I am the Joan Jett of Chocolate Cake

The cookie that happened yesterday was just right. Chocolate discs with grain sweetened chocolate chips, turbinado sugar (organic, bien sûr)...

When I say that a cookie happened to me, I mean that exactly. I look into the pantry, grab a few ingredients, then see what can happen. Crank some music..... Preheat oven.... High quality cocoa powder, organic whole wheat flour, natural high end vanilla... you get the picture. No tip-toe-ing around leveling my cups fretting in my paisley apron... uh - uh....

Fierce in the kitchen and fearless!

I have decided that I am, after all the Joan Jett of Chocolate Cake....

Yeah, I said it....

(Just saw the Runaways, I was so waiting for that film - LOVE JJ, always have, always will!

Vegan Cookies AnnaVeda Kitchen Update

Vegan Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Vegan Coconut Jam Squares

Vegan Soft Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

These are exclusive all-new AnnaVeda Kitchen cookie recipes, our oven has been very busy... Again, who needs to add cholesterol and animal products to a cookie? Not us!

In other news, the New AnnaVeda DVD is in the works (Totally New Material) - so stand by for updates at www.AnnaVedaKitchen.com and www.VeryGoodVegan.com. Big News! Very Good Vegan Volume One is now available on Barnes and Noble, Best Buy & Amazon.com.

Also, we have now officially put up a Facebook page under AnnaVeda Kitchen; I am not quite sure how one is to apply Facebook, when a blog is so much more fun...however it seems that folks enjoy networking that way so we are in. I must admit that managing yet another location on the web could potentially take time away from my baking adventures, so I vow to be brief when I post there. Besides, I would much rather be messing around with my KitchenAid than a computer any day. That, and we seem to finally be getting a bit of something called "Summer" and it has been fantastic to actually spend time outdoors, go figure!

Off to photograph the Vegan Chocolate Zuchinni Cake - thanks again for that recipe, Amy!

5 Day Vegan Cookie Challenge: Day 4 - Vegan Chocolate Crinkles

Vegan Chocolate Crinkles

I've made it to Day 4 of my self-imposed 5 Day - 5 Vegan Cookies Challenge! Hurray! Tonight's cookies are brought to you by 8 ounces of melted dark chocolate, 1/2 cup cocoa powder and a smattering of other top secret ingredients that I will share, eventually. These sweeties are cooling off in the kitchen as I blog, so this will be brief as I wish to enjoy a few by the fire.

Last night's cookie - the Peanut Butter Bars w. Cherry Preserves - were in a word - incredible! So full of peanut butter flavor they were actually intense. I sent a few home with friends today so that I would not ingest the entire tray!

There is certainly a lot going on regarding our DVD Very Good Vegan (www.VeryGoodVegan.com) - so this cookie challenge has been a lovely distraction here at AnnaVeda Kitchen. What can I say - by and by I wait...Stop by tomorrow night for the final cookie in the challenge!

5 Day Vegan Cookie Challenge - Day 2: Raspberry Ginger Sandwich Cookies

Vegan Raspberry Ginger Sandwich Cookies

Hello out there! Day two of my 5 day Vegan Cookie Challenge is here and these are the magic cookies that sprouted in my kitchen this evening. There is A LOT of ground ginger in these cookies; basically a really chewy "buttery" sugar cookie (Turbinado, of course) with organic raspberry preserves slathered in-between.

I am yet to taste one, so I will share my opinion on tomorrow's post. the fun part of this challenge has been that I decide on a daily basis - on a whim - what cookie I am going to bake.

So, look out friends and neighbors because I have a large quantity of cookies in my kitchen and need to share them asap!

On the Very Good Vegan DVD front, we continue speaking with shops allover the country who have expressed an interest in carrying the series. Thank you to everyone out there who has shown their support for my first Vegan Cooking DVD (see http://www.verygoodvegan.com/ for info).

5 Days - 5 New Vegan Cookies Challenge & Ayurvedic Tip of the Week

Vegan Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies w. Maple Syrup Icing

OK, so I have decided that today is Day One of my 5 Day - 5 New Vegan Cookies Challenge. Stay tuned as we will be posting pictures and info daily about this little experiment.

This will not be very challenging as it is winter, I am in New England, the heat generated from my baking keeps the place extra toasty and of course, we do love a new Vegan cookie here at AnnaVeda Kitchen. These cookies are moist, hearty and the icing contains maple syrup, which provides a nice old fashioned cookie vibe.

Heads up Wholesale Buyers! We will be showing our Vegan Cooking DVD Very Good Vegan Volume 1, at the upcoming NY Gift Show at the Jacob Javit's Convention Center in NYC January 25 - 29th. Details will be posted on the site www.VeryGoodVegan.com as well as here on the blog this week.


Ayurvedic Tip of the Week
We realize that Raw Food Diets are very popluar right now, however according to Ayurvedic tradition, your vegetables should be cooked. Your digestive fire - also knowsn as Agni - has to work harder to process raw crunchy foods. So steaming your broccoli, wilting some spinach drizzled with a bit of very good olive oil, blanching some carrots - would all be excellent ways to enjoy fresh vegetables this winter as opposed to making your digestive system work overtime to process raw vegetables. Gently cooking your veggies makes proper digestion & elimination much easier on the body. Just remember - do not overcook your vegetables, steaming, blanching, or a quick sauteeing will always do the trick. Email us at info@annaveda.com if you have any questions about Ayurvedic cooking - it is a great and easy way to make peace with your belly.

Vegan Chocolate Creme Filled Sandwich Cookies

Vegan Chocolate Creme Filled Sandwich Cookies

Similar in texture and taste (less the toxic store bought aftertaste) to a childhood favorite of mine, these cookies absolutely rock. The chocolate discs are mottled with crunchy turbinado sugar, yet the cookies themselves are tender and moist. The creme filling is the only truly naughty component because it contains confectioner's sugar. If you are interested in this vegan cookie recipe - email us info@annaveda.com
By the way FREE shipping is available right inow on our Very Good Vegan Volume 1 DVD.
Visit www.VeryGoodVegan.com to order