I made a batch of breakfast cookies last night but I changed the recipe again. I feel like this won’t be a permanent change because last night’s version, while still gluten free, was not vegan. I used butter and eggs in it, and toyed with the dry ingredients. I just wanted to see how it would taste if I made a more mainstream version. Not going to lie, butter does make everything taste better, but ultimately I prefer my vegan version.
I skipped on the dates in the batter and added cranberries instead. I crushed a bag of pecans with “that much” left in them and added that. Also very tasty. By accident, I threw my sea salt into the batter and was folding it in before I realized what I was doing. Usually I sprinkle it on before baking and press it down a little bit.
However, little bits of crunchy salt here and there, tucked into layers of oats and nestled against chunks of dark chocolate, made my heart sing. I’m definitely doing that again.
I have been looking at everyone’s blogs and it’s making me wish that I had a nifty little art journal to play with. After the last few years of animals and landscapes, I want to make art that doesn’t take 20-30-40 hours to create. I need to loosen things up. I haven’t mentioned that out loud or searched it online but Facebook has apparently been reading my mind. Today an article about loosening up with coloured pencils appeared in my feed.
It’s funny but with coloured pencils I’m very tight and controlled. Put an oil pastel in my hand and that all changes. No line drawings, no careful transferring of images so as not to corrupt the fancy paper. Nope. Just scribble and smile. I love The Frugal Crafter, and after watching her do a review of Mungyo water soluble oil pastels, I ordered them. I had filmed an unboxing for my IG art account but scrapped it because I didn’t realize until 2/3 of the way into things, that I’d turned my work diagonally and the top and bottom sections were cut off. I’m surprised I didn’t turn it all the way upside down, because that’s usually how I write and draw.
I think “water soluble oil pastel” is a contradiction in terms. Making this swatch was fun. They don’t lay down like oil pastels. They’re about as soft as Sennelier, but because their structure is different than a traditional oil pastel, they deposit more pigment in one swipe than a really soft traditional oil pastel. The colours stay vibrant when they’re dissolved in water. They don’t dry like watercolour, though. You can still feel that “never quite cured” oil pastel feeling. I haven’t sprayed fixative in between layers so I’ll have to try that. I’m not sure how I’m going to use them but I’m thinking of using them as really vibrant base layers because I can use the water to push them right into the tooth of the paper. I am excited by gourmet crayons!!
It’s grey and yukky out today, in fact is has been most of the last two weeks, but April showers bring May flowers. Some April sunshine and heat would be nice, though.
I’m waiting for a numerology book to arrive today or tomorrow and I’m excited about it. “Numerology and Your Future” was published in the late 70s/early 80s by Dusty Bunker. She made a lot of predictions about the 80s, 90s, and beyond. She wasn’t wrong. She did a Tarot procession of the US presidents. I’m interested to see how this version has been updated.
Also, I think I may need this notebook in my life:
Well, my coffee cup is nearly empty, so it’s time to shake the lard off my arse and do the things.
Oh those colors look scrumptious! I might have to check those out.
I am very rigid when I work with colored pencils. Hand cramps and everything. I don’t know why I do that either.
Your cookies sound delicious. I wish all the yummy things didn’t have nuts or oats or coconut or soy. Darn it.
Love the title of that notebook!! I need that lol
They don’t have to have those things. I add nuts as an afterthought because I want to use them up and the tahini can be swapped out for flax meal + hot water.
I just realized you can’t have oats, either. Can you have another grain?
I’m alright I think with wheat, at least so far. I’m not sure on flax, but I have had flax oil without issue.
Oh my! I just looked up the pastels. That’s a really great price for them. And then I saw they have a Pearl set. UHOH! I think I just might have to get those. LOL They look similar to my Portfolio set, which are very creamy and smooth.
The Oil pastels look brilliant but I could just eat one of those cookies…
That notebook! And ooh, I haven’t heard about that brand of oil pastels. Also, loving your color swatch. There’s something so simply lovely about a color swatch page.
I love swatch pages. I have no idea why.
Mungyo is a great brand. They’re made in Korea and have been around about 70 years or so. I love their dry pastels and oil pastels.
Oh you’ve reminded me how much I like the frugal crafter, I’ve not watched a video for ages. I can’t get into oil pastels at all, maybe I need to try again. I do love doing a Swatch.
That notebook, oh how I wish I’d had that before I started taking the citralopram, could have filled it in an hour!!
Oh and please can I have your vegan cookie recipe .. I’m allergic to egg so anything I can find is always good to try.
It’s right here
https://maritimemysticskitchen.com/2021/04/07/cookies-for-breakfast/
Also, in baking, mix a tbsp of flax meal with 2 tbsp of hot water. Let it sit a few minutes and add more water if needed. This makes the equivalent of one egg.
oh thank you! I usually use gram flour as the egg, Ill see if I have any flax.
Wow the colours look very vibrant! Have they increased their range at all or do they still just have 24? I am a bit attached to my neocolour IIs.
I’m also a vegan baker, your cookies look delish!
Elle xx
I think they just have the 24. I love Caran D’Ache and Neocolour IIs are on the wish list 💗
The downside to Mungyo is that there is no info on lightfastness and I mean, given the price, I’ll say that they’re not. Neocolours are top rate. I have the oil pastels and I love them.
ah thanks! Yeah I <3 my neocolours, use them all the time. I buy single colours though, not full sets, so I just get the colours I like. Elle xx
I wish I had a set. I get the colours as I need them but one day….😁
I love that notebook and need one! I want to try those cookies. I’m not vegan, but eat anything that seems yummy, and those do! Plus maybe if I had breakfast cookies available, I’d actually eat breakfast?
And that’s why I made them, I can take them in my purse and eat when the urge strikes. I don’t do breakfast beyond coffee.
Breakfast coooookies. This is a genius idea.
I love those water-soluble crayons so much.
I adore these! They’re so much fun to use 😍
Firstly, I love cranberries! Especially in biscuits 🙂
Also those watersoluble oil pastels look delicious!
They’re all wonderful, the cookies and the pastels!!
That notebook is hilarious
Love that notebook 🙂 I make breakfast cookies sometimes – not vegan but grain free 🙂
If ever you’d like to share your recipe, I’m right here 😁