The ethnic vegan Web site is a labor of love. Back in the day, Sue and Ruth were co-workers who swapped recipes over their cubicle wall. Now they swap recipes in cyberspace, and they get together whenever possible to drink wine and concoct new recipes in the test kitchens. The commonly held notion that vegetarian and vegan foods are unpalatable drives them crazy. Nothing could be further from the truth!

about ruth

I stopped eating meat shortly before New Year's Eve in 1989. I thought becoming a vegetarian might be difficult, and that entering a new decade might provide inspiration to persevere. In reality, giving up meat made me feel so good, I never looked back.

Back in the early '90s, vegetarian convenience foods were not as widely available as they are today. Learning to cook was an important part of following this lifestyle. So I learned, and I loved it. Instead of feeling limited by this new lifestyle, I felt inspired to learn about other cultures and cuisines and explore new territory.

Fast-forward almost 20 years, and I still love to cook, especially ethnic foods. I haven't stopped learning, either.

about sue

Cooking is my favorite creative outlet; it also is efficient therapy to relieve stress. It's so pleasurable to guesstimate spices, add and subtract; shape and blend food into new combinations. It's exciting to gather a group of vegetables and spices and carefully blend them into something uniquely palate-pleasing. When others taste the results and enjoy it as well, that's the ultimate thrill!

Of course, the increased health benefits of organic vegetarian food is another plus. Maybe my background in the medical field makes me more aware of healthy options? Still, you don't have to be a vegan to enjoy a wonderful vegan dish!

Having spent more than half of my life in Wisconsin endeared me to a huge garden with a bounty of organic vegetables — and mosquitos. Now enjoying the virtually mosquito-free Colorado outdoors, my garden may be smaller, but the recipe collection is growing. Also increasing is the time I spend on creating new recipes. I hope some of these recipes help ignite a spark of creativity and increase your love of vegan cooking!