Chow Vegan

Hurtling towards the holidays and the end of the year, I’ve barely had time lately to stop and smell the gingerbread cookies. Before it all passes me by in a big, hazy blur, I plopped down in front of my remote controlled fireplace with a cup of peppermint hot chocolate. Now, it’s beginning to taste a lot like Christmas.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Makes about 8 ounces

3/4 cup soy milk
1/4 cup soy milk creamer
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 ounce peppermint stick candy or a few drops of peppermint extract
Couple drops of vanilla extract
Dash of cinnamon
Vegan marshmallows for garnish

Crush the peppermint stick if using. In a saucepan, heat the milk and creamer to a simmer over medium heat. Do not allow to boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and whisk in the sugar, cocoa and peppermint, stir until dissolved.

Add the vanilla extract and cinnamon, stir to combine. Serve immediately with marshmallows.

Ever heard of a black and blue cookie? Me neither.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I got one when I was down south visiting family. It’s from Eclair Bakery, a cute little place in the downtown village of Arroyo Grande (a small Central Coast town about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles).

I stopped in to see what they had in way of vegan treats and on that day it was a cupcake (I don’t remember the flavor) or a black and blue cookie. Deciding between the two, the cookie sounded much more interesting than the cupcake. The black part is a chocolate chocolate chip cookie; the blue part is blueberries. Together, it’s a black and blue cookie (I love the name).

I enjoyed every last crumb of it. The edges were a little on the crisp side but soft in the center. I’ve always liked the combo of blueberry and chocolate. It reminds me of my blueberry brownies but in a yummy cookie form.

It’s so nice to know I can pop in for a vegan treat whenever I’m in town visiting. If you ever find yourself cruising up or down the Central Coast, it’s an easy exit off of the 101. And if you give them advance notice, they can whip up other vegan treats too. I can’t wait to be back later this month.