Writing & Books: Badass Bitches and their Badass Books

I love, love, love autobiographies. It fulfills that creepy part of me that wants to peek in all of my neighbour's windows while they sleep and look in people's bathroom drawers at dinner parties. I especially love books written by women I admire. They inspire me, make me think a little harder about my goals in life and what I want to do. If you still haven't found a gift for a cool gal or guy in your life, stop by your local bookstore and pick one (or all) of the following titles up.  But seriously, just get these for yourself. GIFT YOURSELF. Do it all the time and then every day is Christmas and then every day is AWESOME! They can also be ordered online at most major retailers, such as Indigo, Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Check it!

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
By yo girl Mindy Kaling

Mindy actually makes my heart dance and sing Broadway show tunes. She is HILARIOUS and so is her book. She addresses the insecurity that hugs the edges of teen-dom so eloquently and yet gently, with great hilarity. She also discusses other great topics like her childhood and working her way through her babysitting  client's pizza.


Bossypants
By Tina Fey

If I was into sketch comedy and improv (and I like to think I would be if I had any relatable sense of humour), Tina would be one of my idols. She is unflinchingly direct in this book, detailing her experiences in a straight up, tell it to your face, kinda way. I once watched this bit she did with Amy Poehler, where she made a vagina with her palms and talked through it. I nearly peed myself!

Yes Please

By Amy Poehler

Recently released, I received this book for Christmas from a sweet pal of mine. It's funny without being indulgently self deprecating, inspiring and slickly packaged in smooth paper with funny pictures of Amy in various wigs and beards. So good. She gives insights to life working on SNL, the startup of the Upright Citizens Brigade and how damn hard it is to make it in comedy, especially as a women. 

#GirlBoss

By Sophia Amoruse 

Admittedly, I haven't yet read this one, but it's on my list. It's the story of how Sophia rose from life on the streets to become the founder and CEO of the kickass clothing brand Nasty Gal. If her clothing is any indication, this book is going to be totally mind blowing. 

Just Kids

By Patti Smith

This is an elegantly written memoir that details Patti's relationship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe. It's beautifully written, to say the least. I read this book on the PEI beach a few years back, when I was 14 I think, and I distinctly remember stopping for a few minutes and just breathing. It's one of those books I will carry with me when I move out of my family home and forward in my life. I highly recommend it. 

I hope you get a chance to read this books, and all the many others written by inspiring women (and men) out there today. Happy holidays all! 

Love,

Kate

Food: Vegan Date Squares

As this late fall weather becomes steadily unfriendlier, I find myself spending much more time indoors, swaddled in my Dad's old sweaters and thick socks. I make oatmeal with whole rolled oats, relishing the warmth off a bubbling pot of cinnamon scented breakfast. There's a meditative aspect to taking time for yourself in the morning, to waking up slowly and carefully. To chilly extremities and fog rising over your backyard garden; over the rivers and trees. This is the time of year I love, not too hot, not too cold. Crisp. Clean. A time for fresh starts and fresh faces. New Years Eve has never held the same significance to me as these cool few days between fall and winter, this seasonal shift. Change is, quite literally, in the air. For once, I welcome it.

Photo by M. Kelly

These, friends, are not your classic vegan date square. They don't have those wacky chunks of orange rind floating around in there, nor do they call for half a jar of coconut oil (gosh dang expensive, pals), or agonizing hours cutting solid fats into oats. Well, maybe that's an overstatement, but when if you're anything like us, if you want a date square (or food in general), you wanted it five minutes ago. Whatever the weather may be in your corner of the world, I hope you give these a go.

Photo by M.Kelly

Ingredients:

Filling:

1 cup medjool dates
Zest of 1 small lemon
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Crust:

2.5 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup of applesauce
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon coconut oil
pinch of salt

Crumble Topping:

1 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup walnuts (or nut/see of your choice)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons flour
pinch of salt

Directions!

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Toss 2 cups worth of oats into your food processor and blend until powdery. Then add applesauce, vanilla, maple syrup, and salt. Pulse until combined.
3. Remove from motor base, take out blade, and stir in remaining 1/2 cup oats to blended mixture. The dough should be pretty firm.
4. Place the dough into a greased brownie pan (mine was 8"x8") and press firmly down. Using slightly damp fingers works well here. You want it to be as compact as possible, so as to minimize crumbly bases (ugh).
5. Now, without bothering to clean your processor, pulse all filling ingredients together until a chunky paste forms. If dates ball up into a giant clump, add a tablespoon or two of warm water, until they become more of a malleable paste. Spread this paste over your base with a spatula, as evenly as possible.
6. Then, again don't even clean it, dump your crumble topping ingredients into your processor. Pulse into they've broken down into pinky-fingernail size ish chunks, though some variety is always great.
7. Scatter over top of your date paste! If there are any leftover topping bits left (I had a small handful), make a yourself a lil cookie! Shape it into a wee ball, flatten slightly with your palm, and bake for 10 - 12 mins.
8. Now slide your completed crumble bars into the oven. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes or until top is lightly golden and aromatic.
9. Enjoy!

**This recipe was inspired by Sarah Britton at www.mynewroots.org! Her site is absolutely lovely. Check it out!**

Food: The Ultimate Vegan Banana Bread

Hey! My name is Kate, fellow vegan and best friend of Cami. I've gotten super into cooking and baking since switching up my diet and have started developing my own recipes. Here we'd love to share some of them and hope you give them a go!

By M. Kelly

This recipe here is something in heavy rotation around our group of friends and my house. It even got the stamp of approval from our ultimately picky friend! I like to eat this bread warm, with almond butter or tahini or just plain. With winter approaching, this kind of treat is perfect to have around. It's in the colder weather that I find myself reaching for sweeter, stickier snacks, and this fits the bill perfectly. We hope you'll enjoy it as much as we do!

By M. Kelly

The Ultimate Vegan Banana Bread

Wet Ingredients:

• 3 overripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup of unsweetened, unflavoured non-dairy milk

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour, 1 cup spelt (alternatively, use white or gluten free)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/3 cup chopped almonds
• 1/4 cup chopped pumpkin seeds (plus a tbsp for topping)
• 2/3 cup chopped and pitted dates
  
  
  Clues: 
  
  
  
  

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Dig out a loaf pan and grease it with any vegan butter you have on hand. Alternatively, feel free to use coconut oil or even regular butter, if you aren’t avoiding animal products.

  2. Chop dates, almonds and pumpkin seeds roughly but thoroughly. 

  3. Mash bananas until they turn into a lovely gooey paste and place into a large bowl. Whisk in milk.

  4. Stir in baking powder and baking soda.

  5. Stir in flour, baking soda, and baking powder. 

  6. Finally, add dates, almonds, and seeds. Stir once or twice to combine, but don’t overdo it!

  7. Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and slide it into the oven.

  8. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the top is a gorgeous golden brown and springy 
  
  
  TIPS!
   - if you only have two bananas, feel free to replace one with 1/3 cup of olive oil
   - flours are pretty variable here, just be careful not to use all regular whole wheat (it'll be hella dense) - though all whole wheat pastry flour is okay, as it's lighter
   - these could also be slipped into a muffin tin and turned into lil muffins! Or mini muffins!
   - the add-ins are totally up for interpretation; add hazelnuts and chocolate chips for something a little more decadent, sunflower seeds to replace almonds for a nut-free bread, etc, etc.