Jennifer from Scrumpdilly passed this my way. I almost never do these things--but the straight-up cooking theme made this a little more compelling.

Brought to you by Lauren of Whoa Wren!
1. Favorite non-dairy milk?
Currently, almond--but only Almond Breeze (tm) plain, unsweetened

2. What are the top 3 dishes/recipes you are planning to cook?

  1. Our neighbor just gave us an omni recipe for a sort of Zuppa Toscana, that we intend to veganize.
  2. Seitan is my Motor recently pointed out this recipe for Iraqi-inspired Seitan Stew from FatFree Vegan Kitchen.
  3. I think we're gonna make a pot pie with BISCUIT CRUST tonight.

3. Topping of choice for popcorn?
Earth Balance and salt--after air-popping

4. Most disastrous recipe/meal failure?
We tend to escape disastrous, but sometimes things end up weird--so weird that you're uncertain as to whether they're really good or just plain terrible. Anything in the failures section.

5. Favorite pickled item?
My friend Ryan has a shirt that says "Cucumbers are pickles soaked in evil." --that's how I feel about pickling.

6. How do you organize your recipes?
In a binder for in-process/experiments/recipes from online. Otherwise, here, on this blog.

7. Compost, trash, or garbage disposal?
Well, we use all three, but compost is always preferable.

8. If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 foods…what would they be (don’t worry about how you’ll cook them)?
Avocado, seitan, peanut butter? Can I choose something prepared? Panang Curry from Thai Thai, Taco Salad from Aut Bar, Runaway Potato from Alice & Friends.

9. Fondest food memory from your childhood?
When I was 9 or 10, my friend Shawn and I went to the grocery store and bought a bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and a gallon of vanilla ice cream. We brought this back to his place and proceed to make our own blizzards. I'm not sure if it's cool to let 10-year-olds use a blender unsupervised, but I definitely thought it was awesome then. For like $6 we made over a gallon of blizzard, HEAVY on the Peanut Butter Cups. This was probably my first DIY cooking moment. Our blizzard was infinitely superior and much cheaper than the real thing.

10. Favorite vegan ice cream?
Temptations Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

11. Most loved kitchen appliance?
How are we defining appliance? I think good knives are probably the single most important thing, along with at least 1 non-stick or well-seasoned pan. We use our crappy blender almost every day. Our coffee maker is probably winning, though I have no special attachment to it. In terms of non-standard gadgets that we find ourselves surprised to love, it's the immersion-blender, hands down.

12. Spice/herb you would die without?
Aside from the obvious salt and pepper, cumin.

13. Cookbook you have owned for the longest time?
How it All Vegan was my first cookbook. I bought it the weekend I went vegan, almost 10 years ago.

14. Favorite flavor of jam/jelly?
Raspberry

15. Favorite vegan recipe to serve to an omni friend?
My blackbean soup seems to go down really well with omnis--I generally try to shy away from "reproduction fare", since it only highlights your "different" diet.

16. Seitan, tofu, or tempeh?
Seitan, tempeh, then tofu.

17. Favorite meal to cook (or time of day to cook)?
Supper. Evening/night. (I've also developed a soft spot for brunch after a summer of brunching.)

18. What is sitting on top of your refrigerator?
A powder-blue watering can, a medium size turquoise pot, and a large yellow pan.

19. Name 3 items in your freezer without looking.
Homemade ice cream, green beans from our garden, 3 dead birds.

20. What’s on your grocery list?
Potatoes, Bananas, Soy Creamer. I just went to the farmer's market two days ago, so we're mostly good.

21. Favorite grocery store?
Generally, our local food coop. Occasionally Whole Foods for the few items we can't seem to get at the coop.

22. Name a recipe you’d love to veganize, but haven’t yet.
No, you name one. I take requests.

23. Food blog you read the most (besides Isa’s because I know you check it everyday). Or maybe the top 3?
Vegan Dad, VeganYumYum, Scrumpdilly

24. Favorite vegan candy/chocolate?
Peanut Butter Cups from How it All Vegan

25. Most extravagant food item purchased lately?
It's been pretty back-to-basics lately. We did buy a slew of fancy flours and starches recently to make gluten free pancakes for a vegan brunch.

26. Ingredients you are scared to work with?
Nothing comes to mind. I don't like vinegar very much, but that's more antipathy than fear.