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Tag: vanilla

Cupcake Holidaze

The holidays means increased baking duty. I deliver eleven–a poison test out of respect for recipients of course. This batch was for my class’s fundraiser. Then there was my classroom holiday celebration. They got unfrosted cupcakes to dress up how they pleased. My chocolate butter cream-filled (and of course vegan) batched Read more…


Thanksgiving Dessert Duty: Pumpkin Roll, or Vegan Cake Don’t Roll So Well {pictorial}


The 5th Annual Classroom Pumpkin-Cupcake Transformation

Every year, my classroom blog becomes my food blog. They spent October and most of November on Hercules. Now it is time for the 4th annual Harvest Festival Pumpkin-Cupcake transformation. It is time they turned into cupcakes already! After some roasting and pureeing, they became cupcake batter along with a pile of Read more…


Jersey Day Trip

Treating my home, and its surrounding cities, like I would an unknown city—subject to the same fine tooth comb in search of vegan options—my list of vegan leads in the neighbor state New Jersey was growing. And preferring a random and mysterious lone vegan option to a well-worn, all-vegan establishment Read more…


Vegan French Macarons

Well, I made them. They took forever. I went wrong somewhere as the texture of the light cookie was a little gummy. But they were definitely macarons! I did it!   I used Hannah Kaminsky’s recipe.


Back to Lunch

Sundays in Fall means back to lunch. As the school year continues to kick my butt, I adjust slowly–feeling my best at some point on Sunday morning. In the middle of my making lunch for the week. Sweet potato mash, roasted red beets, and roasted tomatoes from my garden, to Read more…


D-Town Vegan, Abandoned

Fields and fields of corn. This is what’s inside the heart of the heartland. After hours of fields of corn, I was back in the Motor City area to sample some vegan eats. Lunch, finally was at Inn Season Cafe in Royal Oak. They have a promising brunch menu they only serve Read more…


On Assignment, Vegan in Ann Arbor

Sometime in August, lazily lounging on a couch, I thought it’d be a good idea to move my blog forward to “all states reporting” status. This thought during this determined August, the tail-end of a summer spent stacking my professional credentials, could not have known I’d be inundated with the Read more…


Sport-inspired Vegan Treats

Coming up for air from the chaos of a new school year, I baked some “12 Men on the Field” cupcakes: rich chocolate cake (I used Chloe‘s celebration cake), vanilla buttercream filling, chocolate ganache-topped with a vegan royal icing football laces. 3 types of icings for every cupcake.  I’m not Read more…


These Days [pictorial]


Crossing the Mason-Dixon: Vegan Eats in Richmond, VA

For how many times I’ve been in Virginia, I have never blog reported on vegan eats! Well, here I am… exhausted and amazed by what is available here for a vegan. We had our first vegan stop in downtown Richmond at a spot only open 7-3, Monday through Friday. Down a Read more…


Crystal Blue Persuasion: Vegan “Meth” Cake

With my Dad’s birthday nearing and their belated love for Breaking Bad in full bloom, I got the blue raspberry rock candy out of the refrigerator finally. It would be the ultra-pure Heisenberg garnish to his birthday cake! Two big layers of blue-ish cake sandwiching a delicious vanilla buttercream. The Read more…


Midwest Vegan, Day 5

With this midwest jaunt winding down, it was time to head back to Chicago so check out some of their great vegan options before time runs thin. We returned to Chicago by way of Madison, Wisconsin, hitting two spots we missed on the way out west. First, Bloom Bake Shop Read more…


Midwest Vegan, Day 4

Peoples Organic in Fargo, North Dakota is a franchise that capitalizes on the increased awareness of food sourcing and why it matters. The large modern space with a full bar was set amidst a strip mall area just off the interstate. They have coffee concoctions, wholesome grub, and… alcohol. It is great Read more…


Midwest Vegan, Day 1

Home very briefly, it was time already to head back into these United States… by way of Chicago. But first, a scenic overlook in which we gaze upon the isle of Manhattan, New York City’s shining man-child and it’s pleasingly sharp rectangular Central Park. We’d arrive in Chicago hungry, ready Read more…


Just Some Vegan Meringues, No Big Deal

I recently acquired a Kitchen Aid stand-up mixer from my Mom. It was hers and now it’s mine. Though I have borrowed it, using it to make vegan Moon Pies, I am really happy to present the first sweet treat from the Kitchen Aid that is now all mine: Vegan Meringues! I beat Read more…


Pantry Clean Out Bars

I used pretty Chef Chloe‘s Beach Bar recipe to turnover some pantry items before some summer travel!First was a bunch of different chocolates from Mast Brothers and Sunspire. Date Lady date syrup from my most recent VeganCuts box. If I don’t use this thing now, I’d lose it.I ground up Read more…


I Want My Father’s Day Cake! [2014]

Happy Father’s Day! When I asked my Dad what kind of cake he wanted… my Mom replied, “Strawberry Shortcake.” They knew it was a bit more involved a recipe. But I was up for the challenge! [I’m the queen in the throne.] It starts with strawberries from the farmers market. Read more…


Long Weekends

The Beninngton flag waves on Memorial Day weekend. As does the Stars and Stripes on the beer. On the plate: my favorite summer side: corn grilled in its husk, Field Roast apple-sage sausage topped with the kitchen sink, and a delicious potato salad that The Electrician made. I was on Sweet duty. Read more…


Dietary Restrictions?

It’s odd to be old enough to’ve had about 20 years of adult experiences… friendships that span decades… and so many years to draw from with all their embedded wisdom. And to have been vegan so long–watching food options evolve.  2008 being 6 years ago is also kind of weird (!) but… time Read more…


Manhattan Vegan Option Cupcake Crawl!

Sometimes–in the world of restaurants–a lone “vegan option” beats an “all-vegan” menu. But would this be true of bakeries too? On a bright Saturday afternoon, a friend and I accumulated research on this query, visiting 6 omnivorous bakeries in the isle of Manhattan in the name of deliciousness and gluttony. Read more…


Coconut Milk Turnover

With several cans of coconut milk to use up, I packed this week’s lunch with rich, creamy coconut milk. Starting with coconut quinoa! A huge fan of coconut sticky rice, it was an opportunity to transform dare-I-say boring quinoa. I was going to to this right. Starting with a real Read more…


Spring Springing

With winter’s long awaited goodbye, I am psyching myself up for tasty Spring. A gluttonous long-overdue feast of eats. What’s Spring have to do with eating a lot of food? Nothing really–but I plan partake in feasting anyway, loosely connecting it to some seasonal ritual I’ve yet to conjure up. Read more…


Happy Birthday Mom!

A special milestone for my Mom deserved pretty piped cupcakes with some color. As requested, chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing. Happy 70th La Mar! 1944 candies and my Jack Purcells.


Vegan Vanilla Ding Dongs or Chocolate-covered Coconut Creme-filled Vanilla Mini-cakes

I love long Sundays in the kitchen. The afternoon sun streaming in… making a mess… licking the spoon… It’s the best part of the week. Today’s epic recipe, a version of this: Vegan Vanilla Ding Dongs Real ‘black tar’ vanilla bean Very vanilla sheet cake. I could have put this Read more…


Vegan Bananas Foster Cake

Banana in dessert form is one of my favorites. Nothing beats a soft, sweetened warm banana. Not even you, chocolate. A banana-based dessert is a sure bet. A banana-based dessert that is born of My Sweet Vegan Hannah Kaminsky is an even surer bet! I’ve been wanting to make her Read more…