What is Agar?

It’s been a while since I’ve written a piece for my “What’s That?” series and tomorrow’s post will feature this ingredient, so I figured this was a good time to talk about agar. But before I do that, let’s talk about gelatin. I think PeTA put it best when they said: “It’s probably no coincidence … Read more

Puff Pastry vs. Phyllo Dough

Puff Pastry vs. Phyllo Dough

While working on my next big post,  I realized something. I’ve been mixing-up my terminology when it comes to puff pastry. Although this isn’t a uniquely vegan ingredient,  it’s one of those things that instantly (and easily) adds a lot of elegance to any meal. So I’ve chosen it as the next topic in my … Read more

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa

The next topic in my What’s That? series is… Quinoa! I’ve got a few amazing quinoa recipes on the way, and thought it might be nice to first explain the origins and benefits of this genius little grain. Chances are that you’ve seen this ingredient pop-up everywhere over the past couple years – from recipes … Read more

What is Coconut Oil?

Coconut Oil

The next topic in my What’s That? series is Coconut Oil. You may have been hearing about it a lot lately so I thought that it would be nice to summarise some of the myths and facts surrounding it. I’ve only just discovered it relatively recently myself, but have to say that it is quickly … Read more

What is Swiss Chard (Silverbeet)?

Swiss Chard (Silverbeet)

Next up in the What’s That? series: Swiss Chard. If you’ve seen these beautiful leafy greens at the grocery store or farmer’s market and have been reluctant to try them, hopefully this information will inspire you to give them a go. As you’ll learn below, swiss chard is a great alternative to spinach or other greens. … Read more

What are Purple Carrots?

Purple Carrots

I saw these awesome purple carrots at the farmer’s market a couple weeks ago and just knew that they had to come home with me. While I’ve had purple potatoes, I don’t think that I had ever even heard of purple carrots before, let alone tasted them. When I got home, I decided to do … Read more

What is Tahini (Sesame Paste)?

What is Tahini (Sesame Paste)

The next topic for my What’s That? series is Tahini. I always keep a jar of tahini on hand, as I use it weekly to make hummus and salad dressings. Once you buy tahini, you’ll never have to (over) pay for store-bought hummus ever again. Also, one of my upcoming recipes will feature tahini, so … Read more

What is Nutritional Yeast (Nooch)?

What is Nutritional Yeast (Nooch)?

Although I assume that most of the non-vegans who read my blog are familiar with things like tofu and chickpeas, it’s occurred to me that there may be a few questions surrounding some of the lesser-known vegan/health food ingredients. So with that, I’ve added a new section to my blog called What’s That?, and every … Read more