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Let's be honest, in today's world, though there are still many restrictions, there are also various ways we can identify ourselves. Even what seems to be plain black and white issues can have disclaimers printed in the tiniest of font at the very bottom of the page. Take veganism, for example. There are just so many layers now. Here's my overly simplified version:

There's an additional strata for veganism, mainly for nourishment: plant-based (we can dig deeper here, too) versus "fat vegans". The main difference between these two is the consumption of processed vegan foods. On the plant-based side, there are raw vegans, which to me, is the highest level you can go on the  veganism scale. That's just my opinion. Then, there are plant-based vegans who have no problem eating whole grains along with their fruits and veggies. On the other end of this spectrum you'll find what have been popularly referred to as "fat vegans" (I first heard this term from a food documentary), who are technically vegans because they consume no animal protein/by product, but eat heavily processed foods. Give them all the chips, vegan burgers, vegan junk food, etc. and you've won their hearts. As the documentary pointed out, you can eat all the pasta with tomato sauce and fries and bread, and call yourself vegan. 

Where am I in this spectrum? A little bit everywhere. In all honesty, there's much more work on my end when it comes to my overall consumption of animal products. If you ask me whether or not I still wear leather and the like, my answer would be yes. I have bought leather products less and less in the last year and I'm challenging myself this year. I have compassion for the animals and it's bright as day in my head, but alas, I need a kick in the butt to fully commit. The last leather product I bought were snow boots and I felt so awful about it that I ended up buying vegan loafers from Matt & Nat. Go figure. This is why I'm torn to call myself "vegan". Food consumption-wise, I'm 100% vegan, and totally in between plant-based and fat vegan. I've never said no to bread or pasta. Just sayin'.

Cookies were my weakness as a child. Especially what I now deem as quite salty yet too sweet and rather artificial cookies: Chips Ahoy. My parents didn't always have those cookies around when we were growing up, but when the pantry was aplenty, I turned into a veritable Cookie Monster. What moderation? There was no stopping at one serving size of two cookies. None!

Boxed cookies and biscuits were the first processed foods that I gave up when I shifted my diet to a plant-based one. Even today, Oreos are apparently vegan, but I can't seem to make myself buy them. The time I really wanted cookies & cream nicecream, I ended up buying this gluten-free, vegan alternative. Not really the same thing. I still think baking your own cookies is the better option because you know what actually goes in the ingredients. Keep this in mind: Just because an item is labelled "vegan" doesn't directly mean it's healthy.

So, are these cookies healthy or not? It depends on your definition of "healthy," obviously. But to me, I don't consider cookies or anything else I bake "junk food" because I control the sugar content and every other ingredient I choose to include. It's all soul food to me at this point. Better the cookies straight from my oven than manufactured in a sad facility in the middle of nowhere. Plus, these cookie recipes will spark your creativity! You can switch up the flavours easily. Let me show you!



Gluten-Free S'mores Cookies
Makes 12-15 cookies

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup Earth Balance vegan butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax, 3 tbsp water)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup gluten-free flour mix (I used Bob Red Mill's)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup Enjoy Life Foods mega chocolate chunks
• Dandies marshmallow

In a small bowl, cream together butter and sugar. When softened, add flax egg and vanilla. Incorporate flour, baking powder and salt.

When mixed, add in chocolate chunks and incorporate again. 

Chill the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Roll a tablespoon of dough and flatten. Top with a slice of marshmallow then roll into a ball, ensuring that the marshmallow is encased within the dough.

Bake for 9-12 minutes. Let cool on the sheet for at least five minutes (until the cookies "set") then transfer to cool completely on a wire rack.

Enjoy! xx

Chocolate Chip Cookie with Molasses & Hazelnut Butter
Makes 10 cookies

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup Earth Balance vegan butter, softened
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax, 3 tbsp water)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 tsp molasses (not blackstrap molasses)
• 3/4 cup spelt flour
• 1/4 cup oat flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup Enjoy Life Foods mega chocolate chunks
• Hazelnut butter (or nut butter of choice)

In a small bowl, cream together butter and sugars. When softened, add flax egg, molasses and vanilla. Incorporate flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

When mixed, add in chocolate chunk and incorporate again. 

Chill the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Roll a tablespoon of dough and flatten. Top with a teaspoonful of hazelnut butter then roll into a ball, ensuring that the hazelnut butter is encased within the dough.

Bake for 9-12 minutes. Let cool on the sheet for at least five minutes (until the cookies "set") then transfer to cool completely on a wire rack.

Enjoy! xx

My very first diary was a product of boredom at the tender age of five. I still remember the purple notebook my mum got me, I think, for the purpose of practising my alphabets. But, nay, I decided to string my words together and create what I meant to be meaningful sentences describing my worries and triumphs at what I thought was a big girl's age. 

I remember writing about not being like other girls because I hated wearing dresses (ironically enough, I LOVE dresses now that I'm in my 20s), preferring my denim shorts and runners. I even included the "perfect" dress for me, which was really just a sleeveless thing that hit below the knees because I thought if it was longer, then maybe the other girls would think I have some kind of princess vibe going on. Don't ask. My five year-old logic was definitely flawed. 

But the writing continued. At times, so fervently. At others, almost like El Nino because of writing drought. I've lost a lot of those journals, but I keep a few now and it saddens me to see that I write more often when: 1) I'm crushed by agonising misery, 2) there's somehow a boyman involved, or 3) my smile reaches my ears because my world is at peace. Obviously, I need more of the third point in my journals to uplift my general mood and when I do read these entries again, I want to be reminded of the great things in my life. 

Here's a preview of what I've written throughout the years. (Side note: I don't start with "Dear Diary". I've always addressed my diary as "Liv," derived from the Scandinavian word meaning "life". How appropriate is that?)

October 30, 2012

Aren't you proud of me? I do realise I don't have it "good" (as the saying goes) as most of the people I know, but I'm managing to hang in there, teeth and nails and all. Strive. 

(At 23, I thought I needed it all figured out... I'm 27 now and I still don't have much figured out. Freaking out only a little bit.) 

March 15, 2013

I'm the happiest of girls right now! [...] I'm all jelly inside, really. I can't stop smiling. It's happening! [...]

P.S. I think my heart is ready to burst. 

(That one time I fancied myself in love.)

April 2, 2013

I really should never get excited for anything ever again. 

(I can't stop laughing at this because my entry was literally just that one sentence and I can't for the life of me decipher what it's about...)

One Saturday, September 2013

Amsterdam, BABY!!!

(Nothing more to say.)

November 29, 2014

It's been a while, I know. The past few months have been a whirlwind. And not of the good nor exciting kind. I feel as if I'm being thrown around a room with sharp edges. Or being pushed down a rocky cliff. Or drowned in ice cold waters. I'm aware that all these horrible experiences are bound to teach me some lesson, to make me stronger and more resilient, to be of some use to me one day. [...]. Right now, right this moment, all I can do is wallow in self-pity. It's not brave. 

(What happens when you work in audit and your personal life goes up in flames.) 

Sometimes, I draw, too. But I always eat. 

September 25, 2015

Last day as a 25 year-old. It seems like time just flew by. This year has been a nightmare, but it had its highs, too. Nonetheless, I'm grateful. 

Flying home from Barcelona. Currently on my second to the last plane ride today. Almost home. And how else did I spend this day? By holding hands under a blanket and flirting with a stranger. Mon dieu. 

[...]

Twenty six. The age when my mother married. An age when most women are already thinking of the possibility of settling down in the near future. Age when you should be making smarter choices. But I'm not there. I've barely made it out of my eggshell. It's just sandcastles now. 

(I dunno. Obviously you can blame a few factors here. High altitudes. Turning a year older. Or perhaps I'm just that crazy. Don't judge me. TBH, I had one of the most intellectually stimulating and interesting conversations with that stranger. I won't say anything about his hands. Bye!)

February 19, 2016

I love you daddy. 

(The day my dad passed away.)

December 1, 2016

But it's finally December! How fast time flies! It's like only yesterday I was cancelling on [guy's name withheld] and working a lot at [company name withheld]. Shit. 

(Truth bomb: If we're dating, there's a slight chance I'll forget we're even together. Fail. Big one. Don't feel bad for the guy; he found someone who won't let him go so easily. It also has happened more than once. I'm working on these issues.) 

Okay, I just realised this went on forever so I'll transition ever so gracefully (not) to the recipe. Due to boredom and the fact that I just have too many gluten-free flours in my pantry (gluten-free blend, gluten-free oat, brown rice, almond, coconut, chickpea, etc.), I've been baking up a storm. It just felt like my weekend needed cookies, chocolate and almond butter for the kicks. I've seen a few recipes online, but it's so much more fun sometimes when you try and perhaps have a beautiful mess. 

Can't stop, won't stop at one.

Vegan & Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Cookies

Makes 12-18 cookies (depending on size)

Ingredients:

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