VegNews-Holiday_2019

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VEGNEWS.COM^ VegNews 31

IS FOR APPETIZERS

For foodies, the holidays are

often about the roasts—maybe

the mashed potatoes and

mac and cheese, too. But the

all-important app should not be

taken for granted. Fun, flavorful

appetizers help kick off the

party on a great note:

a delicious first impression

and a sign of all the

merriment to come.

So start your holiday

get-together the right way,

without breaking a sweat, with

these four-ingredients-or-less

vegan nibbles.

CHEESE WHEEL

EN CROUTE

Vegan cheese wheel +

apricot jam + store-bought

frozen puff pastry

MEATBALL BITES

Frozen meatballs + cranberry

sauce + crushed nuts

STUFFED MUSHROOMS

Cremini mushrooms + chive

cream cheese + minced garlic

+ breadcrumbs

FRIED RAVIOLI

Vegan ravioli + aquafaba +

panko breadcrumbs +

marinara or pesto

A

melting into mashed potatoes,

a tablespoon or two can make

anything taste like magic. Here’s

a breakdown of our favorites.

EARTH BALANCE’S

ORGANIC WHIPPED

BUTTERY SPREAD

Made with:

Vegetable oil, salt, soy

Use it for serving:

Mix in herbs and spices

(or even crumbled cheese or

mini chocolate chips) to this

whipped butter, shape into a

log, and chill for a party-ready

compound butter.

FORA FOOD’S

FABABUTTER

Made with: Aquafaba,

coconut cream, sunflower oil,

nutritional yeast

Use it in cooking: Clarify this

high-smoke-point butter and

use to sauté vegetables for a

huge hit of flavor.

MELT ORGANIC’S

PROBIOTIC BUTTER

Made with:

Coconut-palm-fruit oil blend,

sea salt, probiotics

Use it in sauces: A garlic

butter sauce (with a hidden

dose of probiotics) will make

any batch of biscuits better.

MIYOKO’S EUROPEAN

STYLE CULTURED

VEGAN BUTTER

Made with:

Cashews, coconut oil,

cultures, sea salt

Use it in baking:

It browns beautifully,

so nutty, caramelly,

brown butter cookies

are fully within reach.

If you need an easy, stress-free, and always-

impressive stocking stuffer for anyone in your

life, nothing delights more than chocolate.

This year, we’re gifting EAT CHIC CHOCOLATE’s

gorgeous (and all-vegan) chocolate boxes

featuring handcrafted cups filled with luxurious

and inventive nut and seed butters. It still counts

if we gift to ourselves, right?

C

IS FOR

CHOCOLATE

BOXES

IS FOR DENVER

There’s no place like home for

the holidays, and Assistant

Editor Aruka Sanchir is headed

back to the Mile High City for

friends, family, and some killer

food. The vegan scene there

is better than ever—from old-

school favorites to trendy new

pop-ups—so bring your snow

gear and some stretchy pants,

because these are Aruka’s

top five places you can’t

miss this winter.

1. ALTERNATION
   BREWING
   COMPANY
   “With an ever-
   changing rotation
   of vegan beers
   (Almond Milk Candy
   Cane Stout, anyone?) and
   plant-based food truck
   eats (WongWayVeg’s

DD

IS FOR BUTTER

It’s a fact: everything is

better with vegan butter. From

making pastries extra flaky to