Vegan Celebrity Spotlight

Put down your Kiss the Vegan apron and chopping knife. Today, I want to mention a role model to the vegan world. Maybe it's my soft spot for American Idol or the fact that I watch too much daytime TV, but Ellen Degeneres is at the top of my heterosexual Likes list today. She and her partner, Portia, went vegan last year. Somehow I managed to miss the breaking news - probably because it's not breaking news to anyone outside of the vegan population - but hearing about it now is making me grin ear to ear. Ellen is a cool chick. She dances around like a maniac on her show and really believes in herself. If being a lesbian wasn't putting her into minority enough, she chose to embrace the sometimes-cruel words of society and become a member of the vegan world as well. I commend you, ladies. On her talk show website, Ellen provides a "Why Go Vegan?" article with some basic explanations and arguments of those who choose the lifestyle. Who knows if Ellen wrote/ contributed to the article but I think it's worth noting. Check it out. You may notice some statements worth arguing, but I want to avoid the "preaching" today and just state that there's always an argument when it comes to the vegan lifestyle. I've heard all of them, as correct or incorrect as they may be, every great argument comes from research. If you really want to be knowledgeable, pick up one of my favorite veg textbooks, Becoming Vegan by Davis & Melina. Or visit www.vegansociety.com. I'd really like to put a public figure in the vegan spotlight once a week so if anyone has a suggestion of a celebrity who is speaking for the vegans of the world, let me know! Tonight I'm enjoying my favorite beyond any ready-made vegan dinner: Amy's Black Bean Enchilada. Everyone deserves a night off!

Ray

Everything is Better Roasted in Brussels

Now that's quite a word jumble! What I really mean is, brussel sprouts are always better when roasted. Parents have been making their kids eat brussels for years with little success (Unless you're like my mother, who has a strange daughter happy to eat any and all vegetables at the age of 6). This week, I went to my local Wegman's and bought a half pound of those tiny cabbages and decided to try preparing them as a 5-ingredient recipe. When they came out of the oven with that delectable aroma, I ate the whole batch myself! See if you can resist:

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Toasted Hazelnuts

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 25

Serves 2-4

Ingredients

1/2-1 pound fresh brussel sprouts

1 tbl lemon juice

2 tbls EVOO

Chopped hazelnuts, about 1/4 cup

Freshly ground sea salt and pepper

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375. Lightly oil or spray a baking sheet with raised edges.

2. Wash brussels and allow to dry in strainer. Chop off the ends and remove any discolored outer layers. Slice each in half and set aside. If layers fall off, don't throw away - they make amazing sprout chips for snacking.

3. In a large ziploc bag, add brussel sprouts and toss the lemon juice, 1 tbl EVOO, S&P until coated.

4. Spread brussels on baking sheet and brush with remaining EVOO. Bake for 10 min. Remove and loosen/ turn the sprouts for even browning. Pick out any dark "sprout chips" to prevent burning. Bake for an additional 10 min.

5. Meanwhile, finely chop the hazelnuts. Place on baking sheet with the brussels and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

Ray's Tip of the Day

Hazelnuts and pine nuts are wonderful for vegan dishes because they give an almost cheesy taste, something that I crave constantly. Toasted, they are perfect for accompanying green vegetables and pump up the protein factor!

Cooking for a Non-Vegan

These brussels can be served as a side dish alongside some lemon grilled chicken and herb flavored rice.

Cooking with Kids

If your itty-bitties are cheese lovers, a nice sprinkle of fresh grated parmesan cheese can also lend a helping hand in getting them to eat these greens. See if they can sit still long enough to watch the brussels brown in the oven, it's pretty cool (and it might help them mellow out before the meal, too!)

Ray