Goodness Bakeshop

Goodness Gone Fishing!

2011-08-04T12:53:00.006-04:00

Once again working with Spaceships and Laser Beams has a big pay-off on the Amy Atlas blog! Stephanie's parties just keep getting better and this fishing theme 2nd birthday takes the bait!

It really is a family affair with Stephanie creating the decor for her son Sam's birthday and photographed by her equally talented hubby, Mike.

Janelle of Hello Dear designed all of the paper products which can be purchased on the S and LB Etsy page. I made the cakes and cookies. I also catered the party by preparing herb walnut cheesecake bites with red pepper relish, guacamole stuffed cherry tomatoes, watermelon and feta salad kebabs and pesto potato salad.

Stephanie is the brains behind this all-boy party themed company but she is always open to our ideas and we really do work together to create a great party atmosphere for her clients. Kinda makes me feel like family too!

Goodness Breakfast and Lunch

2011-05-11T15:34:00.001-04:00

Well, she's gone and done it! Goodness Bakeshop Caters! A healthy alternative to the regular catering fare. Offerings include baked goods, sandwiches and salads. Everything freshly made and delivered to St. Marys, Stratford and London area. A light vegetarian lunch guarantees that you, your employees, classmates, clients, committees and group peers will be energized and ready to return to business when lunch is over.

Here is a sample menu for a catered Lunch:
Gaucho wrap - black beans, guacamole, assorted veggies in a tortilla.
Fresh rolls - mango, avocado and assorted veggies in a rice paper wrap with thai dipping sauce.
Fiesta corn salad - fresh corn, cherry tomatoes, green onions and veggies with lime vinaigrette.
Italian salad - mixed greens, tomatoes, artichokes, black olives and veggies with dijon vinaigrette.
Mini cinnamon rolls
Mini oatmeal raisin cookies
Mini lemon cranberry scones
Italian soda and sparkling water

A great selection to please even the pickiest eaters!

We also offer Breakfast and Dessert Catering! Plan ahead and order at least 48 hours in advance.

Goodness Baker's 50 FaVegan Recipes!

2011-04-26T21:55:00.001-04:00

Blog post for This Dish is Veg.

The internet has saved many a vegan cook from dreary days of raw celery and baked oatmeal. The selection of great meatless, dairyless, and eggless recipes is endless and overwhelming. It is great when you are given a fool-proof list to get you started and that is what I will try to do!

Good Morning Chow!
1. Green Smoothie
Everyone has a go to green smoothie recipe but this one has white beans... even better!

2. Voluminous Oatmeal
Seems like a delicious, happy accident. A different bowl of oatmeal everyday!

3. Strawberries
Great recipes to eat, clear your pimples and whiten your teeth. And a great excuse to meet the awesome Crunchy Betty!

4. Banana Bread
I prefer baking traditional recipes, omitting the eggs and dairy without replacements. Luckily bananas are a perfect substitute for eggs.

5. Eggs Bennie
A creative recipe to "mock" my ultimate breakfast obsession. I love the trompe l'oeil poached egg.

6. Bacon
Miss the taste of bacon but not the slaughter? Tempeh bacon satisfies the flavour and crunch. Perfect on FLTs (facon, lettuce and tomato).

7. Quiche
Even real Vegans eat quiche! From one of my all-time favourite recipe sites, 101 Cookbooks.

8. French Toast
Sunday brunch is for Vegans! Bake this french toast in the oven while you lounge with your morning coffee and crossword.

9. Cereal Bars
Could this be any easier? Four ingredients including whatever cereal is in the cupboard. Instant treats!

10. Scones
I am picky about scone texture. I like them moist yet crumbly, almost biscuit-like. These orange scones are perfect and can be easily adapted to different flavourings.

11. Cinnamon Rolls
The secret, use your best recipe, replace the butter with vegan margarine, and don't use the egg (especially if it is a single egg).

Lunch Time!
12. Eggless Salad
Yummy, eggy textured with a dilly bite. Great on pumpernickle!

13. Spicy Banh Mi
Vietnamese street food sandwich. Also, if you sign in to Vegetarian Times you can save your favourite recipes.

14. Crab Cake
You know it's a party when she brings out the crab cakes :) This may be residue from having a mum from Cape Breton.

15. Carrot Soup
Pureed creamy soups are lovely. The colour and taste of carrot soup is invigorating but you can replace the carrots with any root vegetable. Just boil to soften, flavour and puree.

16. French Onion Soup
Seems like it should be vegan but never is, so make your own oniony, soupy, bready, cheezy goodness.

Snacks!
18. Jamaican Patties
A variation of a recipe from the book Vegan Soul Kitchen by Bryant Terry.

19. Chestnut Mushroom Pockets
Easy and elegant, don't be afraid of puff pastry!

20. Baked Onion Rings
PPK is only getting better with Isa's new low-fat recipes. Another great book for my collection.

21. Beggar's Purses
If we can't get to NYC's Candle Cafe then let us make pretty stuffed phylo purses at home.

22. The Vegan Stoner
Anything from this site because the recipes are easy, tasty and adorably illustrated!

Dinner!
23. Burritos
My favourite is black bean and sweet potato but burritos are probably the most versatile vegan meal. Use daiya cheese, conveniently shredded, instead of cheddar.

24. Chile Rellenos
Great appetizer with my favourite burrito dish. You can bake them too!

25. Poutine
Your annual Vegan Lumberjack party will never be the same! Try this piece of Canadiana with the chickpea gravy.

26. Chickpea Gravy
A gravy that will make your dad say, "I thought you were vegetarian!". It is also gluten free!

27. "Meat"loaf
Every good Vegan needs a bean loaf to make their parents proud. Plus it gives one an excuse to eat mashed potatoes and chickpea gravy.

28. Alfredo
The creamy comfort of a rich alfredo sauce is hard to beat. Make a batch of this and freeze it for an instant hug.

29. Pot Pie
This lentil pot pie will get you started but this is a great way to reformat your leftover curries, stews and chilis! Wow, your guests with pretty pastry.

30. Moussaka
Cover all your cravings: hearty, saucy and creamy with this traditional greek dish.

31. Moroccan Stew
Prunes in stew? Sounds fabulous! But if you aren't sold, try dried raisins, apricots or even cherries.

32. Barley Stew
A hearty stew with chunks of root vegetables in a gravy like broth. This brings me back to the large pot my dad would simmer on a Sunday but better (without the beef).

33. Ratatouille
It doesn't get any simpler than roasted veggies. Serve with a salad and crusty bread for an elegant meal.

34. Lancashire Hotpot
There are never enough casserole dishes to hide all the veggies in. Covered with potato slices, who could refuse?

35. Aloo Gobi
I love Indian spices and bonus that their recipes are often naturally vegan. Potato and cauliflower is the perfect way to ease into the glory of Indian cuisine.

36. Lasagna
Layered pasta and veggies with a creamy cashew ricotta.

37. Chili
The most popular kitchen sink recipe: one pot versatile meal to satisfy the most diverse group. Add cornbread or a crust, add macaroni, leftovers as sloppy joes or as a tofu dog topping.

38. Risotto
You mustn't fear Gordon Ramsey calling you a donkey! Risotto is actually easy to prepare, it just takes a little time and attention.

39. Veggie Stuffed Veggie
Use this as a base to stuff any veggie (zucchini, squash, tomato, pepper) with any veggie, grain and bean mixture.

40. Burgers
Prefry these burgers so they stick together and then grill em! Add your favourite burger toppings; salsa and guacamole are mine.

41. Guacamole
The simpler the better: a perfectly ripe avocado, some lime, some garlic, some salt. But for those who need a recipe, here is a good one!

Sweets!
42. Peanut Butter Cups
The Kind Diet has brought vegan food to the masses. One of my favourite treats from this book is also included in the recipes on The Kind Life website.

43. Chocolate Torte
Avocados! This delicious double chocolate torte is super rich and creamy thanks to avocados.

44. Almond Cookies
I admit I just love the idea of cats baking cookies. Check out the delightful vegan recipes and artwork at "They Draw and Cook".

45. Butter Tarts
Canadian comfort food. Make them and then you will understand the controversy. I like mine gooey, no raisins or nuts.

46. Whipped Cream
Summer berries and pies neeeeeeed whipped cream. This version uses coconut milk but still tastes very "creamy".

47. Buchty
Everything you love about a donut but baked and vegan.

48. Cheesecake
The raw cashews are worth it! This one is also gluten free and sugar free. Pinch yourself, it is not a dream.

49. World's Easiest Ice Cream
You don't need an ice cream maker! You don't need milk or cream! You do need to love bananas :)

50. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
The best vegan oatmeal raisin cookies (and if you don't like raisins, please try dried cherries or blueberries) by my favourite vegan baker ;)

Goodness Baker Record Maker

2011-03-04T15:50:00.000-05:00

One minute Oatmeal Raisin Cookie!

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Goodness Bakeshop's Favourite Vegalicious Websites

2011-02-28T15:23:00.001-05:00

This is my first blog post for This Dish is Veg.

Living in the country is idyllic. My neighbours are amish and most are four-legged. The closest 7-11 is 20 miles away. But it's tricky to find any restaurants, let alone vegan restaurants. Homemade meals are often my sole option. Fortunately, my pantry is well-stocked and the world of food is at my fingertips. I'm going to share with you my very own Goodness Baker's Top Five Veg Recipe Websites so you too can ultimately feel empowered to feed yourself!

Fat Free Vegan Kitchen
(kid-friendly, easy, fat free)
Susan is one of the original vegan recipe bloggers. Most of her original recipes have the added bonus of being fat free not an easy feat in conscientious cooking. The site has a kid friendly section with many comfort foods that she serves her own family. Your family will love Baked Spring Rolls or Easy Macaroni and Cheeze.

Vegan Yum Yum
(elegant recipes, step by step photography)
What started as a blog is now an enterprise for vegan cook, Lolo. Last year, she published a cookbook with her recipes featuring her own charming food photography. She has even made cupcakes on the Martha Stewart Show. Step by step photos allow for easy understanding of such elegant treats as Miniature Napoleons with Eggplant Creme and Tuile Cookies.

Finding Vegan
(variety, links to recipe sites)
Start your own favourite list by visiting this site of food photos and links contributed by different vegan bloggers each day. Have a napkin handy to clean up as you drool through this inspiring collection of photographs. Today I discovered Spinach Chickpea Burgers and Raw Pineapple Dessert which led me here:

Nature Insider
(raw vegan, great photography, unique)
This delightful and ambitious, worldly Canadian is Nadia. Her blog is more than food (and not all vegan) but the recipes on it are cutting edge. Perfect for your next "don't you wish you were vegan" dinner party Vegetable Jelly Salad or Veggie and Mushroom Bites.

Madcap Cupcake
(rustic baking, great photography, step by step)

As a vegan baker, I am always up for a challenge and my latest obsession is vegan pastry. Marika is a craftsman baker and a professional food stylist so this is a beautiful sight (site ;). Her detailed instructions make me believe that I can do it! This week's projects will be her Danish Braid and Cocoa Macarons... I will make them with love and ecstatic tears of joy.

The bounty of vegan recipe sites available is endless and more are available each week. I would keep going but it's dinner time and I have to start Lolo's Rustic Bread and Eggplant Lasagna. Happy cooking!

Rubber Goodness

2011-01-17T11:45:00.004-05:00

As a new contributor to This Dish is Veg, I have been asked to present a favourite vegan accessory. Photo by Reclaimed Wreckage on Etsy.com

I have always loved the look of leather but I prefer it running around, alive on the back of a cow. While looking for a substitute I encountered Reclaimed Wreckage on Etsy. Sure, it seems a bit kinky. Rubber. But it is really about its dark beauty, durability and recycled nature.

The artist/owner Lisa Brown, has "a passion to create wearable pieces from materials others would consider to be wreckage." Handbags, jewelry, and clothing hand-made in Salt Lake City from blown bicycle inner-tubes.

Girly? Who would have thunk it? You don't have to look like a dominatrix to enjoy the beauty of rubber with this lovely and feminine handbag. The Holly Book Bag even has a pretty name and it's perfect for the bike enthusiast who feels a wee bit guilty about all those off-road tire disasters.

An attention-getting, conversation piece which will help you to look good and do good.

Cooking Goodness with Mark Bittman

2011-01-06T15:00:00.002-05:00

If you live in your car and only have space for one cookbook, may I recommend to you, Mark Bittman's How To Cook Everything Vegetarian. As a food journalist and avid home cook, Bittman is well-known for The New York Times column, The Minimalist, and his book How To Cook Everything. Keep in mind that he is not a vegetarian, but he does support the belief that people should eat less meat, hence his need to develop a concise and easy to use vegetarian cookbook.

The vegetarian tome contains over 2000 recipes and variations that range from the basic preparation of staples to more adventurous recipes. It is a great companion to your CSA box, describing how to cook every common vegetable so you can make each recipe your own. Bittman's directions have made me proud to finally serve edible rice... before him I truly sucked at cooking rice.

There are also vegan variations for many of the recipes. Even the "egg and dairy" section can be utilized with a bit of imagination. I find a reason to scan this book every day and believe that I am a more conscientious cook because of it.

And for added fun watch Mark Bittman talk about "what's wrong with what we eat" at TED 2007.

Goodness Awards

2011-01-06T14:27:00.002-05:00

A local fellow blogger, Eat Local London has been nominated for Best Regional Blog by Canadian Food Blog Awards. Please check out Kelly's blog and shop locally!

This announcement made me realize that there is so much Canadian content to share related to food on the internet. And that perhaps, I should focus on a favourite blogger one day a month.

It is difficult to choose because there is so much yummy goodness out there but a great place to start is the Award nomination list. I will immediately read the Healthy Living nominees and see who is reading them and work from there.

I am also excited about a film on the horizon called Forks Over Knives. Watch the trailer and let me know what you think. I am re-reading The Kind Diet and have great intentions for following a strict vegan diet but sometimes life just gets in the way :) Luckily, there is easily digestible and readily available information supporting this diet daily in the media. If you have a well-balanced diet and life style eating vegan can be easy, fun and healthy.

Regardless of your food choices: local, organic, vegan, vegetarian or choosing to restrict take out and pre-packaged... don't be too hard on yourself because every little bit counts.

Winter Goodness

2010-11-18T11:17:00.002-05:00

Halloween was barely out the door and in blew Christmas... seems the festivities (and commercial push) begins earlier every year. Eventually, Christmas planning will be an 8 month event starting right before Easter.

Well, I'm joining them! If I can make your holiday planning just a little easier than this post will be worth it. Actually, I will blame Stephanie at Spaceships and Laser Beams. It was her idea to develop these delightful Flurry of Fun favours designed by Nicole Amaral.

I couldn't resist filling them with my chocolate coconut cupcakes with coconut icing. Or sharing a video on how to make these great vegan cupcakes. How do they tasty so coconutty chocolatey? Are they really cupcakes or snowballs in disguise?

Watch the video and follow along with the recipe!

Chocolate Coconut Cupcake

5 oz coconut milk
3 oz soy milk
6 oz sugar
3 oz oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp coconut extract
5 oz flour
2 oz cocoa
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
large flake coconut

Mix milks, sugar and oil until foamy. Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Fill each lined cupcake pan with batter 2/3 full. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes (or until inserted toothpick comes out clean). Cool completely on rack for 20 minutes. Spread coconut buttercream on top of cupcake and dip into large flaked coconut.

Coconut Buttercream Frosting

2 oz shortening
2 oz dairy-free margarine
1 tbsp coconut extract
8 oz icing sugar
2 oz coconut milk
pinch of salt

Cream shortening and margarine. Add coconut extract and salt. Gradually mix in icing sugar adding enough coconut milk for fluffiness.

Custom Goodness

2010-11-15T13:18:00.001-05:00

I have created a monster.

The Frankencookie is your dream come true... sure it's a little more work for me but I know how much you love to customize. You live in a world where you can design your own sneaker, design your own perfume, design your own baby even. You should be able to design your own cookie!

Here is the scoop:

Choose your favourite dough:
1. classic
2. chocolate
3. oatmeal

Then add up to 3 Add-ins:
1. chocolate chips
2. white chocolate chips
3. mint chocolate chips
3. dried blueberries
4. dried cranberries
5. dried cherries
6. dried apricots
7. raisins
8. pretzels
9. potato chips

Choose a custom label name: eg. "Billy's Birthday Cookie"

Voila, your very own cookie with the benefit of being egg and dairy free, vegan, nut-free, cholesterol free, lactose free, preservative free and full of great taste. And it makes a great gift too!

Daytime Goodness

2010-11-04T17:20:00.006-04:00

I made cookies on Daytime TV London. Actually, the easiest and most adaptable cookie recipe ever! I have video to prove it.

Cookie dough is a balance. As long as you don't upset the balance of wet and dry, air bubbles and leavening, cookie dough is extremely forgiving. My biggest issue in experimenting has been with sugar crystals, the texture of a cookie changes completely when a granular sugar is replaced with a liquid sweetener. Still a tasty cookie but a puffy cookie. You can cut this recipe in half or double it depending on how many cookies you want to share or pig out on. This recipe makes 1.5 dozen cookies.

Watch the video to make all these variations from this one dough!

The Goodness Baker's Basic Cookie Dough

3.5 oz vegan margarine
6.5 oz brown sugar
7 oz unrefined flour
2 oz whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup rice milk
1 cup of add in of your choice (chocolate chips, dried fruit, whatevah)

Cream the wet. Add the dry alternating with milk. Bake at 370 for 14 minutes. Cool on rack for 10 minutes.

Chocolate Cookie: replace an ounce of flour with an ounce of cocoa powder.

Dessert Table Goodness

2010-10-16T15:12:00.004-04:00

Monster Fest Collection, Photo credit: barebone photo
Treats: The Cake Box, Property of Spaceships and Laser Beams

Halloween parties are a great way to celebrate costumes and treats with friends in the comfort of your own home. And cupcake wrappers are a perfect way to liven up your home baking without the scariness of working with icing and fondant! These Monster cupcake wrappers, as well as many other themes in the Spaceships and Laser Beams party collections, can be a fun accent to any spooky party.

Stephanie Keeping, the founder of Spaceships and Laser Beams, is proof that necessity is the master of invention. When looking for partyware for her son's first birthday, she realized that boy-centric themes were almost impossible to find. She knew that a niche could be filled with vintage cars, aliens and monsters. And a company was born. She now works with a group of talented designers inventing boy-themed party collections to showcase in her virtual shop. Clients download the online artwork which can easily be printed and constructed at home. Her collections have been showcased on a number of blogs including Little Sooti and Amy Atlas.

Vintage Car Collection, Photo credit: barebone photo
Treats: The Cake Box, Property of Spaceships and Laser Beams

Bake some cupcakes and add a dollop of frosting. If you hate baking I know someone who could help you out ;) Use candies, cookies and imagination to create "hair", "tentacles", "extra eyes" on the top of the cupcake. They are monsters, you can't go wrong! Fun for Halloweeners, young and old without leaving your kitchen. Add labels to your refreshments, tags to goodie bags and a colourful banner. There is nothing to be afraid of but having too much fun!

Spicy Ginger Goodness

2010-10-06T16:30:00.001-04:00

Ginger Spice was my favourite Spice Girl. She was sassy but sweet. Hot but soothing. Just like ginger should be... or is that gingahhh.

I also secretly wanted to be Ginger even though I was always more Maryann. The boys always preferred to take Maryann home to meet the parents and just take Ginger home.

Ginger is also my favourite cool weather spice. And with Autumn on us and Winter closing in, I'm thinking a ginger cookie may hit the spot! Especially, with a glass of warm apple cider (and a shot of whiskey ;)

Here are my Ginger Spice cookies which were a hit at the Cedar Row Farm Sanctuary event on the weekend. They will also be the "star" of my Goodness Goody Basket for tomorrow's auction on Twitter, Thursday, October 7th at 4pm @goodnessbaker for the Alzheimer's Society.

If you would like 1 dozen cinnamon rolls, 1 dozen ginger spice cookies, 1 dozen chocolate chip cookies and a marble cake with chocolate truffle buttercream ($65 value) to share this Thanksgiving weekend, drop by and place a bid!

Or if you are smart and talented like me, you can make them yourself. The turbinado sugar just makes them sparkly so if you miss that step they will still taste delicious... just not as pretty.

Goodness Bakeshop Ginger Spice Cookies

3.5 oz vegan margarine
6.5 oz brown sugar
1.5 oz unrefined sugar
7 oz unrefined flour
2.5 oz whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp molasses
1 tbsp crushed ginger
2 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup rice milk
1 cup chopped candied ginger
1/2 cup turbinado sugar crystals

Cream the margarine and sugars. Add vanilla, molasses and ginger to wet ingredients. Sift dry ingredients and spices together. Add the dry to the wet alternating with milk. Stir in candied ginger. Roll balls of dough in turbinado sugar before placing on baking sheet. Bake at 370 for 14 minutes. Cool on rack for 10 minutes.

Cedar Row Farm Sanctuary Open Barn Event

2010-09-15T12:39:00.001-04:00

Hi, My neighbour is having an Open Barn at her farm sanctuary on Oct 2 & 3, 1 - 4pm. It is a family farm and not normally open to the public so this is a great opportunity to come out and meet the animals who will live their entire lives on this farm. Especially great for any kids that you may know who have not had a chance to see pigs, goats, donkeys, chickens, turkeys and ducks up close.

If you are looking for something to do that weekend for the entire family this is a great choice. The farm is 5 minutes from St. Marys and 20 minutes from Stratford so you could incorporate a visit to those quaint and historic towns into your day.

Here is the poster for the event. Please feel free to share or post on your bulletin boards.

PS. Don't be afraid of the vegetarians. They are nice people (including myself) who just happen to love and respect animals. Most are also humanitarians and we all know that there isn't anything wrong with that :)

September Goodness Auction for United Way

2010-09-06T11:34:00.003-04:00

Goodness Goody Basket - 1 dozen cinnamon rolls, 1 dozen chocolate chip cookies, 1 dozen double chocolate cookies, 1 dozen oatmeal raisin cookies.

Thurs, Sept 2, 2010, The First Official Goodness Goody Basket charity auction was launched. Before we began I only hoped that there would be a starting bid... and one minute in there it was... $35.

The entire auction took place on Twitter @goodnessbaker and anyone in my delivery area with a Twitter account was welcome to participate. I also manned the Goodness Bakeshop FB page so those users were eligible too.

The battle for bidding began! And by the end we had 7 bidders and $100 for the United Way! I was so pleased that I threw in a few bonus treats:

Bonus! 1 dozen blueberry ginger oatmeal cookies and 1/2 dozen cinnamon rolls.

The delivery to Mike Scott (@mikedscott ) and RG Direct (@rgdirect ) in London the next day was slowed by a torrential rain storm and my first day in a "new to me" delivery vehicle. Queen Street was flooded but I plowed through (my hubby later told me never to plow through flooded streets... oopie).

The lucky bidders shared the event on Response Generators blog and later showed some of their earnings on Twitpic... notice the slightly blurred exposure due to an obvious sugar rush twitch:

The great sportsmanship of all participants is appreciated and I hope to have an even bigger turnout at the next auction on October 7, 2010 for the Alzheimer's Society by request of @MaureenArgon . Thank you everyone who put in a charity suggestion... I have made a list for future auctions.

And special thank you to my Twitter peeps: @smkinoshita @late2game @jonathankochis @nikharron @Resolutionim hope to see you and more at next month's auction!

Goodness Goody Basket Auction

2010-08-23T23:00:00.001-04:00

Left over dough equals charitable cinnamon rolls! Rather than baking those delicious rolls for myself I decided to have an impromptu auction. An hour later $20 was donated to Changing Ways London on behalf of a sale to Cheryl at Vortex Visual.

Eureka! We can raise money for charity each month with baked goods! You get a basketful of yummy, wholesome treats and the knowledge that your dollars are going to a great cause. Goodness Bakeshop gets a little recognition and more people falling in love with said yummy treats.

Attend online the first official Goodness Goody Basket Auction:

Date: September 2nd
Time: 4pm - 5pm
Place: Twitter - @goodnessbaker
Charity: United Way

Goodness Goody Basket contents:

1 dozen double chocolate cookies
1 dozen chocolate chip cookies
1 dozen oatmeal raisin cookies
1 dozen cinnamon rolls

value $54 - starting bid $35

Let's have some fun with this for a good cause. Bid on your own or get a group to pitch in together. The Goodness Goody Basket will be delivered on Friday, September 3rd to the lucky winner!

The New Goodness Cookie is...

2010-08-14T17:56:00.003-04:00

Cranberry Lemon Oatmeal!

Imagine a perfect utopia, where the buttery oatmeal cookie frolics playfully with the vibrant cranberry lemon muffin. This is the world of the Cranberry Lemon Oatmeal cookie!

Thanks for voting. The tally:

A. cranberry lemon oatmeal - 11 votes

B. chocolate mocha - 5 votes

C. chocolate coconut - 5 votes

For anyone who is dying to try the flavours which didn't win, order a batch and I will make them special for the next week only!

This may just be my new favourite cookie. To make sure they were perfect I ate about a half dozen and I can testify that if you like lemon and you like cranberry, you will have no choice but to like (maybe even love) this delightful little treat.

And like all Goodness treats this cookie is dairy free, egg free, preservative free and trans fat free. It really is like taking a bite of lemony sunshine.

You can order this cranberry lemon oatmeal darling today!

Goodness Eats - Stuffed Acorn Squash

2010-08-09T13:10:00.006-04:00

A roasted acorn squash stuffed with chickpeas and couscous served with a spinach and cucumber salad with lime pickle vinaigrette.

What do vegetarians/vegans eat anyway? Vegetables stuffed with vegetables? Ha ha ha hee hoo. Not always. Maybe today though. Get stuffed!

Stuffing vegetables is so versatile. Choose a cup shaped vegetable with a thick skin which will retain its shape when cooked such as squash, summer squash, eggplant or sweet pepper. Cut in half and create a cavity for a filling (if there isn't already one). Make a filling with the surplus of the vegetable as well as complimentary chopped vegetables, legumes and a grain.

Have a culinary theme in mind when flavouring such as Indian (curry, garam masala), Tex Mex (cilantro, lime, cayenne), Italian (oregano, basil, tomato) or Moroccan (cinnamon, raisins, turmeric). I decided on an Indian theme. You could also mix a ready made sauce in with the filling ingredients if you want to speed things up.

Stuffed Acorn Squash:
2 acorn squash (sub: butternut squash, zucchini, eggplant, pepper)

1 can of chick peas (sub: black beans, kidney beans, lentils)

1/2 cup green peas (sub: corn, carrots, spinach)

1/2 cup prepared couscous (sub: quinoa, rice)

chopped tomato (add to taste)

chopped onion (add to taste)

1 cup tomato sauce

1 tsp garlic

1 tbsp cumin

1 tbsp gara masala (sub: curry powder)

1 tsp cayenne

1 tsp ginger

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350˚. Cut acorn squash in half, scoop out seeds, oil a roasting dish and place open end down. Roast for 30 minutes.

Saute onions and tomatoes and sauce with spices. Add chickpeas, vegetables and prepared grain. Overfill roasted squash with filling and return to the oven for another 30 minutes until squash is soft and lightly browned.

Goodness Bakeshop TV - Mini Banana Cakes

2010-07-24T11:17:00.008-04:00

Mini Banana Cake with Coconut Buttercream and Pineapple Preserve filling.

Ooooo, I love the cake. Especially, my banana cake! My comfort food of choice was always my mother's banana cake with white icing. This is my vegan version of that lovely cake. And I made it easy to follow along with this superb cooking video. Follow the bouncing ball... oh nevermind, that's just me.

And if you don't fancy baking your own... order one from me!

Goodness Weekly Special

2010-07-20T13:28:00.001-04:00

Order any two items from my shop and get a half dozen chocolate chip cookies FREE!

Last week's special was so popular that it's back! Perfect for a party or get-together this upcoming weekend. All items freeze well so you can even order them just for yourself (you little piggy, your secret is safe with me).

Order a Peanut Butter Banana Cake and Cinnamon Rolls and get 1/2 dozen Chocolate Chip Cookies Free!

Or maybe Berry Mini Pies and a Coconut Pineapple Cake ; Or even Blueberry Ginger Cookie s and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies ; Any choice will give you a nice sampling of my Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Every item is lactose-free, cholesterol free, containing organic ingredients and seriously yummy :)

Feel free to contact me directly to order by Wednesday for Friday delivery to London!

Goodness Eats - Black Bean Guacamole Burrito

2010-07-19T13:11:00.024-04:00

A black bean guacamole burrito served with fresh lettuce, berry,
grape and pecan salad topped with blueberry vinaigrette.

Vegetarian cooking does not have to be complicated. Its just your
favourite things without the meat... perhaps more difficult if your
favourite thing is meat. But lets pretend that you really want to
change the world and participate in Meatless Mondays!

Burritos are about the easiest and most versatile vegetarian meal
you can mix up quickly. It also appeals to all family members since
you can leave out or add in according to each person's taste.

Black Bean Guacamole Burrito:

olive oil

whole wheat tortilla shells (sub: any variety of tortilla)

1 can black beans (sub: kidney beans, lentils)

avocado

1 tsp garlic

1/4 cup salsa

dash of lemon juice

salt

vegan cheese (sub: shredded cheddar or favourite cheese)

sweet peppers (sub: veggies)

spinach (sub: lettuce or other greens)

salt and pepper

Preheat skillet, add minimal olive oil.

Peel and pit avocado. Mash avocado with garlic, salsa, lemon and salt. Stir in and slightly mash black beans. Spread on tortilla. Top with cheese, veggies, spinach and salt and pepper. Roll tortilla over filling once, fold in ends and continue rolling. Heat in skillet 3 minutes each side until golden and cheese is melted. Cut in half and serve warm.

Charming Goodness

2010-07-17T12:36:00.002-04:00

I love Etsy and I especially love my fellow Canadians on Etsy!

RJ Charms is "jewelry for the playful spirit" says RJ herself. Based in Orangeville, Ontario, her collection of charms is transformed into bracelets, earrings, necklaces and even keyrings. You don't have to visit Orangeville to sample her selection... these beauties can be shipped all over Canada & the US.

The best thing is the majority of her pieces are under $20. Buy for yourself or as a gift and have RJ ship directly with a gift card. Seriously, easy gift giving. Bookmark her now! And for quick updates follow her on Twitter or check out her blog .

I am a fan of the ultra-feminine monster-truck charm...

But the perfect charm for a baker:

tee hee.

Sky Full of Goodness

2010-07-12T14:08:00.000-04:00

Wide blue yonder. My darling beau's birthday. A new tradition.

Last year we flew over Niagara Falls in a helicopter. This year open air cockpit in "Woody" the Tiger Moth, a replica of a 1941 WW2 biplane. Its home is the Guelph Airpark and its owners are The Tiger Boys , Bob and Tom. These gentlemen have over 20 historic planes, at least 8 of them in flying condition.

I booked an hour of flight for my beau and he wanted to share :) Yippee! The flight... breathtaking, like being a kite in the big blue sky. I asked the pilot, Scott, to flip us upside down. He did something called a Lazy Eight instead. Like a giant roller coaster ride!

Visit the Tigerboys museum at the Guelph Airpark and book a flight beforehand. It is an amazing experience bringing one closer to capturing a timeless moment in history.

Goodness Eats - Tomato Tart

2010-06-23T14:25:00.002-04:00

The star of the meal is a Tomato Tart served with a mixed bean salad and a side salad topped with strawberry tomatoes, avocado slices and a balsamic vinaigrette.

An individual tomato tart inspired by David Lebovitz changed slightly to accommodate my pantry. You can use store bought pie crust or make your own. Roll the dough and place it in an oven proof dish, I used individual small ramekins.

Tart dough:

1.5 cups flour (part whole wheat if you like)
4.5 oz butter (non-dairy for vegan)
1/2 tsp salt
2-3 tbsps cold water

Add butter to salted flour and blend with your hands until crumbly.
Make a well in the center and add water.
Gather dough into a ball, roll on floured surface, and fit into ramekin as crust.

Tart filling:

dijon mustard (sub: mustards, tomato sauce, salsa)
ripe tomato slices (or add: zucchini, peppers, mushrooms, onions)
thyme (sub: chives, olives, other herbs)
cheese (slice thinly, sub: vegan cheese)
olive oil
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400˚.
Spread mustard over bottom of tart dough. Layer tomatoes (and optional veggies) over dough. Drizzle olive oil on top. Sprinkle with herbs, arrange cheese on top.
Bake for 30 minutes. Broil cheese if it doesn't brown.

Goodness Eats on Meatless Mondays

2010-06-23T14:22:00.002-04:00

Eating meat is a habit. Eating meat at every meal is a bad habit. The United Nations agrees that the consumption of meat is one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation. Many cases of deforestation, air and water pollution and the overuse of resources can be traced to the modern practices of raising animals. If you are concerned about the environment eating less meat is the number one thing you can do.

My beau and his son are both omnivores but I do the majority of the cooking at home so they are part-time vegetarians. I try to offer some variety and expose them to new flavours. A few good recipes can give you a life-time of choices by swapping some of the ingredients.

Each Monday, I will post a simple vegetarian meal of the week, pasta does not have to be your only option. One day a week can make a difference and you may find that you enjoy the feeling you get when you don't eat meat. Lighter, less bloat and the emotional well-being of doing less harm to the environment and in my case, animals. A few favourite recipe sites include: Vegweb , 101 Cookbooks and Fat Free Vegan.

I do believe that every little bit counts. You may even find that some of your favourite meals can be modified to be meatless and still be delicious. Life is an adventure, including what we eat, enjoy it but be thoughtful too.

Iron Cupcake London – "Man"cakes

2010-06-21T00:51:00.003-04:00

If I were to define "Man"cakes, it would be the antithesis of cupcake. Where the average cupcake is a sweet little confection in a frilly package, a mancake is rugged in appearance and a contradiction in taste.

Today I participated in the Iron Cupcake competition at the Idlewyld Inn in London. A monthly event at the Inn based on the popular Food Network series Iron Chef, this month's theme was "Man"cakes.

Much deliberation was involved in creating the perfect manly flavour. Experimentation was ripe with beer, chilies and bourbon with concepts including a safari, indiana jones and a road construction team (lego men). My mind kept returning to the great outdoors, camping and living off the land, perhaps my life with "adventure man" influences me more than I realized. I settled on Campfire Cakes.

Campfire Cakes consist of a smokey mesquite chocolate cupcake with a molasses laced baked bean buttercream topped by chocolate crumble "dirt", pecan "logs" and coloured sugar "flames". My beau was kind enough to slice up a few logs for me to use a platters and a few battery operated candles added to the ambiance.

When I arrived at the competition I was surprised to see only five competitors. There were two "stout" cupcakes, a bbq and a peanut butter bacon. A barbecue with "hamburgers", corn on the cob, and shishkabob was an ingenious display. All of the competitors had put a lot of effort into their contributions. The winner of the competition was a chocolate stout cupcake with salted caramel filling and a chocolate icing. It was an extremely tasty cupcake with a time-consuming filling (individually filled with homemade caramel) but in my opinion did not fill the "man" mandate. The stout was not really apparent and the appearance of the cupcake was traditionally pretty.

Unfortunately, the small crowd consisted of mostly friends and relatives of the contestants so it wasn't a great marketing opportunity considering the work involved. I also ended up with dozens of uneaten cupcakes. Father's Day may also be a reason that the attendance was minimal. I was glad when Cheryl, Rick and their adorable son Tanner arrived to sample cupcakes and lend support.

The owner of the Inn wants to make the event a success and has moved the venue to the Western Fair Farmer's Market for July. This should ensure a larger group of bakers and more traffic as well. She would not divulge at this time what July's secret ingredient will be... peach? corn? I personally hope its a boozy one so I can really enjoy the experimentation ;)

Oat My Goodness!

2010-06-19T09:59:00.003-04:00

An oatmeal raisin cookie is like a hug from a childhood friend. It is the quintessential "old fashioned cookie". I could say that without eggs and butter I am baking it the "new fashion" way but I am sure during the Great Wars' food shortages, many mum's adapted their favourite cookie.

Ironic in a no cholesterol cookie that oats are known for lowering cholesterol :) Oats can also assist in normalizing blood sugar levels, fight cancer with phytochemicals, lower your blood pressure, increase soluble fiber in your diet and promote longevity. Perhaps, the mantra should be "a cup of oats a day keeps the doctor away".

I struggled with what the perfect oatmeal raisin cookie should taste like. I tried ginger and molasses. Nope. A hint of cinnamon. Better. Allow the natural buttery flavour of the oats shine with a touch of nutmeg. Bingo! This is the oatmeal raisin cookie that I crave. This is the oatmeal raisin cookie that my grandmother would have made if she had baked... or was vegan.

Its also has a slight crispness to the edges but a soft, lush center. Try it, you'll like it! New Oatmeal Raisin Cookies online at the Goodness Bakeshop!

Roll with the Goodness

2010-06-11T14:06:00.001-04:00

Baking is a lifestyle rather than a job. So when I have the opportunity to help out an organization the Goodness Bakeshop way... with healthy vegan treats... I do what I can.

This week I will be offering my baked goods for a Hope's Garden benefit at Downtown Yoga. Perhaps, there is an irony selling cinnamon rolls and cookies to assist an organization dedicated to people with eating disorders. I would like to think that the connection is one of concern for life and health. It is important to me to create a product as a healthier alternative to some of the goods which are offered at the local grocery store.

What makes Goodness Bakeshop healthier? I'm not going to pretend that I don't use fat and sugar but it is non-hydrogenated fat and unrefined sugar. I use organic ingredients when possible and no dairy which is easier on the earth and animals. All of my baked goods have unrefined whole wheat flour. The ingredients can mostly be found in your own cupboards. I also cater to the top food allergens, avoiding dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and in some cases wheat.

I am happy to be part of various fundraisers, to make people aware of my baked goods and consider the wholesomeness of the foods they consume. We can't live on veggies alone (although some raw food enthusiasts would debate this) so it is nice to know that when you want a treat, Goodness Bakeshop can offer something better for your body and your conscience.

Goodness Caters

2010-06-06T01:21:00.000-04:00

Catering for meetings, a tray of cinnamon, raspberry and marmalade rolls, as well as mocha chocolate chip and lemon blueberry muffins, or spicy chai and cranberry apple scones seemed reasonable. Dessert tables for events and weddings, a selection of small cakes, coconut, chocolate truffle and pb banana, with an assortment of cookies, chocolate chip and blueberry ginger, as well as blondies, brownies and magic bars seemed fitting.

But a lunch? It wasn't something I had considered until mid-week when an acquaintance needed last minute assistance. A light lunch for a small group at a yoga studio downtown. I only prepare vegetarian food, no problem, she said, it's a health-conscious group.

I have made lunch before for family and friends. I consider myself a creative chef. I use fresh and healthy ingredients and combine flavours that appeal to vegans, vegetarians and omnivores. My husband is a meat-eater but seems quite happy to indulge in my cooking. I love food and spend a great deal of time studying and learning how to improve my skills, experimenting with different ingredients and increasing my nutritional knowledge.

The lunch consisted of Veggie Wraps with homemade hummus, marinated carrot, spinach and assorted vegetables on a whole wheat tortilla. And also Southwest Wraps with fresh guacamole, black bean and corn salsa and veggies on a tomato basil tortilla. I sampled both... can"t serve without sampling, and really enjoyed the simple goodness. Its a fine line deciding how much flavour the average person can handle without falling on the side of bland.

I also made fresh rolls, vegetables, noodles and mango wrapped in rice paper with a peanut sauce dip. I could eat an entire plateful. And finally my own cinnamon rolls and raspberry rolls, as well as a cookie assortment.

I had a great time designing and preparing the lunch. I hope to invite companies and professional offices in town to take advantage of this service. The opportunity to invite employees and clients to share in a nutritional, healthy and happy lunch which won't burden their stomachs the rest of the afternoon. Seems to me a perfect way to keep the day productive. Let's talk!

Goodness Bakeshop TV

2010-06-05T01:04:00.005-04:00

I do love to bake but ultimately I want to be a star! If anyone out there in blogger space has any idea how a very silly girl who looks more like Ina Garten than Giada can get the Food Network to notice her, please share. Otherwise, I will just have to spread my goodness the new fashion way on Youtube.

You are invited to join me in my kitchen to experiment with new recipes, often failures. I know you want to see me fall of the high wire... it's the only reason we go to the circus. But I also save myself with great recipes for my bakeshop specialties. Although, I will never share the cinnamon roll recipe... NEVER!

And I do hope that you are too busy (lazy) to actually make any of the recipes. Rather, you can get me to bake them for you!

Watch Goodness Bakeshop TV and subscribe to never miss an exhilarating episode.
http://www.youtube.com/user/goodnessbaker

Goodness Fashion

2010-06-03T11:38:00.010-04:00

My favourite colours are red and yellow but I wear black (sometimes
gray, beige, brown or tan) but mostly black. I have been told it doesn't
suit my "vibrant" personality... but it does suit my burgeoning busom
and blossoming booty (black is the slimming hue).

"Goodness Bakeshop TV is too dark" says style maven Curt of Link.
What shall a baker do?

Aprons! I can wear my dark but add a splash of flash with a bit
of colour. And since I sell on Etsy, I contacted Aprons by Julie
to design an apron just for me! (sneak peak photo above).
It is so nice to workwith designers on Etsy. Julie accommodated
my colour concerns to match my corporate colours, blue and
green and my figure concerns, ample boobage.

The result will be featured in an upcoming video ;) just waiting on the
delivery man at this point.

Other apron favourites are from my local gal pal Weezi (I need her to
make me a full apron!), Boojiboo , and SugarPieChic .

Wow, so cute! I am gonna hafta sell a lot of cookies to cover
my wardrobe costs ;)

Hey, The Woodchips blog is having an apron giveaway :) She had an
amazing idea... custom aprons for gifts. I really hadn't thought beyond
hanging them in my own kitchen. I think they would make really
cute gifts for a wedding party or shower friends especially with a stash
of Goodness Bakeshop cookies!

Goodness Etiquette

2010-06-02T22:42:00.004-04:00

Order a Goodness Bakeshop Treat Box for your office! But please follow these important guidelines:

Share with your peers. Do not hide baked goods in the cupboard behind the Cup-o-Soup and the Pumpkin Pie Tea where it will never be found.
It is okay to compare the sizes of the cookies and grab the largest one or the one with the most chocolate chips.
It is not okay to lick or bite any of the baked goods, rewrap them and return them to the box.
Immediately horde a cinnamon roll. It is the holy grail of the Goodness Bakeshop Treat Box.
Do not tell hungry coworkers that vegan baked goods are dry and tasteless while devouring each small crumb from the wrapper.
Do visit www.goodnessbakeshop.com to shop online, join our Facebook group, follow us on Twitter and watch youtube's Goodness Bakeshop TV .
Do send feedback and Twitter if you enjoy your treat. You can feel good about supporting a really nice gal in her new business allowing her to leave the drudgery of a career in advertising ;)

Join the Goodness Bakeshop

2010-06-02T22:31:00.003-04:00

shop online:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/goodnessbakeshop

facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123832084298667&ref=mf

twitter:
http://twitter.com/goodnessbaker

youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/goodnessbakeshop