Should I Be Making Cookies?

Nope, I shouldn't. Did I make cookies? Why, yes, I did. Should I be eating said cookies? Again, no. Am I eating cookies? Not at this very minute, but I feel a craving coming on....

I received a Borders gift card for Christmas and happily spent a portion of it on Isa's and Terry's (as in the Isa and Terry who wrote "Veganomicon" and "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World") new cookbook, "Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar." The first battle of the invasion began yesterday when I made one of the most basic cookies one can make, chocolate chip cookies. It is one of the most common cookies, I know, but also one of the most difficult to find as a vegan. Oh, they're out there, but they are flat, or too crunchy, or too oily or too funny looking. You get the picture. I've made vegan chocolate chip cookies in the past, but it has never been this easy or this perfect! I highly recommend this recipe.

Chocolate Chip Cookies - makes 2 dozen 2-inch cookies

1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c white sugar
2/3 c canola oil
1/4 c unsweetened almond milk (or your favorite nondairy milk)
1 T tapioca flour (I just used cornstarch.)
2 t pure vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
3/4 c chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease two large baking sheets.
2. Combine sugars, oil, almond milk, and tapioca flour in a mixing bowl. Use a strong fork and mix really well, for about 2 minutes, until the mixture resembles smooth caramel. There is a chemical reaction when sugar and oil collide, so it's important that you don't get lazy about that step. Mix in the vanilla.
3. Add 1 cup of the flour, the baking soda, and the salt. Mix until well incorporated. Mix in the rest of the flour. Fold in the chocolate chips. The dough will be a little stiff, so use your hands to really work the chips in.
4. Roll dough into walnut-size balls and flatten to about 1 and 1/2 inches and bake for six minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes then transfer to wire racks.

Amanda's note: Perhaps because I used cornstarch instead of tapioca flour, my dough wasn't particularly stiff. I dropped the cookies in tablespoon and a half sized globs. They needed to bake for almost 15 minutes. The point is this, if you change a recipe, you may need to change the baking times. Just watch them carefully the first time you make them.

Mother's Day Gift Guide-Part Three (We're almost there.)

We're over the halfway mark now. One more installment to go and this Mother's Day Gift Guide will be finished. Check out these sellers if you are looking for some great gift ideas. Handmade is the way to go! Also, make sure you check out the shameless self-promotion I indulged in at the bottom of the post!

Mother's Day Gift Guide-Part Three



I know, I know. I'm evil. You're all drooling, I'm sure. This "Triple Chocolate Heaven" cupcake is VEGAN. That's right! VEGAN. And it and many other vegan delights are available at the cupcake mint. I have a feeling that they might remove any skepticism you might have about veganism.



There is tons of fun stuff in the Sweet Rice vintage shop, but this "Orange Ceramic Planter" really pops! It's clearly from the 1970s (you can help mom take a walk down memory lane) and has a cool splatter glaze. Just think, you can support etsy and recycle!



Mmmm...This guide is beginning to make me hungry. Clearly this can't be eaten, but it reminds me of fresh blueberries on top of a delicious pancake with maple syrup.... Anyway, this is actually a body scrub, but the folks (yes, I said "folks") over at Madeline Bea Soap Co. say it smells just like fresh blueberries and provides many of the same benefits. Besides that, the labels look all country store and vintagey, which is always fun.



My sister-in-law Michelle has a thing for large bags. I think it's one part aesthetics and another part necessity. I mean the girl carries apples around with her. Anyway, if she were a mother (and she will be someday soon), this would be the perfect Mother's Day gift for her. This XL Hobo Bag from retrofied is made from a neato Amy Butler pattern and is lined with corduroy. Now that I think about it, perhaps Ben should buy this for Michelle in anticipation of her becoming a mother some day!



Here we go with the trees again. I can't help myself. I'm a tree person. This is an original pen and ink drawing, but is an affordable gift because it is an ACEO (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) and is about the size of a trading card. I think this is an awesome way to collect a variety of limited edition or original artwork without breaking the bank. Besides, you get to support the art community, in this case tamara garvey illustration.

Shameless Self-Promotion:

Don't say I didn't warn you. Here are some recently listed items in the shop, one of which has already sold. Yay!