Thursday, August 21, 2008

Here Comes The ...... Cupcake



We just got back from the wedding reception, and everything had such good reviews and the photos turned out so well that I couldn't wait to share.

I made four recipes today, and they all turned out to my satisfaction (though, to be honest, I didn't taste the cupcakes - but I did go on the compliments of many Early Childhood Ed teachers, and those people KNOW their cupcakes).

However, it wasn't the cupcakes or the salad I made that really made me feel like I had accomplished something special, it was the Marble Berry Cheesecake that I really and truly made to celebrate an exciting day for K and I. And after downing a slice of it (and maybe a little extra) I am really excited to share this easy, but totally delectable, recipe with everyone.

Marble Berry Cheesecake
Ingredients (Base) 1 cup of walnuts, 10 soaked dates (I am sure they don't HAVE to be soaked).

I just whipped these through the historical food processor and pressed into my spring form pan.

Ingredients
(Cakiegoodness) 2 cups of cashews, 1 cup
of soy milk, 1/2 cups of soy cream cheese, 3 tbsp of agave, 1 cups of blueberries, 1 cup of black berries, 3 tbsp of arrowroot and 1 tbsp of cornstarch.

I whirled the cashews and soy milk into a nice cream before adding the cream cheese, and agave. On the advice I took from Raw Freedom (though this cake was hardly raw) I took out half of the cream at this point and then added the berries to the remaining cream. I pulsed and was ready to start pouring the thick cream onto my base. I did this by adding the white, unberried cream first, with the pretty purple cream going on top. I took my knife and ran it through to make the pretty marble design.

I put it in the freezer to set, and then added blueberries and lavender sugar to the top. Tahhh Dahhhh. So yummmy.



I also made a tabbouleh salad using these gorgeous organic heritage tomatoes, which I found at the market on Wednesday.


And now...the cupcakes.


I made two batches. The first was a chocolate and orange cake topped with a chocolate ganache (my first ever), and orange rind. The second was vanilla and sesame cake with a coconut and cream cheese icing. They were enjoyed by grownups and kids alike....but, they didn't come without a little tragedy in my kitchen...a little fire while whisking the ganache??? and a small electocution and a broken wine glass. Such is cooking with Lyndsay Kirkham!

31 comments:

Unknown said...

okay so can i just say i LOVE your cupcakes...they're so adorable!

Anonymous said...

can't blame you for getting some extra cheesecake slices, I would have downed the whole thing myself.

VeganCowGirl said...

Thanks Lauren!!!

Glad to have your support Celine...it was just way too good to put back in the fridge....

Abram said...

That cheesecake, wow! I must try that, and soon. Looks delectable!

- L said...

ganache fire? ohnos!

but wow - everything else. lovely photos, as always. although i must say i'm particularly smitten by those heirloom tomatoes and that cheesecake. i'm going to have to try that with homemade soy-cream-cheese.

Lisa (Show Me Vegan) said...

That certainly sounds like a kitchen adventure, fire and electrocution? Everything turned out great looking anyway!

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

So I'm not the only one who burns ganache?! That's nice to know (I burned some ganache-- and my wrist!-- last week).

I'll do your wedding invites if you pay me in berry cheesecake ;o)

Anonymous said...

Everything looks amazing--and gorgeous cheesecake. (But glad to hear your survived the baking!! Hopefully no burn marks--??)

Anonymous said...

I think it's all calling my name!!! And I can't believe how perfect and beautiful your decorations of the cupcakes look.

jessy said...

omg, omg, omg! that cheesecake = mmmmmmmmm! i've gotta make it! and your cuppycakes are gorgeous! :D those tomatoes are almost too cute to eat! yay!

Vegan_Noodle said...

That cheesecake sounds divine... and no baking makes it easy too!

Glad your cupcakes came out well despite the ganache fire! They are adorable :-)

Anonymous said...

Great job on the ganache! It's gorgeous! I love the orange rind on top, too. My Mom is not a fan of the orange/chocolate combo, but I SO am!

I can't get over those tomatoes. They are (almost) too cute to eat!

JENNA said...

i wish i could devour that cheesecake right now!

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

What a gorgeous cheesecake! The cupcakes are just darling too.

By the way, you mentioned a lack of vegan woman owned bakery. I have one myself, but haven't shared it with my blog readers yet. Fun, right?!

Avery Yale Kamila said...

Wow! I can't believe such great looking treats emerged in spite of the kitchen carnage. Everything just looks amazing!

Alicia said...

I NEED to try that cheesecake. The thing is... I don't have access to soy cream cheese (well, there are two in the market, but both savory, and with a yeast-y taste). Do you think I could substitute it with something else? more cashews mixed with soy cream?

VeganCowGirl said...

Alice - for SURE!
Just do more cashews and mix it until super duper smooth with 1 1/2 cups of almond milk and you would be good...you wouldn't even need the cream cheese.

Fitnessista said...

what a beautiful cheesecake! thanks for sharing the recipe- i can't wait to try it :D
the cupcakes look equally amazing! sorry about the fire, but a small price to pay for some awesome ganache :)
enjoy your saturday!

Astra Libris said...

Thank you so much for visiting my blog - I'm so glad you led me, in turn, to your wonderfully inspiring blog! Your vegan cheesecake recipe sounds positively mouthwatering - and packed with terrifically healthful ingredients as well! Your cupcakes are gorgeous - could you please, pretty please, share the recipe for the vanilla sesame cake? I absolutely adore anything containing sesame!!

Bianca said...

Well, at least the fire didn't ruin the cupcakes! They look amazing, as does that delectable blueberry cheesecake. I wish I could have some right now...you didn't just get married, did you? Was it someone else? I don't remember reading that you were getting married or anything, so I assume it was someone else....

Katie said...

Four recipes? You are a magician in the kitchen!

VeganCowGirl said...

Bianca - nope...not until April 11th. A couple of our friends got married and I thought I would bring a little vegan cheer. :)

Astra - yes! For sure I will be happy to share in my next post. :)

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Your cheesecake turned out very well. I wouldn't mind a slice of that :)

thedalyn said...

Wow. All of this stuff looks amazing. I was just thinking that I deserve a treat this week since I'm going back to teaching, and I think the cheesecake is just what I was looking for.

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

LOL Professor Henry Higgins' book reviews... sounds very professional :o)

Anonymous said...

We must be connected to the same energy - I just made a variation of chocolate cupcakes with choco frosting and oranges confits on top! Great minds...

Andreea said...

absolutely great to discover your blog. and a fellow brussels food blogger :)

Anonymous said...

Just found your blog. It's so cute! May I mention, that I LOVE the cupcakes? And the cheese cake...absolutely fab!

KP said...

Thanks for the comment! I know my sister will have a blast, Chicago is a pretty fun city.
That cheesecake looks really good and I haven't had a cheesecake in years....yum

Unknown said...

those tomatoes look beautiful & that cake.... id have a hard time not eating the whole darn thing. :)

aTxVegn said...

Oh, no! Fire and electrocution in the same day?!!! All the cupcakes look fantastic. What excellent flavor combinations you came up with.