La Dolce Vegan Challenge: World Vegan Day

Happy World Vegan Day! I hope that my adventures in vegan cooking over the past few months have shown that you can feast and still be good to the environment and your fellow creatures. I had a major catch-up day today, preparing four recipes:


Wolffie's Magnificent Baked Bean Dip (p. 59). I can't live without hummus. But this might be a nice change-up every once in a while!


Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes with Olivada (p.58). I had high hopes for this one after loving the combination of kalamata olives and tomatoes in the sundried tomato soda bread I made a few weeks back. Sadly, no. Blech. I like olives in only sparing amounts.

Matthew's Spicy Tomato Peanut Kale Pasta (p.134). Tomato sauce, asian chili garlic sauce, peanut butter, fresh kale. Sound weird? It's delicious. I used rice pasta.

Daniyell's Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars (p.204). These are meant to be fancy schmancy rice krispy squares I think. The recipe called for puffed rice cereal, I used puffed kamut because it was what was on hand. They were still delicious, and more decadent than they look.

La Dolce Vegan Challenge: Claire's Mac and Cheeze

Oh, playing catch up on this challenge causes me to do some crazy things - like cooking mac and "cheese" at 9 in the morning. And yet there I was...luckily Claire's Mac and Cheeze (p.125) looks like it will fridge/freeze well so I can save it for later. I did have a wee spoonful and it was rich and decadent. I used Tinkyada Pasta Joy organic brown rice macaroni, and for the "cheese" I used a mix of Daiya shreddables - "mozzarella," "cheddar," and "pepperjack." I think when I actually serve it I'll saute up some broccoli and throw that in there, too.

This sauce looks appropriately melty.

Adding the rice pasta.

Yum!

La Dolce Vegan Challenge: Sweet Treats

Catch up time again; today I made two of the famous Wolffie's creations, Wolffie's Chocolatey-Moist Brownies (p. 211) and Wolffie's B'nanner Bars. Both are relatively quick sweet treats (thanks to the food processor) that use silken tofu for moisture. I've made the banana bars before and they really are delicious. My dad is here right now, and while deeply suspicious of this whole vegan adventure, he pronounced them "not bad." Triumph!

The brownies were supposed to be iced with buttercream frosting, but frankly, they were decadent enough on their own without adding the buttercream. I'll save that recipe for another day.

The banana bars are also supposed to be iced, but again, that seemed like flavour overload, given that I'd already added chocolate chips. Walnuts are also optional, but I have a pal coming over tomorrow who's allergic to nuts and I didn't want to kill her.

New Cosmetics Obsession: Besame

My love of all things vintage and vintage-inspired is well-known. My dream job would have been to be a contract chorus girl at MGM studios in the 1940s and 1950s. Alas, I was born too late, and so I am stuck with beehive hairdos, Pinup Girl Couture, and black and white movies. My latest find, and a new valued weapon in my vintage arsenal, is the lovely Besame Cosmetics, whose delightfully old-school products put retro pretenders like Benefit to shame.

Ava. Sigh.

I first discovered Besame this summer at Wink Beauty lounge, which was carrying a very limited range of Besame lipsticks - I think at the time they had four colours, which were all reproductions of 1940s lipstick colours. They are beautifully packaged in gold plated cases, thick enough for one coat, and semi-matte - in other words, a great red lipstick worthy of Marilyn or Ava. I bought Red Velvet, a shade described as a "deep, rich red" that is "perfect for officewear" and "not too bright." Unfortunately, I looked less like Marilyn and more like Joan Crawford in this colour - it was too dark for me and made me look very severe and my lips drawn and pursed. I was disappointed since I loved the quality of the product, but had to relegate it to my theatre make-up box - it's more a colour for a villain than a bombshell.

Sorry Joan, but just...no.

This week I popped into Wink and found they were now carrying an expanded line of Besame products - many, many more lipsticks, and also rouges, powders, liners and shadows. Yes! How exciting! I have to admit, I went a little crazy, but how can you not with beautifully packaged products like this:



I bought the boudoir rouge, and two double-colored liners, one in grey and taupe and one in plum and brown. The rouge is absolutely beautiful, a neutral blush that goes on not-too-pink and highlights cheekbones. According to Besame's website, they can refill these beautiful cases, which makes Eco-Dani happy. The liners have so far survived their first bouts with Vancouver rain. And then - well, I couldn't resist. I had to try to find the perfect red lipstick, and I think I've done it this time, with Besame Red, a cooler, pinkier red that has the va-va-voom I was missing with the Red Velvet. Ah, there's nothing like finding the perfect red lipstick, is there?




First stop, Besame, next stop burlesque queen! OK, not really, but a girl can dream, can't she?

Visit Besame's website here.

La Dolce Vegan Challenge: Doubling Up

I'm still trying to catch up on all the recipes for the challenge that I missed while I've been concentrating on the show. Today was a little slow on the work front, which meant I had time to do a couple of recipes:

Hal's Maple Chocolate Flax Brownies (p.212): I've made these before, and frankly, they were a dud. This batch turned out better; I think because I used "real" cane sugar as opposed to Splenda. However, they're still what I would call "everyday" baking as opposed to "company" baking - they taste good but they're not that impressive. I still couldn't really taste the maple in them.

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burritos (p. 158): These were a little on the time consuming side, as the sweet potatoes needed to be boiled and mashed, and the black beans needed to simmer and then be mashed as well. I rolled up several burritos in tinfoil and put them in the freezer, the idea being that I can grab 'em and go on my way to rehearsals or shows. I'm sure they'll be delicious - anything with sweet potato AND black bean is OK in my books.

La Dolce Vegan Challenge: Salad Time

No show tonight, so after a few early evening meetings, I'm home to whip up a few of the recipes that are in the backlog:

Edamame & Asparagus Couscous Salad: p. 83. Delicious, but I can only eat this sparingly as couscous has gluten.

Perfect Pesto Potato Salad: p.88. You really can't go wrong with the combination of pesto, sundried tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar.


Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: p. 62. Dear lord, I love hummus. And this one was awesome. And so easy. I don't know how I lived without a food processor for so many years.

On Pens.

My parents were in town this week to see my show, "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum." On Friday afternoon I met my mother and her cousin, my dear Auntie Ruth, for lunch at Provence Marinaside in Yaletown. When the bill came, the server also brought three comment cards for us to fill in, with branded "Provence Marinaside" pens. A conversation ensued between my mother and aunt as to whether the pens were meant as giveaways.


"Well I'm going to take one," pronounced my mother, admiring the pen as she stuck it in her handbag. "Me too," said Auntie Ruth decisively.


"Really?" I asked incredulously. "You have to take THESE pens? Can neither of you afford to buy yourself a pen?" (They can. Many pens, if they like.)


At that point each them proudly produced multiple (I can't remember how many each, exactly, but more than one) "freebie" pens from various places - a dental supply store, an accountant, a hotel.


"I hate being without a pen. On my last cruise, we were always running out of pens in our cabin," said Auntie Ruth. "So every time we walked by the concierge, we asked for more. We came home with dozens each."


I reminded my mother of the last pen I had to confiscate from her when she whisked it out in public, a bright orange "Tena Absorbent Underwear" branded pen. Why on earth Tena would think advertisements on pens would be appropriate, I don't know, but the clear evidence that they did was right there, on the pen. I think we were in the Bay and Mom whipped it out to sign a credit card receipt.


"But I liked that pen," she said indignantly. "It was black. I like black pens."


At that point, Mom tested her new Provence pen on a napkin.


"Ugh," she said disgustedly. "This pen is blue. Nevermind." The pen was thrown dismissively onto the table.


We moved on to other topics. The bill came, and was signed, and we got ready to go. At that point, I nonchalantly threw one of the pens into my briefcase, to much giggling from my mother and aunt.


If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, I say. At least I know what to get them each for Christmas. I wonder if PaperMate delivers?

La Dolce Vegan Challenge: Back On The Wagon

With shows every night (and two on Saturdays), I've been too busy to be really disciplined about keeping up with the challenge recipes - in fact, I only managed to make one recipe this week - Nutty Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (p. 221). After today's matinee, I decided it was time to buckle down and get to work, and so I made last Sunday's recipe, Wolffie's Peach Shortcake (p. 235) and today's recipe, Tofu Balls and Spaghetti (p.129). These recipes were all about freestylin': the cookies called for chocolate chips, which I did not have, but I did have vegan butterscotch chips, so I used those instead. I didn't have ready-made tomato sauce for the spaghetti, so I made my own, using tomatoes from my weekly delivery, and substituted quinoa spaghetti for regular. The peach shortcake called for frozen peaches, but I used some of my world-famous Lemon Family peach preserves instead, which meant I could halve the sugar in the recipe.

Tofu Balls. Peanut butter is used to hold the tofu together, which was an unexpected but not unwelcome combination with the fresh tomato sauce.

Very dark picture of the Oatmeal Raisin Nutty Cookies I made earlier in the week. I gave most of them away, so I couldn't re-take the picture - but at least I have proof I made them!

The peaches for the shortcake are mixed with cinnamon and vanilla.

Shortcakes baking in the oven. They were wonderfully light.

With soy ice cream.

Hot damn, those shortcakes were absolutely to die for. I'll make somebody a very nice housewife someday.



The Reviews Are In - A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum is a hit!

I'm currently playing Domina in Stephen Sondheim's "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum" at the Jericho Arts Centre until October 22nd. We've been getting some great reviews from local media, with kudos especially for our director (and my pal), Cathy Wilmot, and our Pseudolus (uh, and my pal - noticing a trend?!), Ryan Mooney, who's better known as artistic director of Fighting Chance Productions:

The Georgia Straight said our show brims with playfulness, and raved about Ryan's performance, although I don't know if I like being called a shrew or brainless - or maybe I should take this as a compliment to my performance, since I'm neither in real life?

The Vancouver Courier said Ryan was amazing as "con man" and "snake oil salesman" Pseudolus, that I "dominate with my big operatic voice" and was amazed at how funny the show still is, after all these years.

Gillian Lockitch from Review From the House said I was "awesomely dominating" and that Peter Stainton, who plays my husband Senex, was the "best henpecked husband anywhere" (I agree).

Review Vancouver noted that we earned a "well-earned standing ovation" on Opening Night, and picked out my darling Cameron Dunster, who plays my son Hero (hilarious as a) I'm not that much older than him and b) he's probably at least a foot taller than me - if not more) as the standout of the show.

David C. Jones of OUTtv pegged Ryan as the star of the show as the "sardonic and witty" Pseudolus and rightly called out Mike Wild's performance as Hysterium as well.

So seriously, what are you waiting for? The show's a hit! Get your tickets online at Jericho Arts Centre - we have 7 shows a week, you really don't have an excuse not to show up.