When I decided to go vegan (no meat, no dairy) six months ago, it was at the beginning of the summer. Fresh vegetables and fruits were in abundance, so I had no problem filling my plate with cold salads. But once the temp started dropping, I wanted comfort food. I'm not a very adept cook, so trying to substitute vegan ingredients for regular ingredients in my favorite recipes wasn't working.

Enter Lauren. She is an incredibly adept cook and has created an entire book full of easy, delicious vegan recipes.

“When I first went vegan, it was a bit of a mystery to me," writes the Boston-based blogger. "I was totally amazed that you didn’t need eggs and dairy for baking, and that the resulting treat tasted just as good. Or, that with a little imagination and a few swaps, you could make decadent treats like doughnuts, cupcakes, and macaroni and cheese, that rivaled my mom’s — enjoyable recipes that were not pathetic vegan stand-ins for the ‘real’ versions.”

From appetizers to decadent dairy-free desserts, from lazy weekend breakfasts to speedy weeknight dinners, the recipes in Lauren's book are tasty, healthful meals with easy-to-find ingredients and step-by-step instructions.

And you need not be vegan to enjoy these recipes. My husband and kids are still meat-eaters, but they all have enjoyed the pasta dishes. And the Snickerdoodles are to die for. My daughter and I make a batch every other weekend.

Find This Book
"Vegan Yum Yum" is available at Amazon.com and in most Barnes and Noble stores. And you can read Ulm's blog at VeganYumYum.com.