Recipe Thursdays--a New Beginning

Hey there,

I'm thinking Thursdays will be "recipe share day" in the new year. So, I figure why not start the week before, while it's on my mind! I get requests for this particular recipe all.the.time, and I always honor them. This is not a secret recipe, nor is it my own---I got it from my mother, and she got it from someone else. I've made it a million times over, and each time it varies (that is to say, if at first you don't succeed with these, do try again!)!


"Chocolate Drop (a.k.a. "Crack") Cookies"

Ingredients:
1 stick of vegan margarine
2 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup milk (I use soy--SILK--but whole milk also works)
1/2 (heaping) cup creamy peanut butter (I really like using natural PB)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2.5-3 cups quick oats (cheaper brands work best in my experience)

Instructions:
In a steel pan (no teflon) melt butter over low heat (be careful to not melt it too fast or over high heat because it will dry out the mixture). When melted add sugar and stir well, then add cocoa and stir well, then add milk and stir well. Turn up heat to "medium" and KEEP stirring---yes, you'll have to stir the whole time. Basically stir until the mixture comes to a full rolling boil, then set timer for 1 minute (stirring still). After 1 minute, remove from heat, stir in vanilla and peanut butter (I recommend a heaping helping of peanut butter because I like the flavor it adds to the cookies, but that's me!). After peanut butter is well-mixed in, add the quick oats 1/2 cup at a time. Don't let it get too thick or dry---look while you're mixing the oats in (the oats tend to dry out the mixture, so I usually only do about 2.5 cups, but the original recipe calls for 3).

Spoon onto wax paper (teaspoon/tablespoon sized) and let cool until hard and ready to serve!

Enjoy!

Party Planning Extraordinaire!

If I were planning a party, which I am not, here are a few "vegan" menu items I might include:

• Fresh fruit & veggie tray
• I know this one seems simply and perhaps silly, but let's face it: watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, carrots, olives, pickles, celery, and the like are delicious and are always a party hit!
• Olive tapenade
• see my recipe here
• BBQ tofu (maybe on a stick to make it a cleaner finger food)
• recipe forthcoming
• Buffalo seitan
• ok, not finger food but it could be!
• oh, and I suppose I can post the recipe here soon!
• Cowboy cookies
• from my favorite vegan cookie cookbook....I don't know about sharing the recipe--is that illegal?
• "Crack cookies"
• not my name, but named by my friends who insist there is crack in them. 
• They are actually just chocolate drop cookies (or "no bake" cookies), but I make them vegan style!
• recipe forthcoming
• Edamame
• so simple, salty, and tasty!
• Here's a recipe---add some vegetarian parmesian cheese if that's your style!
• Fresh spring rolls
• difficult to make, perfect for the summer time when you can pick fresh mint leaves off the plant, and totally worth it
• recipe forthcoming, with a spicy thai peanut sauce that is to-die-for!

What "vegetarian" or "vegan" style goodies might you try to have at a party for your guests?

Post-Christmas Post

Well hello there,

It's nice to be reconnected. I've had a lovely break--drove to DFW area Texas to see my family and friends, then off to Wichita Kansas to see Dr.Vegan's family and friends, then drove to Kansas City to attend the Chiefs football game (and they won!). We were gone 8 whole days, and it was both lovely and exhausting; we are, needless to say, glad to be home.

Now, I need to get back to writing and blogging!

What did I get for christmas? a couple of books, a necklace, an itunes gift card, a wii fit, a(n ugly) sweater, some socks (I love fancy socks), a beautiful clock, and several other items.  It was a good year!

I should skeee-daddle!! Lots to do!
:)