"If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud." ~ Emile Zola

30 September 2009

EtsyVeg Celebrates World Vegetarian Day October 1st

I will be posting an original recipe here tomorrow, as well as hosting a special sale in my shop to honor World Veg Day tomorrow! Tune in for more info! :)

16 September 2009

Baking Out Loud: Sweet, Puffy Vegan Donut Deliciousness


Fabulous, wonderful, delicious DONUTS! Better yet, they're VEGAN! Woot! Until recently I hadn't had a donut (which I adore) since going vegan over eleven years ago. My mom lives less than a block from a donut shop, and when I visit I can smell the sweet, warm, glazey goodness every morning and night. The urge to seek and consume is a hard one to fight! So imagine my utter excitement when a recent Vegetarian Times issue had a VEGAN DONUT feature! Yay!

I read through the magazine and made myself be patient until I got to the article, and it was worth the difficult wait. The piece featured several luscious-sounding donut recipes, all but one of which they suggested cooking in a donut baking pan. I'd never seen one, but I took the article's recommendation and found one online to buy right away (I'm such a sucker). Anyway, I chose the "French Toast" donut recipe, and was not disappointed. The results were heavenly, puffy, cinnamon-sugary rings of delish.


My review of the baking pan? It makes making donuts a complete breeze! The texture of the donuts ends up being more dense than that of fried donuts, but still awesome and still craving-satisfactory. It's suggested to fill the pan's individual donut cups, which look like little bundt pans, only partly full. I suggest filling them to the brim or a bit higher, as they don't seem to rise much. I ordered the larger of two pan sizes- the other was a mini- but the large are still not very big. I will order the mini at some point 'cause I can't resist the cuteness of teeny donuts.

Gotta share the recipe! :) Here' goes... Enjoy!




French Toast Doughnuts
from Veg Times Sept 2009 issue

(Makes 18 mini doughnuts or 6-8 large)

INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
2/3 cup plain soymilk
4 Tbs. nonhydrogenated vegan margarine
1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 tsp. egg replacer,such as Ener-G
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Maple Glaze
2 Tbs. plain soymilk
2 Tbs. maple syrup
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar
2 Tbs. sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS


1. To make Doughnuts: Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat doughnut pan with cooking spray.

2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in large bowl.

3. Combine soymilk, margarine, and vinegar in saucepan, and heat over low heat until margarine is melted. Cool. Whisk egg replacer with 2 Tbs. water in small bowl; whisk this mixture and vanilla extract into soymilk mixture. Stir soymilk mixture into flour mixture.

4. Fill each doughnut mold half full with batter. Bake 12 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in doughnut comes out clean. Unmold doughnuts on wire rack to cool, and repeat with remaining batter.

5. To make Maple Glaze: Combine soymilk, maple syrup, sugar, and salt in saucepan, and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly. Remove from heat, and cool 5 to 10 minutes, or until thickened. Stir in vanilla extract.

6. To make Cinnamon Sugar: Whisk together sugar and cinnamon in small bowl.

7. Dip each doughnut into Maple Glaze and sprinkle with Cinnamon Sugar. Let glaze set before serving.



15 September 2009

Interesting Holidays & Observances- Veg, Animals, Health, & More!

The next couple of months will celebrate a plethora of veg-, compassion-, and animal-related holidays, plus lots of important issue-awareness days/weeks that are important to me. Check'em out! Party, anyone?

The Veg Calendar

September: World Animal Remembrance Month, Yoga Awareness Month

September 15-21:
National Farm Animals Awareness Week (U.S.)

September 18th:
International Day of Peace

September 19th:
Puppy Mill Awareness Day

September 25th:
Hug A Vegetarian Day (I'm expecting some love, gang!)


October: Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, LGBT History Month, Emotional Wellness Month, National Depression Education and Awareness Month, National Animal Safety and Protection Month,
Vegetarian Awareness Month, & National Pet Wellness Month

October 1st:
World Vegetarian Day

October 2nd:
World Farm Animals Day

October 3rd: Alternative Fuel Day


October 4th: World Animal Day


October 5-11: Mental Illness Awareness Week


October 6th: Ecological Debt Day


October 8th: National Depression Screening Day


October 10th: World Mental Health Day


October 11th: Coming Out Day

October 17-24:
National Primate Liberation Week (U.S.)


October 18-24: Freedom From Bullies Week


October 18th: NATIONAL CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE DAY! Woot! :)


October 19-25: Freedom of Speech Week

October 23-31:
World Go Vegan Week


October 28th: National Chocolates Day- yay!


November: Vegan Awareness Month


November 1-7" National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week

November 1st:
World Vegan Day


November 9-16: World Kindness Week

November 13th:
World Kindness Day


November 15th: Transgender Day of Remembrance


November 16th: International Day for Tolerance


November 21: National Survivors of Suicide Day


November 25th: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women



December 10th:
International Animal Rights Day


Find awareness days and observances of your own!

Quote of the Week

Thanks to my pal Gina of claynfiber for sharing this wonderful quote on the EtsyVeg blog:

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."

~Buddha

09 September 2009

Wednesdays Bring Savings on ORANGE Goodies!

Today's EtsyVeg "Kickoff to Fall Special": Visit my shop to SAVE 25% on all *ORANGE* items and 10% on all other items, and receive free shipping when you spend over $30! Yay! Just make your purchase and receive an instant refund for the discount amount via PayPal.

Save on jewelry and art like these earrings, just listed in my shop:


Visit the EtsyVeg blog daily from SEPTEMBER 7th-13th to see the current offers of the day and special features at http://etsyveg.blogspot.com.


08 September 2009

New Jewels!

I am FINALLY getting around to listing some of the new inventory I have! Visit my Etsy shop for more new goodies (all cruelty-free and natural) in the way of jewels, and don't forget to check out the savings I am offering as part of EtsyVeg's Kickoff to Fall promotion all this week. My sale will change daily with the special color of the day. Today is YELLOW! :)


Tuesday's Kickoff to Fall Sale with EtsyVeg!

Today's EtsyVeg "Kickoff to Fall Special": Visit my shop to SAVE 25% on all *yellow* items and 10% on all other items, and receive free shipping when you spend over $30! Yay! Just make your purchase and receive an instant refund for the discount amount via PayPal.

Visit the EtsyVeg blog daily from SEPTEMBER 7th-13th to see the current offers of the day and special features at http://etsyveg.blogspot.com.

07 September 2009

ETSYVEG "KICKOFF TO FALL" SALE!

This week, my shop, SilentLotus Creations, is participating in ETSYVEG’s “KICKOFF TO FALL” SALE celebrating the start of the fall season! Participating EtsyVeg members are offering discounts, free shipping, or a free gift with a purchase on an exciting range of unique handmade goods (many are vegan, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly). Visit our blog daily from SEPTEMBER 7th-13th to see the current specials (they change each day) at http://etsyveg.blogspot.com.

Today's Kickoff to Fall Special: Visit my shop to SAVE 25% on all *green* items and 10% on all other items, and receive free shipping when you spend over $30! Yay! Just make your purchase and receive an instant refund for the discount amount via PayPal.

Check back each day for a sale on items of other fall colors, and a special weekend offer. :)

04 September 2009

EtsyVeg's Kickoff to Fall Celebration Sale!


Starting next Monday, September 7th, a group of our fabulous vegetarian and vegan artisans will be offering specials in their Etsy shops! Keep watch for fabulous deals on unique handcrafted and vintage goods and supplies, a perfect way to start off the autumn season!

Look for specials like dicounts and free shipping in the following shops for the week of September 7th-13th- don't miss it!

aktie9
amefaust
auclairdelalune
bayatinge
chickscratch
CollarMeGorgeous
jackandjillsmom
jenoconnell
judysmosaicsupplies
loveluca
Karramandi
KneeDeepOriginals
krugsecologic
magglepie
midnightrabbits
movetheneedle
ThisisBexx
pandawithcookie
silentlotus
starfirewire
TheAwesomestPossum
TokenEmotion
veganessa
vibrantmosaics