Bake-A-Palooza!
April 15, 2009
Phew, it’s been an intense couple of days but I’m glad I made to today! I’ve got one more day til I’m cruisin’ around Baltimore for the weekend and a week later I’ll be soaking up the sun in beautiful Florida! What should I do this weekend in Baltimore? I’m going for my sister’s cheerleading competition but I’ve got a lot of free time! I’ll be around the Inner Harbor area. Anyone want to meet-up? I’ll be there Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Yay!
Apple Crumb Muffins
muffin-
1/2 cup soy butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons flax + 6 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chopped apples
crumb mixture-
2 teaspoons cinnamon
4 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons soy butter
Preheat you oven to 350 degrees. Start by mixing together your wet ingredients. Sift the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Pour your batter into lined muffin tins. Top the muffins with the mixed together crumb mixture and bake for 30 minutes.
The texture of these muffins is a little crumbly, but I kind of like them like that. They are a perfect topping for oatmeal or just enjoyed on their own. My mom said they are her new favorite muffin! Thanks, mom!
Purely O’s Cereal Treats
I had a box of Cascadian Farms Purely O’s laying around, and since I did not enjoy the unsweetened cereal on it’s own, I knew it’d be perfect for a twist on a childhood favorite. The recipe is extremely easy to throw together. All I had to do was heat up 1 cup of corn syrup (next time I will use brown rice syrup, but I didn’t have any on hand), 1 tablespoon of soy butter, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until it was just barely boiling and then I poured in on top of 6 cups of cereal that I had ready in a large bowl. Once everything was mixed together, I poured the mixture into a pan to cool and form these bars. This is so easy and creates a lovely, crowd pleasing snack. The recipe lends itself very well to adaptations. I can’t wait to play around with flavors and textures!
Black Bean Brownies
I have always been very curious about these Black Bean Brownies. Having just bought a can of black beans, I decided yesterday would be the day I finally give these a try. I have to say, I was a bit nervous when mixing these all together because they definitely did not smell like a dessert while I was pureeing them. I smelled a whole lotta bean and I was unsure of the recipe at that point, but I kept going. They turned out great! I am a believer! The adaptations I made to the recipe are as follows: 2 tablespoons of flax + 6 tablespoons water as the egg replacer and 1/2 cup of maple sugar. The brownies are super fudgy and gooey. Definitely my kind of brownie!
While I’m on the subject of baking.. a lot of you have noticed the extreme amount of baking I have been doing. I am pleased to announce that I finally have the time and funds to begin the workings of my very own bakery! I’m in the very beginning planning phases right now, but once I move into my new apartment I plan on baking out of my own home for a while and doing deliveries/selling online/markets and one day moving to my own store front. I’ve been testing and testing recipes non-stop and it is just so exciting for me. This is my dream and I know I will succeed!
Anyway, Baltimore bloggers and readers, I need fun things to do this weekend! Once I know where I’ll be going in Florida, I’ll let you know as well! 
I’m also happy to announce the WINNER of my giveaway! I chose a random number with the Random Number Generator and the winner is…. Megan of Megan’s Munchies! Congratulations! E-mail me your information and I will send the cookbook your way!
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized. .
20 Comments Add your own
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
1.
Mom | April 15, 2009 at 9:24 am
Those apple crumb muffins are my new favorite. But, they are also almost gone. Your pictures are beautiful as always, I love that brownie picture and of course Pokey. Can’t wait for Baltimore.
2.
lilveggiepatch | April 15, 2009 at 9:26 am
HAVE FUN in Baltimore! I went there once for a family reunion and went to the aquarium… that’s all I remember.
I’m so glad you liked the black bean brownies. I’ve been meaning to try them and it’s good to know they’re edible!
3.
VeggieGirl | April 15, 2009 at 9:30 am
INCREDIBLE baked goods (as always); CUTE dog (as always, as well, haha); and FUN trip ahead!! Have fun in Baltimore!!
4.
snackface | April 15, 2009 at 10:41 am
Oh my goodness! Everything looks divine! And a huge congrats to being able to start the planning for a bakery. That is unbelievably amazing!
5.
Meg | April 15, 2009 at 11:12 am
Love all the baked goods, especially the apple crumb muffins! I am BEYOND excited that I won the cookbook. The news totally made my day!
6.
Nora | April 15, 2009 at 12:02 pm
That picture of your pup is unreal. Beyond adorable! He’s probably beggin’ for a cereal treat!
7.
Shelby | April 15, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I need those cereal treats!!! My favorite.
Now I want to try black bean brownies, I just bought a can too! =)
Congratulations on the planning of your bakery! i’m so excited for you!!!
8.
Marianne | April 15, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Again, lots of great baked goods
The cereal bars sound super simple, and so adaptable to what cereal you have on hand, and you could always throw in some extras to kick it up a bit.
I must try out some black bean brownies one of these days. I know I have a few recipes for them at home, and I’ve always thought I shouls try them. Wonder if I have any black beans in my cupboard?
Good luck on your bakery venture!
9.
dreamin'itvegan | April 15, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Yummy baked goods. This especially looks good on a cold day.
10.
Michelle Hisae | April 15, 2009 at 8:09 pm
That dog is unreal – so cute!!! Those adorable, big eyes. Aww.
That is so exciting that you’re beginning your baking business venture! You be busy with that AND the animal sanctuary. I applaud you, girl.
11.
Jenn (eating bender) | April 15, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Congratulations, Megan! And SUPER congratulations to you, Nicole! I am so excited for you and this new business! After reading your blog for as long as I have, it is so great to finally see all of the amazing talent and creativity you have getting put toward your dream job, and I also am a firm believer that you will be 100% successful!
12.
Melissa S. | April 15, 2009 at 9:39 pm
omg that’s so exciting to hear about the bakery!!!! do you even think you’d do online orders? i bet a lot of bloggers would buy your stuff!
13.
Nicole | April 15, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Melissa-
Yes, I do want to do online orders! I even set up a little etsy shop but I don’t have very much up on it yet. Hooray!!
Nicole
14.
Rachel | April 15, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Hey! I live in Baltimore! I don’t usually comment, but I do read.
You’re in luck this weekend, the weather will be nice. If you’ll be at the Inner Harbor, I suggest getting over to Fell’s Point, its in walking distance actually. This Saturday is Pirate Day! http://www.fellspointdevelopment.com/privateerday.html Also there is an awesome vegan restaurant called Liquid Earth in Fell’s Point. http://www.liquidearth.com I have a bunch of stuff to do on Saturday, but I am planning on hitting up Fell’s at some point. Also a cool event at the Ottobar Saturday night. http://www.ottobar.com PRINCE vs MADONNA vs MICHAEL JACKSON DANCE PARTY! Also congrats on the Bakery plans, that sounds awesome! Email me if you want anymore info/things to do/see. 
rachel.lauren.seff@gmail.com
15.
broccolihut | April 15, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I have so many cereals to use up–maybe I should make them into bars like you!
16.
Sophie | April 15, 2009 at 11:46 pm
holy wow. heckofa lotta baking, sister! you are awesome. i’m stealing all your recipes and trying them at the first chance! i need to try another black bean brownie recipe that is firmer…
17.
Katyg! | April 16, 2009 at 12:35 am
Pokey!!! Ohhh how i miss him! Your food looks delicious soupie!!
18.
Sal | April 16, 2009 at 7:28 am
Those muffins sound gorgeous and the cereal bars look really yummy too!
19.
kilax | April 17, 2009 at 6:52 am
Two more recipes I want to try, and sweets of course again! I have been bookmarking and making a list of everything. It would be too much if I tried it all at once, hee hee!
I cannot wait to hear more about starting your own bakery. How exciting!
20.
chayacomfycook | November 1, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Looks like a great recipe.