Manifest Vegan Recipe Testing

Last year, I was fortunate to be able to test recipes for Allyson Kramer's (of Manifest Vegan fame) upcoming cookbook, Great Gluten-Free Vegan Eats. Since my mom has Celiac disease, I was able to share a lot of these treats with her. Here's a preview of what to expect from this fantastic volume.

Spicy Sesame Noodles

Chocolate Muffins (My mom has repeatedly requested these since I first made them.)

Stuffed Cabbage

Banana Bread Scones

Roasted Cauliflower
(with a secret ingredient!)

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Kasha Breakfast Bars

Almond Butter Cups

Mochaccino Milkshake

Lemon Biscotti

Pumpkin Chili

Cherry Vanilla Bean Pancakes

Sweetheart Cookies

Cheesy Broccoli Soup

Coconut Rice with Peaches & Rum Raisins

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mac 'n' Cabbage Polenaise

I'm missing photographs for the Minted Green Pea Bisque, Cashew Cream, Chocolate Hazelnut Butter, Tofu Feta Crumbles, Butterscotch Amaretti, and Creamsicle Smoothie. The book is due to be published on July 1, 2012, but Allyson has just posted several sneak peek recipes to tide us over in the meantime.

Sinfully Vegan

Lois Dieterly released a revised and updated version of Sinfully Vegan last year. I've had the original probably since it's 2003 release and it has the distinct honor of containing the recipe that convinced my brother that soy milk is awesome. I made the Orange Creamsicle Smoothie for Mother's Day brunch many years ago and it tasted just like the Orange Julius drinks of our childhood.

One aspect I love about this book is that there are savory recipes in addition to dessert recipes. I definitely plan to make the Peach Salsa with Tortilla Triangles at some point. There are decadent recipes and healthful recipes, classic recipes and nontraditional ones. So far, I've prepared three recipes from the new version and each one has been lovely.

Peaches 'N' Cream Ice Cream (topped with test recipe granola from Dreena Burton's upcoming cookbook Let Them Eat Vegan)

Peanut Butter Balls (these were a gigantic hit at work)

Not pictured is the Rich Hot Cocoa, which is my go-to vegan hot cooca recipe and is omnivore approved. I'm looking forward to trying the many recipes I've marked in this book and to continuing to share the deliciousness.

Appetite for Reduction

I've been busily cooking from Appetite for Reduction since I received it at the end of 2010. What stopped me from not posting about it until now was that I kept thinking "It doesn't make sense to write about it yet because I still want to make this recipe and this one and this one..." Clearly, that type of logic could go on infinitely with a book this great.

Forty-Clove Chickpeas & Broccoli


Hottie Black-Eyed Peas & Greens

Upside-Down Lentil Shepherd's Pie (atop a test recipe for Manifest Vegan's mashed potatoes)

Black Bean, Zucchini, & Olive Tacos

Although I can't find a photo in my archives, I also made the Arabian Lentil & Rice Soup. Each recipe I've prepared from this book has been healthful, satisfying, and flavorful and there are numerous recipes on my want-to-make list. I'm pleased that Isa Chandra Moskowitz took into consideration the desire some people have for low-fat cuisine (in the past, I've always eliminated the oil from the recipes in Vegan with a Vengeance, Veganomicon, and Vegan Brunch) and that she thought to not include a dessert chapter in this book (I love dessert; it just makes sense to not include a dessert chapter in a cookbook of this nature). Her creativity and variety are wonderfully showcased in this volume and I can't wait to taste what's next.