The Joy of Vegan Baking
Posted by faunablues on Oct 20, 2007 · Member since Aug 2003 · 9655 posts
Anyone try this cookbook? Or planning on buying it?
After VCTOTW and this site, I don't know if I really *need* a new cookbook on desserts... but... well, anyone?
I made the Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, and they are some of the best muffins ever! I modified it a lot..so I was a bit wary, but they came out perfect. I only used 1/2 c Florida crystals, 2 bananas, 1/2 cup choc. chips, needed more water, probably used less oil...I just added water until it seemed muffin consistency. I also added some pecans. I found a semi-typo in the book. She has walnuts, optional as an ingredient..but never mentions them in the directions, eh. I baked them for probably 20 minutes. Perfect consistency and taste great!
Your muffins look delicious! Thank you sharing your modifications. I like taking some liberties with recipes but am always worried how they will come out.
Your muffins look delicious! Thank you sharing your modifications. I like taking some liberties with recipes but am always worried how they will come out.
Thanks for noticing! Yeah, they really seem to be very versatile. Decide how sweet you want them..and you can modify the amount of sugar. I thought they were plenty banana-y with 2 bananas. :)
I made the Focaccia, and it came out like focaccia! It wasn't spectacular..or different from any other rosemary focaccia I've made...but it was good! I don't think it's necessary to let it rise for 2-2.5 hours for one time (maybe it would be better?), but I just did 1 hour and then 1 hour later. I also didn't knead for 10 whole minutes....just until it all came together and was smooth. I used whole wheat pastry flour..and I think some regular whole wheat flour (I made two batches/focaccias). I even used safflower oil instead of olive oil..and sprinkled a bit of thyme on top with s and p.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/allychristine/SC-GzzRk3cI/AAAAAAAAEno/JQIo94Cddb8/focacc.JPG?imgmax=512
I made the Focaccia, and it came out like focaccia! It wasn't spectacular..or different from any other rosemary focaccia I've made...but it was good! I don't think it's necessary to let it rise for 2-2.5 hours for one time (maybe it would be better?), but I just did 1 hour and then 1 hour later. I also didn't knead for 10 whole minutes....just until it all came together and was smooth. I used whole wheat pastry flour..and I think some regular whole wheat flour (I made two batches/focaccias). I even used safflower oil instead of olive oil..and sprinkled a bit of thyme on top with s and p.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/allychristine/SC-GzzRk3cI/AAAAAAAAEno/JQIo94Cddb8/focacc.JPG?imgmax=512
That was from the Joy of Vegan Baking? I tried the recipe in V'con and it was good, but I'm new at baking. I think I've knead it wrong because it came out all weird. But it was good. It filled my bread craving, and I will probably do it again.
And I should definitely check JOVB since your pics look so delish, AC.
Thanks! Yeah, I've really enjoyed it so far. You should get it!
I made the Pancakes this morning, and they are good pancakes! I used all whole wheat pastry flour, safflower oil, and 2 tbs Florida crystals in with the wet ingredients (I only had enough syrup for the finished pancakes). I thought they were quite fluffy and light. I used some extra ripe bananas for the top (1 banana for each of us), and I think it was the banana that made it all extra sweet. Next time I'll try the liquid sweetener in the batter; very easy batter to make.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/allychristine/SDRZlzRk3gI/AAAAAAAAEqk/Llz4KrQEuKo/nanacakes.JPG?imgmax=512
I made the strawberry cupcakes using fresh strawberries, mashed with a potato masher (and I had to estimate 8 oz), but the batter was dry. I added maybe a little more than a quarter cup water to get it like thick cake batter... maybe pureeing the strawberries would have provided more liquid. The batter was a pleasant pink and tasty, and I decided to check the muffins 8 minutes before their done time (so at 22 min) and I thought I burnt them because they were all brown! But the pigment from the strawberries just seems to have turned brown... so even though I used refined flour to get them to turn out "right," they look healthy.
Even though there's a little blurb below the recipe about the difference between cupcakes and muffins, I'd consider these more as muffins.
I meant to use my extra rosewater as the extra liquid but then forgot... would have gone well!
I made the Pancakes this morning, and they are good pancakes! I used all whole wheat pastry flour, safflower oil, and 2 tbs Florida crystals in with the wet ingredients (I only had enough syrup for the finished pancakes). I thought they were quite fluffy and light. I used some extra ripe bananas for the top (1 banana for each of us), and I think it was the banana that made it all extra sweet. Next time I'll try the liquid sweetener in the batter; very easy batter to make.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/allychristine/SDRZlzRk3gI/AAAAAAAAEqk/Llz4KrQEuKo/nanacakes.JPG?imgmax=512
Lovely. My other pancake recipe flopped. I have to try this one.
You mentioned you used safflower oil, which I have never cooked/baked with before. (I'm used to canola, corn and olive oils.) But safflower oil is one I have seen mentioned in other recipes here and cookbooks. Is safflower oil better than other the oils for baking? I did a search on oils but it just made me even more confused on the baking and health benefits of them. :(
You mentioned you used safflower oil, which I have never cooked/baked with before. (I'm used to canola, corn and olive oils.) But safflower oil is one I have seen mentioned in other recipes here and cookbooks. Is safflower oil better than other the oils for baking? I did a search on oils but it just made me even more confused on the baking and health benefits of them. :(
Yeah, I really don't know too much about it. I use it b/c I haven't heard anything bad about it...I think it's fairly healthy in terms of oils..and it's just about the cheapest! I used to use canola..but, true or not...I've seen plenty of negative things about it. I don't even buy olive oil that often anymore..b/c of the cost. I haven't come across any problems with safflower. I'm sure some other people might know more about it! :)
You mentioned you used safflower oil, which I have never cooked/baked with before. (I'm used to canola, corn and olive oils.) But safflower oil is one I have seen mentioned in other recipes here and cookbooks. Is safflower oil better than other the oils for baking? I did a search on oils but it just made me even more confused on the baking and health benefits of them. :(
Yeah, I really don't know too much about it. I use it b/c I haven't heard anything bad about it...I think it's fairly healthy in terms of oils..and it's just about the cheapest! I used to use canola..but, true or not...I've seen plenty of negative things about it. I don't even buy olive oil that often anymore..b/c of the cost. I haven't come across any problems with safflower. I'm sure some other people might know more about it! :)
Yes, you're right. Safflower good for heart and lowering bad cholesterol levels, according to what I read.
I dug a little further and found that safflower(high-oleic) and canola are both good, according to the info on Wikipedia, Whole Foods Market, an Admin-posted article on this website and Veganomicon(addressed canola but not safflower). More info below if you're interested ...
but to get back to The Joy of Vegan Baking topic, I really have to stop making this Raspberry Oatmeal Bars. I lost track of how many times I've made them for myself, family and friends, who request more. I just had one right now. They are so easy to make and soooo good.
Safflower Oil
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/oil/safflower.html
Canola Oil
Veganomicon and Whole Foods debunk myths about canola oil call it a "fine choice" or "safe and wholesome" and say it's high in Omega-3 fatty acids.
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/wholebody/ingredients/canola.html
I made the Bananas in Sweet Coconut Milk, but I didn't read ALL of the text in which it states multiple times, "rich" "very rich" "a little goes a long way." So..I missed this...and made the whole recipe (13.5 oz can coconut milk), plus I added cocoa powder to it! AND shredded coconut to the top! We liked it at first...but ate a whole bowl...and now feeling a little sick! I also had to waste some of the coconut milk mixture (just a little). It tasted pretty good, for a simple, fast, sweet...dessert, but you have been warned! I think like a couple spoons full would be enough....
(the picture just looks like a bowl of liquid..)
http://lh4.ggpht.com/allychristine/SDuF8G1YApI/AAAAAAAAEvM/_2_Zk5HpLVg/ban%20in%20coc.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/allychristine/SDRZlzRk3gI/AAAAAAAAEqk/Llz4KrQEuKo/nanacakes.JPG?imgmax=512
i <3 vegweb. clicked on this topic.... and that beautiful pic was the first thing i saw :P
ohh! and i can make those tomorrow! yes! time to go to bed.
:) I hope you make 'em!
I was wanting to make the Waffles I last night for dinner..but then I remembered that we forgot to buy more EB, and we're out! So, I made my standard blender oat waffles.
I made the Waffles I this morning (after much contemplation), and they are probably the BEST waffles I've ever had! I was going to make them the other morning, and even mixed the ground flax and water..but remembered we didn't have any EB. So, I threw away the flax! But this morning I decided I wanted to make them anyway, and used the recommended 6 tbs, but used safflower oil instead of EB. I'm guessing the flavor might be even better with the buttery spread! The only other sub. I did was WW pastry flour instead of white. I made sure to spray my waffle iron each time because I could tell they were close to sticking. I never really ate Eggos as a kid, but my husband said these were as good or better (I guess he really liked Eggos). These are so crispy on the outside, but melt in the mouth (light as air). Yum! :D
(the picture is a bit blurry-I was ready to eat!)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/allychristine/SEAuNm1YAqI/AAAAAAAAEv0/ojQz1Jb1qxg/waff.JPG?imgmax=512
I just received this book from Humboldt Honey and I haven't made anything out of it yet. I need some recommendations so I can start participating in this thread!
I just received this book from Humboldt Honey and I haven't made anything out of it yet. I need some recommendations so I can start participating in this thread!
Where to begin??? I love this book, so I could go on & on... First of all, the Focaccia bread is probably the best bread I've ever had. It gets a little soggy (or maybe I should say much less crisp on top) the second day, but hot out of the oven, it's divine!
Butterscotch Pudding, Date & Almond Butter Smoothie, Mexican Wedding Cookies, SOFT PRETZELS (so frickin' amazing), Light Lemon Bundt Cake (I add blueberries) with Lemon Sauce... Cornbread, Apple Pie, Fall Fruit Crisp... Obviously some of these aren't very appropriate for Spring/Summer, but I seriously don't think you can go wrong with this book! :)>>>
The only things I've made that didn't turn out perfectly delicious (and they still weren't bad) were the Drop Biscuits (dried out), Pumpkin Spice Bread (too dense & not a lot of flavor), and Brownies (though other people LOVE these; I just think there are better vegan brownies out there).
It's also super easy to modify these recipes to make them healthier... Some are already pretty innocent, but the ones that call for a lot of sugar, oil, white flour, etc. are flexible if you want to switch it up to healthier alternatives!
Sorry for such a long post... I am just absolutely in love with Colleen & this book, so I could keep going forever. ::)
I just received this book from Humboldt Honey and I haven't made anything out of it yet. I need some recommendations so I can start participating in this thread!
hh didn't buy me anything! ;) I love this book as well....and you can see my posts for my modifications. My foccacia actually dried out instead of becoming soggy..and I thought the cornbread was ok. I've really loved the pancakes and waffles, and the brownies are great (just don't try them when they are right out of the oven)!
I think I might make the pretzels today.... ::)
eta: Patrick wanted something sweet instead, so I made cookies from V-con! ;D
I started with the Cornbread recipe and added the corn kernels like suggested and also added one diced red jalapeno and one diced green jalapeno. It was very, very good!
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