Just a few weeks ago I was looking through my resolutions for 2013. Some of them can be crossed off, but really, the bulk of the list remains the same. There are a few of the generic healthy resolutions on it, like exercise more, eat more green stuff, drink more water, etc.. But most of the things on 2013's resolution list had to do with improving myself as a person, relaxing, and staying positive. Those of you who work with me know damn well that I have not accomplished these resolutions, as I can remember a direct quote from my boss in New Jersey, "You are like the thinnest string on a guitar, the most likely to snap." I don't want to be that string, you guys. I want to be like the first string on a bass or something. The thick one. Anyways, I made my list tonight, including a lot of the same kinds of resolutions, but also kept it much shorter, yes this is actually shorter, than last year's. I didn't even bother including "save money" because I'm not even going to pretend like that will happen to me this year. A surplus of money? No, no, more like a surplus of cookies. I like cookies.

I wrote that quote on my arm every day for a month last year just so l would have to look at it so often that it would force myself to read it and calm down from whatever I was pissed off at, just for a second and be like, "Hey, I love that song!" Maybe I'll tattoo it on myself. Sorry Mom.

My BF has been asking me to make mashed potato pizza forever. He used to get this mashed potato pizza when he was living in New Haven at a place called BAR. Mine is better because it's vegan. I made some coconut bacon to sprinkle over the top along with some toasted garlic chips.

Every once in a while I get an intense hankering for banana bread. Whether it be banana muffins, banana coffee cake, or banana pancakes, I get this seething urge in my veins to but something with bananas baked into it into my mouth. I, most often, oblige. 

So I was baking some banana bread the other day, and had a spoonful of peanut butter in my mouth while I was putting it together (weird?) and I thought, "whoa. PB-Banana Bread." And so after the first PB-less banana bread had been consumed I made another, with a healthy dose of PB, and Kablewy! A classic is born.

Hey! Who put chocolate chips in there?!

What has happened to the rest of Spring? Basically some rain came and washed it all away and left really sticky air, heat typical of August, and a shit-ton of cicadas. I also feel like spring really flew by. All of a sudden I am carving up my summer by events and I already have a sunburn. WTF.

Anyways, here are some cupcakes I made for my mom. They are "chocolate covered cherry cupcakes" so that means they are a chocolate cake filled with a sour cherry puree, chocolate frosting and maraschino cherries with a shower of ganache. I told my mom I was bringing her gift home to her a week or two after mother's day, and she said, "I hope it's cupcakes!" 

It's not like I can bring home personalized mother's day cupcakes and nothing for my Dad. Plus it was his birthday. So I made him "Chocolate Turtle Cupcakes" which are chocolate cake filled with caramel, topped with some more caramel and pecans, then chocolate buttercream and a candied pecan. I made some caramel buttercream for these, then accidentally piped on chocolate. I rolled with it. 

Alex passed his orals! woo hoo! All that was left to do after that was have a huge party. And eat a cake! And write a dissertation... and get a job... sigh. The cake helped ease the oncoming future workload. I just know it.

Um WHY did no one tell me about this jar of amazing vegan white chocolate peanut butter? I've been sharing this earth with you all for 25 years, the least you all could do was tell me the secret to life, comfort, success, and happiness. I have half a jar left, and have yet to actually spread it on anything. You figure out where the other half went.

Thanks a lot, everybody. I'm the last vegan in the world to find vegan nutella. At the asian market.

Whilst in Florida, we went to a Dale Chihuly exhibit! He's an amazing glass artist that I've been a fan of for a long time. I was so thrilled to see some of his work in person.

Florida's alright... 

So after reading Isa's post on her site, I realized I've never made a vegan caesar salad before. I had a very short love affair with caesar salads from the time I first had one, to the time I became vegetarian. It was probably like a 6 month window. But I remember those 5 salads pretty well. SO, I guessed I'd better try to make my own, since it's not like I'm gonna find a vegan caesar dressing on the shelf at stop and shop, so presto. I made some. It took 2 minutes. No blender required. 

I put in some browned tofu cubes, some grilled corn, spring mix, and some homemade croutons. And then I ate it all. Shwing!