Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Fancy Cookies & A Dud Dinner

Yes, I know. I have been home for 9 days and I have made 3 batches of cookies. This weekend was a meeting for our Yoga Bookclub. It's a nice bookgroup that my friend Victor and I have organized for ourselves and our yoga students. This time around we were reading "Strength to Love" by Dr. Martin Luther King. I always bake up some sort of yummy vegan treats for book club - to keep the conversation flowing, and also to spread the Good Word of Veganism through delicious baked good. Such a thought-provoking and insightful book deserved something classy... no pink cupcakes with sprinkles, if you know what I mean (not that there's anything wrong with pink cupcakes with sprinkles, right?!). So, I found the recipe for these cool "Fig-Almond-Anise Cookies" from Veganomicon... and decided to give them a try. They are probably not my all-time favorite cookies, but they are absolutely 100% worth making and eating! And I think they are very cool looking with that giant fig on there! And it's super fun to eat that big chewy fig too, it develops a wonderful texture after getting cooked up. The cookies are chewy and dense with a crispy exterior.

This was last night's dinner - "Sicilian Seitan with Sundried Tomatoes" from "Vegan Fusion Cuisine." Now, I gotta tell you... I actually really liked this dinner. I liked the flavor a lot. Musty took one bite and rejected it immediately. Poop! I love it when I make something that Musty loves - and I hate it when he doesn't like what I've made. Not really sure why I care. It takes a little bit of self control not to get pissy about it! ha ha. Thank god for all that yoga - teaching me some skills in detachment. I know it's no reflection on me or my moral character... I don't even make up my own recipes! If anything it should be the fault of all these cookbook writers!... still it bums me out when he doesn't like what I've made! So, he ran out and got Thai food. Sigh. Lucky for him, we have a nice little Thai restaurant about one block from our house. So, we still got to eat dinner together. And now I've got quite a bit of "Sicilian Seitan with Sundried Tomatoes" in the fridge for me. :)

12 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:28 AM

    The cookies look great. I've been thinking about making them but haven't gotten around to it yet. I really shouldn't eat so many cookies anyway. After seeing what they look like now I really want to make them though. Yum.

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  2. Anonymous6:08 AM

    It's always the fault of those darned cookbook writers! ;)

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  3. Giant figs! I don't think I've ever seen one. I've never actually seen an actual fig before, either. I need to get out more.

    I know how you feel about Musty not liking a dish. I feel the same way when people try my cooking. Even if I cooked it exactly as instructed and it comes out just like the recipe says, I still feel like it's my fault and I take it personally. I think I need some yoga, myself.

    Regardless, I think it looks incredibly yummy. And like you said- more for you! :)

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  4. the sicilian seitan sounds wonderful to me! it does suck when people don't like your cooking, though, even if it is clearly the cookbooks fault. :D

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  5. Book clubs definitely call for sophisticated cookies. How great that you are spreading veganism through baking!

    And I am the same way about my cooking with my husband. Even if I love something... if he's not a fan I feel a bit down.

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  6. Well I like most of what you make Honeybear. :)

    Thanks for always trying new and different stuff!

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  7. I know exactly what you mean about feeling pissy when your partner doesn't like your food. It is far and few between that I make something my boyfriend won't eat, but when it happens man it stings. Even when it's not my own recipe! I think I need to learn some recipes in detachment :)

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  8. Anonymous7:16 PM

    Well the seitan looks good to me! But to each his own. I've definitely made things that Darlene doesn't like - and some things that I don't like either...

    But those cookies! Something else to add to the "must try this" list.

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  9. Oh, well, not every recipe is a winner with everyone. At least your leftovers won't go to waste.

    I think those fig cookies are beautiful!

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  10. I think we all have an attachment to our cooking & it's a bummer when things don't turn out. Is it worse when one person doesn't like the meal or when BOTH don't like the meal?!

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  11. those cookies are impressive! this is not a cookie I would think to make, but maybe I should?!

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  12. I was thinking about trying that cookie recipe from Veganomicon... yours look perfect to me!

    Mmm, seitan with sun-dried tomatoes? yes, please! :0)

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