Why I Went Missing Chapter 1 and Cremey Basmati Pudding

I told my dad that I would get him anything he wanted to eat, except maybe tortilla chips which can cause choking even on a good day. Those pointed edges can be lethal.

Heidi and I suggested rice pudding. Rice Pudding was our favorite food when were in the joint. I asked Daddy if he was aware that penitentiaries don't serve any food that has sharp edges. Of course he knew, he was an officer of the law.

Anyway, Daddy's eyes lit up at the mention of rice pudding. I searched high and low for vegan rice pudding, not that my dad was a vegan or anything, I just wanted to give it a shot. (I probably shouldn't use the word shot in a story that talks about the can) Why doesn't anybody make vegan rice pudding? I would have been more than happy to make some but my mom had "keep out yellow tape" blocking her kitchen.

So, I wound up buying as many containers of Cozy Shack as I could find. Daddy ate some!

Here is the creamiest rice pudding I have ever had. I made it with basmati rice, coconut milk, agave, coconut oil, cashews and raisins and a pinch of cardamom. It went down a lot smoother than one of those pointy chips. Recipe coming soon.

 
 

Mofo 2013 Case File # 11 Mayberry RFD Investigates and Easy as Apple Pie

Opie: Hey Pa, maybe GiGi the missing blogger is down by the fishing hole.
Andy Taylor: Why that's a darn good guess son, but I don't think that is where she'd be hiding.
Opie:Why? Ain't she got a pole, Pa?
Barney Fife: No pole, Opie. She doesn't catch fish cuz she is from Yankee country and then she moved clear across the map to Cal-ie-forni-I-A. But we don't know where she is now.
Aunt Bee: Poor thing. Wonder where she could be. She could probably use some of my fried chicken.
Andy Taylor: Wherever she is Aunt Bee, she won't be partaking in any of your fine fried chicken either.
Barney Fife: The heartache, the heartache! She won't have any buttermilk coated dinners either. She's a Yankee vegan!
Andy Taylor: Now don't go making that GiGi blogger any of your kerosene pickles Aunt Bee. 
Opie: That sure won't entice her back.
Andy Taylor: Sure won't.
Aunt Bee: Oh Andy! I won't. I will bake up some good ole apple something.
Barney Fife: Love your Apple Pie Aunt Bee. We sure have to nip this case in the bud!
Aunt Bee: If only finding GiGi was as easy as apple pie.

Gluten Free Apple Spice Muffins With Easy as Pie Ice Creme

Aunt Bee's GF Apple Muffins With Easy as Pie Ice Creme
2 1/4 C of Perfect Blend GF flour (or any GF flour that includes xanthan gum)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp cinnamon 
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 C coconut oil
2/3 C agave or maple syrup
1/3 C apple juice
1/3 C rice milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 C TJ's chunky applesauce

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a jumbo 6 C tin with paper liners. In a medium bowl whisk all the dry ingredients. Add all the liquid ingredients, except the chunky apple sauce. Stir. Fold in the chunky applesauce. 
Bake 11 minutes and then turn the pan 180 degrees and bake another 11 minutes or so, until top of muffin pops back easily when you press it. Let cool in pan for 15 minutes and then remove muffins to wire rack.

Easy as Pie Ice Creme
1 pint of your favorite vegan vanilla  ice creme softened
1/2 C TJ's chunky apple sauce
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp pumpkin spice or cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

Empty pint of softened ice creme into a big bowl. Mix in spices, and gently fold in chunky apple- sauce. Scoop prepared ice creme back into container. See, easy as pie.




Any one with any information about  GiGi is urged to call:

Mofo 2013 The GiGi Doppelganger and Gluten Free Cookies

Good morning everybody in Mofo Land. Larry, here. Did GiGi ever mention to you that we live in a destination spot? It's true, people come from far and wide to hangout on the famous Solano Avenue which is a mile and half row of restaurants, boutiques, an indie movie theatre etc. and just happens to be around the corner from us. Living here in this cool area makes up for our MRI sized dwelling. The cat kids and Jerry love it. Anyway, yesterday was the annual Solano Stroll. Since 1974 Solano Avenue and the twin-cities of Albany and Berkeley CA, have hosted the Solano Avenue Stroll, the east bay's largest street festival! They feature over five hundred vendors including entertainers, food booths, government and non-profit agencies, hand-crafters and more! Participants and the event guests visit from everywhere throughout California! (Some even from out of the state.)

Now I am well aware that I might be a suspect in the disappearance of GiGi, however I have decided to take the matter into my own piano playing hands. I decided to scour the streets of the stroll for GiGi and because there are not a lot of vegan options at the Stroll for GiGi, I figured she might be hungry. I brought some GF sugar free, oil free cookies she had frozen just before she... she, you know went missing from her blog. Maybe the cookies would entice her. First the cookies, then the footage and stills. Do you think this is GiGi or a GiGi doppelganger? 

Gingersnaps

3/4 C melted coconut oil
1/3 C unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp sea salt
3 T molasses
1 C agave
2 T non-alcoholic vanilla
2 1/4 C GF  "Perfect Blend" flour
1/4 C flax meal
1 tsp baking soda
jam optional

Preheat oven 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment. In medium bowl combine the first 5 ingredients. In another medium bowl whisk the dry ingredients. With a spatula carefully add the dry to the wet ingredients until a grainy dough is formed. Using a small scoop scoop dough onto prepared baking pans, spacing 1 inch apart. Flatten with heel of your hand. Bake cookies 1 inch apart for 9 minutes, rotate pans and bake another 6 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on racks for ten minutes and then remove cookies from pan. Let cool and then spread one cookie with jam of your choice and top with another cookie. 

Is this GiGi?

Anyone with any information concerning GiGi is urged to contact: 

GF Raw Fudge, 2013, and I'm Back

Happy 2013 gang. This post initially said Happy 2031, because I am a dyslexic typist. If you have been fortunate enough for me to comment on your blog you would indeed be aware of this handicap. 

Many Two readers have asked of my whereabouts. My apologies for my MIA status since late November. When we got home from visiting my ailing Dad in LA Psycho Boy and I walked right into holiday crunch time. Veganville was slammed from Black Friday though New Year's. Thank you Etsy and Etsy buyers. Now the store is like a wild west shootout. Everybody's left town. The first few weeks in January are like that in the baking biz. Record numbers in the gym. Huge sales for Vita-mix, nada for sweets. I thought about sending smoothies through the mail, but mailing something liquid and green sounded too much like a bio-hazard.

I am still working out and running and playing tennis. My workouts have mostly been fueled by raw fudge. That's the Power of Fudge bahahaha. Remember that song? Maybe not. I am addicted to that stuff. It's finally out of the house. I'll give you the recipe, but alas no picture because who has time to set up a shot, when you are inhaling those babies.

I will give you a picture of Veganville's new gfxx or gluten free, (I forget how many xxx's there are in gluten free), cupcakes. Besides how would you even know if these are gluten free by the picture. I could be fibbing.

But I'm not. Oh to find the fudge recipe I've bee using go here. Double the recipe and put it in an 8x8 pan though.

Well it's nice to see you. Sorry my first post back is a little short, but I'm running a little late for my polygraph. 

Virtual Potluck Evil Ice Creme

Here I am on the heels of MoFo showing up for a worldwide virtual pot luck. I actually have one more MoFo post to go but as luck  my stupid luck would have it since I live on the left coast, our area is the first designated area to show up to the soiree with our culinary masterpieces. Welcome all you virtual potluckers! Hope you had better luck than me.

Pardon me if this post is sprinkled with expletives, sighs and bad metaphors. I eventually triumph.
I had this fantastic recipe whirling around my head for days. The ingredients and appliances and pots and pans were lined up.
Each step was executed and my creativity matched my culinary prowess, at least until ...watch out first expletive coming at you. Fudge buckets...now the overused saying....God laughed at my plan. Oh chuckle, snort, bearded magician in the sky.

And yes and now another Expletive..
Apple effing pie ice creme was on it's way to it's execution, and I don't mean me executing the recipe either. I mean the ice creme was on it's way to the electric chair. I was on the way to making you an apple pie ice creme and then the fates turned against me and the ice creme maker freaked out  and electrocuted the ice creme.
Behold:

Day of the dead

 

But damned if I'd miss this party.
When in doubt pour everything back into your blender and make apple pie shakes :)

1 pippin apple diced
1/4 C water
1 T cornstarch
2 packets Stevia + 2 T pure maple syrup

Place 1/2 of the apple in a sauce pan. Add 1/8th C water and sweetener. Heat to boil. In a separate cup mix 1/8th of C cold water with cornstarch. Add to hot liquid and simmer about 6-8 minutes. Stir often then let cool completely. This is also a great topping by itself over vanilla ice creme. Once cooled proceed with shake.

1/2 C cream of coconut (place coconut milk in frig over night) then open can and scoop out creme from the top. (you can make whipped creme like that as well)
1.5 C almond milk
4 packets stevia and a 4 T maple syrup
6 oz silken tofu
1/2 brushed with 1 T maple syrup baked spelt vegan pie crust cut up
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin spice
3 ice cubes


Pour all ingredients into blender except chopped pie crust. Blend until thick and creamy. Fold in pie crust.

Remember when life gives you a broken ice creme maker stomp your feet, then smile, move on and laugh in the face of adversity.

Remember to check out the rest of the potluckers here. The party is hosted by Ann of an unrefined vegan (see above link) and Somer of vedged out, two awesome bloggers.
And here are two more blogs, one is before me on the roster and one behind me. Please give them some love.
The Joyful Pantry brought chocolate mint truffles.
and  Vegan Fling who brought some delicious cranberry granola cookies.

Now I'm off to party and chow down, that is after I give evil ice creme maker the boot!

MoFo 24 Sloth Day Friday Packaged Stuff and Sin City

Hey everybody it's Sloth Friday. Did you know that sloth is one of the 7 Deadly Sins? Since it's almost dias de los muertas we could start the party early and call today Day of the Deadly. I bet Kittee B. from Cake Maker to the Stars could even swing by with some of her menacingly beautiful sugar skulls. She's a maniac with those sparkly skulls, and she's been up to her underpants in glitter. Enough about Kittee. It's my blog.

Technically sins aren't supposed to be healthy. Even if you act out in moderation, it's not supposed to be good for you. But really, what's one more day of testing the fates?
Tonight I bring you packaged food you can slit open with a serrated knife and then cram down your throat while you eat at the kitchen sink, or in the corner under a dim light, or even partially suffocated under a non-wool Eco friendly blanket.

Oh forget it! You guys probably don't do that. Everybody has such nice kitchens and lives and, and, and...oh where did that serrated knife go? Did you know that self pity is another one of the 7 Deadly sins?

I never had the salsa hummus before and guess what? I got it for free! It's true. The cashier at WF didn't see a bar code and she and the bagger gifted me with it. Greed is another deadly sin. I thanked them profusely and then asked if they had any other freebies for me. On to the next sin.

I know, I know it is the year of the nut cheez, but hey this is grab and go. I heard somewhere that lust often masquerades as romance. Yep lust it's just another one of those deadlies. Eh. Who cares. I just love daiya sooooo much.

Rejected by a wedge of vegan cheez. Oh well it just would have been a marriage of convenience anyway. Still it pisses me off. You know what daiya? You can just Eat it!!

Sorry! Anger is another deadly sin. I think I will feel better after dessert. Crazy Boy didn't want any, and I could have eaten the whole thing by myself but that would have been gluttonous, and I think I've had enough sitting around sinning tonight. I left half for CB. He had it for breakfast and said he actually liked my raw tarts better. Not sure what that means. I think we all could use 10 Hail Merries.

Dessert Parfait Recipes as Promised to Go With MoFo12

RECIPES FOR MOFO 12 (find story there)

JAIL BREAK PARFAIT
espresso mocha cupcake, with double fudge mousse, and coconut creme

Espresso Cupcake can be easily made xgfx by exchanging flour and adding xanthan gum

1 C Rice milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
3/4  C agave
1/4 C canola oil
1 tsp non- alcoholic vanilla
1 C unbleached flour
1/3 C dark chocolate cocoa powder
2 1/5 T instant espresso
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 and line a jumbo muffin tin with paper liners.
Whisk the rice milk with the vinegar in the bowl of your mixer. Add agave, oil, extract and espresso powder and beat until frothy.
In another bowl sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder. Add to wet ingredients. Make sure you scrape down the sides. Pour into liners. Sometimes this only makes about 5 Cupcakes but hey they are big so it's really okay.
Bake for about 30 minutes, switching racks halfway through baking time.
Let cool on rack. After ten minutes remove cupcakes from tin and let cool completely.

Double Fudge Mousse

1 box of silken tofu
1.5 T of  can of coconut oil hardened
1/4 C cocoa powder
2 T agave
1/2 packet of stevia
1/2 C vegan chocolate chips melted (either in a double boiler as I do or you can nuke them)

Place first two ingredients in food processor and mix until smooth. Add next three ingredients and process. Lastly, add melted chocolate chips and blend well, scraping down sides of processor in between. Set aside.

Whipped Coconut Creme

1 14 oz. can of very cold coconut creme
1 T agave or stevia

tip: I usually freeze my hand beater whisks for about ten minutes before making this.
Scoop out coconut creme into large mixing bowl. Whip to soft peaks and fold in sweeteners.

 tip: Easy way to sterelize mason or canning jars. Preheat oven to 225 degrees.Remove lids and rims from jars. Spread out jars and lids and rims on cookie sheet and heat for 10 minutes. Remove promptly.
Enjoy!

Cut cupcake horizontally in half and then mush into mason jar. Follow with a layer of mousse, and then a layer of coconut creme. Continue to layer, making the top layer coconut creme.

This was the fancy ass jacked up cousin of a devil dog. Enjoy!

MoFo 6 Just Dessert Saturday Raw Footage Mixed Berry Pie

When I signed up for my third MoFo this year, I imagined that all the big MoFo guns and blogger big wigs would be posting 7 days a week. I have never been an A-Lister, I kind of thrive as the under dog, but I wanted to be right there with those bloggers who are always featured in round ups, the bloggers who win the MoFo challenges, and the Iron Chefs, the bloggers Isa and Hope are personal friends with. Yep I wanted to be sweating it out making the deadlines and kicking MoFo ass 24-7. I dig being zombified especially when all the cool kids are doing it.

Yeah, well guess who's flailing now? And guess who was mistaken? All those smarty pants  cool kid A-Listers have taken the weekend off to regroup for next week's MoFo. They get to have spanking clean kitchens and most of all get to sleep, take-in food, spend some time with loved ones. I guess I got what I deserved... Welcome to Just Desserts Saturday!

Mixed Berry Cashew Creme Pie

Crust

 

3/4 C almonds
12 dates

Cake

2 C raw cashews, soaked at least an hour
Juice of 2 lemons
1 frozen banana, sliced before freezing
1 peeled, and shredded zucchini
3 packets Stevia

1 T agave
1/3 cup coconut oil, softened
1C frozen and thawed mixed berries or pitted cherries

For the crust, pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely ground, add the dates and sea salt and process until the mix sticks together when you press it. Press the mixture into an 8-inch spring-form pan and place in refrigerator while you make the filling.

Add zucchini and the rest of the cake ingredients except the coconut oil and the strawberries to food processor. Mix the ingredients, and while it's running slowly pour the melted coconut oil in and process until the mixture is creamy.

Take the spring-form pan out of the fridge and pour about 1/2 – 2/3 of the mixture into the pan. Smooth it out and put it back in the fridge. Take the remaining cake mixture and process it with the 1 cup of mixed berries until smooth. Carefully pour this mixture into the crust pan and spread until even, try not to mix the layers, if I had a better pic you would be able to see the nifty layers. Freeze for about 45 minutes. Let cake sit for a few minutes before cutting. I made a compote.

Compote
about 3/4 mixed berries
1/4 C water
1 T cornstarch
2 packets Stevia + 2 T agave


Place 1/2 the berries in a sauce pan. Add 1/8th C water and sweetener. Heat to boil. In a separate cup mix 1/8th of C cold water with cornstarch. Add to hot liquid and simmer about 6-8 minutes. Stir often.

 

I also think it would be quite tasty with frozen vegan yogurt  if you are in the mood for berry-berry ;)

Please commiserate if you too are posting today :)Look forward to cooking with you.  

MoFo 4: Who Dat Vegan Video Interview with Veganosaurus

It's MoFo Thursday's Theme and time for "Who Dat Vegan?" our weekly interview program where I interview another vegan other than myself. This makes my shrink happy.

Tonight we travel all the way to India to talk with my good friend, Susmitha Veganosaurus from the eponymous food blog Veganosaurus. You can find all kinds of scrumptiousness over at Veganosaurus, this week Susmitha opens up the first week of MoFo bevy of Indian desserts. I have always been in awe of Susmitha's ice creme making skills. (Check out her blog and you'll see what I mean). Below are Susmitha's drool worthy cashew truffles.You'll find the recipe on today's blog. 

 

 

Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Creme

 

The first video is comprised of interview questions, and just follow the link below my interview to meet Susmitha, get a sampling of her recipes and hear her answers.

And now without further ado...
Who Dat Vegan? Interview.

Answers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1L6qIVemSIw

See you next time. We appreciate viewers like you :)

Raw Balls, and Core Balls, and Ball Balls

My strength training has improved, and I have increased sit ups and jumping jacks, and stretching. I was a little concerned about doing jumping jacks when I first began this training plan. I was afraid it would jar my back, so naturally I took it easy, so when I started I just waved my arms back and forth. Nobody waved back. I have now incorporated the jump part and yesterday I reached 75  jumping jacks during interval training with weights and core ball. I think nobody waves back because I workout alone. I really should use the mirror. I am up to 100 sit ups too. Now I can eat sitting up too.

I am back to running five miles pretty regularly. I tag on the additional three mile walk and the most I did last week was five miles with a three and half mile walk. I know I have improved my speed, not from timing my run but by picking up my speed on the straight away at the track. I feel pretty good about that.



Workouts help alleviate depression. As much as I try to visualize positive outcomes and improved body image, I still get funky thoughts. Yesterday while using the core ball, I pictured Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther movie, "A Shot in the Dark". You know the one   where Inspector Clouseau investigates a nudist colony.

Sure, Peter Sellers was in great shape from swimming, and I have the same glasses,  but why would I visualize Inspector Clouseau during a core ball workout? I have no idea.

My friend Darcy is doing the Insanity workout. She usually whips up a kale smoothie with some Vega Powder in it after her insane workout. Darcy gave me some powder to try out, I mean um Vega Plain Protein to try out and I also bought a small pack of the chai flavored Vega to sample. I found that I had less cramping and felt stronger after a workout and I really like it in a vanilla strawberry smoothie. Vega is kind of costly and for the first time in a  long while I am busted so it's not in my spending plan, unless Vega comes in Ramen flavor.

I also made some raw Vega Power Balls which are great for breakfast or even Halloween.

 

Vega Power Balls

3 T coconut creme whipped first

1.5 T coconut oil softened

1 C raw walnuts

1/4 C your favorite flavor Vega Protein or vegan protein powder

1.5 C dates

3/4 C unsweetened shredded coconut

 

Whip very, very cold coconut creme (milk) into a whipped creme. Add the creme, dates, coconut oil and Vega to food processor.

Process until mixture is well combined and creme and oil are fully blended.

Add in the coconut and blend until consistency is doughy and can form into balls.

Blend in the walnuts. 

Using a small scoop, scoop the dough and roll into balls. You can refrigerate, freeze or chow down on these room temperature.

 

 

And speaking of room temperature, it's getting chilly out here. Oh come on just share these balls with your favorite nudist or athlete.

 

 

Tip for today:

I am a pretty slow runner. Lots of times I find that other runners pass me on the track. Normally I could let this upset me, but lately I have realized a lot of the people who pass me stop running after a mile or two and I run more for endurance.

Tip: Don't compare your insides to someone else's outsides. We each have our own path.

What's your commitment for today?

 

Frozen Dessert and Acceptance Speech

I would like to thank all the people who have made my three Loveliest Blogger Awards possible.

1. A big thank you goes out to Stevie Wonder who penned the song, "Isn't She Lovely?"
2. And a big shoutout to my friend Lionel Richie who wrote especially for me, "She's Once Twice, Three Times a Blogger."

If you are too young to know who these men are you probably never drove a 1969 Caddy with AM radio in 1981. Don't worry about it, the joke wasn't that good anyway. For future reference, Stevie Wonder is blind and once wore dreads. Lionel Richie as you will see on Wikipedia was signed to Motown with a band called the Commodores. Richie also has a uber chic skinny ass daughter, Nicole. Nicole was once besties with one of those party girl hotel heiresses, but then they had a big fight in the hotel room.

Stick around for the rest of the acceptance speech so you can attend the vegan after party.

1. Thank you Cadry, of Cadry's Kitchen. Cadry and I were separated at birth, even though I am decades older. Cadry is a star cook, raw juicer, and star of silent screen. Sorry Stevie.
Cadry makes me guffaw.

2. Thank you Meg from The Snarky Chickpea. I happened upon Snarky a couple of Mofos ago when she was just opening her first can of chickpeas. Her voice was honest, funny and well of course snarky, and her recipes sounded delicious and easy.

3.Thank you to Richa from Vegan Richa. Vegan Richa is the updated Hobby and More. Richa is a doozer and kind person to boot. Richa churns out beautiful  Indian recipes, breads, gluten free desserts at an alarming rate. She makes Martha Stewart look like a lazy ass.
I'm supposed to pass on the award, but most people I know have received the award many times over, and I don't want to make this like a bad chain letter. Still I'll probably come back and give someone something. Quickly, in Loveliest Blogger here are 5 things you probably don't know about me.  

1. I can't eat cooked celery, but I can eat raw celery.
2. I can't eat raw zucchini, but I can eat cooked zucchini.
3. I cannot eat an apple unless it segmented.
4. My favorite dessert would be a vanilla milkshake,(made with rice dream ice cream), and a black and white cookie.
5. I wish I had a knish with mustard right now.

Did you stick around for the party?

You can find this super cute vegan dish by Jeanette Zeis on Etsy

I went to three different places for ripe juicy peaches. Nada. I wound up making Various Berry Frozen Yogurt instead and it does not disappoint.

We set up a last minute impromptu yogurt bar.



Various Berry Frozen Yogurt or Smoothie
2 C plain Wildwood Soy yogurt
3/4 C Cold Coconut Milk
8 oz. TJ's Very Cherry Blend Frozen Fruit
1 T ground flax seed
1-2 T agave
2 Stevia packets

Add everything to blender, and blend well. If you prefer a smoothie, just add some rice, soy, hemp or almond milk, get your trusty swirly straw ready and you are set to slurp.
If the yogurt is your thing, pour into your ice creme maker and follow manufacturer's directions.

Thanx for sticking around for the party. I'll be back with a recap of our mini vacation and a fun gift idea and some Veganville changes. See ya soon.

Hey You, Want Some Candy?

I've been down and out. Me and crazy boy really hit the skids. In my experience, nobody shares almonds. It's hard to get a nutritious meal from the food banks. We once got a fifty pound bag of potato flakes and three 16 ounce jars of sugar and oil laden generic peanut butter. One church attendant called us entitled when I gave back the cans of spam and deviled ham that were in our bounty. Well true, we still had our teeth and a toothbrush to share. We even had  jobs and  we could clean ourselves up in the sink of the local Amtrak lavatory. Hmmm, maybe we were entitled, maybe we were a special kind of homeless couple. Our kind of homeless was way before the 99% occupy was fashionable. We were the one per cent. Homeless employed vegans, but stuff happens even to those who are cruelty free. The good news was that my Bloomies card hadn't totally run out so, I had my last hurrah and ran up credit for a couple of bad ass bras. I guess I could have purchased some almonds or shoes instead of the undies, but it's tough on those mean streets and it's good to feel like you got some under armour.

Chocolate Almond Boats with Strawberry Topping

I've tried making quite a few raw chocolates and thus far this has been my favorite. The chocolate base is from one of my favorite cookbooks, Lacey Sher and Gail Doherty's You Won't Believe It's Vegan.  We also made some bark which was equally delicious.

Chocolate Base
1 C raw cacao nibs
1 C agave
1.5 C coconut oil
pinch of sea salt
1/2 C almond slivers

Blend all ingredients, except almonds in food processor or blender, until completely smooth. Stir in almonds. Pour into candy molds or spread on parchment lined sheet pan. Freeze until firm. Store in freezer until firm.

Almond Mousse Recipe (in the Veganville archives)

Strawberry Topping (also in the Veganville archives, but hidden under the code word blueberry...oh just exchange fruits)
Well it is our sincere hope that this post has given you some food for thought. You can't always judge a book by it's cover. And because we've been through it and have lived to tell it we encourage you to say hi to your local panhandler, give them a smile, some dental floss and some much needed greens. We usually protect our anonymity when it comes to our charitable deeds, but we hope you can follow our example.So, in addition to helping one or two animals every 6 months, Veganville now contributes two jumbo cupcakes every 5th Saturday to our favorite Vet on the street. Next month we will be contributing to Junkie Joe and his pitbull Axe. Won't you?

The Chia Experience, A Guest Post

My blogosphere participation has been close to nil lately. I've had lots of ideas floating between these two ears (poem not intended) and little time to execute them. I want to read and comment on my favorite blogs and then wind up in the weeds. "In the weeds "is kitchen speak for hustling to catch up on orders. Backlog. Veganville has been swamped with online Mother's Day orders along with regular local brick and mortar sales.When my friend Susmitha who I call Susmithy asked me to guest post for her gorgeous blog, Veganosaursus I knew I had to make and find the time to do a blog. I know I met Susmithy through Vegan Etsy, but I'm not sure how or when our mutual admiration society developed, I think we go back lifetimes. We chat, laugh, support, talk activism and animals and food, books. Susmitha's blog photos are beautiful, her videos are enchanting, her claymation delightful and how many superlatives can I use in one sentence? Thank you Etsy, and Modern technology for introducing me to an awesome friend and lady.
Hey check out more of my guest post there, because I am not going to give you all the recipes here:) And I'm not going to give you all the recipes there because I want you to read this too.

Guest Post

Chia seeds made a comeback last year. Posts and recipes were everywhere. The vegan boards were lit up like chia seed Christmas trees. For me the light was on and nobody was home. See it took me a while to get on board the chia seed party boat. I'm not sure if it's because I lost the coolness factor or that the ubiquitous gelatinous chia is $14.95 a bag at my local Whole Foods. Anyway what the hell was I going to do with all those seeds? When I found out the seeds are actually the very same seeds that go into growing those TV chia pets they show on late night commercials, I procrastinated even more. I mean if I give into these chia seed pet seeds what would I give into next- thigh busters and JLo pendants? Still, all those chia puddings look pretty enticing, a little like tapioca only a whole lot healthier, and who doesn't like a good tapioca? Okay, my mom doesn’t, that’s who. My mom detests tapioca; she thinks it looks like little balls of sn_ _. I probably shouldn't say that on a food blog but what the heck, it’s true. That's what she thinks.

I gave in and bought the seeds and just when I was about to make a super duper chia pudding, crazy boy aka the husband brought home the first blueberries of the season. Since this is a guest post for Susmitha, ice creme maker to the stars:)I just had to whip some cold creamy delicious blueberry and creme dessert up first.

Blueberries and Creme Ice Creme
Adapted from Veganomicon by Isa Moskowitz and Hope Romero


about 3/4 pound blueberries
1/4 C water
1 T cornstarch
2 packets Stevia + 2 T agave


Place 1/2 the berries in a sauce pan. Add 1/8th C water and sweetener. Heat to boil. In a separate cup mix 1/8th of C cold water with cornstarch. Add to hot liquid and simmer about 6- 8 minutes. Stir often, then let cool completely. This is also a great topping by itself over vanilla ice creme.Once cooled proceed with ice creme recipe.


1/2 C cream of coconut  (place coconut milk in frig over night) then open can and scoop out creme from the top. (you can make whipped creme like that as well) which is the other part of the blueberries and creme.
1 C almond milk
4 packets stevia and a 2 T agave
6 oz silken tofu


Pour all ingredients into food processor and blend. Pour into ice crem maker, and now add the blueberry mix and the remaining berries, stir. Follow machine manufacturerer's directions.  For blueberries and creme, make your favorite vegan whipped topping and layer in parfait glass.



I digress. Chia has been called the ancient food of the future. Clearly it is called this because if you make a pudding now you won’t be eating it anytime soon. Chia has also been known to increase energy, prolong hydration and build muscle and tissue. This is also good since you might have to stay up all night waiting for the crazy ass pudding to set. I guess I could have slept or watched some more infomercials, but I was excited to see how much energy I would derive from the pudding. I couldn’t wait to see how speedy I would get if I coupled the chia with my morning cup of Joe. Energy and speedy = good in my book.

I read about some chia recipe flops. There are a lot of hot and bothered chia blog recipe comments out there, really. Like, Hey my stupid chia never solidified, and this was supposed to be my breakfast and this chia looks the same now as when I went to sleep, and another one, your stupid chia recipe sucks. Still I risked it all and forged ahead.

Find the recipe and see what happened at the Chia Seed unveiling the next day which also happened to be my birthday, in the exclusive footage found only on Veganosaurus.

Sure, you might have to wait until your birthday for the chia to set and you might need a a new haircut but I think it would totally be worth it. The pudding is delicious with a scoop of vegan ice creme on top. While you are over at Susmitha’s, try one of her many scrumptious ice creme recipes. Tell her, her buddy Geegers sent you.

Breakfast at the Mansion

I am a voracious reader. Yep. I read everything from cookbooks to gluten free cereal boxes. I imagine most bloggers read a lot. Still, I tend to mix up Gothic romance plots. I mean there are fires, and servants, madness and alcoholism in almost every book from Bronte through
Du Maurier. I get mixed up with whose portrait or person is in the attic and who kicked the bucket. My birthday is in a few days. I hope somebody puts a portrait of me in their attic. I need to slow down the ravages of time. Vegan moisturizer isn't that great.
My smarty pants friend, Marcia made me reread Rebecca, because I still confuse
Mrs. De Winters with Jane Eyre. Now I am less befuddled, but really, Mrs. De Winters is kind of a moron. I mean I don't care how naive or how new she is to Manderley, who in their right mind would allow this creepy donkey face Danvers create their menu for them. Let's switch up the heroines  for a moment, shall we?

GiGi De Winters: Yes, I would very much like to see the menu for the mansion, Mrs. D.
Mrs. Danvers: You can trust me, to make fantastic meals for you and Mr. De Winters.
GiGi De Winters: Um, yeah...I don't think so, Mrs. Dee. Last time you used a lot of butter and eggs, when I specifically ordered tofu scrambles for Maxim and me. I refuse to starve in this mansion.

GiGi De Winters and Mrs. Danvers argue about eggs.
Too bad Gothic novels don't have photoshop.

Mrs. Danvers: I didn't know what a Vagun was.
GiGi De Winters: Oh stop. It's pronounced vee-gun even in English Gothic romances. That's it! You are forbidden to watch "Paula's Home Cooking" anymore.
Mrs. Danvers: (Mrs. Danvers screams) but... but Madame, Rebecca always watched Paula Deen with me.
GiGi De Winters: Oh Rebecca this, Rebecca that. They'll be no Paula Deen at Manderley.
Mrs. Danvers: As you wish. (Mrs. Danvers exits)
GiGi De Winters: (calls after Mrs. Danvers) Oh BTW tomorrow I'll make my own breakfast!!! I have to fit into that shmata for the fancy dress ball.

Does this hat match? Eh, Doesn't matter Mr. De Winter is half blind. Wait, never mind, that's Jane Eyre's hubby who's blind.

GiGi De Winter's Manderley Breakfast (will feed two gluten free Gothic characters)

1 pouch of TJ's frozen brown rice or 2 C cooked brown rice

8 oz of coconut milk

1 rice cake (broken up)

1/4 C dried apricots (chopped)

1/4 C dried dates (chopped)

1/4 C dried cherries (chopped)

1/2 C pecans (chopped)

1/4-1/2 C agave or brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg or allspice

Open the pouch of TJ's, (luckily there is a TJ's right around the corner from the mansion), frozen brown rice and dump it into the sauce pan. Heat for about a minute over medium heat. Stir. (You can do this with your cooked rice too). Add the coconut milk, and sweetener. Stir. Heat for about 5 minutes. Stir in chopped fruits and nuts. Add broken up rice cake and spices. Cook 'til hot. Add more coconut milk and sweeten as needed.

GiGi De Winters: (yells from breakfast table) You better not be watching Paula Deen, Mrs. Danvers!
Mrs. Danvers: Bahahahaha.
GiGi De Winters: Oh crap I smell smoke. 



Disclaimer
For those who have read this prior to my guest post over at Veganosaurus, Rebecca's ghost published this before I was able to get this to Susmitha. I will let you know when it airs over there. There will be an introduction that won't be included here. And if you don't already know my buddy, Susmithy, please visit her kick ass blog.

Thanks for having me Susmithey. Sorry gotta run.