What’s a carrot-thermometer? Find out on the homepage of our website. As you’ll see, our year-end fundraiser has just begun! Throughout the month of December, the carrot-thermometer will reveal the progress we’re making toward our goal. We’d like to raise $7,500 by December 31 at midnight. Can you give something today to help us speak out for farmed animals? All of your contributions will be matched 2-for-1 thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor who has pledged $15,000. What better time to give?

And we have some giving to do as well. Every week this month, we’ll be hosting a vegan cookbook giveaway. This week, we’re giving away an autographed copy of Mistress Ginger Cooks!: Everyday Vegan Food for Everyone. To enter the giveaway, you’ll need to share this Facebook post or retweet this tweet. Include the hashtag #CAAembraceyourempathy along with a few words about why you think CAA is important. We’ll draw a winner on Tuesday, December 9 at noon.

In addition to the cookbook, we’re giving away a recipe from Mistress Ginger Cooks! This recipe for Chakra Chip Cookies has been modified by Mistress Ginger expressly for CAA. Scroll down to get the recipe and then join Mistress Ginger for a book signing at Magers & Quinn Booksellers on this coming Saturday, December 6 at 2:00pm. It’s not everyday that a local vegan cookbook author (with pink hair!) gets a book signing, so come out and join in the fun!

And if you’re looking for other opportunities to get busy with the compassionate community this month, join us for a dine out at Bluestem Bar on Tuesday, December 9 at 6:00pm and a Holiday Party Potluck on Sunday, December 14 at 5:00pm at the CAA office. Don’t miss these fun opportunities to celebrate the season with friends over a delicious vegan meal.

For the animals,

Unny Nambudiripad

Chakra Chip Cookies

Adapted from Mistress Ginger Cooks!: Everyday Vegan Food for Everyone

Yields 12 cookies

I am convinced that chocolate chip cookies were put here on earth to uplift and inspire us all so that we may reach new heights of consciousness. They have always been my go-to dessert, which probably explains why I am such an exceptionally evolved soul. Since I eat chocolate chip cookies so often, I wanted to develop my own recipe for the classic cookie that would be simple and wholesome but still capable of setting my metaphysical energy centers ablaze. These Chakra Chip Cookies pass the test with flying colors. They satisfy the sweet tooth and might even inspire world peace.

And speaking of world peace, have you heard about Compassionate Action for Animals? This fabulous group has been inspiring compassion in the Twin Cities region since 1998. They have grown by leaps and bounds and deserve your support as they continue to do good work for the animals, making our world a better place to live – for everyone! Make your Mistress happy and make a generous contribution to CAA today.

Now for the cookies…

• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1¼ teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• ¼ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ cup nondairy semisweet chocolate chips (heaping!)

If you’re a cookie monster like me, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.

Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.

If the coconut oil has solidified, warm it in a small saucepan over low heat. Once the oil has liquefied, remove it from the heat. Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla extract and whisk until well combined. (If the oil is still warm and has made the wet mixture warm, let cool to room temperature before adding to the dry mixture so you don’t melt your chocolate chips before you even get them into the oven.)

Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture. Mix until just combined to make a dough. Fold in the chocolate chips. Roll the dough into 12 balls, each about 1½ inches in diameter. Place on the baking sheet, and bake for 11 minutes.

Let rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Cool for at least 5 minutes before eating. I read somewhere, probably in some ancient scripture, that one chakra chip cookie eaten while still warm from the oven is capable of inducing spontaneous enlightenment, or was it spontaneous orgasm? Wait, maybe I read that in Cosmo. Either way, I’m going to have to test this theory about a dozen times.

Per cookie: 158 calories, 1 g protein, 7 g fat (5 g sat), 24 g carbohydrates, 111 mg sodium, 53 mg calcium, 1 g fiber

To get busy [in the kitchen] with Mistress Ginger, check out her blog and her videos.