happy. new, year?

Yes. Well, hi. Having missed the entirety of the holiday season and then some (but having taken a ton of pictures), I have nothing to show for last year's cold, rainy, but warm-hearted festivities but a deluge of photos.

Thanksgiving app: butternut squash spring rolls w/ chile-cranberry sauce (from Veganomicon).


Thanksgiving spread. Clockwise from top: Chestnut stuffing, pot pies, and mashed potato casserole.


Tempeh & delicata squash pot pies, filled with a pumpkin sage cream sauce.


Roasted brussel sprouts with pistachios and caramelized onions (from The Vegan Table).


Pumpkin Cinnamon-Swirl Cheesecake (from The 100 Best Vegan Baking Recipes).


Dough; gingerbread biscotti (from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar).

Unfortunately, I was sick with a dreadful head cold as we finished the batch and developed somewhat of an aversion to the chewy, ginger-y, crunchy snacks. But they made easy, fantastic gifts!

Chai-spiced pistachio brittle, per Hannah's fool-proof recipe from the holiday issue of VegNews, all packaged up for cheapskate gift-giving!


The Dollar Store was my savior in gift giving. Maybe $10 spent on plenty cute Christmas-y tins and treat bags.


Feather (apparently baked) on Christmas morning.


Mom and I on Thanksgiving. (Pictured here are my favorite earrings, which proceeded to be lost - then found shattered on the sidewalk the next morning - New Year's Eve. R.I.P.)

I think perhaps why it's so hard for me to keep up with my most highly prolific and creative fellow bloggers (my god, people, how is it done?!) is that I am... lazy. Lazy. Sure, I feel like a busy bee 24/7, but when downtime shuffles along, I often can't find the interest to blog. Which is odd, because I spend all that time surfing other people's prolific, creative, knowledge-wealthy blogs. Which is not to say, I don't like blogging. I do. It's a somewhat self-indulgent, narcissistic activity. Which I love. Or that I don't bake or cook ever. Because, I do. This is all just... not a priority.

However - I have a lot to say. Really, honestly. In the interest of catering to most food-blog-followers (few of whom have ever visited here, having realized my blogging abilities are kind of a dud), though, I try to keep my personal life largely out of it, focusing on what I eat and cook. But, with the aforementioned laziness and not-prioritizing, I've not really produced quality blogging. You still with me? The rambling's coming to a close, pinky-swear.

So, soon (maybe) I think that I will try to blog more. But on a different playing field. It will probably involve more than just what I eat on a regular (bi-annual) basis. I live in a great city and know interesting people. I can go on a tangent about the time my omni friends gave me shit about wanting to try a new vegan bakery the last time we were in Seattle like no one's business. As self-indulgent as it is, as much as anyone outside my Facebook network couldn't care less, I think I'll be done with MamaVG's and just blog... or whatever.

I act like this is some Conan-worthy sign off. It's really, really not. But, I thought I'd ramble a little and let ya'll know. And, thank you dearly for ever having looked on over here! I appreciate every single one of your comments. I do, honest. To. God. I hope that if I've peaked your interest a bit, you'll follow me should I move along!

the oregon country fair: a recap.

So here's a good story. This will be my 19th post. I know that's shameful; that averages to what, three-quarters of a post a month?! Anyway, the blog has been around for almost one year, one month. The funny part (besides the part where I haven't really bothered or noticed how long the blog's been around) is that June 26th, 2008 was the date of my first post, and June 26th, 2009 is the date of my last post just prior to this one. I hadn't even noticed!

...And by *good* story, I meant lame and sidetracked.

I mostly wanted to check in because I plan on making a solid effort in this blog's upkeep. Kind of like a really, really belated/lazy New Year's resolution. Yeah, kind of like a New Year's resolution - for the blog's New Year next eleven months!

Moving right along without the pretense of a segue, I had been camping a couple weeks ago in Veneta, OR for the 40th annual Oregon Country Fair (which I'd been excitedly updating with if you follow me on "The Twitter"*). The Fair is like... what my summer is for. One glorious, indulgent, free-spirited, worry-free, peaceful, open weekend in July. It's hippy-fest to the nth degree for sure, but nowhere else do you meet the most interesting, open-minded, friendly people. And I do mean "you do meet." You will have fun and be interesting and meet interesting people. I don't care if you were there for three-hours or the whole three-day shebang. That is what happens.

Of course, the ultimate experience is the campsite. Zumwalt, one of just a few campgrounds close by, is by far the best. It is the largest, the only one with a shuttle to the fair itself, a water-truck, and a waterfront for bathing and swimming. And the people? Oh, there will be partying. You will get to know your fellow campers. You will experience Camp Canada at the far end of Zumwalt. Have you seen Canadian hippies party?!

It should be noted that this isn't your typical fair. This is green-living, artsy-craftsy, extravagant-(VEGAN!)-food-vending at its finest. There are countless stages with a myriad of performers from bluegrass bands to flamenco dancers. Parades are, like, every fifteen minutes. The fair itself, after forty years of this, has worked itself into the scenery of the surrounding forest. I can't even imagine what the grounds look like when it's not that second weekend in July.

Besides the plethora of FAIR FOOD I CAN EAT?!, perhaps my favorite fair-going experience is the - and I'm going to go real greener on you - the freeness of the body. Body consciousness is quite forced out of you at OCF as is evidenced by the abundance of bare-breasted women, young and old, small and large, with elaborate chest paintings and the flowery, glimmering babies painted on the stomachs of pregnant women.

Until next year, OCF. Until next year.**


A particularly sentimental map of OCF.


Emma's (*my* Canadian) patriotic rub-on tattoo. It's pretty much just like a passport.



*Can I just point out that I am FULL-BLOWN TWITTER ADDICTED. CAN WE STAGE AN INTERVENTION OR SOMETHING?! I've been sucked in to the self-indulgence that is "tweeting," so follow me if you so desire.
**As the people, vendors, and crafts are so fascinating and lovely, I ultimately failed at photographing any of the many, many vegan delicacies I purchased. My apologies.

jesus died for your sins, and you won't even eat a pretzel.

I was waiting for an... "occasion" to post, but it turns out my baking days have been relatively uneventful. That and even if I were baking for special occasions, I wouldn't have my big, bold, carry-all locking case I use for everything. I lent it to a friend three mother-whoring weeks ago and despite my subtle? nagging it hasn't been returned. But as you can see I'm not bothered. I'm clearly feeling rather neutral about it. Clearly.

The above is from St. Patrick's day - baking soda biscuits with sausage gravy made with seasoned Susan V's Irish Fauxsages. They were fantastic; I always enjoy the thick, flavorful White Bean Gravy recipe from Vegan With a Vengeance. The only downside is saving the gravy isn't really an option unless you're willing to thin it down or blend it the next day. The beans firm right up into some spread-type deal. Which can be a positive situation, depending on how you look at it.

After a rather depressing weekend I was determined to have a quality Sunday brunch. An early riser, I was even going to let myself sleep in. Unfortunately that started off poorly when my body woke me up at 7:30am and refused to relent. Then, my attempt at hash browns failed miserably when the potatoes resulted in a gummy, purple mess. It was revolting. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'd only taken any part in hashbrown-making of the frozen package variety. As I learned... there's more to it than simply grating and pan-"frying..."

Success finally came in the deliciousness of the Banana-Coconut Rolls (with Almonds) from Have Cake, Will Travel that accompanied my morning coffee. Warm. Gooey. Sugary. Caloric. MMMMMhmmm.

After that win I started trolling my Google reader for more goods to try in the future, and this is what I came across:

I have tried many times (well, to count, three times - but three unsuccessful times is many to me*) to achieve good, fried yeasted donuts. The first attempt was a very tasty, though admittedly very not-donutty pseudo-malasada. My friend Kali and parents enjoyed them - I suppose being Hawaiian transplants it was like a taste of home. The second attempt was inedible. The third was... similar to the "malasadas," but I wanted to use icing instead of a sugar glaze and it was just strange. SO, in conclusion I'm desperate to try these curd-filled donuts from Vegan Visitor - I WILL HAVE DONUT SUCCESS. (Any tips on the lack thereof, by the way?)

Another treat I grew up with was mochi, and it has been eons since I've had it. My mother used to make butter mochi a lot when I was much younger; it was famous and requested by family friends often. I haven't looked at a recipe in years, but I believe it is rather dairy heavy (hellooo - buttah mochi). The "ball kind" (called daifuku when filled, and also never called "the ball kind" by anyone but me), available around here exclusively as ice cream-filled, includes fewer ingredients. After being asked for a recipe by Kali, that Hawaiian friend, I came across the daifuku featured on VeganYumYum. Mochi is in one word adorable, and now I want some.

I had never heard of monkey bread. It will be made, it will be shared, it will be devoured.

I love sauerkraut. I don't understand why we never have it or why I can't remember the last time I ate it. Thinking about it now, I'm craving vegan brautwurst. Maybe I think I love it because I never have it? In any case - easy, scrumptious-looking, and casserole. I see no problem.

I have actually spent a great deal of today wasting away in front of Google reader's search option but thinking about all this vegan feasting is seriously getting to my hunger trigger. The quicker I can get to sleep, the sooner I can get up and eat breakfast. Leftover banana rolls... just you wait.

*Not to imply I'm the brilliance in the kitchen I wish I were (or let people think I am), because I just happen to follow well-tested and -developed recipes from brilliant authors.

it's still alive.

I apologize for having abandoned my baby, Blog. It's the same old "busy" spiel - school, shows, and whatnot. Apparently I only make time when I'm on the verge of death sick. Illness - it spreads like wildfire among with the group when you spend no less than two months virtually living with your castmates. Unfortunately I will have much more free time starting next week (possibly the only time in my academic career that I will say "unfortunately") when our current production, Twelfth Night is over. It's been a great couple months and I'll be sobbing into my closing-night cake come Saturday when it's over. 

The above shots are of some of my most recent deals in the kitchen - a friend with my birthday cake from earlier in the month (I did indeed bake my own birthday cake), Vanilla-Hazelnut Cake filled with Mocha-Hazelnut Mousse, Chocolate Joe-Joe's, and topped with Chocolate Ganache and Toasted Hazelnuts, and buchty rolls from a magnificent bread book I bought at Border's on super-clearance.Valentine's Day was a treat as well - my "wife" and I celebrated with a Banana's Foster "wedding cake" from My Sweet Vegan. I baked, she got down on one knee with an enormous plastic keyring ring. All very romantic.

Also, I am very excited to be exploring photography more intently with the Nikon D60 I got for Christmas. More food porn in store, of course.

snow survivor.

In my near seventeen years living this side of the Cascades, never have I seen this much snow. It's outrageous. I haven't really been able go beyond ten minutes of my home since Tuesday. These shots were taken just a few days ago to demonstrate just how much it has piled on, but has snowed even more since.

Yet, I'm surviving. How? The sugar-induced holiday baking highs, of course. Now that times are tight for all of us, there is no better or quicker (or more foolproof, when you lack the basic patience or talent for handcrafts as I do) homemade gift than baked goods. And that's no revelation - likely anyone who reads this has sent off their tins of shortbread and peppermint bark weeks ago. I personally love to bake plentiful batches of biscotti; characterized by being "better with age" they travel well when freshness is not as big an issue. Not to mention there's nothing I love more than dipping the leftovers in my morning coffee.

And the testing continues! Our latest mission from Hannah has been Persimmon Blondies. However, with the aforementioned terror that is our current icy road situation I haven't been able to search very far for the elusive fruit. One of Hannah's substitution suggestions was applesauce, though, which I happened to have plenty of on hand.

The verdict? INCREDIBILITY. Serious. Between the unusual spice addition, the fudginess, the inability to go wrong with a healthy dose of chocolate chips, these bars are blowing my freaking mind. Do I feel this way because attempt after attempt of homemade blondies have disappointed in the past? Could it be because I'll eat anything warm, stuffed with gooey chocolate, and sandwiched with ice cream? Whatever it may be, these hit a home run with me. I'd love to try these using the persimmons, but at the moment I don't believe I'm lacking any of its intended melodious, spicey, and fudgy outcome. Easy, came together well, baked well - beautiful.

Switching gears for a moment, I would like to leave you with the Feather. A very resourceful cat she may be, and I don't blame her for seeking out the warmest spot available even when she has more than one large and cushy cat bed lying about the house. But for readers of Fail Blog, I'd call the cable box an epic bed fail.

giving thanks.

I hope that all the Americans had a wonderful and loving Thanksgiving! I have so much to be grateful for this year, and I'm just lucky to have had such a pleasant holiday with smoothly prepared food. A shocker, considering the kitchen mayhem we've endured in past years and will endure in the years to come. I didn't do much in the way of originality for the feast, so I'll just leave you with a few recap shots.

Sourdough Stuffing w/ Apples & Mushrooms; Mom's Stuffing's Veggies (later nonvegan)

Clockwise from bottom: cranberry sauce, candied yams (non-vegetarian), delicata & butternut squash, tequila-lime yam hash, roasted brussel sprouts with garlic.

Impossible Vegan Pumpkin Pie from Fatfree Vegan Kitchen

I also made a seitan "turkey" loaf with the Mustard Sauce from Veganomicon, but it was not particularly gorgeous and I left it unphotographed. Of course, we have been living solely off of leftovers for the past day or so. Pumpkin Pie Milkshake, anyone? That was my balanced breakfast this morning...