Homemade Vegan Cookie and Cake Mixes in a Jar

We have been on a homemade present kick lately so when it was time to celebrate one of our good friend's birthday P and I made these super cool "vegan treats in a jar".

These are great gift ideas and are really simple to make. It also helps that P is a graphic designer so he was able to make these awesome labels but they would be just as cute with a little hand written instruction card.

To make the gifts just choose your favourite cake or cookie recipe that doesn't have a huge list of wet ingredients. We choose vegan chocolate cake, vegan chocolate chip cookies and vegan brownies for the mixes. Then in a glass jar layer all the dry ingredients that the recipe calls for. On an instruction card include the wet ingredients and measurements the person will need to make the mix and the method and cooking instructions for each recipe. Then package it up all nice and pretty and give away to some lucky people.

Vegan Lemon Curd

I came across this Vegan Lemon Curd recipe on the blog Lunch Box Bunch.  It came together really quickly and was super tasty. P could not stop talking about it and we ate it on some home made bread, on pancakes and just out of the jar. I think mine was a bit firmer and next time I would cook for less time but other than that it turned out great.

Vegan Lemon Curd
Via Lunch Box Bunch
makes 1 1/4 cups

1/2 cup soy milk, plain
1/4 cup water
1 Tbsp corn starch
6 Tbsp sugar
6 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
5 Tbsp vegan buttery spread
pinch of salt
optional: 1/8 tsp lemon extract

Directions:
In a soup pan, dissolve the corn starch in the cold soy milk and water.

Turn heat to medium-high and continuously stir the mixture. Add in the buttery spread, lemon juice and sugar and continue to stir until mixture starts to bubble and thicken.

Reduce heat to low and beat with a hand-held beater for about 90 seconds.

Transfer mixture to serving dish and refrigerate until chilled. Store in fridge and eat within 2-3 days.

Vegan Sea Salt & Caramel Popcorn

I made this caramel popcorn as a treat to bring into work. I couldn't believe how easy it was to make and how absolutely delicious it turned out. Seriously give this a go if you like salty sweet things. Seems like a lot of work and will definitely impress people.

The recipe below might look like it has a lot of steps. It really is not complicated but you need to read the recipe BEFORE trying to make it. It is easy to do but you need to be quick about it so read first then make.

Vegan Sea Salt & Caramel Popcorn
6 - 8 cups of freshly popped popcorn (1/2 cup un-popped kernels)
1 1/4 cup sugar (I used organic)
3 Tbsp Earth Balance (or other margarine)
1 tsp sea salt

Firstly pop your popcorn. Personally I make my popcorn on the stove in a Whirly Pop (This contraption makes sure your popcorn doesn't burn) But it is super easy to do in a large soup pot. Once you make it on the stove you won't go back to microwave popcorn. It honestly takes the same amount of time and is so much tastier.

Once your popcorn is ready put it into a very large bowl and set aside. At the same time put a sheet pan out and cover with parchment paper.

Now it is time to make the caramel. I don't have a candy thermometer (I know a Whirly Pop but no candy thermometer!) so I put a glass of ice water and spoon beside the stove so I can test the caramel and make sure it gets to hard candy stage.

In a small pot put the sugar and margarine in. Place on medium low heat and eventually the margarine will melt and mix with the sugar. Stir frequently with a wooden spoon.

Whatever you do - DO NOT LEAVE THE STOVE. You need to stand there and watch the caramel very carefully so don't answer the phone or put a few dishes away or anything. Just stand there and stir frequently.

After about 5 - 7 minutes the sugar will be getting a deep rich brown colour. Now take your little spoon and grab a little caramel and dunk it into the ice water for 15 - 20 seconds. If the caramel has reached hard candy stage it will completely harden on the spoon. This is what you are looking for. If the caramel is still soft in the ice water keep cooking it and test it again in a few minutes.

DO NOT TOUCH THE CARAMEL - It will seem very tempting and look delicious and you will want to stick your finger in the pot or grab the spoon and put some in your mouth but trust me the caramel is about 5 million degrees and will then stick to your hand or mouth while burning you intensely. Just be patient.

Add the sea salt to the caramel and stir. It will fizz and crackle so be careful. Now quickly pour the caramel over the popcorn and stir the popcorn so the caramel coats it. You will need to move quickly as the caramel will harden fast.

Now pour the popcorn onto the sheet pan and spread out. You may want to break up some of the larger pieces. Let the popcorn cool on the sheet pan and then store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Homemade Fudgesicles

Tasty summertime treats.

Fudgesicles
Recipe adapted from Honey.com

2 cups soy milk
1/3 cup honey
3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon Earth Balance

Combine all ingredients in saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat on stove until little bubbles appear and mixture thickens. Cool slightly and pour into molds. Freeze 2 to 4 hours or until firm. Store in freezer.

Vegan Almond Butter and Sesame Seed Cookies

These cookies are reminiscent of a soft peanut butter cookie but the sesame seeds add a lovely crunch. I used almond butter because that is what I had but any nut butter would work.

 

Vegan Almond Butter and Sesame Seed Cookies
Adapted from Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero

2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup Earth Balance, softened
1/2 cup chunky almond butter
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup soy milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2/3 cup of black and white sesame seeds

Preheat to 350F and lightly grease two cookie sheets.
Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt, ground ginger, and cinnamon, and set aside.
In a large bowl use electric beaters to cream the Earth Balance until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the peanut butter, agave, sugar, soy milk, and extracts, and continue to beat until creamy, 4-5 minutes. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in the flour mixture and stir until a firm dough forms.

Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls. Roll each ball in sesame seeds, and place on a prepared cookie sheet, leaving about 1 1/2″ of space between each cookie. Flatten the balls just slightly and bake for 10-11 minutes for chewy cookies, up to 14 minutes for firmer, crunchier cookies. Remove from oven and allow cookies to remain on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool.

Terrific Teacups

So many pretty teacups. I want them all! Plus it goes nicely with my round up of teapots.

1. Vintage French teacups via willow95988 2. Teacups as jewellery holders via Lavender & Lillies 3. Teacup bracelets (seriously - so freaking cool!) from staceygoldmaryrose 4. Teacup print from theblackoutline 5. Super cool mod teacups from MOD design 6. Amazing embroidered teacup via CRAFT:

Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Cake

I was staying at a friends place and she pulled out the cutest mini loaf pan. I said something along the lines of "I have to have this pan" and she replied "it's yours - as long as you promise to use it". Best day ever!!! So to keep my promise I adapted this recipe from the Half Assed Kitchen to make these absolutely delicious zucchini cakes.

 

Chocolate Zucchini Cake
2-1/2 cups fresh zucchini, grated, peeled
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup canola oil
2 3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup of dark chocolate cut into chunks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, combine zucchini, bananas, oil and vanilla. Stir well. In a separate bowl, mix all dry ingredients except chocolate chips. Add wet ingredients to dry, stir thoroughly and fold in chocolate chips.

I was worried that the loafs would stick so I cut rectangles of parchment paper and placed them into the mini loaf tin with enough overhang to wrap the loafs afterwards.

Bake mini loafs for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes our clean.

Moustache Love

I know they are everywhere right now but here is a little round up of super cute moustache {mustache} stuff.

1. Mustache buttons from Londontierney 2. Mustache print from ErikDWhite 3. Mustache Party invitation from Damask Love 4. Mustache love ring from Isette 5. Mustache throw pillow from bambina 6. Bearded lady print from TheBruisedPear 7. Mustache pocket mirror from SarahVonKim

Puces Pop Round Up - Pollen & Parcéline

Oh so much prettiness at the Pollen & Parcéline booth at Puces Pop. They have these gorgeous ceramic pieces of jewelry that feature images of birds and flowers. Some of them are even threaded and adorned with beads and fabric. My treat to myself was a brooch with a dandelion on it.

Puces Pop Round Up - broundoor

About a year ago P bought a wallet that was made by Marc Simard of broundoor. We were stoked to see him at Puces Pop. Look at how cool these babies are. Marc uses a number of techniques to make his designs - carving, burning, laser cutting and stitching to name a few. My dad ended up buying one of the wallets for himself. Thanks Marc!

Puces Pop Round Up - Instant Crimson

Instant Crimson is run by Valerie Maynard who makes the cutest fabric prints and then turns them into lovely things. Her philosophy is to "create adorable things and make the world a sweeter place." How could I not love her?

Puces Pop Round Up - Mitz Takahashi

Mitz Takahashi is actually a friend of a friend so it was really nice to see him at Puces Pop. He is a furniture designer that uses a lot of recycled wood and other materials. He was selling these hilarious wood cuts at the event. I want to use them as coasters.

Puces Pop Round Up - Cara Carmina

This weekend my dad was visiting us in Montreal. We decided to head up to Puces Pop which is this really cool independent art and craft fair. People were selling everything from ceramics to t-shirts to jewelry to baked goods. It was awesome. This week I wanted to share some of the cool things I saw so get ready for my Puces Pop round up.

Today it's all about Cara Carmina. She makes these amazing stitched greeting cards and lovely collaged paper dolls. She also has some really cool custom fabric dolls that you can see here. And she is just plain nice.

1. Frida textile collage card 2. I Love Mondays textile collage card 3.Cyrano Doll bookmarks

Deer Oh Deer

Some super cute deer items. 

1. Deer paper craft with template via Daily Cute 2. Kawaii deer fabric via Tim and Erin Fulton 3. The most amazing knit deer head from Rachel Denny 4. Bookmarks from Ribonita 5. Deer broach from craftjuice 6. Deer crayon tote (a crayon tote? Already this is the cutest thing I have ever seen) from Grandmas Little Lilly

Hip Hedgehogs

If I were going to own an animal I think it might have to be a hedgehog. I love how sweet and shy they are. Here are some cute hedgehog items I came across.

1. Reusable hedgehog sandwich bag from Sacksavers 2. Axl the Hedgehog print from Flight of the Parcel 3. Hedgehog card from Ewan John 4. Hedgehog book ends that you can decorate yourself (!) from craftycanadadotcom 5. Wood magnets from Monkeys On The Roof 6. Sleepy hedgehog pin from Vegancraftastic

All Things Babushka

I love love love how cute babushka (aka matryoshka) dolls are. I have been seeing them everywhere lately from kitchen stuff to stationary. Yeah for babushka!

1. Babushka hair pins from creamrose via bohaute  2. Babushka mugs from Maxwell Williams 3.Babushka plates from Sweet Tidings 4. Cool robot babushkas from The Spoon Sisters via tiny iron fists 5. Super cool measuring cups called M-cups via touch wood design 6. Nesting cups sweetly named Babushkups via the hip infant 7. Textiles designed by Kristen Doran via bohaute

Pink Cupcakes

I was surfing around looking for cute stuff for my three valentines day posts (here, here and here) and I noticed a theme. Pink cupcake stuff. So I thought it deserved its own post.

1. Amigurumi cupcake via Amigurumi Kingdom on Flickr 2. Pink cupcakes from Cutest Food 3. Victoria Secret cupcake underwear via all things cupcake 4. Pink rose cupcakes from Created by Diane 5. Cupcake ring (so sweet!) from MaruMaru 6. Cupcake panda print from SugarLuxe

Tantalizing Teapots

If my kitchen was bigger I would have a collection of teapots. One for every occasion. 

1. One teapot by Vessel via Design*Sponge 2. Pinstripe and Cherry Blossom teapot from Kristen K Swanson 3. Super cool teapot from Normann Copenhagen Familia (how much do you love the cork lid?) 4. Ultra modern teapot from Stelton via Trendir 5. Sweet bird teapot via teapots teapots teapots 6. Ingenious teapot via Seven Bowls of Tea

Music To Draw To

To celebrate Valentines day P and I and some friends went to a little theatre near us for "Music to draw to". It is this really cool evening put on by Kid Koala and his peeps. 5 bucks gets you in the door and includes a pencil and a hot chocolate. Kid Koala spins tunes all night and everyone comes to work on art. At our table there was knitting, cross stitching, drawing, book editing and video game designing. Plus they sell all these really darling treats and the atmosphere is just lovely. Very nice way to spend valentines.

Valentine's Day Chai and Chocolate Cookies

I made these little babies for everyone at the office. I used a regular sugar cookie recipe (not one that I was impressed with - so I won't post it) and just added my own spice mix. You could do the same spice mix with a sugar cookie recipe you like. Then I used some fun new cookie cutters to make cute little heart shaped cookies. Baked these and then filled them with the best chocolate icing. Happy Valentine's day!

Chai Sugar Cookie Spice Mix
20 cardamom pods opened and seeds removed
3 cloves
1/2 tsp star anise
1 Tbsp cinnamon
2 tsp nutmeg
2 - 3 Tbsp loose green or black tea (optional)

Grind cardamom seeds, cloves and star anise with mortar and pestle or in a spice grinder. Add this plus the cinnamon and nutmeg to your dry ingredients. Crush tea in mortar and pestle until the leaves are ground. Add to wet ingredients.

Vegan Chocolate Frosting
3/4 cup Earth Balance, soften to room temperature
1/2 cup maple syrup
3/4 - 1 cup cocoa powder

Mix earth balance, maple syrup, and 3/4 cup of cocoa powder with hand mixer until smooth. Check consistency and add more cocoa powder if needed.