December 16, 2023
When I saw a post about this collaboration between Dough Boyz and Red Fern, I knew I had to have it. This gorgeous specimen contains roasted butternut squash, dollops of vegan ricotta, coconut bacon bits, basil, garlic oil with a balsamic glaze and fried sage. It hit every flavor note Read more…
December 15, 2023
There is so much darn pumpkin puree to use! So for dinner, yet another curry. I know I am often making curry, but this one had great flavor and spice levels. I threw in some cubed baked tofu so it hit all my requirements. I also used up some stuff Read more…
Good Thai is hard to find… once you leave the NYC metro area, but I was determined. The first Thai eatery that satisfied my Thai cravings here in Western New York is Sweet Basil in Victor, New York. I started with these fantastic fresh rolls. Such great textures inside these Read more…
Well we are half way through the last month of 2023. As time continues to fly, some mid-month outtakes. First, the tremendous pumpkin that the teenager picked out for Halloween, preserved nicely in the cold Western New York temperatures on the porch, would need to be processed. I needed the Read more…
December 14, 2023
With finally a clear night, we headed to the Bluffs to capture them and perhaps some remnants of the Geminids Meteor Shower. With warm base layers on, we basked in the crisp cold, thankful the automobile traffic would be less so than in the summer. When another car pulled up, Read more…
Polska Chata offers a potato pancake special on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday. It’s two spectacular potato pancakes topped with a vegan version of the traditional Polish Goulash. After some Christmas shopping I just had to partake. Polska Chata is such a wonderful eatery in Rochester, New York. With thoughtful and Read more…
December 12, 2023
As soon as I saw a collection of candy holiday decor at my local Hobby Lobby, I knew I would be crafting a new holiday wreath… because: pastels. The result, a new wreath for my Mom who also has an affinity for the pastel palate. Before I deliver it on Read more…
December 10, 2023
Some farmers farm Christmas trees! They plant them and sell them like a farmer would any other crop. Then they harvest new ones. We headed to one such farm, Stokoe Farm, to cut down our own Christmas tree before the next turnover, which is apparently highly beneficial to the environment Read more…
December 8, 2023
Sometimes you just need an old school diner breakfast. But it is often difficult for a vegan in search of a classic breakfast. Fortunately there is Steve’s Original Diner and their huge vegan pancakes. Why is diner coffee so much better than any other coffee? Here, my singular “Love Cake” Read more…
December 6, 2023
December 5, 2023
This recipe for ooey-gooey fudgey brownie-like cookies was a real crowd pleaser in my household. I snipped up some Dandies vegan marshmallows for the batter and used crunchy almond butter. The result had it all… A very thick batter Ah, they’re out! Time for all to devour… after taking a Read more…
December 1, 2023
It’s December! And the tree is officially up! So… a photoshoot.
November 30, 2023
Well, somehow it’s December. To follow, November’s outtakes. Trips to the playground which will likely not be a often in the winter… An amazing calzone from Create-A-Pizza… vegan ricotta, some vegan cheese and some mushroom bacon So happy to have found an amazing Indian lunch buffet: Tandoor of India Another Read more…
November 28, 2023
Since winter’s chill has come, the search for food is bringing all the birds to the backyard. I set up the tripod across the way, looking like a true bird stalker. Here are some of my favorites. My favorite is the brightly hued cardinal. The Sparrows hitting up the suet… Read more…
November 24, 2023
There is so much to discover at Mount Hope Cemetery, one of the two beautiful historic rural cemeteries in Rochester. On this visit on Black Friday (i.e. “Buy Nothing Day”) I caught the last of the fall’s color before a cold snap would drop the rest of the leaves to Read more…
November 23, 2023
The big food holiday was here and I planned to make a 6-course all-vegan spread in my new kitchen! And I was surprised and pleased how easy it all went down… I even had time to do batches of dishes between prep tasks. With planning, this can be even more Read more…
November 22, 2023
Life Day is a holiday in the Star Wars galaxy. Detailed in the absolutely cringe-inducing Star Wars Holiday Special, a made-for-tv special made in 1978, the holiday is traditionally celebrated on November 17. Since we would not be celebrating Thanksgiving with the kids, we decided to utilize the cookbook we Read more…
November 20, 2023
Worrying I hadn’t utilized the pumpkin purée enough, I made a unique soft, cake-like babka by making some substitutions to this recipe. First, I used all-purpose flour instead of bread flour, resulting in less gluten in the dough. I also used coconut oil instead of vegan block butter because I Read more…
November 19, 2023
A quick drive from Rochester is Rolling Hills Asylum, formerly The Genesee County Poor Farm and now a haunted attraction. I took the self-guided tour and was lucky enough to be the only visitor who showed up! To follow are some of my favorite shots of the day…
November 18, 2023
With a finally clear night, we headed to the dark. But the effect of what amounts to a small ocean continues to alter forecasts. Though it is frustrating, we made the best of the clouds, manaing to capture plenty of stars and playing with his daughter’s Fisher Price red and Read more…
November 16, 2023
The formula for a good vegan chili is pretty straight-forward……. Aromatic vegetables with varied and bright hues …….an assortment of beans of varying color ……….tomato base (crushed and whole and paste) and flavorful stock …….and, finally, a variety of spices! I also whipped up a jalapeño cornbread Ok, so this Read more…
November 12, 2023
Ok, so I never made anyone 3 baked goods for their birthday, but after the school celebration and the family celebration, it was time for the kid party. So I was on cake duty again! Though the cake looks cute, it was not how I intended it to look. A Read more…
November 11, 2023
More eats made from the pumpkin purée! First, a batch of pumpkin coconut curry I winged. I got the formula down… aromatics, protein, veg, cream (coconut) and a balance of sweet, spicy, umami, acidity… So darn good… I’ll have to write down the ingredients I used next time. Next I Read more…
November 10, 2023
After a productive week, we toasted at The Hideaway! I was excited to try their vegan options, which are clearly labelled on their menu thankfully. First, Buffalo Cauliflower with a vegan garlic dill dip. Yummy as it always is, but was lacking some texture. I got the Mushroom Risotto: Roasted Read more…
November 8, 2023
Out with the apple and in with the pumpkin! It is that time of autumn when the pumpkins have served their decorative purpose and can now finish out their lives as sweet and savory treats. The first pumpkin I processed was the yellow one, so that orange hue is not Read more…
November 5, 2023
So when she sketched a picture of the cake she wanted for her birthday, I got to work. It would need brightly colored layers; it would need to be a unicorn. And it would need to be done without having to hit the grocery store. A big 1.5 batch of Read more…