I used to work as a baker, so I know how to make a good yeast bread from a sourdough starter that takes days and days. But I'm also a person who stays busy, so I will never tire of baking a good yeast bread that only takes, say, three hours.

This Easy Maple Wheat Bread Recipe is my go-to bread recipe for the autumn months; it's easy enough to make while I'm doing other things, and it doesn't take up room in my refrigerator or on my counter for days and days. With strong scents of maple, this is a bread that makes your whole home smell wonderful as it bakes and that's lightly sweet for all palates.

Photo © 2009 Ashley Skabar, licensed to About.com, Inc.

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Photo © 2009 Ashley Skabar, licensed to About.com, Inc.

To me, every month should be National Peanut Butter Lover's Month, but apparently (and fortunately!), it has been decided by the powers that be that National Peanut Butter Month falls in November. So, arbitrary as it might be, I thought I'd celebrate with a fun recipe that is most definitely for peanut butter lovers only: Vegan Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies. A creamy peanut butter filling is sandwiched between two rich chocolate cakes and then, perhaps also arbitrarily, deemed a pie.

What else is nice about these so-called pies? They're vegan, which is perfect for a day like today, World Vegan Day!

So, whether you're in the mood to celebrate the month of November, your favorite dairy-free sandwich spread, or veganism, here are a few more vegan peanut butter recipes to celebrate all three:

Photo © 2009 Ashley Skabar, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Happy Halloween, everyone! Instead of sharing a traditional pumpkin recipe for this Halloween, I thought I'd share one that's a little off-the-beaten-path but still so much fun: Olive Oil Crackers. I know what you're thinking--Olive oil crackers? For Halloween?--but the reason I like to serve these olive oil crackers for Halloween parties is all about the toppings, Hawaiian sea salt and black sesame seeds. The combination of coarse, orangish salt and dark yet playful sesame seeds atop light, crisp crackers is a great festive accompaniment to dairy-free dips and spreads at parties for kids or adults.

Photo © 2009 Ashley Skabar, licensed to About.com, Inc.