Astounding! My friend Laurie sent me this drawing for my birthday of me as Vegan Man (looking rather buff). I’ve put it in the kitchen so I can be inspired to vegetable-related heroism.

The Heat is finally on here in Boston, making a fashionably late appearance. I broke down and installed the window air conditioning unit in my studio today, creating a one-room pocket of respite.

Is there a better meal for a hot, muggy night, than gazpacho? I’m not sure, but this recipe from Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa) was just right. I topped it with some diced avocado and served it with some slices of baguette.

I’ve been waiting to post about Isa’s new book Vegan Brunch for a while, but after cooking from it over the weekend I can’t resist. It’s full of things I’m drooling over.

Yesterday I made the tempeh sausage puff pastries and mango lassi to drink (you can see it lurking in the background), both of which were astounding.

And tonight’s dinner – not brunch I know, but this is an anytime food! – was the beer battered tofu. Oh. My. God.

Our 3rd of July festivities included some amazing rosemary smashed potatoes, but when it came to the actual smashing, we didn’t have anything in the kitchen blunt enough for the task. So out came the 8kg kettlebell (my favorite for quick-pressing tofu), which not only smashed up the taters but good, but also provided a good workout to my shoulders and lats.

And the finished product: