This Week: Crazy for Vegan Candy!
- In This Issue:
- Recipe Spotlight |
- What's Hot on VegWeb |
- Cooking with Webmistress Laura |
- What's Cool on VegNews |
- Weekly Giveaway!
Vegan peanut butter cups can be yours!
Recipe Spotlight on Homemade Candy
Making candy might be one of the most intimidating things to do in a kitchen. Besides cleaning up after a party. Ugh. Most people think you need all sorts of fancy gadgets and thermometers and bizarre contraptions only available at restaurant supply stores. But most people are wrong. Making candy is actually super easy, and all kinds of fun. It is so satisfying to take four pantry ingredients and end up with Pecan Pralines. What's more, all this candy making can really pay off when the holidays roll around and we're in need of inexpensive gifts. What does your mom want more: another candle or some homemade English Toffee? I'll answer for her – she totally wants the toffee.
Check out some of my favorite candy recipes on VegWeb:
What's Hot on VegWeb
TODAY ONLY: Free shipping on all VegWeb goodies! Yes, we've got the greatest new logo and the greatest new Zazzle store filled with VegWeb t-shirts, aprons, and tote bags. Yes, you can get it all today with free shipping by using the code "holidayships". Yes, you have to check out all the goodies immediately at The VegWeb Store.
Traveling over the holidays? Our fabulous Fasten Your Seatbelts forum will help you decide where to eat! Starving in Syracuse? Famished in Ft. Lauderdale? Let VegWebbers show you the way to the best eats in town. Or maybe you have the inside scoop on where to chow down in London? Either way, definitely check it out.
Everyone needs a reason to smile! Having a hard day? Or just need a good laugh? VegWebbers are busy compiling a primo list of uplifting (and often hilarious) stories, links, and more to help brighten your day. Check it out in Reasons to Smile.
Check out our Monday Night Chats! Every Monday from 6–7pm PST, head to the chat room for discussions ranging from vegetarian travel to cooking tips. This week (December 6), we'll be talking vegan sweets! From making your own vegan candy to buying pounds online, what's the best way to satisfy your sweet tooth? Bring your thoughts, tips, advice, and more to the VegWeb Chat Room.Do you tweet? Well, I do! I'm crazy about Twitter. More specifically, I'm crazy about twittering deals, recipes, giveaways, and the latest and greatest news from the VegWeb HQ. Follow me on my WebMistress Laura Twitter.
Pile on the vegan fudge!
Cooking with Webmistress Laura!
I'm no master candy maker but I know my way around some vegan fudge. This is mainly because I love to eat some vegan fudge. Actually, not just some of it, I want to eat all of it. Especially this recipe. It's so fast, simple, and will put a smile on the face of the biggest Scrooge. I've given it as gifts to many a non-vegan and have only had rave reviews. Honestly, can you go wrong with a combo of peanut butter and chocolate? I guess you can if you add in Vegenaise but we're totally not doing that.
What You Need:
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
3/4 cup margarine
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
What You Do:
1. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave or in a double boiler. Grease a 9x5-inch baking pan.
2. Melt the margarine in a saucepan. Remove from the heat and add peanut butter. Stir until smooth and add powdered sugar, cocoa butter, and melted chocolate. Mix well.
3. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and chill for several hours. Cut into squares and serve.
What's Cool on VegNews!
I love VegWeb more than anything but sometimes I get seriously distracted by all the awesome stuff that's happening over at our sister site, VegNews. Here's some of the stuff I found particularly fabulous!
Vegan toffee, anyone? And how about some peppermint patties? And what about vanilla caramels? Well, Allison's Gourmet has them all. They really pull out all the stops with their amazing candies. They're decadent, delicious, and they could be all yours. Give your candy making skills a rest and head over to the VegNews Giveaway for a chance to win a package of these mouth-watering treats!
Want a greener job? In this economy, it seems like any job is a great job. Of course, there are still those of us who want to save the world. Le sigh. For tips on how to get a job that will fill your soul and your pocketbook, check out Ethical Job Hunting.
It's hot toddy time! The holidays call for special beverages. Trimming the tree is never so fun as when you do it with a vegan White Russian in hand. Am I right or am I RIGHT? Read all about the good, the bad, and the alcoholic, in Vegan Holiday Drinks.
Are you still Eating Animals? Award-winning writer Jonathan Safran Foer isn't. In his new book, Eating Animals, he takes a look into our modern day food system–and what he finds isn't pretty. We think you'll want to give this to everyone on your list after you read the review on VegNews.
Winter = comfort foods. Something about the cold weather makes me want to eat a big bowl (okay, pot) of vegan Mac and Cheese. Or maybe that's any weather, but still. It's particularly necessary to eat something hearty and filling when it's so cold and dark out. Come drool with me at Vegan Comfort Foods.
Weekly Giveaway: A pound of Allison's Gourmet fudge!
Allison's Gourmet recently launched what might be the world's sleekest, beautiful, adorable website. I don't know how you combine those things but they did it. The new site is the perfect showcase for what is the best candy I've ever eaten. I had to bold that so that you know I'm serious. I actively engage in exaggeration on a daily basis (mainly because I get easily excited by awesome things and have to tell everyone), but this really is the best candy I've ever had. The fudge melts in your mouth; it's rich, creamy, and amazing. If a woman could marry fudge in California, I'd probably be the first in line. I want you all to know the glory of Allison's Gourmet, so we're giving away an entire pound of it to one lucky VegWebber! All you have to do is head over to our Weekly Giveaway Thread and let us know what your favorite vegan candy is.
Good luck!
Peace in your kitchen,
Webmistress Laura
VegWeb.com
San Francisco, CA