Geniuses & Chunky Chocolate Banana Pudding

A delicious treat for chocobananaholics out there!

My landlord can be very nice. Too nice at times.
After I revealed being accepted into the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts MFA Program, he told me something quite surprising.  
"I always knew you were a genius," he said. "I knew it the first day I met you. I said to myself  'this girl is going to go places.'"
It's outrageous to say such a thing aloud. However, it's incredibly humbling praise. Won't lie about that. Of course he then rambled on about oddities and such.... This notion that an eccentric person tip toeing away from stereotype and superficial molds is profound. I simply move to the beat of an inner kettle drum and strive to go forward on a path that promises a positive, creative direction. 
Ages ago, I learned more at a two day workshop at the good ole Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts- drawing with Edgar Jerins! A fascinating artist with an acting wife and two darling daughters- Ruby (Nurse Jackie, Deception) and Sterling Jerins (Shutter Island, The Conjuring), Edgar Jerins gave awesome pointers on perspective and even took a few minutes to visit my studio to discuss decision making via color choices and materials. It was the first time that anyone has ever suggested that I use a large, clean disposable paper palette (my critics often suggest big pieces of glass). One thing that I don't do often enough is clean my brushes. Dried, crisp death can be averted. Jerins also told me to build up luminosity- adding more light values. In my paintings there is no light. Only darkness. Apparently, titanium white kills colors. Zinc white is in. Little tidbits that can help me enrich my artistic practice. I'll always treasure that precious allotted time.

Jerins showing perspective method using string.

Jerins teaching how to shift eyes in different direction.

Jerins posted our class photo to the Facebook world.

In between learning that I'm a genius (insert head scratching), how to create "good" art, and writing about these wonderful experiences, one does tend to become famished. Maybe that's just me. I'm always hungry. Eating out is great and all- convenient more or less, but being in the kitchen, preparing my own meals is so satisfying. It's like going to galleries and admiring inspiring art that drives desire to make art as soon as possible. Is that absurd to enjoy restaurant food yet crave your own?
Lately, I've paired bananas and chocolate. Made incredible chocolate sauced bananas, chocolate banana pancakes and this amazing pudding. This week, I plan to post these experimental recipes. Sharing is caring. Bananas are a terrific source of many feel good vitamins and minerals. Chocolate is too. (Hold in that coughing). But umm.... this isn't a healthy dish here. No apologies. Chunky Chocolate Banana Pudding promises to be all guilty and nothing much else. Oh, wait. It's delicious! SOooooooooooo delicious! Thick, rich, and sinfully sweet, expect a chocolate coated banana in every chilled bite. Worthy of bowl licks and pats on the back. For kicking variation, add a smidgeon of cinnamon or ginger.

Chunky Chocolate Banana Pudding Ingredients and Preparation

We are all gathered here today to join these ingredients in holy matrimony.

1/3 cup So Delicious Culinary Coconut Milk
1/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
2 bananas, ripened
1 teaspoon vanilla

Bring milks and sugar to a boil.
Add cocoa powder.
Inside a small bowl, mash bananas with vanilla.

Bring cocoa, brown sugar, and milk to a modest boil on medium heat.

Stir in mashed banana mixture. Blend evenly. Turn off heat. You can either choose to puree in a blender or food processor or keep it at the chunkier consistency. Pour into a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 6 hours.

Serve chilled. I topped it off with cold sliced bananas and walnut pieces.

Let Me Tell You A Story About An Unbelievable Night In Brooklyn That Only Happens In Dreams Or In Alcohol Consumption

Apothecary Theater Company's party advertisement. Isn't the drawing lovely?

I totally had a screaming fest with my friends in the studio today. An actual screaming fest!
Here's why:
Last night, I attended a fantastic Edgar Allan Poe's Annabel Lee themed Anti-Valentine's Day Party.
Of course, the day started off so hellishly craptastic- Mother Nature springing her surprise early (sorry, but it really happened). I almost missed the Megabus (because I foolishly took a train going in opposite direction!). It took me entirely too long to reach the Brooklyn Museum- the line was so ridiculous I had to leave (no Wangechi Mutu or Lorainne Hansberry's letter collection or Jean Paul Gaultier). Thus became fashionably late to St. Mazie's- place of my first theater party! However, prior to that, I did see the closing of Flomenhaft Gallery's Women Only exhibit. I cannot begin to serenade how enjoyable seeing a large Faith Ringgold quilt up close and personal is. She is my hero, my beacon of artistic hope and retribution. Next door to Flomenhaft Gallery was Ceres Gallery showcasing very blunt, fleshy, overtly sexual charcoal eroticism by Pamela Shield. Won't get into further concrete details, but let's just say her realist drawings zoomed in on quite stimulating territory.
FYI about taxicabs: don't apply makeup in them, don't beg the driver to go faster- that only happens in the movies, and don't do any seated dancing of any kind. 
Now about that fantastic party....

On the way to Brooklyn with Lucy's Crunchy Gluten Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Treats!

I came inside the dimly lit St. Mazie's bar. Sweet Carrie greeted me with a ticket and mentioned a raffle drawing. I peered through modest crowded sea of many tall people (starting to rethink the "flats for life" motto) and watched the middle of the first play. Out of the corner of my eye, ladies and gentleman, I spied Tom Pelphrey. I just knew him and that booming laughter. Probably because I watched a ton of Guiding Light that morning with breakfast flax flakes and almond milk. Mentally, my mind became a flustered blur. Despite the loud hammering of my tell tale heart (just Poe-ing it out there), I managed to view the play and not look back at the corner. Much later, I met the director. She said that her parents thought she would be in the play and didn't understand the play directing concept. Very funny.
Attendees asked me how I found out about this event- a mere stranger standing rooted to one corner like a wallflower observing people chatting and drinking tulip glassed drinks or bottled beers in between intermissions. (Why did I forget my sketchpad!!!!! The setting was gorgeous!) Well, I replied finding out on Facebook. Partly true. The real actualized honesty version is a hilariously strange kind-of-pathetic one. My friends know that I'm a huge Guiding Light fan and dedicated to a certain couple. I'm registered on a fan forum that keeps up-to-date information on them. I found out Tom (my favorite actor on the beloved tragically canceled soap) had co-founded a non-profit theater company (I LOVE THEATER!!!!) and that this theater company had an Anti-Valentine's Day Party every year. For all my little playwright friends and theater enthusiasts, please read more about Apothecary Theater Company's mission here. It's just all kinds of wonderful. Naturally I wanted to come to the party and be a silent supportive groupie. I swear Philadelphia living has been so advantageous. It sounded exciting anyway. A party. With theater? Anti-Valentine's Day? Maybe because I'm also a single lady that hates February 14th and the thought of a dreary, miserable, gut-wrenching, albeit terrifying Annabel Lee poem would ease spirits of last Friday. I don't know. Cannot wait to share this at next month's poetry club meeting....
Then, the excitement continued.
This guy comes up to me and asked "are you Janyce?"
I said, "yes."
"Janyce Denise?"

"...don't be a lily all your life....."

I freaked out. Who wouldn't when attending a party where you know that absolutely nobody is supposed to know your name? This isn't Cheers man. The light ultimately came. I realized whom spoke to me. Michael Medeiros. The Michael Medeiros. The Michael Medeiros I've been tweeting for weeks on end. I didn't recognize him outside of his funky white framed sunglasses. His new indie film Tiger Lily Road stars Tom. I'm going to its showing in Torrington, Connecticut in three weeks at Warner Theater- another adventure in the making. I can already see this as an art project.... As an avid film buff, I feel it my sacred duty to see it and be that silent supportive groupie at the same time! Yes!! I would rather do that than attend a baseball game. Don't ask. Just know that I hate baseball. Now Michael being at the party was the most amazing coincidence. I had no idea he was coming- let alone performing!!!!! Turns out Michael is an actor trained by the well-renowned Uta Hagen. Terrific. Brilliant. Worthy of a million claps. And flowers. Had I known, I would have brought flowers. Now I'm even more excited about Tiger Lily Road. Judging by the quirky trailer, I think it's made of win. I'll bring him flowers too. The ones that smell nice but not too overly fragrant that women tend to like. He performed a very touching monologue about a man mourning his dead wife, hitting notes of vulnerability, frustration, angst, melancholy, and sadness with a bit of warmth and rusty humor in between.
As we talked earlier, before astonishing me with his acting capability, Michael asked me the question that every critic in school has- what is stronger passion- making art or writing? His passion between writing and acting and directing is piano. How sweet!
I still don't know the answer to my own truest desire. Despite sitting here dirtying the keyboard with oil stick residue. Perhaps I'll never find out. Oh well. I love both. Let's leave it at that right now.
Sooooooooo. Wait. For. It.
Michael introduced me to Tom!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom said "hi Janyce, nice to meet you." And I thought the world ended.
My legs became jelly and I lost eye contact and mojo and all human emotion and capacity to be a normal being and this sentence runs on and on and on.....
Needless to say, I had a lovely reunion with the fresh outside air.

Thank you Apothecary Theater Company for putting up this awesome photo of Tom, me, and Michael!

Two plays happened. Michael's performance was last. By golly, just one word sums it all up- wonderful. The performances and the unique Annabel Lee interpretations ranged from obscurely abstract to vividly entertaining. I respect that the playwrights (Martyna Majok, Edith Freni, and Don Nigro) modernized a classic period poem to fit into the context of this century. Truly commendable. Also loved that each piece happened in a different area of St. Mazie's with Tom- the ringleader jingling the bell. It added another layer to audience reaction. Just awesome! <3
Finally, at last the raffle winner was announced.
And it was ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry for the exclamation points. How else could I reveal splendid joy? I was just sitting there thinking about Annabel Lee and taxicabs and how I was going to tell my Mom and schoolmates and Twitterverse how I met my screensaver (which I changed!!). Carrie announcing my name broke me out of the nonsensical reverie. Yes. I was freaking shocked. Stunned. Stoked. I've never won a raffle anything. Being at the party itself was a good enough trophy to put on the mental mantle. So I'm going to see Once on Broadway. Once. BROADWAY!!!!! O-N-C-E. I've always wanted to see a Broadway show. Always. Now it can be etched onto my tombstone.
Janyce Denise Glasper led a great life because she met her screensaver and went to a Broadway Show.  

It's not everyday that someone wins Broadway tickets!!!

Just when my night turned into shining stars and flashing glitter quicker than plump pumpkins changing into diamond decked carriages, Michael kindly forced me to take a pic with Tom. Whom am I to deny such a fate? I cannot believe this happened. I. Can. Not. It was that euphoric magical rarity that only happens on a blue moon. I think unicorns and sphinxes and dandy-lions (mystical lions that have golden flowers for manes) truly exist in this world. Or maybe Mother Nature was being apologetic.
To celebrate, I skipped in merry bedazzlement and headed off to Terri's. Terri's makes any girl way way happier than she should be. Plus I got a drink. Does anyone realize how thirsty one gets when meeting someone you never thought you would actually meet in REAL LIFE? The thirst IS real.

I quenched my thirst in true chocoholic fashion- with a Butterfinger milkshake! The chickpea "tuna" melt wasn't that bad either!!!

In the end, I'm not saddened or disappointed to miss out on Jean Paul Gaultier's exhibit. It's gone forever. It was probably pretty great, but my night at St. Mazie's topped everything. I've already started googling theater parties. They must have them all over Philly someplace. This whole concept is enthralling.
Funnily enough, after I told this story, my friend wished she had gone. She likes Poe. She loves Annabel Lee. Suddenly, I regretted not telling people about this. Being all ashamed of that whole soap opera factor when in fact I should be proud. I am happy. I had fun. Speaking of which, I neglected to tell Tom how much I adored his brilliant work. I could say something in Torrington? If I can look him in the eye and be brave. If I can tell my favorite artist Kara Walker that I love her work, I should be able to give Tom that courtesy. People love compliments. I think.
Anyways, for the record, I might not ever wash my coat. Never again.
Thank you, Michael Medeiros. 

Roasted Tofu With Blueberry-Fig Sauce And Butternut Squash

Heart shaped tofu "cutlets" dressed in a luxurious blueberry-fig sauce.

Happy belated Single Awareness Day! Oh and Valentine's to those whom celebrate it.
There's almost too much amazing things happening in  the world. Too much! First of all, I have been accepted into the Masters of Fine Arts Program here at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. How can I not be over the moon about that? I have received a merit, alumnus, and portfolio awards, but need more. Now I've been researching other grant and scholarship opportunities, spoke with the Student Services advisor, and feel confident about fall 2014! I still cannot believe it! I'm going for the MFA!!!
I'm also really psyched about going to Brooklyn next week for Apothecary Theatre Company's Anti-Valentine's Day Party. The theme happens to be Edgar Allen Poe's Annabel Lee. I sort of wanted to go in hopes of seeing Tom Pelphrey, an actor from Guiding Light (I miss Guiding Light a lot- once my favorite soap opera and it hasn't held that honorable title in 7 years) who is a founding member and artistic director of ATC. Maybe it'll happen. Maybe it won't. Still, how can one pass up the opportunity to watch three different interpretations of Poe's haunting poem and possibly go to yummy Terri's after?
In the meantime, to celebrate yesterday's February 14th, Single Awareness Day, I made an unbelievably delicious dish thanks in part to a recipe (meant to prepare beloved cute ducks in *sniffles*, but tofu is the perfect replacement) sent by a classmate. Thanks Tim!
I never made a savory sauce with blueberries let alone figs, but the combination over top roasted tofu tasted like something out of a gourmet cookbook. The sweet tartness bring a compelling element that is simply too impossible to resist. From first bite to finish, this is an amazing dish for both singles and couples. Certainly don't need it to be February 14th to make it either.

Blueberry-Fig Sauce

1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoon water
2 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup dried figs, diced finely
3/4 cup blueberries
salt and pepper

Roasted Tofu and Butternut Squash

5 slices tofu, about 1- 1/2 inch thick
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic
2 teaspoons Italian seasonings
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coriander
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 lb. butternut squash, diced (I used Trader Joe's)
green onion

Stir sugar and water over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until mixture is deep amber- about 8 minutes. Stir in vinegar (mixture will bubble). Add broth. Simmer until reduced to 1 cup, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in dried figs. Let stand 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix olive oil, garlic, Italian seasonings, coriander, red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper.
Evenly coat tofu slices in the marinade and lay on a greased baking sheet.
Mix butternut squash with a smidgeon of olive oil, green onions, salt, and black pepper.

Lay butternut squash cubes around the tofu. Roast for 30 minutes. Turning over halfway at the fifteen minute mark.

Reheat sauce and add blueberries. Allow to thicken. Should be about 20 minutes more. Be patient. I love the little figgy dots. Pretty. Add a minute pinch of salt and black pepper. Turn off heat.

Layer a bit of sauce onto tofu cutlets.

Dig in!!!

Athena Film Festival 2014

The 4th Annual Athena Film Festival.

I had such a wonderful time at the Athena Film Festival yesterday! Whom else could relish joy at seeing four films in one entire day- three documentaries and one feature. Held at Barnard College across the street from Colombia University (where Kara Walker teaches!), a celebration of women centric film took place for the fourth year in a row. In each film, the female protagonist embraced challenges, defied conventions, and sacrificed a lot, placing hope and trust into believing dreams will come true. I happily volunteered during Rebel by Maria Agui Carter, whom was a nice pleasure to meet and listen to. She had such wonderful advice to all inspiring filmmakers. I met some wonderful people including Megan of Opinioness of the World- we bonded over films, vegan food, and soap opera forums. Woo hoo!

I started my morning with 365 Brand Chickenless Patties and Van's waffles topped with Daiya's fantastic new strawberry cream cheese style spread, fresh strawberries, and walnuts. Then I bused it from there. Watching Downton Abbey and Guiding Light reruns along the way.

I made it to Barnard College a little pass noon.

Picked up my purple volunteer and blue all access passes ready to see women centric films galore!

Jeremy Teicher's Tall as the Balboa Tree was an emotionally riveting tale about circumstances that one simply cannot control no matter how much one wishes. After her brother is injured, Columbu secretly gets a job while supposed to be watching the family cows. She is saving up all her hard earned money to protect Nebo, her little sister from marriage.

Itai Matamombe (left), an advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General on global education, with a Barnard College student moderator (right) leading a thoughtful discussion after the film. Topics ranged from ending child marriages to the importance of staying true to one's cultural beliefs.

I had lunch across the street at a populated restaurant called Ollie's Noodle Shop & Grille.

I had this amazing mango and vegetable stir fry in garlic sauce with a side of steamed brown rice. Utterly divine. Just needed more mango slices. Yes, I was feeling mighty greedy. Also, rather coincidental, but I was sitting next to a festival attendee. We headed off together to watch Maidentrip.

Jillian Schlesinger's Maidentrip was simply amazing!!!! Laura Dekker is definitely a she-ro in my book. This 15-year-old brave soul set sail around the world in a little boat- Guppie. Despite all the odds, all the battles, the people opposing her and the weather threatening survival, she beat everything and still continues to live her life on the sea. She filmed all of her sea adventures. Every last bit. That in itself is just incredible. Some of her shots were beyond beautiful.

I volunteered at the screening for Maria Agui Carter's Rebel. She was a lovely lady to meet. Kind and warm. My job was to hand out programs and greet folks as well as ensure to note Carter's guest list people who wouldn't have tickets. Very simple tasks. Carter's film, a cross between documentary and feature, is about Cuban born Loreta Velazquez- a disguised woman soldier battling on the Confederate side of the Civil War (yes, the bad side). Eventually, she would soon turn into a Union (good!) spy and free her own slave. Most of the film's information comes from Velazquez's book (still in print too!)- The Woman in Battle: A Narrative of the Exploits, Adventures, and Travels of Madame Loreta Janeta Velazquez. Intriguing. The interplays of race and gender that this film tackles, that Velazquez faces with fire and dignity is worth further investigating for history buffs like me. Carter wants to make this film into a feature. I think it's only right. People need to know Loreta Velazquez's contributions. Her as well as other women soldiers who still are relatively unknown, but are slowly making their way into rewriting history books.

Prepared to watch the last film for the evening.

The evening of strong, courageous women ended in a soft, articulate roaring of eloquent poetry from the gracious Alice Walker- who turns 70 today (the same age as another one of my she-ros, Angela Davis). I remember contributing a bit to Beauty In Truth's  indiegogo campaign, all excited and dazzled that someone wanted to make a film about one of my most profound inspirations. It was the first time I ever opened my wallet for supporting filmmaking. It needed to be made. The end results were breathtakingly beautiful- hearing her echo her own written words in a soul stirring voice, watching mesmerized individuals (including an old professor) speak about about her magnetic contributions in literary and activism circles. She has waged wars with good and evil, loved or offended many, but still people flock towards this poignant, commanding aura, towards this energy that she embodied. And it was so wonderful to see every part of her, to know her, to breathe her in for 87 minutes. 

Raw Chickpea & Avocado Salad

A beautiful melody of chickpeas, avocados, and pretty seasonings.

Finishing up MFA and summer fellowship/residency applications for the week. Although I am hopeful, I won't be too upset if rejections fill my mailbox. I love Philadelphia. This is a wonderful place to rest my head. Yes. There is snow and ice and chill. It is winter. I expected more. The promise blossoming inside the big city is realer than ever imagined. I simply have no plans to leave even if not accepted anywhere. The art, the culture, the buses/trains, the history, (and of course the food!) make it impossible not to. Plus, I love going to NYC on the cheap. Perhaps I should just move there. After I hit the lottery.
I love the studio- school is my second home (which I'll miss immensely if not accepted for another two good years) and the kitchen is my favorite place in the house. 
Today's recipe combines two delicious ingredients- chickpeas ad avocado! In a simple way that involves no heat whatsoever? Just some smashing here and there. This chickpea and avocado salad is a delicious concoction capturing very smooth components into chunky decadent texture. Red onion pieces and this beautiful little jar of Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute (which contains components like celery seed, marjoram, basil, bay leaf, lemon peel, etc) makes for a flavorful salad. I highly recommend it. At $1.99, it's a steal for the spice cabinet! For extra texture add walnuts, carrots, or chopped celery. Yum.

Raw Chickpea & Avocado Salad Ingredients and Preparation

1 16 oz chickpeas
1 avocado, ripened and sliced
1/4 cup red onion, chopped finely
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon garlic
1 teaspoon Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Mash or puree chickpeas in a blender or food processor.
Blend in remaining ingredients.
Serve.

One heck of a perfectly composed, simple-to-make dish.

Great alone or between two slices of bread or a cracker topper.

A lovely closeup of yum.

Vegan Jalapeno-Garlic Zucchini-Apple Cheese Sauce

Marvelous, fantastic one-of-a-kind sauce.

After three weeks of having a broken laptop and using only mobile internet, I am back. Yiippee!!! Sure, the library's computers are nice, but their browsers are a bit outdated. Writing Blogger posts in that format proved to be beyond difficult. And I consider myself to be adequate at these things. I have a large roster of recipes to put up. There may be days of utter cramming- like two recipes a day maybe. A few like today's are from my winter break in Ohio. I just need to share the joys of making all these new fantastic cuisines with all of you. Today, I'm even making almond meal polenta- beyond excitable!
As for this week, Philadelphia has been hit by snowstorms. In fact, it is snowing now. Minor, but enough to have two back to back snow days- have class twice a week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I almost stayed in all week with daily pumpkin spice hot chocolates and an impressive stack of library books (Phillis Wheatley and Sylvia Plath poetry plus J.K. Rowling's A Casual Vacancy). On Monday, however, prior to Jack Frost cancellations, I did have the fortunate opportunity to participate in Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students were driven to Germantown Friends School (in an orange-yellow school bus- we were escorted with style!) to participate in a wide range of activities that benefited various non-profit organizations. I chose to record a book on CD, one of several for Philadelphia Reads, a program dedicated to promoting strong literacy to young ones.

T-shirts gifted to volunteers.

I recorded "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" by Laura Joffe Numeroff, one of my favorite books from childhood. Now I know what Levar Burton must feel like. Reading Rainbow was one of the best shows ever. I was happy to participate because reading is one of my biggest loves. To not know how is grand robbery- a great injustice. Reading is a gift, a privilege. After what transpired, I feel obligated to volunteer more for Philadelphia Reads. The guest lecturer was right- service shouldn't be for one day.

Recently won a wonderful holiday gift pack from Bolthouse Farms which included Carrot Juice, Carrot-Orange Juice, Mocha Cappuccino, and Green Goodness. The Daily Greens beverage will be used to make the almond meal polenta instead of dairy free milk or water.

By now, everyone knows my obsession with Daiya's Jalapeno Garlic Havarti. So far, it is the only vegan cheese that I can eat straight out of the package. It is so rich and flavorful, making a plain slice of cold wheat bread divine. That mild garlic intensity, those little bits of jalapeno pieces, and creamy texture- yum! This amazing jalapeno-garlic zucchini apple cheese sauce came about as a creative vegan anniversary meal. Rich and enticing- taste and color wise. It seemed so simple. A glorious red apple combined with a zesty green zucchini and then pureed together. The melted Daiya sealed the deal.

Vegan Jalapeno-Garlic Zucchini-Apple Cheese Sauce Ingredients and Preparation

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 Gala apple, diced
1 zucchinni, diced
1/4 cup Daiya Jalapeno Garlic Havarti, diced
1/4 cup almond milk
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

In a medium heated skillet, saute diced apple in olive oil for 5-7 minutes.

Add zucchini and stir for an additional 5 minutes.

Puree apple and zucchini together. Pour back into the skillet.

Add remainder of ingredients and stir on medium heat.

Doesn't take that long to melt into a wonderful sauce!

Serve droolworthy sauce atop desired pasta.

Eat.

AfroVeganChick Turns Two! Vegan Anniversary And Banana Walnut Star Shaped Bread

Start 2014 off right with banana walnut yum yums! Also called banana walnut bread.

Yippee! Happy New Year's Day! Every January 1, is a celebration for me, my vegan friends, and the animals of the world. I believe that 2014 will be one of great milestones. I feel it deep inside. It's a good good intuitive feeling. Two years have flown completely by. As always veganism has been an incredible learning experience.Not just in cooking. Not in clothing choices and environmental decisions. Life has been all about being more grounded. This year, I hope to be less materialistic and more organic. I am a blessed being. I get to breathe every single day. I want it to mean something. Not just to me. To others. To other people. To the animals. To the outside world. We take so much for granted. I personally have taken existence for granted. I'm ready to change. Put my good hands and feet forward.
As far as the afro part of the journey, Ma braided my hair yesterday in classic straight backs. I have had a hat obsession for years. Can't lie. I will hurdle over this mindset. Maybe this year?

The straight back.

Discovered that I'm not near the 140 pounds believed. Actually 119 pounds. However, I would love to get back to 136. Just really enjoyed that. But I'm monstrously toning for my spring break Florida vacation. Does this make sense?

Enough resolution talk. Let's get to the banana walnut muffins! They're star shaped!!!!
A few weeks ago, I purchased pretty red, white, and green miniature baking dishes from Michael's. They should be on clearance about now.  Though I can't knock getting them at 50 cents a piece. The recipe comes from wanting to do a banana walnut bread for ages and not having the "right" flour. Whole wheat flour isn't sold in smaller packaging like bleached white varieties. I was only going to be in Ohio for a short period of time. So when I Google'd my dilemma, Ambitious Kitchen popped up. She had a recipe for chocolate chip banana bread using the oat flour method- which I used partly in my first scones. I felt saved! I used her as a guide to creating these moist delicious breads. Perfect to wrap up and package to someone forgotten over the holidays. I enjoyed one with a hot enticing mug of hot chai tea.

Banana Walnut Star Shaped Bread

3 cup oats
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 ripened bananas
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoon molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup almond milk
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare baking dishes with oil.
Grind the oats into a flour.
Sift the flour with baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Set aside.
In a blender or food processor, puree bananas, molasses, vanilla, almond milk, and applesauce together.
Combine wet mixture into dry. Stir eventually and add walnuts.
Pour batter into the baking dishes.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until fork is dry.
Let cool.

Cute bakeware right?

Eat with vegan butter, fruit jams, or peanut butter.

Or naked is just fine....