Experiment in the Kitsch Pre Rapture

I had a moment in the test kitchen yesterday. There is a reason they are called experiments. Do you know what an experiment is boys and girls? According to Webster an experiment is a method of testing - with the goal of explaining - the nature of reality. For reals. I'm working on Orange Uncrummy Muffins. Although delicious, (crazy Taurus man downed the whole tin), they are not ready to present to the world for some unexplainable reason. They need to be cosmetically tweaked- a little kitchen botox.

And now for some shameless self promotion... drumroll please. Check out the Veganville interview at Christine Murray's gorgeous blog called Kezia and Friends.
http://keziandfriends.blogspot.com/2011/05/veganville.html

While there take a gander at Michelle's handmade jewelry at her Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/maryanny143

I Love these! Just in case anybody missed my birthday ^ mid- April .

And as if that special feature wasn't enough excitement for one week, a treasury Veganville's Assorted Chocolate Voopee box is in made the front page of Etsy. That's big stuff! It's like having a commercial run during the Super Bowl, whatever that is.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4dd685e1d7906d9108f52797/no-lame-ties-for-dad-here?page=2#comments

It was created by the talented and whimsical and villainous Sinister Soaps. Vincent Price would be proud.
Here's just a sampling of Sinister's wares.  See you after the Rapture, my friend. Bahahaha.

Who's Your Vegan Buddy?

Hey I totally forgot to tell you about the ultra cool writeup I received from the lovely Amandah over at her blog "And it's Vegan". http://anditsvegan.blogspot.com/2010/12/veganville-voopee-pies.html

If you dig doggies, dessert and well... ME check it out. Amandah's got one smart little buddy there. He knows a great cookie when he sees one.

And speaking of canine cuties, Veganville is now putting together "The Buddy Bag". It's a cookie bag filled with two PB Voopees
It's not a cake it's not a cookie
It's got a creme filled middle
It's a Voopee.

One big voopee is labeled Human. One smaller voopee is labeled Buddy. Now you can share a snack with your buddy! We tried it out at Catahoula Cafe a dog friendly cafe.http://catahoulacoffee.com/ in Richmond California.

Abbey scopes out the Veganville Buddy Bag
photo taken by my buddy-Larry

Feeding vegan treats one dog at a time (right before a pedestrian kicks me)

Catahoula is actually breed of dog "the Leopard Dog of Louisiana".The  cafe owner Timber rescues Catahoulas and has two Catahoula companions, Mocha and Abbey. Timber and the guys roast their own coffee at Catahoula. Abbey the oldest of Timber's Catahoulas noble face grace the bag. Catahoula already loves our regular Voopees, I overheard a Chihuahua tell a Setter, " Tell the President of Veganville to throw it to the dogs". So I did, I did.

MoFo 27 Veganville Notices You Award

So it's getting down to the wire and almost time to wrap up MoFo 2010. Yep it was my intention to blog everyday but as life would have it I missed three days. Not bad considering I've worked a lot of 14 hour days in the last month, and I've had next to no time off. A blessing, really.
There are a plethora of nifty vegan blogs infiltrating the sphere. It's been so cool to go through the google bundle and riffle through the blogroll.
The other day when I was scrolling through said bundle I came across Vegun Chef and I guffawed. The title of their post was "You can Be a Bad Blogger When..." I clicked on their link and was brought to the remainder of the post, "when no one reads your blog". I laughed more.
Hey Vegun even has some cool pics and recipes. And get this only had three followers but now they have 4. I was so happy to oblige.
I'm the queen of the underdog. Probably one of the reasons I'm vegan. Defenseless unread bloggers can be right up there with abandoned turtles and walruses. This can be a lonely planet. I decided to search for other lonely bloggers who blogged and took photos but received few comments or followers. On the day before the last day of MoFo I decided to rescue these black hole bloggers and offer them a "Veganville Notices You" Award.



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Here are a few blogs I stumbled upon that have 15 or less followers and they totally rocked!

Vegun Chef  http://vegunchef.blogspot.com/
A Fresh New Stomach  http://www.afreshnewstomach.com/
Biking and Baking  http://sarahbligh.blogspot.com/
Bite Me I'm Vegan http://bitemevegan.blogspot.com/
Choose Your Own Food Chain http://chooseyourownfoodchain.blogspot.com/
Parsley Park  http://parsleypark.blogspot.com/
Vegan Gourmet Caravan  http://gourmetcaravan.blogspot.com/

Know anybody else lost in the blogosphere? Send them here for a big ass acknowledgement!
Give 'em all some love.

Baseball and Vegan Crab Cakes

It's been a roller coaster of a week here in Veganville. Our Veganville Carrot Cake Whoopees soon to be called "Veganville Vhoopees" ve zink, are flying off the shelves. Vhoopee! On the flipping fiddlesticks side, my nephew Sammy and his team, the undefeated (19-0) Mira Costa Mustangs Senior Little League All Stars from Southern California played in the Senior Little League World Series Semi-Finals and were ousted by the Bangor, Maine home boys on their home turf. In my mind I have justified the Mira Costa boys as the true winners since they are the only team to stomp Aruba in Pool Play before Aruba clinched the World Series by trouncing the Bangor, Mainers 8-1. Congratulations to Aruba. Mira Costa- you guys rock! 
My friend and student Mo and I listened to the game and made Maine like fare. Sherry and Sandy the terrific gals over at exploitsofaveganwannabe.com graciously shared their wicked good, (that's Maine speak), recipe for Vegan Crab Cakes. We used TJ's "21 Salute" herb mix in place of the "Fiesta Mix" blend that Sandy and Sherry used in their recipe. This is a must try! While you are at it make a gallon of Sandy and Sherry's especially yummy tartar sauce to keep in your fridge. Check out their winning recipes. Thanks girls!
http://www.exploitsofaveganwannabe.com/2010/08/811-not-so-crabby-cakes/

Easy Roasted Corn
A few good husked and cleaned fresh corn
A few spritzes of canola oil spray
A few sprinkles of sea salt
A few shakes of herbs of your choice, (we are now stuck on TJ's "21 Salute")

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Generously spritz both sides of corn with canola spray. Now sprinkle, shake and bake. Turn corn midway through cooking time. And please floss in private.

Versatile Blogger Award- Yay

I am honored and humbled to receive the Versatile Blogger Award. Thank You to my fellow blogger over at Weekly Vegan Menu. I'm not sure if I won something or I was nominated. To play it safe I am going to follow the rules.

1.Thank the Giver.
2.Pass the love on to other blogs that you love.
3.Write 7 things About yourself.

Thank You very much Weekly Vegan Menu! Please check out this stupendous blog! The food porn  will make you salivate. Weekly Vegan Menu is indeed versatile and posts recipes for vegan delights like Stroganoff, Jamaican Purses, and Reubens. She's such a smart cookie that she's been known to veganize a hard boiled egg. Fun and sweet too!
http://weeklyveganmenu/@blogger.com/

Versatile Awards and Blogs I dig-

Where's Mr Peabody?

  http://wheresmrpeabody.com/ 

The best blog for animal lovers like you and me. Blogger Mark Samu, an ace photographer features videos, gorgeous photos and stories about his menagerie Mr. Peabody, Jerry the goat, and Leroy. Heartwarming and sometimes hilarious. One read and you'll feel like Mr. Peabody,Jerry and Leroy are part of your family.

Vegan Cupcake Thursday

  http://vegancupcakethursday.blogspot.com/ 

 Creator Roni Seabury a vegan jewelry maker and root beer balm maker(I love this stuff) says her cupcake blog is all about proving that vegan cupcakes can be great tasting and that no animals need to be hurt for your one minute of pleasure. Roni's blog is is sharp, funny and has kick ass, drool worthy pics of lots of frosting.

Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe 

 http://exploitsofaveganwannabe.com/ 

Follow longtime vegetarians, Sherry  and her partner Sandy,  as they embark on a 30 day  transition to veganism. Beautifully written. Watch what happens when they make a new commitment to compassionate living one day at a time.

The Streets I Know

  http://streetsiknow.blogspot.com/ 

 Founder Melanie, says she puts the compassion in fashion. You can find cool vegan shoes, hip bags, belts, and sweet cuffs on the streets. Melanie will even put fashion sets together for you so you can see just how to where these nifty new accessories.

7 things about Memememememe ( I need more coffee)

1. It started in the seventies. Yep I’m kind of old, but I don’t really look it because I use good moisturizer and I don’t wear old lady clothes. Nooo, silly. I’m a vegan, that’s why. Anyway, the parental unit was eating chicken, and Dad said, “Hey Gi pass the leg”. For some reason I never gave much thought to a chicken having a leg, but that was it and my vegetarian/vegan journey began.
The years brought greater commitment and love for the world’s creatures. Giving up dairy was simple. I was a performer/vocalist and I didn’t like the phlegm. The thought of what little yolks could be made my tummy hurt so the transition to being a vegan was easy.
 
2. As an actress I was the queen of pratfalls.
 
3. I've made a living as (see  above) a tennis pro, comedy writer, emcee, hash slinger vegan baker, nutritional counselor and Elf.
 
4. I once helped a doctor surgically remove a mole. I also assisted the same doctor in stitching up a ripped tongue.
 
5. I've written, produced, and performed a one-woman show. My husband directed. One time there were more people in the audience than on stage.
 
6. I'm half Latvian, 1/2 Scottish and was born in Brooklyn.
 
7. I read all things including cookbooks. I'm still looking for the perfect vegan chopped liver recipe.

Thank You Again!!! And Congrats to the wonderful bloggers! Give them a read when you get a chance!

My Blog for "Life in Recipes" (carrot cookie sandwiches)

A while back, Janet and Rachel invited me to be a guest blogger. I’m really excited to be here at Life Told in Recipes. I just hope they remembered that I was coming. I noticed that other guest bloggers received some interview questions and a lead in. I flew all the way from Veganville too. Veganville is my place in cyber land. I’m a vegan food and fashion writer, sometimes irreverent essayist. I’m also the owner of Veganville a small vegan baking and cooking company in Berkeley, California. Hmmm wonder where they are…

Since I’m here, I’d like to mention that I never proselytize but merely expose some truths about certain industries. Today, I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you about my experience with Martha.

Martha is a thug! There was a time when Martha thrived on sustainable ingredients but that was before she did time in the pokey. I’m sure you’ve heard about her famous ketchup packets and cigarette butt gazpacho by now, but I bet you didn’t know that while doing time, Martha also made eyeliner from peas. She fenced a lot of local ingredients and always composted while in the yard. Martha stopped eating the green meat and slimy eggs and was one step away from Veganhood when she was released.

This was the first cake she asked for on the outside.

It’s made with 582 eggs. Think of the chickens Martha, they are not as free range as you think. There’s a lot of crowding and barbed wire going on in those places, Martha. Think of a prison for chickens. I think I might have heard Martha cackle “I don’t care GiGi - I’m out”.
I took the liberty to veganize some Martha cookies.


Martha’s in the Big House Carrot Sandwich Cookies
2 Sticks Earth Balance softened
1 Cup Organic Brown Sugar
¼ C Water mixed with 3 tsp egg replacer
2 C unbleached flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
Tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp ginger
½ tsp allspice
2 C rolled oats
1.5 C grated carrots
1 C raisin
Preheat Oven to 350. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment. Cream together Earth Balance and both sugars on medium speed until fluffy. Add egg replacer and vanilla and mix until combined. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices in separate bowl. Add gradually to Earth balance mix and mix until combined. Mix in oats, carrots and raisins until just blended. Shape a T of dough (a small ice cream scoop works well) into balls and place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes until lightly browned. Cool completely before filling.
Vegan cream cheez
¼ C Earth Balance (softened)
¼ C Tofutti (softened)
2 C vegan confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp non-alcoholic vanilla
Cream Earth Balance with Tofutti. Beat in confectioner’s sugar a half a cup at a time. Remember to scrape down the sides in between. Add vanilla last.
When the cookies are completely cool, spread about 1 T of vegan cream cheese on the bottom of one cookie and then sandwich it together with another. Enjoy!