Progress.

Nothing says 'celebration' like chocolate beet cake with a purple Hanukkah candle. 

What's so special that I'd make beet cake and break out the pyro? The kitchen is basically operational! I came home the other night, and there was running water. Running water. Have I ever been so excited about running water? The next morning I chucked a half-full glass of stale water out the back door, and Kevin had to remind me that we have a sink now. So now I don't have to do rude things like throw water on my neighbor's air conditioning handler.

So, those are fiberboard make-shift counters. They keep me happy because I can use my kitchen. And what makes me happy, makes Keith the contractor happy.  He's smart that way. He and Kevin made me extra happy Friday evening by moving the Beluga of a stove into place. This is something I never believed would actually happen: the Chambers in the kitchen. You've come a long way, baby!

To go with this new fabulous AlmostKitchen, there are two new things that have made me very excited.

1. Tofu Egg Salad. This may sound gross, but I'll admit that when I look in the Midwife/Doctor lounge on Labor and Delivery at 3AM and see one of the free, freshly prepared Egg Salad on Whole Wheat sandwiches, I'm tempted for a split second. I love egg salad. What I don't love is how the chickens are cruelly mistreated and all that cholesterol. It's been a process of trial and error, but I finally created a vegan version that hits the spot. I didn't measure anything, so I can't tell you a recipe. Just add ingredients until it tastes right. I had to make sure it wasn't poisoned before taking the photo.

(firm tofu, mashed with Veganaise, yellow mustard, tumeric, dill pickle relish, garlic powder, black salt!, minced parsley, and a scallion.)

2. This bombastic camera. It's Kevin's. Obviously. And I'm pretty sure the glass is worth more than his car. I have to stand across the room to try to take photos of food with the bicep-building beast of a lens, but how cool! Thanks, Kev. I promise I won't drop it!

Coming soon: I was gifted two new cookbooks for Valentines Day, Vegan Comfort Food and The Conscious Cook. There will be lots of new recipe experimentation, including cultured cashew cheese! Oh boy...