This week's Superstar VegWebber is hopfrog (http://vegweb.com/index.php?action=profile;u=35019)! She's an academic and a mom and her daughter is pretty much making me want a baby immediately. How cute is she?! http://vegweb.com/index.php?action=profile;u=35019 Seriously, I die. Hopfrog is a fabulous additions to the forums, which has one her many friends and fans, and she is one of the most requested Superstar VegWebbers of all time! Read up on her and you'll quickly find out why. Thank you so much to hopfrog for kicking butt and taking names here on VegWeb. I know I say this a lot but man, this is the best community EVER. Oh also, totally trying "green cubes" TONIGHT. No more wasted CSA greens!!

VegWebber since?
I registered the week I went vegan - September 2004.

Vegetarian, Vegan or ?
Vegan

Where do you call home?
Henderson, NV (just outside of Las Vegas)

What do you do when you're not on VegWeb?
For now and in the foreseeable future SAHM to a wonderful 1 year old girl - she keeps me very busy! Before that, I was a perpetual student and have degrees in evolutionary biology and human nutrition.

Do you have blog or website?
Just a mommy blog that is only interesting if you happen to be my daughter’s grandma. http://thewishtofindout.wordpress.com/

Do you tweet? No.

One unique thing should know about you?
In other contexts I usually answer this question with “I’m vegan!” But that isn’t really unique here is it? My husband says "tell them I'm an astronaut!" 

What’s the best thing about being vegan? (if you are!)
My culinary tastes and horizons  have expanded so much and continue to expand. I eat more variety than I ever could have dreamed of before being vegan. I love that my daughter is starting out life with exposure to a such a wide variety of food. I think only ignorant omnis could ever call vegan eating restrictive.

Favorite romantic recipe on VegWeb?
My husband is a chocoholic - so if I want to kick off a romantic evening I’ll make something like this for dessert: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=6162.0

Favorite recipe on VegWeb to make for non-vegans to show them how amazing vegan food can be?
My omni dad loves this: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=22344.0

Favorite healthy recipe on VegWeb?
Oh, I have a ton. But I really like this recipe because it is a healthy, hearty meal in 10 minutes. Plus I almost always have everything to make it. Even if I don’t, it is easy to adapt to what I do have. Put it in a wrap with a good amount of nice lettuce or spinach and you’ve got a great meal. Or mix in quinoa. Omnis like it too, I often take it to potlucks in the summer: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=16719.0

One thing you wish you could make vegan but haven’t succeeded at yet?
I left this question for last, then thought about it for another 10 minutes and can’t really think of anything. I never liked real cheese (when I was an omni kid, I’d order cheeseless pizza). I like cashew cream better than real whipped cream. Didn’t like meringue or angel food cake enough to care too much whether or not they could be veganized. Everything else I’m perfectly satisfied with the vegan-equivalents.

#1 Cooking secret/tip?
“Green Cubes” changed my life because I was never really good at eating green-leafy vegetables regularly and in the quantity I desired (though I’m getting better, and I actually enjoy they way they taste now as a side dish). I do it in my Vitamix, but I’m sure you could do it with another good blender or food processor. Buy a bunch of leafy greens at the store - whatever looks good or is on sale. Wash, tear into big pieces and shove them into the blender. Add just enough water to get it to blend and turn on high. Let it run until the greens are completely minced. You can also cook the greens before pureeing them - that might help if you have something other than a Vitamix and it also dramatically reduces the volume of puree to deal with. Pour the mixture into an ice-cube tray and freeze. Pop out the frozen cubes and transfer to a freezer container. Add cubes to nearly everything you make: chilis, pasta, curry....you name it. My family easily goes through 4 or more bunches of greens a week this way whereas before, we were lucky to eat one bunch.

Best music to cook by?
Right now I always have on little kids’ music. It keeps my daughter happy and entertained while I cook, so that is the best music I could ask for!

Three people you'd most like to have dinner with?
I’m gonna name vegweb people whose food pics always make me drool. I seriously would love to eat a home-cooked meal with them: Tweety and AC. Plus they both seem like really fun people.  For the third person, I’ll say my mom....I just love her. She likes my vegan food for the most part and is great company.

All time favorite restaurant?
This isn’t a restaurant, but an ice-cream parlor that we have here that is only about 5 minutes from my house. Atomic #7 (http://www.atomicnumber7.com/). It’s not a completely vegan place....but you can get vegan soy, rice, coconut, or almond ice cream. With tons of vegan mix-in options. And it is all delicious. Plus you can watch them freeze the ice cream with liquid nitrogen!

French fries or ice cream? Ice cream. I had French fries as my answer here first, then I answered the favorite restaurant question and changed my mind.

Soy milk, rice milk, almond milk? Almond milk

Tofu, tempeh, or seitan? Tempeh