The cinnamon rolls that are not my dissertation, plus a gratuitous cheesecake photo of Clifford

are words really necessary?

The peach-blueberry cobbler/cake thing that is not my dissertation

Procrastinating because I don't want to do anything to prepare for my final defense (Monday, August 3, 10:00 a.m. -- keep your fingers crossed, pals!).

So, what to do, what to do....

Bake! Layer of cake, layer of peaches and blueberries, layer of cake, a drizzle of vegan margarine, and a sprinkling of sugar.

Before:





After:

The delicious regional soda that is not my dissertation

One of my pals found this in western PA and was kind enough to share both a 20 oz bottle and a 12 oz can with me.



This stuff is genius! It's white birch beer, which is supposedly why it's clear. And it packs quite a wallop, with a sweet bite to it. Extra points for it possibly being the fizziest soda I've ever ever ever had. I usually drink fountain sodas to get the major carbonation I'm craving, but this one was super fizz-ola in both bottle and can forms. And the best part, perhaps, is the fabulous story of the Pennsylvania Black Bears on the back label.



Love, love, love.

Mr. J. Pete Nardi,



I'd like to shake your hand! And drink more of your soda. Who can hook me up?

The vegan twice-baked stuffed potato that is not my dissertation

jealous?

The strawberry rhubarb pie that is not my dissertation

before...
















...after

Things that are not my dissertation -- the weekend edition

Here are but a few of the things I have done today that do not involve me doing my dissertation:

(1) woke up late (if 9 is considered late)
(2) got a long overdue oil change
(3) drove to a suburb to buy some stuff (eg., cat food from big box pet supply store)
(4) ate lunch
(5) made otsu for tomorrow's lunch (make this recipe. go, do it now! this blog will be here when you get back.)
(6) baked lemon coconut bundt cake from veganomicon
(7) popped open a schlitz ("just a kiss of the hops")
(8) wrote this silly blog entry

Okay, I can't procrastinate anymore. Although, the floors could use a good scrubbing...

I don't wanna work, I just wanna bang on these pots all day.

Seriously, y'all's. I have a problem.

All I want to do is cook. Breaded, Italian herb-crusted tofu. Tofu with lemon and capers. Baked tofu with soy and ginger. Brownies. Cookies. Pudding. Tomato sauce with fresh basil, chili flakes, and kalamata olives. Lemon garlic broccoli with chili flakes. Tofu omelettes. Vegan meatloaf. Mashed potatoes. Gravy! Potato enchiladas with green chili sauce. Lasagna with tofu/spinach mousse. Spaghetti sandwiches. Lemon bars. Custard-y fruit tarts. Coconut cake with lemon curd. Pot pie. Mujadarreh. Split pea soup. Kale-lentil stew. Bread. I want to use my new pots and pans, my tiny baby whisk, my mini muffin tins. I wake up at night with recipes in my noggin. Too many to write down.

Instead, I think I'll work on my results section. Guess where my heart is(n't).