Vegan carrot bread with cardamom and coconut

Last week, I had the privilege of being offered a cookbook for review on this here blog—specifically, Bob’s Red Mill’s Everyday Gluten-Free by Camilla V. Saulsbury. As someone who often uses Bob’s Red Mill products in baking and who is interested in the idea of using different whole grains besides wheat, I happily accepted. And you know what? It’s pretty cool.

Gluten-free vegan pumpkin pie cheesecake bars with gingerbread crust

It’s November 26^th. The day before Thanksgiving. Two days before Black Friday. Five days before the arrival of December. And you know what that means?

NaNoWriMo, to which I officially dedicated myself many weeks ago, is basically over. So I imagine I ought to tell you how that has gone and, obviously, celebrate my victory! OMG!

Lemon blueberry crisp with almond cookie topping (gluten-free and vegan)

My mother is not one to make exotic vegan or gluten-free foods, nor does she appreciate me substituting butter for coconut oil and such things (for whatever reason). So imagine my surprise when one day, I amble into the kitchen to find a bag of brand-spanking-new coconut flour sitting on the counter.

Neapolitan celebration cakes part II - gluten-free chocolate layer cake

If there’s one thing I don’t understand, it’s the fuss over dietary restrictions that people seem to delight in these days. Everyone loves playing “find the vegan”—you know, that condescending game that apparently disqualifies everything ever said in favor of a vegan diet. Some folks (and not just restaurateurs), bitch and moan when an otherwise normal person dares to alter a menu item to fit their needs or preferences. But mostly, it’s the cultural idea that it’s okay to lecture someone about what’s on their plate that disturbs me—the idea that what you should or shouldn’t eat is someone else’s business.

Healthier, gluten-free blondie brownie swirl bars with avocado frosting

The other day, while flipping through the latest Time magazine, a short segment on a new scientific study came to my attention.  Mostly because it included a mention of brownies. Brownies are a rare commodity in serious international magazines.

My interest having been piqued, I went ahead and googled it up to find a few longer articles on the study…only to find that, somehow, scientists had recruited quite a few volunteers to eat brownie bites—yes, brownie bites—and did not even think to ask me. How insulting.