Tips for a Swingin' Vegan Cook

• You can cook anything and make it vegan! Some of our favorite cookbooks are from the 50's and 60's, particularly the Better Homes and Gardens series, when the word "vegan" had never even been heard of. Most of the recipes are classics, "like-Mom-used-to-make", yet if you just substitute tofu, seitan, TVP or whatever meat analogue you like, they come out tasting pretty much the same. Agar works like gelatin for those delightful jello molds and most baked goods don't need eggs for a binder, the gluten in the flour is enough (angel food cake and meringue excepted).

• Indulge! You will be saving a bunch of money, not buying expensive meat, dairy and eggs, so treat yourself. Don't just have asparagus in season as a side dish, make an entire meal of a mound of it. A variety of wild mushrooms is becoming more available and a mixed fry-up is a real treat. Most booze is vegan (minus mead and a few others), so make yourself a cocktail with all the garnishes.

• Theme cook. Make as many meals as you can into celebrations. Have Luau night or Indian night or even English night. We'll be posting some of quick and easy theme recipes, like Hawaiian Tofu Ham and Sheepless Shepherd's Pie, to give you inspiration.

• Make dining a special time. Light candles, use cloth napkins, pour that beer into a glass. Have flowers or fruit on the table. Use garnishes on the plates, even if they're just a few olives or a sprig of basil. Put on some cool jazz, ragas or some other music that will compliment the meal. Take your time and enjoy.

• Keep convenience foods on hand. There are nights when you won't feel like celebrating or even staying awake, so make it easy on yourself and keep dry pastas, frozen vegetables and seasoned tofus on hand. Ramen with steamed vegetables and sliced braised tofu is a favorite at our pad. As is pasta with bottled sauce and vegan parmesan. Don't feel guilty for not being Julia Child every night.

• Invest in a really good, stainless steel steamer with two baskets. A big one can cook pasta and steam broccoli at the same time. Another quick meal favorite of ours is a mess of steamed vegetables with lemon juice, seasoned salt and margarine.

• Buy a couple of vegan cookbooks for the basics and inspiration. Our favorites are three by Joanna Stepaniak. Try making the recipes exactly at first and then decide if they are not sweet, spicy or whatever enough for your taste. Then go wild! We have yet to make anything inedible and we never feel deprived.