Saturday, February 27, 2010

Daring Bakers-February Challenge-Tiramisu!



The February 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen and Deeba of Passionate About Baking. They chose Tiramisu as the challenge for the month. Their challenge recipe is based on recipes from The Washington Post, Cordon Bleu at Home and Baking Obsession.


Let me just tell you, tiramisu might be my favorite dessert ever, and I can't BELIEVE I've never made a vegan version of it. And it's totally easy, despite the recipe looking kinda longish! My poor friends and family can expect for me to shoving slices of this at them at every upcoming gathering! (I know! Poor them!)

I took these pictures in the morning after it had been in the freezer all night, so that is why it is a little frosty-looking. Bonus, it is DELICIOUS frozen!




Vegan Cherry Amaretto Tiramisu!

VEGAN LADYFINGER COOKIES (from the Whole Foods website)
2 cups flour (I actually used 1 cup white and 1 cup wheat flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup non-hydrogenated margarine
1 cup vegan sugar
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup soymilk, rice milk or almond milk

1. To make the ladyfingers, sift together flour, baking powder and baking soda and set aside. Using a mixer, cream together margarine and sugar until fluffy. Stir in maple syrup. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined, alternating with additions of milk. Cover and chill the dough for at least 1 hour.

2. Preheat oven to 350°F and position a rack in the center of the oven. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silpats; set aside.

3. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into 1-inch balls then roll each ball into a 2-inch-long stick. Makes 16-18 cookies. Arrange on prepared baking sheets, leaving a few inches of room between each ladyfinger, as they spread! Bake 8 to 12 minutes, or until cookies are firm and just beginning to brown. Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheets for about 1 minute. When firm enough to move, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

VEGAN TIRAMISU FILLING
2 cups Soyatoo Rice Whip whipped cream
8 oz. tofutti better than cream cheese
3/4cup powdered sugar
1 TBS vanilla extract

1. In a stand mixer or with a hand-mixer, blend until smooth.

LIQUID FOR DIPPING LADYFINGERS IN:
1 3/4 cups strong brewed coffee or espresso, cooled to room temperature
1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice
2 tablespoons Amaretto (or Marsala Wine)
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

(you can dip it anything really! Pick a flavor or two that you love and substitute them in! I want to try a kahlua/coffee mixture and then a totally fruity one with orange juice/strawberries in the summertime!)

ASSEMBLY:
1. Stir together coffee, cherry juice, and amaretto in a shallow bowl. Dip a ladyfinger in coffee mixture, soaking it about 4 to 5 seconds on each side then transfer to a 5- x 9-inch glass baking dish. Repeat with 8 more ladyfingers, arranging them in the bottom of dish.

2. Spread half of the filling evenly over ladyfingers. Make another layer in the same manner with remaining ladyfingers and filling. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour then sprinkle with cocoa and serve. Tiramisu is always better the next day, after the flavors have melded together more. You can either store it in the fridge or the freezer, both versions are tasty!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Sketchbook Doodle: Oh Brother!



Sums up how I feel about the weather this week. But, no one wants to talk about the weather, so lets draw birds instead! It's been a stressful week at work, but I have combated it with lots of painting and doodling and tea at home! Nik and I found an awesome tea place in Park Slope this past weekend, and stocked up on tea. My favorite so far is the apricot. Mmmm. We also got Cherry Blossom, Black Currant, and the old favorite Earl Grey. We also found the Superhero Supply Store, which might be the greatest store ever, with their stock of Matter and Anti-matter, etc.

Monday, February 22, 2010

More new paintings!

Unicorn Power!


Teeter-totter!


I'll Show You the Stars


Narwhal Power!


I Won't Let You Go

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Foxy Fox



I got some new markers yesterday, so I was messing around with them last night. Cute little fellow yeah? And orange is totally underrated. I'm messing around with turning this into a watercolor + marker experiment. You know, mixing things up a bit. :)

I have sore arms today! I went and got three vaccinations for my upcoming trip to Peru. Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever. Eeek. I wouldn't have gotten them if I didn't have to have a certificate saying I did, to enter the country. Not a fan. Had a prescription-happy doctor who gave me a bunch that I'm not going to fill. Okay, maybe the altitude sickness one.

I'm psyched for the weekend. Hopefully will get to check out the Tim Burton exhibit at MOMA.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Daring Cooks-February Challenge-Mezze Platter



The 2010 February Daring Cooks challenge was hosted by Michele of Veggie Num Nums. Michele chose to challenge everyone to make mezze based on various recipes from Claudia Roden, Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Dugid.

The mandatory recipes for this challenge were homemade hummus and pita bread, and I chose to make roasted red pepper seitan and some pickled veggies. Actually, I already had made the pickled veggies in the summertime and just ate the rest of them with this meal. Mezze platters make me happy! For the seitan, I used the recipe for the Chorizo Sausages in "Vegan Brunch", but using garbanzo beans instead of pinto, and adding in the roasted red pepper at the end. I made a simple sauce of veganaise, dill, and a little soy milk to thin it out.




Sunday, February 14, 2010

Won't you be mine?


Hello! Happy day of love! It's such a lazy, sunny day out today, perfect for baking in the sun-filled kitchen (the only room in my apartment that gets sun-filled *sadface*). My 'lil show was last night, and it was super-fun! Lots of people showed up and there were yummy cupcakes and wine for everyone! I took some (bad) photos of my 'lil display (skulls aren't mine, but everything under them is, and I didn't get a picture of the other two artist's stuff that was there), and some of my yummy vegan cupcakes (chocolate with blackberry jam and pretty pink frosting and chocolate sprinkles). Lots of good feedback on my work and lots of merch was sold. Woohoo!





Brunch this morning! Made some delicious hash browns with some homemade chunky applesauce and nice big pot of earl grey tea. Today will be a sad day of doing my taxes, but I think I am going to have to make some Chai rolls to cheer me up later. Have a beautiful day!

Friday, February 12, 2010

2 More new paintings and Show info!


Rabbit Rainbow
5"x7"x1.5"
Watercolor on Gesso


Monster Theatre
5"x7"x1.5"
Watercolor on Gesso

New paintings and the weekend (3-days!) are here! If that isn't cause for celebration, then I don't know what is. I have a little opening tomorrow night, so if you are in the NYC area, I'd love it if you stopped by! I'm going to make a bunch of mini cupcakes!

Fuego 718
249 Grand Street
Williamsburg
718 302 2913

Enjoy us
on SATURDAY, February 13th, 2010
6 to 10 PM
for a glass of wine and cookies and mini cupcakes!

With works from:
George Kocar (Ohio)
Johanna Wright (Portland)
Laura Osorno (Bogota, Colombia.)
Michelle Cavigliano (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Mara Catalan (Madrid, Spain)
Jimbo matison (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Snow trees are pretty!

It's like a snowglobe outside today! I took these pictures this morning on my walk to work, when there was only a few inches of snow. It's still going and i'm nice and snug at home!







Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Some new things...

Hello! I wanted to share a few of my new paintings that I have been working super-hard on over the last few weeks. I have a thing for bears lately, if you couldn't tell. Will reveal the rest soon!





Things I'm excited about:

My group show this coming Saturday, Feb. 13th at Fuego 718, in Williamsburg, from 6-10pm. Come out for cupcakes and fun art!

Impending snowstorm! Woo! I was out of town for the last (and only one) we had this season, so I say BRING IT ON! (sorry to all those who are buried in snow already!)

Hooray for the new season of LOST!

Planning for my trip in April to Peru is FUN!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Sketchbook Doodles-Mischief!





I miss figure drawing. I need to make a date with Dr. Sketchy very soon (ooo, a contortionist is the next model!)

Lots of new stuff to show you soon. And I made cookies last night and they deserve a post allllll to themselves.