Monday, April 23, 2012

Slightly, Completely, Side-tracked

About a month...haha whoops. I've been reading like a mad man and have opted for that over posting. 
So let me sum up this past month for you in some handy dandy bullet points...



  • I created two new cookie recipes
  • I made one of those new recipes, Vanilla Almond Macaroons (not my recipe, but i think ill tweak them to make these babies even BETTER then perhaps post them), and Butterfinger mini Cupcakes for a political party my parents threw. I felt pretty honored to have these vegan treats for everyone to try
  • I have been working a pretty good amount. Usually 5-6 days a week, and commonly a double shift one of those days. I just feel bad not covering shifts when I'm asked. 
  • Created my own bank account (another one, but this account my parents cannot access)
  • Made this once, and i know i'll make it again:
Eggplant Parmesan from Oh She Glows 

  • Have officially collected $1000 in cash in my room
  • I am in the Championship for Fantasy Basketball
  • I went to New York to look at the Natural Gourmet Institute
  • I finished Anna Karenina, and Sometimes A Great Notion.The second one took me quite awhile to get through, but in the end I found it pretty mind-changing.
  • I've been frequenting the Tea House
  • I essentially gave up running because of a consistent knee injury, then it just got too hot outside, and I was far too frustrated with my inability to lose weight
  • I am currently in the middle of my second week going completely raw. Today actually is the water fast day. I am doing the 21 day raw cleanse from here
  • I have decided to change my diet to about 80-85% raw after this. I am reading so much about raw foods and getting more interested in the raw food blogs and i think it may be the best chance left to get my body on track
  • I discovered I have Bipolar Type 2, and have learned about more and more people who have it around me, AFFIRMING my belief it is truly not that big of a deal
  • I have begun thinking about going back to school - Reed College actually - in the fall. But that is still greatly in debate, and discussion
  • I went to my first baby shower and brought them the Vanilla Almond Macaroons. I also brought some to work and my manager ate every last one! Then swore he was going vegan from that day on :) (he has already been a vegetarian going sparingly on the eggs and dairy, so it wasn't too drastic)


I also made butterfinger brownies for my friend's birthday! 








Chunky Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients (one 9 x 13 pan)
    Dry
    • 1 1/4 cup Vegan Chocolate Chips
    • 1 cup Sucanat
    • 1 cup Coconut Flour
    • 2/3 cup Coco Powder
    • 1/2 cup Vegan Cane Sugar
    • 1/2 cup Brown Rice Flour
    • 1/2 cup Buckwheat Flour
    • 1 1/2 t Arrowroot Flour
    • 1/2 t Baking Soda
    • 1/4 t Salt
    • 1/4 t Stevia
    Wet
    • 1/2 + 1/3 cup Coffee, hot
    • 1/4 + 1/8 cup Applesauce
    • 2 t Ground Flaxseed
    • 2 t Vanilla
    Instructions
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
    • Line a 9 x 13 inch pan with parchment paper
    • Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl, then mix the wet ingredients in a separate bowl
    • Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just incorporated
    • Add to the pan and cook for 40-45 minutes, less if you want gooey-er brownies
    • Once a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, take brownies out and let sit in a pan until cool.

    VARIATION:
    add one recipe of butterfingers from here, and then bake about 3/4 of the brownie batter for 35 minutes, take out of oven and chill slightly, then layer on butterfinger mixture and wait for it to harden, about 10 minutes or chill for less time. Then top with the rest of the batter and bake 10 more minutes. It will not have the exact butterfinger consistency, but tastes delicious. If your after the consistency just make the brownies normal, let cool, then top with butterfinger batter and cut the brownie into squares before butterfinger batter cools on top. 


    I think that is about it! Haha i will be sure to post after this raw cleanse and I can bake and formulate recipes! I know most of my posts are for baked goods, but I am going to try (especially with raw foods) to post more entrees! 

    Below are the two yummy cookie recipes i created! Enjoy! And i hope to post soon, after the raw cleanse. 

    Rosewater Butter Cookies
    I used to make these butter cookies with either vanilla or almond extract, and they were always a huge hit. I decided to make them again, after two years, and try flavoring these delicate, buttery cookies with rosewater, lets say in the spirit of spring. Here is a veganized version, all health considerations aside (except for the substitution of coconut oil for some margarine).
    Ingredients (serves 30)
    • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
    • 3/4 cup + 1 T Vegan Cane Sugar, lightly processed in food processor to make finer
    • 1/2 cup + 2 T Earth Balance Margarine
    • 1/4 cup Coconut Oil, solidified
    • 1 T Rosewater
    • 1 t Vanilla Extract
    • 1/4 t Salt
    Instructions
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
    • Cream together margarine, coconut oil, sugar, rosewater, and vanilla until creamy and well mixed
    • Gradually add in the flour (extra points if you take the time to sift), and salt, and mix until a smooth, thick and paste-like consistency forms
    • Roll the dough into a log about 1 1/4 inch thick (though I have never in my life actually measured the dough) and wrap with tin foil. Allow to refrigerate for about 2 hours until the dough is firm
    • Once dough is ready, cut into 1/4 inch slices (again, i just look at what seems a correct size), and place on an ungreased cookie sheet leaving some space between cookies
    • Bake in oven for 12-14 minutes until edges are slightly golden brown
    • Once removed from the oven leave them on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
    if you like "healthy" cookies, you will love these. i made a batch using extra chocolate chips and banana chunks, and it blew my mind. 


    Ingredients (24 cookies)
    • 1 medium Banana, well squashed and smooshed
    • 2 cups of Gluten-free Oats
    • 1/2 cup Garbanzo Bean Flour
    • 1/2 cup Vegan Chocolate Chips
    • 1/3 cup Raw Sugar
    • 1/3 cup Safflour, or Coconut Oil
    • 1/4 cup Brown Rice Flour
    • 1/4 cup Almond Milk (or other non-dairy milk)
    • 1/6 cup Sucanat
    • 1 t Vanilla
    • 1/2 t Cinnamon
    • 1/2 t Garam Masala Spice
    • 1/2 t Stevia
    • 1/2 t Salt
    Instructions
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
    • In a medium bowl using a fork mash up the banana very well until there are very few clumps left, then add in vanilla, oil, and almond milk
    • In another bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, except for the chocolate chips
    • Once the wet ingredients are thoroughly combined, add in the dry ingredients, except for the chocolate chips
    • Once the wet and dry ingredients are fully incorporated, fold in the chocolate chips
    • Scoop about a tablespoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake for about 10 minutes
    • Once cookies look crispy on the edges take them out, and allow them to cool on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a cooking rack.
    • If you want to keep these cookies soft, store them in an airtight container right away. If you want a firmer, more chewy cookie leave out on cooling rack overnight

    enjoy :)