Vegan Strawberry Date Bars

Sometimes, I don't want to do stuff.

Sometimes my bed looks far too inviting to want to actually crawl out of it and be productive. And sometimes even pouring a bowl of cereal is way too much work. Get a bowl? Ug. Put the milk BACK in the fridge? Psh. I can't be bothered with all that high maintenance breakfast drama for something blah like Cheerios.

So what's a lazy girl to do when the sun is shining, and the day beckons for something healthy and fresh and wholesome, but you're still schlepping around the house in a ratty tshirt, half asleep? Make these bars, that's what. They come together in, like, 5 seconds. There's very little cleanup, they make just enough for two or three to share (or one hungry baker) and... Hm. What else...?

Oh! That's right, did I mention they're vegan? And gluten free! And you can even easily make them raw vegan if you wanted, if you're feeling extra granola.

This recipe is loosely adapted from one I saw in this month's "Whole Living" magazine. Except I changed some stuff. And added some stuff. But the concept has been stuck in my head since I first saw it, and has been whining to be let out.

Rainbow Cake Pops

Hold onto your britches, friends.

Are these not the darn coolest things ever? And the best part is that they're sneaky! On the outside, they're a plain ol' boring cakepop. Sure, they're chocolatey and delicious. Sure, they're creamy and melt-in-your-mouth, but still. Just a cakepop. (Bakerella is hiring a hitman to hunt me down as we speak, for blaspheming so awfully)



But then... You bite into it, and KAPOW!! Totally groovy psychedelic swirls of colorfun jump out and smack you in the face! (Because they're fierce like that. Fierce.) You didn't see it coming, did you? Well, that'll teach you. Don't underestimate the mighty cakepop. (Please call off the hit, B. I love you.)

Anyway, I must say, these were quite a project. I did two batches, and the first was FAR more time consuming than the second. By the time I got to the second batch, I had a better idea of how to go about it, and the results came out much better with much less work. Win, right? I'm all for less work.

So, I'll tell ya how it happened. No magic wands were involved.

Sweet Holy Smores, People!

Okay, so I'm trying to come to terms with the idea that my tropical little desserts might not happen. I keep putting them off, and I WANT to make them, but I usually balk at the idea of making a bunch of things that can't be easily given away. And these guys are fragile. They won't pack well or hold up to a lot of shuffling around. So if anyone local wants to come chat a while in my kitchen and take home some yumminess, sing out. I want to get these guys done. Really.

In the meantime, however, I made s'mores. But these are certainly not your typical campfire s'mores, no sir!

I thought of so many friends when I made these.

I thought of Katie and her undying love of cinnamon toast crunch.

I thought of my friends Kassia and Amanda, who are off on a long camping excursion.

I thought of Christy, who I need to go camping with very soon!

I thought of Cara, who stopped by just in time to help, but couldn't stay for a bite. That was tragic.

So you see, friends, there is a lot of love in these s'mores. That's probably why they're just so damn delicious. Or it might be the Ghiradelli chocolate. Or the buttery marshmallow cream. Or the crispy cinnamon toast crunch...

Wait, what's that you say? Where's the Hershey bar? The big spongey mallows? The graham crackers? "Posh!" you say. You say it's not a S'more without those vital ingredients, yeah?

Well, let me tell you.

Getting there...

Hello out there.

I wish I had something amazing for you today. I don't.

I'm in the process of making something amazing, though. Something coconut and macadamia nuts. And graham cracker and kiwi. And white chocolate and cardamom. Crazy, right?

Unfortunately, I don't think it'll be done until tomorrow. It's not a particularly difficult or tedious recipe or anything. In fact, I could probably have it all done in about an hour and a half if I wanted to. But I'm afraid I've gotten distracted. Summer has flashed a grin at me, and like a lovestruck teenager, I'm wandering off after it.

Oh sure, I could be baking. But I haven't been. At least, not for more than an hour or so at a time.

Instead, this is what I've been doing this week.

I had cold spaghetti for breakfast. Two days in a row.

I took out the trash.

I browsed for museums to visit.

I gave my daughter a soap mohawk in the bath tub.

I had friends over for queso and a princess movie.

I painted my nails red.

I changed my mind and repainted them plum.

I fell asleep on the couch and woke up to Fraggle Rock. I didn't change the channel.

I said hello to the snake that lives in my garden.

I used clementine-scented bath gel in the shower.

I noticed that my neighbor's garden is overrun with weeds, and felt better about my own.

I fed my mom's cats.

I took a nap in my hammock.

I went for a walk and waved at my neighbors.

I fell for a prank phone call. But only a little.

I said a prayer for a friend. And then said a couple more.

I picked up the same eight baby toys. Again and again.

I introduced my daughter to tomatoes and avocado.

I stayed up until three o'clock in the morning.

I joined a friends' fundraiser relay team.

I listened to some seriously fantastic bluegrass music.


So you see, I've had a busy week. I promise, I'll have something yummy to you soon. Thanks for being so patient. And for those who are have just subscribed, hello! Good to see you. Thanks for joining us! I just know we're going to be very good friends.

Gooey Butter Cake Balls

Oh my gosh, you guys! I was just reading through my own blog and saw, several posts down, that I promised you gooey butter cake balls. I never delivered on those, did I? Oh no.

Please forgive me. Let me fix that right this second.

First, some history.

This is a gooey butter cake.

Thanks to www.tidymom.net for the pic!


It is exactly what it sounds like--it's a cake, it's gooey, and it tastes like butter. It's sweet and rich, and satisfies that urge your sweet tooth sometimes has for something just horribly unhealthy. It's also delicious.

Gooey butter cake is a St. Louis landmark and tradition that originated in the 1930s. According to legend, a German baker added the wrong proportions of ingredients in the coffee cake batter he was making. It turned into a gooey, custard-like filling.

Being a true St. Louisian, I couldn't resist the urge to turn a local point of pride into a lush truffle.

Girl Scout Samoa Twinsies

Happy Friday, friendlies! I am going to preface this post with one disclaimer. I support Girl Scouts. I am totally down with jamborees and sashes. I can get behind the sisterhood thing and helping little old ladies across the street. Or...is that Boy Scouts? Meh. Whatev.

Camping? Love it. Patches? Who doesn't love flair! The Girl Scouts are good people. During my pregnancy last year, they singlehandedly contributed to at least 10 pounds of my total gain, purely through the abuse of Do-Si-Do Peanut Butter cookies. En masse. I do my part. You should too. Support your scouts or the terrorists win.

Okay, NOW. I must also say that it is incredibly unfair of said Scouts to set up their booths and peddle crack-laced cookies to the public, and then disappear for another 51 weeks while we all throw ourselves into Thin Mint comas and begin turning on each other in fits of peanut butter withdrawal rage.

So between those magical annual festivals of Girl Scout glory, I want to offer you a substitute to help keep you sated until the Scouts return once again to distribute their wares.

Cheese and Almond Creme Blintzes

Happy Monday, dear ones. I hope you're all having a wonderful day. If not, then I hope you have wine.

Did you have a good weekend? I had a fabulous weekend. Barbecue and pool party with the family, then an absolutely stirring concert at a tiny local theater last night. I did a little digging and found a photographer who was there and has photos! ::dance:: Gotta wait for them to be uploaded, though.

If your weekend was as rockin' as mine, you better spill it. I want to hear.

So after an amazing couple days, I woke up this morning and craved something light and fluffy. Pancakes would be too heavy. Toast? Nah. Too dry. Omelet? Eh, too meaty for a balmy St. Louis morning... hm. What could I make?

Oh! Blintzes! Light and airy, creamy, and full of yum. And let me share something with you, friends--I like yum. What could be tastier than thin, toasty crepes stuffed with marzipan-infuzed ricotta filling and drizzled in homemade blackberry sauce? HO boy! Nothing. So I hopped out of bed and whipped up my batter.