May adventures

Oh dear oh dear it seems that I have almost let an entire month go by without posting at least something on my beloved Cute and Delicious. It’s not for lack of cooking or crafting or baking or photos either. I’ve been a busy girl on all fronts. Some of these things really do deserve to be shared, so I’m going to try and give you all a visual taste of a few things I’ve been up to in the past few weeks. Shall we get started?

For the first time in forever, I was able to go to the famed Pasadena flea market. We walked around for hours and there still wasn’t enough time to see everything. I had forgotten how many beautiful trinkets and quality vintage items they have. I snagged up a few little things, like the owls you see above and a lovely red polka dot dress.

There are just so many things though, it’s nice to just see some of the awesome old stuff people collect. Like all these cameras.

We also saw the cutest dog ever. She was a rescue puppy with only one eye. So sweet, her owner just handed her over to Shawn and she was just like a little stuffed animal. Extra fluffy and calm. I’m kind of obsessed with animals that are missing limbs or eyes. Ok I’m weird. Anyway, just a reminder, there are some amazing animals out there that need homes just waiting to be adopted.

For Mother’s day my mom wanted a cherry pie. So I pitted a lot of fresh cherries. 6 cups of cherries actually.

I’ve never been into cherry pie to be honest. I realized, after making this pie, that it is only because I have not had a quality cherry pie.

It was so good, we couldn’t wait for it to cool completely and ate it when it was still a bit saucy. Oh man I dream of this pie. Sweet sweet cherries and a flaky, crispy crust. Yum.

I also stitched up this little hedgehog from a pattern from Sublime Stitching. He’s so adorable but I can’t quite decide what to do with him yet. Any ideas?

I’ve also been testing tiramisu recipes. I never realized how many different ways there are to make tiramisu, let alone a vegan one. It’s been quite a delicious adventure.

There has been so much more, but perhaps that will be for another post. You can also see a few of the things I’ve tagged along on to over at little vegan planet.

pie oh my

So I made some pie. Two in fact. Two pies. In one day. For no occasion. There is possibly something wrong with me.

I’m also going to give away an apron. It’s really cute. You could win it.

Back to the pies though. One is a caramel peanut butter pie inspired entirely by this caramel pudding.  The other, is a raspberry rhubarb pie kind of sort of from the lovely Babycakes cookbook.

I started the caramel peanut butter pie with a cookie crust. This is probably the easiest crust you’ll ever make. All you have to do is mix 2 cups of cookie crumbs (that’s about 18 sandwich cookies) with 5 Tbsp of melted Earth Balance. Press this mixture into a greased 9″ pie pan. Put the whole thing in the fridge. Ok, done with that part.

Next is the peanut butter. Also, easy as hell. Using an electric mixer, beat together 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract until all combined. Then press this into the prepared cookie crust. It should cover just the bottom.

So that bit is a breeze. Tell yourself making the caramel pudding will be as well. It will be! Just be patient. When you literally have to watch sugar boil for ten minutes, just imagine the wonderful pie you will have at the end and don’t even think about stirring. Or you can scrub your oven top. That’s what I did.

Anyway, yes, just be patient, it will all come together even if it takes awhile. Even if it seems like it’s going wrong. Just be careful not to stab* or burn yourself with the caramelized sugar. But seriously, you’ll be fine.

As I mentioned, the caramel pudding recipe can be found here written out for you by the lovely Joy the Baker. To make it vegan, I just subbed the 4 cups of whole milk with 3 cups of mimicreme mixed with 1 cup soy milk. Then, after letting the pudding cool slightly, pour into the pie crust that has been hanging out in the fridge. Let cool completely in the fridge for a few hours (just enough time to make another pie) and you’ll have one decadent and amazing caramel peanut butter pie.

See? Looks tasty and oh it is. You may want to put some whipped topping on here, but that’s really your call. Really, this pie is damn good.

But don’t forget, there is another pie too. I decided to finally try my hand at an almost gluten free and sugar free recipe from Babycakes. Ok so it’s not exactly the most complicated of low gluten experiments, but it’s a start…next time I’ll go full gluten free, just wait.

So the crust is a spelt crust, remember I said it wasn’t entirely gluten free. Now let’s not kid around here, this is some damn good crust. I may have eaten a few pieces before putting it into the oven. I could possibly use this crust always. Possibly.

This is the part where I tell you that I didn’t exactly follow the rest of the recipe for the pie. Mainly because where in the hell do you get dried rhubarb? Is this a common ingredient? Who knows. I used frozen. I should have defrosted it. I didn’t. I also used raspberries instead of strawberries. Whatever.

Also, when I got to part where you have to roll out the crust, I discovered my rolling pin had gone missing. (Hey mom, did I leave my rolling pin at your house?) That made it a bit difficult to do everything. So my crust was not rolled out as thin as it should have been and other things. It still tasted good.

Despite me making some pretty major pie recipe sins this still tasted lovely. I ended up cooking it for about 10 minutes more though, and it was a bit, um, soupy. Like I said, should have thawed the rhubarb. Seriously though, I think I’m about to be a big fan of this agave sweetened business.

So there you have it ladies and gentleman, pies for dinner this lovely sunday night.

Oh yeah, and the apron. Do you remember back during the holidays I made some aprons for Christmas presents? Well I am a jerk and never gave one to it’s intended recipient. It’s nearly the end of April and it’s just been sitting in my closet. I think it needs a home. I will just give my friend a cooler present next year. Now it can be yours! Think this apron is cute? Just leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite kind of pie and I’ll randomly pick a winner by May 1st. Then you can make pie in a cute apron.

*yes I have done this. it hurts.

Update: And the winner is…Monica. Congratulations!

Spring cookbook from the Blissful Chef

Recently, Christy, the Blissful Chef, was kind enough to give me a copy of her new e-cookbook Cooking with Seasons: Spring Edition. After glancing through the recipes, I was highly excited about the delicious looking, but thoroughly healthy recipes. I couldn’t decide on just one to try so I made two: the Barley Stew with Japanese Vegetables and the Hiziki Lentil Pate.

but first,  a little story…

When I was six years old (yes we’re talking pre-school age here), I had my cholesterol tested and came in over 300, which is really just insane. My dad did some research and decided to put us both on a macrobiotic diet to remedy the situation (which he blamed on my love of McDonald’s chicken nuggets, gross!). In retrospect, I think it’s pretty cool considering that now people turn immediately to medications instead of diet change to fix their health problems. At the time though, I was not thrilled with the brown rice and steamed vegetables I would get for lunch every other day. I still don’t particularly like brown rice to be honest. In any case, making these recipes, the barley stew in particular, totally brought me back to the flavors of my childhood, in a much more appreciative and mature way. I can see now the subtleties of combining flavors and textures to come up with something that is not only truly delicious, but also full of nutrition. Oh yeah, and I should add, eating macrobiotic as a kid completely normalized my cholesterol in no time at all.

but back to the recipes…

This lentil hiziki pate is really great in that it has a complex combination of flavors while still being very subtle. The texture is lovely; grainy but soft. We ate a good deal of it up on some flax crackers. I loved the undertones of the hiziki that came through without being too strong at all. The recipe makes a whole ton which would be perfect for serving at a party or just as a guilt-free snack.

The ingredients are simple and the whole thing was extremely easy to prepare. It came together quickly and we ate it still warm. It was equally as good the next day, chilled.

I chose to use red lentils because that is what I had at home, although I’m sure it would be equally as good with regular lentils. My only mistake was not looking at the price of the hiziki when I purchased it. I highly recommend you look for a reasonably priced hiziki (aka, not at whole foods).

This stew may have worked it’s way into my heart as a new favorite. While I’m a fan of hearty filling stews, this one manages to be both of those while not giving you that weighed down feeling. Again, the flavors are understated but it allows you to taste each element of the stew on it’s own.

The kabocha squash is slightly sweet with a perfectly soft texture. Since I had a bit left over that didn’t go in to the stew, I’m looking forward to trying other ways of cooking this dense squash.

The barley brought everything together in the stew, giving it a wonderfully mushy texture. I really mean mushy in the best of ways. It was lighter and tastier than many other grains I’ve had in stews. Oh I loved it.

The burdock was another new taste for me. I wasn’t as in love with this but it added a contrasting texture and flavor as well as some added nutrients.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the daikon as well.

Oh and the barley miso, so wonderful. Such a strong flavor and yet part of me wants to eat it with a spoon.

All together these elements make a fantastic stew. Not only does it taste great but it actually makes you feel good. It is amazing how eating whole, unprocessed foods can make you feel. Perhaps it is time to do a little spring cleaning and try out some of these recipes. I can’t wait to make more of them. I’m particularly excited about the Basil UnCeasar Salad with Pumpernickel Croutons. Sounds awesome, right?

You can get these recipes and more in the e-cookbook from the Blissful Chef for a discounted price here!

good morning crumpets

Somehow I became obsessed with the idea of making crumpets. It may have had something to do with going to see Alice in Wonderland. I had to have them though, despite possibly never having them before in my life. Oh what I’ve been missing. They’ make an amazing breakfast or afternoon tea snack. Crispy on the outside and soft and moist in the middle, they’re like english muffins and pancakes had a baby. And perfect with a bit of earth balance and jam. Now you can make them for yourself.

Vegan Crumpets

2 cups all purpose flour

1 rounded tsp yeast

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup soy milk, room temperature

1/2 cup water, room temperature

1 Tbsp Earth Balance, melted

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until there are no lumps. If you’re using a stand mixer it will take a minute or two with the paddle attachment. Cover and set aside in a warm place so that it can rise. It should take about an hour, and you’ll be able to see a bunch of bubbles popping to the surface.

When your batter is looking good, you’ll want to head up a griddle or pan. It’s best to use a medium low heat so that they can cook all the way through without burning.

Grease two crumpet rings and place them on your pan, making sure they’re flat. Scoop  or pour about a quarter cup of the batter into the rings on the pan.

After about five minutes you’ll see the edges begin to firm up. You can then gently remove the rings using tongs or an oven mitt.

They should hold their shape. Let them cook for a minute more without the rings.

Flip them over and let the other side cook through, another 5 minutes or so. That’s it! Eat them up! Quick while they’re still warm!

DIY Raw Sauerkraut

I’m going to tell you how to make your own raw sauerkraut. First I’m have to warn you that I know nothing about fermenting things, or raw food and to be honest I don’t generally eat sauerkraut. I do happen to live with someone who really likes it though. In any case, if my instructions are awful, you might be better off looking elsewhere because I’m pretty sure there are more detailed recipes somewhere else. On the other hand, this batch turned out just fine and was ridiculously easy. So let’s get to it.

First you want to take some cabbage. I used two heads. It may seem like a lot but it will turn out to be less in the end. You might as well make a bunch of sauerkraut.

Shred your cabbage. It’s easiest to do this in a food processor. You could technically do this with regular grater by hand, but that would not be fun.

Start puting your shredded cabbage in a large jar. Mine was about a gallon. I highly recommend using something with a wide mouth (unlike mine) as it makes it way easier to not spill shredded veggies all over your kitchen. As you put in the cabbage, you want to add 3 tablespoons of salt. Mix it in a bit but more importantly, pack down the cabbage tightly into the bottom of the jar.

Now if you want to get a little crazy, you can put in some other veggies, like beets and carrots, which will give your kraut some extra flavor and color. Just make sure you press everything down as tightly as possible.

Ok so there you go. It’s all in the jar, you probably want to pack it a bit better than in the photo above. Then just set it aside in your kitchen somewhere and let it do it’s thing for oh a couple of weeks. Make sure it’s not too hot or cold, just comfortable. If the veggies inside are above the level of brine water they might brown or get some “bloom” but not to worry just take the yucky part out and the rest should be fine. If it’s extra moldy you might just want to scratch the whole thing, I really have no idea. The longer you let it all sit, the stronger the flavor.

There you have it ladies and gents, raw sauerkraut. Very little work, lots of patience and a delicious reward.

Easter bunny cake

Hope everyone had a delicious Easter!

St. Patty’s treats

Saint Patrick’s day is upon us again and I wanted to get in a quick post to honor it, and also to reflect on the feasting Shawn and I did last year. This year we won’t be feasting for every meal, but we’ll try to squeeze in a few Irish themed dishes. We started early by having some beans and toast tonight, with some apple sage field roast sausage. I’ll try out some new recipes for tomorrow, but why mess with something that is amazingly delicious as it is?

Now, back in February, I mentioned I had a few knitting projects going and that I might just share one for Saint Patrick’s if I finished in time. Guess what…I did! Even with making a million mistakes and having to undo hours of work, I managed to complete the above pictured fingerless gloves. They’re made with organic cotton yarn (in green of course!) that I love. It’s so easy to work with and softer than any not-so animal friendly wool. If you were so inclined, you could knit these yourself as there is a free pattern available, which I’m always appreciative of. These guys are so comfy and also great for keeping warm on a bike ride without losing your grip.

Part of the reason there won’t be extensive feasting this year, is because I’ve been rather busy baking away. I did manage to get some special St. Patrick’s day cupcakes over to Meet Market, so if you need some Saint Patrick’s day treats you can get your own lucky shamrock vanilla cupcake, or some Peppermint Patty cupcakes or even a special green themed “hostess” cupcake with marshmallow cream filling. Get them before they’re gone though, they’ve been selling out awfully quick.

Hope everyone has a lovely Saint Patrick’s day. Eat something delicious. Don’t forget to wear green (or orange). Try not to drink too much. 🙂

The Best Vegan Fudge Ever

What is the one food you remember from your childhood as being better than anything else? Was it the sugar cookies your grandmother made? The grilled cheese sandwich your dad grilled especially for you? Maybe that’s not it, but there was something, wasn’t there? And you’ve never been able to find something as good anywhere else.

For me, the one thing I remember as being incomparably amazing was the fudge my mom made. Even though she would usually sabotage it with walnuts, I would sometimes get a small batch just for myself. It’s been years and years since I’ve had anything even comparable to that fudge. I mean, even before I was vegan, there wasn’t anything nearly as good.

Finally, my mom agreed to show me her recipe step by step so I could veganize it. She even said it was ok for me to share it with you, which I think is pretty generous, considering it is the best fudge ever. Thanks mom!

Ok, here’s what you need…

1 1/3 cup of non-dairy cream, unsweetened

2 2/3 cup sugar, yeah, that much sugar

4 ish oz bittersweet chocolate

2 Tbsp corn syrup

4 Tbsp Earth Balance

Put everything in a medium sauce pan and stir together. Turn the heat on to medium high and stir occasionally so that the chocolate melts evenly. Bring to a boil and using a candy thermometer, or your cunning senses, heat slowly to the firm ball stage, about 240° – 250° F. If you want your fudge a little creamier you don’t have to go quite this hot.

To check the firmness, you can spoon a small bit into some cold water. Take out the cooled piece and roll between your fingers. The harder it is, the firmer your fudge will be. Once it reaches the desired temperature, remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. In the mean time, grease a pan to put your fudge in.  Mix in 1 tsp of vanilla.

If you’ve made it through all that, get ready for the hard part. Using a spoon, beat the fudge so that air is incorporated into the mixture. Don’t stir, beat. If your arm doesn’t get tired, you’re not doing it right. In fact, you might want to have a backup beater on hand to help you. My arm is still sore from this part actually. Do this for a couple minutes, until the mixture is a bit fluffier.

Pour the fudge into your prepared pan and smooth over a bit. Slice into chunks once it has cooled somewhat, but is still slightly warm. You probably want to use a butter knife as well and not a ridiculous sharp one like the one above. Also, go ahead and make those chunks pretty small, you’re better off this way.

You can totally snack on some bits here when it’s still warm, but know once you start it will be hard to stop. I personally like it best once it has cooled completely and hardened.

So the verdict? It’s almost exactly the same as I remember it. That sugary sweetness that melts in your mouth with a rich chocolate flavor. The flavor of the mimicream definitely has a subtle effect, but in the end one I like, giving it just a hint of nuttiness. I may try a few variations, and practice my beating technique, but I wouldn’t hesitate to say that it was a complete success. I should also probably mention this is the recipe for a double batch so go ahead and half it if you like. Although you might not want to. On the other hand, you might eat it all in one day so beware. Not that anyone I know would do that. Never.

Coffee Cozy

In case I hadn’t made it clear in some previous post, I love coffee. Mostly I love the rich flavor of a good espresso, but I won’t lie, I can’t go without my daily caffeine boost. I don’t often get coffee to go, but when the occasion arises, I come prepared with my own coffee cozy. It’s not quite as earth friendly as bringing your own mug, but its much more convenient as I can carry one in my purse all the time. Not to mention, they’re damn cute. I made these one night after seeing some adorable ones on various craft blogs and knew I had to have one. I used some scrap fabric and some felt to line them. They came together in just a few minutes.

Lucky for you…I’m including a tutorial on how to make one of your own AND giving away a cozy to one lucky reader. Better than an infomercial!

Before I get to the tutorial though, just wanted to let you all know I’m now on formspring. So if there’s something you’re curious about or just bored, feel free to ask me! Ok back to the cozies…

1. First print out the template I’ve included. Use the template to cut two pieces of fabric for your cozy, one out of felt, and the other out of a fabric of your choice.

2. Next take a piece of velcro and sew onto one side of the felt, being careful to leave space for seam allowances. I should probably tell you now that I rarely pin things, mainly because I am lazy, but you might want to baste or pin pieces in place.

3. Put your two fabric pieces together with the right sides facing. The velcro will be on the inside. Pin if necessary and trim any areas where the fabrics do not line up.

4. Sew along the two long edges and the short edge near the velcro, following a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Make sure to double back and secure any open ends.

5. Turn the cozy inside out, using a chopstick to poke out corners. Fold the unfinished edge inside and press the whole thing.

6. Sew around the outside edge of the whole cozy starting on the unfinished side about 1/8 inch away from the edge. You can use a matching thread or something contrasting, depending on what you prefer.

7. Last, sew the other half of the velcro on the outside so that it will meet the velcro on the inside. That’s it! Good work, I think you deserve some coffee.

If you like the cozy you see made in the tutorial, you can win it. All you have to do is comment and a winner will be chosen at random on March 7th. Good luck!

Update: and the cozy goes to…Christy! Congratulations!

Knit Heart

I’m a bit behind, it’s true, but I couldn’t not post about the valentine I gave my sweetheart Shawn for Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s day? Yes it may seem like ages ago, I know, but the truth is I’m not as late in my writing as much as belated in finishing the project itself (oops!).

Luckily, I have a very understanding valentine who put up with me banishing him from the living room while I worked in secret and was still appreciative when I gave it to him a week late. Yikes, that’s pretty bad, I probably shouldn’t admit that…and I just did…

I got the pattern from the always awesome knitty.com. For some reason I always get the urge to knit when it’s getting warmer, and knitting in the summer just doesn’t have the same appeal. In other words, I better get knitting while there’s still some rainy days about. Luckily I have a few other things started. Perhaps I’ll finish something green for St. Patty’s early instead of late!