Whether you shape your holiday cookies in Christmas wreaths or Hanukkah draidles, there's no denying that in December, dessert is the main event. Well, that and shopping, of course! The first time my aunt attempted to make a vegan holiday dessert, we all couldn't help but laugh at the outcome. She followed the recipe for "dessert balls," but they tasted more like desert balls—dry, flaky, leaving your mouth absolutely begging for water.  That was back in December 2008. She Googled vegan desserts, and combed through a handful of recipes before landing on the famous peanut-butter dessert balls. …

So you've been trying out the whole vegetarian or vegan thing for the better part of the year. It's been going well, and you're happier than ever. And then ... bam! the holidays hit. Who in the world can skip the turkey on Thanksgiving? Talk about a road block. Yes, it's impossible to deny that Thanksgiving revolves around turkey. From the 2 a.m. alarm reminding you to pop it in the oven to the supermarket specials and children's school crafts, it's all about the bird. But this American tradition doesn't have to throw off your new lifestyle. There are hundreds—yes, hundreds—of vegan recipes …

Looking for a mellow lunch spot in Somerset County, with healthy yet flavorful vegetarian (and vegan) fare? Look no further than Spoon and Sprout Cafe in Hillsborough. When Geetha Jayaraman decided to open a restaurant, she knew she'd be incorporating the dishes she's always enjoyed cooking at home, which is Basking Ridge. The healthy fare offers a twist on what so many in our area have come to expect at Indian restaurants. You won't find dishes overflowing with oil or heavy sauces. Instead, you can expect light-yet-satisfying dishes bursting with all the flavors of her homeland. From …

It's been awhile since I had a chance to answer questions from readers, so this week, it's time to answer everything Somerset County is wondering about veganism. After posting a marinade recipe over Labor Day Weekend, Andrew from Bridgewater asked why I listed Bragg's twice in the same recipe.  Bragg's is listed twice because I was referencing two different Bragg's products: Apple Cider Vinegar and Liquid Aminos. The apple cider vinegar is an organic version of the regular cooking ingredient. Liquid aminos contain 16 amino acids essential to a vegan (or any healthy) diet. Liquid aminos taste …

With friends in town over the weekend, we were all in the mood for brunch. How better to cap off a weekend of wine, laughter and catching up on old times? Given my vegan diet, brunch is one of the hardest meals to eat out. It's a total shame, considering how much I love waking up on Sunday mornings—err, afternoons—and meeting friends for mimosas and pancakes. It was a huge adjustment for me when I stopped eating eggs. Yes, there is usually oatmeal on hand, but why pay $10 for something I can so easily make at home? Whether you enjoy brunch with friends or making pancakes with your kids in the…

With schools back in session, every (vegan) parent is thinking about the same dilemma: what to pack for lunch. I can’t really imagine being a vegan child—my daily roll-with-butter lunch wouldn’t have made the cut. Or my turkey and provolone, chicken noodle soup or slice of pizza. As I rode the train home on Sunday, I mentioned this column to a friend. “What would you send your kid to school with? What’s an acceptable vegan lunch?” I asked. Before she had a chance to answer, the woman across from us piped in. “Nothing with nuts,” she said. “Don’t try sending tofu, no matter what you do,” added…

There's no denying that lure of a holiday weekend barbecue, especially on Labor Day. How better to end an eventful summer? Since going vegan, I've missed being part of the crowd at the BBQs. The look of a hot dog no longer gets my taste buds going, but the smell will always bring back favorite childhood moments. Who doesn't think of summer when charcoal and burgers waft through the air? I didn't even like burgers as a kid, yet I can't help getting nostalgic. Of course, my choice to stop eating meat hasn't stopped my family from throwing summer parties. Or from delivering their favorite joke…

First things first, I hope you all made it through Hurricane Irene without a hitch. According to the USTA, the National Tennis Center made it through with minimal damage, and the U.S. Open is set to start as scheduled Monday morning.  If you've been to the Open, you're probably well aware that tennis is only half the show. With more than a dozen restaurants and unique food stands, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center offers countless dining options. Chinese, Indian, American—you can find just about anything. But can you find vegan?  Yes. In a tour of the grounds last week, I …

Rice milk, sprouted adzuki beans, agave nectar, medjool dates, Rudi's gluten-free multigrain bread...I must've been shopping at a health food store, right? Nope. Just good-old-fashioned Costco. When I asked my mom to make a trip to Costco, to check out all of the superstore's vegan options, she happily obliged.  "Oh, sure," she said, "that can't take long at all." Imagine her surprise when it took more than two hours. From juicers to sprouted beans, tofu and organic produce, the stock-your-kitchen warehouse offers more than I ever expected. If you're throwing a Labor Day weekend BBQ, you can …

After a week of volunteering at Camp Fatima in Lebanon, my friends and I couldn't wait to get to the bar on Saturday. The week is an amazing one —a crew of about 215 volunteers, including seven from Somerset County, have the honor of caring for 66 children with disabilities—but it is also exhausting and emotional. As soon as the week ends, we all get together at a local pub to reminisce about the week and start getting back to real life.  The post-camp venue of choice this year was Willie McBride's, the recently-opened Branchburg pub that took over when Cryan's Ale House went out of business…

I'd like to start by saying thank you so much for all of the comments and emails in response to this column. Please keep them coming! Below, I've answered two of the questions that I've received from readers over the past couple of weeks.  "What's the difference between vegan and vegetarian?" Vegan is a type of vegetarianism, just as Catholic is a type of Christianity—though these diets have nothing to do with religion. That was just an analogy. While vegetarians avoid meat products, such as chicken, beef, pork and so on, vegans take it a step further by avoiding all animal products, …

When you think of an American summer, what's the first image to pop into your head? For me, it's walking along the boardwalk while trying to catch the melting edges of an ice cream cone before the sticky treat dribbles onto my fingers. It's impossible to remember my first ice cream—it's just a summer pastime as ingrained in our Jersey memories along with pizza and bagels. Ice cream was by far one of the biggest roadblocks on my way to going vegan. I'd probably been full-on vegan in every other regard for a year before I finally stopped indulging. It was just such a habit—my parents keep …

Jitters. Everyone gets them on their wedding day. No matter how much you love your fiance or how ready you are to walk down the aisle, there's that slight nervousness on your wedding day. It's totally understandable—if you're the bride or groom. The groom's cousin? She's supposed to just show up and have a ball. Yet Friday morning, I woke up slightly dreading the wedding I was going to that night. My cousin Matt was set to wed Melissa at the Meadow Wood Manor in Randolph at 6:30 Friday night. I'd never been to the Meadow Wood, but based on my experiences at other venues in the area, I didn't …

When you hear the word "vegan," what comes to mind? For most of us, at least in Somerset County, vegan is not exactly normal. We think of hippies or celebrities; people who want nothing to do with regular society or who can afford personal chefs. We don't think of the girl next door. When I told my mom I was going vegan, she just sort of stared at me. My little cousins thought I had a disease. My friends thought I'd never drink another beer. They all agreed that being vegan is not for a typical girl from New Jersey who loves the Yankees, beer and summer BBQs. After three years, I still don't …