Chicago: More Bars in More Places

That's weird about the western thing, because bear claws were the standard "coffee cake" at my Swedish church. Not, like, that cinnamon cake stuff that you can buy a box mix version of.

You know what I almost bought at Harvestime the other day was one of these:

http://www.neweuropemarketplace.com/NEMImages/HomePage/Jans-Poppy-Seed-Roll.gif

Except it had gross-looking icing on top.

Speaking of baked goods, what would you be more likely to buy at a bake sale?

1. Vegan cookies w/ chocolate chips, nuts, oatmeal
2. Extra-spicy ginger molasses cookies
3. An entire pie (of the apple or pumpkin variety)
4. Individualized servings of apple crisp
5. Baby-sized pies of possibly varied contents (apple, cherry, etc.)

Me? The cookies, both varieties.

1. Vegan cookies w/ chocolate chips, nuts, oatmeal- Hell fucking no.
2. Extra-spicy ginger molasses cookies - Probably.
3. An entire pie (of the apple or pumpkin variety) - No.
4. Individualized servings of apple crisp - Yay.
5. Baby-sized pies of possibly varied contents (apple, cherry, etc.) - OH MY YES!!!!

Would you be more likely to buy a plate of cookies or a package of two or three?

Also: the vegan cookies are so awesome that you wouldn't know that they were vegan unless you were told. John's had them before, I think. He can attest to their excellence!

Yes, I saw the Simpsons Movie, and it made me laugh more than any film since perhaps... Kung Fu Hustle?

How many on a plate?

Ginger molasses: yes yes!

Pies and choco chip cookies: no, because I make those and only really like my own.

Everything else: meh.

here is an example of the size of the little pies on an average-size dinner plate:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/137/360520804_f27b3c9822_m.jpg

also, I don't know how many to a plate? Perhaps a dozen seems like a good number?

1. Yes, I know bear claws. Also elephant ears.
2. Kelsey, I would buy the tiny pies and 2-3 cookies. Non-vegan cookies (or else they would have to be the best vegan cookies ever).

I would buy a dozen cookies. I know I would want more than 2-3.

SO cute! I would buy these pies.

THEY ARE THE BEST VEGAN COOKIES EVER!

I think the pies might do well as a novelty item if nothing else. Question about the pies: How many to sell at once? A pack of two? Only one? A set of four?

I believe you about the vegan cookies Kelsey. I guess. But I don't believe that they couldn't be made better with the addition of real live butter.

I bought a cookie at the Landmark theatre--it looked amazing, all soft and big. But then I bit into it and it was vile. Then I read the package closer and saw that it was vegan. Turns out that all the cookies they sell are vegan. WTF. Way to go, do-gooder Landmark assholes.

Jesse, I'm finding recipes for bear claws made with danish dough and dates and raisins and stuff -- I think the dried fruit thing is part of the same tradition as the ones I'm thinking of, since it can be stored over the long winter when you can't get anything fresh.

This is, if it wasn't obvious, for a bake sale at work. I've been dying to bake as I never can justify making stuff for just Leaf & I seeing as how we will eat all of it. I might be tempted to make more than one thing just so we can have some leftovers!

John, you have tried my vegan cookies, right?

I HAD AN ELEPHANT EAR LAST WEEKEND OMG. I love those things, the East Coast forms of fried dough do not impress.

Why bother making a vegan cookie? I guess for a bake sale it would be good to get the vegan buck. But why create such a thing at home?

I think I've had them. I remember them being quite delicious.

I would sell everything individually, with the exception of a special dozen cookies price.

Is this a bake sale where people will be likely eating their purchases on site? This is key.

The tiny pies are great, because I'm not tryin' to eat a whole pie by myself.

Yeah, I agree with Sarah. Or, you know, you could sell the cookie batches 6 to a package, cos just based on expectations you can charge more per cookie that way. You know? Because at the same unit price, a dozen starts to look kind of expensive, whereas half doz isn't so guilt-inducing.

I was vegan for almost a year which is why I was experimenting with recipes. They're so good I keep making them. Other than that, I suppose if you consider fake butter to be healthier than real stuff and are offended by eggs, then maybe you can say that they're healthier? They are cholesterol free but they still have fat in them.

Kesley, I believe your cookies are delicious, but I have been burned by vegan cookies in the past.

Er. Does...anyone consider fake butter to be healthier? I thought there was a big scandal in which margarine was shown to have serious QA problems (made in aluminum vats, etc) and unforseen health effects?

I'm also probably not in charge of pricing.

Also, all this anti-vegan cookie sentiment makes me want to mail people care packages!

In that case, I don't believe vegan cookies could possibly be any good!

;-)

ha! i always have these fantasies about sending people little care packages that never come into fruition. i should start a movement to revive the care package in the lives of adults.

I always want to send care packages to my sister in Paris, but it's SO FREAKIN' EXPENSIVE to mail anything over there. Also, a lot of packages get detained or lost. The most reliable method has been sending her stuff via priority mail, but it's $28 for the smallest size package.

damn that is expensive!

Also, all this anti-vegan cookie sentiment makes me want to mail people care packages!

Yeah, I think your cookies suck, you better PROVE ME WRONG!

I grew up on margarine and still eat it. :(

sending people care packages would give me the incentive to bake the cookies AND not eat all of them...

We use regular butter at home for baking and country crock margarine for spreading.

I made a double recp of chocolate chip cookies on Tuesday and I'm still baking them off one dozen at a time and giving them away to people. Man, cookie dough freezes so well, and then I just slice some off and chuck it in the oven. A little extra dark brown sug, only about 2/3 of the white sug that's called for, half again more vanilla, and an extra pinch of salt. OM NOM NOM

hmmm. maybe i'll send some care packages in the near future. i need to make my dad's birthday present first & then I think i'll obsess over baking. oh! and cheese making! i'm getting my cheese making books from the library today or tomorrow!

we use butter & earth balance, for what it's worth.

I'm not intersted in non-dairy spreads. Full stop.

xp CHEESE MAKING???

yes! apparently it's very easy!

i'm seriously turning into some freak homesteader. i made more clothes for myself over the weekend & now i want to make cheese.

Molly Mum is doing the same, she went from sewing to knitting to SPINNING and now she is buying a SPINNING WHEEL and going to Dye Day at local sheep farms!

a friend of mine is getting into that as well!

I feel like my parents were pretty thrifty at my age: like my mom made clothes for us, and my dad made his own pasta, and they ate fried liver because it was cheap. And I realized not too long ago that I'm probably never going to have this lifestyle -- because I live in a city? because I didn't go to grad school like they did? because (I fear) I feel too entitled? -- and sometimes I feel vaguely guilty about it.

I wish to learn to use my sewing machine. Jenny will make that wish come true. After she gets her bar results.

WHERE THE FUCK ARE JENNY'S BAR RESULTS GODDAMMIT

one of the best brownies i have ever had was a vegan brownie

http://www.townofshermanct.org/gallery/photos/05mem014.jpg

(sorry)