Happy Halloween - IOU One Cookie Recipe

Happy Halloween!

Some answers to frequently asked questions. Please expect a wonderful cookie recipe soon.

1. I've heard you're working on vegan souffle recipes. Can I get a progress report?

Actually it's going really well. Thanks for asking! We're still in that testing phase where we're trying to figure out the formula that's the prefect storm of flavor and texture. Here are some photos of our favorite ones thus far. These tester souffles were flavorful while still rising. We are still working on it though because we really want to get the impressive lava monster souffle puffs without sacrificing flavor. We're 98% sure we'll get this in time to include it in the book. One thing I can promise is that we will never surrender.

Vegan Cheese & Broccoli Souffle

Chocolate Souffle

2. I would like to talk to my boyfriend/parents/roommate about trying out Meatless Monday with me. Do you have any tips and can you suggest a few recipes that we can start off with?

We both love the Meatless Monday campaign. In a perfect world everybody would be vegan every day, but until then I consider getting people to eat three vegan meals a week a success. I think the animals not being eaten would appreciate it, too. If the ultimate goal is to decrease meat and dairy consumption and increase the availability of vegan options in restaurants and stores, then this is a big step in the right direction.

If you feel awkward about talking to people about Meatless Monday, there is a a really fantastic video HSUS just launched today that can do it for you!



These are some easy recipes that I think would be good for cruelty-free living novices :

Breakfast:

Shannon Smoothie I
Whole Wheat Banana & Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Pearberry Crumble Cups
Mexican Scramble
Garlic Cheezy Biscuits
Crepes


Lunch:

Antipasto Salad
Avocado & Smoked Sheese Salad with Toasted Walnut Dressing
French Dip Sandwich
Rustic Avocado Sandwich
Caribbean Black Beans
Asian Beef-less Noodle Bowl


Dinner:

Fettuccine with Cannellini Beans & Artichoke Heart Alfredo
Vegan Creole Spice Popcorn Chicken
Chili Pots
Margarita Pizza
Taco Burgers
Beef-less Stew



Hope this helps! We'll be back later with those cookies.

The Betty Crocker Project : Pearberry Crumble Breakfast Cups

I was thinking the other day about how some people basically have dessert for breakfast. They put 'coffee' in front of cake, and then all the sudden it becomes socially acceptable. Don't get me wrong. I'm not judging. As long as you're not hurting anyone else (yes - this is me asking you to skip the bacon & eggs), you can eat whatever you want. I feel like I'm getting off topic.

The issue is breakfast treats... delicious, sweet, crunchy, yummy, sunshine-on-your-shoulder breakfast treats. This is not the healthiest breakfast, but it's not the worst either. It's also super delicious and easy to make.

Autumn is right around the corner. In some places it's already here. I mean, Maine woke up this morning to a frost warning. This breakfast is warm and sweet and all things lovely for fall. I won't lie; it also goes pretty great with a cup of tea and a healthy dose of nerdery. Did you know NASA recently discovered the 1st Tatooine-like planet? Would I make that up?

There are a lot of cool things out there. If your week has been like mine, it can be easy to forget how awesome the universe can be. So this weekend enjoy this breakfast treat yourself and give yourself some time to marvel at the universe*.

Let's make some crumble cups!

These are the Mini Chocolate-Covered Coconut Doughnuts you're looking for.

We roasted our coconut but I think they would be just as good with raw coconut.

Please forgive me boring you with my 'I survived the NYC Earthquake of 2011' story, but I think that I might have learned something about myself that day. And don't worry, this isn't a story about surviving a traumatic event as much as a story that gives me a chance to laugh at myself.

There I was, typing away on the sofa. Our beloved Agatha was under the sofa, amateur kitten spelunking. Never heard of it? Oh, that's where your little buddy crawls around upside down on the lining of sofa - tearing it to shreds and growling at dust bunnies. It looks fun. Never tried it myself. Then I started to feel like there were 30 cats under the sofa. The screen on my laptop seemed to be swaying. My mind tried to figure out why I felt seasick, and then it hit me. I hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch... hadn't even finished my coffee that day. So like a good New Yorker, I began neurotically googling symptoms for low blood sugar, because I had this tiny fear I was going to pass out. I mean, what would happen if I passed out? Would the cats sit on me to keep me warm like they do when I'm sick... or take this opportunity to go after the catnip stash? Then I spotted a tweet about an Earthquake near DC. Yay! We're saved! Back to work!

Now the moral of this little tale is this, my friends - eat breakfast*! We just got a new mini doughnut pan and we've already started to tackle the doughnut section of our cookbook. Everyone should get one of these mini pans. They're like adorable little doll house donut pans. These doughnuts are faster to make than you think. With a little planning, you might be able to make these before work one day.

Now remember, these are mini cake doughnuts so they're heavier than raised doughnuts - if you want something like that, we have a Vegan Beignets recipe that makes me swoon. But let's not get off-topic. These are the doughnuts you were looking for.

In a world full of uncertainty - there are a few things you can count on :

#1 : You're looking for other droids.

#2 : Nobody parties like a nerd.

You can get these fabulous glasses at ThinkGeek.

#3 : Kitties gotta Kitten.

#4 : If you've had 3 hours of sleep, the theme song from the opening credits of Star Trek - Enterprise will seem so inspirational and touching that it will bring tears to your eyes.

#5 : It's National S'mores day! Expect a recipe for S'more Pies later TODAY!

Vegan Double Taco Burgers = A Cure for What Ails You

So last weekend, Dan got sick. I had to miss the prom and stayed home to watch Dr. Who. No, you didn't travel back in time. We're talking NYC's infamous Veggie Prom. I know I could have gone on my own, but it's just a part of our relationship. We treat each other the way we'd want to be treated, and I wouldn't have been thrilled if he had gone off to dance the night away while I was stuck home suffering. So I stayed home and we made Double Taco Burgers.

Now I'm not sure if this a recipe as much as combo trick. A few months ago, I was shopping with my friend Marta, who you might remember her from such adventures as The Danannie Wedding and Vegan Tuna Casserole. We were checking out a new grocery store in Norfolk and found a series of skillet sauces created by Frontera and Top Chef Masters winner Rick Bayless... and heaven to Betsy,* one of them is vegan.

Be sure and read your labels - There are 2 green packets. One is vegan - the other isn't. You can see the ingredients list in this post from The Kitchn.

This sauce even uses agave nectar instead of honey for sweetness. So I got one and tested it out. That night we used it to make some Gardein chicken tacos, but this weekend we took it one step further. During my grocery store scouting, I found these skillet sauces in NYC too, and picked some up for occasions just like this weekend... times when we needed something fast and friendly and absolutely fabulous.

We needed Double Taco Burgers! During a time when nothing seems to be going right Double Taco Burgers are here to make it all seem a little less something. I mean, setting up the cable/internet in a brownstone has turned out to be a challenge designed for the Macgyvers of the world. We had so many cables and cords running through our apartment it looked like Hoth. Then Blogger dies, taking blog posts and comments with it. SIGH. Yeah - we needed some thing to fill our bellies that wasn't going to lead to a lot of dishes and was super quick.

OK - I'm going to say it. I mean I have to right?

Help us Double Taco Burgers. You're our only hope...

The Betty Crocker Project : Coconut Key Lime Pudding ( The Pudding Palooza Continues)

Recently there was a series of fortunate events which lead to this dessert coming into your life.

It began when we did a Twitter and Facebook poll asking folks what kind of pie they wanted a recipe for. It was a close race, but Key Lime definitely won. Then I went to check the Meet The Shannon's email to see if there were any write-ins and found a bunch of requests for Key Lime pudding from our last Pudding-palooza. I didn't even know that was a thing, but apparently Whole Soy Yogurt has an extremely hard-to-find Key Lime flavor that people say is amazing and are dying to have a recipe for. So the stars aligned, and like an anxious and whiny farm boy from Tatooine, we found ourselves swept up in a destiny that is bigger than we are, and definitely bigger than our kitchen... a force if you will.

Because you know... Adventure. Excitement. Heh. Vegans crave not these things*. It would appear they crave coconut key lime pudding instead.

The Betty Crocker Project : Vegan Whole Wheat Banana & Chocolate Chip Pancakes

So I know what you're thinking right now. You're wondering why we don't own these. To be honest - I wonder that all the time. I mean we just got married a little over a year ago. You'd think we would have registered for them but we didn't. You'd think we would have bought them for each other for Christmas - like some poorly written sitcom where we end up with 2 sets of Star Wars pancake molds and the canned laughter rolls. Well, we wanted to makes sure to get this recipe posted for the weekend and there just never seemed a right time to swing by the mall to get them. To be honest, we generally don't go to malls a lot so maybe there were several opportunities and we just weren't paying attention or really sure what they looked like.

It's hard to say but with all the snow being dumped across America, we felt it was our patriotic duty to post this recipe before the weekend. This way all you snowed in vegans can make your own fancy brunches at home this Sunday in your warm PJs and slippers. If you're looking for tips to staying warm. I recommend what Dan has named The Burrito Approach. This is where you pull the thickest comforter from your bed and wrap it around you - actually more like a giant crepe so your legs and face show and go about your day. I use this quite often and have never gotten frostbitten or slipped into a hypothermia induced coma. Consider it tested and approved.

If you find yourself looking for more Breakfast ideas to go with these delicious and super easy pancakes like say a fancy sweet butter or maybe a vegan Denver Omelet ... Click Here. Hope we can help.

What I want for Hanukkah and something that should never have been invented...

Yeah - I'm still under the weather. There will be some awesome Betty things tomorrow. You have it in writing. Christmas is over a month away but Hanukkah is right around the corner. So I'm going to use this blog entry to shamelessly tell Dan what I want for Hanukkah this year to improve our kitchen gadgetry. I will also be publicly declaring something "gross". So in no particular order Annie's Hanukkah List :

Save Our Animal Planet Travel Mug from Modcloth. I'm had the same stainless steel Starbucks travel mug for years and years. It's time for a change. After lots of research I can say with confidence this is the mug for me. It has bunnies. 

Mini Donut Maker from Urban Outfitters. Giving this to me for Hanukkah would be a win win for everyone. Who wouldn't want more vegan donuts and mini things in their lives? 

The R2 D2 Peppermill from ThinkGeek. Evryone needs a little buddy in the kitchen especially a  R2-series astromech droid that can put out fires, hack into waste disposal units and project holograms. OK this little guy only makes pepper but he is a Licensed Star Wars collectable from Japan.

Lavishy Fish Wallet from Herbivore. OK I know I have a really adorable vegan wallet from Queen Bee but look how cute these are... I like the green one.

And what we've all been waiting for... White Castle Scented Candles. SERIOUSLY? Seriously. Why anyone would want their home to smell like a White Castle is beyond me. When I was growing up that's where all the old men would go to play chess and drink cheap coffees. To prepare they would marinade themselves in Old Spice to hide the smell like secret smokers. So without further ado... Something that should never have been invented :

The Betty Crocker Project : Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

This weekend, we went to see the all-star overdose The Expendables. We're, friends right? So let's be honest here. This movie made me feel old. It was like seeing all the great old action movies in some kind of Cocoon kaleidoscope--with more tattoos and stabbing in the neck, but fewer Wilford Brimley cameos. Sadly, it was the kind of movie where you spend the drive home talking about the previews. For example: Dan and I have decided that the new Green Hornet is going to be our new favorite movie of all time. I personally am willing to overlook the fact it has Cameron Diaz in it, and instead focus on Bad-Ass Kato. I mean new Kato really had to kick more ass than usual - considering one of the original Katos was Bruce Lee. It looks like a great, modern take on an old classic.

While I baked this cake, I debated whether I could be overdosing on comic book movies, special effects, and cupcakes. Nothing really makes me awestruck anymore, like when the Millennium Falcon first hit light speed; and nothing strikes me as just automatically cool, like Jack Nicholson as The Joker. Maybe the classics have ruined me for the new movies, unless it's a re-make of a classic (see: The Green Hornet). Luckily, this cake isn't just another cake - it's a classic. It was easy and fun to bake, but still special. When I flipped it over and the sticky sweet glaze melted over the pineapple and cherries - I had to smile. This isn't a hard cake to make, and maybe not the fanciest, but I'm glad we have a vegan Pineapple Upside-Down Cake recipe now. It fills this hole in our cooking resume that I didn't even know we had.

Come with me on this adventure.

The Betty Crocker Project : Italian White Beans with Chicken

It has been brought to our attention that people prefer blog entries that are "more personal." This is a pretty personal entry for me.

When I was little, around kindergarden, I had a deep clandestine love for My Little Ponies and was running an extortion scam to get them. See, I didn't get the school thing at first. There's a family anecdote about my father sitting me down to talk about my first report card and my my teacher's remarks. My response, was "Who is that lady? Why do I care what she thinks?" As you can see, I've changed a lot.

So, my mother started bribing me with Little Ponies, Charmkins and GI Joes. Good report cards and spelling tests got me points towards my next pony. My very favorite was an orange gal with freckles and yellow hair named Applejack. She slept in my bed and traveled in my backpack. But for reasons I still don't really get, I would hide all my ponies. I would brush their hair and feed them sequins every night. Then I'd line them up under my bed skirt, where no one could see them. Eventually my family moved, and my parents started purging. There was this moment when they asked me if I ever played with the ponies - and I failed them. They were boxed up for Goodwill; even Applejack*. Is it weird that still makes me sad?

What does this have to do with beans? When I was growing up, my mother made this dish, but she called it "fagioli": a term she used pretty loosely for any dish with beans. I grew up eating this on nights when no one really wanted to cook. I loved it - especially with a big piece of garlic toast.

When I found Betty's recipe, my guilt reminded me of poor Applejack and her friends (this is Moonstone - my 2nd favorite). Then the most amazing thing happened; I found these ponies. I nearly fainted. And like any recovering addict, my head began swimming through memories of little purple lashed eyes and ridiculously long manes and that powdery fragrance of the plastic. I want them all. I want to let them boldly run free on my desk and book cases. I know my public declaration has come too late for poor Applejack, but I hope someday I'll be able to give these nerd ponies the forever home they deserve. Until then, I'll enjoy this "fagioli."

PS - This recipe takes about 10 minutes and tastes like home.

The Betty Crocker Project : The Breakfast Bake (Our Denver Omelet Version)

There is a very long list of things I love. It's a pretty random and varied list, full of wonderful little gems. Things like a good true red lipstick, or dogs that prance rather than walk. I love Muppet Yoda so much more than CGI Yoda. I love a new take on a classic tattoo, and a chilled bottle of San Pellegrino. I really love a gleeful guffaw. Of course, Dan makes the list, and so does a nice brunch with friends. I love The World Cup. I love just the idea of the World Cup, and the stories behind the different players and coaches. I love the fans! I love the dances they do, the face-painting, the flags and just how happy everyone is.

I don't mind getting up early, and I like watching the players shake hands and chat while they wait to take the field. I got a little teary when they talked about how a player on the Serbian team sought out a player on the Ghana team because he'd heard they were both war orphans, and he wanted to shake his hand because they'd both overcome so much to make it there. I might actually be getting a little choked up right now.

The US is out now, but we still had a pretty nice World Cup brunch last weekend with vegan McGriddles, French Toast, and various beverages including Red and Blue Margaritas: Red for Germany and Blue for Argentina. I feel like this recipe was a like a complete breakfast in a lasagna or cakey-pie form. I was a little sad there weren't any leftovers, but it did feed 8 people and there's nothing sad about that. In fact, I may just love it.

The Betty Crocker Project : Patty Melt & Cajun Potatoes

So awhile ago I was watching Sex in the City and there was this itty bit of astuteness in an observation made by Sarah Jessica Parker's character that randomly pops in my head once in awhile like a little good faerie. (What? I'm a girl?!* Sometimes I like to watch stuff that has jokes from a generic ladies' point of view and don't discuss Jedi Politics. It was also always on at like 2 am and I used to have the worst insomnia.) In some episode that I don't remember - she says something like : She had come to terms with her looks and had decided to not just accept her body and face but enjoy them and treat them right. Anyone who didn't appreciate her unique beauty just didn't get it.

It seems trite, simple, obvious really, like the kind of canned wisdom a good mom tells her little girl and is instantly ignored, but it hovers still whenever like a wedding photographer looks at me funny because I'm going to wear my glasses and not cover up my tattoos or my Geek Chicness is not as obvious as my social awkwardness. I think : They don't get it. I rock. 

When I was taking pictures last night of this not so photogenic vegan patty melt, my heart kinda hurt for the little thing. I kept thinking about how this sandwich may not have all the snazzy colors of a good old school salad but it has a good personality and that's what counts!

The Betty Crocker Project : Easy Bacon Cheeseburger Lasagna

A few years back, I was looking at this absolutely just astounding website for MEAT CAKES with my friend Sarah (some of you may know her as the poster grrl from our facebook fan page Vegan Foods = Joy). Gross as it was - and believe me some of them were just sick - We were having a pretty good time coming up with some vegan versions of our own "Meat Cakes". My favorite was little tacos shaped like cupcakes with guacamole frosting sprinkled with green onions and black olives. I was actually inspired that day to create the infamous Fake Bacon Onion Ring Cheeseburger "cake" but then one of us had a realization : Most of these so called "Meat Cakes" were just weirdo versions of lasagna with some candles and spray cheese flowers.

The second I saw this recipe - I knew. I was making a vegan "Meat Cake".

If you are following along in your own Betty Crocker Cookbook, you'll see that there aren't really any vegetables in this recipe. I mean does canned tomato sauce really count as a vegetable? I had pulled some fresh tomatoes out of the fridge to add - I mean - cheeseburgers have slices of tomatoes - right? But here's the thing with a "Meat Cake" : Not unlike regular cakes, "Meat Cakes"  aren't solid until you bake them. If there is too much moisture - they don't get solid. SO! I didn't do it. I may try to tinker with it in the future but because I did have to tinker with this one quite a bit to add flavor and of course replacing the ricotta and taking out the eggs - WELL - this recipe is without a doubt, no compromise, assuredly, beyond question, clearly, a super undeniable "Meat Cake". 

ENJOY! Please eat with a salad. *

The Betty Crocker Project : Butterscotch Brownies

We had big plans for this weekend. . . plans that included Free Comic Book Day at Local Heroes, watching the Celtics beat the Cavaliers, a Ben Peterson visit and homemade Cinnamon Rolls. If you saw the basketball game Saturday night - you know the weekend didn't go as planned. 

We did spend WAY too much on comic nerdery Saturday morning. . . as planned*. . . taking advantage of that sale like she was a hayseed right off the bus (please take some time to check out the updates on our Nerdery page). We got in some good Old Fashioned Ben Peterson Time. . . though the bar we were at had a music selection suited for an unoriginal 11 yr old girl. I mean I can handle some Lady GaGa but Mylie Cyrus at a bar? That's just not OK.  On a side note - for those who didn't know - Mylie Cyrus and Hannah Montana are the same person. I know I'm not the only one.

That is where our list of victories ends. See Betty's cinnamon rolls are real works of art and by the time Sunday morning came around, well I had made a mistake that would follow me around till this very moment. 

I had picked up the second season of the American Gothic epic Supernatural. I thought I could watch Sam & Dean fight demons and ride around the back roads of America in their black Impala while I baked. But I put that first DVD in and I was hooked. Our dreams of cinnamon rolls would have to wait till another day. These brownies take around 5 minutes to mix. . . I made them during the credits of No Exit. They were quick and pretty much amazing with vanilla soy ice cream (not pictured above so you could see more brownie). . . maybe too good. Next thing I knew - I was here typing this and thinking about how much I loved this weekend, these brownies and of course - My old man.

The Betty Crocker Project : Garlic Cheesy Biscuits

These are the biscuits that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. They can outrun Imperial starships. Not the local bulk cruisers mind you, I'm talking about the big Corellian ships now. They're fast enough for you, old man.

Seriously though, they might even take less than 12 minutes.

I made these Saturday morning, thinking we could eat them all weekend... but they never saw another sunrise. Yes, we ate the whole batch in one day, and not because we didn't have any other food. Since we started this project, our pantry and fridge have never looked so healthy and big boned. We ate them because Betty's claim that these biscuits are so good they’re served in restaurants is not an exaggeration.

• 2 Cups Original Bisquick Mix
• 2/3 Cup Soy Milk 
• 2 Tablespoons of Nutritional Yeast 
• 1/2 Cup of Daiya Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
• 1/4 Cup of Olive Oil 
• 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic (minced)
• 1/4 Teaspoon Dill
• 1/4 Teaspoon Thyme
• 1/4 Teaspoon Rosemary (dried and crushed)

Heat oven to 450.

In a bowl, mix Bisquick Mix, Soy Milk and Nutritional Yeast with a hand held mixer until completely mixed. Stir in Daiya Cheese with a spoon. 

On an ungreased cookie sheet, drop spoon-sized clumps. They won't be pretty, but it’s important that they don't get too thick or they won't bake all the way through.

Bake for around 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye on them. They bake FAST. Pull out once they’re golden. 

In a bowl, mix Olive Oil, Garlic Powder, Minced Garlic, Dill, Rosemary and Thyme. Once you pull out the biscuits, brush with the herbed Olive Oil. 

Once they’ve cooled, eat them.