Honoring Heritage, Plant-Based Style: Jan Brandenburg’s Appalachian Kitchen Revolution

Join host Diane Randall for a soulful conversation with Jan Brandenburg, Appalachian native, longtime vegan, and author of The Modern Mountain Cookbook: A Plant-Based Celebration of Appalachia. Jan shares how she’s won over her meat-loving family with veganized comfort food, the emotional ties between tradition and ethics, and her top tips for making plant-based living accessible—even in the heart of biscuit-and-gravy country.   Key Takeaways: Start Where You Are  Jan’s advice for beginners: “Think of your favorite foods—master 3 plant-based versions, and build from there.” (Example: Her crowd-pleasing vegan mac and cheese!)   Appalachian Vegan Magic  How to reinvent smoky, hearty flavors without meat: liquid smoke, smoked salts, and tamari bring umami depth to classics like cornbread and broccoli casserole.   Holidays Without Compromise  Jan’s secret to stress-free vegan feasts: “Cook the dishes you love, but plant-based. No one misses the meat when the flavors are right.”   Aquafaba Breakthrough  The game-changing ingredient that let Jan recreate her grandmother’s meringue pies (hint: it’s hiding in your chickpea can!).  Handling Skeptics with Grace  Responding to “Why be so extreme?”: “It’s not about judgment—it’s my choice to live in alignment with my values.”   Featured Recipes & Tips:  Pantry MVP: Liquid smoke for bacon-esque flavor in greens, beans, and cornbread.  Comfort Food Hack: Vegan broccoli casserole (no condensed soups!).Seasonal Star: Ramps (wild Appalachian leeks) in spring dishes.   Connect with Jan:  Cookbook: The Modern Mountain Cookbook  Instagram: @appalachianvegan Listener Call-to-Action:  Swap one family recipe with a plant-based twist voice (message us @PlantBasedCurious!).  Grab Jan’s book for vegan biscuits, gravy, and pies that honor Appalachian roots.   Quotable Moment:  “Food isn’t just fuel—it’s connection, history, and love. You don’t have to abandon tradition to embrace compassion.” —Jan Brandenburg  Send us Fan MailSupport the show"Thanks for listening to The Plant-Based Curious Podcast. If this episode helped you, please share it with one friend who might need it. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a step on your journey. For questions or to connect, visit me at plant-basedcurious.com."