Monday, November 8, 2010

What in the World?

I'm so sorry. It's been a long time. I suppose much of the same has happened...

1. Classes
2. Working/Interning
3. Homeworking/Stressing/Sleeping

And much has gone down...

1. ACL and meeting Chris and Ali Lee!
2. Nashville for Casey & Josh's wedding!
3. Early Turkey Day with Mum and Dad!

What's missing from the list, besides hanging out with my boys? COOKING & BAKING!!!!

So here are a few visuals...

Matt gave me a donut pan a while back...

And I finally used it!
Matt decorated our first vegan donuts...he is so patient with me. I am finding a new love for vegan cooking (okay, it's not really new), and this meat-and-potatoes guy is pretty darn open to the crazy concoctions that come out of the kitchen. 

The truth is, I LOVE HEALTHY FOODS! (surprise, surprise) I have like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality in the foods department, where I could live off of carrot sticks and gooey cinnamon rolls. What is that about?? But I'm sure I'm not the only one with these crazy tastebuds, so I'm finding that healthy alternatives--that also cater to my ridiculously sweet tooth--are often found in dairy-free, meat-free recipes. I've already mentioned some of my favorite baking items, but let me recap the healthy (and vegan!) baking alternatives...


ALL SPICES (yes, all spices...baking really does pair well with vegan cooking)
APPLESAUCE (to replace margarine/butter, eggs, cream, buttermilk)
MARGARINE (most kinds are dairy-free)
OAT FLOUR, "WHITE" WHEAT FLOUR (a lighter, less dense version of wheat flour), WHEAT FLOUR, BROWN RICE FLOUR, RYE FLOUR, AND OTHERS
VANILLA *UNSWEETENED* ALMOND MILK, SOY MILK, CHOCOLATE *UNSWEETENED* SOY MILK


OKAY, enough of that.

NOW FOR SOMETHING NOT-SO-VEGAN, NOT-SO-HEALTHY, AND DEFINITELY BAKED...THE BIG PINK BOX:
SEE THIS LITTLE BOX OF HAPPINESS?
WHAT IS IN THIS BOX, YOU ASK? GERIK'S OLE CZECH BAKERY, A PINK BOX OF HAPPINESS, SWEET TREATS AND GRANDMA'S BAKING.


Okay, so my grandma wasn't Czech, and she didn't Paula Dean it with all of that butter in her baking, but these bakery delights make you feel right at home. The "rolls," kolaches and cookies are a delight!
CHERRY STRUDEL ROLL...A CINNAMON ROLL MORPHED!
**FREE!** ONE STICK OF BUTTER GUARANTEED IN EVERY KOLACHE.
SPICY SAUSAGE (MATT'S) & GIANT CINNAMON ROLLS (MINE)

Gerik's is owned by a family from the little community of West down the road. They opened this downtown Waco bakery on 6th and Franklin, and business is good! They have a breakfast/lunch cafe, but we have yet to partake in the sit-down restaurant goodness. If you're around Waco, come try it!

NOT USUALLY A FAN OF CREAM CHEESE ICING, THIS ONE IS TASTY AND LIGHT!


Okay, that's what I've got for now. More homework and Season 1 of Wings. Haha, I'm excited. Happy week! Enjoy life and each other!

Laurel 

Annnnddd some humility...I burned okra in a pot yesterday. How does one burn okra???It charred and everything.