Kitchen Projects #9 and #10: A study in contradiction

A week ago I made a halfway serious vow to limit my intake of animal products this lenten season. Halfway serious has morphed into fully dedicated within these past eight days. I did however, realize something by the close of day one: I simply cannot exist without sugar. I am a person who eats dessert, this is a fact. I'm also a person who like compromise. I've embarked on a new kitchen project all together--vegan baking. This pumpkin bread was one of my first attempts.

Tip #1: pumpkin always rocks. Use! It!

Tip #2: Spices are the new black

Tip #3: Share

Now, that delicious loaf is all well and good, but lucky you, I have a D.C. trip coming up this weekend and that's more than enough reason for cupcakes. So this afternoon I used my snow day to do this: 

Allow me to introduce some friends: 

1.) The Cinnamon Toast Crunchie: cinnamon swirl cake, cinnamon cream cheese icing, and cereal

2.) The Classic Candyland: french vanilla cake, milk chocolate buttercream and M&Ms

3.) The Heave on Earth: brownie bite, swiss meringue buttercream, and a caramel swirl 

Arrange on a plate filled with gummy worms and sour patch kids and kapow (!) you have yourself a smile-inducing gift.

Happy Snow Day to one and all!

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Pumpkin Bread (via The Complete Vegan Kitchen by Jannequin Bennett)

Ingredients:

-2 T. flaxseeds

-1 1/2 c. sugar

-1 c. pumpkin

-1/2 c. applesauce

-1 1/3 c. all purpose flour

-1/3 c. whole wheat flour

-1 t. baking soda

-1/2 t. baking powder

-3/4 t. salt

-1 t. ground cinnamon

-1/2 t. ground nutmeg

-1/4 t. ground cloves

Directions:

1.) Preheat the oven to 350, grease and flour a 9 in. loaf pan

2.) In a blender or a food processor, mix the flaxseed and 6 T of water until light and frothy.

3.) In a large mixing bowl mix: flaxseed, sugar, pumpkin, applesauce

4.) Sift flours, soda, powder, salt, and spices. Add to the pumpkin mixture and combine

5.) Pour into the loaf pan and bake for 1 hour- 1 hour and fifteen minutes

6.) Remove and cool on a wire rack

7.) Dive in