It’s only day two, but spring break can be tiring so I definitely want to pace myself. I scheduled myself a day of ease today and decided to just stay home and do some baking.

I mean, it had nothing to do with the fact that I could not get out of my driveway.

Yep, that’s the view of my street from my garage. There is a giant truck blocking me from getting out.  I’m sure the county felt spring break was the perfect time to barricade people in their houses, because what fools would stay in Chicago this time of year?

I mean, why would I want to take advantage of NO PLANS on spring break by sleeping in? Sleep is overrated anyway.  Wouldn’t YOU just get up when you hear construction workers outside your house pounding and scraping and drilling at 6am?

Here is the view from the street:

Can you see my house?  You can’t?

I CANT EITHER.

So….what better to do with all my free time at home than bake? But not just any baking. LENTEN baking. Because when you’re Greek Orthodox you really shouldn’t be eating meat, fish, dairy or eggs for 40 days.  But actually it’s 49.  Nope. It isn’t 49 either.  It’s 55.  You think it’s 40 days your whole life until you become an adult and you really count it out and see that your mom and dad tricked you your whole life. But that’s a different blog. Anyway, THANK GOODNESS I am not in some tropical location with fresh fish and sprawling buffets during Lent!!  Who wants that?? I will stick with my pasta and salad with vinegar thank you very much.

Anyway, today I decided to bake a cake without eggs or dairy products.  Omitting what seems like essential items makes baking a cake challenging FUN!  First, google “vegan desserts” and then go directly to the grocery store because I guarantee you won’t have most of the ingredients in your cupboard.  Pick up your tahini, sunflower butter, and coconut oil and run home and start baking!!

The result was a spice cake that was a bit heavy on the clove flavor, weighed around 13 pounds, and had a bit of an after-taste.  But hey, if you gave up sweets for Lent and don’t want to feel guilty about enjoying yourself then this is the dessert for you!

What an amazing day.  I mean, can you bake at some lame resort in HAWAII?  I DON’T THINK SO!! They probably don’t even let you near their kitchen.  That would suck.  I mean, how are you going to get your soy milk and flax-seed??