For the uninitiated, a pizzelle is an Italian waffle cookie, most commonly flavored with anise, orange, lemon, or coco. I grew up eating them at every family event and holiday. I got very excited when the Follow Your Heart Vegan Egg became available, because I had been having trouble getting the right texture, using the egg replacers on the market. So, a couple years ago, I was able to use the vegan egg to perfect my vegan pizzelle recipe. I made a video with the great Vince Lia on his youtube channel. So here is the video and full recipe.

Chef's Notes:

• You need a pizzelle maker, so go get one or borrow your nana's.
• Letting them rest on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes, but ideally an hour is essential for letting them get a crisp texture. Don't skip that step.
• You can find the Follow Your Heart Vegan Egg online if your local market does not have it.

 

Makes 12-14 cookies
​
1 prepared Follow Your Heart Vegan Egg
⅓ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup melted vegan butter
¼ teaspoon anise oil or extract
¾ cup + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
¼ teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon baking powder
pinch salt
powdered sugar for dusting


Heat your pizzelle maker according to directions.

In a medium mixing bowl add the egg and sugar, and whisk vigorously for about 1 minute, until the sugar is incorporated. It doesn't have to be fully dissolved.

Whisk in the melted butter, vanilla, and anise.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture until combined into a smooth dough.

To make larger pizzelles, use a rounded tablespoon of the dough, and to make the smaller ones, use a leveled off tablespoon. Place the desired amount of the dough in the center of each round iron on your pizzelle maker, then close and lock it. Cook for 25-30 seconds, until there is slight browning all around. Remove and let cool on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar when cool.

Okey dokey! Instagram has spoken and my audience has chosen for me to post my newest (and probably best) ice cream flavor. Smart choice, people! I've been playing with ice cream recipes all summer, and have worked up a damn good base, to which any assortments of flavors or mix-ins can be added.

The original vanilla base, I'll post when I write up my Cookies n' Cream recipe (that got less votes on my instagram poll) some other day. The base is pretty much the same as this one, except that I had to bump up the sugar to balance out the bitter/salty chocolate, to achieve a perfectly rich and decadent ice cream, with varying texture and a nice salty hit.

Quick notes:

• Make sure you have an ice cream maker.
• Also to make this recipe right, you need about half a day or so. So plan for that.
• If you don't have a high-powered blender, you can use a regular blender, then, after the blending step, pass the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove any unprocessed cashew pieces. Then proceed with the heating/thickening process.

Makes about 3 cups

1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked at least 1 hour (overnight, if you don't have a high-powered blender), drained, and rinsed
1/2 cup water
14 ounce can coconut milk (regular, not the "lite" stuff)
3/4 cup, plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 cup dutch process coco powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon arrowroot powder
pinch salt
1 batch Simple Salted Truffles (recipe below)

Into a (preferably) high-powered blender, add cashews, water, coconut milk, sugar, coco powder, vanilla, arrowroot, and salt. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute, scraping down the sides to incorporate any coco powder stuck to the jar.

Transfer to a medium saucepan and heat on medium, stirring continually, until it just begins to bubble, at which point the arrowroot will activate and the mix will thicken to an almost pudding like consistency, 4 to 6 minutes.

Once thickened, immediately transfer to a wide, high-sided vessel, and stir it around for 3 to 4 minutes to promote quick cooling. Once cooled (it can still be a little warm), transfer to a container and cover tightly. Refrigerate at least 4 hours.

In the meantime prepare the ganache. It's hella easy! It's down below.

Add the chilled cashew/coconut mixture to your ice cream maker, and do whatever the maker's instructions say you have to do to make it into ice cream.

Once that is done, add some of the truffles and churn it to incorporate. Then add a few more, and repeat until all of them are in. If your style of mixer doesn't do a good job of incorporating the truffles, remove the ice cream from the machine, place it in a mixing bowl, and fold them in with a spatula as quickly as possible. The ice cream will melt fast!

Don't expect the truffles to be uniformly incorporated anyway. There will be darker streaks, clumps, swirls, balls and such throughout the final product.

Once the truffles are mixed in, add the ice cream to a container, tightly cover and place in the freezer at least 4 hours. It's fairly easy to scoop right out of the freezer, but letting it rest at room temperature for 5 minutes will make it a lot easier. Enjoy!

Simple Salted Truffles
2 ounces dark chocolate bar, roughly chopped.
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 teaspoon flaked or coarse sea salt
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

In a microwave safe bowl place the chocolate and milk. Heat on high 45 seconds, then let stand in the microwave 2 minutes. Whisk together until smooth. If it's not hot enough to completely melt the chocolate, heat it again for 10 seconds and whisk again until melted. Repeat if necessary.

Once melted and mixed, pass the ganache through a fine mesh strainer. This will ensure a consistent, silky smooth texture throughout.

Stir in salt and olive oil.  Allow to cool down at room temperature for 20 minutes, then cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. 

Use a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon to make little portions, then quickly roll them into balls between your palms, and place on a plate. Chill in the freezer, at least 30 minutes, or until the ice cream is ready.

This was a quick and simple dinner I threw together the other night. I posted a pic on the insta, and I got a bunch of DMs and comments that were all like, "hey, where's this recipe?" And I was all like, "check back later." Well, later has arrived, and the recipe here now. I put it right here. Enjoy!​

Chef's Note: Risotto should not be stiff or dry. It should be slightly jiggly in the bowl with a little fluidity to it. If it’s too stiff stir in a touch more broth (you can user water if you're out of broth). When you pass a spoon through the risotto, the channel you’ve created with the spoon should fill itself back in. That's the consistency you're looking for.

Serves 6-8
3 cups arborio rice
2 cups frozen green peas, thawed
10 cups vegstock, warmed
1/2 medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, sliced
2 tablespoons butter divided
12 ounces mushrooms of choice, roughly chopped or sliced
Zest of 1 lemon 
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tablespoons vegan parm (optional)
Salt
Pepper

In a large pot or Dutch oven, add 1 tablespoon butter and heat to medium. Add onions and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally 3 to 4 minutes until translucent and tender.

Add garlic and cook 2 additional minutes.

Add rice, and stir to coat with the butter, onion, and garlic. Toast the rice, stirring constantly 2 to 3 minutes until the edges of the grains become translucent.

Reduce heat to medium low. Ladle in enough stock to cover the rice, then stir continually until most of the stock is absorbed. Before the bottom of the pot gets totally dry, ladle in additional stock to cover the rice, and continue stirring. Do several rounds of ladling and stirring, until most of the stock has been used and the rice is creamy with a bit of an al dente bite. It shouldn’t be mush.

You can take short breaks from stirring to prepare the remaining ingredients as instructed in the following section.

In a wide skillet, add 1 tablespoon butter and heat to medium high. Add mushrooms and sauté, 4 to 5 minutes until browned and tender. Season with salt and pepper, set aside and keep warm.

In a small food processor add the peas, lemon juice, and a healthy pinch of salt. Purée, adding a touch of water or stock if needed to achieve a mostly smooth consistency.

Once the risotto is creamy with an al dente bite, stir in the pea purée and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Serve the risotto topped with the mushrooms, a pinch of lemon zest, and a bit of additional Parmesan.

Chipotle and lime were meant to be soul mates. The flavor combo is insanely amazing. This easy-to-throw-together burrito is meant to be eaten in silence. The flavor gods need to be thanked for this one.


Yield: 4 TO 5 BURRITOS


Level: 1


1 cup (170 g) chopped red, yellow and green bell pepper mix
½ cup (85 g) chopped spicy pepper of choice (jalapeño, cherry bomb, etc.)
½ cup (76 g) chopped red onion
Low-sodium veggie broth (about ½ cup [118 ml]) or drizzle of oil, for sautéing
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lime juice


RICE AND BEANS
1 ½ cups (241 g) cooked brown rice
1 cup (200 g) cooked or canned black beans, drained and rinsed
¼ cup (10 g) chopped fresh cilantro
1 tbsp (15 ml) fresh lime juice
¾ tsp sea salt
½ tsp chipotle powder


TO SERVE
4 to 5 tortillas
Avocado
Shredded cabbage
Smoky Tangy Cream (page 135) or World’s Best Roasted Salsa (page 132)


Sauté the peppers and onion in a pan over medium heat with veggie broth, salt, garlic powder and lime juice until cooked and fragrant, about 10 to 12 minutes. You may need to add more broth if it gets too dry. The mixture is ready when the veggies are soft and almost sticky looking.
To make the rice and beans, put the cooked rice, beans, cilantro, lime juice, salt and chipotle powder in a bowl and mix well.
Once everything is ready, build the burritos by filling the tortillas with the rice and beans, sautéed veggies, avocado and shredded cabbage.
Drizzle the sauce or salsa over the filling ingredients.
To fold the burrito, fold the sides over toward the center, then roll upward to create a burrito. (See page 15 for step-by-step photos.) You can grill the seam for 7 to 8 minutes until it seals and closes the burrito. You can also grill the other side to make it crisp.


Kids: This can be served as a bowl if folding a burrito is too hard! Do not add spicy peppers or chipotle powder. Substitute spicy peppers with bell peppers.

These unique bites are incredibly easy to make, and lend varied textures, lots of flavor, and a  sexy vehicle for your favorite marinara, arrabiata, or puttanesca sauce. You can whip up the batter in the morning, then once dinner time comes around, you only need a few short minutes before the food is on the table. Mangia!

Serves 4 to 6

3 cups vegan chicken stock
1 cup semolina flour
⅓ cup vegan parmesan, plus more for garnish
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons vegan butter, divided
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more to oil the casserole and for garnish
2 cups marinara, warmed
¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, torn

In a medium pot, bring stock to a simmer. Begin whisking the stock and slowly sprinkle in the semolina. Continue whisking 20 to 30 seconds until thickened, then turn off the heat, and add the parmesan and pepper. Fold in with a spatula.

Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with olive oil, and pour in the semolina batter. Even it out with a spatula, and let it cool about 10 minutes. Then cover with plastic and chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour, until fully chilled and firm.

Once chilled, cut the cake into quarters by cutting a cross through the middle, this will make it easier to slide a spatula under each quarter to flip it out of the casserole, instead of trying to do it all in one big mass.

Cut the cake into 2 ½ to 3-inch squares, rectangles, triangles, or rounds using a biscuit cutter, whichever you fancy. You can even cut them into little squares for an appetizer or hors d'oeuvres type situation.

It’s time to fry. You’ll probably have to do these in two batches, that’s why I divided the butter and oil.

In a wide skillet, add 1 tablespoon of butter, and 1 tablespoon of oil, and heat to medium. Once the butter is melted and the oil is shimmering, begin adding the cake portions. If the first one doesn’t sizzle when it hits the pan, stop and slightly increase the heat.

Making sure not to overcrowd the pan (there should be a little space between each cake), fry the cakes 3 to 4 minutes until golden, then flip and repeat. Briefly drain on a paper towel, then place on a pan or plate in a low oven to keep warm while you cook the second batch. Use the remaining butter and oil for the second batch.

To serve, spoon some sauce onto a plate in an artful fashion. Arrange ¼ of the portions on top of the sauce in an equally artful fashion. Artfully spoon more sauce atop the cakes. In a manner that could only be described as artful, drizzle the plate with a bit of extra virgin olive oil, then, as if you were an artist, sprinkle additional parmesan on top. Then, haphazardly throw fresh basil or parsley on top. Eat.

So, you know, Valentine's Day. This would be great for that.

Serves 4
12 ounces spaghetti
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, sliced
2 ounces vegan bacon, chopped
1 cup aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas or white beans)
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
½ teaspoon arrowroot
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon pepper
⅛ teaspoon turmeric
3 tablespoons vegan parm, plus more for garnish

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Drop in the spaghetti and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente 7 to 8 minutes.

While the pasta cooks, in a wide skillet, heat olive oil on medium-low heat, and add garlic and bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is slightly browned around the edges and bacon is browned, 5 to 6 minutes.

While the garlic and bacon cook, into a small food processor, add the aquafaba, nutritional yeast, arrowroot, salt, pepper, and turmeric. Blend until thickened and opaque, 20 to 30 seconds.

When the pasta is done cooking, scoop out ¼ cup of the pasta water and set it aside. Drain the pasta, and add it directly to the pan. Immediately stir in the aquafaba mixture, increase the heat to medium, and cook 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce reduces slightly.

Stir in the parmesan and the pasta water, and season with salt to taste.
​
Plate and garnish with additional parmesan and coarsely cracked pepper.

This is the last vegan fried chicken recipe you will ever need. The simple techniques in this, my latest microbook from 99 Publishing, infuses maximum flavor both inside and out, while creating the texture of a classic piece of fried chicken like never before. The tender, juicy seitan cutlets are coated with a unique mix of unexpected spices, to create crisp, flavorful, golden brown deliciousness.

This vegan chicken recipe is extremely versatile. It can be shaped into full-sized cutlets, fingers, or nuggets. Dipped in ranch, BBQ sauce, or slathered with my Low-Fat Buffalo Sauce, it's perfect party snackage. And it's here just in time for the Super Bowl! Well, whaddaya know? Sleep well, my friend. Your vegan fried chicken dreams are now a reality. Get the book! 

You can download the digital microbook instantly right HERE for just $0.99!​

​This recipe is inspired by one of my favorite podcasts, Pod Save America. When a podcast has a sponsor, the hosts usually have to read ad copy provided by the sponsoring company. Usually, you just read the ad copy, and move on. The the hosts of this show, however, tend to make fun of the ad copy that these companies sometimes come up with. Perplexing, I know. I mean, the sponsors are clients, and one doesn't make fun of one's client, right? Not in the Crooked Media universe...they burn away on what the sponsors' advertising teams write for them.

But I suppose, as former speech writers for President Obama, if anyone can properly burn someone's writing, it's them. As a listener, it makes me actually look forward to the ads, which I assume the hosts are fully aware of. I do wonder how they explain that to the sponsors. I guess I could have asked one of the hosts when I randomly met him (Jon Lovett) at an LA vegan eatery last week. Here's what it looked like when that happened...

It wasn't that random, actually...it was at a place a block away from the venue where we just saw him perform his live podcast Lovett or Leave It. One of the podcast sponsors is a meal kit delivery service who boasts a "hoppy cheddar sauce" as one of the recipes you can make. The hosts have been having lots of fun with that phrase for months.  So, once I was done fanboy-ing, I had the thought to veganize the "hoppy cheddar sauce" he enjoys making fun of so much. So here's that.

Makes about 2 cups.

​1/2 cup peeled and steamed sweet potatoes (you may know them as “yams” but technically they’re sweet potatoes)
1/2 cup chickpeas
3/4 cup aquafaba (liquid from one can of chickpeas)
2 tablespoons refined coconut oil
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon light miso (yellow or white)
1 tablespoon tapioca starch/flour
2 teaspoons lemon juice 
2 teaspoons tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon onion powder 
1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup of your favorite IPA

In a blender, place all ingredients except for the beer. Blend on high until smooth.

In a small saucepan, add the beer and the puree from the blender, and stir to combine. Heat over medium heat, stirring continually, until it begins to bubble and thicken, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt to taste. End of recipe.

In this video, I used the vegan chicken recipe that you can find in my upcoming microbook from 99publishing.com. Pre order Sexy's Best, Vol. 5: The Vegan Fried Chicken of Your Dreams right now!

4 servings (enough to cover about 6 cups of things-scheduled-to-be-buffaloed)

1/2 cup aquafaba (liquid from a can of chickpeas)
1/2 teaspoon arrowroot flour/starch/powder (or cornstarch)
1/2 cup hot sauce (Franks Red Hot, obviously)
1 tablespoon vegan butter

In a small bowl, add aquafaba and arrowroot. Whisk until arrowroot is dissolved.

In a small pan over medium-low heat, melt butter, then add aquafaba and hot sauce.

Cook, stirring continuously, until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Maximum thickness is achieved when sauce reaches a light simmer.

Remove from heat, and, in a medium mixing bowl, toss with buffaloed food items of choice.

OK, not really the best idea for the title of the first post of 2018 here in America, but it's what came to mind. Yep, I kind of nuked the old site. Every recipe. Every post. Everything. Gone. I figure if there is a recipe that people really loved, they'll contact me and say, "Hey, where's that _____ recipe?" This has already started to happen, so I'm not too worried about junking all the old stuff. The beloved recipes will rise to the top, and I'll just re-post updated versions when people ask. As techniques improve, as my style evolves, and as vegan food is innovated, a lot of recipes simply become outdated. I'll be using this space to upgrade old recipes, and develop new ones for this exciting era of vegan cooking.

To be totally honest, I dislike "blogging" greatly. That doesn't mean I don't like blogs or bloggers - quite the contrary actually. They are some of the chief innovators of the vegan food movement, and are of great inspiration to me. It's just not for me though, and I only want to do the things that I really like doing. I like developing and writing recipes, and I like making videos. So that's what you'll be getting here. Simple and straightforward. A video, and a recipe. In fact, I plan on this introduction post being be the most non-recipe text I'll be writing. Although, now that I've said that, a hundred things popped into my head that I might like to write about, so I suppose I'll just spout off when the spirit moves me. But don't hold me to that.

I imagine deleting everything that I've posted for the last bunch of years, is totally against any "best practice", SEO guidelines that are common knowledge to most people in the blogging world, but I kind of don't care. If my content is good enough, people will find it, and stay tuned. And if only I end up liking it, well, then, I'm doing something I like, so I'm still happy.

The things that will be staying the same in Sexy Vegan land are my social media presence (instagram, twitter, etc.), weekly Facebook Live show (Sexy Vegan Live), as well as my 99publishing.com endeavor, and all the exclusive bonus content for my Patreon members. What will be new is that I'm reviving my YouTube channel. New videos are coming your way, and I'll be posting all of the recipe content and videos right here.

So, that's all very exciting and terrifying. Kind of appropriate for the current times in which we live. Alright, let's cook!

**While I put the finishing touches on (a.k.a. begin) my first new recipe/video post, you can check out my Patreon page where I've been posting recipes and videos for the last few months, while I transitioned thesexyvegan.com to this. If you become a patron, you'll have access to tons of bonus video content, but if you don't, there's still plenty of public content to consume.**