Getting the hang of things

Have you ever been so excited to do something, and you build it up in your head, and you get started and realize its going to be kind of hard and probably not all that you thought it would be? This blog is a little bit like that. This is how I pictured it going:

1) Awesome cool amazing pictures that totally blow your mind and make you think that I've been practicing photography for years (when really I'm just incredibly talented at everything I do, no big deal). Like this

Except of food so actually more like this guy

2) I would know exactly what to say about my day and wouldn't have to spend time thinking about what I would write. I would just sit down and my fingers would tap away greatness.

3) All of my friends would be like, "You know Rachel? You're such an amazing writer, and so witty and funny that I totally encourage this blog writing activity. Go you."

What really happened:

1) I realized I don't own a camera. The only thing in my possession that captures images to memory is my Crackberry. I made cookies...really, really good vegan cookies. They're chewy with a little bit of crunch on the outside and are not that good for you at all--but they taste so good. And gosh, they are beautiful. But my poor little phone could just not handle these cookies' greatness.

This was the result...

I know, you're put into a state of rapture by this picture. I am too.

My attempt at being artistic. If I do say so myself, I think it looks pretty dang good for a "water" damaged Blackberry and good 'ole iPhoto retouching. I put water in quotes because we all know kids don't actually damage their phones with water....lets be real.

2) I want to write about so many things that I just can't decide what to do, so I just try to stay as clear of this blog as possible. I don't know yet what I want to write about...really I just want to look at pictures and recipes of food all day and bake and cook all of them. And then I want to take pictures of my meals and show you what I eat. BUT we know we all can't do that. We have to do things like work, and go to jury duty, and get false eyelashes put on. I also just get too eager to eat my food that I forget to take a picture and then I'm left staring at an empty plate thinking "Damn, I really wanted to take a picture of that. It was pretty cool."

3) I only told two friends I have a blog. They happen to be two people I lived with last year and will be living with again starting June 1st. They laughed at me...but said the title was good. I know that I have chosen the right friends because honestly, everyone needs a little bit of humility in life. We can't take everything so seriously. These same friends laughed at me when I told them I was becoming a vegetarian and that only made me work harder to prove them wrong, and now I'm flirting with trying a vegan diet and have no intention of returning to a meat eating diet. So I really was not expecting them to glorify me. Its not our style. I love them.


What this post comes down to is that I'm excited for this challenge that is blogging. I'm excited to save up for a really nice camera and to learn how to use it. I'm excited to have something to write about and share with you everyday. Even though it might just be my parents who are reading this *shout out Mom and Dad*.

What I'm not excited for is having to clean up my dog's vomit now that I just found her eating her face off in the closet with all the dog food.

Feed me?

But she's just so darn cute.

Oh and for your pleasure:

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from www.veganbaking.net

2 tbsp flax meal
3 tbsp water
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup + 2 tbsp vegan margarine (I used Earth Balance)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp brown rice syrup (the original recipe calls for molasses)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (the 60% Ghiradelli are vegan)

****I changed this recipe a bit the second time I made it. I halved the sugar and did 3/4 light brown sugar and 3/4 white sugar. I added 2 T of apple sauce at the end because they were not sticking well.

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together the water and flax and let sit for about 10 minutes until the mixture solidifies

2) In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon).

3) In a separate bowl, mix the sugar and margarine until well combined. Add the water and flax mixture, followed by the brown rice syrup and the vanilla extract.

4) Add the dry ingredients about a 1/4 cup at a time until well-combined. Add the chocolate chips.

5) Form 1 1/2 inch balls and pull them apart in half. Put the 2 torn halves together so the torn parts are the top of the cookie (this makes the cookie bake in a chunky fashion). Put the balls on parchment paper lined baking sheets. 

6) Bake for 15 minutes on the middle rack, turning the sheet around halfway through. The cookies bake to be golden brown so pay attention and do not overbake.

Woop woop yea and there ya go some bangin' cookies.

Thanks! Until next time dudes,
Rachel

PS: my brother just said they taste just like regular cookies. Amen.