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Interview: Sarah Kramer + Contest Time
Sarah Kramer’s cookbooks have inspired vegan chefs for ten years now. As she celebrates the 10th anniversary of How It All Vegan, we interview Sarah to learn about her life and books. Plus, read to the end of the interview for a chance to win a copy of How It All Vegan.
Sarah's recent appearance on Canada AM to celebrate the book launch and to share some vegan lifestyle tips.
How many books have you written now?
I have four books: How It All Vegan, The Garden of Vegan, La Dolce Vegan, and Vegan a Gogo and one wall calendar under my belt. My first book How It All Vegan just celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.
What is your all-time favorite recipe?
That's like asking who my favourite child is. *laugh* My favourite recipes are the ones that make my husband moan with pleasure. There is nothing I like better than making people speechless with my food. :)
Where do you get ideas for recipes?
My inspiration comes from many places. Sometimes it's something I'll see on TV or in a magazine that I want to "veganize." Sometimes it's about doing something with an ingredient that catches my eye in the grocery store and wanting to do something new with it. I also receive recipes from my fans who want me to try their latest creation and sometimes their recipes will end up in the cookbooks.
How long have you been vegan?
I talk about my journey from vegetarian to vegan in my first book How It All Vegan but long story short I've been vegetarian since I was a child. My mother raised my brother and I veggie since birth and when she passed away when I was 10, my Dad continued to raise us vegetarian, even though he was a meat eater. I did a little "experimenting" with meat when I was a teenager and quickly went back to vegetarian. Eating animals was never something I was comfortable with.
What inspired you to go vegan?
The transition to veganism was a natural one for me. I have always been a lover of animals but didn't fully understand how much they suffered until I saw a documentary called The Animals Film which was an eye opening experience for me. I walked out of that movie a changed person.
I think that the transition from veggie to vegan is like everything in life. You're making a choice. A conscious choice to make a difference. Either you stick to your convictions or you don't.... but once you've drawn the curtain back and have seen how animals suffer for food and fashion. I don't understand how anyone could fall off the vegan wagon.
What advice can you offer for people starting a vegan diet?
Veganism is not a diet. It's a lifestyle. Diet to me implies a fad and fads are stupid. Lifestyle change is the new diet. *laugh*
But most importantly get yourself some good cookbooks and also I recommend reading Becoming Vegan by Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis. It will answer just about any nutritional question you might have about going vegan.
What projects are coming up next?
I'm currently on the road promoting/celebrating the 10th anniversary of my first cookbook How It All Vegan as well as promoting my new 2010 Wall Calendar. A portion of the proceeds from the calendar to go to www.SeaShepherd.org. The calendar is full of silly fun photos as well as recipes. I think it's the perfect stocking stuffer!!!
Tell us a bit more about yourself.
I live in Victoria, BC with my husband Gerry and our fur-baby, Fergus, the dog. Besides the work I do on the cookbooks, my husband and I own/operate Tattoo Zoo in downtown Victoria. As for hobbies. I'm obsessed with my dog. Walking my dog. Playing with my dog. Hiking with my dog. If my dog isn't involved ... I'm not interested! *laugh*
For more information on Sarah or her cookbooks, visit her website at www.GoVegan.net.
Sarah's recent appearance on Canada AM to celebrate the book launch and to share some vegan lifestyle tips.
How many books have you written now?
I have four books: How It All Vegan, The Garden of Vegan, La Dolce Vegan, and Vegan a Gogo and one wall calendar under my belt. My first book How It All Vegan just celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.
What is your all-time favorite recipe?
That's like asking who my favourite child is. *laugh* My favourite recipes are the ones that make my husband moan with pleasure. There is nothing I like better than making people speechless with my food. :)
Where do you get ideas for recipes?
My inspiration comes from many places. Sometimes it's something I'll see on TV or in a magazine that I want to "veganize." Sometimes it's about doing something with an ingredient that catches my eye in the grocery store and wanting to do something new with it. I also receive recipes from my fans who want me to try their latest creation and sometimes their recipes will end up in the cookbooks.
How long have you been vegan?
I talk about my journey from vegetarian to vegan in my first book How It All Vegan but long story short I've been vegetarian since I was a child. My mother raised my brother and I veggie since birth and when she passed away when I was 10, my Dad continued to raise us vegetarian, even though he was a meat eater. I did a little "experimenting" with meat when I was a teenager and quickly went back to vegetarian. Eating animals was never something I was comfortable with.
What inspired you to go vegan?
The transition to veganism was a natural one for me. I have always been a lover of animals but didn't fully understand how much they suffered until I saw a documentary called The Animals Film which was an eye opening experience for me. I walked out of that movie a changed person.
I think that the transition from veggie to vegan is like everything in life. You're making a choice. A conscious choice to make a difference. Either you stick to your convictions or you don't.... but once you've drawn the curtain back and have seen how animals suffer for food and fashion. I don't understand how anyone could fall off the vegan wagon.
What advice can you offer for people starting a vegan diet?
Veganism is not a diet. It's a lifestyle. Diet to me implies a fad and fads are stupid. Lifestyle change is the new diet. *laugh*
But most importantly get yourself some good cookbooks and also I recommend reading Becoming Vegan by Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis. It will answer just about any nutritional question you might have about going vegan.
What projects are coming up next?
I'm currently on the road promoting/celebrating the 10th anniversary of my first cookbook How It All Vegan as well as promoting my new 2010 Wall Calendar. A portion of the proceeds from the calendar to go to www.SeaShepherd.org. The calendar is full of silly fun photos as well as recipes. I think it's the perfect stocking stuffer!!!
Tell us a bit more about yourself.
I live in Victoria, BC with my husband Gerry and our fur-baby, Fergus, the dog. Besides the work I do on the cookbooks, my husband and I own/operate Tattoo Zoo in downtown Victoria. As for hobbies. I'm obsessed with my dog. Walking my dog. Playing with my dog. Hiking with my dog. If my dog isn't involved ... I'm not interested! *laugh*
For more information on Sarah or her cookbooks, visit her website at www.GoVegan.net.
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Contest Time: Win a 10th anniversary copy of How It All Vegan by answering: what is your favorite vegan recipe? Entries must be received by November 14, 2009 at 11:59 PST. Retail value: $24.95. 2 Ways to Enter: 1. Post a comment below. 2. Tweet your answer to @VegaTeam on Twitter. |
Comment
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Comment by Bevster on November 16, 2009 at 10:22pm -
Well done Jennifer! If anyone wants to meet Sarah Kramer, I found out that she is a guest at a special fundraising event on December 5 at Karmavore in New Westminster, BC. Check out http://talk.karmavore.ca/2009/11/special-fundraiser-event-hearts-on.... You'll even get one of Sarah's calendars as part of your entry fee!
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Comment by Jennifer Kane on November 16, 2009 at 12:04pm -
Yay!!!!!!!!!
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Comment by Vega Kelly on November 16, 2009 at 9:50am -
Thanks to all for the entries! 29 entries on the blog and 6 on Twitter. Jennifer Kane is the winner of a copy of How it All Vegan. Congrats, Jennifer and thanks for sharing your fave meals.
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Comment by Bevster on November 14, 2009 at 9:05pm
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Oops, forgot to mention my favourite vegan recipe. While I have not had the pleasure of exploring Sarah Kramer's books and recipes, I have created a few of my own vegan creations, one of which is a delightful chickpea curry. Yum! A stellar sweet treat is the low-fat vegan chocolate bundt cake from "Veganomicon".
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Comment by Bevster on November 14, 2009 at 9:01pm
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Great interview; I look forward to exploring the govegan.net website and learning more in the Vega community. Thanks Vega for excellent products and useful information!
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Comment by Brenda J. Haugstad on November 14, 2009 at 12:19pm -
I already have this fab book, so it would be great to win another copy and give it as a holiday present.
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Comment by Ted Carr on November 13, 2009 at 6:50pm
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Brendans very own ginger-pear energy bars are THE BEST vegan recipe there is. I eat two a day and when I make them, I make about 20 at a time and it only takes half an hour to do so!
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Comment by Cheryl on November 13, 2009 at 6:34pm -
My favorite vegan recipe is my husband's vegan paella recipe - paella rice, onion, carrots, celery, saffron, red bell pepper, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, kalamata olives, soyrizo (a soy sausage-like product). I could eat it every day!
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Comment by Karen Less on November 13, 2009 at 5:30pm -
Congratulations, Sarah on 10 years of a true vegan classic cookbook. So many good recipes, I don't know where to begin. I would love to win a copy of the 10th anniversary edition to add to my collection.
And, thanks, Nicole, for the Truffles recipe. I can't wait to try it.
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Comment by MARGAUX CONNELLY on November 13, 2009 at 2:48pm
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One of my favorite vegan dishes for the winter is a mediterranean chickpea salad, it is served warm and hits the spot on a cold winter day. Its in the eat clean cookbook by Tosca Reno. I make this salad at least 2 -3 times a month in the winter, its very tasty. I do not own alot of vegan cookbooks and would love to start with one of Sarah Kramers.
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