with all others who’d rather not eat the by-product of boiled pig tendon, tissue and gristle. In light of this company, we often see clear labeling and alternatives. Sure, sometimes it is the Read more…
November 3, 2010
There is a little Indian convenience store next to my Sunday restaurant favorite, Dosa Diner, in Hicksville, Long Island. In this store you can find a ton of cheaply priced pantry staples, many aligned with Hindu vegetarianism. It is worth a stopping by– their products are tremendously cheaper than the Read more…
October 10, 2010
Whipped up a batch of vegan nachos… mostly to utilize the cheese whiz-type stuff I made a couple of weeks back for the Phillies ballpark jaunt. Although I completely forgot to ground up some Amy’s burgers for the protein, they were very good! I used some refried kidney beans Read more…
April 30, 2010
I’m always on the hunt for new vegan items and brands! If they happen to be new vegan chocolate chip cookies, well even better. The story of Divvies is much like many of the allergen-free baking companies… someone wanting to make sure the allergen-stricken has satisfying and yummy treats. Being Read more…
March 29, 2010
Do you remember these packaged cookies? I sure do. I loved them as a child. My mom used to bring them home from her job. I devoured them slowly, breaking off portions of each of the three cookies’ circumferences. I placed each piece on my tongue, like communion. Years later I Read more…
January 13, 2010
Does anyone remember the Sky Bar chocolate bar? The chocolate bar with four distinct sections (peanut butter, caramel, vanilla and fudge) put out by Necco? When I was a little girl on Long Island and my pop worked in midtown Manhattan, he used to bring them home for us kids. Read more…
December 16, 2009
I have Daiya, among other vegan treats for my upcoming holiday cookie marathon. But yes, Daiya–the hot topic vegan cheese. I have taken it apart before but never had a stash of my own to experiment with.I don’t know what to make with shredded cheese. It’s been so long! Starting Read more…
October 17, 2009
Sometimes my routines put me in a continuous loop. Apartment, school, other school, apartment. Repeat. It is these sometimes that I forget how amazing a city I live in, how bright and creative individuals from all over the world (and down the block) flock here to root their dreams and Read more…
October 9, 2009
Way too much sugar today. First.. an impulse buy at my daily juice spot, the Buccaneer from Go Max Go out of Portland, Or-e-gon. I was so excited about this bar a few months back, one of a line of vegan rice milk chocolate bars modeled after those staple non-vegan Read more…
October 2, 2009
It is all the rage but what is Daiya? What’s in it? Here I go, deconstructing sunshine. Purified water Ground cassava: a starchy root from the tropics you may know as yucca. It’s related to tapioca. Arrowroot: another tropical starch related to tapioca high oleic sunflower oil: sunflower oil that Read more…
August 19, 2009
Considering I have travel 9,000+ miles for vegan food (see my blog reporting in Thailand) I suppose I can venture to 74th street and 2nd avenue for Slice. Slice, which has been on my radar since its opening years ago, is a special parlor of pizza- one that offers the Read more…
August 18, 2009
A friend of mine recently asked me if I ate Good n’ Plenty, the pink and white coated licorice candy. I had to tell her no and why and, in doing so, managed to help push her finger down on the “w” key, as in “Ewwww…”, long enough to maybe Read more…
August 9, 2009
After a glorious gorgeous day at sea on the soft-sanded and low-key Brighton Beach, Coney Island’s quiet cousin, my new eclair “canoe” baking pan was finally utilized by way of cheddar and chive corn dogs. Sun-tired and hungry, CP and I pulled these dogs together using the Blue Ribbon corn Read more…
June 21, 2009
What better way to say thanks, dad than a lemon layer cake with a strawberry and cream center and lemony-sweet icing? That’s right, there is no better way! Adapted from this recipe, my cake was a soft, ultra-moist and delicate sponge of sweetness. Far too much sugar for my tastebuds, Read more…