Easy to Make Vegan Chocolate Eggs

I post this every year, so if you've seen it before, that's why...

Cruelty free Easter eggs! These are fun if you have little ones or even for yourself. They are slightly reminiscent of those Cadbury ones, but the filling is not nearly as runny.

These also make a mean peppermint patty, so you don't have to wait until Easter to enjoy them! As a matter of fact, you can sub any flavor into the center and make a variety of chocolates.

1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar
A few drops yellow food coloring, optional (A little turmeric makes for an awersome all natural coloring)
Extra powdered sugar for dusting
12 ounces nondairy semisweet chocolate chips

In a bowl, mix together corn syrup and vanilla. Begin adding in sugar one cup at a time. Work in the sugar until you get a dough that is the consistency of play-dough.

Divide into thirds. Add yellow food coloring to 1/3 of the dough. Divide that 1/3 into 12 even pieces and roll into small balls. Dust with extra powdered sugar as you work to prevent them from getting too sticky. Place on a sheet of parchment or wax paper and set aside.

Divide the remaining 2/3 into 12 equal pieces and form into small patties. Once again dusting with powdered sugar as you work.

Add one "yolk" into the center of each patty and wrap the patty around it. Form into an egg shape, Dusting as you work. Place on parchment or waxed paper and place in the freezer to stiffen up before you dip them in the chocolate, about an hour or so.

While your "eggs" are freezing, you can melt your chocolate, either on a double boiler or in the microwave.

Dip each egg in chocolate and return to wax paper to cool and harden. You can place them back in the freezer to speed up the process if you'd like.

Yield: A dozen "eggs"

Variations:
Peppermint Patties: Instead of dividing into thirds, add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of peppermint extract to the corn syrup and vanilla before adding the sugar. Add a little green food color (optional). Divide into 24 equal pieces and form into patties. Follow the recipe from there.

Get creative with the flavors! Add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of lemon or orange (or almond or anise or cinnamon...) extract instead of the peppermint. Add a touch of yellow or orange natural food color, or whatever color matches the flavor you use to make a variety.

Hearty Vegan? Howz'about Home-Cooked Vegan Comfort Food?

Sorry for the delay in announcing the winner!
Congratulations to #17, Matthew Traxler!  You win a copy of Hearty Vegan Meals for Monster Appetites, soon to be Home-Cooked Vegan Comfort Food! Please send me your snail mail address so I can send you your book!

A little while back, Celine and I wrote a little ol' book called Hearty Vegan Meals for Monster Appetites.  And y'all have really given it some wonderful reviews!  So it was quite perplexing to us, and the publishers, why this book didn't perform as well as some of our other titles.  I mean with recipes like Chorizo and Potato Lasagna Bake, Tofuevos Rancheros, and Vanilla Pudding Cupcakes who wouldn't want their own copy of this book?  So we started thinking about it, and well, we know the recipes are ahhhmazing, so what couldd it be?  And then it hit us!  Maybe it's the name!  I mean, sure, Hearty Vegan Meals for Monster Appetites sounds good to me, but maybe it doesn't appeal to the masses.  So we have changed it, and on its next reprint, it will not only have a new name, but a shiny new cover as well!

For now, the original is still available.   But soon those will be a colletor's item, so get them while they last!  Haha.  And to celebrate the rebirth of our baby, I'm giving away a copy to one lucky reader.  Leave a comment below, letting me know your favorite vegan comfort food, and I will select one of you at random on Friday, March 15, at 12 noon Pacific Standard Time. Contest now over, congratulations to Matthew Traxler, #17!

Monthly Snack Box from Vegan Cuts

My Snack Box from Vegan Cuts!

For a mere $19.95 per month you can receive a box of your own each and every month trhat includes the newest, latest and greatest vegan products available!  This month included some really yummy stuff (Hello Peanut butter Crunch Caramel Earth Bar, and Nacho Bean Chips!) but my favorite item in this box, was the Cuppow sippy top for mason jars!  (I am definitely packing that to bring with me to Vida Vegan Con in may, so I don't spill my Bye and Bye at the Bye and Bye...ha!)

But seriously, this snack box is a pretty convenient way to keep up to date on all the new stuff out there, as it seems new stuff is coming out all the time!  Go to the Vegan Cuts website and subscribe to get your own snack box delivered to your doorstep monthly.  From the looks of it, had I bought all of these items individually, I probably would have spent close to $75 and at only $19.95, not only was this box full of yummy stuff, but it was a bargain as well.  Not to mention, now I am going to try new products, that I may have never tried otherwise, ie, Freekeh Roasted Green Wheat.

Another awesome feature over on Vegan Cuts is that you can set up your own account, and earn rewards points when you refer others to the site.  So not only are you able to shop for and support vegan companies, with great deals, but you can also earn cool VIV (Very Important Vegan) rewards!  Yay for vegan companies, and Yay for Vegan Cuts!

Cleaning off the bookshelf in 2013

I have decided not to make any resolutions this year.  They always seem to make me stressed out and feeling defeated.  Instead I am resolving to make small changes throughout the year that can only change my life for the better,  On of those things is cleaning off my bookshelf.  My bookshelf is starting to bow.  I need to get rid of a few books.  I can't bear to do it, but I found a few that I have 2 copies of, so I am willing to part with those.  Haha.  The rest, I may just pack up into boxes and store until I move into a bigger place, where I can display all of my books.

I realized I have 2 copies of Julie Hasson's beautiful and delicious Vegan Diner: Classic Comfort Food for the Body and Soul



I also found 2 copies of the wonderfully creative and talented Hannah Kaminky's My Sweet Vegan: Passionate About Dessert



Soooo, I am giving them away!

Leave a comment below telling me one small thing you are going to do to make your life better in 2013.  I am hoping to be inspired by some of your ideas and add them onto my own list.

I will choose 2 of you at random, on Sunday, January13, 2013 at 12 noon PST.  If you enter the giveaway, please make sure to check back and see if you won!  And, yes, I will ship internationally :)
Contest is now over...Congratulations to #19 (Randomly chosen by my husband, Dan) and to #32 (Randomly chosen by my nephew, Dominic!)

#19, CONGRATULATIONS!  You win a copy of Julie Hasson's Vegan Diner  

CourtneyJanuary 9, 2013 4:16 PM

I have always wanted to read those cookbooks and my library doesn't have a copy of either. Thank you for the chance to win! I am going to try to focus more on the positive this year...I tend to dwell on what went wrong, but this year I am going to try to think of at least 3 things I am grateful for or happy about each day before I fall asleep.

#32, CONGRATULATIONS!  You win a copy of Hannah Kaminsky's My Sweet Vegan   

Melissa DionJanuary 10, 2013 12:39 PM

It's not an exciting change, but I am no longer eating after 10pm. I think this will help me take off the few pounds I put on over the holidays!

I'll Be at Whole Foods Market in Tustin Today at 12 noon!

Spreading Holiday Joy...Vegan Style!

Cranberry Orange Holiday Punch and ChocoNog Cupcakes with Nutmeg Cream Cheese Frosting

Last weekend Dan and I hosted a mini holiday party.  A small get together, only six of us.  Just some quality time spent with family, before the craziness takes over.  And even though there were only 6 of us, we decided we still wanted to have a festive menu.  Kind of reminiscent of the family christmas potlucks we went to when we were kids.

So, what did we make?  Well, we went semi-homemade with a finger food menu.  Crudite with vegan ranch, Veggie Piggies in a Blanket, various Chips and Dips, Meatless Balls in Marinara, Phyllo Triangles filled with a mixture of Soyrizo and Tofutti Better than Cream Cheese, Hot Spiced Apple Cider kept hot in the crockpot (filling the house in the best, and the above punch and cupcakes.

Cranberry Orange Holiday Punch
Open up a few bottles, float in some cranberries, and voilla!
1 bottle (750 ml) Cranberry Italian Soda
1 bottle (750 ml) Blood Orange Italian Soda
1 bottle (750 ml) Vodka (optional, of course)
1 quart pineapple juice
1 (15 ounce) can mandarin orange segments, in juice
3 cups cranberries (I used frozen)

Pour it all together in a punch bowl and serve over ice!

ChocoNog Cupcakes with Nutmeg Cream Cheese Frosting
These cupcakes are an adaptation of Kittee's Chocolate Cake from Papa Tofu.

For the cupcakes:
3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups evaporated cane juice
2/3 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups vegan Nog
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons canola oil
2 teaspoons chocolate extract
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

For the Frosting:
1 cup non dairy butter
1 (8 ounce) tub vegan cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
Vegan food coloring, optional

To make the cupcakes, preheat oven to 350 F.  Line cupcake pans with papers.

In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients.  In a separate smaller bowl, mix together the wet.

Add wet to dry and mix until there are no lumps.

Fill papers 3/4 full.

Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

To make the frosting, using an electric mixer, beat together butter and cream cheese.
Mix in vanilla and nutmeg.
Add in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until stiff peaks form.

Yield: 24 frosted cupcakes

Holiday Baking Round One:  Gifts for mailing.  This round included the Sweet Twigs and Berries and Saltine Butter Toffee from Vegan Food Gifts, Rice Crispy Treats and Kittee's Peanut Butter Fudge.

But the fun has only just begun!  Now I start with the vegan gift giving.  Yep, it's my favorite way to proselytize.  Give 'em some tasty vegan treats!  My first round went into the mail yesterday and it included two recipes from Vegan Food Gifts, and two reliable recipes from Christmas' past.

Saltine Butter Toffee (from Vegan Food Gifts)
This is one of those recipes that I think everyone has in his or her stash. But guess what? It makes a great gift, and it is super yummy. This is my version. There is just no way that anyone would ever suspect the vegan-ocity here. They are too buttery and delicious. feel free to experiment and play with different toppings, such as sprinkles, crushed candy canes (like I did for this batch!), or even coarse sea salt.

35 to 40 saltine crackers
1 cup (224 g) nondairy butter
1 cup (200 g) evaporated cane juice or sugar
2 cups (352 g) vegan chocolate chips
1 cup (120 g) chopped nuts (any nut will do!), or any of your favorite toppings

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C, or gas mark 4). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, and spray lightly with nonstick spray. Lay the crackers on the sheet in a single layer.
In a saucepot over medium heat, melt the butter and evaporated cane juice until completely dissolved. Pour evenly over the crackers.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until golden.
Carefully remove from the oven. Place on a flat surface, and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly all over the crackers. Using a spreader or butter knife, spread the chocolate evenly over the crackers as it melts. Sprinkle with the nuts or other desired toppings.
Allow to cool and harden completely before breaking into pieces and packaging for gifts.

Yield: 35 to 40 pieces

Twigs and Berries (from Vegan Food Gifts)
Since vegans only eat twigs and berries, why not show those omnis how tasty they can be? Below are two versions, sweet and spicy, based on the same basic mix. This recipe makes a HUGE amount. I use this one when I am making lots of gifts. Feel free to cut the recipe in half, especially if you don't have an industrial sized mixing bowl.

Base Mix
7 cups (216 g) crunchy rice square cereal, like Rice Chex
3 cups (112 g) pretzel sticks
1 cup (142 g) dried cranberries
1 cup (160 g) raisins
1 cup (84 g) banana chips
1 cup (124 g) raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1 cup (112 g) raw almonds
1 cup (112 g) raw pecan halves

In your largest mixing bowl, toss together ingredients, then follow instructions for either the Sweet or Spicy versions below.

Sweet Mix
2 cups (352 g) nondairy semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup (224 g) nondairy butter, like Earth Balance
1/2 cup (128 g) creamy no stir peanut butter
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
5 to 6 cups (600 to 720 g) powdered sugar, to coat

In a sauce pot over low heat, melt chocolate chips, butter, and peanut butter.
Once completely melted, stir in cinnamon and vanilla.
Pour mixture over base mix and stir to coat evenly.
Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and toss to coat. By the time you add the last cup of sugar, your mix should be powdery white and the pieces should not stick together.
Allow to cool (you can leave it right in the bowl) completely before packaging.

Spicy Mix
2 cups (448 g) nondairy butter
1/2 cup (120 ml) soy sauce or Tamari
2 tablespoons (30 ml) Sri Racha
2 tablespoons (16 g) garlic powder
2 tablespoons (16 g) onion powder
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons red chili flakes, adjust to taste
1 teaspoon ground chipotle powder (or Cayenne pepper), adjust to taste

Preheat oven to 250 F degrees.
Line four baking pans with parchment.
In a sauce pot over low heat, add all ingredients and stir until completely melted.
Pour mixture over base mix and toss until evenly coated.
Spread mix evenly in a single layer on baking sheets.
Bake for 45 minutes to one hour, or until crisp.
Allow to cool completely before packaging.

Package in clear bags, tins, jars, or boxes. Regardless, make sure you add a pretty Hang Tag!

Screen shot from my Google search for free downloadable Christmas Gift Tags.  So many to choose from!

Speaking of Gift Tags...
And one final thought for the holiday baking and gift giving season...Want to print your own personalized gift tags, but don't have the creative know how to put it together? If you don't have your own copy of Vegan Food Gifts which has all sorts of scannable and copyable gift tags in it, you can
just type "Free Downloadable Christmas Gift Tags" into your search engine, and click on the images search.  Scan through to find a style you like and click to go to the website where you can download them.  There are thousands of designs out there!  Super cute!

Joni's Top 10 Picks for this Holiday Season (Plus a Giveaway!)

Here they are, in no particular order, my Top 10 Picks for this Holiday Season!   And in order to help at least one of you out, I will be giving away a copy of my book, Vegan Food Gifts, to one of you so you can make some of your own gifts this year.  Simply leave a comment telling me about one vegan gift you'd recommend giving, or would like to receive, this year!  I will choose one of you at random this coming Thursday at 9 am PST.  If you enter, don't forget to check back to see if you have won!

The Contest is now over.  Congratulations to #5!

YAY!  I will be contacting you shortly, so I can mail you your book.  Happy Gifting!

#10 Feed Your Face Vegan Caramels by Nicole

These caramels are amazing.  With over 20 flavors to choose from, it's hard to choose, so for only $22, I go for the sampler!

#9 Flock Member status on Our Hen House
For as little as $10 per month, you can make that lucky someone a flock member, or simply make a one-time donation to Our Hen House so that they can effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals. You can help them to produce consistent, top-notch content (written, audio, and video), by supporting the work of Our Hen House.

#8  Vegan Eats World by Terry Hope Romero

This book is not only full of delicious and fantastic recipes from all over the world, but it is a joy to look at as well.  This hard cover book is beautiful.  The fonts are fun,  the photos are gorgeous, the layout is exceptional.  Right now, I am totally digging the Jamaican Plantain and Pumpkin Curry.

#7 The Koala Ripper Pullover Hoodie by Herbivore Clothing Company

What's not to love about this awesome unisex hoodie?  Stolen from the description on Herbivore's website-- "Those of you who grow up skateboarding will appreciate our tip of the cap -- and those of you who didn't -- cute Koala, huh?" 

#6 Dessert Cup Pan by Wilton

This pan is genius!  Check out how I used it to make some tarts, and then get one and see what you can do with it!

#5  Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day by Tamasin Noyes and Celine Steen
One might accuse me of being biased when recommending this book.  If loving it because it's full of delicious sandwiches, breads, spreads, amazing photographs and all around fantastic theme (I mean, seriously who doesn't love a good sandwich?) then, so be it.



#4 Immersion Stick Blender by Kitchen Aid
I used to se another brand, because it was cheaper, but I broke 3 of them.  I fibnally bought this one, and it really is a dream.  It has 2 speeds, it's very sturdy, and the motor purrs like a kitten.




#3  Cookin' Crunk by Bianca Philips
I haven't been this excited over a cookbook in ages.  I think I have bookmarked every single page.  This is my kind of food!  My husband is still raving about the Fried Tofu Chicken and Wafflewiches!

#2 The Blendtec Blender

I used to be loyal to the Vitamix, and that surely is a great blender.  But this, I am afraid to say, is my new favorite.  Green drinks and smoothies are, well, smoother!

#1 Vagabond Status on Citizen Radio

This listener supported podcast is headed up by 2 vegan progressives who will challenge you to get off your ass and do something about it!  The show is free, but for only $10 a month you can give a subscription to a starving punk rock college student who may or may not already be a maniac.

How Much F'ing Turkey Did You Make Anyways?

Vegetarian Plus Whole Vegan Turkey (Complete with a butthole for stuffing!)
getting a margarine massage before roasting.

So, seriously, for the week after Thanksgiving all you see on the news, and in pop-up ads all over the interwebs, are ways to use your leftover Turkey.  And all I kept thinking was, "Seriously?  How big of a f*ing turkey did you make that you need a butt ton of recipes to use up the leftovers?"  It's one of the amazing things about being vegan, you know?  Our food is so delicious, we don't have many leftovers, and when we do, we just eat them as, I dunno, leftovers!

Giveaway Results!

CONGRATULATIONS TO #11,  

LADLELADY, WHO SAYS:

AND I COULDN'T AGREE WITH HER MORE!  PLEASE SEND ME AN EMAIL WITH YOUR SNAIL MAIL ADDRESS SO I CAN GET YOU YOUR BOOK ASAP!

Please stay tuned, I will be posting a few more giveaways this holiday season!

The Holiday Gift Giving Season is in Full Swing! (Plus a Giveaway)

Thanksgiving has passed and that means this holiday season is in full swing, and I couldn't be more excited!  If you know me, you know I love the holidays.  All of them.  Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Festivus (for the rest of us!) and any other winter celebratory day you can think of.  I love the music, the food, the drink, the tacky sweaters, the decorations, the hustle and the bustle, the cold winter nights, the lights on the houses, and the gift giving.

My family has done away with the giving of gifts in the traditional sense.  We no longer buy presents for each other.  We have everything we need.  One half of my family donates the money we would have spent on presents to a charitable organization instead, and the other half has decided it's okay to give each other a little something, as long as it's home made, and if you can eat it, even better. WOOHOO!  Home made food presents are my favorite!

Hearty Pasta Soup with Chik'n Mix in a jar ready for gifting.  Photo by Celine Steen.  Recipe from Vegan Food Gifts 

I love making vegan food gifts so much, I even wrote a book about it...Vegan Food Gifts.  Haha.  And to get you all in the vegan food gifting spirit I am going to not only provide you with a super fun recipe for gift giving this holiday season, but I am also going to give away a signed copy of the book to one of you.  Simply leave a comment telling me your favorite (or not so favorite) thing about the holiday season and I will choose one at random on Friday, November 30. 2012 at 9:00 am PST.

CONTEST NOW OVER!  CONGRATULATIONS TO #11,

LADLELADY, WHO SAYS:

AND I COULDN'T AGREE WITH HER MORE!  PLEASE SEND ME AN EMAIL WITH YOUR SNAIL MAIL ADDRESS SO I CAN GET YOU YOUR BOOK ASAP!

Hearty Pasta Soup with Chik'n from Vegan Food Gifts (page 97)

Now on to the recipe!  This recipe not only makes a great gift, but it is also a great mix to make up ahead of time, and store in the cabinet for quick and easy weeknight suppers.  And what better way to warm up on a cold winter night than with a hearty bowl of soup?

CLICK TO ENLARGE AND PRINT