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Ugh. I was up all night with thoughts of doughnuts: powdered sugar, glazed, maple bars, jelly-filled. I think I haven't been this excited since I mastered my frosting recipe! So I raced to work today to do a little tinkering on the recipe and the results today are even better!

So anyway. People. You have made it very clear that you want the doughnuts every day. I am so with you and it brings me teary joy to declare today the day that doughnuts will officially on the menu for good. Let's Party.

In April, Veg News asked me what my dream menu item would be. I said, "The perfect vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, agave-sweetened, no-fry doughnut." After that, it really started to bug me that I hadn't been able to master that yet.

Today, my dear friends, is a big day at the bakery. I finally made the doughnuts of my dreams and they are reeeeeeeeaaaaally good. I cannot believe it! Whoooooooooooooooooooooo! YES! We are LOSING IT here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn it feels good to be a baker.

Now...I know we talked about old favorites that you'd like to see in an imaginary book and I thank everyone for the inspirational ideas (some we actually already make but they haven't made it on the official menu yet!). The thing about it is, that I'd also like to ask you hypothetically again for some requests. What if I were to hypothetically write a "how-to" book about opening a small business. Any burning questions you'd like answered? Advice you'd like to hear? Hairstyles advise that will land you the job?

Again, I'm just asking.

We all know what a drag it is when you find out you have all sorts of food allergies. But what do you do when your dog's got them? No, you don't feed them BabyCakes! You throw the dog a bone (sorry! that was way too easy). Biscuits by Lambchop is a local company that makes dog treats that are free of gluten, wheat, rice, corn, soy, animal proteins and preservatives, the most common sources of canine food allergies. They are also low in fat, sodium and phosphorus to meet the special dietary needs of some dogs with kidney, liver and pancreas conditions.

But are they any good? Yep. Annette, the genius behind the brand, lives in the neighborhood and all the dogs know her. They pull their owners to her because they know she's packin treats. I've seen it happen a few times and it's AFV funny.

Don't live in New York? Lucky you, she ships! You can order them here. Your doggie will love you! Mean it!

There are times when I come across a business that makes my heart melt. Allow me to introduce Craft Kitchen, an art space in Orange County where aspiring crafters can learn the tricks of the trade under the guidance of professional art makers. Don't know how to sew? Big deal. They'll teach you everything from threading the machine to advanced stitchery. But wait! There's more! Classes for screenprinting, accessory-making, painting , and transforming your t-shirts into wearable art. Learn to make books! Truffles! Loomed Flowes! Are you joking? No.

Could there possibly be a better way to spend the day with your friends? And mommies-- they even have classes for kids so you can raise a little do-it-yourselfer, just like you!

Friday was the official first day of Spring, right? Those of us living in NY were anointed into the new season with cold, cold snow. Not exactly bikini weather yet, but I'm still honoring my Spring duties which include my first ever (GASP!) juice cleanse. I know, I know. I was so bummed all weekend just thinking about it. Fearful thoughts that I'd lose it overwhelmed me. How could I pass by those flaky biscuits, rich gooey brownies, melt in your mouth cookies and the cupcakes (those sweet tender morsels of delight) without shoving them into in my mouth, all at the same time?

I did get some comfort knowing I chose the Blue Print Cleanse, which seems to be the perfect match for those of us who like to eat. A LOT. This cleanse seemed to be the right match for me, cause it doesn't starve you or promise that you will lose 80 pound (the very reason I shied away from them in the first place). You get 6 juices to get you through the day.The big purpose here is to give your liver and other organs a much needed break so they can get rid of all the junk you may have given it-knowingly or unknowingly..

So, I'm on day one. Feeling good, but fantasizing about the cornbread. I won't bore everyone with daily updates but will post results after this is over. I'm going to feel great right? Right???? Oh lord, keep me away from those biscuits...

Get ready everybody! St. Patrick's Day is just a few days away. For New Yorkers, joining the festivities is kinda like attending the SuperBowl with all the painted faces, drunkards full of spirit and no parking anywhere. You're either on "Team Irish" or "Team Get Out of My Face". Being of Irish decent, I'm totally on Team Irish. I even took (read: was forced into) Irish dancing lessons despite the fact that I practically grew up on the boarder of Mexico and desperately wanted to blend in with my classmates (thanks, dad!). Now that baking has taken the front seat to any jigging around come March 17th, I've created a few specials to get us in the spirit. Here it is:

Jameson Soaked Vanilla Cupcakes wih a Shamrock Reduction Vanilla Frosting.

Pretty straight forward. Our famous vanilla cupcake drunked in Jameson. Oh and the "Shamrock Reduction" just means green. Available in the non-drunk variety for those who can't hold the drink (like myself).

Shamrock Cookies

Cookies shaped like shamrocks

For the smarties out there who know that whiskey is distilled from wheat, fear not! It is naturally gluten-free. Just ask Gluten Free Girl! Party!!!!

I think it was about 2 days after the opening of BabyCakes NYC that Jason Schwartzman walked into the bakery and bought a cupcake. Back in those days, there were no lines and I was actually sitting at the counter reading a book (and not even a good one). Jason said he heard about the bakery from a friend and because he was vegan AND a super healthy young man he really appreciated that we used agave nectar and was well versed on the benefits of coconut oil-I might even say he was coconut obsessed (he named his band Coconut Records. Loco). He took my suggestion on the carrot cupcake (it's my fav) and off he went on a plane to another country or something (Paris? India?). He returned from his trip and headed to the bakery with about 900 friends. They had an eating contest. They mowed so much. I couldn't frost fast enough. Dang.

Anyhow-we've gotten to know each other over the years and I've become as big of a fan of his as he is of the bakery (look for his testimonial in the BabyCakes NYC cookbook out in May). I mean, did you know that between movies he has put out 2 albums? On his own record label, Young Baby Records? And that he composed and played all the music on them on top of singing? AND. It's really really good. It's like,

"WHOA. What??? Really?!?! "

Just like that. We started playing it at the bakery because the girls thought it had some good jams to frost cupcakes to, and then had so many inquiries about it from customers that we've started selling his album, Davy, at the counter. For all of you who can't make it in, we're also making it available on our website. If you are too lazy to call us, you can always download it on iTunes too. Get ready for your newest favorite!

Ok. Winter is getting reeeaaally boring. I mean, if I have to debate between my 2 tore up coats and decide which one looks least likely to ruin a good outfit one more time, I swear. I'm going to lose it and it's not going to be very lady-like.

But spring is in the air, right? RIght??? Ok, maybe not but let's pretend. Speaking of warm weather, cute summer dresses, cut off shorts, ponytails, sandals, sun-kissed faces and natural highlights I should tip you off that Stogo, the new vegan agave sweetened ice cream shop in the East Village is dishing out some serious ice cream that is attracting vegan and non-vegan customers in NYC despite the sub-zero temperatures we've been having. And did we mention they carry BabyCakes cupcakes, cookies and brownies too? You can't go wrong!

So check it out if you are in the area. Tell us your thoughts! I'm thinking hot fudge sundae with our brownies and topped with our chocolate chip cookie crumbs. Mmmmmmmmm.

When my boyfriend is in trouble, he comes to the bakery with a fistful of flowers. When I'm the one in the wrong (listen, this rarely the case), he'll get a delivery of, say, red velvet cupcakes. Maybe I'm biased but I think getting the cupcakes is a way sweeter deal.

The point?

Why not deliver cupcakes to your Valentine this year instead of flowers? We nestle them in these super cool boxes that make them look like adorable treasures. Green Connoisseur Magazine even featured it here!

You know how quickly we book so call ahead!

Almost every day, customers fire off all kinds of suggestions. So much that we even got a tea called "Constant Comment" to offer to the extra loquacious bunch. Of all the requests, not a day goes by when someone doesn't request sandwich bread. And we want you all to know that we hear you! And we are totally not all over it. Sorry guys, but that would require a whole new facility and business model.

But still, we are all ears. Do you have some random childhood sweet memory you wish we could re-do in the BabyCakes fashion? Have you had something at the bakery just once only to return time after time to never see it again? Inquiring minds want to know!

So let's make the comment section the sounding board, shall we? Our favorite request will make it onto our next menu. We're serious!

*This "peanut" joke is just a play on words, ok?

[Hey Everyone! Introducing Emily Woesthoff, BabyCakes NYC's resident Office Manager and super compassionate vegan. She's going to post things occasionally, because the girl has got a lot to say! I advise you listen up-she could teach you as much as she has taught me!]

I know we all have springtime reading lists packed, what with "BabyCakes" the BabyCakes NYC Cookbook coming out and all. Once you've read it cover to cover and you're full of gluten-free goodness to your heart's content, you'll have to check out the latest gem by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, "The Face on Your Plate: The Truth About Food."

The fine people at W.W. Norton were kind enough to send us an advanced copy of "The Face on Your Plate: The Truth About Food" (which hits the shelves March 2009). I was the lucky one who checked the mail that day, so I got first dibs on this amazing, and I mean ah-may-zing book.

Even though I'm vegan and I like to consider myself semi-well-versed on the plight of animals, I learned so, so much while reading this book. Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson (I'll call him Jeff for short) taught me new things I never knew about milk, eggs, chickens and turkeys. Yes, turkeys, just in time for Thanksgiving!

Masson's conversational style of writing will definitely keep this book glued to your hands, I couldn't put it down! Jeff's book is a great resource for vegans to reinforce their beliefs, and non-vegans to learn a little something something about the face on their plate.

Happy reading!