For the first time ever, the New Orleans Saints are going to the Super Bowl, and I have only one thing to say—"Who dat?!" As I watch the big game this Sunday to root for my hometown team, I'm going to make sure that there are plenty of healthful vegan snacks on hand. I might be a little too anxious for eating, but I'll have a variety of snacks around just in case.

Low-Fat Black-Bean Dip

One great option for a healthful game-day snack is baked corn tortilla chips. By buying corn tortillas, cutting them into triangles, and baking them until crispy, you eliminate all the fat from frying. There are also a multitude of options for healthful dips to go with them:

•Low-Fat Black-Bean Dip

•Guacamole

•Black Bean and Corn Salsa

•Tomatillo Salsa

•Chickpea-Parsley Dip

•Hummus

Regardless of which team you'll be cheering for this Sunday, what vegan treats will you be eating?

One recipe that all vegans need in their repertoire is baked tofu. A good baked tofu recipe can act as the foundation for many other recipes, such as a hearty salad, the main course for dinner, or the filling for a tasty midday sandwich. The options are endless with such a versatile recipe.

All-Purpose Baked Tofu

The baked tofu recipe that I like most is a variation that I learned while working at Real Food Daily in Los Angeles. You marinate tofu in a blend of soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic for a subtle yet savory flavor. The tofu cubes are then baked until each side is golden brown and beginning to firm up under the heat.

Enjoy!

Finding a delicious vegan cookie is now as easy as strolling into your local Starbucks! Many of the coffee giant's locations are now carrying Lucy's vegan cookies—which are good and good for you.

Whether or not Lucy's cookies are at a Starbucks near you, we're giving you a chance to get your hands on some. We are giving one lucky winner a case of Lucy's cookies and three runners-up a sampler pack!

The case contains 16 boxes of cookies—four boxes of each of Lucy's flavors (Cinnamon Thin, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, and Sugar)—and the sampler pack has each of the four flavors. Enter to win a free case now by filling out the form on PETA.org.

Hurry and complete the form on PETA.org by February 23 for your chance to win a free case of cookies!

Making homemade bread doesn't have to be as difficult as it sounds, and it can be much healthier than store-bought bread, without all the added preservatives. One of my favorite varieties to make is a rustic sourdough. I like to call it "country bread."

Country Bread

This recipe calls for an active sourdough culture, and the remaining ingredients couldn't be simpler—just flour, water, and sea salt. To make this a true country loaf, place the round of dough in the oven without slashing the top. As it bakes, the bread will break apart and create a rustic look.

Enjoy!

Firm tofu, which you can buy in almost any grocery store, is one of the easiest substitutes for the flesh of dead fish. You can coat tofu slices with the same type of batter and fry or bake it using the same techniques.

Tofu Fish 'n' Chips

To make tofu fish n' chips, dredge marinated tofu in a mixture of flour, corn meal, and Old Bay seasoning, and then fry it in an oil that won't burn over high heat. Serve with a side of fries or chips and vegan tartar sauce for a complete meal. Enjoy!

While visiting with my in in-laws for the holidays, I'm often asked to try new and sometimes unusual food. This Christmas was no exception. During our trip to snowy Ohio, my husband's father fried up a big plate of mush and topped it with a generous amount of maple syrup.

I quickly learned that mush isn't nearly as scary as it sounds. It's just a creamy cornmeal mixture that can be fried, just like polenta.

After returning to the south, I had to prepare polenta the way I was use to—a foundation for savory toppings.

Polenta cakes with roasted eggplant

To make my polenta cakes, I omitted the leeks from this recipe and pan pan-fried until crunchy, rather than grilling, and topped it off with marinara and a side of plain roasted eggplant.

Enjoy!

With Hanukkah in full swing, one delicious addition to your holiday meals should be a creamy golden beet soup.

Golden Beet Soup

Unlike red beets, golden beets have a delicate sweetness that goes well with savory ingredients.

Enjoy!

There are many delicious vegan cheeses on the market now, but most have one quality that could use improvement. Some don't melt easily enough, while others melt too easily and turn to a liquid that hardens again within a few minutes. Some taste a little too much like vegan margarine, and others have no flavor at all! Finally though, there is one brand that gets it right in all categories—Daiya.

Daiya comes in two mouthwatering flavors—vegan cheddar and Italian. The best thing about Daiya is that it melts, but it doesn't get too runny like other vegan cheeses. Remember the days of making a grilled cheese sandwich and then pulling the pieces of toast apart to see how long you can make the strands of melted cheese that were connecting them? You can do that with Daiya cheese.

Now is your chance to win your very own Daiya cheese sampler, courtesy of Pangea! We're giving away a sample pack that includes both the Italian and Cheddar vegan shreds to one lucky winner.

To enter, leave a short comment below telling us about your favorite use of vegan cheese. The deadline to enter is January 4, 2010, and the winner will be selected at random and notified by January 8, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting.

Here in Georgia, it's a cold and very rainy day, which means that I'll be warming up soon with a sizzling bowl of stew.

Vegan 'Beef' Stew

Stews made with a stock or broth base are one of the easiest things to veganize. All you have to do is use vegetable stock or broth instead of broth made from chickens, cows, or any other animal.

One of my favorites is a classic vegetable "beef" stew that uses browned seitan instead of beef. After creating the base with vegetable broth and tomatoes, you can throw in any of your favorite veggies and seasonings to create a custom stew that is perfect for you.

Enjoy!