About

Hello, I’m Cadry! Welcome to my kitchen.

I'm the writer, recipe creator, and photographer behind this vegan food blog. I’m also the author of Living Vegan For Dummies, 2nd edition.

I'm here to show you how easy, delicious, and satisfying vegan food can be - from everyday meals to special occasions.

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A little about my name

My name is pronounced Cad-dree (kind of like cat tree). If you’ve never met someone named Cadry, you’re not alone!

My name was made up by a 5-year-old. When my cousin, Darcy, was in kindergarten, she had trouble spelling her name.

She would scramble the letters from D-A-R-C-Y to C-A-D-R-Y.

My mom was pregnant at the time, and she’d teasingly call her Cadry. The more she said it, the more it grew on her. And she decided to name me that!

The story behind my name was recently featured on TODAY.com.

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How Cadry’s Kitchen began

I have been sharing vegan recipes on Cadry’s Kitchen for 17 years. I started this website in 2009, a couple of years after I went vegan.

At that time, I was learning so much about food, and exploring cooking in a whole new way than ever before. I was excited to share what I was discovering, as well as grow my own repertoire of recipes.

Like many folks, I had grown up eating a standard American diet. After spending the first 30 years of my life eating meat, dairy, and eggs, I had attachments to classic comfort foods like tacos, pizza, and dinners cooked on the grill.

While it was important to me to eat a plant-based diet, I didn’t want to give up the flavors, textures, and tastes that were so familiar.

What I discovered was that for any meal I had sentimental attachments to, there was a compassionate alternative.

I didn't have to say goodbye to tacos. I just filled them with beans instead of beef.

I didn't have to stop eating pizza. I just topped mine with mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, vegan pepperoni, and non-dairy cheese.

The days of grilling out weren’t behind me. I just made veggie burgers, mushroom & asparagus fajitas, and lemony tofu instead.

Cadry and her husband exploring vegan options in Asheville, NC

As I was growing my repertoire of recipes, I wanted to help others who were in a similar situation - people who craved delicious, full-flavored vegan recipes that tasted like home.

So I started this vegan food blog. I began writing and photographing recipes, making instructional videos, and sharing tips on living a cruelty-free lifestyle, including vegan travel guides.

In all of this time, I've created hundreds of recipes for Cadry’s Kitchen. I gravitate towards simple, doable recipes that are delicious and don’t require loads of time in the kitchen.

Expect plant-based comfort foods (including regional dishes like vegan pork tenderloins) and vegan air fryer recipes that make quick work of dinner.

Check out my recipe index for all of my recipes.

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Author of Living Vegan

While I was building my recipe blog, I dreamed of someday writing a book that could distill everything I've learned along the way.

It would be a beginner's guide to living a vegan lifestyle - the kind of book I wished I'd had when I was first dipping my toes into a meat-free life.

Then, I was able to make that dream a reality when I was approached about writing a book for the popular For Dummies series. The well-known books are beloved for the way they break down challenging topics into simple and manageable steps.

I poured my heart into Living Vegan For Dummies, 2nd edition. It's available in bookstores and online.

This comprehensive guide to going (and staying!) vegan highlights the many reasons people choose this lifestyle.

There are tips on navigating holidays and social gatherings, creating grocery lists and stocking your pantry, finding vegan meals in restaurants, and my personal passion, veganizing family favorites.

Living Vegan also includes 38 user-friendly recipes to get you started. Read more about it on my Living Vegan Book Page.

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Media features

My recipes, tips, and expertise have been featured in publications and podcasts including NBC News, Allrecipes, Delish, VegNews, Taste of Home, Prevention, HuffPost, Yahoo, and more.

See my media feature highlights

• Mashed – Contributed advice for roasting vegetables
• Chowhound – Offered easy ways to get beans into your next meal
• Allrecipes – Shared my go-to kitchen tools to get dinner on the table
• Keep On Cookin’ podcast – Discussed my book, Living Vegan For Dummies
• Yahoo – Contributed a recipe & tips on navigating a vegan Thanksgiving
• NBC News – Interviewed about homemade gift ideas for the holidays
• Delish – Shared my best money-saving grocery shopping tips
• Press-Citizen – Offered a recipe & tips on transitioning to a vegan lifestyle
• Little Village – Interviewed about family dinner through a vegan lens
• Prevention – Highlighted my jackfruit taquitos in “27 Delicious Vegan Air Fryer Recipes to Make Tonight”
• Buzzfeed – Included my croutons recipe in “17 Airfryer Recipes You Need to Try”
• Woman’s World – Featured my veggie skewers in “Cook a Delicious 3-Course Meal Over the Fire”
• VegNews – Showcased my vegan poutine in “How to Make Vegan Poutine – Cheese Curds and all”
• Taste of Home – Highlighted my vegan jackfruit reuben in “10 Jackfruit Recipes That Will Make You Forget All About Meat”
• Brit + Co – Featured my chili cheese tater tots in “19 Crispy Vegan Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Crave”
• Greatist – Highlighted my breakfast potatoes in “25 Air Fryer Recipes That Keep the Fried Taste Without All the Oil”
• Parade – Showcased my jackfruit carnitas tacos in “15 Valentine’s Dinner and Dessert Recipes That Are Perfect For Two”
• Well + Good – Featured my vegan ceviche recipe in “9 Recipes for Hearts of Palm, the Blue Zones-Approved Ingredient to Increase Longevity”
• Tasty – Included my air fryer ravioli in “28 Vegan Air Fryer Recipes You Need To Try”
• HuffPost – Featured my 7-layer dip in “Holiday Potluck Recipes That Food Bloggers Swear By”

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TV appearances

I earned my bachelor's degree in theatre and worked as a professional actor for over a decade in Los Angeles. These days, I enjoy bringing my performance background to television interviews and cooking demonstrations.

I make monthly appearances on Hello Iowa, a local-interest TV show filmed in Des Moines, where I share easy vegan recipes and cooking tips.

See my Hello Iowa appearances

• Making crispy air fryer gnocchi
• Salsa is a big dill
• Classic comfort food with a twist
• Making BBQ jackfruit sandwiches
• Vegetarian chili ready in a flash
• Tostadas two ways with healthy options
• Meatless option for summer grill out
• Add a pop of color and flavor to food
• Fill up on veggies with fajitas
• A garlicky crunch side dish
• French fries a different way
• Focus on fall flavors with apple chutney
• Unexpected pairing for fall side dish
• Flavorful recipe that also makes a great gift
• Easy and refreshing fruit smoothie
• Cook flavorful mushrooms in minutes
• No chop kale recipe
• Make standout lemony garlic side dish
• Add color to your cookout with grilled vegetable skewers
• Switch up salsa by swapping in watermelon
• Delicious dip you can make in the air fryer
• Dill-icious recipe for quick pickled cucumbers

I’ve also appeared on Everyday Iowa, a local interest TV show in Cedar Rapids.

See my Everyday Iowa appearances

• Dairy-free, crowd-pleasing salad dressing
• Making bruschetta
• Easy fall appetizer

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