Saturday Cooking and Baking

Today I just wasn't in a sewing mood but I did really want to bake and cook. I accomplished 3 out of the 4 things I planned to make today.

First I wanted to test a recipe from the Chocolate-Covered Katie site. It was posted in the comments section of the Banana-Split Cheesecake Bites post.

I stayed true to the test recipe. In my case I am a sugar user so I did not use stevia and I did opted for a full tablespoon of lemon.

The batter tasted great! Now we will have to wait until tomorrow for consistency. The last time I tried a vegan cheesecake the consistency failed but the taste was fine and yes, as I remember, I ate a fair amount of it.

The next recipe is not so much cooking but it has become a huge staple for me. This is based on the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Larabar recipe. I have never eaten a Larabar so I have no idea how this compares, I just know that it is a great combo for me.

My modifications include 2 tablespoons of coconut instead of peanuts and I used prunes instead of raisins. You can see the mix is a crumble.

I then smash into a container which goes into the refrigerator to eat in sections when I need it. Truly a favorite for me.

This photos is boring, but I REALLY have wanted to make the sour cream recipe from the "Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons" since I got the book. This did not disappoint. I left out the salt because of the recipe it was going into and doubled the lemon juice. I will absolutely make this again over buying the store options.


The sour cream went into my favorite stroganoff recipe, which I promise tastes much better than it looks. It is basically onion, garlic, frozen spinach, and Nate's meatless meatballs. I used to only put it over noodles, now I am just as likely to put it over sweet potatoes.

Current stroganoff recipe (a recipe was given to me but I don't know from where and I do some things differently):

• 1 onion
• 4+ cloves of garlic (I am garlic person)
• 16oz bag frozen spinach (I have done combos of fresh too depending what is laying around)
• 1 bag frozen meatless meatballs (using Nate's lately - depends on what I can find).
• 1 cup sour cream (I was using the Tofutti brand, but will now make my own with above recipe).

Saute the cropped garlic and onion about 10 minutes (basically I don't let it brown). Add the spinach and the meatless meatballs and some water (maybe a 1/3 cup of water - sometimes I need more).

I have found I need to cook it at about medium heat for a good 10 minutes or so - until the meatballs are hot all the way through.

Add sour cream after everything else is cooked and heat (but don't bring to boil). Salt/pepper as desired.

This recipe has frozen well for me.

I wanted to make another batch of berry scones and even put crystallized ginger in them this time but the night is getting late so instead I will eat Next Organics chocolate covered ginger (pretty much my favorite along side their chocolate covered cherries) and watch more Dark Shadows.

Good night. :)