Today, I need to use my blog voice for a more important message than desserts or recipes.
More important than chocolate?!?
Yes, yes. Some things are. Hard to believe, but it’s true.
I grew up in Japan.
The Japanese culture greatly impacted my life. My babysitter, my father’s sweet secretary, the 100-year-old sensei (teacher) from whom I learned origami… these people helped shape who I am today.
As a whole, the Japanese are some of the kindest, most well-mannered people you’d ever want to meet. So their current situation is heartbreaking. I just keep thinking, “Why did it have to happen to such wonderful people?” (Not that I wouldn’t think the same thing if the devastation occurred elsewhere. You don’t want something like that to happen anywhere.)
Every time I watch or read about what’s going on in Japan, I feel useless. I’ve already donated money, but I’m nowhere near as wealthy as Britney Spears (who reportedly gave millions to the country). Isn’t there another way I can help? Then I realized…
Duh, Katie! Your blog!
I have a voice… but what good is having a voice if you don’t use it to help? So that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to use my blog to ask y’all to help me help them. I know a lot of you feel exactly as I do: “I’ve already given money. What else can I do?” What else can you do?
You can eat!
We are food bloggers (and readers), after all. 
.
“Help Japan” Blogger Bake Sale
On Tuesday, April 5th, I’ll host a blogger bake sale to benefit the Red Cross. If you’ve never participated in a blog bake sale before, here’s a little about how it works: bloggers (or readers) offer to donate a food item (just like in a regular bake sale) and people will bid on these items. The highest bidders will make a donation to red cross (more on how to do this later), and the baker will ship the actual food to the winner.
Ways you can help:
- Donate a vegan baked good
- Bid on a baked good, during the virtual bake sale (April 5th)
What do you think?
If you’d like to donate a baked good, please send me an email with the name of the food, a photo, and where you’ll be willing to ship, by this Saturday (April 2nd). (Also, because this is a vegan blog, all items must be vegan. They don’t need to actually be baked, though. Raw treats are welcome!)
I’ll donate something too: These Fudge Babies.
Wonderful idea, Katie!
I’d love to be able to help! Just have to think of what I could donate!
This is so cool Katie! I want to be a part of it… I’ll just have to decide what to make. Maybe my carrot cake bites? 😛
Hahaha well I can vouch for their awesomeness!
aaaaw what an awesome idea!!!
OMG 20,000 every day? I don’t get that in a … month? Please, can you share some tips on getting a popular blog? Thanks!
You said march 5th… I assume you mean april? or perhaps farther out? and i totes want to be part of it! 🙂
(let me clarify… in the ways you can help you wrote march 5th, on oen of them you wrote it fine 🙂 )
Thank you, Nicole! I dunno where my head is, some days! Yes, it means April. 🙂
I will tweet this!
🙂
this sounds like a great idea! I was going to offer peanut butter cookies, but they have egg in them :[
perhaps i can bid on something april 5th, instead!
You can make vegan pb cookies easily. Just sub egg replacer or extra baking powder for the eggs! 🙂 But if you don’t want to, bidding is awesome as well. That’s how I’ll be supporting the cause too!
true! Where can I buy this egg replacer? at any grocery store?
Hey Miss Lisa! Do not worry if you don’t want to veganize the cookies… you can still bid :). Or google “vegan peanut butter cookies” for a recipe if you want to bake. I don’t want you to have to make a special trip to buy egg replacer!
(But just in case, you can find Ener G Egg Replacer at a store like Whole Foods, in the baking aisle.)
thanks! Ill take a look and email you by Thursday If I can!! 🙂
If you do buy the egg replacer, know that it will last months (maybe longer, I’ve never tried) if you keep it tightly sealed.
FYI, here’s a more general guide to replacing eggs in baking: http://www.veganbakesale.org/veganbakesale/vbs-vegan-baking-tips.html
I also second Katie’s idea to google a recipe for vegan peanut butter cookies. You will find some awesome ones! 🙂
It never occurred to me that Ener G might go bad. But basically, I used the same box for about two and a half years with no problems. I imagine that in a damp environment it might clump though (it has a lot of starch in it).
LOL I used mine way past expiration too! And I’m still here ;).
I’m excited to bid!!!! Oh my gosh, what a great way to help Japan. And by the way, your photos are SO CUTE! Love them!
great idea cck!
i will have to test-bake something before i can send a photo… i’ll get back to you on this one 😉