Beating Back Butter

One of the concerns that I had when we were making the switch to veganism was butter.  I love to bake and I love toast, especially toast slathered with butter and jam or cinnamon sugar.  So more than anything this was an ingredient that I worried about a bit.  But we are very luck to be vegan in a time when this is a total non-issue. 

Because there is EarthBalance!

EarthBalance is the greatest food product I know.  It comes in sticks and several spreadable varieties and because of it, I've never given the switch from dairy butter a moment's thought or concern. 

The sticks are perfect for baking and sauteing, just like dairy butter sticks.  It melts, separates and softens just like dairy butter and makes perfect flaky biscuits and pie crust too.

I've used this when making heavily butter-based cookies, like shortbread or the Mexican Wedding Cakes/Russian Tea Cakes shown below, with no change in the texture or flavor.  I've made rouxs and risotto and sauteed mushrooms too.

Here I've creamed two sticks with sugar when making the Tea Cake cookies.  Looks just the same, right?

with the added flour...

baked and nicely browned...

Done!

EarthBalance tastes and acts just like dairy butter but with out all the cruelty and cholesterol. In fact, I don't know why more bakeries and chef's don't use it exclusively.  You open up your menu to more people and reduce the negative elements. 

So, if you are ready to make some cookies (or want to make me some!) grab some EarthBalance and you are good to go!

Comic Commentary

A few thought provoking images and social commentary for you...

... and, just for the holidays...

Meet our new girls - Butterscotch & Tellicherry

As mentioned in the previous post, our Meggie (Nutmeg) passed away on Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Jake was very sad and we knew he needed some companions.  So we spoke with Red Dog Farm, the rescue group that many of our animals have come from, to see if they had any hens who could be placed with us.  Lucky for us they did and we were able to bring home Butterscotch and Tellicherry (Telli for short) on Friday.

They are such pretty girls.  I have already taken a ton of photos of them, but here are a few...

Jake and girls get along great and he is already acting as their protector.  Telli and Butterscotch were perfect in the car home and became accustomed to their coop after just one night.

We're so happy to have new members of the family!

Welcome to Butterscotch and Telli!!!