Growing up in the 90's

http://weheartit.com/entry/10214961

Yep, this was pretty much my childhood. Happy Friday everybody!

-Monica

Vegan Ginger Cookies

Sparkled Ginger Cookies (from Vegan with a Vengeance) http://www.theppk.com/

I was terribly bored the other day so I decided to bake something. I flipped through my copy of Vegan with a Vengeance and I was torn between these cookies and Mocha Chip Muffins. I really love cookies, but muffins are like bread and dessert at the same time. I also am a little nostalgic about muffins. It was always a treat when my mum would bake my brother and I muffins in the morning. It was a welcome treat and break from the usual cereal routine.

So instead of staying in limbo forever I let Renay, my soon to be sister in law, be the tie breaker. It was a no brain for her, as soon as I asker her which I should make the blurted out "Cookies, of course!". That was easy enough, because I'm terrible at making decisions like that, probably because I'm a fat kid at heart and just want both. 

Sparkled Ginger Cookies: from Vegan with a Vengeance

Ingredients:

 4 tablespoons turbinado or demerra sugar (regular sugar will work as well but coarse is best)

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 cup canola oil

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup soy milk

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease two cookie sheets. Place the turbinado sugar in a small bowl.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. In a separate large mixing bowl, mix together the oil, molasses, soy milk, sugar, and vanilla. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and combine well. Roll into 1-inch balls, flatten into a 1 1/2-inch diameter disk, press the cookie tops into the turbinado sugar and place 1 inch apart sugar side up on a prepared cookie sheet. 

Bake 10 to 12 minutes (don't overbake!), let cool on cookie sheets for 3 to 5 minutes, and transfer to a cooling rack.

They were spectacular. The most perfect cookies I have ever made. Perfectly round and cracked on top, spicy, sweet and chewy! I made a few modifications. I only had white whole wheat flour on hand, so I sifted it well and used it. I was also concerned about how soft the dough was after handling it, so I set the prepped cookie sheet in the fridge for 10 or so minutes to help firm them up. Bellissimo! -Monica 

how the time flies

It's hard to believe that it's already June! I mean, wow! It feels like just yesterday I was graduating from Valdosta State and it's hard to comprehend that I will be leaving the country so soon. I just got my deposits squared away this morning, really my pops did, but those are just details and all I now have left to take care of is my visa application. I was warned by Dr Wallis, the head of the Art History Dept, that they are very tricky, so wish me luck! 

Isn't it beautiful!

Every time I google London or try to read up on it, it can be so overwhelming. It is a massive international center and there is so much going on. I am starting to realize just how accustomed I am to small town life and how culturally-shocking the move will be. I don't really know how to acclimate myself before hand, so I guess I'm just going head first. 

For the time being though I'm just living my summer up as best as I can, hanging out late at night with friends and watching too much Doctor Who during the day. Yesterday my dear friend, Katelyn, and I found a pool in town, so we snuck in and relaxed the day away talking, reading, eating grapes and blueberries, swimming and blowing bubbles. After we were tired and it started getting late we stopped into La Jalisco Supermercado. La Jalisco is an authentic hispanic grocery store and I was beyond excited. They have a little restaurant along with a bakery and rows of food, produce and sodas that you can't just find anywhere. If I get a job before I leave I intend to use the money to go back and gorge myself on mexican food. I must say it was a day well spent.

-monica

Katelyn blowing bubbles in the pool. (forgive my lack of photoshop,  it's on my list)