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Cupcakes!

So as a result of my new-found vegetarianism, I'm trying to find more ways to make tasty things that both Brady and I will enjoy.  Brady's not vegetarian, not even close.  But it makes me happy if I can make something that's cruelty-free that he enjoys.

Which is why I decided to get some cookbooks today at Border's.  I bought two.  Vegan with a Vengeance and Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, both by Isa Chandra Moskowitz.  Today I decided to make some cupcakes.  It was pretty daunting since there are literally 75 different recipies to choose from in this book, and icings, too.  I finally decided on the Peanut Butter Cupcakes.  It's a simple recipe that involves natural chunky peanut butter, molasses, flaxseed, vanilla, soymilk, and other basic ingredients.  The "icing" is supposed to be a drizzled semi-sweet chocolate ganache.  Unfortunately I didn't have a piping bag, and I forgot I could make one out of a ziplock bag.  But my experience with a ziplock bag wasn't really useful for drizzling, so instead I just spread a small layer of the ganache on the top.  Granted this is probably more chocolate than is required, but it'll do.  On top of that I sprinkled some chopped peanuts, and voila.  Cupcakes a'hoy.

I have to say, after trying one, they are pretty good.  Less sweet than you would expect a cupcake to be, but I think that's the point.  I mean, peanut butter cookies aren't generally sweet.  It tastes pretty wholesome, and the chocolate ganache wasn't overbearing.  They're extremely moist, and I had to eat them over the sink so I didn't lose the entire cupcake all over the floor.

I'm looking forward to cooking the other recipes in this book.  I learned a few things, like I didn't know that soy milk would still curdle with vinegar the way that cow milk does.  I've noticed you can use less soy milk where you'd use cow milk.  I'm glad I don't have to crack eggs anymore or  melt butter.

I'll be updating future posts if I make any more of these cupcakes, along with some reviews.  The book is definitely a good resource, and I recommend it, even if you're not vegetarian or vegan.  It was $15.95 at Border's, and they had quite a few.