Skinny Bitch in the Kitch (16 page)

Having said that, behold the glossary. (If there’s an ingredient you’re curious about that we don’t define . . . look it up in a dictionary or online. Don’t be a Needy Bitch.)

 

Agave Nectar or Syrup:
A sweetener, similar to honey, that comes from the Agave plant (where tequila happens to come from, too). It’s less refined than regular sugar, so it doesn’t contain processing chemicals. Buy the “raw” version.

 

Arrowroot:
A starch flour made from the root of a plant. Like cornstarch, it’s used as a thickener.

 

Bacon (vegan):
Bacon alternative made from soy protein, wheat gluten, and other ingredients. Tastes like friggin’ bacon, but doesn’t encompass slaughtering a pig.

 

Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acids
: Tastes kinda like soy sauce, but contains no MSG. Made from soybeans and purified water. A must have with steamed-veggies and brown rice. Use Bragg’s instead of soy sauce.

 

Cheese (vegan):
A dairy-free cheese substitute that contains no milk, rennet (an enzyme from the stomach lining of calves), no casein (a milk protein), no whey (the liquid portion of milk that has curdled), and no other gross-out factor. Our favorite brand is Follow Your Heart.

 

Ener-G Egg Replacer:
A vegan replacement for eggs in baking. Made from potato starch and tapioca flour to mimic eggs in recipes. Comes in powder form; just mix with water.

 

Evaporated Cane Sugar:
Made from sugar cane, only the water has been removed. It’s less processed than regular sugar, so it retains some nutrients.

 

Kelp Powder:
Granules made from seaweed that lend a mild salty and/ or fishy flavor to dishes.

 

Mayonnaise (vegan):
A dairy-, egg-, and cholesterol-free mayonnaise substitute. Our favorite brand: Follow Your Heart Vegenaise.

 

Nutritional Yeast Flakes:
A non-leavening yeast that has a cheesy flavor. A food supplement that contains B vitamins and tastes great on salads, pizzas, and popcorn!

 

Oil (Coconut, Flaxseed, Hempseed):
There is so much conflicting information regarding oils and there are so many different schools of thought. Here’s the one we subscribe to: Oils are best when kept intact and not heated. So when you’re using oil as a dressing or to add flavor to something after it’s cooked, unrefined oil is best. If you can stand the taste, flaxseed oil is really good for you. Hempseed oil, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, and sesame seed oil are all good
options, too. Heating oils, especially at high temperatures, can alter them into harmful toxic substances. However, a girl’s gotta eat, and sometimes a girl’s gotta heat her oil. With that said, some oils withstand heat better than others. Refined coconut oil is the best oil for high heat cooking. Canola oil and safflower oil are other decent options. (Never continue to use oil that has burnt or is smoking. And never save and re-use oil that you’ve already cooked with. Re-used fryer oil is just one of the reasons fast food is so damn bad for you.)

 

Parmesan (vegan):
A Parmesan cheese substitute that is made without any dairy components. (Some companies make it with a soy-based version, and others make it with nutritional yeast and nuts.)

 

Pasta:
Substitute regular, refined, white pasta with whole wheat, brown rice, or quinoa pasta. These are healthier alternatives that contain nutrients and fiber.

 

Rice Milk:
Dairy-, lactose-, and cholesterol-free milk alternative made from brown rice, water, and a small amount of brown rice sweetener.

 

Seitan:
High-protein meat substitute made from wheat gluten. The texture may freak you out at first, but keep trying it. Soon, you’ll be hooked.

 

Soy Butter:
A dairy-free butter substitute usually made from a blend of oils. Be sure to get the non-hydrogenated kind.

 

Soy Milk:
Dairy-, lactose-, and cholesterol-free milk alternative made from soybeans. High in protein, vitamins, and minerals.

 

Sucanat:
Sugar in its most natural form: SUgar CAne NATural. It’s extracted from unrefined sugar cane where only the water has been removed. It retains the molasses, as well as the vitamins and minerals.

 

Tahini:
Thick paste made from ground sesame seeds.

 

Tempeh:
A vegan, meat-like alternative made from fermented soybeans. High in protein. The texture isn’t really meaty—it’s more nutty and grainy, kinda. Just shut up and try it.

 

Textured Soy Protein
(also known as texturized vegetable protein): A meat substitute made from defatted soy flour that’s compressed and processed into bite-size chunks. Generally, it needs to be rehydrated with water when using.

 

Tofu:
Made from processed soybean curds. Good source of calcium and protein. Cholesterol-free, baby. Tofu is a total chameleon in recipes and can take on whatever flavor you want. It does take getting used to.

 

Turbinado:
Made from 100 percent sugar cane. It’s what’s left after raw sugar has been washed, allowing the natural molasses to remain.

 

Vegan (noun):
A person who abstains from eating cows, chickens, pigs, fish, eggs, and dairy. “I am a vegan.”

 

Vegan (adjective):
1. The state of being with regard to not eating cows, chickens, pigs, fish, eggs, and dairy. “I am vegan.” 2. A product free of animal ingredients. “Is that cookie vegan?”

 

 

For all you bitches who use the metric system . . .

(USE ALSO FOR PAN SIZES)

Avocado(s)

Guacamole

Basil Pesto

Bean(s)

Big-ass Veggie Burrito

Cha Cha Chile

Falafel

Soy Cheese, Guacamole, and Salsa, Quesadillas with

Three- , Edamame Salad

White, Spread, Garlicky, on Crostini

“Beef”

East Coast Lasagna

“Meatloaf” with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Stew, Red Wine

Breads

Basic Fruit and Nut Muffins; variations

Cornbread

Crostini

Pecan-Crusted French Toast

Broccoli

Green Goddess Pasta

Soup, Cheezy Cream of

Bulgur Tabouleh

Burger, Veggie, Four Ways

Burrito, Big-ass Veggie

Burrito, Bitchin’ Breakfast

Cabbage

Creamy Cole Slaw

Cakes

Carrot, with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cheezecake

Chocolate

Vanilla, with Frosting

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cheese

Cheezecake

Cheezy Casserole

Cheezy Cream of Broccoli Soup

Cheezy Sauce

Chef’s Salad

Double-dip Fondue

East Coast Lasagna

Eggplant Parmesan

Fettuccini Alfredo

Four, Macaroni and

Grilled “Chicken” Panini Three Ways

and “Ham” Puff Pockets

Philly “Cheesesteak,”

Potatoes au Gratin

Potato Skins with all the Fixin’s

Quick Tortilla Pizzas

Reuben-esque

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

“Chicken”

and Gravy Stew, Super Easy Creamy

Grilled, Panini Three Ways

Noodle Soup

Salad Sandwich

Square Meal with White Beans, Quinoa Pilaf, and Asparagus

Chile, Cha Cha

Chocolate

Bitchtastic Brownies

Cake

Chip Cookies

Dream Bars

Frosting, Fudgy

Hot Fudge Brownie Sundaes

Cookies and bars

Bitchtastic Brownies

Buttery Shortbread Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dream Bars

Peanut Butter Potato Chip Cookies

Cornbread

Couscous, Grilled

Vegetable, Balsamic Portobello Mushrooms over

Crabby Cakes with Remoulade Sauce

Desserts.
See also
Cakes;

Cookies and bars

Fresh Fruit Crisp

Hot Fudge Brownie Sundaes

Rice Pudding

Eggplant Parmesan

“Egg” Salad Scoops, Herbed

Enchiladas, Veggie

Falafel

“Feta,” Marinated Tofu

Fruit.
See also
specific fruits

Crisp, Fresh