What can readers expect form your new book But I Could Never Go Vegan?
But I Could Never Go Vegan
They can expect recipes to combat every excuse they (or someone they know) have for not going vegan. These recipes will have even the most skeptical omnivore going back for seconds.
What is the weirdest excuse you have heard for not going vegan?
I think the weirdest is when they say they can't go vegan due to where they're from. Like "I can't go vegan because I'm from Arkansas." What does your hometown have to do with the food you choose to eat?
Why do people assume that a vegan lifestyle is expensive?
People assume that when you're vegan, you need to buy all these specialty vegan products and ingredients, when in reality, the very basics of a vegan diet- grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits- are pretty much the least expensive things in the grocery store.
Why are people afraid that they will no longer have dinner guests as soon as they declare they are vegan?
There's a big fear that your friends and family won't want to come over if you're not serving animal products. They forget that their friends and family are coming over for your company- not the food on the table. If your friends or family would refuse to hang out with you because of the food they would have to eat, they may not be the people you want coming over for dinner, anyway.
Why should existing vegans be encouraged to continuously discover new tricks in the kitchen?
Because it's so fun, right? It's also important to always get in the kitchen and try new ingredients, techniques, and recipes because it allows you to expand your horizons in your diet and bring more variety to your plate.
What is your favourite recipe from the book?
Oddly, my favorite is the Artichoke Crab Cakes with Sriracha Tartar Sauce. I was never much of a seafood person, but these hit the spot for me (probably because there's no crab)!
Please tell us about the process of putting the book together.
I was approached by The Experiment with an idea that really spoke to me. I really fell in love with the idea and ran with it. I had many excuses for not going vegan, and as a vegan, I've heard tons of other excuses for not going vegan. I felt like it was something I really could relate to. Over the next six months, I wrote and cooked and tested and my husband photographed all the recipes.
Please tell us about your journey into veganism.
I was a former die-hard cheese nerd (I was actually a cheesemonger for a few years!) but when I learned of the torture dairy cows go through in their short lives and the way their babies are stolen from them at birth so we can have their milk, I could no longer justify all of this violence just to satisfy my taste buds. I was already vegetarian so I just needed to give up dairy and eggs. It was definitely a confusing transition but I felt so much healthier, physically and emotionally, after the change. I knew it was right for me.
What is next for you? Another book?
I am currently working on my second book, a follow-up to But I Could Never Go Vegan!