A native of Brazil, Fernanda Capobianco may have been an unlikely vegan, but adopted the lifestyle for health and ethical reasons at the age of 17. Fernanda dreamed of being a chef, and in her early 20s landed the perfect job: running the Brazilian outpost of Payard, the namesake bakery of French Chef Francois Payard. Her weakness for sweets couldn't tempt Fernanda into indulging in Francois' buttery creations-but her weakness for Francois let her to the US, where she married the famed pastry chef and embarked on her own confectionary career: she founded Vegan Divas, a dessert company specializing in healthy, vegan, and utterly decadent desserts.
Now the owner of the Vegan Divas Bakery on NYC's Upper East Side, her incredible cruelty-free fare has been featured everywhere from Vogue to New York Magazine's Grub Street. In her first book, she will share more than 75 recipes with accompanying photos for food so decadent, you'd never guess it was 100% vegan and super good-for-you. Unlike many of the competitors in this category, this will be much more than a one-note dessert cookbook, showcasing recipes for:
Delectable treats like Mini Doughnuts, Brownies, Orange Almond Coconut Muffins, and Lime-Raspberry Cheesecake.
Savory breakfast and lunch dishes, including Olive Oil Rosemary Scones, Eggless Scrambled Eggs, and Blue Potato Kale Salad.
Hearty loaf breads (some gluten-free) like Jalapeno Corn Bread, Spiced Pumpkin Bread, and Tomato-Basil Country Bread.
Fernanda is just as passionate about living a cruelty-free lifestyle as she is about her health (and her waistline!), and knows all too well that many of the foods marketed for vegans rely heavily on grains and nuts, making them very dense and high in fat and calories. All of the dishes in this book are low-calorie, low-fat, and full of protein and fiber-making them filling and satisfying and eliminating the temptation of indulging in seconds (or thirds!). In addition to recipes, the book will also feature:
The benefits of a vegan diet and pointers for stocking a healthier pantry.
Entertaining and decorating tips for turning out perfect plates and beautiful baked goods-a hallmark of the Vegan Divas brand.
Easy swaps for healthier cooking and baking, including how to replace animal-based oils and fats, chocolate, and thickening agents, for healthier and lower-calorie versions.
