10-10-10, A Perfect Day

In the wake of a busy life, it's good to slow down sometimes and contemplate our existence in this world. We have a tendency to rush around, make deadlines, scrutinize everything, and strive to be ...perfect.

A wise man once told me that it isn't perfection that we should be focusing on, but progress.

Perfection leads to self doubt, which leads to anxiety, which leads to defensiveness, which breeds hostility towards oneself, and the world- all while chasing something that simply doesn't exist (at least not for very long).

Progress is creativity expressed.

It is an open mind...

                                      a feeling of freedom...

                                                                                   a journey with
many
                  possible
                                     roads.

So on this day of "perfect 10's," let's sit down with ourselves, our friends and family, and celebrate how far we have come. Let's think about how we can contribute to a world obsessed with perfection, and coax a more relaxed smile- a lossening of the butt cheeks. Let's not take our causes so seriously, that we end up turning our backs to those around us. Let's not be so afraid that we deny the truth that's on our doorsteps. Let's be open to consideration, to communication, ... to progress.

Because nobody's perfect.

This post is dedicated to my neighbor, Larry -R.I.P. We miss you!

Being Vegan on the Cheap, Not a Rich Man's Game!

A friend recently remarked how snobby and elitist the vegan/vegetarian community can be, and how vegan food products can be so pricey that you'd have to have an above-average income to buy into it (pun intended). And, as much as I want to disagree, the evidence at the local health food store doesn't lie.

A vegan cupcake for $4?! Whipped cream in a can for $6?! ...not to mention vegan cheese and vegan mayo, which is basically made of soy or pea protein, fat, and a thickener/emulsifyer. I recently made a comment to a young vegan college student (starving, of course), that the local health food store now carried Daiya (a very popular vegan cheese). She quickly replied that she wished she could get some, but she simply couldn't afford it on her budget.

What is this world coming to? What happened to the vegan movement upon which veganism was found? It used to be about living off the earth and preserving our natural resources- growing our own vegetables, and spreading the word about healthy living, community, and sharing. I'll admit it- I don't look like one, but I'm a hippy at heart!

The fact is, corporations have found a new growing market, and have professionals who are quite adept at luring the masses into buying their cool products with cool packaging. I'm guilty too! It's hard to resist some of those products, which offer flavor, quickly satisfy cravings, and the all-too-popular convenience. Veg magazines and food sites (even me) promote them. Isles at the market are quickly filling up with them. And it's getting harder and harder to say that a vegan diet/ lifestyle is not only healthier, but cheaper.

But the fact is, it can be- if you simply go back to the basics.

10 humble tips for going vegan on the cheap, and helping the planet:

1) The obvious- avoid pre-packaged processed foods and eat as much whole foods as possible.
2) Go organic, but only when it's on sale. Certain produce have less pesticides than others (mostly things with thick skins that you don't eat, like avocados). You can find a list here.
3) Plant a veggie garden, and go organic A LOT more often! No space? You'd be amazed at what you can grow in containers on a patio, herbs on a window sill, etc.
4) Get your neighborhood involved and exchange crops for more variety. I call this a "crop swap."
5) Buy from the bulk section (re-use bags as much as possible).
6) Shop at farmer's markets right before closing to get the best deals, and don't be afraid to bargain.
7) Don't throw away vegetable cuttings (carrot tops, onion tops, peels, etc.)- collect them in your fridge over a few days, then use them to make vegetable stock for soups, etc. If you have left over, compost for your garden.
8) Eat your greens- don't throw away beet greens, turnip greens, radish, and even carrot greens are all edible and delicious! Too fibrous for your taste? Try them in delicious smoothies blended with fruit.
9) Absolutely NO MONEY? Volunteer to feed the even less fortunate. Food Not Bombs is an organization that has provided free vegan meals to the homeless for years. Chances are, there's one in your city, if not -start one! The one I volunteer for collects day old bread from the local bakery and organic produce from the local market that would otherwise be thrown away. Perfectly good food, that can feed many people, including yourself. I know volunteers that survive on the food they get to take home on a weekly basis.
10) Shop at thrift stores, garage/yard/estate sales when possible for furniture, household items, clothes, and shoes. Post and look for good free stuff on freecycle.org. Our city is a college town, and the end of August is when so many people move - great time to pick up free furniture and stuff... you'd be amazed at what people throw away when moving. I'm not above dumpster-diving when there's perfectly good items to be saved from the landfill! Note: just be responsible and don't make a mess for others to clean up!

And finally, be creative and make it fun! A bag of dried beans is not only cheap, but can be made into soups, stews, dips, casseroles, "meat"balls, cookies, cakes, etc. etc. etc.!

Have something to add? Let us all know about it in comments!

P.S. I've been on a recipe hiatus, but will be back soon!

Anthony Bourdain Hates on Vegetarians, Makes Me Think...

I went with friends to see Anthony in Sacramento last night with excitement and a bit of trepidation, knowing his views on vegetarians. Yes, I am a fan of his show, and I know that's like Debbie Gibson saying she's a fan of Marilyn Manson, but I'll admit, it's true. I like his snarky banter and love to see where he travels and the cultural foods.

The show began with him jumping into his witty and snarkalicious self, as he joked about the various Food Network personalities, "What's a 40 year old doing with a pair of sunglasses permanently attached to the back of his head?" (about Guy Fieri- hilarious!). Then he talked about his experience on Top Chef and how it wasn't fixed (good to know!). He talked about traveling, and the fact that he's only gotten sick twice in all the years he's been doing the show (impressive).

And then it came to the time that I was dreading. He began by saying that he had some good tips if you're going to travel: You're stupid to go to Starbuck's, Hard Rock Cafe, or if you come back with a "Planet Hollywood, Rome" T-shirt; dress appropriately and not like a tourist, and don't go to a mosque wearing Daisy Duke's; Don't go to the restaurant where the tour bus from Sacramento is parked, and eat every cultural food in sight.

Why, he said, would you not want to experience all that a new culture is offering you? People take great pride in the food from their region, and many times will make something with their own two hands that was a preparation passed down from generations of tradition- just to share it with you. Again, how can you not eat everything in sight? "...which is why I don't understand vegetarians..." (Oh, no- here it comes!)

He went on to basically say that you should denounce your vegetarianism when you travel so you can experience all that culture has to offer... even if it's a plate full of dead puppy heads (gasp!). Otherwise, "it's just rude." He continued by saying personal ethics (when it comes to being vegetarian) should be thrown out the window, with the exception of religious beliefs.

Now I don't know about the rest of you, but my choice of being vegan is not a mere preference. The reason I'm vegan is rooted in some very emotional and spiritual feelings about animals and my relationship with them. When I see meat on my plate, I think about my involvement in killing that animal, and I literally get a knot in my stomach. Does that not liken veganism/vegetarianism to the conviction and spirituality of a religion?

On the other hand, what Anthony said did make me think. There would be situations while experiencing different countries, and being respectful to their cultures that would persuade me to sample an animal product for the sake of not only the culinary experience, but the culture's deep appreciation of that food and where it came from. It would require some serious deliberation on my part, but I think there could be exceptions made.

But, I'm sorry Anthony- there's no way in hell I'd eat a puppy, even if a 100 year-old great grandmother and queen of a remote village prepared it, and was sitting there amongst all the other villagers, huddled around me and anxiously awaiting my first bite. I think I would rather offend them all and run like hell. There's gotta be a line drawn somewhere!

Project Food Blog: Jam Master Jay Meets Martha Stewart

I'm "a vegan DJ with a passion for food," as my headline reads above. Most who have visited this blog don't know the "DJ" side of me very well- mainly because I've chosen to focus more on the food. This online identity of mine does raise questions. Why should I even mention the "DJ" part of my life? After all, what does DJing and cooking have to do with one another?

For me, they're just two creative outlets in my life -two outlets of opposite extremes. I mean, Jam Master Jay meets Martha Stewart kind of extreme. How to marry them into one little blog has, believe me, been a challenge- one that I usually end up ignoring with a shrug.

When people ask me what I do, I'll admit it's wierd. "I own a DJ company... and, uh... write vegan recipes..." It doesn't exactly flow. But after pondering this juxtaposition of self identity for a while, it started to make sense...

Cooking requires mixing and blending harmonious ingredients to produce a tasty and enjoyable dish.

DJing requires mixing and blending harmonious songs to produce enjoyable listening and good entertainment.

Cooking is a hands-on activity, with a lot of precise chopping, slicing, and dicing.

DJing is a hands-on activity, with a lot of precise button-pushing, record-handling, and "scratching."

And besides, good music and good food always seem to come together.

And, experts agree:

"If music be the food of love, play on."

-William Shakespeare

"Good food is like music you can taste..."
-Remy the Rat, Ratatouille

Ok, so maybe I've made my point, or maybe I'm reaching a bit. The reality is that I put my creativity into two very different things, and sometimes...they become a part of one another.

Can you guess these songs?

♫ Let's groove tonight, share the spice of life. Baby slice it right. We're gonna groove tonight. ♫

♫ Seems like everywhere I go, the more I see the less I know, but I know one thing, that I love you. ♫

♫ Take time to make yourself feel good, and you do whatever you want. 'cause you can now, in my world... ♫

How do you think you did?

Happy Birthday to Me Cake II

Why is it that the older you get, the less candles you get?

Yes, I've hit 39. And, as I cling desperately to my 30's, I'm (oddly enough) looking forward to the big 4-0. Maybe because 40 is the new 20, which makes me only 19 -haha!

Anyway, I love making birthday cakes for my friends and family, so when mine rolls around, it's time to make another "Ultimate Karma Cake." Last year, it was my Ultimate Coconut Cake. This year, my best friend Cee insisted on making a cake for me (love her!)... Anyway, she asked me what kind I wanted, and I came up with a Chocolate Cookies & Cream cake. It came out gorgeous, and tasted divine. It definitely screamed, "Happy Birthday to Me!"

My favorite chocolate cake recipe can be found here. And for the frosting, she used the vanilla frosting recipe from VCTOTW and mixed in crushed chocolate cookies, leaving chunks in for texture. Then she decorated the sides with more crushed cookies- brilliant!

For me, a birthday is kind of like New Years Eve. I end up thinking about what I've learned so far, and where I've grown, and reflect on the stumbles I've had this past year. I think about what I'd like to accomplish before my next birthday, and if I'm doing what I should to reach my goals. I also like to take time to appreciate all that I have right now- the people in my life, my health, and the lessons learned (and re-learned). So here's a list of things I've picked up along the way of this journey that is called "life."

1) Outer beauty is so much more effective when balanced with inner beauty.
2) Worrying about money only leads to less money.
3) Hating on yourself leads to no money.
4) Taking care of yourself means more than going to the gym and eating well.
4 part II) Taking care of yourself also requires facing your fears, stepping forward, and supporting yourself with love- which makes going to the gym and eating well that much more positive and satisfying.
5) It's much more effective to share your beliefs through setting an example, rather than passing judgment.
6) Communicating well means putting yourself in another's shoes before speaking.
7) The more you care about the honest details, the more dependable, the more balanced, and the more aware you will be, and the less mistakes you will make.
8) Punishing yourself for mistakes is like "...taking chemo because your tired of shaving your head." (quoted from Robin Williams).
9) Your worst enemy when learning something new is your own ego.
10) Your best friend when learning something new is your own intuition.
...and finally
11) Being vegan is the bomb! (Not that I'm passing judgment on anyone) :D

Hmmm... I wonder what kind of cake I'll want next year.

"F" Faux Turkey!!!

If you're like me, and weren't raised vegan, there is just no substitute for real turkey meat, ham, etc. I gave up all those years ago and never turned back. But, since then, I have been having extreme "Turkey Anxiety" every year when it comes time to figure out what to make for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I think a part of me (the competitive, WWE, open a can of Whoop-Ass part), wants to make the ultimate Vegan Roasted Something to successfully face-off with the carnivore's reigning champion- the Turkey.

Some of you might disagree, but it CAN'T be done.

In no way, am I promoting the feasting on our beloved gobbly creatures. In fact, I think it would be lovely to invite a turkey over for Thanksgiving to eat with us. But, I'm sorry... there's NO wheat gluten-tofu-tempeh-lentil-loaf-thingy that can come close to the deliciousness of dead animal flesh. Ugh, that does sound terrible- but it is the ugly truth (at least for those who used to eat it).

So... I say, "Why try?" Why am I killing myself to make some Frankensteinian experimental faux dead animal every year? As a good friend reminded me- why not enjoy the TRUE meaning of Thanksgiving and serve something I love, and would love to share. Why not be truly thankful for being vegan, and cook up some beautiful seasonal whole veggies, legumes, etc.?

Yes, I want to impress. Yes, I want to make something that'll get some "ooohs" and "awwws," but if it must be considered a "side dish" by mainstream society, then so be it!

I was considering making a vegan version of this:

Creamy Stuffed Mushroom

It makes me say "oooh," and in the end- that's all that matters, right?

Happy Thanksgiving!

A New Leaf

I've been dragging my feet on doing much of anything inspiring lately, but I realize that this is doing nothing to honor Mom's spirit- or my own. Before I begin, I'd like to first thank everyone who left kind and supportive comments for me- I certainly felt your energy, and was uplifted by it!

For Mom's memorial service, I compiled over 100 old photos and created a 5 minute slide show. In doing so, I stumbled upon so many great memories and photos I had never seen before.

Mom hosting one of her dinner parties

Making me a birthday cake

During this whole process of dealing with death, Mark (my housemate) started a new garden in our backyard- which was once thought to be an impossibility due to our digging, chewing, laying-all-over doggies. He overcame this obstacle by building a makeshift "fence," to the doggies' dismay!

Here they are on top of the spa- feeling frustrated about not being able to make the jump.

As I looked upon Mark's creation, full of vibrant green color and tender new leaves, I realized that from death springs forth new life again- a process as old as time, and a defining aspect of life itself.

In just a few short months, our garden has flourished incredibly...

... and has created some wonderful veggies!

Crooked Neck Squash

White Eggplant

Peppers

Recipes to come!

In Memory of Mom

Quietly she slipped away before our eyes to embark on her new journey. "Goodbye Mom," I whispered in my mind. Now she can continue to work on that golf swing she loved and missed so much. I felt pain behind my eyes as I struggled not to cry, but Dad's tears pushed me over the edge. I don't ever remember seeing him cry. We sobbed together for a moment in each other's arms.

I'm sad, but very grateful that her suffering is over.

Food for Healing- More Than Just Nutrition?

For the past month and a half, I've been cooking dinners for Mom. Sometimes, she's chipper and optimistic. But lately, she's been more and more depressed and sad. Today, she returned from a pretty stressful visit to the hospital and looked particularly haggard, but mustered up enough energy to cry and express her sense of hopelessness to me.

I held her and told her there is only hopelessness if you allow it to be, and to remember that death is only in the future. The important thing is to live for now and not stress about what you have so little control over. She cried some more, slowly acknowledging what I said.

I then pulled dinner out of my green shopping bag, as I've been doing for so many evenings. Packed in various sized tupperware, I usually have a combination of whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, millet, etc), a soup with various veggies and legumes (half pureed), sometimes accompanied by steamed yams, sauteed mushrooms, or pickled veggies, and sometimes accompanied by a raw fruit and nut smoothie to save for later.

Today, I new she was going to be particularly down, so I made a special treat for her- some krispy steamed wontons to go with the soup, this time filled with seasoned tofu and scallions. It wasn't entirely on the "macro" anti-cancer menu, but it was something I knew would cheer her up.

And that it did! As soon as she started eating, she felt much better and was in a much better mood. She even asked for more- which she rarely does, because of her lack of appetite. Ah, the power of food. Wontons are definitely a childhood comfort food for me, and ditto for Mom. Luckily, she wasn't raised on donuts and hamburgers LOL!

This got me to thinking about the healing power of food. I have read about the wonders of a healthy whole food diet, and how you will live a much longer and more disease-free life if you stay on it.

But I have also witnessed the power that stress and negativity has on the body, and how much energy we often put into hurting ourselves- most often unconciously through worrying, doubting, hating, etc. Mom was so weak physically, yet she had enough strength to hurt herself even more... as we all do. Imagine how much we could help ourselves, by doing the exact opposite, and doing that conciously!

It would seem such an easy fix- just stop stressing! But everyone knows that is much easier said than done. We are emotional animals- programmed for eons to be cynical, negative creatures- if not outwardly, then inwardly. We are also programmed to ignore ourselves and not to live conciously.

As vegans, we have all taken a step forward by looking more closely at our diets... and being honest with ourselves. But we can also very easily turn our diets (as in anything) into something negative and stressful. Yes, I choose not to eat animals. But do I need to angrily hate on everyone around me who doesn't choose the same, or would it be more effective and healthier to lead through example and inform without judgement?

And what about nutrition? Is it better to rigidly stick to a whole foods diet, constantly worrying about processed foods, added sugar, fat, preservatives, coloring, etc., or allow oneself a little slack, and enjoy a cupcake once in a while? What is the trade-off, if any here? Which one will shorten my life more- the fat and sugar, or the stress of not having any? And, if they are equally damaging, wouldn't you pick the occasional cupcake? Just a thought. I guess the ultimate answer is to not have the fat and sugar AND not to stress on it- haha!! So simple, yet so hard.

Well, the trade-off for Mom was a good one, I think. The little bit of processed flour in the wontons counteracted the psychological pain and bodily stress, which would surely kill her first.
Could she have done this without the wontons? Of course- but I think it would've taken a lot longer.

You Know You're a Food Blogger If...

You know you're a food blogger if...

1) You're constantly trying to make your food look pretty, even if it's a bowl of oatmeal.

2) You've shamelessly taken pictures of restaurant food with your cell phone.

3) The highlight of your day is checking your email for comments, even if it's just someone saying, "Cool!"

4) You read other blogs not to recreate their recipes, but to put your own twist on them.

5) You dream about food before making it.

6) You've ever been late for (fill in the blank) because you were blogging, commenting, or posting your pics on flickr.

7) Your significant other often tells you that your clothes smell like food.

8) You blog on your laptop while watching TV, and have convinced yourself that you can do both simultaneously.

9) You have a makeshift photography "set" in your house made of cardboard, cloth napkins, and other household materials.

10) You have an unnatural fascination with plates.

Hope for the Veg Cause in Mainstream Media!

I'm a TV potato- was raised on it, babysat by it, and as an adult, have a serious relationship with it. Usually, I'm multi-tasking in front of it (cooking, reading, blogging, petting the dogs, etc.)- so naturally I tune a lot of it out. But a few things recently have caught my attention in a good way! Thank God for Tivo, otherwise I may not have believed it.

First, some old episode of Star Trek NG came on while I was surfing on my laptop. All of a sudden I hear, "We humans no longer enslave animals for our food sources..." (!) Imagine my double-take! It was Commander Riker who said it, and was referring to their futuristic "replicators" that simulated meat, making most everyone on the ship a vegan. But for him to say it in that way really surprised me (and elated me, being that I AM a closet nerd, and the coolness of the sci-fi future just got cooler).

Second, I was somewhat watching Alton Brown on Good Eats, talking about how to cook peas, when I realized that the recipe for Pea Burgers was completely vegan- no meat or eggs or nothin'!! How often does that happen on his show, let alone the Food Network??

Third, Good 'ol perky Rachel Ray came on, and the first thing she announced was that she was cooking a Vegetarian Feast! AND... the reason for the show, was because so many viewers had requested more vegetarian recipes (NICE). Ok, well we haven't gotten to the point where vegan is the norm, but one step closer is a good thing!

So along with it being my birthday week, I have been gifted with the evidence of hope for a vegan friendly world. I'm not an extremist, and not looking for world domination- just a lift in consciousness and a little less sarcasm and jokes.

Sorry, no recipes today... my husband informed me that I am not to cook since it's my birthday week and should take it easy (yes, I'm a lucky girl!)... but I plan to sneak some fun cooking in there pretty soon!

Eating Up Our Fears: Inauguration Inspiration

After listening intently at President Obama's inaugural speech, as did millions of others, there was certainly a sense of change, a breath of fresh air- a taste of renewal and anticipation for things to come. I, like many, clung to phrases like, "choosing hope over fear" and "holding ourselves accountable for our problems."

For me, it was a reminder of why I became vegan- pushing all excuses aside and doing what was not exactly popular (or simple), but what was based on truth... and hope. It was also a reminder that we ALL have our own fears, and if I could become vegan and be completely honest about what I put into my body, then I could also break down my other fears in the same way, and move forward towards growth.

More than anything, Obama's speech uplifted my resolve to make a difference. I have been feeling, as I'm sure many of us have, deflated and discouraged about the level of change I am truly making- for the state of the planet, the treatment of animals, and the severe decline in the health of people, especially in our country. All the jokes, hateful comments, and overall disapproval of the vegan lifestyle that I read on many mainstream online sites, didn't help either!

But ultimately, I have come to the conclusion that everyone MUST come to their OWN truths, and that it is so much more effective to guide them towards the truth, rather than slap them in the face with it. Anger and force will draw resistence more than calm, intelligent reasoning. And, if the person still won't listen- it means that they're just not ready to hear, which is okay! The whole, "you can lead a horse to water..." saying holds true, and it's important to not get rattled and just move on. The important thing is to remember that rejection doesn't mean that I am a "reject," and the hope that I have dies only if I allow it to. Setting a good example is the best that we can all do to spur change in the world, and I think that's what Obama's speech was all about.

So... in celebration of this important day in history, what could be more American than some traditional comfort food! For the company meeting tonight, I made some hearty (veganized) Mac'n'Cheeze, which I had posted before, and some Carmel Apple Pie Tartlets.




























... To the mac'n'cheeze, I left out the potato and carrots (because I was out), and added one block of Follow Your Heart vegan mozarella, along with 2 T. nutritional yeast. I also topped with thinly sliced tomatoes and artichoke hearts, sprinkled with bread crumbs, then drizzled with melted Earth Balance buttery sticks (about 2 T.).





























I broke down and used pre-made vegan pie crust that was already rolled out. Cut them into quarters and lined a multi-tartlet pan with them, pressing gently to form a "cup." Baked them at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes, or slightly golden.

Filling:

5 peeled and sliced apples
2 T. unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 C. brown sugar
2 T. Earth Balance buttery sticks
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt

Spinz:

Toss the apples in the flour. In a large, deep skillet, melt the margarine and mix in brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. Add the apple mixture and stir to coat. Cook for a few minutes, stirring, then cover and turn down the heat to simmer for about 10-12 minutes or until fork tender. Take off the heat and let cool a bit. Spoon mixture into prepared crusts and serve with vanilla soy ice cream or Rod's non-dairy whipped cream (in picture).

On Cooking for My Non-Vegan Family

I have the unique experience of having complete vegan holiday dinners every year, because I am the one who traditionally hosts them. Yes, I usually plan and prepare everything for these "events," including decorations, activities, etc. Needless to say, I am usually WAY too tired to photograph anything (unless done beforehand), and I do a lot of this type of cooking without recipes and eyeball stuff- which doesn't lend very well to writing down recipes.

Anyway, I was just thinking of how unusual it is to be at a party where someone asks if they can bring a meat dish to an all-vegan meal (it's usually the other way around, right?)... From my perspective, I feel like, what's the big deal? It's only once (or twice) a year- they can do without meat for 2 outta the 365 days, can't they? Well, apparently they can't. Why? Because of Vegan Prejudice. There, I said it! Or... let me be fair, maybe it's better named, Meat Addiction. And for those who are really defensive, you can call it Holiday Tradition. Either way, it does leave one a bit vulnerable when there is more skepticism than enthusiasm in the room. I have realized that I worried WAY too much about pleasing people that are just not into fully appreciating it. Don't get me wrong- I LOVE surprising non-vegans with how good vegan food can be. And my family is not unsupportive (they brought delicious desserts from their local vegan bakery). But I do realize that people cannot be coerced into enjoying foods for which they are a bit... fearful? Note: Faux meats are scary to flesh eaters. I sometimes feel like a little kid and get all down about it, but I know that's just my bruised ego talking! Next year, I'll do everything as usual, except worry about the meat addicts... 2nd Note: Worrying helps no one. And, is probably the reason for my first white hair that I found yesterday! UGH! Who knows? Maybe they'll be more open next time, or not- ultimately not my choice. The upside, is that I have a ton of leftovers which we vegans are happily devouring today.

Here was my Christmas Eve Menu:

-Cashew Cheese Skewers with grape tomatoes and fresh basil
-Giant Seitanic Italian Meatballs, browned until crisp and smothered in red sauce.
-Home-Made Spinach and Tofu Cheese Raviolis
-Freshly-Baked French Bread
-Cheezy Garlic Bread
-Roasted Cabbage, Zucchini, and Broccoli drizzled with garlic infused olive oil & truffle oil.
-Decadent Chocolate Yule Log, with vanilla "cream" filling and chocolate "buttercream" frosting.

Email me if you're interested in any of these recipes, and I'll try to get them down on paper!

Merry Christmas everyone!