Woman in Real Life

Photos: Brilynn Ferguson

I've always loved the idea of getting together with friends and family for brunch - a leisurely, long meal packed with breakfasty goodies, eaten after sleeping in until 10. My mom tells me that her grandmother (in Nova Scotia) used to have people over for brunch every week after church. "They were poor people, but the baked bean pot was filled, tea biscuits made, teapot on (no coffee)," says Mom. "Probably eggs (from their own hens) and homemade condiments (beets, pickles, chow-chow). Oh yes! Always homemade bread." The coal stove kept everything warm as extended family and neighbours casually dropped in. Sounds like a beautiful way of building companionship and community, huh?

I'm definitely not that industrious. I am not efficient enough at cooking for crowds to get a weekly gathering going. But a nice brunch for the family and a few friends now and then would be lovely. I recently received a copy of  The Edgy Veg: 138 Carnivore-Approved Vegan Recipes. I was invited to share a couple of recipes with you and I settled on two fantastic brunch recipes - a vegan eggs benedict and a mimosa with a difference. Read on for the recipes, and enter to win a copy of the book.




The Edgy Veg cookbook serves up vegan comfort food recipes created by popular (Toronto) YouTuber Candice Hutchings, who created the recipes for husband James Aita (as he transitioned from meat-eater to vegan), thus ensuring the recipes are carnivore-approved.

When people think of vegan food, they often think of salads, smoothies and all things kale. And there's definitely a place for all those things in a well-rounded vegan diet. But Candice has chosen to re-purpose ("veganize" if you will) familiar family favourites such as pancakes, biscuits and gravy, fried chicken, cheese fondue and chocolate mousse.

I made the "Literally Dying" Skillet Cookie à la Mode over the holidays, and let me tell you, this recipe doesn't skimp on the sugar (or the chocolate chips). It's a big cast-iron pan filled with a thick, delicious chocolate "cookie" for the whole family to enjoy. I didn't take a photo, probably because the family chipped away at the cookie in just one evening and it was mostly gone by breakfast the next day.

The Edgy Veg cookbook features new recipes along with a selection of fan favourites. The book also lists vegan pantry staples, tools of the trade and suggestions for books to read and things to watch. From the introduction, "If we have to spend another day scrolling through our Instagram feed and seeing yet another pile of zucchini noodles or meticulously decorated acai bowl staring back at us, we're going to throw ourselves out the window. We're adults and we have needs. And these needs include, but are not limited to, a juicy burger, extra fries and a margarita to wash it all down." I like their thinking!


The Edgy Veg has a section called "Become a Master of Seitan: Chicken," followed by "Seitan Mastery 2.0: Beef" and then "Neat Balls, Bro." Seitan is something I keep planning to make more of, ever since the packaged vegan "chicken" breasts and cutlets I used to rely on disappeared from Canadian grocery stores. I'm looking forward to making Candice's "Chick-Fillet Deluxe."

The cookbook also has "Not-Boring Salads," munchies, desserts and a healthy dose of humour. The brunch chapter is subtitled "The Hangover Story" and the recipes are "designed to make you feel better about your choices from the night before while you recollect said activities with your closest confidantes." There are pancakes and loaded breakfast burritos and, of course, the lovely Veggs Benny recipe that you'll find below.

Once you've got the Ritzy Hollandaise sauce at the ready, this recipe is easy peasy. Roast some asparagus, fry up some tofu slices, heat up the vegan cold cuts and throw it all on English muffins! It will pair beautifully with the Ginger Kombucha Mimosa. I love kombucha, so I also love the idea of combining it with fresh-squeezed orange juice, sparkling wine and fruit for a special brunch treat just for the adults.

Do You Enjoy Brunch?

What about you? Are you a fan of brunch? How often do you enjoy it? At home or at a restaurant? With friends or alone? What plant-based goodies do you like to serve?

Ginger Kombucha Mimosa

Enter to Win a Copy of The Edgy Veg!

Residents of Canada and the US may enter to win a copy of The Edgy Veg (courtesy of Robert Rose Books), using the rafflecopter widget below, until February 5th.


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