Saturday, October 15, 2011

Fudgariffic!!

Everybody loves fudge. It's a scientifically proven fact. I developed this rocky road fudge recipe in homage to days gone past, spending holidays around tons of relatives who would bake up a storm. Those days are gone but the memories remain, and now this fudge has become part of my holiday tradition.

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups of chocolate, coarsely chopped then measured
  • 2 cups (yes really, two cups) of powdered sugar (confectioners sugar)
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 1/8 cup "milk" (I use Almond Breeze, but use whatever floats your boat - soy, rice, hemp, whatev)
  • 1/8 cup rum
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 cup marshmallows, quartered then measured
  • 1 and 1/2 cups walnuts, measured then roughly chopped
Steps:
  • Melt your chocolate. You can use a double boiler for this, but I've actually found that it isn't necessary. It's much more helpful to have a nonstick pot! Stir constantly, and remove from heat as soon as you only have a few little lumps yet. You want to heat your chocolate as little as possible, because you have to let it return to room temperature before using it. How does it stay liquid when it started out solid? Magic.
  • Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper. I swear, this is why parchment exists, and I love it.
  • Chop your walnuts - how big or small depends on how you like it.
  • Quarter your marshmallows. I've used Dandies for this, but I feel that Sweet and Sara's would be wonderful as well - just a little pricey maybe. Note: marshmallows are very sticky when you cut them open! I find it helpful to use some powdered sugar on the chopping board and on my hands to coat the newly exposed sides, so that the marshmallows don't stick to the board, each other, or me... (Of course, if you can get ahold of the mini Dandies, no chopping is necessary!)
  • In a large bowl, whisk together coconut milk, other milk, rum, extract, and powdered sugar. (If your powdered sugar has little sugar rocks in it, run it through a sieve or sifter first.) Mix in your marshmallows and walnuts. (This is about when I switch from a whisk to a spatula. Walnuts + whisk = baagghhh.)
  • Stir in your ROOM TEMPERATURE chocolate. Seriously people. It cannot be hot... unless of course you want to make fudge soup.
  • Pour/scoop the mixture into your prepared pan, and use a spatula to spread it not quite to the edges.
  • Refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours, until completely firm. Then break into chunks or cut up, display nicely on a plate, and watch your loved ones go wild.
Fudgy.

Some additional notes...

*I like to use three 1 oz. squares of semi-sweet and six of unsweetened - plenty of sugar is added later!
*If you have bought a normal size can of coconut milk, this recipe is only going to use about a third of it. You may want to think about creative ways to use the rest - coconut milk goes bad quickly once opened! Of course, you *could* always make a triple batch...
*The rum here is optional - you can up the milk to 1/4 cup and leave it out. But I like the tiny punch it gives, and I swear it doesn't leave the fudge tasting very rummy. Conversely, you can do a full quarter cup and leave the milk out entirely!
*Eternal thanks to Celine of Have Cake, Will Travel, whose whiskey peanut fudge recipe started me on all of my crazy fudgy journeys.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Oh fuuuudge...

Cooler weather also means it's time for fudge. It's fun and easy to make your own, and I'm going to share my favorite recipe with you... tomorrow! Today, feast your eyes on some of the best fudgilicious goodies the VET has to offer...

LinkS'mores Fudge from Sweet V Confections!


Fudgy peanut butter brownies from Veganville!


Rocky Road Fudge from Panda with Cookie BAKES!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Autumn = PUMPKIN!

Even way down here in the deep south, a cool crisp is in the air. And fall can only mean one thing: winter squash! Today, a celebration of that grand orange globe, the pumpkin...

Mallowcreme Pumpkins from Panda with Cookie BAKES!


Pumpkin Spice Caramels from Feed Your Face


Punkin Chocolate Chipper Loaf from Veganville

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

How about some "milk" chocolate? Meet NO Whey Candies!

For some people, milk chocolate is just where it's at. However, as conscious consumers we know that milk is the pits, and that companies like Hershey's and Mars are NOT the cat's meow. Enter NO Whey Candies! This shop has been kicking around the team for a while now, but they've really never gotten a proper introduction. This is one shop, though, that you want to know about! Because milk chocolate lovers who shun all things dairy can rejoice. Below, Stacie shares the NO Whey story and divulges the details of their delicious treats...

When my brother became vegan he said he could eat this way forever but he had to have milk chocolate. My mom came up with an alternative which satisfied even my picky brother! So we started off veganizing all of our old favorites, but have evolved into much more. The favorites these days are the Cranberry, Cashew Bark, and Caramel and Sea Salt.

NO Whey! Candies offers a healthier alternative to snacking. We have non dairy alternatives as well as gluten free and soy-less choices. Our ingredients use no hydrogenated oils and have no trans fats.We make heart healthy dark chocolate as well as a milkless “milk” chocolate in many combinations.

Our chocolates are hand made in a commercial kitchen. We are happy to speak with you about gift orders and adding our special touch to your events. You may speak to Ethel or Stacie Wernick at 216-544-3057 or convo us through our Etsy shop, NO Whey Candies!


Make sure to check out her "killer" kabobs - Halloween happiness on a stick!!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

COOKIES GALORE!

The Vegan Etsy Team excels in many fields. Luckily for everyone, one of them is COOKIES! Behold, a peek at the amazing array of treats our teamies create...

Peanut Butter White Chocolate Chip Cookies from Panda with Cookie BAKES!


Carrot Cake Voopies from Veganville! (with creme cheeze filling!!)


Classic shortbread jam cutouts from Sweet V Confections


And even cookies for your kitties! Catnip cookies from Luna's Apawthecary, that is. ;)

Monday, October 10, 2011

Good enough to eat!

Here at the Vegan Etsy Team, we love food! The only thing we love almost as much eating awesome vegan food is delighting in adorable handmade items that look like food. :)


Lettuce Relax from Radical Fringe (AlethaFaye)


Kawaii felt cupcake pin from Toboggan Hill


Stir Fry Plushies from Panda with Cookie

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Take it to go!

With our hectic, 0n-the-go lives, we all struggle with finding the best ways to reduce waste while still remembering to eat lunch and get the grocery shopping done. Luckily, teamie Johnson Family Zoo provides us with great options for food transport! Shop proprietor Lisa crafts super-useful sandwich bags and produce bags in a wide range of fun colors and patterns. Eco-friendly fun for the grocery store and farmer's market, school and work lunch, and wherever else life takes you!



So many fun patterns and colors it's almost impossible to choose...
so just get a variety pack! :D

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Spice it up!

What's life without a little spice? There's a common misconception that vegan food is bland and boring. When vegans are asked if we get bored with our foodstuffs, we can't help but laugh! Vegans eat some of the most flavorful food around, in part because we take so much care in what we eat.

For you vegan home chefs out there looking for some new zing in your recipes, check out teamie Twig & Leaf Botanicals. They offer a wide range of spice blends, whole herbs, and gourmet salts to put even more kick in your kitchen!

vegan potato seasoning

Hawaiian black lava sea salt

vegan cheese seasoning