I know today’s prompt includes the word “most”, and obviously my most important relationships are with my children and my parents.  However, since this prompt fell on the same day as the third Podcaster Hangout with Amanda of the Craftlife podcast, Martine of the iMake podcast, and Jo of the Shinybees podcast, these 3 women are my most important relationships today!

I don’t say that lightly.  In the immediate aftermath of the storm, I was unable to get any cell service other than intermittent text messages.  When I finally could access the internet on the 5th day post apocalypse, I found quite a few tweets and DMs from fellow podcasters and listeners asking if I was ok and even discussing amongst themselves what they knew about where I lived and what had happened in my part of the Shore.  Louise of Caithness Craft remembered correctly that I may be 2 miles from the ocean but my house is above Shark River Inlet and doesn’t flood, even though our substation is at sea level and happened to float away in the storm.

It was nice to be missed!

I had some technical difficulty before the hangout started.  The other ladies were so gracious to wait for me while I got it sorted out, yet another reason they are my most important relationship today!  Here’s the video of the hangout:

The audio version will appear in my podcast feed but, like Martine, I’m opting not to put the video in the feed this time around.

Watch this space for online ordering options for our Hurricane Sandy fundraiser.  Until then, you can use the PDF found in this blog post if you’d like to help!

The vegan chow mein recipe I mentioned throwing in the crockpot before the hangout can be found here.

Here’s a photo of the limoncello in the making:

The recipe for limoncello came from the Everyday with Rachel Ray magazine.  I’m reprinting it here because I don’t believe her recipe is any different from the standard limoncello concoction made by many people here and abroad:

24 large lemons
splash white vinegar
4 cups vodka (you can also use grain alcohol, but I used vodka)
4 cups simple syrup (see bel0w)

1.  Let lemons sit in a tub of water with the vinegar for about 10 minutes to remove any residue.

2. In a large, sealable container, combine 6 1/2 cups of water with the vodka.

3. Remove zest from lemons allowing peels to drop into the vodka and water.  Make sure the peels are completely submerged; they should sink to the bottom.

4. Cover and ignore for 4 weeks.  Color should be a bright yellow.

5.  Strain liquid and discard peels.  Add the simple syrup. NOTE: Rachel Ray says to store in the freezer but mine actually froze, so I store mine in the refrigerator.

Simple Syrup

In a saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil then stir in the same amount of sugar.  Heat until completely dissolved. Remove and let cool.

This blog grew out of the reverb project in December 2010. While the podhangouts are ongoing, the show notes for this episode are based on a #reverb12 prompt published here.

Introduction

There are currently 2 posts in the Young Entrepreneur Series: Metroseeker and Wear Your Beer (gotta love the latter one).  Look for more entries in the series in the months to come.

Giveaway winners:

Second Podcaster Hangout: Lisa Smith won Sarah Punderson’s Adirondack shawl pattern, and Penny J won a copy of my digital vegan cookbook The Market Vegan.

The winner of Sarah’s bicycle mitts with warmers from the last podcast is Susan who commented on the shownotes.

Patio Seating

Martine from iMake shared recipes for both Raspberry Gin and Vanilla Extract on her blog and podcast – you should so check them out! (In the latter post, she refers to the “lovely Charles” but I think he’s really amazing.)

Shoutout to @stitchmistress of the TV Knitting podcast for turning me on to Wacky Buttons for the Apocalyptic Diner buttons I’ll have at Rhinebeck.

Here’s an updated photo of my Nympheas scarf:

Lunch Counter

I reviewed Domestic Affairs by Bridget Siegel and Restaurant Man by Joe Bastianich.  I also mention the movies Bottle Shock and Ides of March.

Vegan Options

Remember, there’s a giveaway of an 8 ounce bag of toasted Happy Hemp – just leave a comment on this post telling me how you’d like to try to use this in a recipe.  Here’s my recipe for stuffed potatoes using Happy Hemp:

4 nicely rounded Idaho potatoes

1 package onion soup mix (for a vegan version, read the ingredients – some contain milk)

1/2 cup soy or almond milk

2 Tablespoons Earth Balance or other vegan margarine

1/4 cup raw Happy Hemp plus small amount for topping each potato

1 package baby spinach

4 ounces baby bella mushrooms and their stems chopped

Daiya cheddar cheese for topping

Bake the potatoes in the microwave.

While potatoes are baking saute chopped mushrooms in olive oil then put aside.  In the same bowl, add a little water and steam/saute the spinach until limp.  You can also use frozen spinach, but either way, make sure you remove as much moisture as possible before adding to potatoes.

Cut potatoes in half and scoop the cooked insides of the potatoes into a mixing bowl.  Be careful not to rip the skins; you’re going to put the final potato mixture back in the potatoes.  Add soy or almond milk and margerine to potatoes then with an electric mixer mix until smooth.  They should be slightly stiffer than mashed potatoes so adjust liquid accordingly. Add onion mix, stir with a spoon then mix briefly with the beaters to ensure soup mix is completely mixed in.

Add mushrooms and spinach and stir until evenly mixed in then add Happy Hemp.  With a spoon, fill potato skins evenly and place on a baking sheet.  Top with shredded Daiya cheddar cheese.

Place in a 350 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes or until cheese is “melty”.  Remove from oven and serve!  I sprinkled some Happy Hemp on top as well – spreading the hemp love.  These make a great lunch too.  Here’s what mine look like:

If you’re looking for a great primer on vegan cooking that’s especially suited to individuals setting up their first apartment or house, check out Rabbit Food Cookbook by Beth A. Barnett – it’s only $18.10 on the US Amazon website! 

Daily Specials

A description of the Social Media for Small Business workshop I ran last June can be found here.  I am considering a Google Hangout style training session with a maximum of 6 participants in the near future.  If you’re interested, please reach out to me either by email or on Twitter.  I’m happy to help anyone interested in participating set up a G+ account and test their computer for Hangout capabilities.  Keep in mind the outline above was a 4 hour workshop; I will reach out to participants to determine what points in that outline they’d like to discuss.  Who knows, this may become a 2 part Hangout workshop!

If you’re interested in Twitter parties, here’s my post.

Dessert

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and as the daughter of a survivor, I urge you to contribute to the search for a cure.  One of the ways you can do so by purchasing the Calendar of Hope 2013 from the fitterknitter website.  The calendar contains 14 never-before-published knitting patterns, and you can download one of the patterns for FREE.  All proceeds of the sale of these calendars (except of PayPal fees) go to Army of Women.

Please keep in mind the change in Twitter account name; I’m now @thesocialvegan.  If you’ve already followed me, you don’t have to do anything!  This is a great way to reach out to me about anything I talk about on the podcast!  If you’d like to support the podcast (and my trip to Rhinebeck), please consider purchasing a copy of my digital vegan cookbook The Market Vegan.

I interviewed Sarah at The Coal House coal fired pizza restaurant in Sea Girt, NJ. Best vegan pizza in Monmouth County by far!  I’ve had lunch or dinner there probably once a week over the summer; their free wi-fi was the push this vegan techie needed to become a repeat customer!

Crafty matchmaking was provided by Louise of the CaithnessCraft podcast. She does a lovely piece about teachers in her latest podcast – if you are or know a teacher, you should give it a listen!

Martine from iMake‘s Google+ post prompted me to start knitting Mimi Hill’s Nympheas scarf.

If you’re looking for a great end of summer read, check out Bond Girl by Erin Duffy.  (I got my copy from the library.  You should too!)  I’ll review Rabbit Food Cookbook and Yes, Chef on the October podcast.

For a balanced vegan podcast especially for new vegans or the vegan curious, check out Colleen Patrick Goudreau‘s podcast.  I reviewed her cookbook The Vegan Table on the “Vegan Vampires” episode of this podcast.

The next Podcaster Hangout will occur this Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 11 a.m. east coast time.  You can watch it live on Amanda’s YouTube channel but don’t worry, if you can’t make the live broadcast, I’ll upload the video to this podcast feed that afternoon!

Don’t forget to leave a comment on this post or send me a tweet @themarketvegan to enter to win a copy of Sarah’s Fingerless Mitts with Pockets pattern!

Image Credit: This photo is from the Cinnamon Snail Vegan Lunch Truck’s website.  Follow them on Twitter to find out where in New York or New Jersey they’ll show up today!

Each participant is hosting a few giveaways: I’m giving away a copy of Sarah Punderson’s Adirondack shawl pattern as well as a copy of my digital vegan cookbook.  I interviewed Sarah on the last podcast if you aren’t familiar with this designer.

So watch and/or listen to the podhangout as we discuss how we use tech to do what we do, what we’ve been knitting and what Maria’s been spinning, Keanu Reeves, Mark Wahlberg, and to find out how you can enter to win any or all of our giveaways! (Be patient, if you’re watching it through my website, it may take a moment to load.)

Below is a video of the extended scene with the quote that begin’s this episode of the podcast:

Podcasts mentioned in the episode:

Our Hen House

Red Radio

The Vegan Option

The Knitmore Girls

Craftlife

iMake

Subway Knits

Shinybees

CaithnessCraftCollective

TVKnittingPodcast

and follow @VeganAri on Twitter!!!

Below is a picture of the delicious yarn sent to me by Anna (AnythingButSocks) – thanks Anna!!

Patio Seating section:

The Wingspan pattern I mention can be found here.

If you are in the Plano, TX, area definitely check out the Woolie Ewe in person and join their ravelry group! Here’s the yarn I scored – more about the Woolie Ewe in the next podcaster hangout!

Below is a pic of the dishtowel I was suspiciously inspired to start knitting just before I went to visit my family (I know it was you, Grandma G.!):

The pattern is from the Pints & Purls book I reviewed in an earlier podcast.

Below is a pic of the finished Damson – woohoo!

…and here’s the pic of me, Mom, and my sister at my wedding:

(Obviously, Mom is the beauty in the family.)

Lunch Counter section:

I review Knitscene Accessories.  Find more info about Robin Ulrich at robinulrich.blogspot.com.

Vegan Options section:

I review The United States of Arugula by David Kamp.

Daily Specials section:

TheMarketVegan on Google+

Laura Gesin on Quora

Dropbox is a wonderful, free file saving and sharing service.

Dessert section:

I can be found on various social media websites:

@themarketvegan on Twitter

TheMarketVegan on Google+

Laura Gesin on Quora

You can reach me via email at themarketvegan (at) gmail (dot) com.

Please consider purchasing a digital copy of the cookbook to support this podcast.  You’ll also get a subscription to 3 more “enhanced” versions of the cookbook throughout the year! (The link to purchase can be found at the top of the sidebar.)

The photo associated with this post is not me (but could be me in spirit). It’s used courtesy of Kevin Dooley via Flickr.

Email me at themarketvegan (at) gmail (dot) com before Saturday, July 28th at 3 p.m. to win either a copy of my vegan cookbook The Market Vegan or a copy of Living Vegan for Dummies, a great resource if your either considering a plant based diet or are just vegan curious!

Martine is giving away two craft books, One Hour Craft, and Fabric Jewelry. Email Martine at info (at) imake (dot) gg   before 8 p.m. next Saturday (Guernsey time) to be entered to win one of her giveaways!

Amanda is giving away a summer copy of Jane Austen Knits Summer 2012 as well as 2 free patterns from ravelry (very generous).  You can email her at treacleandink (at) hotmail (dot) com before next Saturday at 2 p.m. Central time.

I was very neglectful and took no notes whatsoever, so you’ll have to watch the hangout to hear all about what we’re knitting, why we podcast, how we choose our yarn, what we love about social media, why so many podcasters are teachers, why I should invest in a really nifty showball microphone, and lots of other great podcaster chat! (You can also find Amanda’s accurate show notes on the youtube page here.) (Note the video below may take a moment to load if you view this directly from my website – the file is currently hosted on Dropbox.)

UPDATE: Meghan D. & Julie S. were the winners of my giveaways for first podcaster hangout! Look for more giveaways during the September hangout coming the second weekend in September!

On the Needles

I mentioned the KAL from Loop in Philadelphia.  The pattern for the KAL is The Age of Brass and Steam by Orange Flower and the KAL can be found here.  While Loop recommends Rowan Revive, I am using Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport in Robot Overlord:

Don’t listen to The Paris Wife by Paula McClain if you are working on an intricate pattern or one that tests your skills.  However, it’s an excellent audiobook!

The sky scarf at (almost) 6 months and my backyard that is perpetually in need of a mow!

Here’s a close-up complete with the red stripe for June 20th, Joe’s high school graduation!!!

I mentioned the Forest Canopy shawl by Susan Lawrence that I intend to knit with the Malabrigo sock I scored from that Mecca of yarn stores, Purl Soho.  I saw the one @ellies_mummy did on Twitter and fell in love with the patter!

Daily Specials

I highly recommend Airbnb as an alternative to hotels, motels and hostels.  Below are 2 photos of the room in which I stayed:

 You can find the “God Save the Blogger” blog post I mention here.

I think I got a bit dyslexic a this point – the subway app I mention is Hop Spot and it is FREE in the App store.  Well worth a download if you are new to the New York City subway system or subway challenged like me.

Google+ for Business by Chris Brogan got a brief mention – I sent Martine from iMake a copy, and she started reading it the day she got it! I’m sure we’ll discuss the book in our Google Hangout on July 21st at 3 p.m. East Coast time, 2 p.m. Central time for Craftlife listeners, and 8 p.m. for iMake listeners!

I bought a copy of Humanize: How People-Centric Organizations Succeed in a Social World at Blog World with the intention of incorporating some of the chapters into my New Media curriculum. Most likely, I’ll review this in an upcoming podcast episode.

Martine sent me a copy of Making is Connecting: the social meaning of creativity, from DIY and knitting to YouTube and Web 2.0 by David Gauntlett which will also get a review in an upcoming podcast.  (That Martine, such an enabler!)

Vegan Options

Here’s an iPhone pic of the gardens at CHS. The sister-in-law of a current student’s mother builds this wonderful home vegetable gardens so if you’re in the Monmouth County, NJ, area, you’re in for a treat if you come across one! (That window and door behind the closer trellis is my classroom.  Pretty convenient for a vegan, huh?)

Lunch Counter

The books mentioned in this section are:

Capital by John Lanchester

The Emperor’s Children by Claire Messud

Lunch in Paris (a love story with recipes) by Elizabeth Bard

Dessert

If you’d like to participate in our Google+ Hangout, you can email questions you’d like us to answer to themarketvegan (at) gmail (dot) com or tweet them to @themarketvegan, @imakeGuernsey, or @craftlife.  Remember, the first podcaster hangout occurs on July 21st. Visit this blog in the coming days for more specifics on how you can participate!

1. Comment on the shownotes for this podcast.
2. Follow me on Twitter at lgesin.
3. Join the ravelry group!
4. Like voxpopnj on Facebook.
5. Pin the shownotes for this podcast on Pinterest.
6. Sign up to be notified when my digital cookbook, The Market Vegan, is released.
7. For three chances to win, leave an iTunes review for the podcast! (I call it the Apple store in the podcast – no you don’t have to go to the store, just go to iTunes to leave a review!)

My two recipe testers can be found at the Craftlife podcast and @Ksamsin.

The shopping cart I’m using for the cookbook is ecwid (got that name wrong too but still don’t know what it stands for). So far, I like it, but we’ll see what happens when the cookbook goes live.

Two knitting books I refer to:

1. More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
2. 99 Yarns and Counting

The baby sweater from Joelle Hoverson’s book modeled by an actual baby:

Here’s the basket from the same book:

The striped bag I’m making for Sarah out of the Koigu yarn:

…and here’s the sky scarf at month number 4 (remember, the wine color indicates birthdays):

If you’re interested in the “couch surfing” website I mentioned, you can find it at airbnb.com – I’ll report back on my experience in the next podcast!  Check out Blogworld if you’re going to be in NYC the second week in June.

The books I discuss:

1. The Company of the Dead by David Kowalski
2. Angels of Vengeance by @JohnBirmingham (follow him, it’s worth it!)
3. Raise the Gipper! by (that) John Barnes

If you’re interested in doing a summer readalong, please leave a comment, and if you have a book in mind, please share the title.  If you have a preference between using ravelry or goodreads for the readalong, let me know that too!

To register for my social media workshop in Asbury Park, NJ on June 23rd, click the link on the sidebar or go here. Early bird pricing ends June 1st!

In this episode, I announce a giveaway graciously donated by new show and blog supporter, Patricia’s Yarns in Hoboken, NJ, talk about what I have on and off the needles, review Pints and Purls: Portable Projects for the Social Knitter by Karida Collins and Libby Bruce, provide another comparison of 3 books (much less weighty than the 1Q84 literary analysis in Podcast #8), and review a TV show I’ve just discovered.  In response to a request from listener and music contributor to the podcast, Jacob Haller, I recommend some of my favorite Star Trek episodes since you can now stream the series on Neflix.  I’ve added that segment and will include it for at least the next few podcasts.

The Scintilla Project is a great blogging initiative can be found here.

The “Exploring Stripes Bag” by Holly Webb can be found on ravelry here.

My Sky Scarf is 3 months old!

Books I mention:

Soft Target by Stephen Hunter

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Also check out Sons of Anarchy on Netflix if you want to continue the crime theme of these books.

Finally, the Giveaway! Courtesy of Patricia’s Yarn in Hoboken, NJ, this giveaway includes her book Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater, a tote from her store, and enough yarn to make Ellen’s cowl (pattern included in the book).  In order to enter, you may do any or all of the following:

1.  Comment on the blog post for this podcast (1 entry).

2.  Kindly write an iTunes review for this podcast (3 entries).

3.  Follow me on twitter and post a comment here when you do (1 entry).

4.  Pin the blog post for this giveaway on Pinterest using the image Patricia provided then leave the link in a comment on the blog post (2 entries).

5.  Join the ravelry group (1 entry).

6.  Sign up for CaithnessCraft’s bookmark swap and leave a comment on the blog post that you did for another entry.

You may enter in as many ways as you’d like, and I will announce a winner on the blog on May 5^th as well as on the next podcast.  Here’s a look at what you can win:

Music used in the podcast includes:

Blog Like It’s the End of the World by Tom Smith (courtesy of Music Alley)

Kitten Knitting Blues by Jacob Haller (courtesy of Music Alley)

Circumstantial Evidence by Jacob Haller (courtesy of Music Alley)

Drinkin’ 40s on the Subway by the Beer Drinking Fools (courtesy of Music Alley)

John the Revelator by Curtis Stigers and the Forest Rangers from the Sons of Anarchy Soundtrack CD

Music includes:

#9 Dream by John Lennon

Blog Like It’s the End of the World by Tom Smith (courtesy of Music Alley)

Cooking at Home by The Gas House Gorillas (courtesey of Music Alley)

Dreams by The Cranberries

My Ground Zero post can be found here.

The Blog Like It’s the End of the World ravelry lunch table can be found here.

Here’s a link to The Godfather Scene from You’ve Got Mail (my favorite movie – yes, if I write it here, it must be true!).  Sadly, embedding was disabled on that clip.

Enjoy!

The podcast begins with my recent knitting adventures.  I finished what we refer to now as the Caiti hat – below is a picture of Caiti herself in her hat and some other woman who might be me:

Sarah’s home for spring break so I was finally able to give her the Toadstool Slouch hat from the spring issue of KnitScene:

I mention the Sally Hat I’m knitting in my blatant ripoff “When Knitting Attacks”:

Robin Ulrich’s amazing FrostLight scarf pattern and the story behind it can be found on her website.

I go into an overly detailed analysis of 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami, 1984 by George Orwell, and In Search of Lost Time (also known as Remembrance of Things Past) by Marcel Proust.  The first was published last year, the second in 1949, and the final, a novel in 7 volumes, published between 1909 and 1922.  Almost a century of literature in one single podcast!  I do note that Proust’s work is the longest novel written; further research shows that it is the fourth longest novel ever written.  Poor Proust was deprived of the title by a Frenchman, a French brother and sister, and some wily Croatian.  I strongly recommend all three books although at least in the US, most high school students read Orwell’s classic before graduation.  I taught it at the eighth grade level back in the late 1980s and if I ever teach English again, I’m certainly going to assign 1Q84 to my unsuspecting students!

@inkbison suggested The Market Vegan as the title of my cooking ebook – thank you!

Music in the podcast comes from Music Alley and includes:

Blog Like It’s the End of the World by Tom Smith

Froggy Bottom by Johnny Nicholas

Cookin’ at Home by The Gas House Gorillas

Paper Moon by Ella Fitzgerald and the Delta Rhythm Boys

… and finally, my favorite song by Jacob Haller, included for no other reason than I love it, The Ballad of Anne Hutchinson.

I mention two additional podcasts, so after you listen to mine, go check Amanda and her CraftLife podcast out, along with Sister Diane’s Craftypod podcast (more about Craftypod below).

Falling to Pieces, the Zombie Romantic Comedy filmed for the Project21 Film Festival Summer 2010 will have it’s New Jersey Premiere at the Garden State Film Festival in March.  I’ll update this blog post when I know the date and location of the showing, but the entire Festival is located in Asbury Park, NJ. Bipolar Girl by No Wine for Kittens features prominently in the film – it’s the song played in it’s entirety at the end of this episode.

Loop in Philadelphia is my new fiber resource.  If you’re ever in the Center City area of Philly, definitely check them out.  Here’s a pic I took of their button selection:

On the needles, I currently have the Thick & Quick Slouchy Beret, the Toadstool Slouch from Knitscene Spring 2012, Cocoknits Everyday Wrap and of course the Sky Scarf.  If you’d like to knit a sky scarf along with me, please join the Blog Like It’s the End of the World group on Ravelry!

I also mentioned Roman Hills yarn when flipping through Knitscene. They’re located in Brooklyn, and I can’t wait to order some of the Downton Abbey yarn once my “yarn fast” is over!

Proceeds from the vegan ebook I hope to write and publish (tentatively titled “The Supermarket Vegan”) will benefit the JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, NJ.  I’m working through Sister Diane’s Write, Publish, and Sell Your Crafty eBook. Once I finish, I’ll start putting together the cookbook from recipes published on this blog along with a few new ones including the final version of vegan lulu paste!

Music provided by Music Alley:

Blog Like It’s the End of the World by Tom Smith

Prisoner by Smoke Ring Days

Mistreating Yarn Blues by Jacob Haller

Fridge Full of Food by the Nancy Drews

Stupid Valentine by Tom Smith

Finally, here’s the picture from the Dallas Morning News of my father and sister recreating Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run album cover:

I found my true love at Stitchuary and purchased some lovely wool at Green Mountain Spinnery.  YarnPop‘s project bags are on my list of items to order once my bank account recovers, and Long Island Livestock Company‘s alpaca covered soap may be an inspiration for a collaborative effort between myself and Michele at Funkychunks.

Knittingpodcast.blogspot.com kindly linked to my podcast, and you can find an extensive list of both audio and video podcasts on that site.  Also a shout out to Green Triangle Girl over at the aplayfulday podcast – if you don’t listen to her, you should!

While in New York, I stayed at the Amsterdam Court Hotel and dined at Natsumi, a sushi bar & restaurant I highly recommend.

The vegan tomato soup crockpot recipe I mention can be found here.

Music from music alley by:

rachel kann If I Could Be Your

Jacom Haller Kitten Knitting Blues

… and if you are brave, after listening to the podcast, go check out pinterest.

Music by Neema Ntalel provided by Music Alley.  Her EP was financed by AfricaUnsigned, a Kickstarter type site for musicians.  I played Let’s Talk About Love and Into the Dawn.  I also played Ichiro NAKAGAWA’s In Kamakkura as an interlude along with a few Star Trek sound effects because they just seemed appropriate!

Sadly, no lulu paste recipe yet but stay tuned! I’ll be testing this recipe in a vegan version again before the end of the month.

Leah Redmond’s conceptual knitting sky scarf idea can be found here.

Peace Fleece can be found here – remember, I bought 5 of their mini skeins for my own sky scarf.

Below is a picture of the hybrid mittens I made for Sarah from Christmas – this pair was made with gray Caron Simply Soft and Rowan Aura Rasberry:

Here’s a version I made for myself, this one complete with buttons made in Patons Classic Wool:

Please comment on this post or contact me if you are going to be at Vogue Knitting Live next weekend.  I’d love to meet up with podcast listeners and blog readers while I’m there.  I am learning to spin so I can create some (hopefully) wonderful yarn from the fleece of the sheep belonging to my my friend and former stepfatherinlaw (he really does look like Captain Picard).

Also, if you get confused during this podcast, I started recording on Tuesday, January 3rd (my birthday) when it was all of 24 degrees F, then completed on Saturday, January 7th when it was in the 60s at the Jersey Shore.  Bring on global warming!!

In this podcast, I do a taste test with two of my students, Emily and Caiti.  Caiti is the phenomenal photographer whose work appears on my blog and lot of other places on the internet – you can find her photos at caitiborruso.com.  Emily is one of her many subjects, a vegetarian, and another one of my students. The recipe we test is 10 Minute Brownes from Students Go Vegan Cookbook by Carole Raymond.  Here’s the recipe:

1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup semisweet vegan chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup sugar or natural sweetener
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a 6 x 9-inch baking pan and set aside. (I used an 11 x 7-inch pan which worked out fine.)

 

In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the oil and chocolate chips, stirring occasionally, until melted. Remove from heat and set aside.

 

In a large bowl, add the applesauce, sugar, and vanilla. Blend well. Stir in the chocolate mixture. Whip and blend well. Add the flour, baking powder, and walnuts, and mix just to combine. Spoon the batter into the baking pan.

 

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly touched. Be careful not to overbake the brownies or they will be dry. Let cool completely before cutting into squares. Store in a covered, airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll last for about a week.

I also review Feed  by Mira Grant which I’m listening to in the audio version but recommend to anyone who likes stories about zombies, bloggers, or just futuristic adventures.

Other music on this podcast courtesy of MusicAlley include:

Christmas with the Zombies by Jesse Smith

A Fist Full of We Three Kings by the High Balls

Lambchop Mustache Dream by Vinyl Wine

Call of Duty Christmas by The Energy Commission

… and of course, congrats to Tessa, the winner of my first podcast giveaway from funkychunks!  @soylady’s fantastic soy candles can be found at Things That Make Scents in Manasquan, NJ.

Apology to @HoxtonHandmade: 

• Rogue’s Spruce Gin
• Gin with a Scent of Christmas – review from The New York TImes

Books (and a Play):

• Top Girls Wikipedia page
• Pope Joan the book
• Pope Joan the miniseries
• Mama Nina’s, Bethlehem, PA

Knitting n00b:

• Hybrid Mittens
• Kinky Boots
• Monmouth Hat pattern (I added 10 extra stitches to the CO because I like my hats loose and that addition made it perfect!)
• Monmouth Hat history with an alternative pattern
• My Monmouth Hat:

• Hattitude  by Cathy Carron
• Yarngasm Podcast

And here’s a pic of Amanda with her amazing knitting piece of art:

Giveaway!

Comment on this blog post and enter to win a holiday gift package from Funkychunks!  Michele kindly donated 4 of her surf soaps: Good Earth, Jersey Girl, Surf Wax, and Suntan (all smell amazing as I sit here typing these show notes).  If you tweet a link to this giveaway with the hashtag #funkychunks, you get an extra chance to win! In order to get this to the winner by Christmas, I will only count comments until 6:00 a.m. on December 18, 2011 and you MUST send me your mailing information by Tuesday morning once I contact you in order for me to ship ASAP.  If you are outside of the US, sorry, doubt it will make it in time but you can celebrate the new year smelling fabulous!  Here’s a pic of what’s included as well as the gift box:

#reverb11

• @geekinhard’s list of #reverb11 prompts as well as many additional lists of inspiration
• #relish11
• #resound11
• Finding Vegan

Music as always by Music Alley

• Blog Like It’s the End of the World by Tom Smith
• 80s Girl by Jodi Jett
• There’s a Spy in My Martini by David Parker
• Drive In by Darryl Gregory
• New Year’s Resolution by Bill deRome

Happy Holidays everyone!

Thanks for listening, and here’s all the info I promised in the show notes:

Apology to HoxtonHandmade: I offer up Kate’s mustache themed website portal as this episode’s apology to @hoxtonhandmade.  Make sure you roll over each logo as well as the heading at the top to see the facial hair and nifty mustache font.  As a bonus apology, check out the hot dude with long hair from Leverage.

Books: You can visit my entire reading list for 2011 here which contains a link to The Night Eternal. Kim Harrison and all her vampiric and witchy wonder can be found on her website.  If they ever make this series into a movie, Johnny Depp has to play Algaliarept!  Check out the video diary from Gorefest 2010 in my backyard here. (At about a 1:46 you can see my son and myself as zombies.)

Knitting n00b:  Please visit Brooklyn General – what an amazing store staffed by great people!  Thanks to Subway Knits for turning me on to this LYS (it may be almost 2 hours away by train, but that’s still my LYS from now on).  Feel free to find me on ravelry under lgesin.  Here’s a photo of the scrumptious Blue Sky Alpaca I bought for my zelda cloche along with bonus Rowan Aura rasberry that’ll be the cuff on the mittens I’m knitting for my daughter over the next week.

I’m also working on the Nerina scarf. I plan to wear this around my neck like a scarf (which is shown in the book but I don’t think on ravelry).  It looks like an Elizabethan ruff and will be perfect for the Christmas season!

Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Vegan: If you buy one cookbook this holiday season, by The Vegan Table by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau.

The artwork for this post comes from Aleksandra Marchocka; you can see her work at Behance.

Music in this episode courtesy of Music Alley:

Blog Like It’s the End of the World by Tom Smith

I’m Sorry by Big George Jackson Blues Band

Vampire by Serpentone

Vegan Cheesepuff by Slog

(and the theme music from Leverage…)

Thanks for listening!

The song Blog Like It’s the End of the World by Tom Smith and Vegan Cheesecake by Slog can be found on Music Alley.

The podcasts I mention can be found at the links below:

Fluffy Fibers

iMake

Electric Sheep

APlayfulDay

CaithnessCraft

Frayed Knits

They can also be found on iTunes.

I mention in the podcast that my house was built by the government.  The satellite dish I talk about that’s at the back of my neighborhood is now the image for the podcast – rather apropos I thought.  Here’s a picture of the top of the original Marconi tower that broadcast from this area way back when.

Vegan Cookbook Review: Great Chefs Cook Vegan by Linda Long

No, I’m not linking to that fiasco but here’s a photo:

This is the green mess the David Burke recipe produced (remember that green baby poo?).  If this were Top Chef, I’d be packin’ my knives and goin’ home!

I mention my blog post about Veganomicon, the best vegan cookbook by far which can be found here.

Thanks for listening – I hope to do another one of these next month!