Dun-Well Doughnuts

I'm sitting here in my Brooklyn kitchen just thinking about much time has gone by since I decided to become a vegan. I remember that day like it was yesterday when I was sitting in my dorm room at Northfield Mount Hermon and just thinking that I needed to make a decision about the way that I was eating and living my life. On the cold and rainy day I decided that I would try out veganism for 7 days and I never looked back. I called my friend Jennifer who has been vegan for 20+ years to get some advice and support in making this decision. But the one thing that I remember telling myself was that I have to be able to eat yummy sweets.

Veganism is now one of the most talked about things it seems. People are writing more books and more vegan dining options are popping up on the menus of great places to eat in New York City and around the world. But I have to say nothing excites me more than when a new Vegan place opens that is dedicated vegan treats. I have had doughnuts and the first doughnut that I recall having was the Babycakes NYC doughnut it was so yummy and I knew right away that it was super healthy. I thought that would be the end of my doughnut days because I knew that was the only vegan doughnut for me at the time.


Something magical happen and that's when I started hearing people speak about this Dun- Well Doughnuts and I was like okay I have to try it. When I was visiting my family when I was on break I remember going to a place that had the doughnuts and they informed me that they had sold out. That made me more and more excited to one day have one of these doughnuts that all of my other vegan counterparts in NYC had only tasted. I was so far behind and I was very sad about that because I was the one who would rush out and try that new vegan dish or dessert if it interest me.

Finally on a cold winter day in December 2011 I took the train from my Brooklyn apartment to a changing neighborhood now called East Williamsburg and all the real NEw Yorkers know it as Bushwick to try out these vegan doughnuts. I was heading to Indiana and I decided that it was time to get one of these doughnuts in my tummy. I have to say that Dun-Well is amazing and they have some of the best doughnuts I have ever had in my life. I love Chris because he is always so nice to me and was willing to explain to me what so special about the doughnuts.

I could not imagine not having Dun-Well in my life. But at the same time I feel that the message that they are sending is amazing and it just shows people that it's not necessary to use animal products to have a good tasting treat. I encourage all vegans and non- vegans to stop by Dun-Well Doughnuts and make sure to take a dozen home with you. It's worth ever penny and I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do when I'm biting into them.




Dun-Well Doughnuts
222 Montrose Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11206

New Year and a New Vegan

It feels like I always start a blog post the same way because I never blog. I hope to start doing this more often since people actually read what I have to say. Because it's a New Year I have finally made some resolutions or better yet decided to start something and see how that all goes.

Since the last time I have blogged I have graduated from College. Travel on the road for many days with some of my college friends. Went to graduate school and decided that Public School teaching was not for me. Then moved back to New York and work at a great non profit and been enjoying the city. I have a boyfriend and being in a relationship has been a good thing for me. But most of all I have been eating out and not doing much cooking in the year 2011 and hope that will change in 2012. So far so good.

I have decided that right now I want to work out more and eat healthier than I have been doing in the past. I have been vegan for over 5 years and I think that it's time that I take more time to understand what I'm putting into my body. I have decided that I will be eating more fruits instead of unhealthy snacks. I will be cooking more vegetables instead of eating tons of processed meat alternatives. We need to think about the things that we put into our body so our body in the end can help us heal.

For the past two days I have been going to gym and cooking my dinner. Tonight I will be having collard greens, spinach, and organic carrots. Tofu will be my other addition with some yummy yams with Earth Balance. This is a yummy meal and I will see how this all goes in the end. Food is suppose to do many things for us and I want to make sure that I use food to help me and not harm my body.

It would be great to hear from friends about the new foods they will be cooking and the things that you have decided to change with this 2012 year just starting. Eat well and be well.

Vegans In Vegas

It has been confirmed I will be speaking at the Vegans in Vegas event this year. This should be exciting. If you want more information check it out. Ryan Henn is doing a great job getting the information out to people.

http://vegansinvegas.com/
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My Bio:

Donnie Smith serves on the advisory board for the Food Empowerment Project (FEP), a non-profit seeking to create a more just and sustainable world by recognizing the power of one’s food choices. FEP’s mission is to encourage healthy food choices that reflect a more compassionate society by spotlighting the abuse of animals on farms, the depletion of natural resources, unfair working conditions for produce workers, and the unavailability of healthy foods in low-income areas. Donnie will be presenting on the connection between race, class and the inequity of our current food system for people of color and low income communities.

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Donnie is a graduate of Earlham College in Richmond, IN. where he was a member of the animal rights group on campus (Friends of Animals) and became active in the food movement by not only reaching out to fellow students about food policies, but also helping them understand how their food choices can change the world.

Dinner with Ashley

Well it's always nice to have friends over for dinner. But nothing is more romantic then having one friend over for a meal. I finally had the time and patience to make my friend Ashley G a amazing vegan meal. She was just blown away. It's a long story how we got to the point that we had dinner with each other. But it happened.

The main course on the menu was a Spinach Lasagna with Mushroom's and Creamy Vegan Ricotta. This dish was fun to make and thanks to the great cookbook "Vegan Table by Colleen Patrick- Goudreau" I would not have been able to pull it off.




Being raised to believing that you cannot have a meal with dessert. I had to make a dessert for my friend Ashley. Vegans love food just like anyone else and we are Vegan Divas.

Red Velvet Cake with a Vegan Buttercream Frosting



Being vegan does not mean that you give up foods that you love. It means that you work hard to veganize into something that you can love.

Food and More

It has been awhile since I have written on my blog about all of the great things that I have been doing. Have I been a bad vegan or a bad blogger ? I believe both.


Not writing on my blog has been good for me. I feel that I have been so creative in the kitchen and I plan to share it all with my followers. The adventure I have been on for the past couple of months has been amazing. My new goal is to post as often as possible. Meaning at least twice a week ( I hope I can stay on track).

Please feel free to send me emails black.veganism@gmail.com

Sex, Politics, Meat, & Carol J. Adams

I have decided to dedicate this entry to talk about Carol J. Adams. I have had the great opportunity of meeting Carol when she spoke at Earlham College and presented her presentation on "The Sexual Politics of Meat". I was already vegan when she came to speak and we had to chance to become facebook friends. I have to say she blew me away because finally someone was talking my language.

Many people think about veganism as something that is just a diet and you need to make sure you dont eat meat,eggs, and any other animal products. At the same time it's so much more than consumption because as I see that everything is connected and no way that we can deny that.

Carol takes you on a journey to understand how women are used to market animal products to the use of animals to sell a dress. It's just sad to think that even PETA would go as far to allow people to get naked and at the same time it's "saving a animal". This is not okay and we need to make sure that we understand to stop on oppression we cannot allow others to be oppressed.

My favorite part of Carol's presentation would have to be called "The Block Vegetarian" someone who wants to be vegetarian and at the same time refuses to try and understand the importance this lifestyle. She makes you wonder about the people around you and makes a vegan feel good about being vegan.

I know that being vegan for so long how many people have made fun of me and feel that it's pointless for me to eat animals. But when Carol gave her talk I just was overwhelmed with joy and knew why I didn't eat animals. When you think about vegan food people think about salads and Carol shows images of how great a vegan meal could look and we had a great vegan meal with her.

If you have not read the Sexual Politics of Meat then go out right now pick it up or order it on amazon.com. I'm a big fan of this Eco Feminist who is trying to educate and change the world.

Vegan Men are Now "hegans"

I could not believe my eyes. Men now have a word that describes there plant eating ways. I just need to say that this is not needed. We don't need to make a joke of veganism and I feel this just causes to many problems. Vegan is a fine word or just say you are eating a plant based diet. Hegan is suppose to be for men who adopt vegan diets in there 40s and 50s. We should not be putting age connected to a diet. Hegan should just not exist and people should not be made of fun of because of the time and age they choose to adopt a plant based diet.

Here is the story : http://www.salon.com/food/feature/2010/03/24/male_vegans_hegan

Vegans leave your comments and reflect.