mamaanna is the creator of one of my all time favorite VegWeb recipes, Creamy Coconut Whipped Cream (http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=26855). If you haven't made it, you are insane. Go do it, right now! If for no other reason than her amazing recipes (seriously, check them all out), mamanna is an uber-qualified Superstar VegWebber. Plus, her profile is wonderful (check it out: http://vegweb.com/index.php?action=profile;u=64676) and her answers to the questionnaire below are perfect. Yay mamaanna!

VegWebber since?
October 2006

Vegetarian, Vegan or ??
Vegetarian for 15 years, vegan for three.

Where do you call home?
Austin, TX

What do you do when you're not on VegWeb?
I'm a freelance writer and editor. I have one beautiful almost-eight-year-old and we like yoga, playing outside, reading and spontaneous dance parties. Adult interests include wine, fancy dinner parties and boobs.

Do you have blog or website?
I keep meaning to start a cooking blog, if for no other reason than to archive recipes, but never seem to find ample time to maintain one.

Do you tweet?
Only during woodland animal themed role play.

One unique thing should know about you?
I have double jointed elbows and am allergic to melon (yeah, that was two)

What’s the best thing about being vegan? (if you are!)
It gives me a direct, concrete, practical way to live out my values and vote with my dollars.

Favorite romantic recipe on VegWeb?
I make these stuffed mushrooms (http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=7443.0) with baby bellas and serve them over pesto linguine with a side of grilled asparagus and tomatoes. It's very pretty!

Favorite recipe on VegWeb to make for non-vegans to show them how amazing vegan food can be?
Love potion lasagna is awesome! So is the grilled avocado sandwich (especially with tomato and baby spinach). Not to toot my own horn, but I also highly recommend my Tempeh w/40 cloves of garlic. It's yum.

One thing you wish you could make vegan but haven’t succeeded at yet?
I just want some cheese. Not like Daiys or FYH. I mean, I want camembert and brie and roquefort. I have come to terms with the fact that this will never happen, but a girl can dream...

#1 Cooking secret/tip?
The secret ingredient is always love.

Best music to cook by?
Tom Waits, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds OR really trashy Top 40 hip hop and pop

Three people you'd most like to have dinner with?
Tom Waits (yes, I'm obsessed), Esther Perel and Malcolm Gladwell

All time favorite restaurant?
Millenium Restaurant in SF is phenomenal, as is Pure Food and Wine in NYC. Here at home I have a few favorite Thai and Indian places that make amazing vegan fare.

French fries or ice cream?
French fries. Sugar has nothing on salt in my book.

Soy milk, rice milk, almond milk?
Plain, unsweetened almond milk.

Tempeh, tofu or seitan?
I like tempeh best, but tofu is more prevalent in my house as the little one prefers it.