Panda With Cookie

Panda With Cookie on Vacation

2012-01-12T08:44:00.001-05:00

The Panda With Cookie shop and bake shop are both closed for the time being as I re-assess business and take an extended vacation. This blog will be inactive for the next month as I take some time off. I hope to see you all later in the year. Thanks to everyone for their support!

Inventory Liquidation Sale at Panda With Cookie

2011-12-29T11:47:00.004-05:00

Panda With Cookie is having a 50% off inventory liquidation sale. Most items are 50% off and the prices marked in the shop reflect the sale price. Shop will be closed in mid-January for at least a month while we reconfigure. Stock up on a bunch of wee monsters for party favors! Buy a few large monsters for birthday celebrations throughout the year.

Vegan Muffins on the Move Monday

2011-12-12T13:46:00.000-05:00

Celine Steen and Tami Noyes started the Vegan Muffins on the Move blog to encourage people to share muffins with people once a month. Bake up a batch and take them to your mechanic or yoga class or work potluck. I've got the amazing cinnacrunch muffins from Tami's American Vegan Kitchen ready to go this month. Check out their blog for a new recipe every month or make up your own and then post back to let them know that a wave of vegan muffins is making its way across the globe!

Panda With Cookie 20% Off Holiday Sale

2011-12-08T11:09:00.001-05:00

Panda With Cookie is having a 20% off holiday sale now through Sunday, December 11. Enter coupon code BUHBAH at checkout to receive 20% off all items. Not included are the personalized cat ornaments or personalized letter ornaments. All plush, onesies, pins, zines, and aprons are included.

Panda With Cookie at Athens Indie Craftstravaganza

2011-11-29T10:00:00.000-05:00

Panda With Cookie will be at the Athens Indie Craftstravaganza in Athens, GA, this Saturday, December 3, from 10-6pm. The fair is located at 670 West Broad Street at the corner of Broad and North Pope in the parking lit behind Ben's Bikes Stop by and say hello! If you see something you want from my shop, let me know and I'll be happy to hold an item for you.

Personalized Cat Ornaments at Panda With Cookie

2011-11-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

I'm making custom cat ornaments for the holidays! Head over to Panda With Cookie to find out how to get your own cat immortalized in eco felt. Taking orders now!

Quick Fix Vegan Up in My House

2011-11-14T14:32:00.001-05:00

I was very pleased to win a copy of Robin Robetson's Quick Fix Vegan during Vegan Mofo. I still haven't completely gotten through reading the book but the Indian Shepherd's Pie caught my eye right away and I happened to have almost everything on hand to bake it up yesterday. The picture is less than stellar, but I don't think shepherd's pie ever photographs well anyway. It doesn't matter. This was absolutely delicious! I had fire roasted tomatoes on hand which added a nice kick and the combination of potato and cauliflower topping was perfect without being too heavy. I have plans for another recipe or two in the coming week and will have a more thorough review up later. But for now I am completely happy to have a whole pie to work my way through this week.

Panda Makes Mofo: Rye Biscuits

2011-11-08T10:10:00.000-05:00

One of my fall and winter projects is to blog some of the recipes I found and bookmarked during Vegan Mofo. I made these oaty chocolate chip flapjacks a couple of weeks ago, substituting brown rice syrup for the golden syrup and they were quite good. They were eaten before the camera could capture them. This week I went for Johnp's rye biscuits, which he blogged on the final day of mofo. Mine didn't turn out quite as fluffy as his look, but you can't go wrong with a good rye and cornmeal bread product.

Happy Halloween: The Klaus Nomi Lime Tart

2011-10-31T09:00:00.000-04:00

How fitting to end my Vegan Mofo with a subpar food photo. But the inspiration was magnificent.

Halloween has long been my favorite holiday. I love the costumes, the jack-o-lanterns, the freedom (once upon my childhood) of traipsing around to strange doors for candy. It is a strange holiday. I wanted to come up with something fun for my Mofo Halloween but was lacking in ideas. I made the oatmeal cream pie cookies from the Sunny Days in Texas zine for my post over at Vegans on the Move. But inspiration was failing me here.

In some odd sequence of events I had posted my vinegar pie recipe around the same time I posted a Klaus Nomi video on my Facebookery page as the soundtrack to some cookie baking. Which led to a discussion with the wonderful Johnp over at I-40 Vegan about Klaus being a pastry chef and making tarts back in the day. And what with my successful vinegar pie, why not attempt to veganize the Klaus Nomi lime tart?

Nomi epitomizes what I love about Halloween, a combination of the strange and beautiful. So I got my lime on and tarted it up.

You will need
1 1/4 c graham crumbs
1/3 c brown sugar
1/4 c melted margarine

Mix all together and press into a 9 inch pie plate or tart pan. I went with only 2 T of sugar so my crust wouldn't be too sweet.

4 eggs (I used a combo of soy yogurt and clear jel)
1 can sweetened condensed milk (I made my own using this recipe.)
1/2 c lime juice
some lime zest

What with all the egg separating and whipping that went on in this recipe, I decided to just hope for an edible tart like pie. I mixed the condensed milk with 1/2 c vanilla soy yogurt, the lime juice and zest. I then used 2T instant clear jel and sprinkled it in and mixed like mad. Clear jel is usually added to sugar or other dry ingredient to keep it form clumping, so I added it slowly over about 20 minutes.
Then I poured into the crust and refrigerated.

The result? Mostly good. My crust was a bit crumbly but the filling maintained its shape for the most part and was quite tasty. But the real beauty was simply in the idea to do something ridiculous.
Happy Halloween and Happy Mofo kids!

Vegan Companies I Like

2011-10-30T09:10:00.003-04:00

My final vegan company I like is not one company but rather a collection of small etsy shops that I am part of. The Vegan Etsy Team is a group of etsy sellers who are both vegan themselves and also maintain all vegan goods in their shops. Sellers range from paper goods from My Zoetrope to Art by Susmitha jewelry to baked goods from Sweet V Confections and plush toys by yours truly at Panda With Cookie. If you search for Veganetsy Team on etsy you'll get an entire list of shops and items that are vegan, made with love just for you.

I Like Cats

2011-10-29T09:34:00.000-04:00

During a recent west coast tour I took a lot of pictures with me with various cats. I just fucking love cats. They are great. So each Saturday I will have a photo of me with a cat. Because I can.
The tiny yet wily Ms. J.

Amazing Savings Find O' the Week

2011-10-28T09:42:00.000-04:00

Lemon infused avocado oil! So fancy I don't know what to do with it, but for $2.99 how I can I not buy it?

Panda With Cookie Cats at The Teal Cat Project

2011-10-27T11:03:00.000-04:00

Panda With Cookie is excited to have paired up with The Teal Cat Project! They have some of my plush cats adorned with a teal bow tie for sale now. I'm using all recycled and upcycled fabric for the cats and the money The Teal Cat Project generates goes to help feral cats. They also have t-shirts right now and will have a new ceramic cat campaign coming soon. Check out the site and the good work they are doing.

Little Panda on the Prairie: Vinegar Pie

2011-10-27T08:41:00.000-04:00

Vinegar Pie! It is mentioned in Farmer Boy and possibly other books. Almanzo digs into slices of apple and vinegar pie. It seems that vinegar was often used in place of citrus, since those fruits weren't readily available in the US until fairly recently. An orange and a penny in the stocking at Christmas were considered mighty special. I liked the sound of this pie, so I chose it as my last challenge to veganize.

Common Family Paste for Pies
You'll need: 1 1/4 c flour
1/2 t salt, scant
1/3 c lard (I used 1/3 c. shortening)
1/2 t butter (I used Earth Balance)
Chill all ingredients and bowl
Mix flour and salt
Spoon shortening into flour and blend with fingers dipped in cold water. Continue to toss as you add 3 T ice water. Press into a ball and chill whilst preparing the filling. Roll out and lay in pie pan.

Vinegar Pie
You'll need 1/4 c butter (I used Earth Balance)
2 eggs (I used a mixture of agar and Instant Clear Jel. This was the tricky thing to sub here.)
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c flour
few grindings of nutmeg
3 T vinegar, cider

-Melt Earth Balance.
-Blend sugars, flour and nutmeg with 4.5 T instant clear jel
-Boil 1 c water with 1/2 t agar
-Stir into the sugar mixture the vinegar, Earth Balance and 1 c water til well mixed. Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake at 400 for 30 minutes.

As you can see, this held its shape nicely when sliced. The flavour is quite strong and unique but I enjoy it. The amount of filling was less than needed for a 9 inch crust, so you could use 8 or maybe even 7 inches here. I like the ratio of crust to filling in the 9 inch pie plate, though. It isn't too thick and keeps the vinegar flavour from being overpowering.

Panda Raps: Brown Food

2011-10-26T09:13:00.003-04:00

Panda raps like Petula Clark, Special Edition.

When you're alone and life is making you lonely
You can always eat - brown food
When you've got worries, all the lentils and the curry
Seems to help, I know - brown food
Just sniff and see the tater tots and biscuits in the gravy
Linger in the kitchen where the hush puppies are pretty
How can you lose?

Tasteless Tablescapes

2011-10-25T09:18:00.004-04:00

Get all Martha Stewart on that new beau you want to impress. It's fall! Love is surely in the air. Break out that LL Bean flannel blanket to show that you are both sturdy and woodsy. Strew some fallen leaves all over the place. Dead vegetation is so sexy.

For a touch of humour make place cards that tell him how you really feel. Everyone likes being called a dodgy wanker on the first date. Trust me.

Brown Food I Eat Monday: Miso Tofu

2011-10-24T09:44:00.000-04:00

Yes, it is time for the final Brown Food I Eat! Look at all that brown. As an added bonus I have some no-bake cookie bars in the lower left hand corner, just to up the brown today. At top is a miso baked tofu that is one of my favorite things for sandwiches. Mix up some miso, nooch, soy sauce, liquid smoke, water and maybe anything else you'd like and bake it for 20-30 minutes at 350. I used Twin Oaks tofu this time around and that shit is good.

Undressed sandwich. Just look at the brown!

Vegan Companies I Like

2011-10-23T10:01:00.004-04:00

Today's vegan company is Herbivore, located in Portland, Oregon. All vegan goods owned and operated by vegans. Check out their newest t-shirt designs! Get yourself a new wallet and replace the one you bought at the mall 10 years ago that is falling apart. They have some with cats on them and you know how I feel about cats.

I Like Cats

2011-10-22T09:45:00.001-04:00

Amazing Savings Find O' the Week

2011-10-21T09:34:00.000-04:00

The fabulous find for this week is mimicreme for 49 cents. That's amazing!

Little Panda on the Prairie

2011-10-20T09:48:00.005-04:00

Ginger water! It may or may not be the most challenging recipe to veganize but I had to make this. Ginger water is mentioned in the beginning of The Long Winter when Carrie brings some down to Laura and Pa while they are cutting hay. The Long Winter was the first Little House book I read when I was in third grade and the concept of this magical water to drink after haying all morning has always stuck in my imagination.

To make your own you'll need
1/2 c brown sugar
1 t powdered ginger
1/2 c cider vinegar
quart water

Dissolve the sugar and ginger in the vinegar and then add one quart of water, preferably cold. Drink before heading out to stack the hay and find an extra large muskrat house.

Panda Raps: Speculoos

2011-10-19T09:23:00.002-04:00

Speculoos!
You might think it gross.
Sweet cookie spread
feed it to my head.
Belgium! Dutch!
Can't get enough.

Tasteless Tablescapes

2011-10-18T09:03:00.002-04:00

Fundraisers abound these days. Everyone is raising money for something, so why should you be left out? Maybe you want to take a trip to DisneyVille to get your photo taken with a big furry, too. Toss your themed bedspread on the table and plop a big ol' donation bucket in the center. Tell people if they will follow you on twitter and like your Facebook page they will be entered into a contest to win a postcard from your final destination.
Cash only.

Brown Food I Eat Monday: Poutine

2011-10-17T09:40:00.000-04:00

Poutine! Oh my is it good. I was rambling on about making it on facebook and the fabulous Johnp at I-40 Kitchen sent me a link to a french frying method using cold oil to start. Since I'm getting all Mofo this month, I thought I would give it a go.

The fries turned out well and the gravy is from Bryanna Clark Grogan's new book World Vegan Feast and is super simple to whip up. She has a poutine curd recipe, but I had some Daiya to use up and went with that instead.
Here's an extra close up of a pile of brown food.

Vegan Companies I Like

2011-10-16T09:30:00.002-04:00

Today's vegan company I like is Treewool, a new vegan knitwear company out of San Francisco, California. She started just this past spring with a small collection and has just recently put up her fall collection for this year. I am a fan of the garland scarf pictured above. Many of her fibers are organic and fair trade and the designs are simple and elegant while still being wearable for the everyday. You can follow the Treewool blog for updates and occasional discount codes. The holidays are coming up and panda needs a new ear warmer.

I Like Cats

2011-10-15T09:20:00.000-04:00

Vegan Mofo Hump Day!

2011-10-14T11:13:00.000-04:00

Vegan Mofo Hump Day Song o' Fun. By the fabulous Leslie Hall.

Amazing Savings Find O' the Week

2011-10-14T09:25:00.000-04:00

This week we have Biscoff Spread for $1.49. Sweet, sweet Speculoos.

Little Panda on the Prairie

2011-10-13T09:35:00.003-04:00

Little House on the Prairie! I loved these books as a kid and I still do. My Thursday theme is veganizing recipes from The Little House Cookbook published in 1979.

Fried cornmeal mush makes an appearance in many of the books and I remember it most from the second book in the series, Little House on the Prairie. According to the cookbook, fried cornmeal mush is "hasty pudding that has been chilled, sliced and fried in fat".

To prepare you will need:
1 t salt
1 c stoneground cornmeal
4 c water.

Bring water to a boil and add salt. Slowly which in the cornmeal while stirring constantly. If you let up on your stir you will end up with lumps. When all has been stirred in, reduce heat and simmer one hour until done, stirring occasionally. This makes the hasty pudding. For friedn cornmeal mush, prepare this at night and pour into a greased loaf pan or mold. In the morning you can slice pieces and heat in drippings until golden brown. I used shortening and a touch of liquid smoke for my drippings.

I didn't have a loaf pan, so mine ended up in a pie plate overnight. The picture is not so exciting, but I tossed a bit of cracked pepper on top and this was quite tasty for a fall morning. If you have some sorghum molasses you are in for a real treat topper.

Now you are ready to hitch up the horses and take the covered wagon back onto the prairie!

Panda Raps: Cats

2011-10-12T09:54:00.002-04:00

Cats! I like cats!
They sit on mats
and chase bats.
Sometimes they wear hats
but will be pissed if you try to put one on their head.
Don't fuck with cats.

Tasteless Tablescapes

2011-10-11T09:11:00.000-04:00

This tablescape can be a bit tricky to pull off, but I bet you can do it. Just make sure that the plate is not filled until after your lucky guest takes the hint and irons your dashiki for the big love in next week.

Brown Food I Eat Monday: Biscuits and Gravy

2011-10-10T09:31:00.000-04:00

Brown food, it is delicious. Picturesque? Perhaps not. Homemade biscuits and gravy from the White Lily flour bag recipe with Bryanna Clark Grogan's gravy from her new book World Vegan Feast. I tossed some sage in the gravy so it was a bit more breakfast biscuit-y.

Vegan Companies I Like

2011-10-09T09:20:00.001-04:00

Today's vegan company I like is Food For Lovers and their delicious queso. I again had the pleasure of meeting Crystal and Chris at the Vida Vegan Con and all attendees were treated to a jar of their queso in the swag bags. You really can't go wrong with a spicy cheesy sauce that you can dip or spread over everything to your little heart's content. Both Chris and Crystal were delightful in person and I will be happy to purchase more of their goods. If you can't find it in your town, you can order from Vegan Essentials, Food Fight or Cosmo's.

Vegan Mofo Vegan Iron Chef Chickpea Challenge

2011-10-08T18:39:00.005-04:00

Katie always does Vegan Iron Chef challenges for Mofo and this year she's posting them at the main Vegan Mofo blog. I've never done one because I am not good at just tossing stuff about and coming up with something edible. But the first challenge ingredient posted was chickpeas and I just happened to have a pound soaking for a cookin' and I had no plans for them.

I am not too up on the hip vegan food trends, so I have never roasted a chickpea before. I decided to dice some onion and toss with the great garbanzos along with some olive oil, corriander, mustard seed, a wee bit of cumin, some pepper, some red pepper flakes and maybe one or two spices I am forgetting. They roasted for a good bit while I prepared cabbage vijita (cabbage sauteed with mustard seed, coriander and pepper) and then I dumped it all in a bowl for dinner.

Quite tasty! Now some of you may not think this is much of a recipe, most likely because it isn't, but I was pleased with the results of something new for me inspired by Vegan Mofo.

I Like Cats

2011-10-08T09:54:00.003-04:00

During a recent west coast tour I took a lot of pictures of me with various cats. I just fucking love cats. They are great. So each Saturday I will have a photo of me with a cat. Because I can.
Tiny Mr. P. looks to the side. What is this?

Amazing Savings Find O' the Week

2011-10-07T09:04:00.002-04:00

Each Friday I will be featuring my amazing find from Amazing Savings in Asheville, NC. This week, Dandies for $1.19.

Little Panda on the Prairie

2011-10-06T09:50:00.000-04:00

Little House on the Prairie! I loved these books as a kid and I still do. My Thursday theme is veganizing recipes from The Little House Cookbook published in 1979.

First up is the rye 'n' injun bread that is mentioned in Farmer Boy and various other books. This is the bread they just toss together and put in the wood stove to cook over night. Ma and Laura were always just tossing stuff into bowls and pans and hours later pulling out some finished product.

To make this you will need:
1 1/2 c cornmeal
1 1/2 c rye flour
2 t baking soda
1 t salt
2 eggs -- I subbed 2 T flax mixed with about 3-4 T water
1 c cultured buttermilk -- I subbed in 1 c soymilk with 1 t apple cider vinegar mixed in.
3/4 c dark molasses

Heat the oven to 200. On the lower rack place a pan full of water. Grease your loaf pan.
Mix together the cornmeal, rye, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl mix together your flax eggs with the milk and molasses. Combine the two and stir until just moistened. Pour into your loaf pan and cover with a baking sheet. Place in the oven above the pan of water and let bake for 12 hours.

The result is a dense dark rye loaf. 12 hours seems like crazy talk, but it turned out quite fine. The top of mine sank in a bit but the bread wasn't a bit dry and I obviously went ahead and dug in before taking the photo for the blog. I am most excited to make this and have hunks of fresh brown bread with a mug of winter tea. And then I will round up my mending and sew up Pa's suspenders.

Panda Raps: Super Chip

2011-10-05T08:34:00.002-04:00

I said, excuse me you're a hell of a chip
I mean my, my, my, my you're like a chocolate trip
I mean, you're so hip and I'm loving your dip
You're like sweeter than the chip with that whey on his lip, oh
Yes I did, yes I did, somebody please tell him who the F I is
I am panda cookie, I mack them chips up, bake shit up, and eat the cookie up

Tasteless Tablescapes

2011-10-04T09:03:00.001-04:00

There's some grout that needs grouting in the bathroom and the trim in the living room needs a paint touch up. What did you think this was, a free dinner or something?

Panda With Cookie Giveaway

2011-10-03T13:29:00.003-04:00

Check out the Vegan Mofo site for a chance to win my tofu pirate set o' adventure. You get the tofu pirate plush and my newest zine, The Tofu Pirate Comic Adventure Zine of Fun. Ends at midnight tonight and is open to international folks as well!

Brown Food I Eat Monday: The Grit in Athens, GA

2011-10-03T09:25:00.003-04:00

Everyone knows that brown food tastes best. And that it doesn't photograph well.
Well friends, I don't take very good food photos anyway, so I am dedicating my MoFo Mondays to brown food I eat with accompanying brown food photos.
Today's brown food is the Golden Bowl from The Grit in Athens, Georgia. It's big pile of sauteed tofu over brown rice with soy sauce and nooch and it is delicious. Side of greens to cut down on the brown a slight bit. Delicious.

Vegan Companies I Like

2011-10-02T13:23:00.000-04:00

My Sunday MoFo posts are simply going to be brief write ups about some vegan compaines I like to support. I have been following Coconut Bliss on twitter for quite a while and was lucky to meet Kylie at the Vida Vegan Con in late August. They do a lot of giveaways and donations to the vegan community and I happen to be a huge fan of some of their new flavours such at the Ginger Cookie Caramel. I really respect that they have stayed independent and haven't sold to a larger parent company. And if you want to send me some pints of the ginger cookie, just send me an email to get my address. I will not mind.

Greetings, Greetings Fellow MoFoers

2011-10-01T09:15:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my MoFo! Panda With Cookie is participating for this our second year. There will be daily themes again this time around; I hope you are prepared for a delightful month. You can look forward to such exciting themes as Little Panda on the Prairie wherein I veganize recipes from the official Little House cookbook. Tasteless Tablescapes makes a comeback and are as tasteless as ever. I will also have some stunning food photos of Brown Foods I Eat.
Please come by each day for the best there is in vegan humour blogging.
I will also be over at Vegans on the Move with Gabrielle dishing up the latest non-celebrity vegan news.
MoFo on!

Marmite

2011-09-18T15:45:00.001-04:00

There comes a fall morning with a slight snap in the air and that is when you know. It is time to bring out the jar of Marmite and have your Marmite peanut butter toast in the morning. Oh yes.

The Tofu Pirate Comic Adventure Zine of Fun

2011-09-13T12:00:00.003-04:00

Panda with Cookie is open again! Our new zine is officially out, The Tofu Pirate Comic Adventure Zine of Fun! Order today and follow tofu pirate and friends through 4 short adventures. $1 from each sale goes to Sunny Day Farm Animal Sanctuary near San Antonio, Texas.

Panda With Cookie Holiday Closure

2011-08-11T09:22:00.000-04:00

Panda With Cookie will be closed for 3 weeks starting Monday August 15. Place orders now if you've been waiting! All tote bags are 35% off and large monsters are $20.

The Inventory Reduction Continues!

2011-07-09T07:45:00.005-04:00

We are still clearing things at over at Panda With Cookie! All paper garlands and mobiles are 50% off and once they are gone there will be no more.

Tote bags are still 25% off and are also being discontinued.

Large monsters are on sale at $20 for the month of July.

Stop by and check it out. Get all your holiday shopping done early and support handmade.

Rocky Road Brownie Sale

2011-07-07T10:51:00.001-04:00

Rocky Road Brownies are on sale right now! Enter coupon code BROWNIEMADNESS at checkout and receive 20% off your order. That means 8 delicious brownies for just 8 dollars. Sign me up!

The Big Crafty in Asheville

2011-07-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Panda With Cookie will be at the Big Crafty in Pack Place in downtown Asheville this Sunday, July 10, from 12-6 pm. Stop by and see me and grab a rocky road brownie. I'll have some special show sales going on as well.

Inventory Reduction Sale

2011-07-06T06:42:00.002-04:00

All month at Panda With Cookie there is a giant clearance sale. Right now all tote bags are 25% off. Stock up on Labor Day gifts for your union buddies. And check back all month for more sales.

Panda With Cookie at Chatty Crafty Saturday and Sunday

2011-06-20T09:44:00.002-04:00

Panda With Cookie will be at the Chatty Crafty fair in Chattanooga, TN, Saturday and Sunday, June 25th and 26th from 10-6 each day. Stop by and see me and my monsters. New toddler t-shirts will be there, too!

Asheville Art in the Park

2011-06-09T09:32:00.002-04:00

Panda With Cookie will be participtaing at Art in the Park this Saturday, June 11, in Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville. Come out for for great local arts and crafts and of course some plush monsters.

Write a Guest Post for The Noochy Noodle

2011-06-08T16:23:00.001-04:00

Just a quick mention to say the vegan mac and cheese blog The Noochy Noodle is seeking submissions for guest posts. Check it out here.

Panda Candy Corn Giveaway

2011-05-22T10:07:00.003-04:00

Panda With Cookie is having a vegan candy corn giveaway! Buy a copy of the Ballin' and Baggin' zine before 9 am EST on Monday, May 23, and you'll be entered to win 20 pieces of hand rolled panda head candy corn. Quite tasty! Open to all international buyers as well.

Ballin' And Baggin'

2011-05-16T09:08:00.007-04:00

Ballin' And Baggin', my first zine, is officially up on my etsy page! 50 Vegan Date Ball and Tea Recipes to Please Your Palate. It is a humour zine, heavy on the humour, light on the recipes. I have the zine shown above and also a premium package which includes an "I Heart Ballz" pin so everyone can know your stance. Fun!
Shown below are the almond, coconut and nooch ballz. Join us over on Facebook for some additional photos and fun!

New Grad Monsters

2011-05-04T11:26:00.002-04:00

Panda With Cookie has new wee graduation monsters in stock! You get to choose the monster color and fabric and a black or white diploma and graduation cap. Monsters are proud of their astrophysics degrees from Monster U.

Order for Mother's Day Today

2011-05-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

What could be better than rocky road brownies or agave spice cookies for your mom on mother's day? All baked goods ship Tuesday and Wednesday so place your order today. Mom will be ever so excited to get some homemade bakery stuffs instead of a card and a plastic sun visor from the $1 bin at Target.

Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa and Panda With Cookie

2011-05-02T08:31:00.002-04:00

I will be selling at the Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa this Saturday, May 7, from 10-7! The market is on the corner of Clayton and Pulaski Streets in Athens, Georgia. Come by and say hello and support independent crafters.

Vegan Rocky Road Brownies On Sale Now

2011-05-01T09:35:00.000-04:00

Panda With Cookie Bakes now has Rocky Road Brownies for sale! Sweet and delicious. Order today and ship some for mother's day. Better than flowers and a card. Chocolate, almond and marshmallow. Delectable!

More Aprons Abound

2011-04-28T08:00:00.001-04:00

Panda With Cookie keeps busy sewing the daleks! New aprons for you.

Dalek Onesies Now In Stock

2011-04-27T07:56:00.003-04:00

Panda With Cookie now has dalek onesies in stock. We are happy to make a different size if what you need is not listed. Just be in touch!

Big Love Fest This Sunday 1-8 pm

2011-04-26T08:52:00.002-04:00

Panda With Cookie will be at the Big Love Fest this Sunday, May 1, from 1-8 pm. Located in Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville, it will celebrate all things local. I will be there with monsters and onesies and aprons, oh my. Stop by and say hello and support some local independent businesses!

New Aprons Abound

2011-04-25T08:13:00.005-04:00

Robot Roll Call! Tom Servo apron on aqua. Message Panda With Cookie to place orders today!

Second Saturday Artist Market in West Asheville April 9th

2011-04-04T10:06:00.003-04:00

Panda With Cookie will be at the Second Saturday Artist Market in West Asheville this Saturday, April 9, from 11-5. Located next to the 444 Gallery and Cafe on Haywood Road, this market kicks of the Second Saturday season. Home Free Bagels will be there as well, so stop by to see me and grab a bagel to support their great new organization.

Panda with Cookie Sale For Japan Earthquake Relief

2011-03-26T10:53:00.004-04:00

Panda with Cookie is donating 50% of all large monster sales to Shelterbox for Japan earthquake relief through the end of March. Please check out their website to see the good work they do.

Cinnamon Rolls

2011-03-25T21:48:00.005-04:00

I have been remiss in my blogging habits as of late. I present 2 cinnamon rolls to make up for my lack of pictures and words. Top is the roll from Vegan Brunch, bottom is a Tangerine Pecan Roll from the Eat Air blog. I am working through my yeasted dough issues and into a whole new world. Sing with panda.

Panda Raps: Dry Muffin

2011-01-29T10:37:00.002-05:00

A breakfast tribute.

Coffee chippin'
tea dippin'
ignorin' the haters
but the two days later
now they're dry
motherfucker why?

Monster Plush Sale

2011-01-14T14:49:00.004-05:00

Panda With Cookie is having a monster sale to kick off the new year! I am overstocked with large monsters so from now until the end of January they are all $5 off. This includes the large wizards and crazy eye monsters. Prices have been changed on my Etsy site already. Buy one for yourself and an extra for a gift!

Mr. Bran Bakes In The Blizzard

2011-01-10T09:36:00.004-05:00

We have about 6-8 inches of snow on the ground now and more coming down. Trapped inside for the day, Mr. Bran has decided to put on the ol' chef hat and whip up some waffles.

Book of choice this morning was Vegan Brunch and waffle o' the day is the ginger with apricot ginger preserves on top.

Venn Diagrams of Great Importance

2011-01-07T11:09:00.002-05:00

on hiatus

2010-12-28T13:28:00.002-05:00

Panda With Cookie is on blog hiatus because of a broken laptop. We hope to return soon.

Snow

2010-12-12T17:17:00.001-05:00

Pumpkin Barley Oat Bars

2010-12-11T09:29:00.004-05:00

Mr. Bran makes his move on my pumpkin barley oat bars from 500 Vegan Recipes by the most fabulous Celine from Have Cake Will Travel and Joni from Just the Food.

I had a cup of pumpkin leftover from baking last week and needed to use it up. I wasn't in the mood for cookies or cupcakes but wanted something for breakfast instead. I flipped through my cookbook indexes on a quest for pumpkin and found these pumpkin barley bars which I think I tested lo these many years ago. I only needed to grab one ingredient from the store and then I could bake and enter a world of pumpkin and chocolate bliss. Until I tried to take a photo for the blog and Mr. Bran jumped on the couch and made his move.

Panda With Cookie at The Hop West

2010-12-11T09:00:00.006-05:00

Panda With Cookie will be selling at The Hop West on Saturday, December 18, from 6:30-7:30 pm. Bring the family in for some of the finest homemade ice cream in town and say hello to the gaggle of monsters I will have at my table. And thanks for supporting your local independent businesses!

Onesie Giveaway at Have Cake Will Travel

2010-12-10T13:35:00.004-05:00

The most fabulous Celine over at Have Cake Will Travel is doing a couple of giveaways right now, one featuring my pirate squid onesie. Leave a comment over there for a chance to win! And be sure to check out her blog and cookbooks, including 500 Vegan Recipes, for some damn fine marmite cookies.

Cheerwine Cookies New at Panda With Cookie Bakes

2010-12-07T10:37:00.004-05:00

Panda With Cookie Bakes introduces new Cheerwine cookies! A soft sugar-y cookie with a buttery frosting and just a hint of Cheerwine flavor. Order today!

Onesie Sale at Panda With Cookie!

2010-12-06T09:25:00.003-05:00

Panda With Cookie is having an end of the year onesie sale! Buy 2 onesies for $25! Choose from what is listed in my shop or contact me for additional sizes! Sale goes through December 31. Because every baby is 23% happier in a Panda With Cookie onesie!

Panda With Cookie Goods Available at The V Spot in Brooklyn

2010-12-04T23:38:00.004-05:00

The Vegan Etsy Team has a small holiday market going at The V Spot in Brooklyn, New York. Panda With Cookie has tofu pirate plush and tote bags as well as some wee monster ornaments. Stop by and check it out! Support vegan crafters!

Panda Raps: Clyde Tombaugh

2010-12-03T13:57:00.001-05:00

yes yes y'all
it's Clyde Tombaugh
finding planets
2839 Annette
gonna go
to Pluto
New Horizons flyby
in the fuckin' night sky

Craft Fair at Rugby Middle School Saturday, December 4

2010-12-02T19:31:00.003-05:00

Panda With Cookie is pleased to be at the craft fair sponsored by Rugby Middle School this Saturday, December 4, from 9-3. Check the link for directions and come out and support your local crafters!

Mr. Bran Rides Again

2010-12-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

I am sure Mr. Bran is quite pleased to have garnered so many comments yesterday. He is taking a wee nap this week but I am sure he will don his wee hat again soon and whip up some more tasty breakfast to share with you.

This Is the End Beautiful Friend

2010-11-30T07:00:00.005-05:00

Gentle reader! We have come to the end of Vegan MoFo! Thank you to all my fabulous fans who have laughed and cried along with me this month. I do it all for you.
Is there a theme you particularly enjoyed and would like to see more of? Let me know in the comments. I'd like my blog to stay more active and will try to incorporate some features if people enjoy them.
Onward!

Panda With Cookie Bakes Delivers Cookies to You!

2010-11-29T09:30:00.005-05:00

If you're tired of sending out chain store gift cards, this holiday send fresh baked vegan cookies to grandma instead! Panda With Cookie Bakes is happy to take special orders or choose from the delightful cookies in shop. Grandma will be delighted.

Wizard Monsters Now at Panda With Cookie

2010-11-29T08:48:00.003-05:00

Wizard monsters are now available at Panda With Cookie! In all three sizes, they are prepared to charm your heart and battle the evil Lord Cookiesnatcher for the oatmeal scotchies.

Mofo Monday: Food I Eat

2010-11-29T07:00:00.002-05:00

Vegan ice cream from The Hop ice creamery in Asheville, North Carolina. They always have a few vegan varieties and are always pleasant.
Carol presents the chocolate mint soymilk cake cone.

Vegan Product Sunday:DRSimpson Gallery

2010-11-28T07:00:00.002-05:00

I thought I would take my mofo Sundays to post about some small businesses that are both vegan and run by vegans. Panda With Cookie is never paid for endorsements because we like to keep it classy. Please support small independent businesses!

Today's featured shop is DRSimpson Gallery which specializes in photo greeting cards. And what is better than a penguin with a plate of cookies?

There are multiple packs to choose from in her online shop, all starting at $18. Or you can opt for the surprise pack and let Dawn choose a set of 8 for you. These cards will be perfect for your weekly writings to me about your sojourn in Spain.

Cookbook Favorites: Snobby Joes from Veganomicon

2010-11-27T07:00:00.004-05:00

My favorite sloppy joe recipe because I love lentils and they love me. From Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero.
1 cup uncooked lentils
4 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced small
1 green pepper, diced small (optional)
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tablespoons chili powder- I use less
1 1/2 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon salt
8 oz can tomato sauce
1/4 cup tomato paste
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1-2 tablespoons yellow mustard

-Put the lentils in a small sauce pot and pour in 4 cups water. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, until lentils are soft. Drain and set aside.

-About 10 minutes before the lentils are done boiling, preheat a medium soup pot over medium heat. Saute the onion and pepper in the oil for about 7 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and saute a minute more.

-Add the cooked lentils, the chili powder, oregano and salt and mix. Add the tomato sauce and tomato paste. Cook for about 10 minutes. Add the maple syrup and mustard and heat through.

-Turn the heat off and let sit for about 10 minutes, so that the flavors can meld, or go ahead and eat immediately if you can’t wait.

Tasteless Tablescapes

2010-11-26T07:00:00.002-05:00

After a whole month of blogging, one might be feeling a wee bit isolated and lonely. Perhaps the pool boy decided to run off and leave for a winter in New Zealand with a cactus plant. Whatever your situation, now is the time to get back in the dating game! Toss off that old blue tablecloth you were using and slap on grandma's afghan. It shows that you have nesting potential. Add a centerpiece of a can of WD-40, a bag of flour and a stuffed bear wearing a sash that says Miss America 1975 and you will be the talk of the town!

What could be a better conversation piece for impressing a potential ladyfriend? I have no clue.

Sharp eyed viewers will note Mr. Bran looking out the window in the background. Perhaps a wistful expression as he waits for someone to save him from mother's decor.

The Brownest Thanksgiving Ever or Uncle Epidiah's Old Fashioned Stuffins

2010-11-25T12:12:00.011-05:00

I generally celebrate Thanksgiving by myself and this year I wanted a plate of brown carbs. Success! Mac and cheese with Uncle Epidiah's Old Fashioned Stuffins. Stuffing stuffed with the punk rock chickpea gravy from Vegan with a Vengeance and baked in muffin tins.

The Stuffin.
The Stuffin opened. I wanted a thicker gravy so it wouldn't run all over the place. Frankly, it's a bit hard to see in the pile of brown that is my plate, but it is there and is most delightful.

Mr. Bran Bakes with Bisquick: Waffles

2010-11-25T07:00:00.002-05:00

This is our final week with breakfast from Mr. Bran! This week he wanted to go with something classic and simple. Waffles:

2 c Bisquick
1 1/3 c soymilk
2 T oil
1/4 c. soy yogurt

Mix all together and cook in a waffle maker. Couldn't be easier.

The verdict: pretty dang good. Again, I served with apricot ginger preserves which I think improves the taste of most things.

Panda Raps: Kale

2010-11-24T07:00:00.003-05:00

Kale!
Never fail
Greens!
Go with beans
Bake that shit with nooch
Kale chippin' foolproof.
Aw yeah.

Panda With Cookie at Viking Hall in Bristol, TN This Weekend!

2010-11-23T14:39:00.004-05:00

Panda With Cookie will be participating in the 28th Annual Country Christmas Show at Viking Hall in Bristol, TN this weekend! Hours are Friday 9-6, Saturday 9-6 and Sunday 12-5. Please stop by and support the small craft business!

Amazing Savings Find O' The Week

2010-11-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Vital Wheat Gluten; $2.99

Mofo Monday: Food I Eat

2010-11-22T07:00:00.002-05:00

Another old favorite is the chickpea spinach curry from Vegan With a Vengeance. This bowl is looking a bit ghostly but that's because I was in a hurry to take the picture so I could eat. Thus there is still steam streaming off the curry. Always a good choice.

Vegan Product Sunday: Soapwalla Kitchen

2010-11-21T07:00:00.002-05:00

I thought I would take my mofo Sundays to post about some small businesses that are both vegan and run by vegans. Panda With Cookie is never paid for endorsements because we like to keep it classy.

Today's featured shop is Soapwalla Kitchen, which specializes in vegan and natural bath and beauty products. I am currently using the cardamom and ginger bar soap shown here, but all her scents are fabulous.

I am also hooked on Soapwalla's natural deodorant cream. I've been using it for roughly a year and love it. And I know some of y'all have been looking for the panda seal of approval before buying deodorant. This is your time!

Cookbook Favorites: Chicken Noodle Soup from 500 Vegan Recipes

2010-11-20T07:00:00.002-05:00

I make this often every winter. I was lucky to test for 500 Vegan Recipes by Celine Steen and Joni Marie Newman and this soup is probably my favorite from the book. So easy, so delicious.

4 c chicken flavored broth
1 c fresh or frozen peas
1 c fresh or frozen corn
6 ounces tofu cut into 1/8 inch cubes
6 ounces noodles, your choice (I use rotini)

-Bring broth to a boil in a large pot
-Add peas, corn and tofu and return to boil
-Add the noodles and simmer 7-10 minutes or until pasta is done.

I often add other vegetables to this, such as carrots.

With many thanks to Joni and Celine for permission to reprint their recipe. Support your vegan cookbook authors!

Tasteless Tablescapes

2010-11-19T07:00:00.003-05:00

Invite your friends over for a house party. They are all the rage these days! Have a good spread of your crafty products spread out on the table with prices clearly marked (just in case anyone thinks you're giving out very generous party favors). Make sure there is no food or drink anywhere in the vicinity as you do not want to get a stain on your tote bags!

Mr. Bran Bakes with Bisquick: Breakfast Pinwheels

2010-11-18T07:00:00.001-05:00

Mr. Bran, top chef, has decided to help me out for Vegan Mofo by offering up some of his favorite recipes! Now, as we know thanks to Calpernia Addams, there is no shame in Bisquick. So each Thursday Mr. Bran will don his wee chef hat and mix up some Bisquick breakfast in the kitchen while I laze about on my chaise. This morning I will be huddled under blankets in bed while the pool boy makes tea. Mr. Bran emphatically does not do tea.

Today's recipe is for almond pinwheels:
2 1/4 c Bisquick
1/2 c soymilk
1 T Earth Balance softened
1/4 c sugar
1 t cinnamon
1/2 c almonds
1 T EB melted

-Mix the Bisquick and soymilk to form a soft dough. Knead a few times on a surface lightly dusted with flour or more Bisquick.
-Press or roll the dough out into an 8X11 rectangle.
-Spread the softened EB onto the dough. Mix the sugar, cinnamon and almonds together and then sprinkle on top of the EB.
-Roll up the dough on the 11 inch side to for a log. Slice into about 9-11 pieces and place on a baking sheet. Brush slices with melted EB
-Bake at 4oo degrees for about 8-10 minutes. Eat.

Mr. Bran exhausted after so much kitchen work.

The Verdict: These are pretty good. Bisquick makes really light baked goods so they are very airy.

Panda Raps: Tot's Delight

2010-11-17T07:00:00.003-05:00

now what you hear is not a test--i'm tottin' to the beat
and me, the groove, and my friends are gonna try to find tots to eat
see i am panda c. and i like to say hello
to the black, to the white, the red, and the brown, the purple and yellow
but first i gotta eat eat the taters to the boogie
say up jump the taters to the tot tot boogie
let's tot, you dont stop
tot's the riddle that will make your body rock

Dedicated to the machoest of pineapples and his ruthless pursuit of the sweet potato tot.

New Personalized Monster Ornaments

2010-11-16T09:31:00.006-05:00

Panda With Cookie is making personalized monster ornaments for you this holiday season! You get to choose the color and fabric of the monster and the color of the letter. Visit my etsy shop for details!