It’s Hockey Season and that means I’m feeding snacks to a bunch of hungry guys during our weekly game night.
Impressing the male species with vegan food is one of the biggest challenges of all. It’s not so much the taste of the food that I’m worried about; it’s more the stereotype of what vegan means to them. Often, the word vegan doesn’t evoke warm and fuzzy feelings like….beer or pizza….or nachos.
So I make nachos, spiced bar nuts, pizza, and beer fries.
Now they think vegan is just some weird code for really awesome food.
Score.
The other night I was trying to think of some “guy-friendly” snacks (oh, now I’m stereotyping!) and I came across some delicious looking snack recipes in The Happy Herbivore Cookbook by Lindsay Nixon. The publisher sent me this cookbook to check out and I’ve been meaning to try it for a while now. There are all kinds of dips and appetizer recipes to choose from, in addition to breakfast, sides, entrees, appetizers, sauces/dressings, and dessert recipes. Most recipes also have a full colour photograph which is always a nice feature if you are a visual person like myself.
Lindsay specializes in fat-free and low-fat vegan recipes and you can find over 175 recipes in her cookbook. There are also a lot of tofu, tempeh, and seitan based recipes such as her Seitan Pot Roast and Fettuccine Alfredo. If you are a soy fan, you will find a lot of unique options.
For game night, I made Lindsay’s Spicy Mexican Dip (above) made up of cannellini & black beans, nutritional yeast, spices & seasonings, and a hint of lime. I was feeling feisty so I made the Nacho Cheese Sauce and swirled it into the dip before baking it for about 35-40 minutes. Amazing. The only thing I regret was not putting a layer of Daiya Cheese on top!
I served the dip with Lindsay’s Chili-Lime Corn Chips. They are very easy to make and the flavours went perfectly with the dip.
First things first, the boys thought it was actually a real cheese dip.
Secondly, the dip was gone in 10 minutes.
I forgot all about the fact that the Leafs were losing.
I also made the Fruity Cereal Bars (it’s a good thing because the dip didn’t last long) which are fat-free knock offs of those commercial cereal breakfast bars that we all know and love. I wasn’t expecting much from a fat-free cereal bar, but these were good. The oatmeal base is soft and light (a common outcome when using applesauce as a fat replacer) and the gooey jam topping made me want to eat the entire pan.
Sadly, I had to share.
I even thought about trying the the, ‘You don’t want this, trust me! It’s healthy, it’s VEGAN!’ line, but it didn’t work. My cover was already blown.
Vegan food is just a code for really awesome food, remember?
The Happy Herbivore Giveaway!
[Giveaway Finished]
If you’d like a chance to win The Happy Herbivore Cookbook leave a comment below. I’ll pick the winner on Monday and ship you a copy of this book. Open to anyone, anywhere.
Lindsay’s recipes are some of the best in good nutrition and taste…the no/low oil is one of the best and most important features and we need more of these types of recipes nice job! and thanks Angela,,you’re awesome
yum yum yum! looks delicious–I would love to win a copy!
Thank you for the inspiration! I always need ideas for the “Big Game” nights.
Cheers!
I’d love to win this cookbook! Thanks!
It all looks amazing! I would love a copy of that book!
My husband and I still talk about the great nachos we used to get at a local bar while we were in grad school. It’s been 10 years since we’ve had them and I would love a recipe (and a book full of recipes) to recreate them at home!
What a great giveaway:) Thanks!!!!!
Sounds like an awesome cookbook, I’d love to try some of the recipes!
I’m vegan but my husband isn’t even vegetarian. I love him anyway;) The more great recipes I can try with him the better my chances are of converting Jim. This book would be a great help to bring one more omnivore over to our side!
Ok, I am a certified cheese freak. I have my certification plastered on my body. I am 53 and have been diagnosed many years back with psoriasis. I have have some issues with joint pain. I was given a prescription for methatrexate (sp). I refuse to use anything that will potentially destroy my liver. I have a large family and I teach preschool. I love life and intend on living a long one. I have opted to change my american diet for a healthier one. One that includes omiting so much processed foods, excess meats, fats, gluten products and such. It is tough, but I notice the difference. I realize that having a cookbook won’t make me healthier. But since I have actively changed my eating habits I think I would love to add this to my cookbooks. I love your posts, the pictures are great. Have a great one!
The nachos look delicious! I have converted off of dairy and all meat (except fish) over the past two months and your blog has been an amazing resource! Thank you for the inspiration, recipes and fun :)
I haven’t tried nutritional yeast but now am very curious about it. I have been following your blog for awhile now and love your creative and attractive looking recipes. I would like to start incorporating more vegan recipes into my family’s and clients’ diets.
With Football season starting here in America, I am looking to make the same type of treats! It would be nice to not have to make separate dishes for myself and then another for my husband and his buds. Pick me!
I’d love to have the cookbook! I’m not a vegan or a vegetarian but I feel like I am becoming one haha! Eat vegetarian/vegan foods all the time
Hey I would really love to win a copy. My new goal is to have my lunches be vegan. This is a great healthy alternative and this cookbook would definitely help (along with your recipes)!!
Those nachos look delish, I will be trying them for sure! Would love to win the book! Thanks.
I found your blog approx 2 weeks ago while trying to come up with some healthy meals that would re focus me on getting back into the best shape i can. I am a busy mother of three and do not always have time for myself. i have been struggling with getting back on track. I find that your blog with healthy choices has pumped me up. food has been my enemy for over 20 years and I really want to reinvent myself. I run a home based childcare with my husband and our world revolves around making little ones happy and cooking alot of meals…… which means there is always food, which isnt always a good thing for someone like me…………. I have been a vegetarian for almost 18 years but starting to get bored with the basic meals we do. We serve only vegetarian food at our home and my oldest son now in kindergarten needs lunches made daily for school. id love to get some great recipes to add to his menu….thank you for inspiring me.. and showing me that there are awesome ways to make food fun……………… Id love the opportunity to win a cookbook and cook on
I am always looking for tasty snack recipes to begin the process of winning over my dad and carnivore friends. They all come to events at my house with a bit of skepticism.
All of the apps you made look delicious… I think I’ll have to pick up a copy of the book! The dip you made sounds divine. And I would not have wanted to share those bars either! YUM!
wow, it all seems delicious!! I always love when my friends devour the vegan meals I prepare :)
I love Lindsay´s recipe and I would so love to win her book!
(Angela, I am still waiting for YOUR book ;))
good job in convincing your friends that vegan food can be yummy! ;) the recipes sound intriguing, I’d love to win that herbivore cookbook!
I’ve got a boy who needs me to get this book desperately! Thanks Angela!