Over the past four years I have had the pleasure of interviewing some of my favorite veggie-powered ladies via my annual Veggie Girl Power Interview Series. It has been so much fun being able to follow the inspiring careers of these veggie superstars in the years since chatting with them all. Past VGP ladies included: Marilu Henner, Chloe Jo, Portia de Rossi, Vaute Couture's Leanne, Sarma, PPK's Isa, Kathy Freston, Heather Mills, Annie Shannon, Gena, Rory Freedman and many more. You can catch up on all my past interviews here: 2011, 2010, 2009. 2013's series starts now! I am SO excited to announce this year's eclectic line-up of ladies and feature an update on a past superstar: the lovely Chloe Coscarelli!
So to kick off this year's VGP Interviews (I announce this year's full line-up ahead) - I wanted to chat all things dessert, cookbooks and more with Chloe. My interview with Chloe, plus she shares with me her dreamy recipe for Vegan Tiramisu Pancakes! (Plus enter my giveaway to win Chloe's Vegan Desserts Cookbook!)..
Vegan Superstar: Chloe Coscarelli. With my 365 Vegan Smoothies book launch coming soon, I have been especially interested in following Chloe's amazing book tour adventures. Between all her book signings, TV appearances and more, I have been SO impressed with the hard work she has been putting in to bring a bright, bubbly, smiling face (and AMAZING vegan food) to the forefront of what "vegan" means today. Not to mention her eloquent words speaking about her passionate love of animals. (And sharing cute pics of her pups on Instagram.)
VGP 2013. This year there is one big change to my series. Instead of doing the interviews back-to-back, I will be posting a new interview every week for the next ten weeks starting today with Chloe. Nine TEN ladies this year to chat with! And just so you know, it is NEVER easy selecting who to interview. SO many people go swirling through my head, and I promise myself that in time I will get to interviewing each and every one of them. And ps, if you have any favorite people you'd like to see next year - please comment their names below. Love feedback on that. So, this year's VGP line-up..
Doron Peterson, of Sticky Fingers Bakery
Angela Liddon, of Oh She Glows website
Elizabeth Castoria, Editorial Director VegNews Magazine
Simone Reyes, of Running Russell Simmons / Animal Advocate
Katie Higgins, of Chocolate Covered Katie
Laura Beck, of Vegansaurus and more / writer
Emily Von Euw, of This Rawsome Life website
Marly McMillen, of Namely Marly website
Sara Sohn, of Sweet & Sara Vegan Marshmallows
Update! Ha, (from a few comments below) you guys reminded me that this year I wanted to include myself answering the questions in one round of the interview! So VGP interview #10 this year: ME!!
...many many details on these ladies in the upcoming interviews! Now for miss CC..
Chatting Desserts & Cookbook Tours with Chloe Coscarelli
Kathy: What are three words you'd use to describe your cookbook tour?
Chloe: Exhilarating, Humbling, Inspiring.
Kathy: What or who are three people or things you couldn't live without on your book tour?
Chloe: A comfortable bed, a good vegan restaurant to grab a meal, my laptop.
Kathy: What have been some (or just one) vegan culinary highlights from your travels? Name dropping yummy hotspots please!
Chloe: It has to be Voodoo Donuts. Their vegan donuts are always fresh and they have a huge variety. They are open 24/7 and my mom and I went 3 times in one day? No apologies. The best pick me up ever!
Kathy: You always look super cute! Who does your styling or do you do it yourself? Any brands for fashion or beauty you can't tour without?
Chloe: Thank you! My friend Ava is a wonderful stylist and she helps me with my outfits. She is fantastic. She has really helped me a lot with making better choices and having a more critical eye when it comes to dressing myself. It really helps that I do my own hair. I just don't have the patience or time to sit in the salon. Some of my favorite makeup brands are Make-up Forever and Nars.
Kathy: How oh how did you survive away from your pets during your traveling? Your pups are adorable!
Chloe: Thank goodness for IPHONE. My family will take little films of the babies and tons of pics and text them to me all day. I've never traveled far with them but I did take them to San Diego to a dog-friendly hotel and it was such a novelty to have the staff bring two little dog beds and bowls and brand new toys to the room. Of course Winnie and Buster would have none of the dog bed and instead jumped right up to the fluffy comforters on my bed! Shhhh, don't tell the hotel.
Kathy: What is something unexpected from your book tour?
Chloe: One young man did a beautiful oil portrait of me and framed it. It was beautiful. I couldn't have been more touched.
Kathy: What is the best way to reach a new audience to promote your book? Have you been excited about the mainstream enthusiasm for your vegan book?
Chloe: My publishers are really terrific at trying to reach new audiences and of course I love engaging with my readers on Facebook and Twitter.
Kathy: What is one of your favorite stories from meeting your excited Chef Chloe fans on your tour?
Chloe: I have met many people on my tours who have told me they lost weight after going vegan and that my book really helped them achieve that goal.
Kathy: Who is the coolest person (or celeb/hero) you have met on your tour?
Chloe: Everyone who has come out to to say hello to me is special. I really love meeting and talking with everyone. Sometimes the book store wants to hurry me up but I just can't. I want to hear what everyone has to say!
Kathy: What advice would you give new and hopeful vegan cookbook authors?
Chloe: Stay with it. Cookbook writing can be very arduous work. Recipes need to be tested and re-tested and tested some more to be perfect. The end product will be something that you can be very proud of. I love sharing my recipes with everyone. Nothing makes me happier then hearing that someone made my Fettuccine Alfredo, or Lemon Squares or Spinach Artichoke Dip and loved it so much that they made it again and again. This is very rewarding and all the hard work paid off!
Thanks Chloe! And I love these fun kitchen pics provided by Chloe. Love..
And here is a yummy brunch or breakfast (or dessert!) recipe shared by Chloe..
Chloe Coscarelli's Tiramisu Pancakes
vegan, 3 servings
Ingredients:
Pancakes:
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup water
¼ cup pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon dark rum
⅓ cup semisweet chocolate chips (dairy-free)
Canola oil, for greasing
Coconut Whipped Cream (below)
Coconut Whipped Cream:
1 13.5-ounce can full-fat coconut milk, chilled
⅔ cup powdered sugar, plus extra for serving
Directions:
1. For the Coconut Whipped Cream, chill bowl and whisk of a stand mixer in freezer for about 10 minutes. Skim solidified coconut cream from can of coconut milk and transfer solids to bowl of stand mixer. Do not include any coconut water.
2. Into the mixer, add powdered sugar and whip for a few minutes until mixture begins to stiffen and turn into whipped cream. Chill whipped cream in a airtight container in refrigerator for 3 hours to overnight before serving.
3. For the pancakes, in a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, espresso powder, and salt. In a separate small bowl, whisk together water, maple syrup, and rum. Add wet mixture into dry mixture and whisk until just combined. Do not overmix; batter should have some lumps. Gently fold in chocolate chips.
4. Lightly oil a large nonstick skillet or griddle and heat over medium-high heat. Pour ¼ cup batter onto skillet. When bubbles appear in center of pancake, flip it. Cook other side until lightly browned and cooked through, about 1 more minute. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more oil to skillet as needed. If batter becomes too thick, add a little more water, 1 tablespoon at a time. To serve, dust pancakes with powdered sugar and top with a dollop of Coconut Whipped Cream.
Catch up with Chloe on her website Chef Chloe.
**all images in this post are provided courtesy of Chloe Coscarelli**
Snag Chloe's books "Chloe's Vegan Desserts" and "Chloe's Kitchen" on Amazon..
Lamika Hawkins says
Nutritional information would be so appreciated. As a type II Diabetic, and friends with those on Weight Watchers, these details are huge! I want to try the recipe, but not with out the nutritional information first
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Lindsay @ VeganYumminess.com says
I would give VGP status to my mom. She has been on a die-hard vegan diet since the early 90s and has her own local TV program featuring her vegan recipes. She is a fabulous cook and an amazing woman.
Kathie Grace Ricard says
Kathy Patalsky!! 🙂
Sydney Weyand says
I have a couple of friends here that go out of their way to live a vegan lifestyle, despite how difficult campus cafeterias make it.
Kelly Faber says
To all of the inspiring vegan bloggers!!
Kristen N. says
My mother. She was a life-long vegan, even before it became popular.
Megan says
I would definitely give Veggie Girl Power to my best friend, Ashley. We both went Vegan around the same time and it's been a great learning experience. We try new restaurants, make meal plans, and cook veggie meals. It's the best!
Marisa says
My sister, an excellent natropathic doctor!
Jenica Murphy says
Veggie girl power would have to go to my dear friend Maura. She is my favorite person to talk about food with & my farmers market buddy. She is always eating such inspiring meals, & prepares them all on a very little budget!! We love sharing our creations with each other. She is my favorite vegan & friend.
Sarah Hovick says
I would give "Veggie Girl Power" status to my mom. Even though she wouldn't call herself "vegan" she tries everything I make and has incorporated some of my recipes and healthy choices into her lifestyle. She has supported me since I decided to stop eating meat at age 10!
Elisha Pettit says
The TWO girls in my life I give Veggie Girl Stats to are: Jen and Kelly who are so willing to make vegan foods just for me every week in our food exchange! I love you girls!
Alice says
To all the ladies out there who blog vegan recipes, you all inspire and amaze me with delicious meals and amazing desserts. I learned how to incorporate many ingredients my husband would other wise refuse to eat to him begging for more : )
Susie King says
The lady in my life is my grandma that could get veggie girl power status.
Maria Tadic says
I love deborah madison. She has great cookbooks and makes vegetables great for main dishes! love it!
Emily says
I love Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's way of presenting her take on veganism and its message.
Brandy says
My mother-in-law...she preceded us in adopting a vegan diet at the age of 60!!
Jess says
My mom for being the only person who supported my eating habits and didn't give my grief from day one!
Lisa Fitzgibbons says
my boyfriends mom I would give the award to. She cooks amazing veggies and introduced me to a variety of veggies that I had never heard of or tried!
Renée Stevens says
Colleen Patrick Goudreau
Kenna O'Rourke says
my buddy Elyssa
penny says
Gena. Her emphasis on a healthy vegan diet to heal the body both physically and emotionally is a welcome change of pace in a world so focused on weight loss. That says "veggie girl power" to me!
Maddy says
Alicia Silverstone! Her book inspired me to make the switch from vegetarian to full on vegan and I'm so glad I did.
Yvonne says
I've learned a lot from vegan blogs on the internet - I look forward blogging every day! I also read on the blogs about the cookbooks they are using and find their reviews very helpfull.
Ashley P says
My mom for introducing me to a vegan lifestyle and all the amazing food bloggers for introducing me to new creative vegan recipes!
Ashley Whelan says
My mom for sure - i grew up loving brussel sprouts and eating pita with hummus, tabouli, and sprouts
Inés Lozano says
I would give the veggie girl power status to you! Your blog has encouraged me a lot to experiment with more vegan recipes!
Emily A. says
i would give VGP status to alicia silverstone and kathy freston for solidifying my decision to go vegan!
Fran T says
You!
Natalie S says
All of the amazing vegan and vegetarian food bloggers (including you!) that I follow deserve Veggie Girl Power status!
Alexander Holas says
You of course! 🙂
Heather Sin says
Leyla from realleyla on youtube 🙂
Heather McClees says
I love this line up of interviews and so many of these are my favorites!! My vegan inspiration was first inspired by watching Food Inc. for a Nutrition class, which inspired me to start my blog and dedicate it towards plant based eating. Since then, three main bloggers have kept me inspired to eat vegan, which include Kathy of course, Angela Liddon of Oh She Glows and Katie from Chocolate Covered Katie. I was first introduced to Chloe a few months ago and have wanted to try her cookbooks from the minute I saw it! She is lovely and inspiring! I'm so looking forward to the interviews!!
Jill says
Those pancakes are so much better looking than the buckwheat ones I just made... (sigh!) Next time, I'll check your blog before making Sunday breakfast!!
Stephanie Bray says
I am so glad the interview series is back! This looks like an excellent lineup. I miss some of your other questions though from prior interviews. Thanks for doing this to inspire other people!
Jessie says
both you and gena, i think - you both inspire me every day with your amazing posts and recipes 🙂
Sol says
Thanks for the interview, Chloe is such a wonderful vegan ambassador, her enthusiasm is very infectious! I would definitely give the Veggie Girl Power status to you, of course (!!), and to Carrie from Carrie on Vegan. Looking forward to the rest of the interviews!
Linda says
My sister, Gail, and her family have been vegan for many years. I admire her for running her household, home-schooling, and finding time to learn to cook a totally new style.
Mara says
My friend Lidija!
megan says
My friend Kali
Audrey says
You!
Christina Laemers says
Although I love and admire every person on the Veggie Girl Power series, I am a DC resident so I have to say Doron Peterson from Sticky Fingers Bakery! YUM to everything there!
coconutandberries says
Oh and question on the recipe..Is instant espresso powder the same as instant coffee? If not can instant coffee be subbed at all as I'm pretty sure instant espresso powder doesn't exist in England...
coconutandberries says
Chloe is so gorgeous! Such a great vegan role model, superb recipe writer and agree with you too Kathy, super cute 🙂
My vegan inspo mainly comes from online - Gena Hamshaw of Choosing Raw is a big one and definitely deserves "Veggie girl power" status (I know she's already been featured though). Look forward to the rest of the interviews.
Bubba_B says
My friend Lacey is the coolest vegan I know (IRL) and she is one the reasons I transitioned from being an omnivore to being a vegetarian so finally taking the vegan plunge. She lives a vegan lifestyle and is an animal rights activist, to boot. She deserves an award for sure. 🙂
Renata Burdová says
I don't know any , this is the only "vegan blog" I read to get some inspiration, because although I'm not vegan I love vegan food and I love your recepies, so probably I have to say it would be you, Kathy 🙂
shannon c says
I don't actually know any vegans in real life =/. But I have to say that the blog which really helped me to dip my feet in the water and get acquainted with cooking healthy vegan food is Susan from FatFreeVegan. She's the best!
Sonja Beyer-Paulsen says
My mom! She's always been a veggie superhero 🙂