My cousin inspired me to become a vegetarian, enter a monastery, live a life aware of beauty and fall in love with The Doors. She was my idol. My mentor. My cool cousin. My envy. I would follow her anywhere.
Neither of us became nuns. I am a pescetarian, she is a vegan, we both seek beauty in our daily lives and well Jim Morrison is buried in Paris.
Aunt Mary is my cousin's Shelley's mother. Aunt Mary is my mother's older sister.
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2/3 cup vegan sugar
- 3 and 1/2 tablespoons vegan butter
- 3 tablespoons Tofutti sour cream
- 2 tablespoons almond paste (I use more0
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 Ener-G egg ( PLUS ONE TABLESPOON OF APPLESAUCE)
- 1/3 cup plain non-dairy milk
- Cooking spray
- 2 tablespoons toasted and chopped almonds
- 1 teaspoon vegan powdered sugar
1. Lightly spoon the flour into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife. Combine the flour in a bowl with the baking powder, salt, and cloves. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 2/3 cup sugar with the butter, sour cream, almond paste, almond extract, and Ener-G egg. Beat at medium speed until blended.
2. Add the flour mixture and the milk alternately to the sugar mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Spoon the batter into a 9-inch round cake pan coated with cooking spray.
(Note: because of the almond paste the batter will be a bit sticky – use a rubber spatula to spread to the edges of the pan if needed).
3. In a small bowl, combine the almonds and 2 tablespoons sugar; sprinkle evenly over the batter. ( I do this after the cake has cooled. Almonds first then powdered sugar )
Isn't this a neat looking tea cozy that my cousin has?
My mom took this photo of my cousin and I.
Oh it is days like this that I wish we lived closer. I wish I could blink my eyes and bi locate wherever i wanted when I wanted. The hours felt like minutes at Shelley's. I think I might come back and help her write her cookbook (as the taster and dishwasher!):
The Elegant Vegan
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