Vegan Baking

Some of us may remember chia seeds from the ch-ch-chia pet commercials in the 80's. Well they're back! It turns out that ch-ch-chia can b-b-bind. They work similarly to flax seeds in that when ground, the mixture gets goopy and pulls together when heated. Perfect for binding things like cakes, cookies or anywhere else you would want to substitute an egg. Like flax seeds they also contain protein, fiber and are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Just be sure to use white chia seeds. The darker varieties will be visible in your finished product. White chia seeds can be found online if they're not available at your local health food store.

I had to go into the office on a Saturday recently. Upon getting to the office front door I found that my key wasn't cut right and I couldn't get in. I then decided that in order to make my trip worthwhile I would have to stop by BabyCakes and Bluestockings Bookstore in NYC's Lower East side on my way home. Browsing through the isles of Bluestockings a peculiar book caught my eye: Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods by Sandor Ellix Katz.

Being a vegan baker, a home brewer and a DIY freak I knew I had to go in for a closer look. As soon as I flipped through a few pages, I was thankful I had to go to the office that day- I may have never ended up finding this book.