Happy New Year! It seems fitting (or perhaps masochistic) to be recounting some of my best eats from the long, holiday season on the first day that I'm attempting to get back into an eating routine that doesn't include some variation of dessert for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Unlike last year, this year Hanukkah fell right where I like it: beginning mid-December and running almost exactly through Christmas Eve. This meant that the holiday celebrations kind of volleyed back and forth with little distinction other than the color of the wrapping.
We took 89 to see Santa.
She behaved very well on line.
But was still happiest when it was over.
She even seemed to like how her picture came out.
Then we went to get our tree.
This is always one of 89's favorite things.
We hung our stockings and displayed our admittedly disproportionate menorah.
Even 89's Hedgie got in on the action.
The tree at Pine Box was quite a bit grander than our own.
I also don't have these at home: Fairy Tale of New York- stoli Razberi, creme de cacao & peppermint schnapps shaken with grenadine & almond milk; served up with a candy cane.
followed by more...
89's Hanukkah presents seemed to err on the Christmassy side this year.
Then she stole one of mine- a hedgehog ornament, off the tree.
We visited another Santa. 89 still isn't convinced.
Finally! A new Hanukkah shirt (that I bought on Halloween).
Despite the sinful amount of sweets that was about to befall me, for some reason I felt it necessary to make VCIYCJ pignoli cookies.
Had Vegan Treats' soft serve delivered: vanilla with chocolate chips.
Also some Vegan Treats' donuts: smores, Boston Creme, and 2 jellies!
There were more than a few visits to The Bean for drinks with rotating holiday wishes.
And one of many holiday Vegan Shop-ups.
Here's the Gone Pie table looking particularly exquisite:
My new favorite: their take on Mexican wedding cookies. Shortly after inhaling my first of seven (not consecutive), I watched as another customer purchased one to try, then bought the entire remainder of the plate; my kind of lady!
Beautiful mini fruitcakes for my dad.
And their famous pecan pie.
Having worked my way through the Pine Box Rock Shop holiday menu the week prior, I went with a Red Moco Cooler (or two) this visit.
You already know how I feel about Sweet Maresa's Italian rainbow cookies, also at the shop-up.
Blogposts about individual, holiday dinners coming soon...
On this day, dessert was a chocolate shake from TBICSITU.
89 tried to steal the Hanukkah gift for her friend, Ennis.
She suffered through more Hanukkah-wear...
and received a mini reindeer to seasonally adorn her placemat.
A bunch of Sweet & Sara goodies for gifts: rocky road bark, rice crispy treat, mini smores, three-bite smores, and peppermint bark (if you haven't tried this yet, it's a MUST).
The arrival of my annual Vegan Treats cookies!
Still more Hanukkah gifts for 89.
Christmas prep in the Bean house.
89 deciding all gifts must be hers (most are; this one was).
Cinnamon toast!
Christmas posing.
VM's eggplant rollatini.
Again, with pasta.
Santa arranged 89's gifts under the tree to save wrapping (and unwrapping) time.
Yet the first thing she did was to unceremoniously pull out a pair of wrapped, Xmas pjs from the grandparents.
Once she realized the bounty that awaited her, she steamrolled right through it.
Her first choice: the smallest toy, a Santa-hatted hedgehog.
Up next: the biggest, a winter-hatted snowman that she took down like a lion would a gazelle.
89 got her own blueberry pancakes on Christmas morning.
But, she still chose to ogle my cookies anyway (maybe a little more than ogle).
The best gift of the day: a personalized blanket!
The goofiest:
For dessert, more from Vegan Treats.
Red velvet cake with cannoli (?) cream filling:
Oh, who can remember? They all looked incredible and tasted even better.
89 sitting atop my own best gift prior to unwrapping: a snowblower!
I decided, yet again, to add to the fray with cowboy cookies from VCIYCJ.
More Christmas-wear and a walk: 60 degrees!
And then an involuntary nap that caught 89 off-guard, practically mid-bark.
More of this snazzy concoction:
And then it was New Years' Eve.
Despite all of her new toys, 89 started off the year contentedly playing with her favorite: a toilet paper roll.
New Years Day is also VM's birthday, for which I made VWAV chocolate, chocolate chip pancakes with Dandies marshmallows and So Delicious Coco Whip.
You really can't blame her.
And, for VM's birthday dessert: a donut sundae in homage to those from Vegan Treats.
Chocolate-encased angel-food donut topped with So Delicious Coco whip, and fresh raspberries.
It was only fitting that, as I undressed the Christmas tree, 89 once again stole the hedgehog ornament.
I hope your holidays were merry and bright, and that 2015 brings you more reasons to be peaceful and compassionate!
Unlike last year, this year Hanukkah fell right where I like it: beginning mid-December and running almost exactly through Christmas Eve. This meant that the holiday celebrations kind of volleyed back and forth with little distinction other than the color of the wrapping.
We took 89 to see Santa.
She behaved very well on line.
But was still happiest when it was over.
She even seemed to like how her picture came out.
Then we went to get our tree.
This is always one of 89's favorite things.
We hung our stockings and displayed our admittedly disproportionate menorah.
Even 89's Hedgie got in on the action.
The tree at Pine Box was quite a bit grander than our own.
I also don't have these at home: Fairy Tale of New York- stoli Razberi, creme de cacao & peppermint schnapps shaken with grenadine & almond milk; served up with a candy cane.
followed by more...
89's Hanukkah presents seemed to err on the Christmassy side this year.
Then she stole one of mine- a hedgehog ornament, off the tree.
We visited another Santa. 89 still isn't convinced.
Finally! A new Hanukkah shirt (that I bought on Halloween).
Despite the sinful amount of sweets that was about to befall me, for some reason I felt it necessary to make VCIYCJ pignoli cookies.
Had Vegan Treats' soft serve delivered: vanilla with chocolate chips.
Also some Vegan Treats' donuts: smores, Boston Creme, and 2 jellies!
There were more than a few visits to The Bean for drinks with rotating holiday wishes.
And one of many holiday Vegan Shop-ups.
Here's the Gone Pie table looking particularly exquisite:
My new favorite: their take on Mexican wedding cookies. Shortly after inhaling my first of seven (not consecutive), I watched as another customer purchased one to try, then bought the entire remainder of the plate; my kind of lady!
Beautiful mini fruitcakes for my dad.
Having worked my way through the Pine Box Rock Shop holiday menu the week prior, I went with a Red Moco Cooler (or two) this visit.
You already know how I feel about Sweet Maresa's Italian rainbow cookies, also at the shop-up.
Blogposts about individual, holiday dinners coming soon...
On this day, dessert was a chocolate shake from TBICSITU.
89 tried to steal the Hanukkah gift for her friend, Ennis.
She suffered through more Hanukkah-wear...
and received a mini reindeer to seasonally adorn her placemat.
A bunch of Sweet & Sara goodies for gifts: rocky road bark, rice crispy treat, mini smores, three-bite smores, and peppermint bark (if you haven't tried this yet, it's a MUST).
The arrival of my annual Vegan Treats cookies!
Still more Hanukkah gifts for 89.
Christmas prep in the Bean house.
89 deciding all gifts must be hers (most are; this one was).
Cinnamon toast!
Christmas posing.
VM's eggplant rollatini.
Again, with pasta.
Copious amounts of So Delicious Mint Chocolate coconut milk with even more mini-Dandies.
Santa arranged 89's gifts under the tree to save wrapping (and unwrapping) time.
Yet the first thing she did was to unceremoniously pull out a pair of wrapped, Xmas pjs from the grandparents.
Once she realized the bounty that awaited her, she steamrolled right through it.
Her first choice: the smallest toy, a Santa-hatted hedgehog.
Up next: the biggest, a winter-hatted snowman that she took down like a lion would a gazelle.
But, she still chose to ogle my cookies anyway (maybe a little more than ogle).
The best gift of the day: a personalized blanket!
The goofiest:
For dessert, more from Vegan Treats.
Chocolate cake with...vanilla (?) cream filling:
Red velvet cake with cannoli (?) cream filling:
Oh, who can remember? They all looked incredible and tasted even better.
I decided, yet again, to add to the fray with cowboy cookies from VCIYCJ.
More Christmas-wear and a walk: 60 degrees!
And then an involuntary nap that caught 89 off-guard, practically mid-bark.
More of this snazzy concoction:
And then it was New Years' Eve.
Despite all of her new toys, 89 started off the year contentedly playing with her favorite: a toilet paper roll.
New Years Day is also VM's birthday, for which I made VWAV chocolate, chocolate chip pancakes with Dandies marshmallows and So Delicious Coco Whip.
You really can't blame her.
Interior:
And, for VM's birthday dessert: a donut sundae in homage to those from Vegan Treats.
Chocolate-encased angel-food donut topped with So Delicious Coco whip, and fresh raspberries.
I hope your holidays were merry and bright, and that 2015 brings you more reasons to be peaceful and compassionate!
I kept checking Vegan Treats website this season and didnt see anything about those Holiday Cookies.
ReplyDeleteIf it were anyone other than 89, one mght say that dog is spoiled.
I'm sure they had them for mail order! It was all over their IG account.
Delete89? Spoiled? That's crazy talk!
Tooooo incredible. This makes me want donuts, mostly.
ReplyDeleteSo you heated up the chocolate peppermint milk, huh? That one always seemed like it was best cold, the nog I could maybe see warm. Sticking to the beverages, I had the Christmas in Hollis at PBRS recently! I can't turn down a Queens themed cocktail.
Love the 89 photo of her with pancakes. She is positively grinning.
My friend drinks it cold, but I love it hot. How was the CIH? That one scared me; I like my drinks wussy. Coincidentally, that's also how I look when I eat pancakes ;-)
DeleteThe drink was very good, but definitely strong! I only needed one, for sure. Don't know if you've been back recently, but they have detox-themed alcoholic drinks, which I find very funny.
DeleteI think I now have diabetes just from looking at this post!
ReplyDeleteA very happy holiday season to you and the adorable 89! I hope to see you soon!
jealous!
DeleteAlso, Gonepie really out did herself this year!
ReplyDeleteI gave up sugar a bit ago and you did a great job covering for me. Thank you! I actually have sugar jitters from the marinara sauce I made for dinner from Chloe's Italian book. You are a true master. Now please tel me who VM is.
ReplyDeletexo
kittee
kittee, that's a travesty! I can put away sugar like nobody's business. VM = Vegetarian Mom :-)
Delete89 is so adorable!! I always love the pictures of her sweet face!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! She's quite the snuggler as well.
Delete89 is smiling!!! Holidays are no joke at the Bean's.
ReplyDeleteI'd say she's disappointed they're over, but now that the tree is gone at least she has more room to play ball.
DeleteWow! I don't even know where to begin! I guess I could say, I would like to have your holiday season. Let me just build my time machine, then I will do just that! Incredible treats, beautiful tree and decorations, and of course the ever adorable 89 - the real star of the show!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ingrid! I hope your new year is healthy and bright.
DeleteI think you may have won Christmas hands down there. Donuts + pancakes + 89 is a powerful combo!
ReplyDelete