ONION RINGS-TAKE TWO!

Hey folks,

I'm still here, cooking and eating! I haven't been posting as much because I haven't ventured into making much new to share until now!

I decided to take another shot at making onion rings. JJ and I had a taste for these a few months ago and I downloaded a recipe to try to make some for us. Well, it was a disaster, a straight ooey, gooey hot mess! I was disappointed to say the least, but vowed I would revisit trying to make these again in the near future.

Well, I was watching the food network and Ina Garten on Barefoot Contessa was making some and that ignited me once again to tackle this task. I made up in my mind that it was going to work this time and they would be delicious. Well, my positive attitude must have worked because they did come out splendid!! I used the recipe Ina used, but veganized it for me and JJ. Instead of using buttermilk for the wet part of the batter, I mixed together some almond milk (soy would have worked I'm sure, but I've been buying almond as of late) with egg replacer for one egg and about a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and set that aside to curdle.

I got this idea from the VCTOW cookbook because they say that mixing soy milk and the apple cider vinegar is said to curdle up to resemble buttermilk. I didn't know if it would work the same using almond milk, but it seemed to. I probably could have skipped the egg replacer but I thought it wouldn't hurt.

For the dry ingredients, I just mixed together some flour with cornmeal, salt, pepper, and a bit of cayenne and season all. I poured some canola oil in a deep pan (since I don't have a fryer, don't need one since I don't fry hardly ever) and started frying my onion rings away.

They came out crispy and delicious. Now, I did take a picture, but not one that did them justice so I opted not to post it. JJ and I were more than pleased with the result! Since they are fried, this is more of a once in a while treat, but the next time I make them, I'll be sure to take a better picture to share!

Until next time!

C

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hey folks,

I hope your holidays were safe, fun and filled with love and good food. I'm happy to report mine were! Okay, so I'm feeling a bit lazy today, so I'm going a bit back on my word about the looonng post I mentioned in the last post. We will do a bit of a photo essay if you will to catch you all up to speed. Unfortunately, JJ and I didn't get to spend Christmas Day or New Years Eve together this year, but we were with family and had a great time with them.

We did have our Christmas celebration for two like I mentioned previously and it was very nice! AB had to work on New Years Eve and New Years day so that immediately scrapped the Florida trip and JJ ended up waiting to go to Chi-town the week of New Years, so we will have to reschedule that trip for a later date.

Anyway, I realized in downloading my pictures that I don't have many of food!!! In 2009, I am going to purpose myself to be more up on this!!!

Okay, on to the pics!

THANKSGIVING:

JJ's mom showing off the yummy vegan cornbread stuffing

JJ, JJ's mom, sister and Dad diggin in...

My handsome nephew Kirby


PRE-CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES:

AB and TM came over one night and we made AB's famous cookies and watched a holiday flick.

Icing AB's FABULOUS Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

I made some DELICIOUS mint chocolate cupcakes with mint flavored icing (VCTOW) not the prettiest, but definitely the yummiest..

The setting for me and JJ's holiday dinner por dos! We made pasta; vegan stuffed shells. I can't BELIEVE, I didn't take a picture. It was SOOOO good!

My artificial Christmas tree in all it's glory...

My decorated stair railing

My suggestive couch pillow! :-)

CHRISTMAS

My mom's Christmas tree..

My sister's beautiful decorated house..

My sister and nephew Myles

My mom and nephew Justyn

Me, My mom and my sisters..

Me, my mom, sisters and close friends of the family out at a golf course country club in Maryland

So, there you have it! As I said, not many food pics this time but I am glad to share pics of the family because being surrounded with those you love is really what it's all about!

I'm excited for what this year is going to bring! I look forward to sharing more food and family with you in the months to come!

XO,

C