Posted by Nicole on December 30, 2012
It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone so quickly. It was an amazing 2012. I have met and become friends with a number of awesome people through blogging and my local veg community, and I’m feeling pretty grateful.
I’m also proud of the outreach projects I was able to accomplish this year, including launching the Treat of the Month Club in Toronto, participating in Toronto’s Vegetarian Food Festival and publishing my first ebook with the beautiful and always inspiring Lisa. The support we have received through the sale of Tiny Treats has left my heart bursting with joy. Since September, we have raised enough money to help feed 12 elephants in 2013—but we’d love to continue sending help to those precious animals on an ongoing basis. Let’s hope we can continue the momentum.
Blog-wise, I have a number of favourite recipes I was able to create and share here on ADC, most of which are dessert-inspired creations. This blog is always a work in progress and a means of growth for me, and although I’ve always enjoyed working on my baking and raw dessert-making skills, I recently became inspired to start sharing more savoury recipes and I’m super excited to change things up a bit around here. It’s also better to start the new year with a salad rather than a dessert, right?
Posted by Nicole on December 23, 2012
When I was young, my grandmother used to make butter tarts at this time every year and it’s safe to say they were a family favourite. If you’re not Canadian, you may not understand the need to find a suitable vegan substitute for butter tarts. Combining flaky pastry shells with a deliciously sweet filling made of butter, brown sugar and eggs, they are considered a quintessential not-so-vegan Canadian dessert. For my family, they were a highlight of special occasions.
If butter tarts are one of your favourite pre-vegan desserts, or a comfort food from your childhood, I think you’ll love this vegan, gluten-free version, which I adapted from this recipe from Tori’s Bakeshop. Tori uses coconut milk and maple syrup but all the flavour comes from the pecans and raisins (and yes, the sugar, too).
Oh, and I have no words to describe the gluten-free pastry, other than it is the best and easiest version I have ever made. This recipe will most definitely be added to my regular repertoire.
Posted by Nicole on December 18, 2012
With December here, Lisa and I are bidding farewell to our regular Treat of the Month Club as we fill up our to-do lists with exciting new projects for 2013. We have been overjoyed with the response to our monthly sweets over the last nine months and particularly the connections we made with new and old friends in Toronto’s vegan community. There really is nothing more rewarding than sharing homemade food with others and celebrating the deliciousness of a plant-based diet.
Last Sunday, we packed up the final selection of vegan treats to hand out to our club members.
This month, Lisa and I shared:
Posted by Nicole on December 9, 2012
I must first apologize for my lateness in announcing the winner of my recent 30-Day Vegan Challenge giveaway. I should have posted on Friday but I seem to have got caught up in holiday parties, entertaining and gift-making. All excuses aside, I hope the winner enjoys her subscription to Colleen Patrick-Goudreau‘s fabulous new online program.
The winner is Shani! Congratulations. Please email me at nicole [at] adashofcompassion.com so I can get you set up.
While I’m here, I thought I’d share a quick and easy recipe that is great for holiday parties and gifts. These were included in October’s Treat of the Month Club. I hope you enjoy them as much as our club members did!
Posted by Nicole on November 30, 2012
While the holidays are a fabulous time to be grateful and merry, they also stir up a lot of emotions, memories and even fears. Starting around mid-November, we engage in a flurry of parties, extra demands and financial stretching.
If you’re like me, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment. Planning for parties, big meals and gift-giving weeks in advance can feel overwhelming. But a few weeks ago I felt a sense of excitement and relief when I received a copy of the new book Vegan Food Gifts. Food gifts at the holiday are a time-honoured tradition, and while I’ve always loved creating my own, sometimes I come up short on unique ideas. Now I had a whole book of ideas!
With Vegan Food Gifts by Joni Marie Newman and Celine Steen, I’ll be able to impress family, friends, neighbours or just about anybody else with homemade gifts that I can feel good about and others will love. From mouthwatering vegan baking mixes I can create, package, and label myself, to DIY gift baskets, preserves, liquors and more, this one-stop guide offers that perfect something for everyone, no matter what their views or inclinations.
