Ringing in 2012!

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had a fun holiday with their loved ones.  Dayv and I had a New Years Eve Party, like usual, and were able to ring in the new year with the people in our lives that mean the most to us.  That's what the holidays are all about, in my opinion ;) 

Like usual, I spent the week prior to the party trying to decide on what goodies I wanted to make.  I always try to make something for everyone, so all items need to be carefully considered.  I was really happy with everything I made, and every goodie received a complement ;)

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Karen lent me her copy of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World.  Ever since, I've been a little obsessed with several of its recipes.  I decided to make the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Glaze, deglutenized of course.  Having been an Art History major, I particularly liked how the directions said to apply the glaze "Jackson Pollock style".

Several people told me how much they enjoyed the cupcakes, including my friend's boyfriend who told her to "take a bite and make sure you get a chocolate chip in there".  I did get very defensive if someone referred to them as a muffin, especially since in VCTOTW they wrote "just try and let someone call these a muffin".  I think I may have scolded someone at some point ;)

For those who didn't want a baked good, I decided to make my Carrot Cake Granola Bars, which I knew my brother would especially appreciate.  My friend Heidi said to me, "I have no idea what I'm eating, but I love it!"  When I told her what it was and what was in it, she said, "That's interesting, considering the fact that I hate carrots and coconut."  I love when I can use an ingredient that people think they hate to make something they really enjoy ;)

Dayv was adamant that I make chocolate chip cookies.  I decided on Manifest Vegan's Almondy Chocolate Chip Cookies, which I have made several times before.  They are really soft, which is very important to Dayv in a cookie.  And, of course, everyone really enjoyed them. 

Lastly, I made Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats.  I made a variation of these for Dayv's Vegan-versary Party, and they were such a crowd pleaser, I made them again.  You can't go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter, plus they are ridiculously simple to throw together. 

Happy 2012!