How to Veganize the Starbucks Drink 'Medicine Ball'

Photo: Starbucks 1912 Pike

If you haven't heard the news about the Starbucks secret menu, you may just live under a rock or something. Well, for all of you who do, in fact, live under said rocks, the secret menu is "off menu" stuff you can order and your barista knows what you are talking about 99.9% of the time. Secret menu items are really cool and fun. There's even a Razzle Dazzle frappuccino that you can order!

Practically any of Starbucks drinks can be veganized with only a few that are off limits to vegans. In fact, with the choice of soy milk, coconut milk or almond milk and lots of vegan-friendly syrups, being vegan at Starbucks is a breeze these days.

The latest secret menu item, the Medicine Ball, was so popular at the 'Bucks and is even rumored to cure the common cold, that Starbucks actually added it to their regular menu! One kink for us vegan folk, one of the ingredients isn't vegan. No fear! There's an alternative and I'm here to tell you how to veganize the drink with an easy substitution that Starbucks has right in store.

The Medicine Ball drink consists of:

• half steamed lemonade
• half hot water
• one Teavana Jade Citrus Mint tea bag (ingredients: Chun Mee green tea, spearmint leaves, lemon verbena, lemongrass, natural flavoring)
• one Teavanna Peach Tranquility tea bag (ingredients: apple pieces, candied pineapple pieces (pineapple, sugar, citric acid), rose hip peels, chamomile flowers, natural flavor, peach pieces, citric acid, lemon verbena)
• one packet of honey (<--- there's a substitute that is a million times better than this! Keep reading!)
• one pump of peppermint (optional)

The reason people are saying it cures colds is likely from all the soothing properties like lemon, mint, lots of great natural healing ingredients in both teas and the soothing warm beverage aspect of things. I'm really into natural healing, plus let's face it, when you feel better, you'll get better! Here's how to veganize it:

When you order an oatmeal at Starbucks, the available toppings include packets of agave nectar, so all you have to do to veganize this soothing drink is to ask for the Medicine Ball with agave instead of honey! If you don't want agave, you can just opt of of honey, or you can even add a different sweetener like Stevia or raw sugar.

All Starbucks locations that serve oatmeal with toppings should have agave. This is from their website:

"With a breakfast this good, your day is bound to be amazing. Our reinvented oatmeal features a hearty blend of rolled and whole grain steel-cut oats and a shorter steep time. Enjoy yours with blueberries, a medley of fruit, nuts and seeds, and a sweet touch of agave syrup. Or try our new Classic Whole-Grain Oatmeal."

It might even be comforting to try this with steamed soy milk in place of one or both liquids. I get my teas soy misto and have been for about 12 years now, maybe even longer. So maybe doing a Medicine Ball with half soy misto and half hot water might be something to check out. I always love a soy misto tea when I'm needing a little piece of peace. This new Medicine Ball drink seems like it will be good for that and not just when you are feeling ill. 

I think it'll be a nice beverage to enjoy on a rainy day, reading a book, sitting in a cozy chair by the window while listening to the sounds of the rain. I personally would order a Medicine Ball Venti sized, whether you want that much or not, just so the drink isn't too strong in taste or concentrated. When I try this one, I would want that 10 ounces of hot water to kind of dilute the lemonade and 2 tea bags, which seems like a lot for, say, a Tall sized drink. It sounds like an interesting drink and I'm planning on giving it a try for sure. As soon as I do, I'll tweet about it, okay?

Tell me, will you be ordering a Medicine Ball any time soon?

Meet Zucchi Gourmet Olive Oils and Enter Their Giveaway!

When you get a package like this in the mail, you know it's your lucky day! Read on to find out how you can win all 4 flavors of this amazing olive oil!

Zucchi was so generous to send me all 4 flavors (100% Italiano, Extra Virgin, Sinfonia and Sweet & Fruity) of their gourmet olive oil and their book, The Art of Blending, that unveils the secrets of extra virgin olive oil and the special process of naturally blending and infusing flavors into the oil. At the end of the book there are a few recipes, and unfortunately they aren't all vegan-friendly, but luckily they are easy to veganize if I ever want to try any of them and the rest of the book is pretty much vegan-friendly, otherwise. Definitely an interesting and sophisticated book and a good read.

Zucchi started out as a small family business and grew to become a major oil producer. "Oleificio Zucchi was founded in 1810 in the area near Lodi in northern Italy as a family business that produced seed oils for human consumption." Now large enough to be in their current 86,000 square foot manufacturing facility on the Cremona navigation canal, producing close to 400,000 gallons of packaged oil per day, Zucchi is a leader in all things olive oil, rightfully so. This company really cares about the quality and integrity of their olive oil, which is really important. 

Upon receiving my package, I knew these olive oils were special, it is obvious. The packaging is beautiful and decorative and I'm happy to be able to display them on my spice rack; they are just really pretty. I was immediately drawn to the Sweet & Fruity bottle. Then I thought of the perfect dish to use it in. Here is information from Zucchi and next will be my recommendations for using each flavor.

*correction "fresh white fishless"

I want to start by talking about the Sweet & Fruity. This is the perfect olive oil to drizzle over a light and crisp summery salad, especially one that has strawberries, peaches or apples in it. I am also really excited to use this oil for making homemade salad dressing!

The Italiano flavor is a strong and robust flavor. I would use this for practically anything, but definitely in any Italian dish. I can picture this oil being amazing in vegan lasagna casseroles or drizzled on top of vegan garlic bread. Yum!

Sinfonia is a light and all-purpose, multi-use oil. This is a great everyday oil and a healthier alternative to salad oil.

The Organic olive oil will definitely be my go-to oil. This oil is the perfect dipping oil. To make dipping oil, add some of this oil in a small bowl and mix in some minced garlic, a little onion powder, a bit of Italian seasonings, a few red pepper flakes, and some vegan grated parmesan cheese. A dipping oil is amazing to serve with soft, warm sliced bread, rolls or bread sticks. 

Final thoughts: I use olive oil every single day. I use it in my breakfast most days, and practically every snack or meal thereafter, on a daily basis. Zucchi olive oils are one of the best that I've tasted, and I consider myself a sort of olive oil connoisseur. You can tell a good quality extra-virgin olive oil by smell and taste - these Zucchi olive oils hands down win in both categories. These olive oils smell so good that they just do something to me; they move me. I want to make air fresheners out of them!

Neat little fact: you can scan the QR code on the side of the bottle of olive oil to trace the origin of the olives inside that bottle! Amazing! This is legit olive oil right here!

These olive oils definitely come in handy while preparing recipes from my cookbook, The Dirty Vegan Cookbook, many of which call for extra-virgin olive oil in them. A special thanks again to Zucchi for sending them for me to try. They are fantastic.

Zucchi is giving away 4 flavors of their world famous olive oil - click here to enter their giveaway.

Hey Chili's - Chilli Isn't the Only One Who Wants More Vegan Food!

Did you hear the news that Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas of the group, TLC, asked Chili's restaurant to add more vegan options to the menu?

How CrazySexyCool of her! She speaks for many of us in the vegan community who dine at Chili's restaurant and are so bored with what they have to offer their plant-based guests.

Chilli asked Chili's to add vegan "chicken" and other more exciting animal-free food to their offerings, and I really hope the chain eatery takes notice of this message from the famous singer as well as the vegan community as a whole. Whether people dining at Chili's are vegan or not, society is going in the direction of more plant-based, for lots of reasons. I'm hearing more people than ever say that they are avoiding animal products for health and environmental reasons in addition to having compassion for animals. People who are battling health issues are being told by their doctors to go vegetarian to help lower cholesterol and help their health in many other ways. I've spoke to people who have trouble with allergies or acne and are being advised to avoid animal products like dairy to clear up their medical issues. So it would be a smart business move for Chili's to offer decent vegan options for EVERYONE. Just like diners have the choice between a variety of dishes, several plant-based ones should be offered as well. Think about it, restaurants have lots of different chicken or beef dishes on their menu, so why have only one vegan one to choose from? If someone wants chicken they have 10 options or more, but a person who wants to eat vegan at that meal, only has one option - that's not fair at all. I can even argue that it is discriminatory, Chili's.

I personally would love to see some of the menu items that I used to enjoy before going vegan, offered as a vegan option. I also think that all restaurants should have this; a dish, then the option to have it animal products OR plant-based. It's not hard to make it almost the same way, but use the vegan ingredients when the customer chooses their meal that way. That would make it fair and equal for ALL patrons and would also drive sales and profits through the roof. There's a whole group of people who feel they can't dine out much or at all, especially at chain restaurants, and make most meals at home or only visit vegan restaurants - because let us face it, dining out is expensive these days, so why waste your hard earned money on an overpriced salad when that is the only crappy option available for vegans? Maybe Chili's will be the restaurant to change that.

Hey Chili's, let me know if I can work with you on creating some exciting vegan options for your restaurants. As a vegan chef, former vegan bakery owner, pastry chef, longtime vegan and expert, and cookbook author, I know a thing or too about vegan cuisine - plus I'd LOVE to help with something like this!

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. I hope your day includes a vegan quesadilla or two!

Natural Teeth Whitening

I was asked to try out this Black Is White vegan teeth whitening toothpaste by Curaprox...and here is my result after using it for a few weeks.

I didn't dive right into using this toothpaste the minute I received it. I was told before they sent it is vegan, but I had to do research to make sure - I know, I know...trust issues. I also researched the company to be certain that Curaprox does not test on animals. There's some old info confirming that they do not test, however there's not really anything about that fact on their website, which I think is important for them to include because a lot us animal lovers and activists care about that - and also base our decisions to purchase products on that knowledge.

Their website does state that their fluoride is not of animal origin and is a naturally derived fluoride, unlike many of their competitors. They also state that their ingredients are free of harmful chemicals or anything that can be dangerous to you. So I like that a lot.

So without the chemicals, how does the whitening happen, you ask? Active carbon. So as you guessed it, the toothpaste is black, but ultimately leaves your teeth whiter. My teeth were pretty white to begin with, so this is not a dramatic reveal, and I do think my teeth appear whiter after using the product, so it does seem to work nicely. I would say that although this is not a professional whitening treatment (like getting laser teeth whitening at a doctor's office or something), this is a great solution for coffee or tea drinkers in order to maintain those pearly whites.

My teeth felt cleaner after using Curaprox, Black is White...they look whiter as well. 

So that's all for now, Folks! And the Dirty Vegan is signing off - I hope your day sparkles like my teeth.

Goodnight, What Day Was It?

Friday, really? When you are working all the time, you tend to lose track of the days. The days, and weeks, and months all start to meld together in one big clump of work. Luckily, I love what I do, and my life's work has proven that; I have worked on this cause tirelessly for many years. I can go to sleep at night knowing I did good work and feeling like I have served in my life's mission. Service is important. I'd rather give than take, that's what makes me happy. And I am blessed to have found my calling.

However, when you do what I do, you don't get the weekends off. Fridays don't really mean much in terms of getting any time off. Even when I do take vacations, I'm tweeting or blogging it, or searching animal rights news for things to share and get involved in. I'm happy with what I do, but you know what I miss? This...

I miss outside.

I mean, I go outside, I'm not a vampire, but I don't spend nearly as much time outdoors as I would like. Maybe I'm feeling this way because the weather is still wintry, but even then, many of us don't get enough outdoors time. Not like when we were kids. I used to be outside all day long when I was a child. In college, I used to try to convince my professors to hold class outdoors on the lawn, somewhere nice and grassy on campus. Sometimes they listened, but not as much as I wanted. I even campaigned when I was working in the corporate world, to bring our desks outside - the outcome of that was, my bosses thought I was nuts. I told them we'd be more productive, we'd have a more positive outlook - nope, they were against the idea.Why don't people want to be outside anymore?

My goal for the deep spring, I say deep spring because it is far too cold right now in New England, is to bring my laptop outside and work there more. When I'm creating vegan recipes, that isn't always going to work, but I would like to do more writing and photography outside feeling the warm sun on my skin and the cool breeze on my face. I also think we should walk barefoot more often - feel the plush grass beneath our feet and connect with the earth more.

Do you spend a lot of time outside and what are your favorite outdoor activities when you peel yourself away from your desk?

Just When You Think Canadian Seal Hunts Couldn't Get Any Worse

Photo Credit: Huffington Post Living Canada

Just when you think the horrific slaughter of seal in Canada couldn't get any worse, it somehow does. How could it be any worse, you ask? I read an article by Sheryl Fink from the Director of Canadian Wildlife Campaigns at the International Fund for Animal Welfare which just confirms my disgust in the human race. Canada has decided to start the senseless killing of innocent beings seal hunt early this year... during pup nursing season!

Imagine for one moment that you are a mama seal, protecting and nurturing your newborn, nursing and bonding with that child, then a spineless hunter slaughters you both. Even if they can distinguish between the genders and try to only target the males, which is almost impossible to do and trust me they don't care, imagine being that new family and the trauma that comes with other seals being slaughtered. This unimaginably cruel practice must be stopped. First let's voice our outrage on that fact that the very minute protection that wildlife does in fact have, is being ripped away from them. What's next, entire species of animals are just wiped off the earth? Not like that hasn't happened before right? Why are we going in the wrong direction? We should be protecting wildlife and moving away from barbaric acts and start living in the modern civilized times that evolution and technology has afforded us.

Please start by giving Sheryl's article a read. She explains why starting the hunt early is not only more cruel, it won't work for their purpose and it equates to senseless killing - so there's no point to this, Then, contact Canadian officials and Fisheries Minister Dominic Leblanc to voice your concern for the early hunt and this inhumane practice in general. Ask for the abolishment of Canadian seal hunting, once and for all.

Thank you for all your activism! We are winning this fight for equality for ALL.

Orange Carrot Tomato Celery Smoothie Recipe

This recipe came over to me from Tyler at Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company. Enjoy!

Orange Carrot Tomato Celery Smoothie

Servings: 2 smoothies (14 oz each)

Ingredients

•1 container (about 5.3 oz) vanilla flavored vegan Greek yogurt
•1 banana, broken into 4 pieces
•1½ cups frozen berries
•½ cup Natalie’s Carrot Tomato Celery Juice
•½ cup Natalie’s Orange Juice
•1 cup baby spinach leaves, washed and dried

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse until the mixture is well blended and no large pieces of fruit remain. Pour into 2 glasses and enjoy.

Credit: Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company

Thanks to the lovely Folks over at Natalie's for sharing this recipe with me and the Dirty Vegan community! And if you would like to check them out, here's their social:

Twitter: @nataliesoj

Instagram: @nataliesoj

Facebook: @nataliesoijc

www.orchidislandjuice.com

Goodnight, Signs

"Sign, sign everywhere a sign"

Five Man Electrical Band?

Never mind. 

Tonight I'm reflecting on the signs of the day. Did you ever have a day, or even a period in your life, where you keep getting the same signs? Maybe it is a word that keeps popping up on tv, in a book you are reading, on the radio, or on social media. How about when you are thinking something, and someone says something similar to what you were just thinking - has that ever happened to you? Is it really a sign, perhaps from the universe, or merely just a coincidence?

Some spiritual experts seem to think that the universe has a plan and also sends messages to people. Most scientific experts say that that isn't possible. So how do we explain these strange coincidences, these signs? And do they mean something?

This happens to me often. I'll be thinking about something random, not something that has been buzzed in the mainstream news, but something very distinct, specific or obscure, then I'll be on Twitter and see someone else tweet about the same exact thing. How is that possible? Sometimes it happens more than once and comes from the same person. Could we be operating on the same brain frequencies or wavelengths as others? Some scientists seem to think that is possible as well, that we are all connected.

It's not like this is a new phenomenon. People have written songs about seeing "signs" (although in the Five Man Electrical Band's case I think they were actually talking about signs, like posted signage. Ace of Base is a better song example for "signs") and more than one of my friends and family members talk about constantly looking at the clock at the same time each day, 11:11.

I don't know what to believe, but I do notice "signs" and I wonder about them. As a person who likes answers for everything, I do find this re-occurrence peculiar. Maybe they are just coincidences. What do you believe?

Tiger Nuts...Rawrrrr!

I know what you're thinking. Where does she find this stuff?

Here's a little something, something about Tiger Nuts...

Tiger Nuts are NOT nuts. Make sure you've had your caffeine before reading this one. They are actually nut-free and gluten-free. I know, mind blown.

If they aren't nuts, what are they??

They are tubers that grow underground like carrots or potatoes do. And you guessed it, they are jam packed with minerals which include fiber, vitamins C and E, and iron! They are vegan-friendly, obvi, but also suitable for people who must avoid gluten or have nut allergies - since they are tubers and not nuts.

You'd be nuts not to try these tubers! They are totally tubular! <--- I'm sorry, I had to do this.

Anyways, what you see pictured: the original Raw Premium Organic and the original Supreme Peeled, also the Tiger Nuts flour! Yep, you can bake with it, Folks! I will be posting some Tiger Nuts recipes on here soon - I've been hard at work since summer on my Dirty Vegan Cookbook, but you can definitely expect to see a recipe on the blog using this amazing Tiger Nuts flour coming soon!

Thanks, Tiger Nuts, for sending me these tubular tubers and Tiger Nut flour to try! I love trying new products and sharing with the Dirty Vegan community.

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off - I hope you have a nutty-but-not-actually-a-nut day!

Goodnight, Doogie - We're Getting Old.

Before I introduce these Goodnights I'll be doing, let me address the poll I posted on Twitter to get your opinion about them... I am astonished by how many of you don't know who Doogie Howser is! Then again, I'm not. I'm old. Things like this really make me feel my age.

Tonight's Goodnight will be about aging. The vegan diet has blessed me with a youthful appearance, so has good genes, all the women in my family age amazingly, but sometimes I feel my age. Like the times when I have to google the latest slang words because I don't know what they mean. Or when I'm sitting down on the floor for far too long and I get up, ouch (when did that happen?!). Or today food styling and doing a photoshoot outside. It looked beautiful out there but it was windy and cold, brrr. When I was younger, I would be able to spend time outside without a jacket, hit your 30s and forget about it. But the Doogie thing. Can't believe that. Next you'll tell me you don't remember the show, Small Wonder.

It's a weird ass show anyways. I loved it, however. Us 80s/ 90s kids are weirdos.

Anyways, this is my first Goodnight. Inspired by the great child M.D., Doogie Howser. I'm laughing as I type this. Seriously, I wanted to share the insight of the day with you all, and I need way more than 140 characters to do it justice. So here I am sitting at my computer, well, my laptop, like the ending of Doogie Howser, M.D. Should I have named these posts Doogies instead of Goodnights? Nah, then I'd have to title them "Doogie,..." and that's kinda odd, especially since apparently no one knows who Dr. Howser is! This first Goodnight is nowhere near as profound as Doogie's were. Then again, I don't have a team of writers creating them for me, huh Doog.

And for tonight, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Here's to ageing gracefully! And Doogie, and video stores, and Pogs, and SkipIt, and whatever else I say that no one will remember. Goodnight.

The Most Rad Vegan Soap, EVER!

So I got this package in the mail. You could smell it from a mile away - not a bad smell at all - it smelled like there was a giant godzilla made entirely out of natural soap lurking around. I checked every corner, nothing. Then I looked down and realized the delicious smell of cleanliness was coming from the box within my hands. Rad Soap Co. I should have known.

Upon opening the box, I noticed the beautiful and thoughtful packaging. Oh, who am I kidding - I noticed the photograph. Pictured is Rad Soap Co. founder Sue Kerber and her hot sons. I'm a marketing expert and I'd like to commend you, Sue; smart move putting those handsome boys in the box.

Then I got distracted and I forgot what I was reviewing here. Oh, yes, of course, the soap. 

This soap smells good, like really truly heavenly. Then I found myself going back to the photo...those are really good looking humans you made there, Sue. Oh, gosh, yes, the soap, let's get back to the soap.

How do you insert the heart eyes emoji into your blog post?

The kind folks at Rad Soap were so kind to send me their Kryptonite and Chaga soap, as well as their Project Hemp Cream. I was so excited by the smells of these soaps, I couldn't wait to try them out!

Chaga has a beautiful sweet smell. It is an antioxidant soap, which I absolutely love, and it is made with wild chaga mushroom. There's also scents of primrose, sweet orange, tangerine, clementine and patchouli. I can see this becoming my go-to soap and it is a perfect way to start the day. This soap reminds me of the way we should all be waking up and getting the day started. Now I'm wondering how anyone ever lived without starting the day with Chaga soap.

Kryptonite is also a skin detox soap with matcha tea, reishi mushroom and tea tree. Amazing ingredients for healing the skin! This is why Sue started the company, to heal her son's eczema, which is really a beautiful and amazing thing. I love companies that have a purpose that's not driven solely by making money - companies fueled by love. I dig it. 

This soap instantly brings me back to childhood. It brought back memories I thought I'd forgotten about. Being outside all day, exploring nature. I smell the trees, grass and leaves in this soap. I slightly smell mushrooms but the kind that you smell among nature on a warm foggy day after the rain has stopped. I smell camping and I smell the times my father would make furniture out of wood and when my grandfather would be cutting wood for the fireplace, while I was a kid outside playing with my brother and cousins. I was suddenly brought back to the home I grew up in, in a small town in Connecticut, by a smell. This was so unexpected. Now I'm wondering what my family would feel smelling this soap, if they'd recall the same memories and feelings that I had. I'll buy them all a bar, it is certainly worth a shot. Beautiful soap - very well done, Rad Co.

Next I rushed to trying the Project Hemp Cream which is the company's first product. My hands are really dry right now because I've been working on my vegan cookbook, doing tons of cooking and food styling, and lots of hand washing; my hands have been dry and uncomfortable. I used a few other creams and they always left my hands burning and getting red afterwards. I was so eager to try Project Hemp Cream because these products are designed specifically to heal and nourish your skin. This package couldn't have arrived at a better time!

WOW! I haven't seen my hands this moisturized in a while! I thought I had to wait for summer for them to get back to normal, I didn't think it would take one application of this scent-free wonder cream! I should have taken before and after pictures.

I'm loving these Rad products, truly! Everything is Vegan, Plant-based, Cruelty-free, Pet-friendly (YES! So when my dog gets sprayed by the same skunk for the millionth time, I can use this soap on her too!), and made by a wonderful (and good-looking) family company. 

When this stash runs out, I will be replenishing my soap and skin care needs with Rad Soap Co. for sure. Thanks so much for sending this to me!

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. I didn't frame the photo of Sue's sons, what are you talking about... *whistles*

Dolcedi Me!

Did you ever have a moment when you were like, I need something to sweeten my coffee, tea or whatever else but I'd like something new and interesting and low glycemic...possibly made from apples?

Just go along with it.

So this stuff is like really cool. Seriously, like really really cool. 

What is it like? What does it taste like? HONEY. Legit, it tastes exactly like honey. Vegans rejoice!

The ingredients are just: concentrated apple juice. That is it! And it tastes like honey. How? I don't freaking know - all I know is that it is good and it is vegan.

I'd like to thank the awesome folks at Rigoni di Asiago for sending over this sweet bottle of amazing Dolcedi! I am hooked on this stuff for sure.

*pours dolcedi over entire life*

Feel Like a Star On Your Period

Say Whaaat, you crazy broad!? <--- is what you want to say to me.

Hear me out. A company by the name of Cora contacted me to try out their tampons. I'm like, alright! Especially after hearing about their mission and what it means when you purchase this product. Here is their welcome to the Cora movement:

Every year 100 million girls miss school during their periods because they don't have access to feminine menstrual hygeine products. For every monthly supply that you purchase, Cora will give menstrual supply products to a girl in need, so she can have the freedom and ability to go anywhere or do anything during her period!

Wow, this is something that many women, including myself, take for granted. We have the ability to stock up on pads or tampons during a shopping trip at Target, at any grocery store, or pharmacy drug stores, that are on practically every corner in most areas. Cora products make me feel good about doing something that I have to do anyways. I have to have my period and I have to buy tampons. Might as well help other girls in need while I'm doing something that I already have to do. So instead of buying tampons manufactured with chemicals, I can buy Cora's premium 100% organic cotton tampons that are in BPA-free plastic applicators.

Where does feeling like a star come in, you ask? 

I'll tell you. Besides feeling like a star by doing an amazing service to humanity every month, you open the box of Cora tampons and you literally feel like a celebrity. Like who else gets a box of glamorous looking tampons that come with a chic vegan-leather carrying clutch?? They even include Stowaways that you can keep in your bag to give to a friend, which just so happens to be a little cardboard tube that says something like, Congrats on your free month of Cora tampons you lucky b! (there's a code on there for your friend to sign up for a free month, for reals)

Without getting too TMI on you, these tampons work awesome! Thank you, Cora, for sending me these fab tampons to try and for all of the good work you do! You've got a fan in me for sure! 

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. May your period be Beyonce fabulous!

The Dirty Vegan Cookbook

Howdy!

For anyone who hasn't read the news about my vegan cookbook on social media, it is coming along very well and will be released this Fall.

This cookbook is everything you'd expect from me: cheesy, gooey, buttery, sweet, savory, delicious (and everything in between) recipes for any occasion. This book will change the world, I just know it. Veganism has been scientifically proven to be the best lifestyle for the health of humans, the environment and of course for the animals. My cookbook is your one-stop resource for how to eat and cook vegan in the easiest way possible. I've taken the guesswork out of it because it is crucial to be including animal-free products in your diet, and I want everyone to be able to do it. You don't need fancy or hard-to-find ingredients to follow any of these recipes; this book is unlike any other vegan cookbook. Put it this way, if you make any one of these recipe for a non-vegan, I bet you'll make a believer out of them.

Here is the link to sign up for e-mail news about The Dirty Vegan Cookbook and you can also pre-order from this page as well. I recommend reserving your copy to ensure you won't have to wait or struggle to find a copy when they sell out, and you'll be able to get your copy when it is released. 

The Dirty Vegan Cookbook is available everywhere books are sold. If you are unable to pre-order online, you can call your local Barnes and Noble or book retailer and reserve over the phone or in person. I've personally called the wonderful folks at B&N to confirm this because I know people like to visit the store to do things in person, I prefer that interaction as well. 

Also, sorry if I have neglected this blog for a couple of months - writing a cookbook is much harder work than I thought it would be. But you know what they say, the best books are the ones that the author absolutely obsessed over, making it an easy and effortless read for the user. Maya Angelou said something like that, about when she wrote her books. Hang on, let me go get the actual quote because I think I absolutely butchered that one - be right back...

Got it! I'm not going to admit how long it took me to find this excerpt:

"Will I write a sentence that will just float off the page? Easy reading is damn hard writing. But if it’s right, it’s easy. It’s the other way round, too. If it’s slovenly written, then it’s hard to read. It doesn’t give the reader what the careful writer can give the reader." -Maya Angelou

I have been agonizingly particular about every tiny detail of this book. It is very important to me that, for animals, for the cause, this cookbook is perfect. I wanted it to be such fun to read and with instructions so detailed but simple and easy to understand, that anyone can go vegan, and they'll be absolutely compelled to. Please check it out: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/557574/the-dirty-vegan-cookbook-by-catherine-gill/

Also, there is another reason for my brief hiatus on this page - well two actually. One: they deleted the Blogger app, which made it so easy for me to post anywhere or anytime. Two: I discovered the new plant-based social app, Vegan Amino, which is void of politics or trolls and is all vegan, all the time. Here's a link to my Amino page, you should definitely check it out; this is where I've been microblogging (besides on Twitter, which is where I hang out most): http://aminoapps.com/page/vegan/2520449/thedirtyvegan

But no worries, I will be posting here on thedirtyvegan.com regularly once again, going forward. I've been told by many people that they use this website as a recipe archive and resource due to how well I labeled the posts, so I'm happy that even when I took a little time off from blogging to write this book, this site is still a useful vegan source.

Ok, that's all for today. You know how I can go on-and-on. And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Peace and love.