Cherry Almond Deliciousness!

I tested for Isa and Terry's Veganomicon a couple years ago and am now privy to test recipes for the upcoming cookiebook, which comes out in November. There's been tons of pictures taken of the cookies that will be in the book and they look amazing! I have been able to try a few of them thanks to my baking-fiend friend Jess. Also, while Evan was in town he made a lot of them and i got to try the ones that i'm completely in love with currently. Cherry Almond Cookies. YUM! I've made 3 batches in the last week. I put coconut flakes that needed using in the last batch. It didn't really add much to the cookie so if i didn't have the flakes i wouldn't go buy some just to use for the cookies. It probably doesn't help that the coconut flakes are kinda hella old. Also, note that the recipe calls for slivered almonds....I accidentally bought sliced. It doesn't make a huge difference, i just find that slivered would be less awkward when placing them on your cookie sheet. The cookies themselves are kind of shortbread tasting and the almond extract in them gives them a wonderful flavor. They're delicious....

You can preorder their cookiebook, Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar on Amazon.com, but i think i'll be waiting til it comes out and buying it from a local place like Herbivore or Food Fight!. 

Fundraiser for My Friend's Nonprofit

My two friends, Corinn and Jessica, started a nonprofit called SOSSA (Speaking Out on Sibling Sexual Abuse) and they are having a fundraiser Saturday, March 28th at Chaos Cafe (the Parlor part) here in Portland, Oregon. It starts at 8pm and there's a suggested $10 donation to get in. There's gonna be music (The Morals will be playing as well as two other bands) and a silent auction for items from local artists/photographers.

They started this nonprofit to bring awareness to a type of sexual abuse that isn't as talked about. Jessica herself has dealt with this firsthand and wanted to help others. They do workshops and support groups for those that need it. Go to SOSSAinfo.org for more information.

I'll be working the silent auction, i think. Come by and say hello.

Question Me

I read(look at?) a lot of food blogs. A lot. When hanging out with my vegan friends, this is not a weird thing, but my other friends (most are vegetarian, some omni) don't really look at blogs. There's some exceptions, like my sister. I'm not sure if it's just my friends or if it's because all my vegan friends are obsessed with food and therefore love looking at food porn from other vegans. So today i was wanting to post about something and i couldn't really think of much. I have thought of doing a post about GoodBelly, a newish probiotic product in the stores around here, but i am ready for it yet.

So i was reading Allularpunk's blog, Awesome. Vegan. Rad., and she had a post where she answered someone's questions. So i decided to steal them and answer them myself.

1. What is a food you disliked before going vegan, but now enjoy?
Hmm...this is tough because i don't remember starting to like something since going vegan. Soy yogurt, perhaps? yeah, no....i still dislike celery and cilantro. I think i do like quinoa a little more. 

2. If you could convince one person to go vegan, who would it be, and why?
My Mom, so that she might make me stuff and not complain about my way of eating.

3. What is the kitchen appliance you can't live without?
toaster oven, those things are so great.

4. What is your favorite veg restaurant you have eaten at (or your fave restaurant in general)?
I am really looking forward to going to Portobello again. I've only gone once. If they every make tortellini i will shit twice and die. Happy.

5. Do you face any dilemmas/struggles as a vegan?

Occasionally, when i'm not in Portland. Actually, not true. Sometimes when i'm at a restaurant that's got some veg options, but most of the staff/owners don't know what vegan really means, i have the dilemma of asking what the exact ingredients are. Usually, i just play the ignorant vegan and don't ask. I'll still ask the server if something's vegan, but a lot of people who aren't vegan don't know of the items to look for: casein, whey (seriously, i know someone who was like, what's whey? it's from dairy?), lactose, vitamin D3. 

Does anyone have any questions they want to ask? Contact me, i love survey shit.