From the monthly archives: December 2009
by Karen Z. unless otherwise noted.
26. Always shake the ketchup bottle.
27. The following things should always be able to kick your ass: ginger, whiskey, love and coffee. If they’re not, they’re not strong enough.
28. Low-hanging fruit is for the lazy and cowardly. Within challenges, risks and uncertainties lay the best rewards.
29. I am no low-hanging fruit.
30. “A man’s character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation.” – Mark Twain
31. Never underestimate your brain’s knack for overestimating your significance in the grand scheme of things.
32. Hold the door.
33. Learn CPR, if not for the skills set than for the superhero fantasies it’ll help inspire.
34. There’s nothing more unattractive than a liar.
35. Critical thought, the most important cognitive skill, is a gift.
36. Feel stupid, inadequate, lonely, ugly, useless, worried, uncomfortable. Keep feeling…
37. Always give money to the subway Mariachi bands.
38. You are the only governable variable in every situation you experience. Experiment with that.
39. Have a happiness plan for emergencies: a playlist of songs that help you to smile, movies that reaffirm and friends who let you purge all the horrid details. Conversations with those age 7 and under also helps greatly.
40. Few things match the exhilaration of conversing with someone who truly and wholly understands you. It’s the sex of friendship.
41. What he said.
42. Emotional intelligence is the most valuable asset one can possess.
43. Rick Blaine over Victor Laszlo. Rhett Butler over Ashley Wilkes.
44. The heart, like the belly, must be fed regularly. It acts quite irrationally when hungry.
45. Organize time through photographs.
46. Listen to your fortunes from cookies and your tea bag tags.
47. Run errands during the Superbowl.
48. Blessed are the introverted, for the strength they gain from the battles endured in a hostile environment, dominated by extraversion.
49. Don’t get rid of your witty t-shirts and band shirts. They grow in value like savings bonds.
50. “Don’t waste your precious breath explaining that you’re worthwhile.” – Pavement’s Carrot Rope
For Wisdumb For the Ages things 1-25, click here.
For friends who enjoy sweet vegan treats, Christmas stretches on and on for days. Below are my final gifts for giving, VCIYCJ‘s gorgeous caramel pecan bars…
And sweet coconut and cashew dark chocolate bars, a kind of mistake that turned out quite delicious.
The tower of sweetness, complete for Rocky Road cookie dividers, sat upon adorable mini-cast iron skillets and a bag of Sweet & Sara‘s mini marshmallows (not pictured), just in time for the hot cocoa season.
I’ve said many times that when an omni puts in the effort to accomodate for a vegan’s diet it is considered a high compliment. I was flattered greatly by my Christmas, part II: brunch at my brother’s, home to two of the most darling little gals, my nieces. My sis-in-law went all out, locating brunch recipes from vegan blogs and venturing into the abyss of dairy and meat-feee cooking with much success.
First mention would be her delicious shepard’s pie. Veg beef and the characteristic veggies topped with mash and baked. A meal in a scoop. 
Roasted eggplant garnished to the nines. What does that mean anyway?
My plate of pancakes, shepard’s pie, veg sausage and eggplant. Mmmm. Hearty for that morning after xmas hangover.
The real treat was spending time with my little nieces, such keen and sharp little ones with the best sense of humor.
I had to be very selective about who received a holiday cookie care package this year. Next year, when I am through studying to be a master of the universe, you’ll all get them.
The chocolate chip cookie is a must in any cookie assortment. Using Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar‘s recipe I got delectable buttery cookies rivaling my favorite cho-cho chip recipe. They have a lighter texture which complemented the assortment greatly.
Also from VCIYCJ (okay, they’re all from VCIYCJ!) are the Rocky Roads. Thick, brownie-like batter gave way to chewy deliciousness, chock full of chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and chopped almonds.
Cranberry and white chocolate biscotti were the adults of the cookie family, perfect for coffee-tipping and practicing your Italian accent.
Yeah, the Lazy Samoas were out of this world. With a truck-ton of shredded coconut and coconut oil, these babies were a short cut to those well-loved Girl Scout cookies. I’d like to experiment further in the veganization to attain the layered texture of the original but he taste of these was spot-on.
Having a big, fat still-healthy pumpkin leftover from October, I decided against purchasing the easy can of pumpkin puree for my chocolate pumpkin pie for my class’s holiday breakfast. No, no no, I would process the big gourd myself! Sure, I have a whole day to kill. Sure, I love digging my fingers in wet orange stringy innards and chewing up raw pumpkin seeds, shell and all. Big yes! From first slice to puree completion took a few hours but yielded a busload of colorful puree.
And Newman O’s, I love processing them too. Mashing them to a crumbling form with my potato smasher.
The smashed cookie received some softened Earth Balance and some flour to form a delicious pie crust. Forget the store-bought hydrogenated stuff, this crust has got the Paul Newman, a la Cool Hand Luke, sexiness infused within.
Dear agar-agar, You never work for me. What’s the deal? So my pie didn’t firm up much. It was more a thick scrumptious spiced chocolate pumpkin mousse. But look how pretty!
Here my vegan chocolate pumpkin pie sits next to the other holiday party treats, slightly uncomfortable and shy. Yes, that’s a Juniors cheesecake to the right.
The chocolate pumpkin pie and the 5th graders.
Sometimes, because I live in New York City, I pretend I have hit the big time. (I certainly have not, though I have miraculously landed a job last week amidst a city-wide hiring freeze.) Fiscal irresponsibility is a very NYC trait. Surviving a week, a semester, a milestone in the big, mean city makes an occasional splurge on the highbrow and upper-crust seem justified. A taste of the other side of New York: taxis, uncomfortable shoes and fine wine: is a welcome break between the sardine-packed train and grey slush lining the sidewalks. So, though rent for January is not yet secured, fine chocolates and nut cheese take priority.
The girls and I hit Cocoa V, an all-vegan, all-Fair Trade chocolatierery (I made that word up.) in Chelsea that recently opened its doors just a few steps from Blossom. With much to unpack and celebrate, we shared the cheese plate and chocolate sharing plate, $16 and $25 respectively, and also sampled their delicious subtly spiced hot cocoa. The cheese, all from Dr. Cow‘s impressive line of nut-based cheeses, were delicious as I recalled from my own wine and cheese party last year. The portion was slightly skimpy but not when you account for presentation and the classy vibe of Cocoa V. The cashew blue-algae, cashew and hemp seed and macadamia nut cheeses were even more delicious with a drizzle of Cocoa V’s vegan honey, an agave and brown rice syrup concoction. The chocolates were utterly divine and so pretty… and they sell them by the box! I can’t recall the many pieces I sampled but here are some key words: cranberry, crispies, chocolate bark, hazelnut, pistachio, apple, citrus, raspberry, truffle. Cocoa V’s menu also includes desserts like decadent chocolate cake and chocolate fondue with Dandies and fruit. Totally classy and great for a date. Aah, New York’s got itself an all-vegan high-end chocolate shop… take that Portland, Oregon! (Just kidding Portland. You da bomb.)
I have Daiya, among other vegan treats for my upcoming holiday cookie marathon. But yes, Daiya–the hot topic vegan cheese. I have taken it apart before but never had a stash of my own to experiment with.
I don’t know what to make with shredded cheese. It’s been so long! Starting basic, I whipped up a grilled cheese and was completely floored. Daiya quickly turned into a characteristic cheese (for lack of a better word)-like hot glob of stretchiness.
Next I whipped up some tofu omelets from Vegan Brunch and refried them sandwiched with some Daiya. The pics aren’t the greatest, but mmmhmm. Heavenly white-processed miracle cheese stuff. Now I am counting down for these veganized items: spray cheese and Combos. Get on it!
I still have quite a bit left and VeganEssentials warns of its short shelf-life! What should I make next?
I learned of Bay Shore’s Tula Kitchen after the New York Times got sloppy seconds to my thorough blog reporting of Three Brothers of Rockville Centre. After eye-balling the menu, with echoes of ”sesame-crusted tofu” and “speared seitan over coconut basmati”, I decided that Tula Kitchen was a must-hit. Overcoming a blizzard’s aftermath, the Greek’s hybrid chariot delivered us eager and ready for post-thriftshop meal.
Tula Kitchen, though an omnivore establishment, is an amazing addition to the Long Island veg scene! Tula’s vegan entrees were definitely worth the special trip and were a fairly good value, considering the great service and beautiful decor… and the V-bomb on the menu.
Free of charge bean salad and warm, scrumptious pita wedges to appease our discerning foodie sensibilities. They were an accurate indicator of the yumminess to come.
I got the tofu crab cakes with sides of smashed sweet potato and roasted carrots. These cakes were delicate and subtle, a perfect match for their vegan tartar and a generous squirt of lemon.
I sampled Ms. Greek’s seared seitan and asparagus over peanut sauce and coconut-infused basmati. Very delicious, though I’d prefer some more colors in the dish. The Greek kept it simple with the lentil burger topped with vegan cheese and some killer sweet potato “fries”. Yes, nothing at Tula Kitchen is fried.
We opted not to get their vegan dessert option, a chocolate creme-filled cupcake, most likely from fellow-Long Islanders Moo-Cluck, having filled up on the generous appetizer and huge entree portions. Next time.
I always thought the past tense of snow ought to be snew.
Anyway, New York got hit with its first layer of winter snow this weekend. (Quick aside: Snow makes everyone completely mad; have you ever noticed this?) Venturing out for brunch at Bone Shakers, I got to enjoy the fluffy white fresh and newness before New York City turned it a slushy pale grey with polka-dots of canine cologne. My porch:
Is there a color that is blue-grey-white? Don’t make me check a J.Crew catalog.
Let’s talk Brooklyn’s best veg eatery. Seriously. I can’t say enough great things about Bone Shakers. And I am one picky mofo. They are home to the best vegan sandwiches in NYC, me thinks. So having never had the pleasure of their brunch, CandyPenny and I trudged the tall mounds of snow knowing it’d be well worth it. It was, of course. I got the fun and fantastic Toad in the Hole, or a hole in a huge, buttery slice of bread where the money “S.A.G.” vegan egg concoction goes. I’m hooked.
It is spectacular. Just look…
I’ve recently emerged from a kitchen hiatus, being inundated with a variety of pressing obligations and commitments. So as I catch my breath, I resist the urge to click for lunch delivery. I take baby steps back in the kitchen. Here’s how to get your groove back:
Roasting veggies is an easy start: cut, toss in oil, coat with expensive sea salts & peppercorns and let sit in the oven until you smell it. Grab some good seeded bread, add some fresh basil and some Veganaise and remember how much better your food is than what that rude guy on the bike in the skinny jeans delivers.
Now start baking again. You need to balance your taste buds but also do some tidying at the same time. Smash them bananas you’ve neglected all week and whip up one of your classic recipes. Add chocolate because it’s got phenylethylamine in it. Mmmmm, amphetamines.
Vegan Reporting By Location
