You asked for it and here it is, the recipe for Josh's chocolate birthday cupcakes!  They were very well enjoyed, easy to make and they rose very well.  While my decorating skills won't win any reality shows, my moist chocolate cupcakes may just make you think twice about eggs, milk, butter and other toxic animal products?

Josh's Chocolate Birthday Cupcakes


    1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (Use organic if you can)
    3/4 cup turbinado/raw sugar
    1/4 cup cocoa powder (good quality/organic)
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    1/8 teaspoon salt
    3/4 cup nondairy milk (I used flax milk)
    1/2 cup vegetable oil
    3/4 cup vegan yogurt (I used Wholesoy Vanilla Organic)
    3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
    3/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

    Preheat oven to 350f, line cupcake pans with papers or oil and flour a cake pan of your selection.

    Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl, add wet one by one and stir until thoroughly mixed, ladle into pans and bake 12-15 minutes +/-, depending on your oven, test by inserting skewer, when it comes out clean, they are done.  Cool in pan for 15 minutes and remove to cool completely on wire racks.  Frost however you want, but keep it vegan!

    I just made a simple white icing with Earth Balance, confectioner's sugar, flax milk, and vanilla in regular icing proportions.

These kale chips are sooo cheesy!

You NEED kale chips!

Ok, my need for Daiya, nutritional yeast, and vital wheat gluten brings me to a number of high priced groceries at Whole Foods. However, I refuse to pay $8.99 for a box of kale chips.

I have gone through a number of different variations, but now I have made great progress on my kale chip recipe. Best of all, they are delicious and cheap to make. Save the stems for juicing!

Cheesy-tastic Veganalicious Kale Chips

1 large bunch kale, stems saved for juicing, ripped into large pieces
2-3 Tablespoons of olive oil or the oil of your choice (I use EVOO)
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar (I use Bragg's)
3-4 Tablespoons of mustard (pick a good one)
A few healthy shakes of dried dill
A few squirts of tabasco
1 Tablespoon crushed garlic
1/8 cup hot water
Salt to taste (I heart salt)
1/4 cup nutritional yeast =/-, depending on your love of cheesiness (I use more)
Don't be afraid to deploy some Old Bay to taste!

Preheat oven to 375f

Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment or silpats

Combine everything but kale in a large mixing bowl, taste and adjust spice, tobasco, salt and yeast to meet your taste. The mixture should resemble slightly thick salad dressing. Add the kale and (this is important) mix the kale with your hands until it is fully coated!

Arrange in a single layer on the baking sheets, the kale should be touching and there should not be any open spots. Bake for 10 minutes, check the kale, reduce heat to 350f and continue baking until kale is crisp and dry, but not burned.

Know your oven! If the bottom is too hot, bake it one sheet at a time. Even cheesy-tastic kale is no good burnt to a crisp!

Please feel free to share and let me know what additions you made?

Enjoy! I'll think I'll make some of these right now....

The spice by the (Old) Bay!

Is there anything better than Old Bay Seasoning? Being Kosher, I never had it on crabs before I was vegan, but it has become a staple in my vegan kitchen. It is amazing on absolutely everything; the other day I accidentally sprinkled some into my coffee and it was strangely satisfying.

According to http://www.oldbay.com/Products/Old-Bay-Seasoning.aspx, Old Bay is a mixture of "CELERY SALT (SALT, CELERY SEED), SPICES (INCLUDING RED PEPPER AND BLACK PEPPER), AND PAPRIKA". There are surely some magical spicy secrets in there and if they are wrong, I don't want to be right.

I keep it right on the kitchen table now and it finds its way into a number of things.

Some of my favorites:

• Popcorn---with Old Bay, Salt, and Nutritional Yeast
• My Super Awesome Vegan Lasagna (recipe coming soon)
  
• Tofu Scrambles
• Vegan Pizza
• Panini Sandwiches
• Roasted Vegetables
  

And so much more! What are your favorites?

It is right at the top the Super Vegan Grocery List I am compiling. Being vegan is fantastic---everywhere!

Even Belize, my 10 year old vegan Great Dane approves, though she prefers her popcorn plain.