i have a friend who is vegan, and his birthday was yesterday.  i used it as an excuse to try mark bittman's vegan mexican chocolate pie WHICH WAS OUT OF CONTROL GOOD.  as in, i was licking the blender.  as in, i would make this again and i am not vegan.  it was super easy to make and it came out of the pan pretty well (always my worry - whew) and people liked it!  i only told them it contained tofu after the fact. :)

and the best compliment at all...one of the spanish teachers at school - who grew up in mexico - said it tasted exactly like this hot chocolate that her grandma used to make when she was growing up in mexico.  victory!  thank you, mark bittman.