My classical or vegan chocolate chip cookies

· Decoration, Fashion, Food

I have always loved chocolate chip cookies: they are perfect for tea time or to come along an ice cream during summer time. It isn’t very bikini-friendly but the most important is to treat you once in a while!

A few weeks ago, I got a  food processor to prepare pastries (= now that I like cooking it changes my life). I wanted to prepare two rounds of pastries: “classic” one with butter, flour and chocolate and another “vegan” one to compare.

 

I will share the two recipes and the result of the battle at the end of this article. Let’s go !

 

My classical chocolate chips cookies

Plate Monoprix x Nadia Gallardo

 

I used as a base this recipe but decreased the quantity of butter and sugar as I thought it was too much.

 

INGREDIENTS FOR 10 CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES :

  • 100g of softened butter
  • 80g of cane sugar
  • 1 pack of vanilla sugar
  • 150g of wheat flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 70g of chocolate chips
  • Hazelnuts and pecan nuts: as much as you like (depending on how much you like nuts)

 

Food processor Kitchen Aid (38% off)
Wooden chopping board Monoprix x Nadia Gallardo
Tea towel Monoprix x Nadia Gallardo

 

RECIPE :

  1. Mix the sugar and softened butter with the food processor (or beater) in order to get a homogenous dough.
  2. Add the egg, flour, baking powder. And mix.
  3. Once you get a homogenous dough, add chocolate chips, hazelnuts and/or nuts. And mix again.
  4. Shape small balls of dough with a scoop, and place them on a cookie sheet and flatten them on the baking tray.
  5. Bake about 20 minutes at 160°C and stop the cooking process once they get golden brown.
  6. Let cool on the baking tray before tasting and store them in an airtight container .

 

 

My vegan chocolate chip cookies

I tried to adapt the recipe above with vegan ingredients by replacing the egg by plant milk and by decreasing the amount of sugar because of the strong sweetness of the coconut sugar (you can also decrease the sugar amount of my recipe above too if you want)

 

INGREDIENTS FOR 8-9 VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES :

  • 60g of coconut oil
  • 35g of coconut sugar (or raw sugar)
  • 110g of chestnut flour
  • 20cl of plant milk (you can choose either soy, almond, spelt…)
  • A pinch of salt
  • 50g of dark chocolate chips
  • Hazelnuts and pecan nuts: as much as you like (depending on how much you like nuts)

 

 

RECIPE :

  1. The coconut oil must be soft but not liquid (as softened butter, so warm up the container with hot water the the oil is solid)
  2. Mix the oil, sugar in the food processor (or beater) to get a homogenous dough.
  3. Add plant milk, flour, pinch of salt and mix.
  4. Add chocolate chips and nuts. Then mix again.
  5. Shape small balls of dough with a scoop, and place them on a cookie sheet on a baking tray and flatten them as mentioned above.
  6. Bake 10 minutes at 180°C then let them cool on the baking tray and enjoy.

 

The result of the “Classical” vs “Vegan” battle

I admit, this result is completely subjective but I am curious to know your thought if you try these recipes.

I am actually quite lucky to not be food intolerant and I like pretty much everything (apart from tripe but it’s not related to cookies recipe!)

I can eat whatever I want my digestive system doesn’t give me a warning for this or that ingredient (as for now!). So, my feeling is based on taste, texture and yumminess dimension.

 

CLASSICAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES :

♦ Real yumminess: crunchy texture outside and softness inside (especially when they are still a bit warm when just out of the oven)

♦ The dough is a bit sticky when we try to shape them.

♦ Not really a friend when it comes to a diet nor for those who need to be careful with sugar and/or cholesterol.

 

Wooden chopping board Monoprix x Nadia Gallardo
Tea towel Monoprix x Nadia Gallardo

 

VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES :

♦ Reduced yumminess but the light taste of coconut (thanks to the oil and sugar) goes quite well with the chocolates chips.

♦ More soft than crunchy and more golden brown.

♦ More difficult to shape once you dispose them on the baking tray: so try to shape with your hand instead (like a modeling clay).

♦ The texture is a bit more friable (especially when they are warm as after the coconut oils clots everything after) therefore to be enjoyed cooled.

 

Cake stand Virginia Casa

 

MY OPINION :

I like both version but I have a slight preference for the classical ones and their crunchy-softness.

The advantage with vegan cookies is the low nutritional intake (lower glycemic index, no animal-fat) and the healthy alternative in case of impulsive greediness.

And if you are addict to the crunchy side like me, add more hazelnuts in the vegan dough and the problem is solved!… In a nutshell: one point for everyone! Enjoy! (English translation by Quiterie)


My Outfit

Tee-shirt brought from my Japan trip at Shiretoko, Hokkaido
Jeans Sézane pour La Redoute (already seen here)
Flats Jonak (already seen here)

Earrings Soko
Necklace Minetta Jewellery
Watch “La Garçonne” Cluse

Do as you wish!

· Fashion

After a schizophrenic month of April, it’s time for May and sunshine! And to celebrate spring, La Redoute asked me to create an outfit with elements from its new collection.

As I’ve been telling you lately, I’ve been trying to consume less and better clothes-wise, using what I already have, replacing what is worn out and investing only in good basics and accessories.

 

New basics…

Here, I chose to opt for natural materials like cotton and linen, which is essential for a long life in my wardrobe :

A high-waisted pair of pants in a beautiful dark red (it’s very difficult to find a red that doesn’t tend towards orange : I couldn’t let this perfect red pass me by!) and a short-sleeved shirt in linen for a masculine and casual look.

 

…and old ones !

I voluntarily chose … not to choose (!) new shoes or a new bag for this outfit because I already had all I needed in my closet!

This basket is from last year and remains essential to my eyes as soon as the sun starts coming out on a regular basis : I even took it with me to Bali last summer and it’s still in perfect condition!

As for the white derbies, you’ve seen them before here and there : unequaled comfort and very resistant when I think of all the kilometers walked in them for the past 2 years!

 

 

“La Redoute” vouchers to win on my Instagram

To help you get your own basics and essentials for your spring wardrobe, I’m hosting a little Instagram challenge to help you and your friend win gift cards for La Redoute, one of my favorite brands and websites since, well, forever! Good luck, and a happy month of May to you! (English translation by Marine)

 

Promoted post and Instagram challenge made in collaboration with La Redoute


My Outfit

Linen shirt La Redoute Collections
Red pants La Redoute Collections
Basket La Redoute (2017) (similar here)
Derbies Mademoiselle R (2016) (similar here)

Strolling in Daikanyama

· Decoration, Fashion, Illustration, Travel

It’s been quite some time… but here is my last post about Tokyo before telling you all about Onsen Akita area and Hokkaido island. It might be a bit weird to see photos with snow in the middle of May but I think it’s never early if you want to start preparing your trip for winter 2019 !

So today I’m taking you to Daikanyama, a neighborhood I quickly visited during one of my last trip. People usually compares it to the Marais in Paris or Brooklyn.

 

You can catch the bohemian style and trendy ambiance, full of people reading Kinfolk Magazine and drinking a nice coffee slowly filtered by a Chemex machine. I’m exaggerating a bit but it’s kind of true!

I didn’t take much photos that day as the temperatures were freezing but I still want to give you a few shopping or yummy addresses, which worth to stop by. Anyway, I am pretty sure you would find nice places just by wandering around.

 

My shopping addresses

The shops in this neighborhood gather everything I like in terms of decoration and clothes. Right cut, simple and good quality.

In terms of decoration, I mostly took this chance to find inspiration (as our luggages were not expandable) but as for fashion I found a coat that you’ve seen me wearing quite a few times lately. Here are all the shops that I liked and you might be interested in!

 

TENOHA DAIKANYAMA (20-23 Daikanyamacho)

A concept store mixing decoration, groceries, a little bit of fashion and a restaurant. I really liked this place full of tableware, furniture made of wood and foliage plants.

 

You can consider bringing back a few plates but as for the rest it’s more like ‘touch with your eyes!”… not because of the price but once again for the size of the luggage! Here is a quick glance at was is available on their website, just if you want to have a look before going.

 

THE TENT (1 Chome-35-5 Ebisunishi)

It’s the shop where I found my Prince of Wales check coat made by the brand Munich (the name is a bit misleading in term of geography!).

The shop is made of two parts, first with a choice of different brands of clothes and don’t ask me why but the second part is for pet grooming!

The selection of clothes is more ’nature’ style than sophisticated. Prices are quite expensive (thankfully they had sales) but you may find your hidden treasure like I did! Here is the website to give you an idea of the style.

 

UNICO (1-34-23 Ebisu-nishi)

A decoration shop with a style very Kinfolk/bohemian: wood, leather, natural fabrics and once again foliage plants.

 

For this one too, you can have a look at their website and dream about a cosy ambiance such as the ones I like. The “Staff’s room” part (quick glance at the employees interior decoration) is very inspiring and will give you an idea of what you can find in the store.

 

PATINAS VINTAGE CLOSET (2 Chome-17-11 Ebisunishi)

For vintage lovers, a second-hand shop where you can find clothes, bags and accessories.

 

CUSHU CUSYU (1 Chome-31-16 Ebisunishi)

Here, a choice of kitchen tools and other small decoration items easy to carry back home in a suitcase. I don’t think everything is nice but you may find one or two valuable things. Here is the instagram account.

 

Yummy addresses

This quarter, as in Shimokitazawa has a lot of Instagramable coffee shops. Here are some yummy addresses we have experimented and other ones, potentially interesting. Enjoy !

 

ONIGIRI ICHIGO (2-14-10 Ebisu Nishi)

I am not sure this Onigiri shop is a permanent store or if it was only a pop-up (Japanese love pop-up stores) but in this case, it seems that it’s part of group, which owes other restaurants you can easily find in Tokyo.

An onigiri is actually not very special: it’s a ball of rice (sometimes stuffed with salmon, meat, …) wrapped with seaweed but if it’s made with quality ingredients, it becomes very tasty, which was the case during this winter day.

 

ORGANIC CAFE BOMBAY BAZAR (20-11 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)

During winter time curry become one of the unmissable pleasure: spicy and large portion, it’s the perfect meal against the bad weather.

To access this place, you need to go downstairs in a very ‘natural’ place (decoration with pieces of wood, unmatched chairs and vintage tables). Bathrooms are also quite exotic.

 

We can feel the importance of ecology, fresh and organic products. Service was a bit long (they may try to follow the concept of ’Slow Life’ !) but I keep a magical and nostalgic memory of the curry I had: the Seasonal Vegetable Yellow Keema Curry.

Quite spicy but sweet and creamy at the same time, everything was all gone in my bowl, excellent!

 

MATSUNOSUKE (〒150-0033 D-11 Hill Side Terrace 29-9 Sarugakucho)

I didn’t have the to try but from what we saw it seems to be the place to be to have apple pies in Tokyo. Pancakes can be also found.

 

GOHANHYA ISSHIN DAIKANYAMA (30-3 Sarugakucho,
Sous-sol du Twin Building Daikanyama)

A traditional Japanese restaurant hidden from the crowd of hipsters. Sashimi, tempura, grilled mackerel. This address might worth too stop by if you already had too much of pancakes and salads.

 


My Outfit

Coat Samsøe Samsøe (already seen here)
Suit “Cooperative” Urban Outfitters (already seen here)
Cashmere turtleneck La Redoute
Sneakers Stan Smith Adidas
Tote bag Madewell
Scarf Acne Studios

Earrings Les Partisanes
Watch Cluse
Necklace Minetta Jewellery

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