This is my babydyke from Northampton circa 1998 drag. In case that wasn't obvious!!!

This past weekend, I attended a queer brunch for which I was asked to bring something vegan and/or wheat free.  Now, I’m a vegetarian (10 years!), so I’m down with the dietary restrictions, though I do like to make the following joke at Thanksgiving / dinner parties: “BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WHEAT-FREE VEGANS?”  Not funny?  There are moments when I realize how specific of a world I live in.

Anyways, I went vegan, with one of my favorite recipes of late, and for lack of anything better to write about in the past few days, I thought I’d share it here.  Enjoy!

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Lil Miss’s Vegan Banana Oatmeal Nut Bread

(based heavily on this recipe, but made vegan)

Ingredients:

5 bananas mashed
1 ¾ cups flour
1 ¼ tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ cup applesauce
2/3 cup sugar
2 cups oats
2 cups walnuts (set about ¼ cup aside for topping)
1 tbsp. brown sugar (or to taste)
1 tbsp. margarine (optional)
2 tsp. honey (optional)
margarine or oil to grease the pan

Process (there’s always a process, no?):

1. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl.  Set aside.
2. In another bowl, thoroughly mash bananas (sometimes I even use a hand blender).  Beat in applesauce, honey and sugar until smooth.
3. Combine banana and flour mixes — stir just enough so that they’re combined, but don’t overdo it.
4. Add in the nuts and oatmeal.  Again, don’t overdo it.
5. Pour batter into greased loaf pan.  Top with additional walnuts and brown sugar.
6. Bake for one hour at 350 degrees.
7. Loosen loaf and ease it out of the pan onto a cooling rack for a few minutes.
8. Enjoy with margarine, butter, honey, or your other favorite spread!

Clearly I should've had the foresight to take a picture of the final product, but I didn't, so instead I treat you to pictures of my vegan babydyke accessories. The "Poetry" book is actually my recipe book.

Notes:

• You can use fewer nuts and/or oats if you want, but I like my fibrous and protein heavy.
• Pay attention to tsp vs. tbsp.  Last time I made this I wasn’t paying attention and accidentally used tablespoons instead of teaspoons.  My bad!  Seriously, it wasn’t ruined, but it was a little salty.
• Did you know you could use bananas as a substitute for eggs?

OMG!  Does this make me like Julie of Julie & Julia?  I sure hope my boyfriend doesn’t walk out on me for having interests of my own!