• Express Yourself

    • Visual Arts: Fall-Winter 2023

      Visual Arts: Fall-Winter 2023

      “Self Portrait” by Katie McDowell (18), New Orleans Center for Creative Arts  "An Old Man in Military Costume" by Simone Wuttke (18), Dartmouth College (recent Benjamin Franklin High School graduate) "This oil on canvas painting is inspired by Rembrandt's 'An Old...

    • The Stages of Grief

      The Stages of Grief

      I have sat with anger ingrained in my ribs night after night. I know the five stages of grief. Why am I so stuck on anger? Denial was the first one. It hit when I stood in front of my fridge all alone in my house with my knees wobbling, staring at the screen on my...

    • Be Well

    • Yoga: Partner Poses

      Yoga: Partner Poses

      Partner Yoga Poses by Laurie Azzano of Lolo’s Youth StudioYaaaas, finally! Hello, summer! Inhale deadlines. Exhale freedom. If you’re like most, summer represents one big sigh of relief. No more early morning alarm clocks, homework, tests, school drama, or crazy,...

    • Saqqarah’s Brownies

      Saqqarah’s Brownies

      Makes 20-24 brownies (depending on how big you slice them) BAKE TIME: 30 minutesIngredients 6 eggs 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 3 cups brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 2 sticks butter 1/2 cup Crisco shortening 1 1/2 cups baking cocoa powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons...

    • Resources for Your Mental Health

      Resources for Your Mental Health

      If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, or any form of mental distress, reach out to someone right away who can be there for you. Professional help is always an option when your psychological well-being is at risk. There is zero shame in...

    • Teen-Friendly NOLA Clinics Fall-Winter 2023

      Teen-Friendly NOLA Clinics Fall-Winter 2023

      Teen-Friendly NOLA ClinicsClinics that serve adolescents usually focus on the reproductive health needs of adolescents and young adults but may also provide primary care services. The ages served vary depending on the clinic, but they usually include preteens (11 or...

    • Have Fun

    • Mindfulness Guide for Your Zodiac Sign

      Mindfulness Guide for Your Zodiac Sign

      Have you ever wondered how you can apply astrology to your everyday life but don’t know where to start? Astrology can be very complex and sometimes overwhelming to interpret, so I have compiled a quick guide to help you consciously incorporate daily practices to...

    • How to Be an Eco-Dresser

      How to Be an Eco-Dresser

      Did you know clothing isn’t biodegradable?That means it doesn’t decompose once it’s dumped in the trash—it just sits in a landfill and creates nasty greenhouse gases in our environment. “We have to think longer and harder about the clothing we wear, where it came...

    • GLITTER!

      GLITTER!

      New Orleanians love their glitter, and, more than ever, we all deserve a little extra sparkle in our lives. Addie Ellis of the local biodegradable glitter company Glitter Nymph shared with us how to make shimmery oil that is good for your skin and nature. Since you...

    • Must Read Books Fall-Winter 2023

      Must Read Books Fall-Winter 2023

      I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea What it’s about: Laure will do anything to prove a Black girl can be a star in the cutthroat world of Parisian ballet, even make a deal with a primordial power she finds in a pulsating river of blood in the...

    • Volunteer Opportunities for Service Hours

      Volunteer Opportunities for Service Hours

      Are you looking for inspiring ways to volunteer in the local community while fulfilling your school’s service hour requirements? We’ve talked to some great organizations in the area that rely on volunteers to help their wonderful programs run. Learn more about each...

    • Expand Your Mind

    • Unplanned Pregnancy in Louisiana

      Unplanned Pregnancy in Louisiana

      Imagine that you just found out you are pregnant. For some young people, this may be exciting news; for others, it is not. Questions swirl: How can I take care of a baby and finish school? How can I afford to be a parent if I don’t finish school? How will my parents...

    • Lucy Scholz

      Lucy Scholz

      Lucy Scholz is my “shero” because she ran 300 miles from Los Angeles, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of The Speed Project. That’s roughly like running to Houston, Texas, or Seaside, Florida, from New Orleans! Not only did she win the 2023 competition and...

    • When I Grow Up: Careers in Skilled Trades

      When I Grow Up: Careers in Skilled Trades

      Careers in Skilled Trades With the cost of college continuing to rise, skilled trade careers are a great alternative pathway to stable, well-paying work and upward social mobility. Many trade workers provide essential services and help build and maintain important...

  • About Us
  • Read Geaux Girl!

A good chocolate chip cookie is one of those texturally perfect joys: crispy, caramelized edges giving way to gooey-chewy centers. Despite its relatively short and humble ingredient list, different versions of “the best” chocolate chip cookie abound on the internet. I’ve baked and eaten enough cookies to know that there’s not really the ultimate cookie—they are all beautiful—but there is one recipe that has earned a place in my regular rotation.

This recipe, from a New York-based bakery named Ovenly, is my holy grail. Practically, it’s a cinch to whip up, with no need for softened butter or an electric mixer. Got two bowls, a spoon, and a whisk? You’re set. It also happens to be vegan, which is great news for cookie lovers who avoid animal products, and it means that you can snack on the raw dough safely (though you should still microwave the raw flour for about 1 minute to play it safe). Most of all, it’s my favorite cookie to eat!

Secretly Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies, inspired by Ovenly:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 ¼ cups mix-ins, like dark chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, nuts, rolled oats, or your favorite combination (check the ingredients of  your mix-ins if you want to keep things vegan)
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar (break up any clumps before using)
  • ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon canola, vegetable, or olive oil
  • ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon water
  • Flaky sea salt or sprinkles for garnish (optional)

This recipe asks you to chill the dough overnight to nail the texture, but rest easy, the sky will not come crashing down if you skip that step.

Alright, Let’s Get Baking!

1.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add your mix-ins and toss to coat.

2.

In a separate large bowl, whisk the sugars with the oil and water for about 2 minutes, or until the mixture is incorporated and relatively smooth.

3.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until all the flour is incorporated.

4.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. (If you can bear waiting, this step allows the flour to absorb the wet ingredients, giving you a better texture in the end.)

5.

Preheat the oven to 350 ° F. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper and scoop the dough into 2-inch mounds. If you have time, stick the dough in the freezer for 10 minutes to help the cookies retain their shape in the oven.

6.

To garnish the cookies with sea salt (this gives them a more balanced flavor), just sprinkle a pinch over the tops. If you’d prefer sprinkles, add some to a bowl and roll the dough in it to coat.

7,

Transfer the dough balls to the lined baking sheets and bake for 12-15 minutes, until the edges are golden. They’ll still be pretty soft but will firm up a bit as they cool. Don’t overbake!

TIP:

Pre-scoop and freeze the dough to enjoy a freshly baked homemade cookie anytime. Just toss one (or two, or six) frozen dough balls in the oven whenever the cookie mood strikes.

Rémy Robert

(it rhymes with Amy Snowbear) is a born and raised New Orleanian who was thrilled to move home after a few years of living in New York and New England. Like most New Orleanians, she is food-obsessed and always thinking about her next meal. She works at NOCHI, New Orleans’ first culinary institute, and is also a professional recipe tester for cookbooks. You’ll find her feeding loved ones or marching with the Krewe of Wonder Women at Mardi Gras.