Excerpt from the Introduction

Hi, Friends!

Like most vegans, I wasn’t born and raised that way. I grew up enjoying meat, eggs, and dairy in a house that literally had animal heads on the walls! But when I decided to go vegan, I had to switch my diet and find foods that were just as satisfying to me. Now, I don’t know a single person who went vegan because they hated the taste of animal products. Most people, just like me, go vegan for the animals, their health, and the planet. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that vegans, or people who are just trying to eat more plant-based, might miss some of the foods they grew up eating.

So why not just eat animal meat? Because we don’t miss the animal-killing part—we miss flavors and textures. Some of us vegans might crave an animal product that we used to enjoy. And certain dishes can be associated with traditions or memories: Burgers and ribs at a barbecue. Soft-boiled eggs on Sunday mornings. Cheese and pâté at a cocktail party. Steak dinners for special celebrations. Chocolate and sweets at Christmas. Vegan versions of these dishes allow people to stick to their values and enjoy their favorite foods without harming any animals. So, you see, it’s really win-win.
Some vegans or plant-based eaters out there are totally happy living on grain bowls, salads, and smoothies. And that’s wonderful. But that’s just not me. When I first went vegan, I tried to live off of those types of dishes. And, well . . . the truth is, I hated it. The food was tasty-ish, but it didn’t have the kinds of tastes that I grew up loving. I missed the stretchy cheese pizzas, crunchy fried chicken, creamy alfredo pasta, and gooey chocolate desserts.

I couldn’t go back to eating animal products after all I had learned about the animal agriculture industry, so I had to try to figure out this whole vegan food thing. That’s when I began experimenting in the kitchen and trying to create recipes to appease my cravings. And it totally worked. I discovered that I could recreate textures and flavors that I desired, all while keeping it totally plant-based. I fell in love with creative vegan cooking. And with a little experimenting, I found that I could make any dish vegan—and not just vegan, but DELICIOUS!
Not only were the meals yummy and satisfying, but they actually tasted better than the original and made me feel awesome! I remember the joy I felt the first time I dove into a huge bowl of rich, creamy, luscious pasta that didn’t taste like health food.

I wanted to document these recipes, so I began sharing them in 2013 on my blog, It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken, and I soon realized that I wasn’t the only one craving these types of recipes. Millions of people from all over the world were craving drool-worthy vegan recipes, just like Iwas. Every time I posted a new recipe, I heard from people all over the world that Iwas helping satisfy their cravings (whether they were vegan or just trying to eat more plant-based). And that is how I fell in love with recipe writing. I knew that with every recipe I posted, Iwas helping people fall in love with vegan cooking, just like I did. Iwas helping the animals while making people happy. I mean, what more could a girl ask for?

I’m here to show you that you don’t have to miss out on anything when eating plant-based. You can go vegan and eat great food too! Textures and flavors are not exclusive to animal products. They can be recreated in simple ways with seasoning and technique, or in fun, more experimental ways with some cool ingredients that might be new to your kitchen. Get ready to enjoy some incredible vegan eats and satisfy all your tastiest cravings.