Halloween is on FRIDAY, Gorgeouses! Can you believe!? October went by in a FLASH. To help us celebrate, our favourite, FRIENDLIEST witch, LYN from Wizard and Witch — your resource for all things spiritual — has prepared an awesome recipe that is sure to delight the palette AND be very VERY SCAAAAAARRRRRRYYYY!! It’s MOULDY BLOOD MUFFINS! CHECK IT!

INGREDIENTS:

Muffins
• 2 ½ cups flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 2/3 cup caster sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 ¼ cups coconut
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ cups milk
• 3 tablespoons raspberry or strawberry jam
• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil

Topping
• 3 tablespoons coconut
• 6 tablespoons confectioners sugar
• Green food colouring

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Heat oven to 400°
• Sift together flour and baking powder; stir in sugar and coconut.
• Beat the egg, vanilla extract, milk and oil together.
• Add the dry mix to the wet mixture.
• Mix just until combined.
• Drop a large tablespoon of batter into each tin.
• Add a teaspoon of jam to each and the rest of the batter.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until well risen and firm to the touch.
• Leave the muffins to cool on a baking tray.
• For the topping mix the coconut and a few drops of food colouring.
• Add the confectioners sugar then add water until a paste forms.
• Press the topping mixture into the cracks of the cooled muffins.

THANK YOU, LYN!

And, HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!

Let us know how you like them, Gorgeouses!
xo Haley-O

As you know, I’m a vegan now. And, if it were up to me, my whole family would be vegan, too. But, Josh-O is a carnivore and passionate about his kids (and his wife) eating a mainstream diet.

My kids eat mainly a vegetarian diet. Lunch is often hummus wraps with tomato slices. Both of them LOVE that. I NEVER cook red meat for them. And, they share on average about one or two organic chicken breasts a week. The rest of their diet is lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Not perfection (as far as I’m concerned, obviously), but a fair compromise for the hubby.

Since Rascal’s only one year old, his doctor’s advising that he drink plenty of milk. Though I’m opposed to taking anything from animals who are not treated with the utmost respect and compassion, I still have to give Rascal his milk (because this choice is not mine alone to make). So, I’ve found a compromise that I can live with.

In yesterday’s post at Cheaty Monkey, I got lots of comments asking me “WHAT ARE YOU FEEDING HIM?” — apparently, my little guy is looking HUGE (which is a good thing because Doc said he’s only in the 25th percentile for height, which, IN TURN, is really no surprise because I’m a shorty). In answer to that question, THIS is what I’m feeding him:

“This milk comes to you from cows treated with love and respect.”

You see, FACTORY FARMERS FROM TUESDAY’S OPRAH SHOW? It CAN be done. But, I’m also going to remind everyone that the organic farms on the Oprah show are FAR from the average organic farm — which can be just as brutal as some non-organic farms. There’s MUCH more to be done than Proposition 2. And, remember, EVERYTHING you buy is a vote….

By the way, for those of you who would like to stop drinking milk, I’ll keep you posted on the best nondairy replacements. At this very moment, for example, I’m enjoying YU rice milk in my Chai Tea….

The vanilla one is quite YUMMM…. I choose to drink fortified rice milk instead of soy because I LOVE tofu. So, I like to use up my soy quota on tofu…. I do love a good soy milk, though. It’s thicker than rice milk….

Isn’t this conversation FASCINATING?

Stop YAWNING!

I will say, though, that I feel GREAT since giving up dairy. I don’t miss it one bit. My body is saying THANK YOU in so many ways. But, I don’t do it for my body. I do it for the animals.

Love….

xo Haley-O

Even the title of this post is boring — if not cliche. I know. It’s just what I need to do to get back on the bandwagon of posting here. Seriously, though? It’s DANG difficult to write a food blog when you’ve hit a WALL in your food, cooking and kitchen creativity.

I’ve just been trying to get myself together after the big “I’m-Quitting-the-Blog” fiasco. I was THIS close to quitting this blog, too, but then I cooked this and that, and kept thinking “OH, the GORGEOUSES WOULD LOOOOVE THIS!” One of these days I’ll get to posting those recipes. Hopefully next week.

I’ve just been taking a bit of a break from my manic blogging lately — and from my manic EVERYTHING, including cooking, and even grocery shopping. It’s just ENOUGH with the PRESSURE, you know?

So, I haven’t forgotten about this blog, and I do plan on posting here more regularly when I start COOKING more regularly and (dare I hope) passionately again!

THAT SAID, I’ve been focusing A LOT on feeding my kids interesting meals lately — mainly lunches. I want to be one of those moms who makes great, fun meals for her kids. I want the kids at school to be envious of MY kids’ lunches! But, I’m lazy! And, there’s only so much cooking (AND cleaning!) one can do in a day!

Anyway, lately, I’ve been making an effort, and it’s paid off. Both my kids have been eating really well. Hallelujah! And, really? The effort isn’t that major. Lately, it’s called WRAPS — hummus wraps! egg wraps!…

…and it’s called muffins from a box (organic of course — and reasonably priced), with a sneaky little mashed up banana and maybe even a half-cup of cauliflower added….

…and it’s called FINE ART….

It’s AMAZING the difference a FLOWER DESIGN or HAPPY FACE can make to a plate. It’s the difference between the monkey REFUSING to eat and the monkey EATING EVERYTHING on her plate, I tell you. AND, there’s an added benefit: my monkey’s the only one in her preschool class who can draw a face. And, it’s ALL because of MY culinary artistry — I can make a happy face out of ANYTHING (ketchup is my fave medium, though).

I’m planning a big chicken dinner (that I don’t eat, unfortunately) for tomorrow. If it’s good, I’ll post it fashizzle.

ALSO! You haven’t seen Lori the nutritionist here in a while. THAT’S because she had a baby! CONGRATULATIONS, LORI! She’ll be back soon with brillers informative posts and to answer your questions!

LOVE!
xo Haley-O

PS! I HAVE to start remembering to turn comments on! I think a setting’s on or something. SORRY! And, thanks for your emails! Comments are on now….