Vegan! "Bacon-flavored" Vegetables with Orzo

Ingredients

9 (big) brussel sprouts cut in half

2 cups curly endive cut into bite-sized pieces.

7 ounces shiitake mushrooms

1 1/2 cups cooked orzo pasta

1 tablespoon minced garlic

Parma!vegan parmesan 

2 tablespoons Magic Vegan Bacon Grease

salt and pepper

Directions

First, boil the brussel sprouts for 10 minutes just to soften them a little. Then, simmer sprouts in skillet with Magic Vegan Bacon Grease until they are bright green (four to five minutes). Pry off the stems from the shiitake mushrooms and caps in half. Toss them into the skillet with the brussels sprouts and cook until tender, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. After three to five minutes, add the curly endive and give a good toss. Take the pan off the heat and add the orzo pasta, which is already cooked and ready to be used in the recipe. Sprinkle with Parma!vegan parmesan and salt and pepper to taste.

About Daniela

Follow her on Twitter @vegandishes365 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vegandishes365

Daniela was born and raised in Timisoara, Romania, where she spent her teenage years working as a fashion model for Elite. She has appeared in print ads and numerous television commercials in Romania and modeled for various brands in Germany and the U.S. These days, she's working behind the lens as a photographer's assistant and videographer. And when she's not hosting dinner parties for her vegan friends, Daniela dedicates her time to donating and participating in various fundraising events to benefit animals, in particular Last Chance For Animals (LCA).

Daniela is proud to be living and working in America, which in the years following the collapse of Nicolae Ceausescu's Communist regime seemed like only a dream. Despite living through such a difficult socioeconomic transition, Daniela recalls her childhood years spent with family in her grandmother's garden and kitchen as among the happiest of her life.

Long before "farm to table" was revived in America, Daniela was enjoying the culinary practice with her grandmother on a daily basis - growing, harvesting and cooking her own healthy and nutritious plant-based dishes. After moving to Los Angeles in 2010 and discovering the Hollywood vegan lifestyle, Daniela incorporated much of what she learned back home into dishes she cooks for her vegan friends.

Now, she's thrilled to be sharing her vegan recipes and cooking tips with HNGN's readers, who will be salivating in no time.