Veganize It: Coffee Cake!

On Christmas eve, my mom was saying how much she would like a coffee cake for Christmas morning, along with our traditional Strata (which we also successfully veganized this year!  Future post!).  Thanks to Pinterest, I was able to find an easy peasey recipe within minutes.  I chose this one because it looked similar to one of my all-time faves when I was little – Entenmann’s Crumb Coffee Cake.  This recipe comes from Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s Vegan Brunch (totally getting that book ASAP!  You should, too!).  In the two more “complicated” baking attempts I’ve made recently (I say “complicated” because the other recipe just consisted of mixing a can of pumpkin and Duncan Hines yellow cake mix to make easy pumpkin muffins), both recipes came from her!  I made some of my own little “tweaks” on this recipe, but overall, man, is it good.  Just like when I was little.

Vegan Coffee Cake
Recipe Courtesy of Vegan Brunch

Ingredients

(Topping)
1 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup canola oil, plus up to 2 tbs more, if needed

(Cake)
3/4 cup non-dairy milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Jersey City Vegan’s Addition for the topping – Vegan Powdered Sugar

Directions

• Pre-heat oven to 375°F and lightly grease an 8 in. round springform pan or 8 in. square pan.  In a small bowl, add milk for the cake and the vinegar; set aside to curdle
• For the topping, mix together flour, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small mixing bowl.  Drizzle in canola oil by the tablespoon, using your fingers to swish around the mixture until crumbs form.  Alternate drizzling and mixing until all the oil is used and large crumbs have formed.
• For the cake, mix together the milk mixture, sugar, canola oil and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.  Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt and mix until smooth.
• Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan.  Evenly sprinkle on the topping and pat it down lightly.
• Bake for 35 to 40 min. or until a knife inserted through the center comes out clean.
• Let cool for at least an hour (or as long as you can stand) before slicing and serving.
• JCV addition – Scoop a 1/2 cup of vegan powdered sugar into a sifter, and sprinkle (GENEROUSLY if you’re like me and loved that Entenmann’s cake) on top.

I have made this recipe AGAIN since Christmas (twice in the same week, WHAT?!) except I made them in cupcake form to bring into the office.  Adjust the baking time to 20 minutes, but check them once 15 mins rolls around… my oven is kind of wonky so someone who might have a better oven might have the cupcakes cook faster.  Now, if only I had actually remembered to bring the cupcakes in to work!  I ended up leaving them in their bag on the kitchen counter, only realizing it when I was about to get on the train into Manhattan.  Doh.  More for Melissa & I!  And it’s official:  I love to bake!

Look, Mom! I can bake!

Vegan Like Me No. 19

Vegan Like Me aims to profile fellow vegans, from all walks of life from everywhere in the world! We’ve all been beginners and I think its important for folks to hear people’s stories in order to motivate themselves to keep going. This feature is intended to do just that. If you are vegan and would like to participate, get in touch with me and I’ll be sure to send our questionnaire along to you.

Name:  Greg Sher

Greg’s Personal Training company, I Kill Fat.

Where do you live?  NYC

How long have you been vegan?  “2 years”

What inspired you to take on a plant-based (vegan/vegetarian) diet?  “My first introduction to veganism was through music.  I remember as a teenager being very intrigued while looking through CD booklets of bands like Earth Crisis and Propagandhi.  I couldn’t believe that the toughest and craziest bands I listened to at the time were so passionate about a cruelty free lifestyle.

I became a personal trainer many years later, and after doing my own research on how a plant-based diet would help aid in weight loss, lower cholesterol levels, and benefit the human body more than anything I had to give it a try.  I remember shortly after going vegan my body fat percentage dropped drastically, and I had more energy and focus than I ever had before.  Plus, when I met my girlfriend (now wife) she was vegetarian (now vegan) and showed me around to the best vegan spots in Manhattan!

Two years after adopting a plant-based lifestyle I can honestly say I’m in the best shape of my life!”

What do you love most about being vegan?  “The food and staying fit!

My wife and I love going out to Candle 79 and Blossom for date nights.  The vibe of a vegan restaurant is usually very laid back and extremely friendly.

As far as physical fitness goes, I love knowing that because the food I eat is so clean, my workouts are efficient and I will maintain my energy levels throughout the day.”

What three items do you always have in your pantry?  “1. Oatmeal – Oatmeal with hemp protein is what I crave every morning. Which leads me to number 2…

2. Hemp protein – Rich in fiber and protein! I mix it in my oatmeal which keeps me full for the first few sessions/classes of my day.

3. KIND Healthy Grains – I am obsessed with the peanut butter flavor! Only 5 grams of sugar per serving!”

What is your favorite vegan comfort food?  “Let’s just say I can do some serious damage at Lula’s Sweet Apothecary on 6th street in between avenues A and B.”

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about taking on a plant-based (vegan) diet?  “If you want to feel super healthy, in the shortest and most efficient amount of time, I would have to suggest a plant-based diet.  It worked for me, it worked for my wife, and my clients who give it a try are crazy about the results they get.”

Do you find anything difficult about being vegan?  “After spending countless hours reading up on what’s needed to live a healthy life on a plant-based diet, and talking to other plant-based athletes, I can honestly say I’ve had no problems.  My dad, who’s a doctor urged me to get blood work done to see if I was deficient in any vitamins or minerals back when I told him I was going vegan.  All the blood work came back completely normal.  Healthy as an ox!”

Any other comments you or words of wisdom you would like to add?  “I’ve been a personal trainer in New York City for 4 years.  Download my free eBook at www.Ikillfat.com. What’s great about my business is that I come to you!  Tell me what neighborhood you’d like to workout in, what trains you’d like to be near, and we exercise at a location that’s most convenient for you.  No gym membership fees required!  I also teach group fitness classes, and Pilates.  Stay healthy!”

I am so glad that after quite a bit of a hiatus (read: finally got a new computer!), Vegan Like Me is back in the swing of things!  Thank you Greg for sharing your thoughts with us… I’m with you on the damage that can be done at Lula’s!  

Creating with Compassion: A Live Event and Art/Book Sale to Benefit the Victims of Hurricane Sandy

If you don’t live in Jersey City and can’t attend, please keep an eye on this space today – I will be live blogging this event! If you are following along at home or on the go, please refresh for new entries!

Creating with Compassion: A Live Event and Art/Book Sale to Benefit the Victims of Hurricane Sandy

Please join us for a lively afternoon of author readings, artist presentations, live music performances, and wares from New Jersey-based creators. Admission is free, but donations to the Red Cross will be encouraged. In addition, proceeds from all sales will benefit organizations that have been assisting victims of Hurricane Sandy. Refreshments will be served.

More to come!

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Final Thanks
A big thanks to all the participants in today’s events:
Melissa Cacioppo
Paul Castiglia
Debra Devi
Joe Endres
Wenye Fang
Silvia Karcz
Mark Mariano
Tris McCall
Nick Mockoviak
Emily Monus
Jenny Ramirez
Seamus Scanlon
Aaron Starmer
Laryssa Wirstiuk

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6:40pm Wrap it Up!
People are getting presents wrapped at the free wrapping station, and things are wrapping up event-wise, too! If you’ve been following along, thank you! I hope to do more live blogging in the future, so this was a great experience for me. Thanks to Laryssa Wirstiuk for giving me the opportunity and putting this event together.

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6:06pm Perusing

All the artists and authors have tables with items for sale. You still have until 7pm to get down here and get some last minute holiday shopping done!

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5:54pm Let the Music Play!

And now for a little change of pace, some live music from Debra Devi of DEVI.

Debra Devi is the lead singer/guitarist for the Jersey City rock band DEVI and a Fender Girl Rock Nation artist. She is the author of The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to Zuzu (forward by Dr. John), “one of the wittiest, bawdiest, most fascinating dictionaries ever.” (Reuters). The book is blurbed by Bonnie Raitt and Joe Bonamassa, and won an ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for Outstanding Book on Music. www.devi-rock.com

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5:45pm YUMMY!

I just gobbled down this delicious vegan chili from Bread & Spoon. They do small event catering, private cooking lessons, and specialty baking all while focusing on local and sustainable goods. This chili is freakin yum. Wow.

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5:36pm Fireworks


Laryssa Wirstiuk reads Fireworks from her collection of short stories, The Prescribed Burn.

Laryssa Wirstiuk is a writer and college writing instructor living in Jersey City, New Jersey. She recently published her first book, a collection of stories titled The Prescribed Burn, using more than $5,000 raised through Kickstarter to fund the printing. Laryssa also writes for Jersey City Independent and NEW Magazine. www.theprescribedburn.com

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5:34pm Jenny Ramirez
New Jersey native and author Jenny Ramirez speaks about her book, Annabelle’s Love.

Jenny Ramirez has taught children of all different ages and backgrounds for the last 14 years. She has lived in Spain, Georgia, California and now her home: New Jersey. In addition to teaching full time, she is a freelance writer who published her first children’s book, Annabelle’s Love, in 2010. Annabelle’s Love

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5:25 Live Art!

Live art by Joe Endres

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5:18pm Aaron Starmer
Aaron Starmer reads from The Only Ones.

Aaron Starmer is a freelance writer who specializes in children’s novels and travel guidebooks. His first novel, DWEEB, was published by Random House and chosen as a 2009 New Voices pick by the Association of Booksellers for Children. His follow-up was The Only Ones, also published by Random House and chosen as a 2011 Junior Library Guild selection. His latest is The Legend of Fiona Loomis, the first volume n a trilogy that will be released in 2014 by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. AaronStarmer.com

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5:05pm Tris McCall

Our first reading today comes from Tris McCall’s The Trespassers.

Tris McCall has been writing and singing about public space and public culture in New Jersey for more than a decade – in newspapers and magazines, on websites, and on a series of acclaimed synthpop albums. He is currently the rock critic at the Newark Star-Ledger. The Trespassers is his first novel. http://www.trismccall.net

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4:59 Cha-Ching!
Birdbrain Projects makes a sale! Profits from this table will be donated to the Ali Forney Center

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4:45pm Holiday Spirit
Mark rouses the audience with a punk rock inspired rendition of “Silver Bells”… Gotta love it! Lots of toes tapping on that one.

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4:38pm The Music Begins!

Mark O’Matic has been introduced and begun his set. He is also a childrens comic book artist! Oh, and he is playing a cover of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme song! What fun!

Mark Mariano is a children’s comic book artist from northern New Jersey. He created the books Flabbergast and Happyloo, and his work has won the 2011 Wowie Zowie Award for Best Web Comic. He shares his passion through classroom visits and guest speaking at Kids Comic Con and Rutgers University. My Pal Mark

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4:33pm Festive and Cozy

Art House Productions has provided a festive and cozy space for readings and music. The program is running slightly behind (darn Tri-State holiday traffic!) but should be underway shortly. People are mingling and enjoying some wine and beer as well as some refreshments from the aforementioned Bread & Spoon.

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4:07pm Program of Events

And we’re off, folks! Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. 100% of the money collected at the door as well as the artist and author table fees will be donated to Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Relief.

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3:08pm – Set-up begins!
Excitement abound at Art House Productions, where today’s event is being hosted. Artists and authors are trickling in, setting up their booths in anticipation of the crowds. Bread & Spoon catering is preparing some delicious *vegan* chili and cornbread muffins as well as some mulled apple cider… My mouth is watering from the delicious smells coming from that direction! I’ve only just noticed that I’m hungry… Good thing there are yummies to try!

Action Alert! Confront WalMart CEO about Cruelty to Pigs!

 Gestation crates are metal cages that are used in pig meat production.  They are very small, so small that the pig contained in them cannot turn around, and can barely lie down.  Use of these crates is industry standard.  A sow will spend most, if not all of her life within one of these crates.  The only times she will leave will be when she is put in a farrowing crate to give birth and then when she is sent off to slaughter. 

Gestation crates in a factory farm

Please join us tonight in confronting Mike Duke, CEO of Wal-Mart, for the first time regarding the use of these inhumane crates in their supply chain.  Check out Mercy For Animals undercover investigation at www.WalMartCruelty.com.  Text from the Facebook Event for this protest reads as follows:

On December 11th Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke will be speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. Join Mercy For Animals as we confront him with an eye-catching protest featuring a 10-foot-tall inflatable pig, covered in bloody sores and crammed inside a tiny gestation crate. Helping us confront Mike Duke will be a traffic-stopping mobile billboard featuring a heartbreaking picture of a pig locked in a gestation crate along with the slogan, “Walmart: Stop Torturing Pigs.” The truck will circle the building for the entirety of the event. It is very important that we have strong showing at this demonstration as this will be our first time confronting Wal-Mart’s CEO.

Most people do not support cramming animals into crates so small they can’t turn around, lie down comfortably, or walk for their entire lives. Wal-Mart does. In fact, pork sold in Wal-Mart stores comes from factory farms where pregnant pigs spend their miserable lives locked in narrow gestation crates barely larger than their own bodies—unable to engage in basic behaviors and denied all mental stimulation.

Following Mercy For Animals’ undercover investigation exposing shocking animal abuse at a major Wal-Mart pork supplier, we are now calling on the world’s largest retailer to require its suppliers to phase out inherently cruel gestation crates.

Signs, banners, and leaflets will be provided. Media is expected at the event, so please dress professionally. Encourage your friends and family to join you at this peaceful protest. And, before attending, please be sure to sign MFA’s petition urging Wal-Mart executives to phase out gestation crates, then share the petition and undercover video with others. For more details about the campaign, visit http://WalmartCruelty.com/

For additional details about the event, please email Eddie Garza, senior campaign coordinator, or call 917-756-8130.

Where: Outside the Harold Pratt House at 58 E. 68th Street (meet at E. 68th St. and Park Ave.), New York, NY
When: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

See you there!