Welcome to Friday FAQs—a new series on Oh She Glows! I’ve been meaning to start up my question and answer posts again, and since a couple of big projects are slowing down, I finally have a chance to do so. Woohoo! The questions featured in this series will be food related, so if you have any burning questions about any of my recipes, substitution ideas, cooking methods, ingredients, or tools, feel free to shoot them my way via social media or the blog! Each week I’ll select a handful to feature in my Friday FAQs post. My goal for this series is to share what I’ve learned in my kitchen over the past 8 years, and hopefully inspire you to try new plant-based ingredients, cooking methods, recipes, and more. You dig it?
Today, I’m sharing a few from social media and a few from my newsletter (I feature a Q+A in each issue). Let’s begin!
Q1: How long will your Cashew Sour Cream keep if refrigerated? I’m hoping to make your Favourite Vegan Chili Recipe. Thx!
A: Hi Michelle, The sour cream should keep in the fridge in an air-tight container for about 1 week. I recently discovered that you can also freeze cashew cream! I like to pour leftover cashew cream into a mini silicone muffin tray, freeze it, and then pop the cubes out and store them in a freezer zip bag for up to 3 to 4 weeks. This method is great for single servings. Thaw the cubes at room temperature or in the fridge overnight before using. Or throw a couple frozen cubes into a smoothie for a creamy twist!
Q2: Hi Angela, I’m wondering if green lentils would substitute well for red lentils in your Glowing Spiced Lentil Soup. Is there a difference between red and green lentils?
A: Hi Brandon, Great question! Red lentils are perfect for thickening and providing body to soups and curries (such as in my Glowing Spiced Lentil Soup and Golden Red Lentil Dal) and are also thought to be the sweetest and nuttiest of the lentil family. They break down while cooking and are not supposed to hold their shape. Green or brown lentils are somewhere in between—they do break down a bit, but they also hold their shape slightly better than red lentils while cooking (depending on how long you cook them, of course). I like to use green and brown lentils in veggie burgers, lentil loaves, and occasionally soups. While I haven’t tried using green or brown lentils in this particular soup, I do think it should work (the flavour will change a bit—green and brown lentils are a bit earthier tasting, but still delicious). French green lentils (or Le Puy lentils) are great for when you want the lentils to hold their shape and chewy texture (such as in a salad or pasta). I love using French green lentils in my Roasted Potato and Asparagus Lentil Salad (a spring fave!). I hope this helps and that you’ll be enjoying a delicious bowl of soup very soon! Be sure to let us know how it goes.
Q3: Good morning, My partner is a big meat eater and carb loader—I was wondering if you could let me know which recipes of yours you would recommend to try on him first to get him into it. Thank you so much.
A: Hi Alyce, Partner-friendly recipes…I’m all about those! If Eric doesn’t like a recipe, it doesn’t get posted on my blog. (And then I eat it all and tell him he’s nuts.) That said, below is a list of his favourite recipes (and general crowd-pleasing recipes). I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
- Our Perfect Veggie Burger
- Ultimate Vegan Lentil-Walnut Loaf
- Crowd-Pleasing Vegan Caesar Salad
- 10-Spice Vegetable Soup
- Next Level Vegan Enchiladas
- Ultimate Green Taco Wraps with Lentil-Walnut Taco Meat
- Golden Red Lentil Dal with Cilantro-Speckled Basmati
- My Favourite Vegan Chili with Homemade Sour Cream
- Glowing Spiced Lentil Soup
Q4: Hi Angela, I’m wondering if you’ve tried your Vegan Overnight Oats recipe with fruits other than banana?
A: Hi Nathalie, It’s no secret that banana tends to be my preferred fruit in vegan overnight oats due to its natural sweetness and creamy texture, but it absolutely can work with many other add-ins! You can try mixing in mashed or puréed pear (2 peeled, very ripe pears work best here), shredded apple (I like to grate the apple on a grater box and stir it in), or even mango. Also, yogurt works really well and provides a creamy, thick texture. Simply mix in a bit of your preferred yogurt (maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup depending on how thick you like the oats), and then taste it in the morning and stir in some liquid sweetener if you’d like it sweeter. I hope this helps and leads you to some tasty banana-free options!
Q5: I have not tried Matcha green tea powder, but you have convinced me to try it. Where is the best place to purchase it?
A: Oh how I love Matcha. You can certainly find it many places online, and in some grocery stores. Right now I’m loving this “Do Matcha” brand. The tin lasts a long time. If you end up getting some, be sure to try it in my Green Tea Lime Pie Smoothie Bowl! It’s also lovely in a warm homemade latte or served cold with iced almond milk.
Comments of the week:
Evelyn writes, “Oh your app is so so beautiful!!! I just purchased it and I can’t stop playing with that feature where you click on a recipe, and when you scroll down the picture on top gets smaller, only to become full-screen again when I scroll upwards! Also all the new pictures, woman what a work that must’ve been! But they really glow and practically jump from my screen, and even though I just had dinner, I want to make alllll the things now. Congratulations on this beautiful app, and I totally understand why the blog has been a little quiet lately. Hell, I’m even deeply impressed you managed to make both the app and your second cookbook! The first one a friend of mine brought it from the US for me, and I can’t wait until it gets joined by no 2 :)”
Evelyn! We couldn’t be happier to hear how much you love our app!! Truly, thank you. I hope you—and everyone else who downloads it-—enjoy it for years to come.
Brenna writes, “I made your DIY Burrito Bowl last week and it was a huge success – including with two picky preschoolers! I will definitely be making this again. Thank you!”
So happy to hear this Brenna! Thanks for letting us know.
Hi. I was just wondering…will your app ever be available on Google Play Store? I would love your app. But, I have a droid and do not ever plan on getting an iphone. Droid people seem to be left out.
We really hope so, Sydney! If budget allows, we’d love to explore expanding to other devices in the future.
Angela! Just downloaded your app yesterday. It is so beautifully designed and functional. My partner and I love it. Thank you for doing what you do. We so enjoy cooking your food. :)
Thank you for your support, Katie! It’s so great to hear you’re enjoying the app. :)
I have an android also and wish you had the app for us!! Any estimation on date?
I wish I did too, Rami! We’d love to expand to other devices in the future, but that depends a lot on if and when our budget will allow us to do so, so it’s hard to estimate a date. Thanks for your interest though – it’s great to see!
Angela, what are the chances of bringing back “10 Things I’m Loving Lately”?
Hey Kim, Your question made me smile! I actually didn’t think anyone would miss those posts, but I’m glad to know that you enjoyed them! I will definitely keep it in mind!
Angela have you ever thought of opening your own restaurant? I know that’s a cliche dream but I really do think your food would be very popular. With the exception of Healthy Happy Life, I’ve never really seen a fully vegan blog where the food looks so delicious and actually appetizing. It’s also difficult to encounter a vegan restaurant where the menu is drool worthy. Usually what happens is every recipe is either made with dates, coconut or coconut oil and when you go into the restaurant the smell of coconut is so strong that it’s nauseating. I’m being a little dramatic but it frustrates me that not many places have been able to disprove the common myth that vegan food is all the same/ not very exciting. Just something to think about! I would go to your restaurant in a second!
Angela – Oh how I love thee!! I have been a vegetarian for most of my life and vegan off and on since my teens. I so love that you give PLANT based solutions to meals rather than just non-dairy/egg-free substitutes. I bought your book for myself for Christmas and have loved EVERYTHING I have made (and the hubby agrees). I loved it so much that I bought at least 5 more copies and sent to friends and family who have also fallen in love. The day your app was launched I bought it. I love everything about what you are doing and cannot understand how you cram in all in a day! I love your photography and appreciate that EVERY recipe comes with a picture (I hesitate to try something if I don’t know what the end result should look like). Keep doing what you are doing. You are amazing and an inspiration and a light in the food world.
Karen, your comment is BEYOND sweet. Thank you so much for taking the time to write me such a thoughtful, loving note. It really made my day! I couldn’t be happier to hear the impact my recipes have had in your life! Thanks for your support for my book and app, too. Knowing that there is someone on the other side who enjoys it so much makes it all worth while. Thanks for reading!
Thanks for the recipes Angela. They are really Amazing. What I need is the same as others said: App! App! App! :) For both IOS and Android! I can put it in my Ipad and take it to kitchen !
Anyway, thanks:)
When was the draw for the IPad? I didn’t see a date anywhere, or maybe I missed it. Thanks!
Hi Chantal, If you visit the giveaway announcement page, the winner is announced right on the widget!:)
Oh, sorry! I didn’t know I had to look back to that post. Thank you Angela! PS Can’t wait for your next cookbook!! :)
My other comment doesn’t show, so I’ll try again… When is the draw for the iPad? I didn’t see a date…
What blender do you prefer…I’m having a hard time deciding between the Blendtec Designer 600 with WildSide+ Jar and the Vitamix Total Nutrition Centre- Ultimate Blender
Hi Val, Both of those are trusted brands; I can’t speak to the specific models you mentioned, but generally both Blendtec and Vitamix brands are comparable in terms of quality and blending capacity. I did try a Blendtec in the past and I found that the Vitamix blended the kale slightly smoother than the Blendtec, but this was many years ago and may have changed since then! Personally, I use a Vitamix 5200, and absolutely love it!!
Your recipes are wonderful,Angela! Mmm I love them. Do you have any recommendations for how to make Daiya’s pizza crust in terms of the ingredient amounts? I know what they are bc they’re on the label; I don’t know the portions though. Would you be willing to lend a hand in that direction? I’m REALLY trying to eliminate as much gluten from my diet as I can while still consuming whole grains. So, if not using Daiya’s as a model, do you have any suggestions? Finger crossed ><
do you create a food plan for the week? do you have one you could post on your blog?
i have a 2 year old daughter. we used to be pretty good at getting enough and good food in our daughter and us.
i am 22 wks pregnant and our eating has gone downhill. i have a horrible time getting myself fed, let alone making sure she eats well enough.
she definitely isn’t starving, we are just eating a lot less healthy than i would like.
i found sometimes she loves something and then doesn’t want it again for a few weeks. so nothing consistent enough to give daily, or most days.
extra info, not necessarily needed: we just finished weaning recently so i want to be more nutritious in her meals than i probably worried about previously (all the extra good stuff in mommy milk)
do you have suggestions for a weekly food schedule? things that have worked for your daughter?
thank you
hope all be wonderful
Hi Elysa, Oh I can so relate to not having a lot of energy to cook right now! I’m sorry, I don’t have a meal plan to suggest, but I will certainly keep it in mind for the future. Congrats on your pregnancy and thanks for your comment!