Dude, I think my mom is getting younger! She is always smiling, dancing, singing and goofing off. Her beautiful accented voice charms everyone — and we all can’t help but laugh at her occasional malapropisms.

We celebrated on Sunday, the day I came back to CA, with a family dinner. I made chicken and cheese enchiladas for the carnivores, and vegan sweet potato enchiladas for myself and anyone willing to try something new.  It was my first time using the enchilada sauce from Trader Joe’s (I think it’s a new item). It was delicious and tastes very much like the typical red enchilada sauce I’m accustomed to using, however, it has about twice as many calories.

The best part? This vegan chocolate cake with vegan “butter cream” frosting…

Cake recipe found here and frosting recipe found here. This cake was *so* good that I couldn’t help screaming at it in an accusatory voice, “Are you kidding me?!?!”  Don’t tell me I’m the only one whose yelled at a dessert…. :/

There was obvs too much frosting, but I decided to drench the cake in it (mmmmm). I then stuck it in the freezer for about 15 minutes. When served, the cake tasted like an Oreo ice cream cake, no doubt. Clocking in at about 500 calories for a piece of cake with frosting, it’s certainly a decadent recipe, but not something I’d make outside of special occasions.

Food News

• Is Kombucha really a magical tea? Read here. Muy interesante!
• Justins Nut Butter is coming out with new flavors, including Organic Chocolate Peanut, All-natural Chocolate Almond and All-natural Chocolate Hazelnut! These flavors will be available “soon” at Whole Foods. I don’t know when “soon” is, but it doesn’t seem soon enough. (News via Justin Nut Butter e-newsletter dated 1/12/10).
• Vitatops are going to be available, for a limited time, at Costco warehouses in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona. I haven’t been able to confirm this myself (News via Hungry Girl here).
• Applebees and Dunkin Donuts have introduced (or continue to introduce) healthier options. Click here for more info. on Applebees and here for Dunkin Donuts. Just don’t pull a Taco Bell and tell me you’re on the Dunkin Donuts or Applebee’s diet ‘cuz I’ll have to smack you. Thanks.
• Dave’s Killer Bread Sin Dawg variety is now available at Fred Meyer Nutrition Centers in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho,

<3,

The Cranky One