I Feel Delicious!

Latest Culinary Relishes:

Lentil Soup with Sweet Potatoes, Caramelized Leeks and Collard Greens- much better than the previous one from Veganomicon. When I eat it, I swear I can hear 40s swing music (or Ray Charles, "Hallelujah...") start to play. Ooh!

Raw Buckwheat-Maple Cereal- not so bueno, too much salt requested.

Sweet Potato Fries- the easiest thing to add a smile to your face, in the form of food.

Oven-Roasted Asparagus, with Sea Salt, Olive Oil and Rosemary- only good on Day One.

Gluten Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies- from Veganomicon, delish.

Next Up? Raw Crepes! Stay Tuned.

Oops- I forgot to mention Vegan Coffee Ice Cream from Vcon, using Sbux Instant Granules (truly decent)....next time might sub some Kahlua...otherwise delicious. Quick Aside: After an epiphanic moment in Brooklyn last summer where I bought $1 cone of cookie dough vegan ice cream, which was truly the best version (I have an unbiased tongue) ever, I'm convinced- it (great ice cream) can be done sans udders. Also, check out stogonyc.com! Been there, and again, my story corroborated.

Also, Peanut Butter Macarons with Chocolate Filling (baby!). These were definitely a service to a dear boy.

"Tout Ca Pour Des Macarons!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4kznWz5J4I




Gingerbread, Pistachio, and Honey Buttercream Macarons...oui, ils sont bons!

I wish I had the approval of Helmut...


Other adventures:





Cashew Chocolate Truffles- V, GF
Vegan Salted Caramel- V, GF

Zucchini Muffins- V, GF
(babycakes)
Apple Bran Muffins- V, GF
(enjoy life's "Bran-a-Licious" with chopped granny added)
Banana Bread Muffins- V, GF
(enjoy life's "Banana Wanna" )
Almond Butter Cookies (Raw)- V, GF, everything free
(Raw Food and Wine's sister book)

Have a Heart

Mom's Christmas Recipes... gotta get on her about that.
I know she recreated Grammy's famous apple cake, which I subbed about 10 meals for.

GetOuttaBed Apple Bran Muffins
Lemon Bars
Rum Praline Bars
Almond Butter Fudge
Roasted Veg Hummus (using cauliflower)

I like that the only reason I keep this up is because of my poor memory. That, and I'm (1/2)hoping someone will suddenly attrap some rare disease and require my life-saving cooking knowledge. Oh wait, heart disease being the leading cause of death for men and women in the US...maybe I do have something to offer.

Really

I'm really doing it this time: that is, I'm really doing it again.

Man, if I had never jumped off the deep end a month ago...into animal-product land, I wouldn't have gotten myself in this mess; it was going so well.

Things of late:

Babycakes' Banana Bread
Babycakes' Brownies (with raw cacao added for superfood-iness)
Veganomicon Banana Nut Waffles
Vegan Brunch Pumpkin Pancakes
Veganomicon Shepherd's Pie- next time w/just mushrooms and veg
Veganomicon Gumbo and Cornbread- next time with liquid smoke and plenty of cayenne
Vegan Avocado Shake- used coconut milk and agave...needs work.

Makes mouths happy. Keeps other things breathing.

Mauvaise Idee

Splurging. Bad. Two months abstinence. Two days binging. Bad. Why, oh why.

Getting back on the wheel, behind the wheel...something like that.

Christmas Etsy Items

The packaging I'm using for my current Etsy listings....

These are French Rum Caneles, but there are also Macarons, buttery Madeleines (chocolate and plain).... so head on over to lauraetoile.etsy.com!

Joyeux Noel, tout le monde!

More recipes for my eventual bestseller...

Tofu-Noodle Soup (sounds gross...isn't!)
Aubergine (eggplant) and Tomato Chickpea Stew
Eggplant Parm
Five Star Banana Bread
Chocolate-Banana Protein Shake

Thanksgiving Successes- by mom (mostly)
Squash Casserole
Sweet Potatoes
Spiral Diner Stuffing and Gravy
Gooey Pecan Pie

**Remember, all of these are Vegan and Gluten-Free+Rice Free.