Kahlua Oat Pie

Our next pie was a Kahlua Oat pie with chocolate chips. It was really tasty, but I would change a LOT. I would not pre-bake the pie shell, I would add a bit of flour, and I would bake it longer. Also, I would add more filling, which would require me to bake it even longer. but I would. Because it was delicious! and I am sad it is gone. And I am sad that I ate the whole thing except for two pieces in a week. I don't really feel like writing the rest of this now, wow I'm lazier than a sack of potatoes... can potatoes really be lazy if they are inanimate? Isn't lazy an emotion/feeling/experience that an inanimate object would be incapable of experiencing? Anyway, I may update this post later.

Baked Vegan Acorn Donuts

My baked donuts were again for another potluck, I used the same mini cupcake tin. I used a veganyumyum recipe that I found here. They pretty much turned out like little cupcakes, but I decorated them like acorns for the fall and in memory of my sorority sisters. One batch didn't make many, though they were easy, so I made another. Only problem was that I ran out of Earth Balance. I am trying to avoid it now anyway so I just used oil instead. I think the oil ones turned out even better to be honest. I did reduce the amount of oil I used though. For reference, sugar is considered a wet ingredient. I had to google that since neither site elaborated. I guess I still am a super n00b.

I decorated them with PB and chopped pretzels, the pretzels were so hard to chop though! I went through two plastic bags, then started grinding them with the top of an old juice cap in a bowl! Talk about a lot of work. Baking them was really easy, so I think I might just skip the decorating part. I don't think I have the patience or creativity for that.

RECIPE:

Lolo's Baked Vegan Donuts
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour (I used Whole Wheat Pastry Flour)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 shake of cinnamon 
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Egg replacer for 1 egg (I used Ener-G Egg Replacer.)
4 tablespoons Earth Balance or other vegan margarine (I used 3 tablespoons oil)


Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350º F.

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients with a whisk to mix thoroughly.

In a small saucepan, combine wet ingredients (including sugar) over medium low heat & mix until margarine (I just threw the oil in here and let it go till the sugar dissolved, who knows if this was right!) is melted. You should be able to stick your finger in the mixture without burning yourself. Don't make this too hot for the dough!

Add wet to dry & mix until just combined, forming a soft spongy dough.

Using a tablespoon measure, scoop out dough into an ungreased nonstick mini cupcake pan & smooth out the tops of them. If using a regular sized donut pan, fill them until just below the rim. Make sure not to overfill them or they'll have uneven muffin tops. If you under fill them, they'll be skimpy, but still edible.

Bake them for 12 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.

Invert the hot pan over a cooling rack to release the donuts & allow them to cool completely before decorating.

This will yield 20 mini donuts or 6 to 8 large donuts. (Mine only gave me one and a half mini-cupcake tins)
If you don't have a donut pan, you can bake them as donut holes in the bottom of a mini muffin pan (like I did!) or make fun shapes in those molded silicone pans!

Joy of Vegan Baking Choco-Chippers FTW!

The cookies I made were from The Joy of Vegan Baking. They are so far my favorite chocolate chip cookies. Not what I was going for, but they are that traditional, home baked cookie you got from gramma. I think I'm more excited about being a gramma than a mom, or maybe just being an aunt *hint*hint*wink*wink* sis! I plan on making these more often, they made about 30 and were super easy!

Vegan Lovey Dovey Pie

Ok, so I made a red velvet pie, some cookies, baked donuts, and a red velvet cake since the last time I posted. Lets try and fit that all in. Since the holidays are coming up I will hopefully be doing more baking then I have been.

The red velvet pie is a vegan adaption of the Lovey Dovey Pie
It turned out really well, everyone loved it. The only issue is, I have never made a buttermilk pie and had no idea when to take it out of the oven. It pulled away a bit, and was firmer than I think it was supposed to be, but it was good. I can fix the pulling away issue but piping dunken hines cream cheese frosting (non-dairy, gross) on the "seam" of the pie and crust.

Barriers

I have this problem. I avoid myself, and others. I set up barriers. My main barrier: boys... they keep me away from who I truly am, make me do stupid things. Since being away from boys for over a year now, I have found so many more barriers that I put up on a daily basis, excuses, etc. In order to let down my barriers I have to be painfully honest with myself. So painfully honest. I will admit, there have been times where I have wanted to give up and go back to my old ways. Just live my life oblivious to the world and my barriers. Living inside myself, and barricaded from myself all at the same time. Completely Isolated from the world and myself, not knowing who I really am, completely and utterly alone. I have two amazing best friends who have been there for me through this whole thing, they recognize my barriers now that I am telling them about them and they are forcing me to be honest with myself, even when it is so hard. So I am challenging anyone reading this, if you ever do anything as a quick and easy fix to make yourself feel better, or to try and hide from something, or to try and fit in. STOP. NOW. seriously. It is not worth it, be yourself, God made you the way you are for a reason. He also made you human, unable to see his full plan from where you are now, so if it seems like life is going nowhere... hang in there. God has showed me that he has a plan with every wind blowing, every snowflake that falls. Everything has a reason. Love yourself, God doesn't make mistakes.

Who eats a dead bird?

The other day I went to bread co, I was sitting down to eat when I looked down and there was a chunk of a DEAD BIRD on my table... a piece of carcass... a slice of an flesh on the table. I think the person before me was eating it.... I mean seriously. It was a slice of turkey but I hadn't been that close to meat in a long time and it totally took me off guard, that some animal had died... and then some human had sliced its dead body up and served it to someone... and then that person left pieces of their dead-body-meal on my table. That is all I could think about when I saw it... who eats a dead bird?

STUFFED CRUST and STUFFED BELLY

My dad and I made pizza last night. He never liked cheese so we only put Daiya on my half. I know before I had mentioned to use Daiya sparingly because of its miraculous melting capabilities... but I just love it too much. I used a whole bag on my side and the stuffed crust...and on eating it out of the bag... woops! We also had black olives and tomatoes (his side only!) To stuff the crust I just pulled up on the crust, shoved in some Daiya, and pinched it down! probably best done before you put the sauce on but I was A) too excited about having pizza and B) making stuffed crust for the first time and wasn't thinking technically. It turned out really well... however the crust could have used more Daiya... better yet everything could use more Daiya, but that is beside the point. I LOVED it, and hadn't had stuffed crust in years! If you think you can't go vegan because of the cheese, this will change your mind! Marvel in the beauty of Daiya!

A clarification is in order

I wanted to bring up a very important note. Not all vegan's are exactly the same. This is extremely crucial to remember. Not all humans are the same either. Where each individual draws the line is their own decision and no one has the right to question this. I personally consume honey, sugars that are processed with bone char, and I am sure tons of other enzymes and whatnot. I do not consume gelatin or eggs, dairy, whey, casein, and the like. I do however have a don't ask don't tell policy when I go out to eat with things like bread or noodles, as dairy in these will not cause me to get sick. I do not want people thinking being vegan is a drag and I don't want waiters spitting in my food. You may disagree with this, feel free, just know that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and just that. It swings both ways. Just be aware that I am not really concerned with trace amounts of potential animal derived ingredients (like glycerides, etc) if you are, double check your ingredients before following my recipes. And please, be respectful of everyone's choices. Being vegan is about being compassionate (for some people) and ragging on someone for not being "vegan-enough" like vegetarians, pescatarians, and flexitarians is not compassionate. They are on your side, so harping on them about when they are going to take the plunge is inconsiderate. It will be more beneficial if you are a good friend and walk with them through life, remember they are a sentient being as well and deserve just as much respect as the animal you are trying to save.

My First Potluck

I went to my first potluck a couple of weeks ago. I decided I would bring mini cupcakes because that is what I would have wanted to eaten, and mini because they are easy to grab and go quick. I made a vanilla batter from Vegan Cupcakes Takeover the World. I separated it into three and put lemon extract in one, chocolate chips in the other, and (mini) oreo crumbles in the other. I poured them into a mini batter pan. The only difference is that I split the mini oreos and put them in the bottom of the cookies and cream liners. 

Then for the buttercream. Great news!!! I FINALLLY GOT MY BUTTERCREAM TO WORK!

I again split it up and added oreo crumbles for the cookies and cream, left it plain for the chocolate chip ones, and added lemon and yellow food coloring for the lemon ones. I think they turned out really great!

Pie Town

I just found out there is a pie contest this fall that one of my dad's running friends family hosts. So from now until thanksgiving I will be baking one pie a week. This week I chose this pie. It is still cooling but it smells and looks soooo good. The filling tasted delicious!

For the subs:
We used pecans instead of walnuts
Ener-g egg replacer for butter
Agave instead of honey
We used dark and semi-sweet chocolate

I also used this pie crust recipe

It only made one pie instead of the two... but it was pretty easy to make.

BolderBoulder 2012

We have our rooms booked for BolderBoulder... I am doing it... I really want to make it my goal to run all 6.2 miles. It sounds like such a short distance, but it will kill me. That is why I started training today. I ran a little over a mile in 12.21.1 That is pretty darn good, seeing as when I started running last time I was running low 12 minute miles, a lot lower than that. I just really need to get in to see a nutritionist and work up a good meal and training program so that I don't get hurt. I really want to be a runner, I would love to be able to run a half with my sister.... anyway that is kind of how things are going today. I will keep updated on how the running and baking is going, etc.

my bad...

So the whole limiting sweets... not going over too well. I am currently eating a chocolate cashew cookie sweetened with agave. I RARELY consume agave and try to avoid all artificial sweeteners. There is a whole lot of stuff on agave just like there is on soy... make of it what you will. So I got this cookie from VegaDeli... its almost too good, then again, what chocolate isn't? It could be the worst cookie ever, and if it is made of chocolate I'm still going to eat like four... no joke... that is why I no longer make double chocolate chip cookies. They suck and I still eat the whole batch, I will never learn. I should probably post a pic now otherwise I will never get to it... buttttt o well...!!!

Chill

One of my dad's friends opened up a frozen yogurt store like pinkberry or froyo. She has been kind enough  to provide a vegan option, as well as oreo crumbles for toppings.

Meet pineapple sorbet with coconut, oreos, nuts, and raspberries! Your argument that vegans can't enjoy themselves out of the house has been thoroughly disproven!

So... I made the rest of the cupcakes... I realized, the thinner the batter, the longer the cooking time. Interesting. So I think I am taking a break from sweets for a while. I need to lower my glycemic index. I'm not actually sure if that is how it works, but it sounded good.

I am currently making some rice, beans, onions, hummus, flax, hemp oil... and God knows what else I find. On the topic of God. People think I say "Oh my God" too much... Really I only say it because I want to include God in on that moment. Like today, I was driving and a bird was low swooping, I was scared I was going to hit it. I said "Oh my God" I didn't have time for a prayer or to even think, but God was looking out. It is like a mini-prayer and inviting God into every situation.
Anyway, it feels so freeing not having my facebook. I almost feel like I am back in olden times... lol riiiiight. But seriously... without facebook, texting, and phones... how else do you get a hold of people in a reasonable time frame? I don't know how....

I also worked out today, it feels very freeing working out too. I dance. I love it, I get tired but I am having so much fun I don't care... you don't hear people saying that about running or weight lifting... they hate it... they just enjoy it because it is all they know... it is theirs. I love sweating... I love dancing. So I am getting a smidge (I wish) closer to deciding what I want to be) I am settling on business. I need to limit my choices, and business is still a VERY broad area. The three main things I am thinking now: some general form of business, law, opening my own shop. More than likely I will go into law or some general form of business. It is the "safe" choice. But I haven't always been that "safe" girl. Sure, I don't take risks... like ever... no seriously I'm wary of the stock market... I drive like I'm 80... I don't break laws or even guidelines... I'm extremely straight-edge. Too bad my mom thinks I'm some drug dealing hooker... I always think it is funny that the good kids get reprimanded and the bad ones parents don't give a damn. I guess that is why they are the bad kids.

I got my audio recorder from my sister. I want to start documenting my life. I used to love my dad's old recorder, it was the size of a walkman, remember those? My aunt had one... I had this great idea for one that connected to the internet where you could listen to all sorts of music... meet the iphone... anyway, being a lawyer my dad uses his for recording trial stuff I guess... it always made me feel so professional hearing my voice next to my dads. I was always so shocked at the way my voice sounded. It sounded the way it has always sounded, I always feel like my voice has been the same, a personal narrative of sorts. I still disagree with my voice, but it's better. Anyway, my dinner is finally ready, nummmmnumnum!!! yes I am eating at 8:30 lol It has raw onions in it, I love their burn. I remember one night I was so desperate to binge I ate a whole raw baby onion...simply because it was in front of me lol Anyway, here is a pic of dinner tonight:

sorry... phone pic : /

Facebook and cupcakes

So... this is the first time since 2006 that I have deleted my facebook for some reason other than lent. I just don't think it is a valuable allocation of my time anymore. We will see how this goes. I kind of want to start writing again, but eh who knows... writing takes a lot of time that I don't have...

So, this past weekend was pride weekend and the vegan bakesale. I met a TON of new people, networked, and met this amazing boy! His name is Chris, he is raw and has great aspirations for his future. He gave me  cookies... how sweet?!?!?

I made cupcakes for the bakesale... they took forever, I only got two hours of sleep that night and I ended up getting sick... still sick actually... anyway.... school is going alright halfway done!!! SOOO CLOSE!

Anyway, that is all for now!

Frenchly Toast : )

I made vegan french bread and pizzas the other day at my aunts house. She won a free in-home cooking tutorial from an auction and they actually made pizza's just for me! The dough's were actually already vegan. Anyway, we didn't eat all the bread right away (go-figure) and it went stale (even more go-figure) so what else could I do with it but make french toast!! I Iphone googled a vegan french toast recipe and just kind of eyeballed it.

3/4 cup of organic almond milk
dash/ish of cinnamon (per taste)
some sugar
3ish tablespoons of flour (I used whole wheat pastry flour)

The first go-round I did NOT use an oil, I used a bit of smart balance light w/ flax (vegan) but it did not FRY it... it was a little soggy but I also loaded the bread in batter.
The second go round I used some oil, and uhhh set off the smoke alarm because it was smoking so much... anyone know how to prevent that? Clearly I am still a novice lol! But they turned out great both times, today they could have used a lot more batter and idk... it just didn't seem like french toast, maybe because I had never actually had french toast with french bread. Who knows.... I loaded it with maple syrup and powdered sugar and dusted with cinnamon for good measure, you could add berries and more sugar for more measure... but that's more calories, and we didn't have berries.

Choco Chip Cookies

Ok, so I totally aced this one! I decided I was sick of making health food cookies and splurged. I used the full amount of oil called for. EW I know.... but soooo yummy! I was inspired after noshing on SweetArt's Main Event (a vegan choco chip) I 1/4thed the recipe and only made 4 cookies. They were soooo amazing! I got the recipe from the Cookie Connoisseur by Kelly Peloza.

Here is the Main Event

Here is my cookie (sorry my camera is out of battery so my phone will have to do!) 

I used semi-sweet and dark choco-chips. They spread out a LOT and were very thin and delicious, this next batch, which I plan to make tonight, I will do half oil/half applesauce

Here is a picture of me red-riding-hood-ing it to my grandmothers!! 

I am on the search to make the best choco-chip cookie ever, I will make updates and progress. I plan on trying all the different recipes I find, perfecting them one by one, then choosing my favorite!

Avacado bean tacos

I made dinner tonight for the first time in a while. I wanted tacos, and would have used some fake meat but did not for two reasons. 1) I am trying to be more healthy, natural and holistic (psh good luck!) 2) My mom's boyfriend is an omni and didn't want fake meat. So I made these with bean. I would like to point out that a lot of my cooking recipes (unless otherwise specified) I make up on my own based on my taste preferences at the moment and what I think would taste and feel good in my mouth! (ok that might have taken it too far, know I debated deleting it...) So you will need! (and because I make these up feel free to add anything {cruelty free} that you would like to them!)

This made about 7 tacos (I used the boxed ones that are pretty tiny, so it really didn't make much)

Onion (however much you think you'd like, cooking is all about trusting your taste buds!)
Garlic (I used one clove)
Black beans (I used nearly a whole can)
I used a Hemp vinaigrette as an oil (adds omega-3's)
I also added two splashes of lime juice to give it a more cajun feel
I added dashes of ground cumin and ground red pepper
Then I soft and hard shells
I added garlic hummus to the actual tortilla on the soft shells and on top like sour cream in the hard shells.
Then topped with avocado wedges and lettuce shreds!!

Photos to come!

CUTEST VEGETARIAN ALIVE 2011

I am cutest vegetarian alive 2011! I am so excited and blessed. Today has been an amazing whirlwind of excitement and it still feels soo surreal! I want to plan a party. I also want to plant an avocado tree/plant, so check in with me in 15 years and I will have avocados for you lol! I honestly don't know what to say right now but thank you! I will be doing a lot of gratitude baking so check in for updates!

Summer classes and a few words on my mother.

Today I spent the day, four full hours of it, applying and registering for summer classes. Applying took all of 30 minutes. Then I had to take my placement test, which took me 2 full hours, almost exactly. I did really well and placed above where I needed to. Then came registering. I sat in a room for a good 30 minutes, then met with an advisor for another 30, then had to set up my account and register. which took me nearly a half hour because the computers are useless and no one was there to help... guess that's what you get at a community college. Funny though I saw someone from my old school there. Guess he didn't like it either. So now I am all registered and paid... 800 dollars for 10 credit hours... yes please! Everything worked out perfectly, despite it being long and painful! On the way back though my mom decided to dig the knife in a little deeper and discuss how irresponsible I am. Right.... I am irresponsible, the one who does all the shopping, cooking and cleaning... the one who keeps track of my mother for her... ya I need to re-evaluate, sorry! Apparently she thinks she is just being helpful. So when I snapped at her, telling her I can't take her abuse anymore and that if it continues I am living with my dad for the summer, she was upset. I made her lunch, specifically for her, a loaded vegan sweet potato (recipe to come). Except she was too disgusted with me to eat. So I again snapped, and told her, "I found this recipe specifically for you, I bought this sweet potato JUST for you, I made it JUST for YOU, and I cut my finger making it FOR YOU... and you don't want it?" Huge slap in the face right there. I guess she felt bad so we shared it. Over the sweet tater I told her how I was feeling. I explained to her that when she says things like that it is very degrading and condescending. It is very hurtful and makes me feel completely worthless. I asked her if she understood what I was saying, and realized how that made me feel... if she had ever been made to feel that way by her own mother. She never answered. My sister is extremely needy and very reliant on my mother for everything. I am the exact opposite, I want no help from anyone, I want to figure things out on my own. I am very meticulous and want things done exactly right. She if extremely un-precise, so I have never relied on her to do anything for me. She doesn't understand that and I guess took that as a sign that I was lazy and didn't get anything done, since she couldn't imagine me doing it on my own. Especially since my sister, who is five years older, wouldn't have done it on her own, how could I have done it on my own five years younger? Well I did, but she never saw it because I never told her about my life, we never talked because she never understood and never cared to understand. Anyway, she is a great woman... maybe not the best mother, but she is all I have and I have learned to live around it. She has yet to realize her behavior is a problem. This is why I do better living separately from her.

A change of mindset

As I said, I am interested in starting an animal rights group on campus. However, I am having second thoughts. I don't want to be obnoxious, I feel it is most powerful if people can relate to me, if they don't look at it as us vs. them. I do not want to be condescending. I want to encourage people to be the best they can be, for the world. I am not sure protesting has this desired outcome. It seems like protesting just creates more barriers. We are supposed to be working for peace, not more segregation. Those people driving by only see looney's who they have nothing in common with, and want nothing to do with. However, had we approached them politely and less aggressively at a time more convenient for them, when they weren't already at the tracks, it could have sunk in further. The problem here does not lie in the people, we cannot change their blind ignorance, it is the powerhouse behind it that needs to be stopped, and many many people would agree that they don't like the way certain monopolies are run. IE: most american's would love a McDonald's reform, but telling them that they are wrong for eating there and that it is bad is only going to make them feel awful, and ganged up on. They are likely to go more into depression and revert further into their ways. What if I really did have it all backwards? I don't want to be extreme, I want people to give veg*nism a shot. I think the best way to do that is to talk, approach people politely, and feed them. Which makes me wonder, do I really want an animal rights group? If not.... what DO I want? Where is my life going with this?

Mother's Day

So I have been home a couple days now, my family is finally back together, mother and sister. I made my mother pancakes (chocolate chip peanut butter with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh berries along with freshly pressed carrot juice) I gave her a juicer for mother's day (secretly hoping I can use it!) a card, and ordered some flowers. Well, when the flowers arrived it was the adorable little neighbor girl. See, I never grew up in a neighborhood, I never had that sense of community... it was just my family and the kids I went to school with, and I wasn't friends with anyone really. I didn't like it, but family was all I had. Today that has become so much more apparent. Sure, I don't always get along with them, but being all I had for so long, it is nearly impossible not having their constant support. Anyway, the little neighbor girl came over right as I was adding the wet ingredients to the dry in my favorite irish brown bread recipe. I invited her to help me finish. I had just put on my brand new apron and we were ready for some magic. She added the wet to the dry, stirred and helped knead. While it was baking we played with my kitties and talked to my mom (who loved the flowers!) Once it was done baking, I cut it into fourths and then sliced us two pieces. She chose cherry jam and I used the apple jelly my best friends family made. It was amazing, so warm and sweet with the jelly. After we ate it I sent her home with the rest of the fourth we had cut into and the rest of the cherry jelly. I felt like an aunt back in the day who had her neice over and sent her home with goodies. Sort of like little red riding hood, or hansel and gretal. Except this one had a happy ending... no kids in ovens or grandmas in wolves. I finished decorating my carrot cake that I had made for my mother and boy did it turn out beautiful!

This is Hector the Alphasaur, my best friend Taryn bestowed him upon me since I am transferring.
He will be in a lot of pictures as we will be adventuring together.
He is my companion, look for him in pictures from now on!

Carrot cake, cream cheese icing, walnuts. Recipe from: The Joy of Vegan Baking

Finals

It's finals week... or should I say two days lol. Today is my last day of finals!! I will be home after this and then I have a whirl wind of things to complete. Unpack, get to see Jonathon Safron Foer speak, making a vegan cinco de mayo for my best friend! then take her home the next morning and leave for columbia at 8am, when I get back at around 1ish I need to shower and get ready because I am meeting with my new schools Student Government Association to discuss starting an AR Club. Thing is... I thought he was an adult so I had been calling him "Mr." turns out he's two years older than me. O well! I just don't want him thinking I am a kook! I want to put off the best impression for ARA's all over. He is a preppy kid so I have decided to wear one of my lacoste dresses, a necklace, my crescent, and my sorority badge. I am so excited and so nervous at the same time! Here goes nothing!!! Wish me luck!!!

see there's this boy....

So it is 3:34, I woke up at ten, and I still haven't eaten. Why? because my stomach is overfilled STILL from last night/this morning. Last night I got to thinking a lot... I haven't had much to do and when I don't have anything to do I start to think.... and I started thinking about a certain... boy... well I texted one of my friends and she told me exactly what any good friend would say.... I'm F'd... ya.... we've tried it twice and somehow it still doesn't work... so why do I keep thinking about him? Because... he is that one guy... ya know the one i've had it bad for for three years.... nothing seems to taint him in my mind... ya.... that one! So I watched weeds, texted friends, stayed up till three... finished off a 2 liter of coke and a box of cereal and came close to finishing off two boxes of cookies and half a jar of peanut butter. I also had a sheet of matzo.... yaaaaaaa so all in all I dont think he has any clue I have these feelings... feelings of deep regret and hurt and an aching to be with him, near him, just to even talk to him.... no I think he still and probably forever will have those same feelings for his ex. Weird thing is... she was a vegan too... or so she claimed, she ate eggs from her farm.

....and he kind of stole my heart....

Big Announcement Reveal!

Soooo my big announcement. I am transferring schools. I need to be closer to home... and I need a fresh start... not that my life isn't exactly where I want it, I just know that I can get more being back home. I have more resources to make a bigger change. I want to start selling my baked goods, I am also trying to get a job and start an AR group at my new school. I need to take summer courses and I am also trying to get a service leadership certificate. Ya... I am going to be busy. But when I am not busy I get depressed...

Anyway... this is my last sunday in this god-forsaken town. Don't get me wrong, I love this place. But it is kind of like how you love laying in bed alll day and eating a ton of food.... and then you always get sick and vow you will never do it again because you got nothing done and are in pain and know you just ruined your diet? Ya.... kinda like that.... it's just a playground of nothingness. Hm... well it is bittersweet leaving. Today is my last sunday here. I will visit often I hope.

I cannot wait to start baking again. And cooking. I just ordered my mom's mothers day gift, and I cannot wait to try it out, it comes in this wed! I am going to start testing the waters with mailing my baked goods. I will start by sending them to friends who are staying in warrensburg over the summer, and family. Maybe I can actually get a market for this going.... it would be awesome if I could. Anyway... I am living life. Actually living. and each day provides new opportunities for making my life amazing. Live it up!

A little late.... oooops

So this is really late but I wanted to post about it anyway. For St. Patty's day I hosted a vegan dinner for my mom and her mother and uncle. I served vegan Irish brown bread, potato leek soup, and carrots and parsnips with a chocolate cake (and green icing) for dessert.

The brown bread was amazingly easy and tasted soooo good, like a dense cornbread! I ended up making two loaves!

The potato leek soup was fabulous as well, I had never worked with leeks before and I really enjoyed them.

The carrots and parsnips were good, but were not my favorite (they were just veggies lol)

This weather

Can I just say I LOVE this weather. Today my friend and I had a picnic and it was amazing!!!! It tasted yummy, but the sun and warmth was even better! We went to a little local park and just enjoyed the weather. I am loving life right now!!

Sweet Art

My favorite bakery is Sweet Art. They are all vegetarian and do many vegan options. They are also a cafe of sorts too. They have interesting hours but the most amazing food. I love their cupcakes, brownies (they occasionally have pb brownies too) their cakes, buttercream... Okay I love it all! I got my birthday cake from them, it was a Best of Both Worlds (6. in cake with four layers of alternating vanilla and chocolate cake, I chose to have chocolate buttercream filling and a vanilla buttercream frosting... it was unbelievable, I ate half of it in one day... by myself) They have an amazing atmosphere, and really helpful staff. They owners are a married couple, the wife does the baking and the husband makes paintings which are hung around the shop (get it, sweet...art...sweet art?) Anyway, I really want to work here over the summer!!!! So, I went there for breakfast with my best friend over break and we ordered the breakfast quesadilla. I wish I remembered what was in it. But it was a whole wheat tortilla, with tofu scramble, some match meat probably, sweet potatoes I bet and some daiya, and onions and avocado on top. I wish I remembered what else inhabited this deliciousness but I cannot. Here are the pictures though. This is pretty much the best place ever and if you are ever in the area you absolutely MUST try it... it is too good for words. You will not be let down!

I love this quote! 

My bday cake (that I shared with my sister)

The inside, YUMMMMY look how tall it was!!

It was soo moist and rich, the chocolate buttercream was HEAVENLY!!!

Hal & Al's

Hal & Al's is an all vegan pub/bar. We had chili cheese fries, I had ordered sweet potato fries with chili and daiya, but I think they just made a mistake. Totally didn't bother me though, I could have eaten those fries all day long... too bad they ran out!!! Then I had a chili tofurky dog with daiya onions black olives and then ketchup. It kind of scared me how similar it tastes to a normal hot dog. I really don't eat much match meats, so when I do they kind of freak me out. My mother had a luna burger which is a vegan burger from a local company (the Luna company, I guess) on a pretzal bun. It tasted pretty good, I liked the consistency of the bun and burger together and the sweetness of the bun complemented the burger nicely. For dessert we got sweet pretzel bites. They were basically french toast with sweet vanilla sugar glaze. They were so good and puffy and the glaze was very sweet, I just wish it came with a little more. It was an amazing restaurant, my all time favorite! I would honestly come back to Ohio just for Hal & Al's. The service was great, very relaxed environment and quick, caring service. I have heard they have a very comprehensive beer menu so if you like beer it makes a fantastic bar just for that. Anyway I will upload the photos later, just wanted to fill you in on this great place! While in ohio we ended up always matching, this night was no exception....

Diggin' in!!

The damage

Pattycakes Bakery

This morning we went to an AMAZING little bakery, the best part: It was all VEGAN! It is called Pattycakes Bakery, my mother and I shared a pumpkin walnut muffin which was deliciously decadant! We also shared a cinnamon roll, it was a very manageable size and was not heavy like a Cinnabun roll would be. It was sweet and fluffy! They had shirts for sale (made by American Appearel) and I got one in blue! I am soo excited, it is very cute! They also had free buttons and fliers and whatnot that I hoarded. They had hemp-flax oatmeal bars and we got one for my dad, we also got a slice of cake: lemon with fresh blueberry frosting!! I already ate half of it! It is soooooo goood! Fluffy, moist, and so fresh... just like I wish the weather would be here. It was a great environment and the workers were clearly having so much fun together. I noticed no men were working, but there were male customers. The presentation of the goods was unsurpassed, and I believe the prices were justified, however, it was a little pricey. It was also a little challenging to get to, we took a cab and even he got a little turned around. Ok, so then I made a pb sammich for lunch and then we went to the most amazing restaurant EVER for dinner, I will post more about that later.

They gave us free buttons!

So fluffy and moist!

How cute is the seating? And that giant chalkboard?

DELISH! I took home a peice of that lemon blueberry cake (the lemon cake with pink frosting in the upper left)

I also got a blue shirt! I couldn't resist, look at that wall though! NOTICE: Obama now has a mustache lol

And they have personalized bags?!?!

To go cakes, I love how they decorate them with their logo!

...and cookies and muffins!!