Making date balls feels like one of my few secret tricks in life. When I have a stash of date balls in the freezer, I feel ready for anything - school lunches, a hike, a rushed breakfast. They’re also a great way to get kids to eat nuts if they’re adverse to the texture (my oldest, for example, doesn’t love almonds). They’re a bit time consuming to make, but just go for it. Once you get started it’s really not that bad (can you tell I often need to give myself a pep talk, too?). And you’ll be so comforted to know they’re in the freezer.

Here are three of my go-to recipes. I’m starting with simplest, and then the second and third recipes are just a tad more complicated. But not much. Don’t be scared.

Coconut Apricot Balls

3 cups dried apricots (if they’re not very moist, soak in hot water first)
2 cups raw cashews or blanched almonds
1/2 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut (desiccated coconut)
2T maple syrup or honey
1t vanilla extract
1/8t salt

one / Add all the ingredients to a food processor. Pulse until well combined. Add water if the mixture seems dry.

two / Roll into balls, place on a cookie sheet or plate, and freeze until solid. Store in the freezer in an airtight container. Leave out at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before eating.

Apricot, Date, and Cashew Balls

1 cup cashews
pinch of salt
16 dates
1/4c dried apricots
1T almond butter
1/4c sesame seeds
1/2t cinnamon

one / Process the nuts and salt in a food processor until the nuts are coarsely ground.

two / Add the dates, apricots, almond butter, sesame seeds, and cinnamon. Keep processing the mixture until it starts to stick together a bit. When you can make a ball and it stays together, you’re good.

three / Roll into balls, place on a cookie sheet or plate, and freeze until solid. Store in the freezer in an airtight container. Leave out at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before eating.

Date, Cranberry, and Cashew Energy Bites

2 cups raw, unsalted cashews
1 1/3 cups lightly packed pitted dates
1 cup dried cranberries (or dried cherries, if you're feeling spendy!)
1-2t cocoa powder
1/2 cup raw pecans
1 or 2 pinches fine sea salt, to taste

one / Process the cashews in a food processor until they are finely chopped. Leave a few bigger pieces, but take care not to process the nuts so much that it becomes flour.

two / Remove 2/3 cup of the processed cashews and set aside for the final step.

three / Add the dates and cranberries to the food processor and process until finely chopped. The dough will start to become sticky.

four / Add the cocoa powder, salt, pecans, and the reserved 2/3 cup cashews. Pulse as needed to incorporate.

five / At this point, the dough should be sticky enough to roll into balls. If it is too dry/crumbly, add a teaspoon of water at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.

six / Roll the dough into small balls and place on a plate or cookie sheet. I use a 1T cookie scoop. (Unlike cookies, though, it doesn't matter if the balls are uniform in size since you won't be baking them.)

seven / Freeze balls on the cookie sheet or plate. Once frozen, store in a jar in the freezer. Leave out at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before eating.

//

What’s your favorite recipes for energy bites or no-bake cookies?

Household waste reduction feels harder than ever these days. The pandemic has forced our focus elsewhere, increased the emphasis on hygiene and safety, and created unprecedented circumstances for all of us to navigate. I’ve found myself contributing to the single-use madness with items like paper grocery bags, more restaurant take out materials, disposable masks (thanks Omicron), hand sanitizer and more.

But even with the pandemic concerns and constraints, there are a few things I just don’t buy. If you’re looking to reduce your household waste, maybe these are places you could make a change!

one // Tissues, paper towels, and napkins. Use cloth. Find a system that works for your family. I like to cut up old clothes and I have several wet bags around the house than can be thrown directly into the washer. I have smaller wet bags for my kids to keep in their backpacks for blowing their noses at school. Everyone’s lifestyle looks a bit different, but cloth is a sensational replacement for single-use paper products.

two // Baby wipes. And cleaning wipes. And makeup wipes. I bought a few packages of baby wipes for my first child, but after that we switched completely to cloth, even for traveling. Cloth works better than disposables for all messes, in my opinion, and I just hate the idea of so so so many baby wipes polluting the earth. As for Clorox wipes etc., I make my own bleach wipes with cloth and bleach + water. Most messes I clean up with a towel.

three // Bottled cleansers and lotions. These days, there are many ways to obtain zero-waste beauty products. I like to stock up on at a refill store near me (like Joyfill, Zero Market, or Simply Bulk) but there are also stores online that sell low- to no-waste shampoos, lotions, and soaps. I use soap bars for my face and body, and get liquid lotion in reusable jars. (I occasionally buy shampoo in a plastic bottle because I haven’t found a low-waste option that works for well for my hair, but I only wash my hair once a week so a bottle lasts me at least a year.)

four // Disposable period products. Menstrual cup, period underwear, and cloth pads. Nothing more to buy or throw away! There are several quizzes online that will recommend a good menstrual cup for you (based on how many kids you’ve had, your flow, etc.). Do a quick internet search and you’ll find one!

five // Plastic wrap. I haven’t bought any kind of plastic wrap for years. Occasionally a visitor to my kitchen will ask for it, but personally I’ve never missed it. I store food in jars, glass containers, and silicone bags. To cover items, I use clean cloth towels and beeswax wrap. I also just save plastic bags and aluminum foil that comes into my life; even when you don’t buy these items, they still appear! Which leads to:

six // Plastic baggies. Reusable containers and reusable bags serve our needs well, but we also manage to acquire a lot of plastic bags without buying them. Tortilla bags, produce bags, the occasional bread bag…Recently I bought my son some new face masks and each one came in a plastic ziplock bag. Ugh! I save these and reuse them when I need a bag. But typically, I have way more than I can use!

seven // Muffin wrappers. I make a lot of muffins. I invested in 30 silicone muffin wrappers a few years ago (24 regular size and 6 jumbo). I use them constantly. They’re a bit of a pain to clean, but I know the earth is thanking me. This is one of those items that might not seem like it has much environmental impact since they’re small and usually compostable. However, the production and shipping of paper products is significant. Reusables are a better choice when you’re going to use them over and over again. But, if you only make muffins once a year, then paper might be a better choice!

eight // Dairy milk. Until about a year ago, I was singing the praises of local dairy milk in a reusable glass bottle. But more learning taught me that there’s just too great of an environmental impact from dairy farms (and almost all animal agriculture, really), so I just stopped buying it. My kids missed it a little bit, and they still haven’t been able to give up cheese 100%, but we’re no longer buying dairy milk and it feels good from both a health and an environmental perspective. (Don’t let anyone give you a hard time about almond milk. Sure, almond growing uses a lot of water, but WAY less than dairy milk requires! The impacts of animal agriculture, particularly cows, on the environment is HUGE.)

nine // Dryer sheets. Wool dryer balls for the win! I also try to line dry my clothes as much as possible.

ten // Single-use batteries. This is a change I wish we’d made MUCH sooner. It was one of those “duh” moments…why had we been using disposable batteries for so long!? We now have a supply of reusable batteries in a variety of sizes, and a big plug-in charger in the basement. I worry so much less now about the kids leaving a flashlight on! It is also so nice not to have to deal with safely disposing of batteries since you should never put them in your regular municipal trash bin!

I talk all the time about how much I love my cargo bike, but this year I’m finding myself in a new situation: my two older kids are riding on their own more and more. I have several friends and acquaintances who are biking to school with there kids as well. One of those dear friends prompted me to put together this list of tips for biking to school! And just in time for Bike to School Day, too! That’s coming up on October 6, 2021. So get your gear together and reduce your family’s emissions by getting some glorious exercise in the bike lane.

one. // Make sure bikes, helmets, and other gear are in good condition. You need a certain about of gear to be able to ride a bike to school: a bike, helmet, and lights, at minimum. Before you ride, make sure everything is in good, working condition: tires have air, breaks are tight, lights are charged. In my experience, kids’ bikes are pretty easy to find used, and there are also lots of excellent high-quality bikes on the market if that’s what you’re looking for. Make sure the bike fits your child well, and they feel comfortable riding it. A test ride around the block is always a decent idea.

two. // Organize all your gear before your ride. You want to make going by bike as easy as other transportation options! Make sure you have a good system in place for where you store the bikes, helmets, and other gear. You want everything to be ready to go in the morning when you’re trying to get out the door for the school day. Set yourself up for success!

three. // Plan your route carefully. You rarely want to bike the same route you would drive. Often the route you would drive has more traffic, and biking is better on quieter streets. Google Maps has a biking overlay option that will show you which streets are city bike routes and where there are bike lanes. Check out local bike maps, too. For Denver, I recommend the Bike Streets Map. Also, talk to anyone you know who bikes regularly. They’re often the best source for figuring out a safe route.

four. // Make a plan with your kids and talk about it ahead of time. Don’t wait until you’re on the road to talk about bike safety. Before you ride, talk to your kids about where they should ride in relation to you, turn signals, and more. Make sure you’re all aware of the general route. It’s also great to “debrief” afterwards and make sure the speed was good for everyone and they felt comfortable with how the ride went.

five. // Wear high-visibility clothing and use lights, even during the daytime. I used to only wear bright colors on cloudy days, but now I wear high-viz gear every time I ride. I have a few fluorescent coats for cooler weather and lighter safety vests that the kids and I wear on hot days. We always turn on our lights when we ride, even on the sunniest days. I figure it doesn’t hurt anything and it might help keep you safe.

A note on lights: you want a white light on the front of your bike, and red lights on the rear. The white light should be flashing when it’s light out, and solid after dark. The rear red light can be flashing or solid; ideally have one of each.

six. // Make sure helmet straps are tight. You should only be able to slide 1-2 fingers under the chin strap. So often I see people with loose helmets. If you’re going to wear it, make sure it’s able to do it’s job if there was ever any impact. And yes, your kids probably will complain that it’s tight, but tell them it’s important for their safety.

seven. // Go on the sidewalk if necessary. Yes, it may go against local laws, but you have to stay safe when bike infrastructure is lacking. All parents approach biking with kids a little differently in terms of riding on the road or on the sidewalk. I have my daughter ride on the road with me and my cargo bike, but during one stretch of our commute she goes up on the sidewalk because the road is narrow and there is a lot of traffic that tries to pass us. Do what you need to do to stay safe.

eight. // Use hand signals. Pointing the direction you’re turning is simplest for kids and drivers. I do the “official” hand signals sometimes too (left arm up at a “L” when turning right and left arm straight out and pointing left when turning left), but it’s amazing how often someone thinks I’m waving at them.

nine. // Use a high-quality lock. If you do an internet search for “best kids’ bike lock,” you’ll get a lot of options that are not particularly robust. I think this is because the suggestions are for locks that kids can easily lock and unlock themselves? But if you’re going to be riding with your child to school and helping them lock up their bike, I’d get something that provides more security. Kryptonite is a good brand, and on their website they rate the security of their locks on a scale of 1 to 10.

Happy riding!

There was a time when I wouldn’t order take out because of the material waste. The containers. The styrofoam, shudder.

That ship has sailed. I mean, don’t get me wrong: I still don’t love the waste. But my view on our planetary crisis has evolved and also, I am human, and sometimes I just want some delicious food delivered to my doorstep. We’re not going to restaurants in-person like we once were, amiright?

I still try not to order out too often, and when picking restaurants, I think about their overall commitment to sustainability. I order vegetarian; mostly vegan. I don’t waste any of it! And another thing I think about is: how am I getting the food? Delivery is super convenient, but at what cost to our health? I sure don’t want more cars zig-zagging the city delivering food and spewing out toxic emissions. Transportation emissions are one of the main sources of CO2 emissions and causes of our region’s poor air quality.

I know, I know, it’s not that fun to think about the environmental impact of our take-out habits. Can’t we just enjoy that pad thai we’ve been craving? Well, in this case, it might actually be possible to have our cake and eat it too, if you will. Below you’ll find a draft list of restaurants in the Denver area that deliver food by bike.

But first, some disclaimers: this list has not been thoroughly vetted. I’m adding to it all the time based on information from my own experiences, and that of friends and acquaintances. Most restaurants only deliver within a certain radius. Restaurants might change their delivery mode at any time, and it could vary day to day. Always call ahead to inquire (and let me know what they say!). Please do tell me about of any other low-carbon food delivery options you know of!

Denver Restaurants That Deliver by Bike:

Rosenberg’s Bagels

Rye Society

Famous Original J’s Pizza

Ian’s Pizza

Giordano’s Pizza

Trattoria Stella

Aloi Thai

Mint Indian

Little India

El Camino

Humbolt Kitchen + Bar

Before moving to Colorado in 2012, I gave approximately two minutes of thought to environmental-related concerns about my new home. My husband and I pondered the cost of living, the walkability of neighborhoods, proximity to our families, the restaurant scene, and local schools. I think somewhere in the back of my mind I might have know that the Front Range had a history of air pollution, but I figured that it was well into the twenty-first century and surely local leaders had rectified that issue.

Nine years later, I regularly feel surges of emotion about the poor air quality that plagues our region. In addition to my frustration, disillusionment, and anger, I often experience surprise when talking to others about the situation. So many local residents seem to think the issue is forest fires. Many aren’t aware of the impact of ground-level ozone and what causes it.

Obviously, I’m not an environmental scientist. I’m just a person with a strong interest in mitigating the most severe impacts of the climate crisis by making the best choices we can based on science. I believe in the power of education, knowledge, and making informed decisions with the information accessible.

That said, here’s my lay-person description of the “bad ozone” problem, as I understand it:

The Front Range has bad air quality due to transportation, oil and gas activity, industrial pollutants, and the geographic location of our cities. This air quality is made worse by the smoke from wild fires and higher temperatures, both of which are driven by climate change.

Here’s an explanation from an expert:

“Ground-level ozone is caused by a mix of volatile organic compounds released by oil and gas and other industries, vehicle emissions and power plant emissions, and made worse by the hot sunshine metro Denver gets most of the summer. James Crooks, a National Jewish Health epidemiologist and professor, said at an event with CoPIRG on Tuesday that rising temperatures from global warming are making the ozone mix far worse.”

Booth, M. (2021, July 21). Colorado violates EPA ozone standards again as business groups cheer gutting of draft commuting limits. The Colorado Sun.

What does this mean for those of us living in Denver and other parts of the Front Range? Basically, even when we’re not dealing with the smoke from wild fires, we don’t get a respite from bad air quality. And this isn’t just me complaining or being a hobby environmentalist - there are actual measures in place that should be addressing the problem. Here’s an explanation of that situation from a recent new story:

“A nine-county area known as the Denver Metro/North Front Range Nonattainment Area has repeatedly failed to achieve the EPA’s 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone, which set the limit at an 8-hour average of 75 parts per billion. The chronic noncompliance has led to a series of downgrades under the Clean Air Act, the latest of which came in December 2019, classifying the region as a “serious” violator of clean-air laws and giving it until July 20, 2021, to shape up.

Though it will be a while before the findings are official, preliminary data show that Colorado is set to fall well short of the EPA’s ozone standard. Nearly everyone, including state officials, expects the agency to soon downgrade the region again, this time to “severe” nonattainment, triggering a range of new pollution control measures that will have to be enacted by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

In the meantime, Coloradans will continue to suffer health impacts from ozone pollution that appears — amid a summer of historic heat waves and devastating wildfires across the West — to be trending in the wrong direction.”

Woodruff, C. (2021, July 21). Denver area again misses deadline to meet EPA air-quality standards. Colorado Newsline.

Let’s break this down into simple terms, again: We have a bad problem with air quality and we need to do something about it ASAP.

Okay okay, you say, but what can we do? I don’t claim to have the answers. I’m open to ideas. But I sure as heck think we we need to do something. And that starts with education. Talk about it. Tell your friends and neighbors. Call Governor Polis. Join your neighborhood committee to advocate for change near home.

For some reason I just can’t get into audio books (I love reading hard copy books in bed at night!), but I adore podcasts. Whenever I’m doing housework, walking or driving somewhere, or just hanging around, I like to put on a podcast. Here are my top five podcasts that I keep going back to.

Quick note: these are all ongoing podcasts where each episode stands alone. There are lots of great podcast series (um, Serial!) but I’m leaving those out of this list.

one. // Up First {NPR} - Available by 6am ET every day except Sunday, this news podcast covers the top three news stories of the day. An episode is about 15 minutes long, and I find it a good way to make sure I don’t miss any big news. I usually throw it on when I’m doing the breakfast dishes or after I’ve gotten the kids off to school.

two. // How to Save a Planet {Gimlet} - This is hands-down my favorite podcast. It came out about a year ago, and each episode tackles an issue related to climate change and breaks down the science in very accessible language. Hosts Alex Blumberg and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson ask the big questions: “what do we need to do to solve the climate crisis, and how do we get it done?” They end each episode by asking one of the experts they’ve interviewed, “how screwed are we?” It’s a balanced and educational podcast for people interested in learning more about a whole host of issues: electric vehicles, regenerative agriculture, kelp farming, recycling, eating vegan, sustainable seafood, etc. etc.

three. // The Daily {The New York Times} - I pick and choose episodes from this podcast, which does in-depth episodes on significant current events. I listen to episodes on issues of interest to me, and enjoy the perspectives the NYT journalists provide. It’s a very well-produced, well-researched podcast.

four. // Rough Translation {NPR} - This podcast “explores cultural mistranslations and what we can learn from them.” Past seasons have explored issues across the globe, but the current season is looking at the cultural divide between American civilians and the military. Episodes drop every two weeks, so it’s easy to keep up with.

five. // Short Wave {NPR} - Despite being a big believer in science (a phrase I would have never used a few years ago), science content isn’t what always piques my interest. I’m not one to listen to an hour-long science podcast, but the quick Short Wave episodes (all about 10 minutes) are really enjoyable. The hosts break down scientific data and concepts into very basic terms and I always find myself sharing with others what I’ve learned from the episodes.

How about you? What podcasts do you listen to regularly?

Some of my most popular posts on Instagram are when I share what I’ve found at Goodwill and other thrift stores. I always get a few questions about where I go, and what other tips I have, so I thought I’d put a few thoughts here on the blog, for people to reference!

Of course this is all based on my own individual experiences, and I usually go to thrift stores close to where I live; I’m sure there are some GREAT ones elsewhere in the Denver area.

Which stores do you go to?

Goodwill. I like the variety of product they carry, as well as the fact their prices are generally determined by type of product not by brand. This means a kids’ shirt is $2.99 whether it’s originally from Target or JCrew. People have mixed feelings about the organization…I’ve heard some “horror stories” but I’ve also read a lot of good press about what Goodwill does for the secondhand market worldwide. Obviously no company is without their flaws, and Goodwill has to deal with an excessive amount of donations (we’re all over-consumers!). I generally feel good about shopping secondhand, and Goodwill makes it easy to do that.

I also shop at Kid-to-Kid in Arvada when I’m looking for specific products for my kids. I do find this spot to be a bit pricey, so that’s a deterrent for me. I like a deal!

Treasure Trunk Community Thrift Store in Lakeside is one of my favorite local spots. You definitely have to be ready to dig through the products here, but you can find some real gems! I love their crafting section and they often have school supplies.

I used to shop at Arc Thrift Stores more (they have great sales - every Saturday is 50% off most items, and they also have 99 cent days!) but there isn’t one very close to where I live now, so I don’t find myself there very often.

Which Goodwill location do you like best?

All of them! Ha. I usually go to the Central Park location because it’s closest to my house. They get a lot of Target overstock there, which is good or bad, depending on your view. If I find myself over on the west side of Denver, I like to go to the Lakeside Goodwill because it’s across the street from Treasure Trunk! The Archer location on Broadway has lots of good stuff and two floors! And I’ve been to locations in the suburbs that are fantastic, too. Just go to wherever is most convenient!

What are you favorite days/times to go shopping?

I generally avoid the weekends, especially during pandemic times (but that is when they often have good sales). I find if you go early in the week, the shelves are well stocked. But mostly I just go whenever I get the chance; it’s pretty random! I personally avoid the big sale days because I don’t like crowds (especially these days), but if you are looking for a lot of clothes or big items, it could be good to check the Goodwill calendar.

How do you find such good things?

Time! It takes time and patience to comb through the racks. I usually can’t get to all sections of the store during one visit; it just takes too long. I always keep a list of things I need on my phone, and I look at my list and prioritize the things I need most, or am most hopeful to find (things I really don’t want to buy new).

When looking for clothes, I look first at the material. For myself I like 100% cotton and wool products, but my kids often need polyester clothes for outdoor school. You can look at the edges of the clothes to get a sense of the material without pulling each item off the rack.

It’s also important to see what you find, not to just be looking for specific items. If you need something very specific, you will likely be disappointed (although it feels GREAT when you get lucky!).

Do you also shop online?

Yes! For specific items or when I can’t get to a store, I like to shop on Poshmark, Kidizen, thredUp, and eBay. And Facebook groups and Marketplace of course! (If you click the links above you can get $5-$10 off your first purchase.)

Tip: people often cross-post items on Poshmark and Kidizen., but you can barter on Poshmark but not Kidizen.

Other tips?

Keep a list: As I mentioned above, keep a running list of things you think of that you need in life. Instead of ordering them immediately, wait if you can and look for them the next time you’re thrifting.

Look for quality items: fast fashion is alive and well in thrift stores. Instead of getting the shiny new thing, look for well-made items that will last awhile. But on the flip side of that spectrum, if you need something cheap, better to get it used than new!

Stock up: if there are things you use a lot (like crayons or cloth napkins), stock up when you see them at a thrift store, even if you don’t need them that moment. We don’t need to become hoarders, but if you know you’ll use something in the future, it’s worth getting it secondhand at a cheaper price.

Put a few things back: Thrift shopping plays on our impulses just like “regular” shopping. Before checking out, double check your cart to see if you really need/want everything. Maybe you don’t need that holiday decor? Or maybe you do!

So many of you are experienced thrifters! What tips do you have?

To me, summer is for getting outside (and also for staying home: see my last post!), and I love having weekday adventures with my kids that aren’t too far from home. In this “Easy Urban Outdoors” series, I feature places that are close to the city (Denver) to get one’s outdoor adventure fix.

Star K Ranch unquestionably fits this description. In Aurora, east of Denver, this trail system includes Morrison Nature Center, providing educational opportunities for people of all ages (and a resident bull snake, box turtle and tiger salamander!) . When my kids were littler, we’d go to their kids’ class on a weekday morning (check their schedule for current programming).

Here’s what I love about spending a few hours at Star K Ranch:

• There’s a loop trail from the nature center that is doable for young kids. It’s probably 1 mile, maximum.

• In the center of the trail is a wetland, filled with cat tails, reeds, butterflies, frogs, birds, and more.

• There are ample places along the trail to stop an explore. Lots of trees/logs to climb.

• You feel far from the city: there are very few urban views.

• There are opportunities to join programming at the nature center.

Other notes:

• The Star K Ranch trails connect to both the High Line Canal Trail and the Sand Creek Trail. I personally haven’t biked here, but I think it’d be quite doable, depending where you live.

• It’d moderately stroller-friendly. I’d recommend a carrier, but if you have a BOB stroller or similar, you’ll probably be fine!

• Maybe it’s just luck, but I’ve been here several times over the last 5 years and it’s never been crowded.

Have you been to Star K Ranch? What did you enjoy about it?

I saw a meme a few weeks back. Or maybe it was just a screenshot of a Twitter post. It said something to the effect of “stop asking me about my summer plans; I liked it better when I was being applauded just for staying home.”

I laughed out loud and could totally relate. My kids finished up school last week, and in the weeks preceding, I got asked innumerable times about our summer plans.

I get that it’s a conversation starter. It’s like when people talk about the weather. But I also bristle a little bit at the idea that summers should be filled with camps and pool days and hikes and lemonade stands. Don’t get me wrong, I adore all those things (ok, except lemonade stands!). But I also love days at home. Days where we stay in our pajamas until noon and dig up bugs in the backyard. We turn on the sprinklers for a few minutes and we read lots of library books. We save the gas money and pool money.

Our family has plenty of summer plans: we are going camping, biking, hosting friends and family, and meeting up with people around the city and beyond. But if the time home during COVID taught us any lessons; if we truly did find some “silver linings,” maybe this summer can look different than the summer of 2019 for many of us. Maybe we don’t need to go back to “normal?”

Don’t feel bad if you’ve asked me about my summer plans. I’ve most likely asked you about yours!

I am honest with my answer: I tell people I’m looking forward to not doing much. I am grateful for that privilege. I know not everyone has it. But I think more people have it than realize they do. I also have some of my own pains. I occasionally find myself envious of those with more child care than we have. We've all go our challenges. Some more significant than others; I get that.

But I’m getting off track! My point is this: if it doesn’t come naturally to you to “just stay home,” try intentionally planning nothing for a few days this summer. Or this fall. Do it on purpose. Make it your plan. See how it feels.

I’ll be over here, too, doing the same. And maybe occasionally we can meet at the pool to discuss how it went ;)

Happy summer, friends!

I love cake. Deeply.

Back in the days when we went to kid birthday parties I was always internally outraged if there was only cake for the kids and not the adults.

I like cake for special occasions and also just because.

During the pandemic, we started celebrating half birthdays in our family. Cameron and Zoë’s half birthdays are in April, and in April 2020 we needed some pick-me-ups. We’ve continued the tradition: half cakes for half birthdays.

Despite loving cake and loving baking, I’m not into precious cakes. I don’t have the patience for beautiful decorations (even though I love it when others do it!); I’m mostly about taste.

That said, here are five of my favorite recipes for easy, vegan cakes you can make for a holiday, or just because! I highly recommend you make one ASAP.

one. // Gluten-Free Zucchini Cake {Minimalist Baker} - I am not gluten free, but this is hands down my favorite zucchini cake/bread/muffin. I’ve made it as a cake, and also as muffins. It works well both ways. It’s actually not vegan as written, but I make flax eggs to substitute and it works great (1T flax meal mixed with 3T water = 1 egg). I also usually omit the frosting because I think the cake is sweet enough as is, and not dry at all thanks to the zucchini, but if you wanted to spruce it up for a festive occasion, I’m sure the frosting would be delightful. I often double or triple the recipe; muffins or cake pieces freeze well.

two. // Vegan Chocolate Olive Oil Cake {Mamalina} - I made this the other day for Zoë’s half birthday. It’s super easy to make (one bowl!) and works great even at high altitude. I usually use a mix of 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 white and cut back the sugar a bit. As written, this recipe makes about 1.5 standard 9” cake pans so you can use smaller pans or make a few extra cupcakes.

three. // Vegan Coconut Cake {Nora Cooks} - I found this recipe after I bought a bunch of coconut flour with no real plan for what to do with it. Coconut flour can be a bit tricky to bake with, but if you follow this recipe exactly, you won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend the frosting, too: the cake is a bit dry without it.

four. // Vegan Coconut Cornmeal Cake {Bad Manners, formerly known as Thug Kitchen} - This recipe is from the Thug Kitchen cookbook. I love how simple this cake is, but it totally satisfies a cake craving. I recommend including the coconut frosting; remember to put your can of coconut milk in the fridge the night before!

five. // Vegan Banana Bread {The Simple Veganista} - Ok, I suppose technically this is banana “bread,” not “cake,” but honestly, where’s the line? It has sugar in it and it’s a sweet treat. Cake-ish in my book. I’ve tried dozens of banana bread recipes over the years and this is my favorite. Works well as muffins too.

Which will you make first? What’s your favorite kind of cake?