The Vegan, Gluten Free Donut has Arrived!

Guess what!

I mixed a little bit of this (xanthan gum) and a little bit of that (potato starch) with a little bit of a lot of other things (garbanzo and fava bean flour, brown rice flour, arrowroot, and coconut oil) and I got this:

Vegan, gluten free donuts covered with cinnamon and sugar!

I’m feeling like Columbus, friends! To quote Nina Simone’s classic song: it’s a new dawn – it’s a new day – and I’m feeling….good (insert musical interlude here, and bust out your dance moves).

The catalyst to this event came a few weeks ago. I had a conversation with a lovely woman named Debbie who, after reading the article about sugar in the NY Times, was concerned about her children’s sugar intake (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html). More specifically, she spoke about the school ritual where on a child’s birthday, the parent of that child is to bring in dessert for the kids in the class in order to celebrate. There is a particular brand of donut that most children bring in which is full of bad fat and sugar. Debbie told me that if I could make a healthier alternative that is kid tried and tested, she would be delighted.

Ever up for a good challenge, I ordered my donut mold on Amazon (once again, love this company), and, already armed with Erin McKenna’s Babycakes Covers the Classics, when it arrived 2 days later, I got to work.

The batter was questionable at times, a little lumpy at others, but I went with it, and came out smiling! Six different people have tried the donuts, and they are amazed – they are delicious! I gave a few to some moms here and am eagerly awaiting the results and feedback from the ultimate taste testers: their children. Yoikes!

Now, I’m pooped! But before I head off to bed, I leave you with this thought, perhaps a reminder of something you already know: we cannot discover new oceans unless we have the courage to lose sight of the shore.

I wish you the love and strength to have the courage to take a leap of faith, not knowing if there is solid ground on the other side. You just might find yourself chomping on a gluten free, vegan donut, cinnamon sugar all over your mouth, surprised that something so healthy could taste so good.

Your friend,

Lauren

xxx