Free Stuff Friday: My Sweet Vegan Cookbook! May 2, 2008

Posted by Ashleigh at May 2, 2008 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 221 ) | TrackBack

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.

Also by commenting, you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions.

Good Luck!

-Ashleigh

Win Vegan Baking Mixes from Cherrybrook Kitchen! December 17, 2007

Posted by Lara Sanders at December 17, 2007 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 23 ) | TrackBack

Tis the season for cookies, brownies, and cakes (oh my)! If you saw our Christmas Cookie Showdown on the blog a bit ago (of which I was obviously robbed out of the win), you should know by now that the folks at peta2 love to bake.

If you love to bake too, here is a helpful hint: you don't need to spend hours slaving away at the oven. All you have to do is get some Cherrybrook Kitchen mixes!

Their mixes are all vegan and all too delicious. They include everything from chocolate chip muffins to sugar cookies to fudge brownies. Yum!

Now is your chance to sample a little of each, because we're giving away two Cherrybrook Kitchen variety packs!

Two lucky winners will each receive a variety pack loaded with chocolate chip cookie mix, sugar cookie mix, yellow cake mix, fudge brownie mix, and original pancake mix. All you have to do to win is comment below with your favorite vegan holiday treat!

The contest ends on January 2, 2008, and winners will be chosen and notified by January 4, 2008.

Just so you know...by commenting here, we're taking that as acknowledgment that you've read and agreed to our privacy policy.

Also by commenting, you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions.

xoxo-Lara

P.S. For more baking tips check this out!

peta2 Christmas Cookie Cooking Competition! December 4, 2007

Posted by Marta at December 4, 2007 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 23 ) | TrackBack

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a fan of Christmas. Okay, so maybe obsessed is a better word to use when describing how I feel about Christmas. And no, I'm not talking about the greedy aspect of Christmas, I'm talking about spending time with your friends and family, listening to cheesy Christmas songs and singing along loudly, watching holiday movies (A Christmas Story, anyone?), the friendly spirit in the air, and of course, vegan Christmas cookies!

Are you harboring a secret grudge against your family because you think you can't partake in the cookie baking deliciousness since you went vegan? Let me be the first to tell you that vegan Christmas cookies are just about one of the best things in life. And to prove that very point to you, I decided to hold the first-ever peta2 Christmas Cookie Cooking Competition.

So there were a few people who didn't compete (I like to refer to them lovingly as "the suckers"), but check out all of the scrumptious options below, and let me know which batch of cookies you'd most like to pull a Santa on (you know, eat a few and wash 'em down with soymilk before stuffing your happy belly back up the chimney) by leaving a comment with your favorite. Pick wisely because the batch of cookies with the most votes will give someone here in peta2 land major bragging rights—and oh yeah, I'll post the winning recipe here on the blog for you to make for all those hungry little elves in your lives.

AntiSean's Pinwheels


Lara's Christmas Cut-Out Cookies


Marta's Snickerdoodle Stacks


Megan's Holiday Chocolate Mint Cookies


Mylie's Fancy Sugar Cookies
I tried many of the cookies, and trust me, they're as good as they look. Leave a comment with your favorite!

♥ Marta