Culinary School

I know that I haven't blogged in quite some time and I feel incredibly guilty. But let me explain...I have just completed my fifth week of culinary school at the Natural Gourmet Institute.  After attending Fran Costigan's Vegan Baking Boot Camp there over the summer, I remember walking away feeling fully inspired, loving it, and thinking I’d never actually have the guts to apply and take on this full-time commitment. Running a healthy cookie company while teaching fitness classes at Physique 57, there was no way that this could be possible. The school is so unique to other culinary programs, as it includes classical training and cookery technique with a health-supportive and natural foods curriculum.  I will learn everything from French and Japanese knife skills to how foods contain healing and medicinal properties.  The first week alone I learned and practiced dozens of ways to cut a vegetable, I tasted distinctive fruits and vegatables, and I sat in on lectures covering various topics such as serving styles and food-borne illnesses.  I have since been introduced to every grain and bean that exsists, herbs and spices that I had never heard of, sea vegetables, soy proteins and whole foods lectures on the yin and yang and other theories on food energies. My fingers are cut up, my arms are sore, my feet ache, and my legs are usually swollen at the end of each day, and yet I couldn’t be happier. If you know me, or read my blog, you know that I have an obsession for food, in particular healthy foods, as well as a passion and need for movement. In order to live a healthful and balanced life, I believe that these two things go hand-in-hand. I am hoping to take my knowledge and skills to the next level and I think that this program will be a major stepping stone in that direction. I have already been introduced to so many things, I am excited to see what all is to come over the next several months. As life is handed to us all, sacrifices and changes were made in order to take on this challenge. I do look forward to getting back to the fitness world once I complete the program though I hope it will be with a new and different outlook, combining a culinary degree with my exsiting knowledge and background in movement and health. I invite you to stay with me along my journey to becoming a natural chef.  Please continue to support O'Cookies and follow along!

Summer Test Kitchen!

In the kitch testing some new recipes last week, my girls and I came up with some fun creations...not much to say just yet but I thought I'd share some pics. Think of this post as a "food for thought" blog. Made with all natural ingredients, these cutie-pie cupcakes are vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free! Perhaps a recipe will be soon to come? One hint: the icing base is made with avocados! Yep, and sweet coconut lime cakes packed with nutrition!

VOTE FOR O'COOKIES!

O'Cookies Wholesome Bites nominated: Best Baked Sweets, Vegetarian Times' 2010 Foodie Awards!!! Please vote!

This is a very exciting endorsement from the premier vegetarian publication in the country! And we need your help to win! Please help by voting today:http://staging.vegetariantimes.com/community/sweepstakes/55

Thank you so much,Vegetarian Times , for recognizing O'Cookies Wholesome Bites and thank you to all of our clients, family, friends and followers. I have truly appreciated all of your support over the past couple of years and could not have made it this far without you all.

So if you have a minute, you can take a look at all of the Vegetarian Times 2010 Foodie Award Nominees HERE, and vote for O'Cookies Wholesome Bites Vegan Dark Chocolate Raisin Oat! We are in category #13, “Baked Sweets”. 



Even if you haven't had a chance to try Vegan Dark Chocolate Raisin Oat, take it from VT and our happy customers - they rock! A seemingly sinful treat free of animal products - all natural, organic and healthy! All O'Cookies are available online for purchase at www.o-cookies.com or at Cafe Angelique in Manhattan, NY; La Casita Yarn Shop Cafe in Brooklyn, NY; and Smoothie King in Richardson, TX (Dallas area).

With thanks to Vegetarian Times and to you all for your continued support,

Erin O'Leary Stewart
Founder, President

New O'Cookies Flava

Ahh, the Almighty Almond. High in protein and heart-friendly, almonds are a great source of vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, fiber and are a good source of healthy monounsaturated fat. A handful of almonds a day helps reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering the ‘bad’ blood cholesterol by as much as ten percent. Combine that with the low-calorie and flavorful apricot, and add our O'Cookies wholesome ingredients and you've got yourself our new ALMOND APRICOT cookie! A perfect fit for a bright summer day. Try one for yourself. Currently available at Cafe Angelique. Coming to our website soon...

Extra! Extra!

Check us out in Glamour.com's Daily Health and Fitness Blog!

AND WE'RE LIVE!

O'Cookies is now being sold online! Check us out at:
http://www.o-cookies.com

Cookie Dreams Contest

What would YOU want in a cookie? Tell me your cookie fantasy and YOU could WIN your very own cookie....named after you! What is your ultimate flavor combination?
WHAT ARE YOU CRAVING?

If you're on Facebook, join my Group O'COOKIES and reply to the discussion board topic...
"What Would You Want In A Cookie?"

GET CREATIVE. GET THINKING. START DROOLING.
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT IN YOUR COOKIE?????

Voting starts now!

O'Cookies Captured

Latest O'Cookies Flavor!

EXTRA! EXTRA! 

Drum roll please.................

I am here to announce the latest addition to the O'Cookies family: 

Double Chocolate Cherry Chunk! 

Decadent white and dark organic chocolate with whole dried cherries and oats. Heavenly. 

Try one for yourself. Place an order by emailing: erino@o-cookies.com. Or stop by your local Cafe Angelique! 

Cheers!

Cookie Cracked

Have I expressed to you my true infatuation for a good cookie? Well in the case that you are unaware, I am a cookie monster. I'm talking a lean mean fighting cookie-craving machine. A cookie maven, a cookie master, a cookie freak. A professional cookie taster. The powerhouse of...okay, you get it. Where did this come from one may ask?? I have to be honest, it's in the genes. I got my dreaded sweet tooth from my mother- it was always in the cards. C'est la vie! How can one pass up a gooey, chunky, decadent, oat-y baked treat at any time of the day? This, of course, is why I created my own version. On the healthier side, my cookies are made with a wholesome blend of flours, oats, unrefined sugars, some with dried fruits and nuts, some with decadent organic chocolate, and they are the perfect size to indulge sans the guilt! Sound too good to be true? Try them for yourself! Check out my latest flavor, Fruit and Nutz, with your morning coffee at Cafe Angelique!