Six days until the Potluck! I’ve heard from some of you who have gotten your blog posts drafted and ready to go. I like that! Anyone have any questions, concerns or problems? Email me or check the Virtual Vegan Potluck Page! Okay. I’ve got a question for all of you Potluck participants. I received an email last night from one of my favorite bloggers, Watch Me Lose 150 Pounds. Jason just heard about the Potluck and would love to join. I told him I’d throw it out to you all – so let me know what you think. Are you up for adding one more blogger to the Potluck? Jason is a really funny guy and he has an amazing story – but most importantly, he promises me that he will share a really awesome appetizer. So: leave a comment and let me know how you feel about adding another blog to the Potluck list!
On a similar note: if for some reason you cannot participate, please let me know ASAP so that I can alert the other bloggers. We’ve got a lot of folks in the list and I’d hate to disappoint anyone! It’s really important that there is no break in the “chain.”
Now onto shortbread. It’s not as if I lie awake at night thinking of ways to combine peanut butter and jelly. It just seems that way. I really do like the combination, obviously. (For instance, yesterday’s breakfast was peanut butter and jelly waffles from the indispensable book, The Complete Guide to Vegan Substitutions, by Celine Steen and Joni Marie Newman. If you don’t have it, I highly recommend it not only for the substitutions – meat, dairy, sugar, fat, eggs – but for the creative recipes.) Being in shortbread mode did nothing to stop me from cogitating the classic duo.
- 8 Tbsp. vegan butter (such as Earth Balance)
- 8-12 Tbsp. natural peanut butter (I used PB2 to cut down on the fat content)
- 1/4 cup maple sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. powdered stevia (such as NuNaturals)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/4 cup quinoa flour
- 1/4 cup dried tart cherries, chopped
- In a small bowl, whisk together the stevia, salt, whole wheat pastry flour and quinoa flour.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter, peanut butter, maple sugar and vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides and with the mixer on low, carefully add the flour mixture until it comes together like pie dough. Add the dried cherries and process a bit more. If it seems too crumbly, add a 1/4 cup or so of water.
- Pat the dough into a thick rectangle, cover in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until firm.
- Preheat the oven to 325F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out (I divided the dough in two to make it easier) to a little over 1/4" thick. Cut or slice into desired shapes and place on cookie sheets. Bake for 20-25 minutes - rotating pans halfway through - or until crisp and browned lightly. Let sit on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
- Yield is dependent on how big you cut the cookies.
Of course, add Jason, the more the merrier!
This looks amazingly delicious!!
I love shortbread…
Dude, I’m all for one more joining the potluck, the more the merrier right? And anyone who is plant based AND trying to get healthy is a friend of mine!
I need to get that PB2. I haven’t been able to find it yet. Now I have to go to whole foods for choffy and magical peanut butter. Thanks a lot 😉 That shortbread looks good enough to eat for breakfast!
Haha – magical peanut butter – love that. I had to order it as I haven’t seen it in stores yet. It’s not so good plain, but works well in recipes. And I agree – the more the merrier for the Potluck – yay!
where did you get it? I probably need to go back to your post and see that there is all ready a link there which I missed….
Somer, I ordered via Amazon. I got a “good” deal on a bag of PB2 and a bag of Chocolate PB2.
I will check it out, I all ready have some other things in my amazon shopping cart, including a flowbee for my dog. Ha Ha!
Haha! Excellent!
I’m also a PB&J fan (although I call it ‘jam’) and these look amazing – plus, I get to use up that quinoa flour that’s been lurking in the cupboard since before time began.
As for adding another blogger, I say do it! More the merrier!
Nice! (On both the PB&J and adding another blogger!) 😉
You MADE these?! I’m always looking for good snacks to make so it looks like I will be trying these out. Also – Jason should definitely join!
Easy-peasy! I swear!! Aww, you guys are awesome! Looks like Jason is IN!
Yup, link right there. Doh!
The more the merrier! I am so looking forward to the potluck! I can’t wait to see all of those recipes! I should block out some time that morning to sit and drool over all that tasty food!
I know – that’s my plan. Sit down with a cup of tea and enjoy!
I’m sure Jason will have a great appetizer and story to share! I guess, just a reminder to make sure the appetizer folks ahead and behind him know to include his blog to link too in case they don’t read about these amazing little shortbreads. Yum!
Yay! Yep, I’ll have my work cut our for me contacting everyone ;-)!
Wonderful Ann!
Succes on your vegan potluck feast, I decided not to participate due to a lot of art school intakes this week so I’m over busy. It’s such an amazing idea, though, hoping next time I’ll be there to join all of you.
Have a great day!
XO
Thank you, my dear! I so hope you’ll participate next time!
Definitely add Jason – the more the merrier and I love his blog too
He’s in! Yay!
Yay!
Very pretty shortbread in a pretty blue box, that would make a wonderful present. As for the potluck, I agree with everyone else: the more the merrier – come on in Jason!
What a fun recipe! And I may be partial to dudes named Jason, but I say go ahead and add him.
On a slightly related note, I had quite the panic attack this morning when I thought I had deleted the pictures of my potluck app! I had actual palpitations! Then I found them, and all was right with the world again
Oh my gosh!! I would’ve panicked big time, too! Phew!
Of course let him join! I say it’s not too late until the posts are posted!! One more person means one more awesome dish!! These shortbreads look so good. I would put PB and J on top too..double the flavor blast!
Oooh, now that’s interesting! And maybe an extra schmear of PB…
So excited about potluck! I will be ready to go soon 😀
And if it’s ok with you I think Jason would be a fabulous addition from the sounds of it
Also this shortbread looks totally delicious and once again you prove vegans have more fun 😉
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
We vegans do our best ;-). I’m so glad everyone has “embraced” Jason. Cuz I just added someone else, too!
Yes the more the merrier for sure! Bring it on! Those cookies look super fab!
Gulp…just added another one ;-)!
As you know, I am always on the side of the procrastinators.
Haha – yep, thought you’d be the last – but not so!
Absolutely! Add Jason he sounds like an amazing soul, would love him to be there
That shortbread looks awesome!!
Ooh! The name alone is just as tantalizing as can be and your recipe makes my mouth water! Yet another lovely confection, Ann!!
Thanks, Rachel!
No. No more bloggers. Harumph! *stomps away*
Seriously, though…yes, please add him (I was just trying out what it’d feel like to know follow the pack….) 😀
*not follow… :S
SOMEone had to say no ;-)! Thanks for stepping up to the plate.
Anytime.
Of course let Jason join
I have that book as well and love it! I learned so many valuable things from that book and I use it as a reference quite frequently.
And these look fantastic! I FINALLY have some PB2 on the way to me and I can’t wait to experiment with it! PB & J will be in my future too
These seem non-intimidating enough for baker newbies like me. Yum.
Totally easy! You can do it!
OOO these look yummy and fancy! I love recipes that have few ingredients makes me feel like yes!! I can do this! lol and look fancy doing it 😛 I love dried cherries and I have the whole summer ahead of me too oh why not make these. nice post 😀
These look so impressive! Constantly in awe of you and your baking skills!
Thanks! I guess when it comes down to it, I really prefer baking to cooking. But I’d be in big trouble subsisting on breads and sweets alone! Oh, btw, we loved your bok choy tacos! Oh my gosh…so good.
Oh, I am so glad! I just got some more bok choy yesterday, so I think more tacos are in order!
P.S. I saw Vegan Charlie’s vblog, and that was just so, so, so kind. Made my heart really happy.
Mine, too! She had mentioned a while back wanting a bread machine and since I had one that was gathering dust in the garage – it just seemed perfect.
Just saw what you sent charlie at Adventures of Vegan Charlie (http://theadventuresofvegancharlie.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/special-thanks-vlog/) You are just the sweetest
Aww, I had so much fun with that. The bread machine wasn’t being used and she had mentioned wanting one. Perfect fit. I get such a kick out of her.
Ooh PB&J Shortbread…sounds so yummy! The more recipes the better for the potluck!
Agreed!
For sure add Jason it. More love, more recipes, more fun!
He’s in! And so is someone else :-)!
I love baking, but you are inspiring me to take it to another level. I’m gonna try to start making my own sandwich bread or rolls and more. I usually stick to sweets or breakfast breads. I spent erhmmm… an hour or more today just scrolling through your old bread recipes.
Awww, really? That’s awesome! Baking bread is one of the most satisfying things to do in the kitchen.
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