She just published a new book, "I'm Mad as Hell and I'm Not Going to Eat It Anymore!"...part vegan manifesto and part cookbook.
No doubt, vegans will love it. But anyone else might, given a taste of her creations.
Pirello, a butcher's daughter, started out eating a full spectrum of foods. But about 25 years ago, she embraced the vegan lifestyle and hasn't ventured back.
Vegans eat no animal products, while vegetarians might accept dairy, eggs, even fish in some cases.
On our visit to her South Philadelphia home, Pirello whipped up a warm salad featuring fresh kale and garlic...simple, and bursting with taste.
She produced her version of Pennsylvania Dutch pot pie, made with shredded tofu instead of chicken.
It looks like the traditional favorite and is hearty, but satisfies all the vegan rules.
Many recipes in the book are for desserts, because Pirello believes you should be able to enjoy all courses. But her cookies are made with better-for-you products like coconut sugar.
Fortunately, most if not all the products featured in her cuisine is available in mainstream supermarkets these days. So you can try vegan or choose it exclusively without having to make a special trip anywhere.
The book is available from all the usual sources, including shops and websites. You can also find it on her site, Christina Cooks.
