*recipe testing* The Urban Vegan: 250 Street-Smart, Animal-Free Recipes (32-35)

TUSCAN BRAISED BEANS












COCONUT-LIME BARS















LUNCH MUFFINS

Some of my new favorite things...

A place I love to get lost is Creative Kismet. I always see the cutest handmade things and am flooded with clever ideas to inspire me.

I love how Regina recycled vintage neckties to make this lovely flower brooch Olivia is modeling. Thank you for the gift! :)






Woot! I won a contest at VegDining, and the prize was a bracelet of my choice from Snooty Jewelry! Thank you! :)

I loved my new bling bracelet even more when I found out this company's mantra is to promote compassion for animals, people, and the environment. This is a company worth promoting, so go and get yourself some bling!



I was thrilled to receive a copy of Amey's annual cartoony vegan cookbooklet again this year! Such a clever way to share vegan recipes & captivating cartoons. Thank you, Amey! :)

You'll want to check out more of Amey's artistic talent here.






Another favorite Christmas gift was from my friend, Wendy. His and her matching LifeLine Green water bottles. After bummin' water off Wendy at playdates for so long, we now can rehydrate ourselves in style. The lovely background is my new fashionable shopping bag the bottles came in.

Thanks, Wendy! You know exactly what I like. :)


With so many reasons to be thankful, I wanted a new way to show it. Handmade cards adapted from Family Fun Magazine.

PHOTO HOUSE CARD

Supplies: heavyweight white paper, markers and/or crayons, photographs, craft glue, scissors




If you'll be mailing this card, make sure it will fit into an oversized envelope without folding.

Draw and color a house, including a window for each family member. Cut out the window, and place photos behind, taping in place. Glue another piece of paper to the back to cover the photos and on which to write your message.




I made 6 different houses which we sent out, but not before going to Kinko's for extra color copies to have on hand as personal stationary.

The whole family had fun picking photos and coloring. They didn't take much time to make, and now I'm thinking of the possibilities -- Christmas cards, invitations, birthdays, etc.

*recipe testing* The Urban Vegan: 250 Street-Smart, Animal-Free Recipes (26-31)

CHOCOLATE-CHIPOTLE CHILI













CREAMY CILANTRO-LIME SAUCE















SWEET FRENCH TERRINE













MOROCCAN MILLET TIMBALES
















LEMON-SCENTED CARROTS WITH CAPERS AND CORIANDER










VIETNAMESE-INSPIRED TAPIOCA PUDDING

*recipe testing* The Urban Vegan: 250 Street-Smart, Animal-Free Recipes (21-25)

CHERRY-CHOCOLATE CHUNK SCONES













WHEAT-FREE SOFT PRETZELS













DOUBLE APPLE CAKE
















CHOCOHOLIC PANCAKES













POTATOES WITH 40 CLOVES OF GARLIC

*recipe testing* The Urban Vegan: 250 Street-Smart, Animal-Free Recipes (15-20)

Arty-Farty Party Nuts













Chocolate Mousse














Tapenade













Tri-Color Quinoa














Niblet Salad













Blueberry-Banana Bread

*recipe testing* The Urban Vegan: 250 Street-Smart, Animal-Free Recipes (6-14)

PUMPKIN SPICE BABY BUNDTS











COCO-MANDA MUFFINS











BERRY TART (with Clementine Oranges)













PEPPERY PARTY CRACKERS











SANDWICH MOUSSE














CRAN-APPLE OATMEAL












ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLE













REAL HOT CHOCOLATE













CARAMEL SAUCE

*recipe testing* The Urban Vegan: 250 Street-Smart, Animal-Free Recipes (1-5)

GREEN GODDESS SOUP













10-MINUTE CORN CONSOMME












SMOKY SPLIT PEA SOUP











SUPER-SONIC SUNFLOWER SQUARES














JOHN'S TOMATO BRUSCHETTA TOPPING

What's Been Goin' On...

This is a photo of Liv begging with all her might. When she heard we were baking a birthday cake for grandma, she made me get down Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World, and flipped through until she came to page 65, and said, "This is the one. Make this one." I've never seen her do this before. I was convinced, and would have attempted it if I'd been prepared. I couldn't find the agar I used back in 2006, was out of silken tofu, and am unfamiliar with castor sugar. So get this creamy picture out of your mind! It's not what I baked.


I came up with this 'Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Frosting' from Joy of Vegan Baking. I've found that one of those giant tupperwares upside down transports a cake from my spring form pan perfectly. The red lid is beneath the plate.
I like this cookbook because it uses ingredients I have on hand and I haven't found a dud. It was a dense & delicious cake, and the frosting could have used more soy milk (my bad). Olivia never mentioned the creamy cupcake again. We'll tackle that another day.



My mom LOVES roosters, so I felt lucky to spot this cookie jar from the street at a garage sale. $10. Sold.

I filled it up with the crowd pleasing 'Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies' from Vive le Vegan!

I went over the critical 11 minute cooking time, and even a little crisp, these cookies are great.





If I'd had an Endangered Species bar, I would have made our favorite cookie, 'Chocolate Mint Melties' from eat, drink, and be vegan.

We think these cookies are the best.









See Jolie checking out the best of a Farmer's Market run? Tomato, Swiss Chard, and Kale plants for our garden. I also picked up some vegetables from The Peaceful Belly, but overall, I can't help but be disappointed about the lack of variety at the market. Next time I'm doing a head count, cuz I think there's as many meat vendors as veggie vendors. Is that wrong? I'm for local selling, buying, eating, etc. & I know meat speaks volumes of my location, but still...



Speaking of veggies... This is the 'Super Spring Salad' from the May issue of Meatout Mondays. It's a recipe from the wonderful blog, Live It Up Vegan!

As much as I love this kind of food, my family does not. Their idea of trying the salad was plucking out the big chunks of fresh corn cut off the cob. I don't overly try to convince them and enjoy it myself over the course of a couple days. Loved it! Thanks, Gaia!


Lately, this has been occupying the girls while I cook or do the dishes. They love it.

Write the shape of a letter using white glue. Stick beans (or noodles, or whatever) along the shape.
They are now on "J" and I plan to string up the alphabet.

This idea came from Kids Craft Weekly, which is a great resource for fuss-free themed ideas.


The kids also love to get in on the kitchen action using rolling pin and cutters. Abi had fun making 'Whole Wheat Sesame Crackers' from May All Be Fed by John Robbins.

Originally I was drawn to his 'Chapatis' recipe on the opposite page to accompany the dish below, which was my second (hand) Smoked Paprika experience, which is much less harmful than it sounds! :)



The crackers scooped up this 'Chana Dal'

2 c (uncooked) split baby garbanzos (chana dal)
6 c water
3 cloves red garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp cumin
sea salt to taste

Saute the garlic in oil until fragrant, add the rest and simmer until tender. Puree to desired consistency (I reserved some). Feeling brave, I threw on tomatoes after learning that tomatoes are OK if they're still on the vine, cherry, or from your own garden!! Buy organic.

I broke my Smoked Paprika seal on this awesome 'Smoked Paprika Hummus' recipe that the urban vegan sent after reading my desperate plea below.

This was delicious! I used Triscuits to scoop, and when those were gone, I grabbed a spoon. Thank you for this yummy recipe, Dynise!!

We've been bicycling everywhere! I pull the girls in a trailer and it feels great on many levels. More later.....