Vegan Cookie Dough Truffles

When my sister and I were growing up we would joke that if we had one wish, we'd wish for a box of assorted chocolates so big that we'd have to eat our way to the edge. To this day, I still love assorted chocolates and February 15th is the hardest day of the year. Why February 15th? Because that's when all the assorted chocolates are 75% off!
So this year, as a vegan I'm a little limited in which chocolates I choose to eat. So when I found Chef Chloe's Vegan Cookie Dough Truffles, it immediately went to the top of my "to make" list. Here it is! Chole's recipe. Thanks Chloe for absolute deliciousness. Enjoy.

Ingredients
1/2 cup Earth Balance
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons water
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour (I plan to try this recipe again with GF flour)
1/3 cup dairy free chocolate chips (Enjoy Life)
12 ounces dairy free chocolate chips

Directions
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper
Using a mixer , beat margarine, brown sugar, salt, vanilla, and water until combined. Add flour and beat until incorporated. Fold in mini chocolate chips.

Cover dough and refrigerate for 1 hour. 

Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls with the palms of your hands. Place on prepared baking sheets. Freeze for 15 minutes. 

Melt the remaining 12 ounces chocolate in a double boiler or microwave. Let cool to room temperature. Remove one tray of cookie dough balls from the freezer. Dip each ball into the melted chocolate and remove using two forks. Place the coated balls back onto the baking sheet and transfer to the refrigerator. Repeat with the second tray of cookie dough balls. Chill until the chocolate is set, about 20 minutes. Store in refrigerator until serving. 

Just a note: I put the truffles on a wire rack but that was a bad idea. They broke a lot when I was pulling them off. My mouth didn't mind but it did make them look a little less pretty.

Please note that this is not my recipe and all "oooh's", "aahhh"s" and "mmmm's" go to Chef Chloe. 

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Tofu Eggless Salad (from Crazy Sexy Diet) - favorite lunch

One of my absolute favorite lunches to have on this new vegan (and sometimes gluten free) lifestyle is Tofu Eggless Salad. I even made this for Mike and my dad and they thought it was real egg salad.

It is so quick and easy and lasts several days. I love putting it on spinach, with Rudi's Gluten Free bread or Mary's Gone Crackers. 

If you try it, let me know what you think.

Tofu Eggless Salad

(Please note this is not my recipe. All credit goes to Chad Sarno http://www.rawchef.com/ via Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Diet

2 blocks of firm tofu

1 cup vegan mayonnaise (I use Follow Your Heart Vegenaise and an considering using less mayo)

1/4 cup onion, finely diced

1/2 cup carrot, grated

1/3 cup parsley, finely chopped (sometimes I'll use 2 tbsp dried parsley)

1/4 cup nutritional yeast (not to be confused with bread-rising-yeast)

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

First, drain and pat dry the tofu blocks (the salad can get really runny if you don't).

In large bowl, crumble all tofu. Hand mix with remaining ingredients until thoroughly combined. It will keep for 5 days. 

Drain and pat dry the tofu so the salad doesn't get runny.

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.

Tofu Eggless Salad on a bed of spinach

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I made Cinnamon Quill's Veganized Cinnamon Rolls ... I'm in HEAVEN!

After my first baking class at Spiral Diner (read about it here), I have become a little bit more brave and have vowed to get back in the kitchen. I was so inspired by the Spiral Cinnamon Rolls that I thought I'd try a gluten free, vegan cinnamon roll I had been coveting on the Cinnamon Quill blog. You have to see her photos of the cinnamon roll ... Mike and I were drooling!!

Vegan, GF Cinnamon Roll. SOOO good. I'm still working on my photo skills. 

There are two types of cinnamon rolls: yeast and quick bake. Spiral's were yeast and I thought I'd venture to try a quick bake (let's say a quicker bake - they still require some sweet time in the kitchen). In my few attempts at gluten free, vegan baking, I've been disappointed because they've tasted gritty so I proceeded with caution.

I meticulously followed the instructions and prayerfully placed them in the oven. While those delicious brown sugar filled strips of dough were baking I made the delicious-lick-the-spoon-and-bowl-and-counter icing.

Here is the only place I veered from the recipe.

Icing: I doubled and tripled because we LOVE icing

2 Tablespoons melted organic shortening (Spectrum Butter Flavor)
2-4+ teaspoons non-dairy milk (Almond Milk)
3/4-1+ cups confectioners sugar
Splash of Almond Extract (the original recipe from Cinnamon Quill uses vanilla but this made it taste like amaretto)

Vegan, GF Cinnamon Roll. I tried to take another picture the next morning. 

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I have a blog crush on Allyson Kramer!

So I have to make a confession. I have a Blog Crush. A few weeks after I committed to being a vegan (and trying to be gluten free when I can) I found Allyson Kramer's Manifest Vegan blog. It was like I had moved from living in black in white to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory in technicolor. The pictures, the recipes, the whole blog had me in absolute awe. 

For the weeks leading up to finding this "golden egg" of a blog, I had tried some not so hot vegan dinner and baking recipes. I know my husband was secretly thinking I had drank phizzy lifting juice because my once fairly decent recipes had taken a fall down the hatch into the boiler room. But Allyson's recipes were so inviting and her sweet spirit encouraged me. 

Now, I know that hummus is already vegan.  But for Super Bowl I wanted something with a little more of a Veruca Salt sass. Allyson has a recipe for an amazing Chili Garlic Pumpkin Hummus. So I made it last Sunday and it was a huge hit. It was creamy, yet had that delicious kick at the end. For those of you unsure of the pumpkin, don't worry, it complements the hummus and it is not an overpowering pumpkin taste at all. Unfortunately I don't own a Vitamix (it's on my wishlist) so I had to make the hummus in a blender, which takes a little extra time and patience. While it wasn't quite as smooth, it was still such a hit that Augustus Gloop himself would have been proud of how we downed that bowl of hummus. 

Please be sure to visit Allyson's Manifest Vegan blog, even if just to look at the pictures. Absolutely gorgeous. She has certainly been my Golden Ticket to the this new vegan (and sometimes gluten free) world I've entered. 

Chili Garlic Pumpkin Hummus from Manifest Vegan

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My First Vegan Baking Class at Spiral Diner

I had the most wonderful evening! I took my first vegan baking class at Spiral Diner and Bakery. Both the Dallas and Fort Worth locations offered the class but I was quick to sign up for the first one in Fort Worth. My wonderful husband let me use our "entertainment money" to pay for the class. I think he was tired of me walking around in sulky unhappiness after each failed baking attempt. I won't get into the nasty details but let's just say that my first attempt at GF vegan chocolate chip cookies turned out as one large gritty pancake ... (insert pouty lip). 

Just 1/3 of the class. Friendly fellow Vegan bakers.

All day Monday I was filled with excitement and a little trepidation. Would I be the only one who stumbled along the vegan way? What if asked about tapioca flour and everyone laughed? (I worry needlessly, I know). I made the fortnight journey from Frisco to Fort Worth, parked my little car, took a deep breath and walked through the door. I was immediately face to face with Lindsey, the Fort Worth Spiral owner. There she was, an expert in vegan baking. Star-struck, I muttered something probably ridiculous and made my way to find a seat.

Soon the room was filled with over 20 people looking to learn more about Spiral's delicious vegan treats. Tonight's menu: Chocolate Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Cinnamon Rolls and Sugar Cookies. I wiggled in my seat with excitement.

THE menu

Soon Sara (the Dallas Spiral owner) and Lindsey began our class. Their kind, steady voices were extremely inviting and I immediately felt at ease. I can do this. This is going to be great.

Our first dessert was Chocolate Cheesecake. I promised not to share the recipes but it was so easy and so sinful in my mouth. Besides, you have got to take one of the baking classes to get the recipe yourself. So worth it. Then we made the Tiramisu and I have to admit that it tasted better than any tiramisu I've ever had. I love their tip about the lady fingers. Instead of piping each finger, they make a pan of lady fingers and then cut them into the appropriate shape - great tip Spiral Chicks. Then we made Cinnamon Rolls (delightful sigh...). The smell of cinnamon baking makes me weak in the knees. These cinnamon rolls were made the yeast way with all the rising and punching. They were so delicious. After this class I got a little braver and tried another gluten free vegan cinnamon roll recipe (stay tuned for that recipe and pictures). Then lastly, we made the quintessential sugar cookie. They even had vegan/natural dye. Soooo cool.

Sara, in action, making delicious vegan treats.

Throughout the class, the girls were so kind to offer great information. Like I did not know that regular sugar is not vegan! What? They also shared tips on how to make the recipes gluten free.

I had so much fun and even got up enough courage to talk to Sara and Lindsey after the class. If you haven't eaten at Spiral Diner, put it on your list. Even if you aren't vegan, the food rocks your socks. Hmmm...I am really craving Sketti and Meatballs (and probably a Spiral Brownie to end it all). See you Saturday Dallas Spiral Diner!!!

Here are some pictures of the desserts. I do apologize that this is an iPhone picture and not a deluxe food photograph. Oh and the sugar cookie picture is missing because someone ate it before she took a picture ... giggle.

Chocolate Cheesecake - tasted so much
better than my iPhone picture captured.

I love you Spiral Tiramisu!!

Ooey Gooey Spiral Cinnamon Roll

Sara and Lindsey, Vegan Treat Experts!

Be sure to check out Spiral Diner www.spiraldiner.com and follow them on Twitter @spiraldiner

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My Vegan Date

I had a Saturdate with a super hot man and we went on a Vegan Adventure! Besides our regular Friday or Saturday night dates, Mike and I each take a turn, once a month, planning a Saturdate. The rules are that it has to be cheap and when possible include something on our list of places to see or things to do.

Mike buying our DART tickets.

A real Texan, driving a car, not a horse.

We live just north of the fabulous Dallas metroplex. We are in love with and obsessed with New York City. We watch movies about it and shriek when we see a place we've been to. We love the food, the diversity, the lights and the energy. While we try to get to New York when we can, Dallas is our own mini-NewYork with skyscrapers, the DART rail (our own version of the subway) and the eclectic people and restaurants of a buzzing downtown. 

So cool that something is
underground in Dallas.

For those who've never visited Dallas, we don't ride horses, wear cowboy hats and chew sprigs of wheat. I visited Scotland a few years ago and the kind people I stayed with had apparently watched the soap opera Dallas one too many times. When I told them we didn't even own horses, much less ride them into town to go to the General store it was if I told them Santa Clause didn't exist.  But I digress...

Us on the DART rail.

So Saturday morning we got ready and headed over to the North Carrollton DART rail station. We purchased our train tickets and boarded the (extra clean) DART rail headed for downtown Dallas. It was about a 45 minute ride but it totally reminded me of New York (minus the pushing and shoving of the routine boarding/unloading at each stop). 

Hey! It's me at City Place station.

THE tallest escalator ever (and kinda artsy too)

We took the green line towards Buckner and got off at the West End stop, waiting only a few minutes before boarding the blue line towards CityPlace. This DART rail rides above ground most of the time but you can't imagine my delight as we neared the City Place stop that we began our decent into the belly of Dallas. It was JUST LIKE NY!! We exited at City Place to a completely modern and oddly quiet platform. As we rounded a corner, we came face to face with the largest escalator I've ever seen. We rode two sets of escalators to the top (nearly six stories). We exited and not 20 yards in front of us was the McKinney Avenue Trolley stop. 

A real, live trolley with conductor - FREE!

The McKinney Avenue Trolley is a restored, vintage trolley that runs a course around Uptown Dallas passing landmarks such as the Magnolia Theater, Hotel ZaZa, Stoneleigh Hotel, The Meyerson Symphony Center, the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Dallas World Aquarium. 

Our MAT ride. We made the photo black
and white so it would be a vintage picture.

We boarded the quaint, and wonderfully heated, Trolley and rode through Uptown. It was so delightful! We got off at Routh street and headed NW toward Howell street where we found our little vegan gem, The Dream Cafe. I don't want to mislead you. The Dream Cafe is not completely vegan but there are some little treasures on the menu. 

Oops, was so hungry, forgot to
take a picture before eating.

The wind had been blowing cold air on us during our little walk to the cafe so when we walked in and were met with warm air and the smell of delicious baked goods, I was in heaven.

I ordered a Tofu Scramble with spinach and mushrooms, vegan sausage and a side of fruit. Mike ordered the same but with eggs and cheese. When the food arrived, I was excited and then slightly saddened. They had put the most delicious and delicate looking popover on the plate with strawberry butter. Now, I must say, I believe in this vegan lifestyle but I won't lie and say I don't miss real butter and buttery flakey breads.  I must confess, I knew it was made with butter but I tried one bite of the popover - that's it! And immediately I felt bad.  But normally I would have eaten the whole thing and thought nothing of it. So in the end I may have had a flakey falter but in the grand scheme I have come a long way. 

A bonus picture. Mike is an artist and, although I'm his wife,
I think he has such an artsy eye! I'll post more of his artwork later. 

The tofu scramble was pretty good. I don't like my tofu in cubes so next time I think I might "scramble" it a little more.

With our bellies full and my toes defrosted, we finished our Trolley ride and made our way back north on the DART rail. If you are ever in Dallas, make sure you ride the McKinney Avenue Trolley. It was my favorite part of the day.

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Hi I'm Alicia and I'm a Vegan ... and why my blog is called Vegan Buttons



The love of my life, Mike, and I. We laugh all the time.



In October of 2011, I married the man of my dreams. One thing I really enjoy about our relationship is our passion for food. I'm a Registered Dietitian for a grocery store chain and love to bake (I know that sounds paradoxical) and Mike (my super handsome husband) is an amazing cook, specializing in soups. In fact, I call him my Souper Man.

We both grew up in homes where our moms provided heatlhy meals. I remember growing cantaloupe, watermelon and asparagus in my backyard as a little girl. It wasn't uncommon to see me eating artichokes at the age of 7. Mike's mom has been an athlete for all his life. Mike remembers growing up eating bran flakes and snacking on fruit while other kids had twinkies and Coke. He remembers doing his homework in the back of a studio while his mom taught step aerobics.

After high school, I went to college for 7 long years to get a Master's in nutrition, complete an internship and take the board exam to become a Registered Dietitian. I love my job. I love showing people the joy of food. Mike went to college and studied graphic design. Before Mike and I met, his father passed suddenly from heart disease. As you can imagine, the tragic event changed Mike forever. But one of the positives of this change was Mike's peaked interest in the effects of food. While he knew how to eat healthy, he had fallen prey to the sedentary and time-warping nature of a computer job. He winces when he tells me he would drink Dr. Pepper and Doritos for lunch. After his father passed, he resolved to change his eating habits and lifestyle.



The other love of my life, Whiskey Jack Jerome.
He's about 95 lbs heavier now.
I'll post more pictures of my Lovey later.

We dated for 2 years before we were engaged and many of our dates were peppered with nutrition and food conversations. But, our biggest food conversation didn't come until we had returned from our honeymoon. Our obsession with documentaries had once again held us captive on a Friday night. Our random choice for the evening was Forks Over Knives, a documentary exploring how the radical, yet largely unpopular, vegetarian lifestyle profoundly affects our health. Forks over Knives, together with the influence of Food, Inc, the book Skinny B*tch and welcoming our big-hearted-floppy-eared-chocolate-lab Whiskey Jack Jerome to our family began to marinate in my head. I had to do this. I wanted to be a vegetarian.

After the movie, Mike literally turned to me and said "I want to try being vegetarian." And so it began. That was in October of 2011. Today is February 3, 2012 and we are still vegetarian/vegan while trying to incorporate gluten free too. I use that wavering forward slash because there are so many things to learn and I keep finding out that I ate something that had milk proteins or honey or fill-in-the-blank.

So this blog is meant not as "follow me, I know all there is to know about being vegan" but more of "come laugh with me as I learn about gluten-free, vegan foods, baking, restaurants, and how this change of lifestyle can be fun and rewarding."

Now, before I sign off, I want to explain why I would name my blog "Vegan Buttons." My sweet puppy, Whiskey, has many a nickname including, but not limited to: Whiskamus, Whiskopotamus, Mr. Whiskers, Lovey, Love Muffin and my all time favorite is Love Button. My long term goal is to own a gluten-free, vegan bakery. I originally wanted to call it Love Button Bakery (because, yes I am a crazy dog owner and I want the bakery to also include gluten-free, vegan dog treats in honor of Whiskey). However, I was rudely awakened to the urban meaning of Love Button and quickly removed that from the list of possible bakery names. I still love the word Button and envision an entire brand built around Buttons Bakery. So as I begin this journey, with the hopes of one day loving people through my smile and sweet treats, I humbly present to you my first blog post for Vegan Buttons.

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