Gift of Giving

Lately, my sister and I have been going to school to study for our finals. Since our study sessions go into the wee hours of the night, we've made it a habit to drop by our local Starbucks for our much needed drug of choice: caffeine.

During this holiday season, our local Starbucks decided to support The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Christmas Charity. Basically, children, who are in need, get to fill out Christmas wish lists. Then, anyone can "adopt" the children's lists and be a secret Santa.

My sister and I decided to pick up two Christmas wish lists. I got a 12 year old girl named Sequoia who wanted a Hannah Montana doll and a jewelry making kit. My sister got a 1 year old boy named Cody who needed some clothes and shoes.

It felt really good to do a kind act and know that it made a little kid really happy. And our Starbucks gave us free drinks just for "be[ing] an angel." =P

Merry Christmas Sequoia and Cody!

Kimchi Sujebi ( I wish I had a cuter title) =/

My recipe for Spicy Kimchi Sujebi.

Sujebi is a Korean dish (obviously) that uses pulled strips of dough. It's pretty hard to do from scratch because you want all the strips to be of equal size, thin enough so that it can cook relatively quickly, and it just takes a while to knead the dough, and etcetera etcetera. So rather than slaving away for hours in the kitchen I decided to go to the grocery store for premade sujebi strips. It is, afterall, 2010. Oddly enough, the noodles are placed with the fake crab. Well, maybe that's just MY korean store I go to.

AND, this post is picture-less because my mom came home and I started to get nervous because my dish wasn't done and hence, I forgot to take pictures.

In any case, without further ado, here is the ingredient list and recipe!

Serves 5

Ingredients
9 cups water
15 anchovies, beheaded and degutted (sounds horrible! And it felt worse beheading and degutting them T.T)
1 cup kimchi
5 tbsp kimchi juice
2 potatoes, cubed
1/2 onion, cubed
2 tbsp garlic, minced
3 tbsp red pepper paste
salt to taste
1 package of sujebi noodles
5 green onions, chopped

Directions:
1. In a pot, bring to a boil the water, anchovies, kimchi, kimchi juice, potatoes, onion, and garlic. Let it boil at medium high heat for 10 minutes.
2. Reduce temperature to low, and let it simmer for 10 more minutes.
3. Pull out all the anchovies. Add red pepper paste and salt to taste.
4. Add the sujebi noodles. Let it simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until the noodles are cooked through.
5. Add the green onions. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes.
6. Serve and enjoy!

=)

Mozza Balls

I just gave a mock dissertation yesterday and so today was one of those days where I just wanted to not go to school and rest, which is exactly what I did. Comfort foods are perfect for lazy days, such as today, so I created my variation on cheese sticks. Mozzarella isn't my all time favorite of cheeses, but I don't know what other cheese you would use for cheese sticks. =/

I suppose you could buy super organic mozzarella cheese that comes in that ball in the water, but as I was saying, today was a lazy day. So string cheese it was! I used string cheese from Cowpals, cuz the cows on the packaging looked so cute! I want to be their pal! jk~ -_-

I used 4 string cheese sticks (two for my sister and two for myself) and cut them into bite size bits. Hence the name Mozza BALLS. =)


I set up an assembly line of 2 tbsp flour, 1 egg beaten, and 1/2 cup breadcrumbs with 1 tbsp dried oregano. I really like the woodsy flavor oregano gives to foods. Also, I thought the oregano matched the herby marinara sauce. (Well, I used a store bought can of marinara sauce and I assumed they used herbs such as oregano in their sauce. But it's just an assumption, or as my PI would like to say "hypothesis"!)

Dredge your balls into flour, egg, breadcrumb mixture. In that order. Or else.


Line up your beautifully covered balls and freeze for about 15 minutes. I think freezing really makes the cheese absorb all the flavors and also they come out crispier when you fry. So, yes, please freeze them.


Time to fry! Pour in olive oil into your pan so that it comes up about 1/2 inch. I used olive oil because, to me, olive oil is synonymous with Italian food, but you can also use canola, grapeseed, or whatever oil you have on hand. Although, I don't think coconut oil is a good idea...

Make sure your oil is hot before placing the balls in. I don't have a oil temperature gauge, so I couldn't tell you how hot the oil should be but you should be able to see little bubbles in the oil and that's how you know. The balls should spend 1-2 minutes in the oil on each side.


When they are done, they should come out a perfect golden color with the cheese oozing from sides.


Enjoy these cheesy balls of perfection with whatever sauce you like!

goodbye!

welcome to the magical world of Mr. Strange and Mr. Norrell

Who? Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell!

What? The revival of magic!

Where? London

When? 19th century

How? And that is where the essence of the book lies!

However, reader beware! This lovely book spans 800 pages! That's right. Eight HUNDRED pages. But don't let that scare you away! It's a brilliant read~

When I first saw this book hit the shelves of my local borders, I was immediately drawn to it by its title and illustrations. When I read the synopsis, I was hooked! However, I put the book back down because it looked like a bible! Fate had my reach for this book again, when my tutor students wanted to read a more contemporary novel. I immediately thought of this book because of it's Harry Potter-esque storyline. [Warning: Harry Potter and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell are very different magicians]. In any case, I'm very glad I did!

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell are two magicians who have dedicated their lives to magic. There is beauty and danger when one becomes too involved in their art. This is a concept that I can most readily attest to. I know that sometimes I can get so incredibly absorbed in my work that I forget that there is another world out there. It is a fine line between dedication to your science and becoming a slave to it.

So...go out and get some brunch!

I went to Rialto Cafe in Fullerton because when I was reading, Jonathan Strange was walking along the rialto in Venice. So imagine my surprise when I saw a cafe called Rialto Cafe? I just had to go!

It was such a cute cafe and downtown fullerton has such a homey feel. But the sidewalks were so small, I thought cars were going to run over us!

I got a veggie burger...for brunch...yes I'm strange...[no pun intended. hehe!]

Live and Learn

It is 4 o' clock in the afternoon and I am in the library where I SHOULD be writing my thesis paper. Unfortunately, my brain is doing everything it can to distract my mind which is how I stumbled upon the trailer for Eat, Pray, Love.

I think the movie already came out? Well, I could be wrong. But I read the book a couple years ago when it first grazed the "bestsellers" shelf at Borders. Actually, my friend bought it for me because I don't like to buy "self-help" books (it makes me incredibly self conscious...don't ask me why). In any case, I'm glad I got the book. It was good.

As you probably already know, it is about a woman whose NYC life falls apart and hence goes on a journey throughout the world and re-discovers herself. I have to admit, I, at first, did not like the premise of this book. The main character (Liz Gilbert) and I are very different people. I just felt like she was running away from her problems. And I'm a very Type-A person; always trying to fix things and what not. Run away from my problems? Never! I'm a fighter!

With that said, though, her journey speaks volumes. It even resonated with me! For me, I feel that life is always about learning and growing, and hopefully becoming a better person. So, her "journey" to herself really struck a chord within me. So many times, I feel like we get stuck in our routine life and we forget that there is a world out there that doesn't care about our routines. We forget that we are but small pieces in this huge puzzle of life. We don't have to have thousands of dollars to go to Italy, India and/or Bali to find ourselves. Self discovery is an every day every life event. So stop and smell the roses! Be inspired! Life is truly magical~

When was the last time you marveled at something?

my small break from my busy summer

This summer has been pretty hectic for me. I have had so many projects and experiments that I barely had any time to play! It doesn't feel like summer to me at all, except for the weather which decides to cool down the minute I wear a skirt.

Anyways, I digress. I got to spend my day with my two lovely dancing queens! (They are both tango aficionados. They are so good at it that they compete!) Well, it's always such a joy to hang out with these two. We spent the good part of our afternoon just chatting and giggling at a cute little cafe in Sherman Oaks, called Watercress.

picture was taken from www.watercresscafe.com

as well as this one~ =)

I didn't/couldn't take any pictures at Watercress because we were too busy catching up and laughing. Everything in Sherman Oaks was cute to me. It had so many cute cafes and such and Watercress was one of them. The interior is small and gives off a cozy feeling. It s agreat place to go to for brunch with your girls. However, the service was eh~ Not rude but just eh~ I got the tomato, buffalo mozarella and basil panini but they forgot to add the tomatoes! And for a twenty something dollar tab, we put in $35 expecting to get change, but they thought we were just tipping them...A LOT... -_- But we didn't walk away angry because the ambiance was great and I think we were all just happy to see each other and spend the day together~

Then for dessert, Vivi and I went to Sweetharts which is run by Melissa Joan Hart (who was the star in "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." Now I really have to rave about this place. "Soooo cute!!!!" was all I kept saying at Sweetharts. It is the CUTEST ice cream parlor/bakery/candy shop.

I got the ice cream red velvet cupcake. Everything there is a bit on the pricey side, but everything was "soooo cute"!!!! It is a little girl's dream place! The decor kind of reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. I absolutely adored Sweetharts. All in all, I had a really cute day with my Cal cuties and that make me a very happy Janet~ =D

Vivi, one of the sweetest girls you'll ever meet!

Fairy Tales Do Come True!

A unicorn deer recently discovered in Italy! Who said unicorns were mythical creatures?

Vegetarian Sloppy Joes

I tried sloppy joes for the first time at a church camp when I was in 6th grade. I didn't know what they were called or what they were but I knew I liked them because I asked for seconds! =) Fast forward 10+ years and I made a vegetarian version of sloppy joes, courtesy of Rachael Ray. In my honest opinion, although they were VERY good (even my meat-eating sister liked it!), they didn't hold up very well making it very messy and difficult to eat. But food is food right?

Vegetarian Sloppy Joes
serves 4
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 red onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 (21-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 (15-ounce) can diced fire roasted tomatoes
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 lime
4 hamburger buns
salt and pepper

1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped jalapenos, bell peppers, onions, and garlic. Cook until they are tender (7-8 minutes).
2. Fold in the black beans, cumin, coriander and season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Stir in tomatoes, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and simmer the mixture for a few minutes.
4. Serve on hamburger buns with a side of dill pickles.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day passed, so this post is late in coming, but May is Mother's Month anyway and technically we should be celebrating our mothers everyday! Am I right? So I was in the middle of finals, which means I had no time to shop for a gift or do other chores around the house, so my sister and I threw a little dinner party for her. And by "little" I mean just our immediate family.

Flower Arrangements by the lovely Ms. Ann

Our family dinner part was cozy and charming. It felt like the perfect way to celebrate our mom. Speaking of my mom, she is the strongest, most brave person I have ever met. Yet, she is so tender, beautiful, and loving. She truly is my hero. I am the person I am today, because of her.

To celebrate her, I made baked tilapia and saffron rice adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe.

Baked Tilapia with Onion and Lemon
serves 4
2 lemons, sliced into 1/4 inch thick rounds
2 medium onions, sliced into thin rounds
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup dry white wine (I used Sauvignon Blanc)
1 tsp chopped thyme
salt and pepper for tasting
4 4-5 ounce tilapia fillets

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange lemons and onions in a baking dish. Add everything, except the fillets, and bake for 40 minutes, or until onions are soft and translucent.
2. Add the fillets and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the fish is cooked through.

Saffron Rice with Tomatoes and Oregano
serves 4
pinch of saffron
2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup basmati rice
3 tbsp unsalted butter
2 beefsteak tomatoes, seeded and diced
pepper
6 sprigs of oregano

1. Fill a saucepan with cold water. Add saffron and salt and bring water to a boil. Stir in rice and cook until rice is tender. Cooking rice in this fashion is very similar to cooking pasta. Drain rice.
2. Place rice in a bowl. Add butter, tomatoes, oregano and toss. Season with salt and pepper.

I also served a side of greens with a lemon dressing. For dessert, we had strawberry and green tea mochi cakes!

A lovely Mother's Day celebration for my lovely mother.

I hope you all had a wonderful mother's day!

Pasta Arrabiata

I made a dish this weekend that is reminiscent of one of my favorite pasta dishes from Macaroni Grill, that is now discontinued. But no fear, because now I can re-create the dish whenever I want at home, and so can you!

I don't have any pictures to show how good the pasta was because it was gone as soon as I made it! just kidding..my camera broke and I lost the pictures. But it was good, you'll just have to take my word for it! Here's the recipe!

Pasta Arrabiata
(serves 4)

coarse salt
2 tbs olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 tsp red-pepper flakes
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1/2 cup dry wine*
1 box (1 pound) penne pasta

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and red-pepper flakes and cook until garlic is fragrant (~1 minute).
3. Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and wine. Simmer over medium heat for ~20 minutes or until you have reached your desired thickness for the sauce.
4. Cook the pasta in the boiling salted water until al dente. Drain the pasta and add to the sauce. Season with salt and serve!

I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did! I know I will be making it again for sure!

*I used Sauvignon Blanc

Easter Chocolates

Let's get crafty! I made chocolates for my little ones (aka the tutor kids)~ Okay, I lied...I didn't MAKE it, I bought the DIY box and heated up the chocolates but it's the thought that counts!

A note to add here is, make sure the chocolate is hot. Not burning hot, because that would hurt your hands, and not warm, because your chocolates will not fill the mold correctly. So make sure it's hot.

Pour the melted chocolates into the mold and have fun!

I like these chocolates because there are not as sweet and they remind me of yan-yan chocolates, which are a favorite Korean snack of mine. =)

Tattoos on the Heart

Happy Easter! How should you start your Easter right? Celebrate your life! How do you start celebrating your life? Read Tattoos on the Heart!

Tattoos is written by a Jesuit priest named Fr. Greg Boyle who has dedicated his life to working with the gangs of Los Angeles. He spearheaded a company called Homeboy Industries to help ex-convicts and ex-gang members achieve a new way of life other than the street life they are used to.

This book, though, is not solely about Homeboy Industries. It is about the life Fr. Boyle shared with his homies. It is touching, inspiring, and so powerful. I had to only read this book at night because there wasn't a single page that didn't bring me to tears. This book had me weeping. out loud. so go read it. period.

I've already purchased eight copies of this book and gave it to friends and family. That's how much I believe in this book. My friends, I tell you, you will become a different and better person after reading this. Here's to our lives!

P.S. If you are in a situation where you can, please donate to Homeboy Industries. It's such a good cause!

Good Ole Kimchee Pancakes~

After tasting kimchee pancake from various sources, I have come up with my own. It's a hodge podge mix of everyone elses' and a little bit of my magic. =) I like to use 튀김가루 instead of 부침가루 because I like my pancakes really crispy. But if you must insist on using 부침가루, meet me halfway and use half of 부침가루 and half of 튀김가루. You won't regret it!

Original Korean Pancake mix that I do not use

Traditionally, Koreans like to eat kimchee pancakes on rainy days. Why? I do not know. It's just something my mama told me and her mama told her and etc. Even though there was no rain today, I made it because there was no food. =/

Add more kimchee if you want, but don't add any less! It is the superstar of the dish afterall.

Kimchee Pancake
1 1/2 cup 튀김가루
1 cup water
1/4 cup kimchee juice
1 cup kimchee chopped
1/2 cup ice

1. Add the first four ingredients and mix well.
2. Add ice. Although the ice may contribute some liquid, it's main function is to keep the mixture cold so that the pancakes will turn out crispier when fried.
3. Add a dash of vegetable oil on a frying pan at low to medium heat.
4. Add a ladle-full of your kimchee pancake mix to the pan. Cook until it's done. About 2-3 minutes each side.

can you say yum?

a fancy burger

After months of not seeing each other, my bestie and I finally hit the town! And the place we decided to grace with our presence was umami burger in Los Angeles. I got the Earth Burger (which is the vegetarian one) and chai cola. That's right! Chai Cola! It tasted almost like root beer but more spice-y. And the mushroom and edamame patty was yum, although the whole burger was a little too sweet for my taste. My favorite, though, was the onion rings. They were so light and crispy! I don't even think you can gain weight from eating them! They felt that healthy to me!

talk about a spicy drink!

Truth be told, I think the wait is too long for that burger. But I may reconsider for those onion rings. =) Pinkies up!

our burgers looked dinky, but they were filling. trust.

car talk

All my ladies~ Listen up! How well do you know your car?

I recently went out for lunch with my labmates and when we were trying to get back to school, my car didn't start! It was incredibly abnormal because it was absolutely silent when I turned my key to try to turn it on. I didn't know if it was a battery problem or if it was an electrical problem. I tried to jump start my car, anyway, and thankfully it started (although it took nearly 20 minutes to get it going). From Los Angeles, I drove my car all the way to Cypress to take it into my friend's auto repair shop. Twice on my drive to Cypress all the power in my car went out and came back on! My car literally jumped! I have never been so scared in my life.

Until then, my dad had been taking care of all my car troubles and maintenance and I came to the painful realization that I need to take up a more active role in taking care of my vehicle. When you are more aware of maintaining your car, you can more easily detect any troubles your car is facing thereby being able to better prevent car predicaments that I was in last week.

So, all my ladies (and car-oblivious brothers) know how to maintain your car! These are things you MUST keep an eye out for:
1. change engine oil and filter
2. rotate tires
3. replace transmission fluid
4. replace coolant
5. replace spark plugs
6. replace timing belt
7. check water pump
8. replace brake fluid
9. check idle speed
10. check brakes

and remember...there is nothing sexy about being dumb! So know your car!!

Life of an Orca

A few weeks ago, I heard the news that a killer whale killed its trainer at the Orlando-based Seaworld. And I cannot stress enough how disturbed I was about this entire incident.

Dawn Brancheau and Tilikum

Though I am a big scaredy cat, I have always been a lover of animals. I remember going on a specific 6th grade field trip to Dana Point. They took us all out on a boat and we got to see dolphins, seals, etc. I don't remember too much of that field trip, but I do distinctly remember being absolutely fascinated with the animals. So, at that tender age of 12 or 13, I began considering a career in marine biology. (I say "considering" because although I really liked the animals, I was still scared of them.)

As a junior in college, marine biology entered my mind again as I desperately tried to find a career path. So I pulled tooth and nail with my friend and we went to visit SeaWorld! Imagine how excited I was! My imagination ran so fast that by the time we parked into SeaWorld, I had already decided to send out my resume for an internship. Then...we went to go see the Shamu show. (I don't remember what it was called back then. Believe?) To my shocking surprise the killer whale's dorsal fin was bent! The trainer said it was because the temperature of the water is not as cold as its natural habitat and told us not to worry as it isn't harmful to the animal. But I was outraged! Just because something is not harmful doesn't mean that it is healthy either! I wish I could say my childhood dreams of becoming a marine biologist came true. Unfortunately, that fateful day resulted in confirming me that marine biology was not where I belonged.

That could've been me up there~

Orcas, commonly known as killer whales, are not actually whales at all! In fact, they are largest member of the dolphin family! That's right! They're really dolphins! But they were dubbed "killer whales" because they are known to have whales in their diet. Also, they are the largest mammals in the world! So large, they actually don't have a natural predator of their own, meaning that they are at the top of the food chain. Sadly, many of them are whale-napped from their homes and put into captivity aka animal parks. Some of the animals who reside in animal parks were rescued but many were not. And, sadly, Tilikum (the whale in question) falls into the latter category.

He was taken from his natural home at age 3 and placed in an animal park in Iceland. There he killed a trainer and subsequently was put on probation. SeaWorld bought him to sire many calves (baby whales). At SeaWorld, he killed a visitor when that man sneaked into the park after hours to go swimming with him. SeaWorld stated that Tilly (short for Tilikum) is not responsible for that man's death because the man should not have been there in the first place and because Tilly may have thought he was playing. Still with his previous records and his sheer size (he was the biggest killer whale at SeaWorld) only a third of the trainers there were allowed to work with him. With his recent killing of his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, Tilly is now on trial as to whether or not he should be put down.

I mean no disrespect to the trainer nor her family but this is ridiculous! Tilikum is a wild animal who does not belong in a swimming pool tank! He belongs in the ocean with his family and friends! Doesn't anyone see that Tilly is really the victim here! Also, I truly do not believe that his trainer would want him to be put down. She was aware of the dangers that came with her job and yet she still went to do it because she loved it. And she loved her job because she, too, was an animal lover. And she would not want anyone to harm her animals, including Tilikum.

Free Tilly!

As for me, this incident with Tilly brought back my divided feelings about animal parks. I do think that these parks are holding these animals in captivity and thus is a form of animal cruelty. And yet, I can't help but to be amazed by them and to be drawn to them. They are magnificent creatures who show just how great our God is, and it humbles me.

God is so awesome! It takes my breath away...

gardening mama

The dollar spot at Target is one of my hot spots when I need to find a "thank you for doing your homework" present for my tutor kids. During one of my recent visits, it came to my attention that the tiny corner holds tiny seeds of hobbies waiting to bloom! And as each is $1, testing out a hobby is now super cheap and available for all! I found these tiny little flower pots that come with soil, seeds, and directions. The kit is virtually fail-proof, which is a plus for those who do not have the "green thumb" gene, i.e. yours truly.

I bought one for each of my tutor kids because
1. they are cute and fun
2. it will give me motivation to actually take care of the thing
3. it will make great how-to essay topics =)

I realized I used the word "tiny" too many times in this post


Obviously, the change of background scenery in these pictures indicates that it took my several days to get to these points....


I shall monitor and update the status of my little strawberry plant every now and then (that is if it hasn't died). Hopefully one day, I'll have enough strawberries for a strawberry salad~

Say You're One of Them

Say You are One of Them is a compilation of short stories written by Uwem Akpan about the lives of the children of Africa. It gives glimpses into the lives of some of Africa's smallest people.

Now, I cannot tell a lie. I was hesitant to read this book for two reasons. First, I don't like real-life depressing stories. I know they are supposed to make you feel blessed and grateful, which I do feel to some extent, but I mainly feel guilty and helpless for living my "luxurious" life. Second, I'm not a big fan of short stories.

But, this book blew my mind and I couldn't stop talking about it for days! Although, these children go through such horrors, which I am very lucky to not have experienced and I would never wish on my worst enemy, their resilience and hope through it all is INSPIRING. Their ability to not only survive their situations but to go forth and live imbued in me a camaraderie of humanity. And thank God they were short stories otherwise, I may have come out depressed after reading. No wonder this book was one of Oprah's book club picks of 2009!

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

I have to read many children's novels because ironically I tutor elementary students English. Recently, I had to re-read a childhood favorite of mine, Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, and the story didn't affect me as much as when I had read it when I was younger. I attributed this to the fact that maybe I have grown older and thus my skin has grown thicker. In any case, I don't have much gung-ho when I have to read children's novels.

Robert C. O'Brien single-handedly changed my blase attitude with Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH! I adored this book especially the rats! So much so that I was getting upset that my tutor kid wasn't reading it fast enough! I had so much fun imagining! And as an advocate of animal rights, I feel the lives of animals must mimic this story somewhat. It was a wonderful read! Brilliant and refreshing! Maybe my heart is not as cold as I thought! =)

Brownies and Blondies

I found this great baking book for vegans! I just happened to browse through the cooking section at Barnes and Noble. To my delight, all the delicious sweets in this book are all vegan and allergen free! I found out that Erin Mckenna is the owner of the bakery Babycakes in NYC and this is her first cookbook. However, the big news is that she is looking to expand her business to California! I cannot wait for her bakery to come here so that I can try it out. Until then I must rely on the book and my humble baking skills. For Christmas, I made my bible study group and my tutor kids brownies and blondies respectively. (I am posting this late) The difference between them, in my opinion, is that blondies are brownies minus the cocoa powder. Needless to say, they all LOVED it and I know you will too. Not only are they yummy but consider them healthy too!

On a side note, I would just like to add that these brownies were the best I had ever seen. They were perfectly moist and fudgy even with the full 10 minutes cooking time. I had been searching for a good brownie recipe and this is it. The fact that it is vegan is just cherry on top!

brownies
makes 36

1 cup garbanzo-fava bean flour
1/4 cup potato starch
2 tablespoons arrowroot
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coconut oil, plus more for the tins
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup hot water or coffee (I used water)
1 cup vegan chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. Lightly grease three 12-cup mini-muffins tins with oil.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, potato starch, arrowroot, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, and salt. Add the 1/2 cup oil, applesauce, vanilla, and hot water to the dry ingredients and stir until the batter is smooth. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the chocolate chips just until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
3. Using a melon baller, scoop the batter into each prepared mini-muffin cup. Bake the brownies on the center rack for 10 minutes, rotating the tray 180 degrees after 5 minutes. (For a fudgier cake, bake for only 8 minutes total.) The finished brownie will have a firm edge with a soft center, and a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean.
4. Let the brownies stand int he pans for 10 minutes; they are best served warm. To maintain freshness, leave the brownies in the tins until ready to serve. Cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

The yummiest brownies ever! The blondies looked like these except white~

blondies
makes 36

1/2 cup garbanzo-fava bean flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup potato starch
1/4 cup arrowroot
1 1/4 cup evaporated cane juice
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coconut oil, plus more for the tins
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup hot water
1 cup vegan chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. Lightly grease three 12-cup mini-muffin tins with oil.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, potato starch, arrowroot, evaporated cane juice, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, and salt. Add the 1/2 cup oil and the applesauce, canilla, and hot water and stir until the batter is smooth. Using a plastic spatula, gently fold in the chocolate chips just until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
3. Using a melon baller, scoop the batter into each prepared mini-muffin cup. Bake the blondies on the center rack for 9 minutes, rotating the tins 180 degrees after 5 minutes. The finished blondies will be golden brown and firm to the touch.
4. Let the blondies stand in the tins for 10 minutes. To maintain freshness, leave the blondies in the muffin tins until ready to serve. Cover with plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

my littlest tutor kid, and my favorite of the bunch, who loved the blondies the most =)