Free Stuff Friday: My Sweet Vegan Cookbook! May 2, 2008
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Hannah Kaminsky is a girl I would have loved to have gone to high school with. Why? Because during her senior year she created seventy-seven original recipes, tested them all, and photographed the finished product to make one amazing cookbook: My Sweet Vegan.
Not only would I have been honored to call such an ambitious girl a friend, but I would have loved trying out all the amazing recipes that made it into the book!
I want to share a Q&A with Hannah so you can learn more about this sweet vegan . . .
When did you start baking?
I would occasionally help my mom in the kitchen when I was much younger... she would measure everything out and work the oven, while I handled the mixing duties. However, my solo baking adventures began around the age of fourteen, when I became vegan.
What was it that made you decide to go vegan?
I began experimenting with vegetarianism when I was a freshman in high school, but before I knew it, I was enmeshed in the issues of animal rights. I decided that no matter how hard it might be to make the transition, I wanted to do all I could to help the cause. To my great surprise, I had no trouble at all going vegan! Not once have I ever regretted that decision, either.
What is your favorite recipe?
While it's really hard to pick favorites, one that I find myself making over and over again is the Root Beer Float Cupcakes. Most people are just curious about how they will taste, but once they trial a bite they get hooked on the flavor and can't get enough of them! Beyond these cupcakes, the Green Tea Tiramisu is one of my personal favorite indulgences.
Chocolate or vanilla?
Oh man, tough one... When manipulated properly, both can be incredible flavors that go well with just about everything else. Seriously, don't make me choose! Can't we all just be friends and bake a marble cake instead?
Pies or cakes?
Cake, definitely. I love pie just as much as any other baked goods, but the extra step of making a crust can sometimes be a real pain. But . . . if we're talking about a graham cracker crust, then that's a different story altogether.
Cupcakes or cookies?
Honestly, after making so many thousands (probably millions, even) of cupcakes, I am starting to get a bit tired of them. Cookies take my vote right now, but of course that could change with little persuasion.
Any advice for the novice vegan baker?
I know that this has been said countless times before, but the best advice I can give is to be unafraid and try things out. Don't know how to replace the eggs? Who cares! Look around your kitchen, find things of similar textures, nutritional profiles, chemical properties, anything, and just give it a shot. No one has a definite answer as to what makes great vegan baking, just like regular baking, so never close your mind to the many possibilities that exist in terms of ingredients and methods. Most importantly though, make note of your mistakes so that you can improve upon them and start cranking out awesome baked goods!
What's next for you?
I just started attending UMass Amherst, so a few more years of school lie ahead. However, whenever I'm lucky enough to get a ride home for the weekend, I go straight into the kitchen to work on my second dessert cookbook! There are so many exciting things brewing right now, I just can't wait to see where it all leads.
Wouldn't you want her to go to high school with you too? I want her to work for PETA and be my friend and teach me how to use my oven! But until that happens I am going to devour My Sweet Vegan and start baking! One lucky boy or girl will win this beautiful cookbook and join me in the adventures of vegan baking! To win, comment below with whether you like cake or pie better. I ALWAYS choose cake. What's better than frosting?
This contest ends May 16, 2008 and the winner will be chosen and notified by May 23, 2008!
Just so you know...by commenting here, we're taking that as acknowledgment that you've read and agreed to our privacy policy.
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Good Luck!
-Ashleigh
Posted by Ashleigh 
Comments
I have to say I love cakes and am a huge fan of them because I bake one every year for our state fair. Now when it comes to my Godfather's chocolate PIE at his restaurant in Florida, I love it! I always eat some when we visit. Either way, if it is vegan then I am down with it!
Posted by: Fala at May 2, 2008 11:38 AMCake wins hand down ! It's ingrained in our consciousness from our first year of birth & thereafter - cake for your birthday ! I wish everyday was my birthday !
Posted by: Joan at May 2, 2008 12:25 PMCAKE! It just tastes so good [:
I've never liked the taste of pie :[
Cake definately. Especially carrot cake then you can pretend to yourself that it's actually healthy because it has carrot in it. It's amazing when you use lemonade instead of eggs- carrot and lemon cake. yum :).
Posted by: Frances at May 2, 2008 12:57 PMVery tough question! I'd probably say pie just because it's versatile - it can be sweet or savoury, but I certainly wouldn't turn down a piece of cake either!
Posted by: Little_Lotte at May 2, 2008 1:12 PMI definitely like cake better than pie! If there's chocolate in the cake too, then there would be absolutely no contest.
Posted by: Kim at May 2, 2008 1:36 PMWell, I turned 17 in April 30, and I have to say I preferred having a cake (vegan) for my birthday. Though I was the one that baked it haha (It was fun). I love cake because they're creamy in the outside and fluffy in the inside. The best combination, right? Well, if you think that's the best it gets you are wrong. The only thing that can make it better is if the cake is vegan!
Let's do a recap: Creamy, fluffy and animal right friendly. Hands down wins by all means!
Thanks PETA2
With admiration
Annie
i like pie wayyy more than cake
Posted by: hallie at May 2, 2008 2:02 PMI love cake! I never liked pie even when I was little I would not eat it. My mom makes the best home made vegan cake!
Posted by: cara at May 2, 2008 2:06 PMduring her senior year she created seventy-seven original recipes, tested them all, and photographed the finished product to make one amazing cookbook
Wow, that is seriously impressive!
And, cake...preferably chocolate, with vegan buttercream (soycream?) frosting.
Posted by: kelly g. at May 2, 2008 2:22 PMPie. All the way. It's like slicing into a warm, sugary mystery. Fill it with fruit, or pack it with veggie "meat". It's also easier to make than cake, and depending on what it's made of, can be WAY healthier than cake. It takes longer to spoil, help to get kids to eat their fruit, and it's round. Round is good. Pie is great!
Posted by: Jessica Jagmin at May 2, 2008 2:26 PMcake.
My mom makes the best chocolate cake ever!
Its from scrach and it is so damn yummy!
She makes it for my birthday's....i want it now!.
cake for sure! when I have time I make crumbly vegan chocolate cake with lots of mint chocolate icing poured over it while it's still hot. amazing stuff.
Posted by: cody at May 2, 2008 3:13 PMI love cake AND pie. But I would have to say pie is better for me.
It's good because of the fruit, the sweetness. Now I know it's not good for you, but oh well! You only have one life to live, so live it!
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, blueberry pie is the best!
Posted by: Amanda at May 2, 2008 3:31 PMi dont really like pie much. but cake is to die for! not to big on the fancy frosting though. but home made cake with the simple frosting is seriously the best. so my bet goes for the cake. cake! yay cake!
Posted by: Micah at May 2, 2008 3:42 PMVOTE PIE! ! !
PIE NEEDS YOU!
And me, and my friends and my family...
Cake wins, no contest. Cake can be as simple as you want or as crazy, complex and decorated as you like! You can eat it any time, for special events or for no reason. Also, there are so many different kinds of cakes (although there are many kinds of pies, cakes have more overall variation with cake, the cake itself, the filling between layers, icing and even sprinkles to think about over just the filling and crust) that there's a kind for everyone to love. Cake are way more fun to make because there are so many different ways to decorate them and you can decorate them with friends or family.
Posted by: Kayla at May 2, 2008 4:13 PMcake!!!CAKE!CAKE its so yummy marble cake and yellow cake i love anytype of cake! cake makes me hyper and fills my tummy lummy!! =D i love cooking cakes its so much fun!! The best part of it is eating it =D
Posted by: mildre at May 2, 2008 4:47 PMCake hands down! it's got icing! and you can put sprinkles inside it to make it colorful. i love making it too. :)
Posted by: Meghan at May 2, 2008 5:33 PMha wats wrong with everyone? there is NOTHING better than pie!
Posted by: taylor at May 2, 2008 6:35 PMcake all the way! You gotta the moist yummyness of a veagn chocolate cake.. mmm
Posted by: Autumn at May 2, 2008 7:37 PMPie definately!!!! My Mom's apple pie rocks!!!
Posted by: Kerry Beyus at May 2, 2008 9:19 PMcake
Posted by: Denise at May 2, 2008 9:25 PMCAKE, Cake, cake.........I think its CAKE!!
Posted by: Anne at May 2, 2008 9:35 PMCake, cake, and more cake!!! The springy softness of the layers, creamy sweetness of the frosting.....pie cannot compete. Add to that the decorating possibilities, pie is lucky to even be mentioned here.
Posted by: Rachael at May 2, 2008 9:36 PMPIE PIE PIE PIE PIE!!
Mostly because no matter what, you don't HAVE to put any animal products in it. Because you can just make gramcracker crust with cherry filling. Mmm.
Posted by: Maddie at May 2, 2008 9:46 PMSadly, I love them both, but I would choose cake over pie any die (unless the pie was really, really good and the cake happened to suck). :)
Posted by: Kyle at May 2, 2008 9:47 PMI like pie better. I have never liked cake before. I guess it's too... airy? IDK. But anyways, it is a lot easier to find vegan pies. Even though I don't think there are any cakes named after meat-like 'chicken' pot pie-I think a lot of people should eat more pie!! It's healthier!! I mean, come one!! There are so many delicious ways to make pies with FRUIT!! I love pies with fruit in them!! Delish!! And you can always substitute that real, tortured meat with some fake, healthy "meat"!! Oh, snappity-snap-snap!! I making myself hungry. FOR SOME PIE!! Not airy, wierd, funky cake. But PIE!! Ooooh yeeeeeesssssss... I think I'll go grab a snack... Probably some... Wait. What was it? Oh yeah! PIE!! :P Because I totally love baking!! Even though I'm young... And I can't cook too well, I can BAKE!! I'm the little baker person thingy of the house!! Want some brownies? YESSS!! I loveeee baking me some good brooownies!! PSH!! LOOVE IT!! Gah. I'm gonna go make some PIIIIIIE.
Posted by: Charity at May 2, 2008 9:58 PMGerman Chocolate CAKE. :o)
Posted by: Brian Romberg at May 2, 2008 10:17 PMCake of course! It comes in so many more yummy flavors than pie, can be made in many different shapes and sizes and can be decorated any way you want! Besides anybody can make a great cake, pie is harder to master.
Posted by: Tonya Froemel at May 2, 2008 10:19 PMCake is my favorite. Yellow Cake with Sour Cream Icing. Fantastic.
Posted by: Cheryl English at May 2, 2008 10:27 PMPIE! :)
Posted by: Lesha at May 2, 2008 10:33 PMPie as thr Rock would say.
Posted by: Buddy Garrett at May 2, 2008 10:34 PMI simply adore pie. Cake has to be rather exceptional to win me over; I tend to get bored with it after only a few bites.
Posted by: Wendy at May 2, 2008 10:37 PMI need this something awful
Posted by: Tonya Keener at May 2, 2008 10:46 PMI love cake!
Posted by: Melissa Reeder at May 2, 2008 10:57 PMCAKE!!! with chocolate frosting , please.
Posted by: theodore esteghamat at May 2, 2008 11:01 PMThat's a tough one. I love chocolate or raspberry pie... but chocolate mousse cake is wonderful too. I'd have to go with cake; it's just so wonderful when it's warm and fluffy and full of frosting.
Posted by: Caroline Morin at May 2, 2008 11:16 PMCake, definitely!
Posted by: Chrysa at May 2, 2008 11:16 PMcake fer shurre!!! x]]
Posted by: Ellie at May 2, 2008 11:19 PMMy favorite is cake! I have a weakness for chocolate cake made from scratch. I would love to try out the recipes in My Sweet Vegan and bake some amazing treats for my family and friends!
Posted by: Lena at May 2, 2008 11:25 PMwell i definitely like vegan cake better than pie.
Posted by: Cara at May 2, 2008 11:35 PMI like cake better.
Posted by: Lily Kwan at May 2, 2008 11:36 PMcake
Posted by: Terri D at May 2, 2008 11:38 PMpie :)
Posted by: Leigh Nichols at May 2, 2008 11:48 PMCAKE! It's so yummy no matter what flavor - chocolate, white, yellow, devil's food, confetti...and it;s so much fun to decorate with different colors of icings and sprinkles!
Posted by: Elizabeth at May 3, 2008 2:04 AMcake
Posted by: christopher h at May 3, 2008 2:50 AMCAKENESS!!!!!! with lots of frosting of course [=
Posted by: at May 3, 2008 8:10 AMI like Pie better. I've never really been a huge fan of cake...i don't know, vegan cake doesn't sound too bad though, =P
Posted by: Amanda at May 3, 2008 12:25 PMCake wins any day.
Plain and simple.
Posted by: Nathaniel Ed at May 3, 2008 12:58 PMCAke all the way. its so moist and yummy. icing is good but when its with cak ummmy. i love making eating and giving cake.
Posted by: Rachel Caldwell at May 3, 2008 1:53 PMPIE! The frosting on cake makes me feel kinda sick but i love to make both cake and pie for my friends and family on special occasions. (Cupcakes are yummy too by the way :D).
Posted by: Sara at May 3, 2008 6:16 PMCake...Thats all I have to say. :)
Posted by: Kyle Bynoe at May 3, 2008 7:40 PMPie wins everytime. Especially if it has apples in the middle and it's made by my mom. :D
Posted by: Marissa at May 3, 2008 8:22 PMVegan ice cream cake is the winner!O I love that stuff.
Posted by: Hayley at May 3, 2008 8:29 PMcake...mmm vegan cake, decorating is FUN!
Posted by: kristi at May 3, 2008 9:33 PMCake, definitely...especially if it's topped with vegan coconut frosting!!
Posted by: Stephanie at May 3, 2008 10:43 PMpies are better
because you can make a pie with a cake in it.
you cant make a cake with a pie in it.
Cake, definitely. Anything with a good frosting really can't be beat.
Posted by: Abbie at May 4, 2008 7:32 PMalmost everyone said cake, but i am going to go with pie. if i have cake, i usually eat the frosting off and leave the rest lol. i love pie because you can make it with yummy fresh fruits, or you can make amazing chocolate pies. there are so many types of pies you can make, and they taste so awesome when they are hot from the oven.
Posted by: sarah at May 4, 2008 7:42 PMcake, fuhh sho!
Posted by: Kayla at May 5, 2008 10:14 AMCake!
I've never been a pie girl.
Vanilla cake with vanilla frosting.
Posted by: Bridget at May 5, 2008 11:56 AMI'm totally a pie person. I've veganized a bunch of my grandma's pie recipes and you can't even tell the difference!
Huzzah for vegan pumpkin pie!
Posted by: Laura at May 5, 2008 12:49 PMI LOOOOOOOOOOve Pie!!!!! :]
Posted by: Melissa at May 5, 2008 3:49 PMDefinately cake.
Posted by: Rachel at May 5, 2008 7:07 PMmaking me druel here!
Posted by: Aymee at May 5, 2008 7:26 PMI like cake better! :D
Posted by: Eda at May 6, 2008 2:37 PMI love to eat cake!
Posted by: Tony Tannahill at May 6, 2008 5:10 PMof course cake is better
especially triple chocolate with a whole buncha frosting!!
... yuummmm :]
Cake wins by far. Especially if it's made correctly. A nice, moist cake of any flavor can beat pie in a heartbeat. Whipped icing, fresh strawberries and a rich taste captivate me every time...I really want some cake now.
Posted by: Brittney at May 6, 2008 9:48 PMi like the cake better, thanks for the contest
Posted by: Israel Yeres at May 6, 2008 10:28 PMI just want to enter for a chance to win.
Posted by: charlotte padgett at May 7, 2008 12:47 PMCAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE!!!!! i love how i could use the batter to make a cake or even cupcakes. and there are millions of recipes to choose from. hahah now i know what i should do this weekend :)
Posted by: Jas Ahluwalia at May 7, 2008 3:59 PMgreat
Posted by: Burton Bathrick at May 8, 2008 12:01 AMDefinitely cakes (chocolate cakes are the best one). I love to bake and I'm baking quite often. Cakes are better than pies for me. My grandma was working in a bakery when she was younger and she taught me how to bake but I know very low amount of recipes for vegan cakes. This book must be amazing ^.^
I GUESS DEPENDS ON THE MOOD, OR WHAT IS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME, PIE IS MOEW NOBLE AND DOWN TO EARTH, BUT I GUESS AT THE END OF THE DAY I WOULD HAVE TO SUCCOMB TO THE CAKE...
Posted by: SAM WUU at May 8, 2008 5:29 AMI love anything sweet but Cake is my favorite. So many flavor variations. Cakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Posted by: Betty Cocker at May 8, 2008 10:37 AMCount me in for cake as well!
Posted by: Kathy Conley at May 8, 2008 3:03 PMmmmmm, floor pie
Posted by: Ben Thompson at May 8, 2008 11:53 PMPie! Especially apple pie...mmm.
Posted by: Kara Poulios at May 9, 2008 10:15 AMI LOVE CAKE! Making vegan frosting is so easy and its delicious! also love the vegan carrot cake. YUMMY!
Posted by: Nadia Duke at May 9, 2008 3:49 PMPost a comment
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cake wins every time!!!
Posted by: leanne ward at May 2, 2008 11:25 AMespecially if its coffee cake!!