Any time I meet up with friends who I haven’t seen in a while in any sort of dining situation, the first question they ask me is, “What are you eating these days?”

This, my friends, is because I’ve been an on-again, off-again vegan for about two or three years. Right now, I’m on again, and I’m really aiming to keep it that way.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, vegan basically means foregoing any and all things that come from an animal, whether it’s meat, dairy, eggs, wool or leather, and is usually born out of ethical, environmental or health concerns.

The vegetarian thing (which usually means one still eats dairy and eggs) has never been very tough for me to adhere to, as I was always pretty grossed out by the concept of eating meat (insert wildly inappropriate joke here). But vegan is another story, where it becomes a little trickier to navigate when dining at restaurants or in the homes of friends and family. With the right motivation, though, it doesn’t have to be that complicated.

If you’ve never experienced the joys of good vegan cooking — and I’m not talking about a flavorless block of tofu all by its lonesome — then maybe you don’t understand why I would want to get back into it, once and for all.

For starters, I feel very strongly about the issue of animal rights, though that’s a topic of discussion for another day. I also feel so much better when I’m eating a healthy vegan diet, as opposed to a dairy-and-processed-foods-laden vegetarian diet. I’m not saying that’s what all vegetarians do, but that’s pretty much the pattern I fell into.

Most importantly, I feel like I’m more myself when I’m vegan, and whether that’s because I’m standing up for my beliefs or because I’m just generally in a better, guilt-free state of mind, I couldn’t tell you. Either way, though, I’m looking forward to cooking up some absurdly delicious veg dishes again (like herb seitan croquettes, Cajun yam fries and chocolate beer cupcakes with Irish whiskey buttercream).

And in a phrase I coined on a summer trip to Vegan Treats, a veg bakery in Bethlehem, with Weekender editor Nikki M. Mascali, I’m looking forward to spreading the word that “Vegan-ness is happiness!”



 

If ever there were a season that beckoned the amateur baker back to the kitchen, it’s autumn. With its dipping temperatures and pumpkins and gourds everywhere, fall just leaves a home begging to be filled with the warm, spicy scent of some delicious, harvest-inspired confection.

I’m a bit of an amateur baker myself, as I’ve been known to stay up all night baking hundreds of cupcakes for birthday parties, wedding rehearsals and bridal showers. And now that my favorite time of the year is upon us, I’m champing at the bit to get back into my apron with a whisk in hand.

One thing I’m planning on making as soon as possible are the Apple Pie Cookies from a food blog called Smitten Kitchen (smittenkitchen.com). You read that correctly. Apple pie. In cookies.

It requires what seems like a ridiculous amount of work, but since the doyenne of Smitten Kitchen is based in a New York City apartment, I know that if she could do it, I can do it.

I especially understand what she’s up against because I used to live in New York myself (the Bronx, to be precise), and I know a thing or two about what it’s like to bake when you’re using a TV tray the size of two dinner plates and the top of a microwave as your work areas. Not to mention trying desperately not to make a mess as to keep from encouraging insects and other various pests to set up camp.

Luckily, I don’t have those barriers to deal with now, so a complex recipe shouldn’t be quite as intimidating.

I think this weekend might be the big test for me. If they turn out well, I’ll let you know. If they don’t, we’re going to pretend this never happened …
 

 

I have this thing where I really love to Facebook quotes from TV shows. If people get it, then I’ve found a kindred soul in our mutual love for a certain program.

If they don’t, it’s no skin off my back.

One show I’m finding particularly quote-worthy this season is “The Big Bang Theory.” With its quirky characters, tactile plots and never-ending witty repartee, it’s got a certain appeal that makes you realize why sitcoms are making a comeback in our reality-driven world.

It used to be that syndication was a place where television shows went to die, but now, it seems a show hasn’t really made it until FOX or TBS is airing it every night. Now that “Big Bang” has reached that status, I’m thrilled that I can catch it with almost the same regularity as, say, “Seinfeld” or any show on MTV.

Regardless, last week’s prime-time episode was an especially hilarious affair — truly a masterpiece. I’ll leave you with one of the gems of the night, courtesy of Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski (played by Melissa Rauch):

“That's pretty big talk for a man with a closet full of magic tricks at his mother’s house.”

I’m looking forward to hunkering down tonight with a glass of vino and a repeat of my new favorite show.

 

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