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.

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.