About
August 14, 2006 — cheriejUtopian Kitchen: Peacefully-obtained food, superior nutrition, and great flavors.
This is my blog for food photographs and other miscellaneous posts. I love to cook and share my creations with others; I also think it’s nice for people to see a sample of recipes from certain cookbooks. With a large volume of vegetarian (more correctly, omnivorous but with no actual flesh products) and vegan cookbooks available, it’s sometimes time-consuming to decide what is best for a certain person and their needs.
Everything I make is and always will be vegan and hydrogenated oil-free. If you see French toast or cheese, no doubt they are dairy- and egg-free. My focus is also on maximizing nutrition; I try to use various different grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and fruit. I also like to experiment with gluten-free and wheat-free items. Please feel free to comment and ask me for a recipe if you’d like one. If you need assistance preparing cruelty-free foods, do not hesitate to ask!
Thanks for visiting!

September 30, 2006 at 2:16 am
I’d love to know a fool-proof way to substitute spelt flour for all-purpose flour in my favorite cake and torte recipies. I assume that I would use white spelt flour, but can I sustitute cup for cup or is there some other formula. Would I need to change anything else, such as the amopunt of baking powder or baking soda?
October 1, 2006 at 11:33 am
Cake,
I don’t think there’s a general rule of thumb. I have found that sometimes I have to add 1/8 to 1/4 c. more spelt per cup of flour compared to wheat flour, but sometimes it’s not necessary. No more baking powder or soda is needed.
March 22, 2007 at 12:20 am
Hey-
I was wondering if you ever uncoved the secret to the green seaweed salad!
I too want to make it myself but cannot figure out exactly what kind of seaweed is in it.
Any help would be appriciated.
thanks
March 22, 2007 at 12:50 pm
I don’t know, either! Sorry I couldn’t be more help.
April 2, 2007 at 8:46 pm
hello! could I please have the recipe for the chai cupcakes?
Thanks,
Naima
May 14, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Dear Cherie,
I am looking for calcium-rich foods and recipes and happened upon your site. What a blessing! I just got here, but look forward to getting to know you through your kitchen. Thanks for sharing.
May 14, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Thank you, RuthAnn! Let me know if you have any questions.
May 22, 2007 at 8:34 am
Nice!
May 26, 2007 at 8:47 pm
The food looks tasty … I like it
June 5, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Nice…
June 6, 2007 at 6:21 am
Hey,
I am also looking for some calcium-rich recipes. Trying to put into action all the advise to get calcium in my diet. I just happened upon this site, and the pictures are awesome. I love cooking, and I have see several dishes I aim to try out.
June 30, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Hi there,
I’ve just started a blog called The Vegan Bug and have your site on my blogroll. I was hoping you may be able to add my site to your links.
theveganbug.wordpress.com
Thank you,
Jaime M
July 29, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Greetings, very nice blog w/ tempting food. I found it looking for glutenfree recipees. Just want to note most soy sauce has gluten, it’s fermented w/ wheat, unless it is labeled gluten free. I use Braggs instead, which is naturally gluten free.
Keep up the good work.
Salaams
July 29, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Right, I use Bragg’s as well. Thanks for the compliment!
September 27, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I’m about 41/2 months pregnant i would LOVE and APPRECIATE some nutritious vegan recipes.
Thanks & blessings,
vicky
January 26, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Hi
I was wondering if I could get your recipe for garbanzo moussaka. I cook at a retirement community in NC and there are some residents that specifically want vegetarian. Your dishes look scrumptious. I have one VERY picky resident who loves garbanzo beans so I think this just might make her goes ummmmmm. I will tell the residents that it is your recipe since I like to give credit where credit is do.
Thank you in advance Suzanne Speciale
April 24, 2008 at 12:06 am
Now that I have finally gotten a chance to look at your whole blog, I must admit that I feel very inspired by your food selections and your journey in general. Kudos!