Non-fancy Tickling Tahini

MO'S TAHINI SAUCE
p. 141 GOV
Prepared 5/3/2010

Bland and boring, I didn't care for this at all. I prefer my sauces to be more flavorful and satisfying. I served this on a full-of-potential bean salad and it was the kind of thing that could make or break the salad. Let us just say that I don't think it made the salad.

Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale

We had ourselves a Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale and it was great! We raised some money, as well as awareness about how yummy a plant-based diet can be!

These Snickerdoodles Are Sublime

WOLFFIE'S SNICKERDOODLES
p. 215 LDV
Prepared 4/29/2010

Generally at this point in my life, I am all in favor of as few steps as possible in one's baking process. So I was prepared to feel resentful about the extra work involved in the snickerdoodle process-- namely the rolling of dough into balls and then rolling into sugar. But for some reason, it seems pleasant and meditative. I wonder if it isn't because I used to make these with my mom and of course had the important job of rolling the dough into the cinnamon sugar mix? And the cookies? DELICIOUS! Really well done, great recipe. Please bake.

Weirdly, I've seen snickerdoodles around a lot more in the last couple of years, maybe part of the embracing many things retro? Then the other day, I suffered the social distress known as Snickerdoodle Backlash. Some women with whom I was speaking told me that they'd never had them, didn't think they sounded all that appealing, saved all of their dessert calories for chocolate and didn't get why everyone was making such a fuss over them. To which I thought (you know what is coming!), "more for me." I will say that they are just like my grandma (and mom) used to make. And I am dead serious if I tell you to slightly underbake them and then serve them warm with vanilla coconut milk ice cream.

Go Crazy With Garlic

GLORIOUS ROASTED GARLIC SOUP
p. 82 GOV
Prepared 4/23/2010

This was good with really nice flavor- not overpoweringly garlicky at all. But I felt it was a little thin and insubstantial. I would serve this as a starter *or* give it more body with either mashed potatoes or pureed white beans. I would also throw in a hearty grain like barley. More veggies would have been nice as well, I think. I'm a sucker for the white and green soup so maybe some broccoli (my favorite!) or spinach. Let me know how it goes for you.

It Is, After All, Every Day

My friends left me this message on the sidewalk in front of my place. I love them!

Poppy. Seed.

LEMON POPPY SEED SHORTBREAD COOKIES
p. 182 GOV
Prepared 4/21/2010

These were good but not amazing. They baked up a little softer than I'd expect so maybe more baking time? I didn't have any problem eating it. It was, as you can imagine, a perfect little cookie to have with your tea or lemonade.

Slawtina, Or...Bring On the Fake Bacon

RED BEAN COLESLAW
p. 84 LDV
Prepared 4/21/2010

I used a little less Veganaise because I ran out...threw in some cilantro...used more cabbage than necessary...threw in celery root instead of celery...used more garbanzos than kidneys...less imitation "bacon" bits...and it was yummy! "Really really good," according to one adult taster. Another adult taster/unsuspecting houseguest said, "SOOOOOOOOO good, can I please have the recipe?"

Aloo Chana Soup? What Will They Think of Next!?!

CHRIS'S ALOO CHANA SOUP
p. 87 GOV
Prepared 4/15/2010

There are a lot of ingredients in the ingredient list, so you may be put off by this recipe at first. But fear not, like many good recipes, many of the ingredients are simply a lengthy list of spices and seasonings.

This soup was very hearty. I substituted kidney beans and black eyed peas for the garbanzos, and doubled the recipe for my super awesome meal share (if you can work one out, I highly recommend the experience). I also added some jarred galangal (you know, that rhizome with many culinary and medicinal uses) and extra carrots. I wish that I had had some fresh naan or other flavorful Indian bread to go with it, so you might want to take that into account when you serve it up!

I Ate This All Myself (Not Proud Edition)

PEANUT BUTTER PECAN BARK
p. 205 LDV
Prepared 4/1/2010

This big lump of poopy looking chocolate stuff was VERY GOOD! What I think is that you could probably vary the presentation in the real world to make it look less poopy but that would be really dumb because then you would have to share it would other people. Cravers of the sweet, beware! This is for you and you should be prepared to enter a sugar coma soon after this enters your system. I felt like it was kind of lumpy but nice-n- tasty. Some nice depth of flavor from the nut side of things.