Veganomican is the funnest cookbook!
I don't know, maybe it's just my fascination with all things vegan now, but I can't remember the last time I ever felt this overjoyed about receiving a cookbook on my doorstep.
But this works for me! This is sooo interesting, and there's logic to it. And there's purpose. And it feels all at once global and personal.
So far, I've made the jelly donut vegan cupcakes for my students. I was so excited to make them, and did so the very day I got the cookbook. I was so excited that I had students in my midst this summer to experiment on. They were fun desserts to make. And I felt so adult-like because I had all the ingredients at home already. That's what happens after years of baking one-shot-deals and wondering what I would ever do again with baking powder. Well, that night everything was used again, and it felt great.
The kids really loved them. I will admit, I, and my co-teacher, both agreed that they are kinda, sorta, an acquired taste. I mean, I didn't use white flour (whole wheat) and I didn't use frosting (strawberry jelly).... and that's kinda the whole point of cupcakes, right? Gooeyness! Moistness! Sweetness! These didn't really have that. But they also don't have the guilt either that pink-n-white cupcakes usually leave behind after you've eaten (5 or 6) of them.
Then last night, for our one-day-early July 4th (3rd) party, I made my first vegan feast! It was sooo fun, and sooooo delicious. Many recipes came from the cookbook. NO animals were harmed or digested in the process. Except for the kitten, who did not get to lick the olive oil out of the bowl despite her protests.
The hit-list included:
those vegetarian stuffed mushrooms
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,171,150172-250192,00.html
review: totally delicious and moist and crunchy and exciting to eat
those chic pea cutlets
http://www.chow.com/recipes/11364
review: awesome. fulfilling. perfect with the mustard sauce they recommend.
those zucchini pieces
http://theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=94
review: way too delicious and almost sweet.
that cucumber salad
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/CUCUMBER-MUSTARD-AND-DILL-SALAD-230740
review: perfect. i love this.
And finally, my NEW cookbook:
http://www.theppk.com/nomicon.html
get yourself one!
