Dark Chocolate Vegan Puddin....

So here it is - a great recipe that's easy to do. Its a vegan pudding recipe. No dairy, no eggs, just delicious dark chocolate all whipped up into a very satisfying treat you can't possibly feel bad about enjoying.

What you need:

1/2 cup Pure Cane Organic Sugar

1/4 Cup Tapioca Starch

1/4 tsp. salt

3 cups Soy or Rice milk

8 ounces Organic Dark Chocolate ( Your favorite kind)

Mix together tapioca starch, sugar and salt in a metal bowl. Put the bowl over a double boiler (3 inches of water simmering in a medium saucepan). Slowly add in milk whisking to mix the ingredients together. Mix 10 -12 min. till it thickens. Add chopped chocolate and mix well for 2-3 minutes. Pour into serving bowls. If you don't want a pudding skin-be sure to put the plastic wrap directly on the pudding. Refrigerate 1 hour and up to 2 days. Yum!

The perfect fat to bake with?

Your baking and well, one of the key ingredients can sometimes be an oil. This is especially true if you are veganizing a recipe. The addition of oil is the addition of fat. The oil provides the flavor and flakiness to your cookies and pastries. Fats also add a certain richness to your finished baked good. Here's the thing, many people add too much fat to a baked item. Its just not necessary to get the same results. Start with small amounts of oil, and add more if you find it was needed . I know it would be after the fact, but sometimes it takes a few times to come up with that perfect cookie!

Which brings us to the perfect fat. Well, its by choice, however, remember that oils from vegetable , nuts, or seed sources are going to be the best bets for providing us with the nutrients our body really needs. Always buy organic, cold pressed and minimally processed nut oils. Walnut, coconut, flax seed, olive and soy are great choices. These can be added to your recipe to replace the fat you've decided to replace. Remember to store these oils in the fridge till you are ready to use. This prevents rancidity.

Meet your meat...maybe its time to go Vegan!

Its the last day of the year. Last evening of 201o. Begin the evening with a time honored favorite, champagne! Always the drink of choice for a celebration, and tonight calls for celebration. Getting together with friends ,and or family to look back on the past year. Its a time to recall the events that took place, our accomplishments, and all the moments in between. Which brings us to new beginnings. Yes, new beginnings. Let's say it together!
Well then, its time for the last drink of the evening. Champagne! To celebrate as the clock hits midnight. To look ahead to what we have planned for the coming year. Our hopes, dreams and goals for 2011. This is a chance to put your best foot forward for a new beginning. So lets go- make a few resolutions you know you can stick to . Make it happen! Tonight, lift that champagne glass and toast to "new beginnings" ! Happy New Year to all our Peacecake fans and followers. All the best to you and your family in the coming year!

Vegan? What are you baking with?

OK-so we're finishing out another holiday season of baking all kinds of things for friends, family and just about anybody we were willing to share our festive holiday baked goodies with. So -what did you learn from this baking season? Did you make some healthy changes to the recipes? Did you make some good substitutions for the better of the baked good?

Just some food for thought.

If you're baking Vegan, its so easy to use a vegan margarine instead. You should also try using unrefined coconut oil which is solid at room temperature. Canola oil works well with agave because its a liquid sugar and the two work well together.

Milk is probably the easiest ingredient to substitute. By using almond milk you will add a nice richness to your baked goods along with a subtle almond flavor. OK, not so bad. We like that!

Coconut milk will do the same, with a subtle coconut flavor , but also giving some nice body to your baked good. If you choose rice milk. Not a problem, its just a bit lighter, but works well also.

Go on, just a lil more baking before the New Year, and everyone takes a break from cookies and cake while they enjoy salad leaves for all of about 3 days. Then, we come back to reality and whip up some brownies. Because, that's just what we do!

As we wrap up the season.....................

Its important to remember that its really all about "giving". Have your children go through toys they are not playing with any more and give to those who have not.
Let them help in wrapping the gifts, taking part in the giving process makes them feel special too.
Volunteer at a soup kitchen and bring the kids to help out.
Are you teaching your kids about the power of the words,"thank you"?Just a simple handwritten note to someone showing that whatever they did or have given was greatly appreciated. Remember that an email is just not the same. Its more meaningful to sit down and just take a moment to write it out.
A home cooked meal or baked goods to a family in need is a great way to give something back this holiday season. Children need to see us doing it first.......the "good" ways will follow.
Food for thought during this busy week......

Bundle up in orange!

Oh what a great thing color therapy can be. Especially on a cold winters day. As the temperature drops, ice particles form on the sidewalks, and the wind rushes towards your face,

be sure to go out that door happy! Certain colors can actually promote emotional well-being. It has been used throughout history to create moods. In recent decades, psychologists have put together tests to demonstrate that color really does dictate how we feel.

So, to enhance happiness, stay away from black, deep violet and blue. These colors can increase depression. During this busy holiday season, nobody has time to be "down". So then, what color should you surround yourself with? According to color therapists, orange is the color of "happy"! The color orange can promote optimism, happiness and enthusiasm. The color red can also be a uplifting color , however, its not recommended for overly excitable personalities.

So pick up some orange flowers today, put on an orange sweater or bundle up in an orange coat.

Get orange, and get happy!