Little. Yellow. Different.

If someone asks me what I want for Christmas or my Birthday or other gift giving occasion, I always try to be pretty specific in my response. I used to try and go the modest route, insisting I didn't need anything or would enjoy anything. Both of which are generally true. But eventually, in my wise old age, I've discovered that the chances of receiving something awesome increase dramatically if I actually ask for what I want. Which is how I ended up with a mini-donut pan for Christmas; it is undeniable in it's awesomeness.

Since December I've been perfecting my mini-donut skills with several test batches. Tweaking little things here and there, taste testing for quality control though the whole ordeal. Practice makes perfect, right?

I think this batch was a great success. Here's the naked donuts, removed from the baking pan, cooling on a rack.


Once the donuts are all baked up, out of the oven, and cooled, I go to town with the chocolate glaze.


Some with nuts too!


And just to be sassy, some get zebra stripes.


These little guys have the texture of a nice cake donut, very reminiscent of the hostess mini donuts that come 6 to a cellophane pack. Except without all the chemical crap.

This recipe was inspired by and modified from the one on VeganYumYum.

Plain Cake Donuts!
Makes 2 dozen.

Sift together:
1 1/4 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
little pinch of nutmeg

Mix in a measuring cup:
2/3 cup soymilk or almond milk
1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
5 Tbs canola oil
3 Tbs soy yogurt (or egg replacer of choice)
1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix wet with dry to form a thick batter/smooth dough. Spoon into ungreased mini-donut pan. Bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool, frost, eat!

My pan has only 12 spaces, so I wipe it out after the first round before baking the rest.

If you don't have a mini donut pan, you can make a pretty decent "donut holes" in a mini muffin pan.

How to Make My Day

Well, I just got home from one of those banner days at work. You know, when the delicate house of cards I've been building for the past few months comes crashing down in one fell swoop. And the only thing I can do is swallow the agonizing frustration, pick up the pieces and start over. I'm really earning this Ph.D, that's for sure.

I came home planning to drown my sorrows in sake and reality tv, perhaps topping off the night by falling asleep on the couch. That was not to be the case, however. My spirits brightened considerably when I walked in the door and was greeted by this on our kitchen table:



My parents have just returned from Las Vegas. Through a relay exchange between at least three different family members, a long drive through the desert, and probably horse drawn carriage or pack mule, these brave vegan donuts found their way to me!

Not only do my parents get major thanks for orchestrating delivery of said donuts, but serious bonus points go to my Dad for walking into a donut shop and inquiring about vegan items with ease. At least now I think he knows what the word means! (He didn't actually eat one, that would be going TOO far.)

The frosting is a little banged up from the journey, but hot damn do they taste good.



Tomorrow I'll return to work, fueled entirely by apple fritters. Can't wait to see how the day goes!