Fudge Popsicle's...did I mention they are vegan?

Hello lovely people.

To start things off today i will share one thing. I am not a vegan ( I know shocking), I am not even a vegetarian (say whaaaaa?). I think they are both great, just I really really really love chicken, fried chicken to be exact. If I had a last meal it would consist of Fried Chicken, Broccoli covered in a delicious cheese sauce, and the creamiest most amazing mashed potatoes ever known to man. I am a southern girl deep, deep down in my heart. Although my father my slightly cringe at that thought, being a strictly Brooklyn man to his very core. He managed to raise a southern girl in Florida, funny how life works now isn't it. Got a bit off topic there, where was I going with this. Ah...yes. I think being the omnivore that I am, vegan dishes can be pretty tasty too some times. Not just tasty, but healthy, and raising a little one, healthy is always a goal I have in mind.

In enters Vegan Fudge Pops. I honestly did not set out to make these vegan, just healthy, well as healthy as fudge can be. I bought these ice pop molds two years ago with grand plans. I was going to make amazing ice pops that were healthy and ten times better than anything store bought, plus I'd save money making them myself. Needless to say first couple times were complete failure. They were way to watery and more like ice than delicious fruity goodness. I haven't touched them since. I guess a part of me felt scorned by my own grand ideas.A week ago I saw a pin on pintrest for homemade fudge pops and some voice in my head said, "Hey, I can do that", here we are.

Vegan Fudge Pops

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Almond Milk
1/3 cup coconut sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 tablespoon AP flour
1/2 teaspoons vanilla
a drizzle of honey (really to sweeten to your likeness)

In a medium saucepan add almond milk, coconut sugar, cocoa and flour. Wisk to combine. Let come to a simmer then wisk in vanilla and honey. Let come to a boil and take off heat. Pour into molds and freeze. Enjoy it's chocolaty goodness.

See how easy is that? Trust me, they are yummy yummy. I can't wait to get my little ones seal of approval. I hope everyone enjoys.

These ingredients turn into

Fudge Pops, yum.

And then one of my little man, for good measure.

Happy Days All.

*A side note, I am not sure if vegan's eat honey or not. But if not, if no honey is truly vegan, you can always cut out the honey and add a teaspoon or so more sugar. It's up to you.

Cheese Cracker Love

Hello Blog Universe. This is my first entry in hopefully more to come. First a bit about myself....

My name is Nikki and I would describe myself as a geeky food loving mom. Yeah I think that encompasses my loves pretty well. I am starting a blog in part because of laziness and ease. Today I made these amazing cheese crackers (like goldfish but without all those words you can't pronounce and the shape of, well, goldfish). So after posting to my facebook page that I was making said crackers, someone asked if I would share some pictures. So I starting snapping some photos while making them and the finished product. After posting said photos (which I guess I should post here) another person asked for the recipe. I thought to myself, it would be so much easier to have posted all this in a blog instead of posting bits to facebook. Plus I hate gumming up peoples news feeds with multiple post from yours truly. So, I am here to share my recipe. First I will post a link to the original recipe for which I found the inspiration to make these in the first place. 

SmittenKitchen- this lovely page is where you will find the original recipe in all its glory ( and I promise that is not sarcastic)

Now with that bit done here is the recipe I used to make these yummy morsels. Oh and if anyone has an idea of what to call these other than cheese crackers, please weigh in. I asked my son (wise as he is) and he told me little dumahs (we are still unsure what that means, we think it's the gumbas in mario, we are a geeky family). I was thinking a one word that has to do with being a circle, I will figure something out.

Ingredients
1/12 cups grated cheese (I used cheddar in one batch and provolone in another, use what you like)
4 tablespoons butter (unsalted)
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup flax seed
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Fair warning you do need a food processor to make these.

1. Combine Ingredients in food processor. Buzz it around until it forms a ball. Around 2 minutes. I found that you might need to get a spatula out, stop it, and push the mixture down a bit so it doesn't sit all on the top. Also it might look dry, that is ok. It will combine perfectly just believe!
2. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes. You can work with the dough so much easier this way.
3.Preheat oven to 350F
4. Lightly flour a clean surface and your rolling pin.
5. Roll dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. Now honestly, I never measure my dough. Maybe I should, but whats the adventure in that..am I right? Just roll out your desired thickness. (cooking times will vary the thinner or thicker you go)
6. Cut dough with cookie cutter of choice. Make sure it is small, we are making little crackers. Although if you would rather have a bigger cracker I am sure it would work out (cooking times will vary with larger cuts). I used the round piece that comes with a biscuit cuter, it worked out well for me.
7. Bake crackers on middle rack for 12-15 minutes or until edges are brown. I found with my oven 12 minuets was perfect. Of course ovens vary as well.
8. Remove from oven and cool on oven racks.
9. Enjoy the deliciousness found in homemade "goldfish" crackers.


So there you have it folks. Pretty easy right? I am not sure how long they keep, but I will update and let you know. Of course they may not last long here. My husband and son will mostly like gobble them all up over the weekend. Have fun with them! Let me know how they come out, how you customize yours.