Your Vegan Mom

Mandy Ingber's Banana Coco Cookies

At the beginning of the summer I did yoga everyday.  The publisher had sent a book called Yogalosophy: 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover and despite my extreme skepticism of self help and made up words and glowingly fit women in very small pants, I read the book and I liked it.  

Chocolate Pecan Cookie Pies

Or pie cookies.  But I think cookie pie is more fun to say.  Try it.  

I am lagging behind on all this holiday business.  Yesterday I ordered my cards.  Today I bought stamps.  And then it all rapidly accelerated in a blur of preschool sing-alongs, Christmas cookies, present making, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  Suddenly the Elvis Christmas CD never stops and neither does the Santa talk.  

So the festive season has officially begun at my house, and I am ready for this Virtual Vegan Holiday Dinner hosted by Marly and Allyson.  I signed my name in the pecan pie slot, but at this time of year I prefer a small hand-held treat, something that will work on a cookie tray or wrapped up as a little gift for the neighbors.  I prefer a Chocolate Pecan Cookie Pie.  

It's the delicious goop of the pecan pie and the gooey middle of the chocolate chip cookie smacked together with a shot of bourbon and then contained in a flaky little wrapper so that you can nibble on them daintily at this virtual soiree.

Happy Holidays indeed.

Cookies

I know it's getting late for cookie recipes, but if you're anything like me then you are nowhere near done with your holiday baking and last-minute present making, despite your best intentions and annual vows that next year it will be different.  Good thing you forgot to give the diaper service guy his package this morning.  Those are twelve less cookies you need to make tonight.  I'm sorry diaper guy - they're really good cookies.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip

Chewy Chocolate Mint Cookies (I love these, and as an added bonus they're delicious straight out of the freezer.  Learn from my mistakes and quadruple the recipe.)

Swedish Heirloom Cookies

 Snickerdoodles

Crunchy Little Animals with Chocolate Boots (because even if you don't have time to bake, you can always just dip stuff in chocolate)

Merry Christmas and all!  

Cream Cheese Cookies with Strawberry Icing

 

I'm trying to learn to take time to enjoy the process of making stuff with the boy and not stress so much about the perfect end product (Thank you Positive Discipline for Preschoolers).  These cookies, with their visible flecks of flax meal and strawberry seeds and their casually spooned on icing perfectly lend themselves to the imprecision of baking with a three year old.  Plus, I found that by sacrificing a small lump of dough to the creation of giant snail monsters that we were able to work in happy unison, me carefully cutting and him industriously squishing dough between his palms.  I have to say, this relaxed experience made the (not quite perfect) end product all the more sweet.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

I keep thinking that maybe if I have just one more cookie I can get some writing done.  I'm afraid that this is going to soon expand to other parts of my life - you know - just one more cookie and then I can make dinner for my children, and so on.  Please, before this becomes a bigger problem - you take them.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe is pretty directly adapted to my kitchen from the package of Quaker Oats and was originally brought to my attention by Joy the Baker, who writes an adorable blog filled with beautiful photographs, delightful writing, and enticing recipes.

• 2 Earth Balance buttery sticks
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached sugar
• 1 tablespoon black strap molasses
• 2 tablespoons flax meal + 6 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour (if you don't have this use 1 1/2 cups all-purpose, do not substitute regular whole wheat)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• rounded 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 350.  In a small bowl, mix together flax meal and water and set aside to thicken.  In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.  In a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, and molasses until light and fluffy.  Add flax mixture and vanilla and beat again.  Stir in flour mixture until thoroughly incorporated.  Stir in oats, chocolate chips, and nuts.  Drop by rounded tablespoons* onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned.  Cool for one minute on the cookie sheet before transferring to wire racks.  

Makes about 6 dozen 3-inch cookies.

*Do you have a cookie scoop?  It might sounds like a silly kitchen gadget, but if you like cookies, it makes getting them a lot faster.  Please don't tell me that's not a good thing.