Post-Election Vegan Stuffed Cookies

A note to our American friends: I'm sorry if, by the end of this, you are very confused. Your neighbour to the north has just been through a really tiring election and we're still trying to work through all our feelings. If you need help understanding, you can look here. Or, better yet, here. Though there is a lot of writing below (most of it pretty bitter), please remember that there is a supremely tasty vegan recipe at the bottom that involves chocolate chip cookies, homemade oreos, and homemade oreos stuffed inside of chocolate chip cookies. If you don't want to get involved in Canadian politics, scroll right down to the end.

Dear Stephen,

I'm not going to be bitter. Nor am I going to curse the country and pack up and leave. Because, seriously, were would I go? I really don't think Sweden has Nanaimo Bars. I really just want to ask you a favour: Go out and buy your jets or whatever, just please be at least a little nice to the new opposition. Throw them a bone now and again - you know, like health care, better education, and a continuing support of gay rights? That would be great. Thanks!


Dear Iggy,

Welp. Now's your chance to finally move that really good looking Trudeu kid into a leadership position. Because that's what you've planned all along, right? Right?

Dear Gilles,

Keep l'ésprit sepratist alive. It's what René Lévesque would have wanted. And, let's look at it this way - you still have the Canadiens in the playoffs - oh. Never mind :(

Dear Jackie,

Besides that robot Stephen, I bet you're the happiest of the bunch. Finally, your damn fine mustache has gotten you somewhere. Hopefully you'll be able to talk some sense into Canada. Someday. I know you won't be able to do much for the next four year, with that pesky majority and all. But think of what you can do with all that opposition power? You can finally speak out on the "Trekkies" vs "Trekkers" debate - you're the official opposition, now!


Dearest Liz,

You are now officially the spunkiest lady in Ottawa. When we saw you make your acceptance speech, I just wanted to reach out and give you a big ol' hug. We've made cookies for you, in hopes that you will do well in Ottawa (and maybe you'll give us the knitting pattern to that official Green Party scarf thing that everyones been sporting). Also, you seem like the type of lady who loves good cookies. We also made them vegan, just to kick it up a knotch.

Love, C&C






Post Election Vegan Stuffed Cookies
Makes twelve cookies - because, seriously, you don't need more than that.

Vegan Homemade Oreo Cookies
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/3 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup soymilk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 1/3 teaspoons cornstarch
1/3 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup margarine, softened
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
2 cups powdered sugar
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1) Preheat the oven to 325F. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.

2) Cream together the shortening and sugar until fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and soy milk and cream together. Add the dry ingredients and stir with wooden spoon until everything comes together. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and cool for at least ten minutes.

3) Take dough out and roll between two sheets for baker's paper until about 1/8 of an inch thick. Cut out circles (about an inch and a quarter to an inch and a half) and bake for about 12 minutes, or until just golden. Set out to cool.

4) While the cookies are cooling, make the frosting: Cream the margarine and shortening together until fluffy, then add the vanilla you've taken from the bean and the extract. Add the powdered sugar a 1/4 of a cup at a time and mix until all together. Spoon the cream onto one of the cooled cookies and sandwich another on top. Set aside until you're ready to make the chocolate chip cookie dough.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie
(adapted from Vegan Cookie takes over your Cookie jar)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, divided
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 brown sugar
1/4 white sugar
2/3 cup canola oil
1/4 cup unsweetened soy milk (I'm sure almond milk or rice milk would work here too)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3/4 cups vegan dark chocolate chips

1) Preheat oven to 350F. In a small bowl, whisk together one cup of your flour, baking soda, salt in a separate bowl. Set aside.

2) With an electric mixer, mix together both sugars, sugars, oil, milk and cornstarch for several minutes, until the mix resembles a smooth caramel. Continue to mix and add the vanilla.

3) Sift your dry ingredients (sans the extra half cup of flour) and mix until well incorporated. Mix in the rest of the flour and fold in the chocolate chips. The dough will be pretty stiff, so get yours dirty if you must.

Assembly
Roll your chocolate chip cookie dough into roughly walnut-sized balls. Take a homemade oreo and sandwich it between two balls of chocolate chip cookie dough. Carefully using your hands, form and mold the cookie dough all the way around the oreo. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until the tops of your cookies have begun to golden. Set out to cool and enjoy!