Approaching our second anniversary on January 1st, we are looking back and are really amazed at how much we have grown in 2012. The friends of the Don’t Fear the Vegan community have tripled. The growth in the past three months alone has caused our jaws to drop open and say “WOW!” We have decided to recap the highs and not so highs of this little blog in the past year.

Here at DFV, we all agree that our coolest moment was the little vegan, Anzia’s first attempt at animal/vegan activism. Not wanting to sell Girl Scout cookies due to there being no vegan options in our area she opted to host a vegan bake sale, which Wayward Cafe kindly allow her to do in their restaurant. She split all profit with the Pigs Peace Sanctuary. With all the support she received from our community she was able to contribute more to her troop than the previous years cookie sale had made them. To read more about it check it out here.

Our second favorite was  the recent 12 Days. We are still in shock over the support we received from companies in the vegan community as well as how many new friends we made. We have decided to make this a new DFV tradition!

The top three looked at recipes were:

#3 Mom’s Pad Thai Noodle Dish

#2 Chocolate Coconut Quinoa Gluten Free Cookies

#1 Indian Potato Salad

There were some not so highs this year also.

Our most surprising fail was our attempt at a Kickstarter. We had contributed to so many Kickstarters that we really thought it would be a no brainer. In hindsight are biggest mistakes were: not showing the seitan in the video( but hey, it’s ugly,) having an animal rights spin in the video, and lastly, handing out samples that brought back no return (but people said they loved it!) We are still working on launching this company. Hopefully 2013 will be the year!

We (I, Steffi,) blew MOFO this year and still two months later I wish I could go back and start over. There is next year and I will try my hardest to figure out something I can do while working to contribute to this month of awesomeness! My confession to failure was written about here.

The three least looked at recipes of 2012:

#3 Fennel Mashed Potatoes

#2 Biryani

#1 Wax Bean, Cucumber, Tomato Salad

My mom has allowed me to share quite a few recipes this year which is awesome because if it wasn’t for her and my dad I wouldn’t be the cook I am today. I thought I would share with you the three most popular recipes my mom contributed.

#3 Mom’s Goulash

#2 Lemony Gardein

#1 Mom’s Pad Thai Noodle Dish

So this past year was exciting because everyone in the household has contributed more to the blog. In 2013 we are hoping to do a post a month that the little vegan can host. She really wants to start making her own recipes. Two of her favorites of the year are shown below, the dip and nachos she now makes for the house.

The Little Vegan’s favorite three recipes of the year are:

#3 Anzia’s Paprika Dip

#2 Blackberry Blender Ice Cream

#1 Apple Nachos

Hubby deserves huge props! We owe him all the thanks for putting together the 12 Days, including contacting the companies and writing the majority of the posts. He is an amazing writer and has been writing more blogs for me. This year he has been doing much more experimenting in the kitchen and is considering sharing more recipes this coming year. Keep your fingers crossed!

Hubby’s favorite three recipes of the year:

#3 Smokey Pecan, Avocado, Lettuce Wrap

#2 Brazil Nut Tuna Salad

#1 Persimmon Creme Brulee

Don’t Fear the Vegan has been a huge accomplishment for me personally. I get bored super easily and it is hard for me to commit to anything long-term. The blog I think has been different because it is ever-changing. It has inspired me to take better pictures, do more for animal rights and to be a voice, as little as it may be, to promote veganism. I want as many people as possible to be vegan and I will share any information that may help an individual on their vegan journey. It shouldn’t be a club for the trendy or wealthy, it is a lifestyle that should be easily available to all!

For 2013 I have many new ideas up my sleeve to experiment with. I will continue to talk about animal rights, which will in turn piss many off but I can honestly say I don’t care. Iam working hard to incorporate new things for the vegan kids out there, because they are our future. I also hope to get more feedback and questions from people with recipes they need veganized or questions they have about veganism in general. My favorite things are challenges and questions. I am excited to see where the new year takes us!

Three recipes that I thought were sadly overlooked which I happened to love:

#3 Samoa Cake

#2 Tofu Rockefeller

#1 Masala Chick’n Salad Sandwich

Happy New Year to you all!

Love,
Phillip, Steffi & Anzia DeRobertis XO