Rocky Road Cookies and Quinoa Lentil Salad

I recently got a clear indicator that Things Have Changed. Of course, I'd noticed that we're gathering more and masking less since COVID vaccination has increasingly brought the pandemic under control, but it all hit home when my backup dancer came down with a cold.

It is merely a common cold: to be on the safe side, I took her to the doctor, and she tested negative for COVID and strep. The only remarkable thing about it is how long it has been since her last cold, because we were isolated for so long, protected from germs of all sorts. It is a sniffly milestone on the pandemic journey, and an uncomfortable reminder that even as viruses are being shared again, we still don't know when kids her age will be eligible for COVID vaccination.

Here's a recipe that might help compensate for the misery of sore throats, stuffy noses, and vaccine-ineligible children: vegan "Rocky Road Cookies" (The Colorful Kitchen). I did not bother making it gluten-free, and instead of the agave, I used the simple syrup I had on hand for cocktails. They turned out great, and they are appropriate for Vegan Vednesday and all the days of the veek.

The recipe encourages us to enjoy the cookies warm, so I worried they wouldn't taste as good the next day. However, they were at least as good on days 2 and 3, after which they were gone.

Life's too short not to eat dessert first, but if you want to follow it with a vegan entree, you could try "One-Pot Sweet & Spiced Quinoa Lentil Salad" (Eating by Elaine). 

Not only is this dish good, but it works well as a cold meal, which you might appreciate if you're in one of the parts of the globe that is horrifically, unnaturally hot right now.

Current situation

Climate change is an important factor driving heat waves like this one. Food production contributes to climate change, and animal-based food products have a disproportionate impact, so choosing plant-based foods like vegan cookies and quinoa-lentil salads is a way to minimize our contribution to climate change.

Enjoy your leftovers with a good book