Vegan Jambalaya and a Huge Cookie

The Chefs: Rashida and her mom

The Menu: Vegan jambalaya with seitan, Field Roast's Smoked Apple Sage sausage, collard greens, and tons of Cajun flair, and a chocolate chip cookie from the Veggie Grill for dessert.

The Goods: Happy Fat Tuesday, friends! My mom was feeling festive last night, so she whipped up some vegan jambalaya, jam-packed with faux-meat and greens. I'm happy to report that this piquant concoction tastes even better the next day—which is a good thing, considering test driving recipes from our upcoming Greek food feature left me too full to eat all my leftovers (hence the tiny lunch portion). Though my meal was sadly lacking in King Cake, Jennifer Chen, VegNews’ lovely associate editor, just returned from Southern California with Veggie Grill chocolate chip cookies in tow, thereby kickstarting my requisite Mardi Gras overindulgence. Partake in some indulgence of your own tonight by following our advice on How to Throw a Great Vegan Mardi Gras Party. Seitan Creole and veg Muffaletas? Don’t mind if I do!

Vegan Burrito

The Chef: Anna and Papalote Mexican Grill

The Menu: A veggie burrito stuffed with rice, black beans, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, and guacamole, plus tortilla chips and the Best. Salsa. Ever.

The Goods: Happy Mardi Gras to all! While today is quite possibly the worst day of the year for insecure people named Tuesday, it's one of the best for the rest of us. An entire day devoted to indulgence and gluttony? I'll take one those with a side of indigestion, please. In honor of this most dizzying of days, I decided that a big fat burrito would be a delicious and fitting lunch. Now all I need is a brownie to wash it down. Want to win a membership to Allison's Gourmet Brownie-of-the-Month Club? It's the first prize in our eight weeks of Vegan Bucket List Giveaways, so enter now! And the next week, and the next week... You get the idea.

Mardi Gras Munchies!

The Chef: Elizabeth

The Menu: A Mardi-Gras-inspired medley! Elizabeth busted out a not-entirely-authentic jambalaya with kidney beans, rice, tomatoes, cheddar cauliflower, and spices. A bright salad with both purple and green lettuces—the somewhat traditional color scheme for the day—cherry tomatoes, avocado, and raisins. For the most thematically appropriate dish, she hid one raisin in a pile of King (pan)cakes!

The Goods: OK, so a raisin is not technically the same as a baby Jesus, and pancakes are not the same as King cake, but just because you don't have the traditional ingredients on hand it's no excuse to miss out on celebrating a big, fat Tuesday. If you're looking for a tasty New Orleans treat today, don't miss our Must-Make Muffaleta!