Fiction To Sink Your Teeth Into is usually a feature from author and chef Rohan O’Duill, but this month, Rachel A. Rosen is hijacking it.

I was obsessed with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass before I could even read, and paired with my love of baking shows, I have been dying to do a Mad Hatter Tea Party for ages. It’s complicated by the lack of cooperation from the small woodland creatures in my vicinity, plus the fact that I’m vegan. I made several recipes for this, with varying degrees, and I’ll share the most successful ones here.

Vegan Strawberry Scones

Beetroot Hummus Roasted Chickpea Avocado Sandwich

Tiny Mushroom Tarts

For the crust:
(Adapted from Nora Cooks)

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour spooned and leveled
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup vegan butter, cold and cut into cubes
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening, cold and into a few pieces
• 3-4 tablespoons ice water

For the filling:
(Adapted from Full of Plants)

Cashew Cream

• 1/4 cup raw cashews soaked overnight
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1/4 tsp white vinegar
• 1/8 tsp salt

Mushroom Filling

• 1 tbsp vegan butter
• 5 cloves of garlic minced
• 3 cups sliced mushrooms
• 1/4 tsp soy sauce
• Spices (I used rosemary salt and thyme)
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• Dill (for garnish)

Crust Instructions:

• Make sure your vegan butter and shortening are very cold before starting. Refrigerate along with the shortening for at least 30 minutes. 
• Add flour, sugar and salt to food processor with the “S” blade. Pulse a few times to combine.
• Add cold vegan butter and shortening. Process for about 10 seconds, until it looks like a coarse meal.
• Now while the food processor is running, drizzle in 3 tablespoons of ice cold water. When it begins to clump together, stop. You may need to add 1 more tablespoon ice water for it to come together. 
• Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into a ball. Don’t use your hands too much or it will warm the dough, which will make your pie crust less flaky and light. 
• Press dough into 12 greased mini pie molds, prick the base with a fork, and set aside.

Filling Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 355°F (180°C).
• Drain the soaked cashews and add them to a blender. Add the water, nutritional yeast, white vinegar, and salt.
• Blend on high speed for 15-30 seconds or until smooth. You will end up with a liquid cream. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
• Sauté the garlic for about a minute, add mushrooms, add the spices, and cook for about 3-5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and mix with the cream.
• Spoon into prepared pie shells and bake for 35-40 minutes.
• Let cool and garnish with dill.
• Serve with Yorkshire Tea Biscuit Brew, or whatever tea you like.

Incidentally, the answer to the riddle is “Poe wrote on both.”