The Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook by Isa Chandra Moskowitz is an amazing 400+ page cookbook with 17 chapters featuring a variety of holidays and flavors. When investigating a new cookbook, I always first try and find it at my local library and try before I buy. I thought this one was so fun that I had to have it. You can find it on Amazon and even get a used copy for a steal (what I did). During 2021, I decided to work my way through each chapter and try and least one new recipe. Below are 38 of my remakes spanning all 17 chapters. More than half of the recipes can be found on Isa’s blog Post Punk Kitchen (PPK), and a few other websites. I’ve provided links for those I found.
1. New Years
Not only is this cinnamon-apple filling awesome in a crepe, it’s also good on top of a waffle or oatmeal.
We have never been one to serve anything special on New Year’s Day, such as black-eyed peas and greens. But once we tried this Hoppin’ John Bowl, I think we now have a traditional meal to serve on the first day of the year. I was pleasantly surprised at how good this was! You can find a slight variation of this recipe right here on PPK.
The ginger is a nice twist to ordinary banana bread. If you’re using those little disposable foil pans you’ll only get 4 loaves. I tried stretching it to 5 and they were pretty wimpy. Though it doesn’t affect the flavor!
Will you look at those sticky buns! OMG they were so good!
2. Super Bowl
We love nachos! With the right ingredients, you can have a balanced meal. But it’s a party so no matter! You can find this recipe right here on The Chicago Tribune.
I really liked this twist on spaghetti! Not the same old boring red sauce! Love the addition of extra protein and healthy fat.
These are absolutely delicious and not only great for a party, but also great for gift-giving. Anyone else like to gift home-baked goodies? You can find this recipe right here on PPK.
3. Chinese New Year
This is an amazing flavor combo! You can find this recipe right here on PPK.
4. Valentine’s Day
I love creamy soups! I generally leave out the spice and let folks add it at the end to their own serving…not everyone is a fan of spice. But this does need a little something to give it a little kick. Otherwise it’s just too sweet. You can find this recipe right here on PPK. She also has a slight variation in another cookbook (I Can Cook Vegan) with ginger and lime. It’s also super-delicious!
Such a moist cake! Serve with a little sprinkling of powdered sugar, whipped topping and some berries! Yum! No need for frosting. You can find this recipe right here on PPK.
5. Mardi Gras
Serve with some hash, maybe a tofu scramble, for a complete breakfast. You can find this recipe right here on Recombobulated.
6. Oscars Party
Ok, confession time. When I first got this cookbook and saw the snuggy bunnies, I thought it was the most ridiculous thing and never ever thought I’d be interested in making this. No one wants a carrot in a blanket. Fast forward a few years and as I’m trying new things in 2021, I came across this again, and made it, and loved it! Lesson learned, don’t knock it till you try it. You can find this recipe right here on Food Republic.
I really think this is my favorite non-chocolate cupcake. I love the fruity flavor the grapefruit juice give off. This is such a refreshing cupcake! And isn’t it pretty?
7. St. Patrick’s Day
If you can get your hands on a bunch of fresh mint, give this a go. I’m thinking some mint extract is easier though. Still tasty!
8. Easter
Cream of Carrot Soup
Fun and festive for your Easter menu! You can find this recipe right here on Smith’s Vegan Kitchen.
I was sure when I was making this that we’d end of having ramen for dinner. It was not looking good. The cashew and bean mixture was super-thick and I pretty much had to pulverize the veggies to get it to blend. But it was so good. Maybe blend the cashew/beans separately, then pulse the veggies separately, and stir to combine, just so the veggies can have a bit more texture. May just be my food processor, too.
I do like tofu. I enjoy it more in smaller pieces so the marinade/sauce reaches more tofu. But this had awesome flavor. You can find this recipe right here on PPK.
These were A-MA-ZING! I’ve only made them once, and I’m trying to refrain, because I will eat them all!
9. Passover
I really love this shepherd’s pie and the different twist from the traditional.
10. Cinco de Mayo
First time ever making seitan. I really like the texture and I think I’m sold on this recipe with the pinto beans. Easy to make, just takes a little time to steam them. But look what you can make with it! ⬇️
Here’s a great recipe to use those pinto-seitan cutlets! So much yum!!
11. Mother’s and Father’s Days
This was really refreshing! I add the tempeh to give it a little more protein. You can find this recipe right here on PPK.
Never had rhubarb before and I was a little afraid. I could only find frozen down here in southeast Texas. I skimped a little too much on it, and should have added more. You may see the lack in the photo. Needs more! Don’t be afraid!
12. Fourth of July
This was a refreshing pasta salad and great for a picnic or big family gathering! You can find this recipe right here on Smith’s Vegan Kitchen.
These patties held up really well, even on the grill!
13. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Seitan does take some time, but adding it to these braised veggies sure made for a nice, juicy texture.
Loved this apple spice cake. I was able to find some vegan honey at Sprouts. I used the Blonde Vegan Un-Honey.
14. Halloween
This is fun for Halloween! Serve with some beet chips to make it more festive. But I’m not a fan of beets.
For a fun, festive Halloween, make mummy dogs, and mummy meatballs!
15. Thanksgiving
Be sure and not chop your onions too small. Otherwise they disappear. You want nice chunks or slices of onions. You can find this recipe right here on Vice.
When you need something steak-like. Serve with scalloped or mashed potatoes and some roasted veggies. My husband also made these as a burger patty. Yum! You can find this recipe right here in PPK.
Oh man, this was so good! No, not the best photo, but I wasn’t patient enough. And I had just been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, so just a small sliver of a piece for me. And because of the big chunks of pecans, it was hard to give it a nice, clean slice. But oh man this was so good! You can find this recipe right here on PPK.
I think pumpkin pie is still my all-time favorite (non-chocolate) holiday dessert. Gotta have it at least once for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. I’m not pumpkin spice obsessed like some people I know (😉) but I do love pumpkin! You can find this recipe right here on PPK.
16. Hanukkah
Superyum paired with some sausage of choice and I sautéed some veggies (I’m all about the veggies right now) and served on top arugula for a complete meal. Yum!
17. Christmas
Pot pie you can make for any occasion, not just Christmastime. I used the extra pie crust dough for the tree cutouts. So easy to adapt that to any holiday, celebration, or Tuesday. You can find this recipe right here on PPK.
Took these to a family Christmas party where there is only 1 vegan and they got gobbled up. No one cares. They just see an amazing chocolate chip cookie. Got lots of compliments on these.
Can’t go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate am I right? Of course I am! You can find this recipe right here on PPK.
So yum! We’ve made these as well by stirring in the candy cane instead of sprinkling on top and my only suggestion is that you may need more if you do it that way. It’s slightly easier and quicker, but not quite as pretty. You can find this recipe right here on PPK.
Debbie's Food Smarts 