about me
Greetings, fellow vegans (and vegan-friendly folks)!
My name is A-K and I started writing swell vegan as a way to learn and motivate myself about eating vegan food that is both delicious and (mostly) healthy. I especially love whole foods, raw veganism, and better-for-you sweets. While I don’t have food allergies, I enjoy cooking foods that are free of many of the major (vegan) food allergens as a way to maintain balance and variety in my own diet as well as include people who get left out by a lot of conventional vegan recipes.
I currently cook and bake for a living, but I’ve never been professionally trained. My mom let me cook and bake with her from an early age, and soon I started cooking many of our family dinners. She was amazingly supportive when I became vegetarian at 15, and I owe my love of food and sharing it with others to her.
I live, work, and bike in Minneapolis with my girlfriend and our two kitties.
Thanks for visiting my blog!
hey chica!
are you still up for a trade for some teff? i wasn’t able to get any in chicago, we rean out of time! if you’re not up for it, just let me know, i can order some online. i can send you money, or i can send you something from new orleans like olive salad, zatarain’s chow chow, or something else…
xo
kittee
if you are still looking for testers, hit me up! i am game for fun in the kitchen
I’d love to be a tester too.
Hi, love the look of your blog! Can you post recipes for more of your photographed dishes? They look excellent! Also would be nice to know what you look like!
I was looking up a vegan vietnamese dipping sauce recipe and found your site.
Keep up the good work!
-Laura in China
Hey! I keep looking at the deli counter, but have no idea who I’m looking for. Hrm. Does Betsy still work there? She knows me.
Just an FYI: I gave your blog a Butterfly Award because it’s been a great help to me and you do a great job! Here’s the post and a link to info on the Butterfly Award!
http://snarkyvegan.wordpress.com/2008/11/30/omg-i-won-i-really-won-something/
http://wordpress.com/tag/butterfly-award/
Cheers!!
Julia@snarkyvegan.com
Hey AK! I was reminded of your maple-mustard-chili tempeh when I was doing a google search for tempeh… I am looking for a kick-butt tempeh recipe to bring to my vegan friend’s birthday potluck (so she doesn’t have to cook on her birthday). Is your recipe still top-secret, or would you be willing to share? It just sounds like such a great flavor combo! Anyway. Let me know!
Hey, just wanted to say your blog is really handsome, and if my blog were a gay blog, it would probably ask your blog to dinner and a movie.
After reading your blog, I wondered if you lived in Mpls – then I see above that you do. I live in Mpls too (yay Seward neighborhood!), great to see another Mpls person on the food blog scene. Love your recipes and images, keep them coming!
Wanted to tell you how inspiring your dishes are! I have hooked all my veg peeps to swellvegan and check out your postings whn I’m feeling less than inspired. Funny that you are in Minne – have been living here with my lovely lady for 4 months – from NYC… We are heading back east but think Minne is the sh*t!! love the coops and the local/sustainable food scene.
Best of luck and keep on cookin!
Thanks miya!
Lovely blog & very enticing photographs. I think you’ve inspired me to eat more raw!
Hi–
I’d like to get in touch with you about contributing to a new Citysearch vegan food blog. What’s the best way to contact you?
Thanks!!
I found out about you through VeggieThing! Have you been to any events hosted by Compassionate Action for Animals? We have vegan potlucks, dine-outs and cocktail hours every month. We also have a restaurant outreach program which I’m co-leading…..we briefly even opened up our own vegan cafe, but had to close (hopefully temporarily).
Anyway, great to discover your blog!
Beautiful recipes and photos. I want to share some of these around my vegan and allergic friends in the UK. That OK with you?
Hi A-K, I just wanted you to know about our new non-profit group http://VegFund.Org. We help vegan activist fund food, literature and tables/booths. Please check us out and spread the word
Thanks, JC
I just found your blog through Veggie Thing. Your photos are gorgeous! I’m really impressed. I look forward to going back and reading old posts.
Hi! I noticed that you had a post about onigiri and I am desperately searching for some pre-packaged onigiri, preferably of the vegetarian variety. You wouldn’t happen to know where I could find some of that, would you? Please let me know, thanks!
The long-ago post on onigiri was some that I had made at home, and I’m not sure where pre-packaged onigiri might be found. Assuming you live in Minneapolis, my only suggestion would be to check United Noodle; they have the most extensive selection I’ve ever seen but I’ve never looked for onigiri before.
Hi there! Can I add you to my blog roll? http://www.pastriesandbacon.com
I love your blog. It is beautiful I found it on http://www.pastriesandbacon.com Would you mind if I added you to my blog roll as well? Aloha, Amanda
Hi, A-K,
My name is Patrick, and I am from Tawian. Just found your blog with so many great recipes, I am wondering if I can have your permission to translate some of them into Chinese and post in my website, VegTomato, http://www.vegtomato.org/, to inspire people go veganism/vegetarianism?
I will link back to here and credit it to you!!
Sincerely yours,
Patrick
I listened to your radio bit. You were just lovely. Keep up the good work. I really enjoy your blog.
I’m glad you thought so! I can’t bring myself to listen to it. Thanks for all the encouragement!
I just found your blog tonight and i’ve been reading through all the posts. I have a grocery list made for tomorrow now from your recipes! just wanted to say you’re awesome!
Thanks Basht!
We received your Swell recipe book as a gift and found your Maple-Mustard-Chili Tofu delicious! We’ve made it many times and really love it. It’s the only tofu recipe that all family members like all the time.
Just found your blog today, and I love it. I added you to my blog list on my site. Can’t wait to see more
Thanks!