Vegmom Moments

Vegan Gluten Free Single Serve Cookies

Another Vegmom Single Serve Experiment...

Vegkid wanted dessert and I didn't have anything pre-made to offer him.  Also knowing we had somewhere to be in 25 minutes, baking something was not likely to happen.

Then I decided to have some fun.  

Mission: See if we could make a single cookie in under 15 minutes start to finish.

Steps:

1. Popped on the oven to 350
2. Grabbed a tiny bowl, and threw in some GF All Purpose Flour to fill it up 1/2 way
3. Added some coconut flour
4. Added a little coconut sugar and little turbinado sugar
5. Some baking powder 
6. Sprinkle of sea salt 
7. Grabbed a Small mixing bowl and poured in a little non-dairy milk
8. Some apple sauce went in the mixing bowl along with vanilla 
9. Poured dry ingredients in to wet ingredients (could use one bowl next time if I planned better on the size)
10. Mixed in Choco Chips
11. Scooped on to foiled baked sheet (made 3 cookies instead of one)
12. Baked for 10 minutes and check for consistency... 

Results:

Three Ooey Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies in under 15 minutes, start to finish!

Next time I'll add some mashed banana, use baking stone, and tweak quantities of everything else.  (and write down measurements) But otherwise, these were actually really tasty.  In fact Vegkid has been talking about them ever since. 

At this rate, I can have entire fresh prepared meals on the table every day (Veggies, Fruits, Main Course and even Dessert) in under 30 minutes.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Step Vegan Gluten Free Sweet Potato Patties

Hmm, Spending a little bit too much time on Pinterest but so fun!  I found This recipe for Sweet Potato Falafel the other night and had to try it out.

However, as usual, I didn't have all the ingredients and made some tweaks, so mine turned out more like Sweet Potato Patties than Falafel:

Knowing what Mr. Vita-Mix does to Sweet Potatoes, I decided to nix the whole "cooking potato" part of the recipe instruction.  And threw everything in the blender to make this a 2 Step Recipe!

So here is how mine went:

3/4 of a large Raw Sweet Potato washed, peeled and chopped went in to Mr. Vitamix.  I added lemon juice (enough to get everything moving), Dash of Olive oil, Bunch of hemp seeds, 1/4 Cup Garbanzo flour, 1 garlic clove, some garlic salt, and the spices mentioned in the original recipe.  (Paprika, Cumin and Cayenne Pepper).. 

Turned on Mr. Vita-Mix and mashed mashed with the tamper (added more lemon juice if needed).. Mixed everything really well, then poured/scooped on to baking pan.

They baked at 400 for 14 minutes.  But I forgot to turn them as she suggested, so the bottoms stuck to the foil.  Whoops!

These were so easy, and extra super delicious, I can't wait to try them again!

Hey, wonder if I can pour these on dehydrator trays for a raw patty vs. baked.  Hummm???  

Vegan Lunchbox Cheezy Roasted Chickpeas

This was a Vegan Lunch Box Cookbook Kind of a week...

Our new try Tuesday was the Cheezy Roasted Chickpea Recipe:

These were so good and crunchy.  Vegkid said they tasted like Chicken????   

How Nutritional yeast and chickpeas can taste like Chicken, I'll never know.  

But the kid ate two plate's full so I'm thinking he liked them.  In fact he snagged the bowl I had set aside for lunches, that little thief!

Before bed, he asked if I could make some more Chickpea Chickens soon.  

Maybe if he says Pretty Please, I'll consider it (or maybe I'll just make them again because I want some, but don't tell)

**Update - while leaving school the next day he asked for Chickpea Chickens.   I can only imagine what the other parents were thinking?  I made another batch though, and he ate almost the whole thing.  I Then added them to our "favorites" book. 

Collard Greens Vegan Lunchbox Style

I've been reading a lot in my courses regarding Calcium containing foods to find Collard Greens pack quite a punch.  Not to mention they pack a whole lot of nutrients.  

So when I saw some beautiful looking Collard (or elephant ears as Veg calls them) at the store, I couldn't help but grab a bunch.

Of course once home, I wasn't quite sure what to do with them.   Which is when I remembered the recipe from Vegan Lunch Box.

You chop them in to little ribbons:

Pop them in a pot with Onions, Sugar and Water to cook for a bit:

Mix up a vinaigrette salad dressing with some seasoning and Voila!

Check out the Vegan Lunch Box cookbook for full recipe (and lots of others)

Turns out, I really like Collard Greens.  I've had them before, but even better this time.

De-Lish!

Creamy Massaged Kale Salad

Integrative Nutrition Grads, Robyn and Quinn over at Healthy Cooking Camp have the cutest video and tastiest massaged kale salad I've experienced yet.  

I happened to purchase this Mountain O' Kale to dehydrate in to crispies.  

But after seeing their recipe, (and tip to remove kale from stem which is the coolest trick EVER) that green goodness became massaged green goodness salad instead:

 

And creamy at that!  Creamy thanks to avocado... I do love avocado creaminess!  

 

Apple Chocolate Nut Butter Goodness

A new try this week was inspired by a cool recipe on the iPhone/iPad App called "Eco Chef".

The recipe was supposed to be simple and Raw, as in 4 RAW Ingredients.  But I sort of made it my own with the ingredients I had in the house including non-raw nut butters. Then I added more stuff making it 6 ingredients.  I even changed the apple type.  Eco Chef would not be happy with me.  (Sorry Eco Chef)

Here is the Peanut edition for Vegkid:

Green Granny Smith Apple slice on the bottom, Peanut Butter, then Raw Cacao powder mixed with Coconut nectar for the chocolate, slice of banana and more choco mix on top.  Sprinkled all over with Cinnamon.

Such an amazing dessert, or maybe ummm, Breakfast for tomorrow morning with the left overs.  (shhhh!)

The one (or two) I made for myself used Almond Butter:

OH MY YUM!!  As IN dangerously Yum!   I will say it does not taste like a Peanut Butter Cup as the App's title hinted.  

Especially once I added all my extras and chose a sour apple.. BUT, the mixture of sweet, sour, salty, fruity, cinnamon spice and chocolate all in one bite made the absolute perfect bite!

AND this would be why I AM NOT asleep before 10:00pm tonight.  A little too much sugar and cocao for this girl to handle in the evening.

But still no coffee *Smile*

 

 

 

Vegan Creamy Tomato Pasta

I'm about to share with you the very best thing I have learned in the kitchen!

Are you ready.. it is life changing in our little Veg world!!

Adding Raw Sweet Potato, Macadamia nuts to any sauce via the Vita-Mix will make it "creamy" with out the cream.  As in Delicious and Creamy.  

Pouring this sauce on top of GF Brown Rice Noodles gives me a comfort food, cold day meal that makes me soooo happy.  I can get my creamy pasta fix, raw veggies and speed to table all in one!

The sauce is litterally made WHILE the noodles are cooking.  9 Minutes and meal is complete (unless you chop up more veggies, which I will do next time)

\

That Orange Creamy goodness used the following ingredients:

• Spicy Spaghetti Sauce
• Macadamia Nuts
• Raw Sweet Potato Chunks
• Onion
• Garlic
• Garlic salt
• Sweet Basil
• Nutritional Yeast

Blend in the Vita-Mix then pour on noodles and fresh spinach (as I did) or any other veggies you want to throw in this yummy goodness.  Next time I may even make veggie noodles instead.  Ooooh, even more yum!

Thank you Mr. Vita-Mix

Cinnamon Green Goodness

This Happy Herbivore Cinnamon Bun Smoothie recipe is good just the way it is.  How ever I was out of ingredients today, wanted some added green value and decided to kick it up a notch.

Soooo.. This beautiful Drink is a modified Cinnamon Bun Smoothie:

Hemp Seeds and Coconut Water to make a "milk" like consistency.  Then Added bananas, vanilla, dates, cinnamon, spirulina powder, Spinach and Ice.

OH MY YUM!!!!  Thank you Mr. Vita-Mix!

 

 

Spicy Tomato And Pumpkin Soup

Is it just me, or does soup taste better in a mug?

Spicy soup tastes even better with ooey gooey avocado on top:

And even better better better, when your Mug leaves you with a Smile:

Now about that soup?  OH MY YUM.  I know you can't tell by the picture, but there are beans and veggies in there.

Vegkid wanted some soup on our snowy cold day last week.  We didn't have a NeeNee here to make "HER" soup so I decided to try my own concoction.

I basically started with Tomato Sauce, Veggie Broth and some water.   Then added what ever I felt like until it tasted just perfect.  Schezwan for the spicy, Pumpkin puree for the creamy, and sweet potato chunks just because.

We added some Garlic salt, some coconut nectar, some more chopped veggies and a can of butter beans.

It came out so good that Vegkid ate the ENTIRE pot over 2 days.  Then asked for more, which I gladly made.  He took it to lunch, he even ate it for breakfast.

The official verdict when asked how it compared to NeeNee Soup?   He said it was just as great!

SUCCESS!!!!

Then he said I needed to make NeeNee some of my soup so she can make HIM some of her soup...

Sounds like we will have lots of soup going on when NeeNee visits next!  

Soup with a Smile!

 

Baby Bella Sandwich and Lettuce Wrap

I saw Baby Bella Mushrooms at the store last week that looked really good for Hubby.  I'm not a mushroom fan, but I knew he was and these looked perfect.

Since then, I've added them to Veg's Tortilla Pizzas, put them on Hubby's salads, but there were still a whole lot left that needed to be used up.  That is when I flipped through Everyday Happy Herbivore book to find "Island Portobello Burgers" on page 88.

Well, let me tell you, I learned the only way in this world that I DO like Mushrooms!  Who Knew????

Yup, I grabbed the skillet, mixed up all the ingredients per her instructions, brought to a boil, and then added all the Baby Bellas along with some onions and peppers.  Cooked for about 10 minutes....

This Sandwich (yes there is bread under there) was layered with Lettuce, avocado, pineapple slices, and the Baby Bella mix.  

More Avocado and Pineapple on top, then toasted bread on top of that.

That was Hubby's sandwich.. He couldn't stop raving about how good it was.  He went back for more, and was practically licking the pan.

I decided to try a tiny little piece.  OH MY YUM!    My tiny piece turned in to this awesome lettuce wrap:

Can't believe I like Mushrooms now!!!  

Hemp Seed Milk and HH Cinnamon Bun Smoothie

I was feeling like a creamy smoothie, and something different that I don't usually make.  Which is when I remembered Happy Herbivore's Cinnamon Bun Smoothie that seemed to fit the bill.

BUT, we only had soy milk in the house of which I'm not consuming these days.  Soooo, I put on my thinking cap!

1 Cup of Water, with some Hemp Seeds in to Mr. Vita-Mix and Voila!

Instant non-dairy milk for my HH Cinnamon Bun Smoothie:

Not to mention Raw, Frothy, Omega filled Goodness...

Then I added all the other ingredients to finish off this treat.

Sorry HH, but I can't make a smoothie without some greens!  I added a bunch of spinach to the mix, and couldn't taste it a bit.

Hence the pretty green color.   I also had to add an extra banana and a little bit more maple syrup since my milk was not pre-sweetened.

But OH MY YUM!!!  This was delicious.  Vegkid drank some too and gave a big thumbs up!

If only I had saved some for tomorrow??  Oh well, Just have to make more *wink*

 

 

Fast Vegan Toaster Tortilla Pizza

Here is  another Healthy Fast Toaster Option for us Busy Moms on the Go!

Normally I make Tortilla Pizzas in the oven.  Heat up the oven, wait, then cook, then wait to cool.. etc.

But with my new found love for using the toaster, I decided to try making a quickie version for the Vegman.

This one is using a Spelt Tortilla and topped with Pizza Sauce, Peppers, Pineapples, Italian herbs and Garlic Salt.

**note, normally I would add broccoli and spinach but we were running low on produce this night.

I gently put this in the toaster, between low and medium setting then pushed the little GO button.

A few minutes later it went DING!    Removing from the toaster oven takes some skill to not burn thy fingers.

But it worked perfectly!!!  (was thinking we could fold it up for lunchboxes even)

The tortilla was slightly toasted, the toppings and sauce were warm enough to eat and the Vegkid was super happy!   He actually said he liked it better this way.  

With all the fruit/veggies pre/cut, this dish took a total of 4 minutes (prep and cook).   Next time we'll do more toppings as the possibilities are endless.  

But this is one awesome short cut that I will NOT feel guilty about!

 

 

Vegan Tiffin Lunch + Snacks

I Love my To-Go Ware 3 Tier Tiffin because it is big enough to hold my Lunch + any snacks I need for the day!

People often tell me that it is too hard or too expensive to eat healthy and pack your lunches.   But everything in this tiffin is prepped in advance for 3 days worth of goodness.  I just grabbed what I needed then headed out the door.  (except the oat mixture, I added the banana later)

The Pre-Prepped food was enough for multiple meals for multiple people, so the cost really is low considering what it would have been for three of us to go out to eat for 3 days worth of lunches.

Here is a Tiffin filled with goodies from last week:

Spinach and Romaine Salad with chopped veggies and marinated chickpeas:

The chickpeas were mixed with chopped onion, then marinated in a mixture of Orange Juice, White Balsamic Vinegar, Braggs Aminos, Garlic Salt and Italian Seasoning.  The leftovers kept in the fridge for about 4 days.

Like I said above, Hubs had a bowl full of chopped veggies prepped.  I had a bowl prepared with lettuce and spinach. Then a bowl full of chickpeas in the fridge, so we just grabbed what we needed for our salads for the week.  So easy to make lunches this way!

And for the rest:

My Oats Combination:

Oats, Almond Butter, Choco Chips, Mashed banana and Goji berries:

Apple Chunks and a couple Raw Cacao Goji truffles

I also try to bring a green smoothie and a resuable container full of water to give me my fluids for the day.   Sometimes I bring an extra banana too just in case I get hungry.  

Do you make your lunches??

{Note to self, don't blog about food when it is bed time... Soooo hungry now! *smile*}

Spicy Nutty Easy Raw Sweet Potato Bites

I've been experimenting with Raw Sweet Potatoes ever since I tried making noodles out of them and a pad thai type sauce.  But now I have a Mandoline, AND I'm going for the theme of simple this month. So I decided to try something new and simple:

First I washed and peeled the Sweet Potato, then sliced it up at different thicknesses (going for real thin but had to do the ol' trial and error thing):

Veg was snagging these from the plate just the way they were.  I even threw a few in his green smoothie too.

So if your kid is like mine, you can stop here.

But I was going for something more nutty and spicy!

Which is why I mixed up a spicy nutty sauce:

**Note** my sauce was not raw, but you could easily make it so!

This is simply a mixture of nut butter, garlic salt, a dash of schezwan sauce, dash of teriyaki or braggs amino and some water.

Then made little sandwich bites and gobbled them all up.. 

Vegkid liked them plain or with the nutty mixture.  I also liked them both ways, but the sandwich bites were sooo good and filling.

I had enough sweet potato slices stored in the fridge that these lasted two days.  The nutty mixture didn't make it past the first night though, so I had to make another batch of that.

But really, how easy???  Could be an appetizer, a main course, a snack, or a great Lunchbox treat for kids and adults!

Sweet, Salty, Spicy, Fast, Easy with a whole lot of Nutrition built in!!

A definite win/win!

Easy and Fast No Cook Oats Snack

I know you are supposed to add liquid to oats, either making Overnight oats or oat cookies via the fridge, or warm water in the form of Oatmeal.  Maybe Granola bars, etc. But I've come to like a quick snack that is just the following:

• Uncooked Oats
• Nut Butter (almond is my favorite)
• Choco Chips
• Cinnamon

Mixed all together, then eat!  Crunchy and Squishy in every bite!

Sometimes adding a squishy dried fruit, like goji berries, raisins or dates.  Sometimes even adding a mushy Banana or liquid nectar like coconut or maple syrup, other times I'll throw in raw seeds like hemp or sunflower.  Sometimes I'll go crazy and just nix the Cinnamon all together.

But what ever I add, it must be fast.  

This one was just that:

GF Oats, Peanut Butter, Choco chips, Goji Berries and Cinnamon.  A Single Serving quick filling granola'ish snack!

Oh My Yum!  

PS. This is also great for pre-mixing the dry ingredients, then just adding nut butters on road trips

PSS. The posts this week are making me hungry!

Super Easy Vegan Kid Lunch Platter

Vegkid loves my pancakes.  He loves my pancakes even better when put in the miniature donut maker.

I however, DO NOT like to make pancakes in the donut maker because it takes too long and drives me nutty.

So when the kiddo asked for Pumpkin Spice Donuts the other day, I practiced my simplification strategy!  Then said "SURE, lets try something" 

I took a small measuring cup and put a 1/2 banana in it.  Then mashed with a fork.  On top of that, I poured about a 1/2 cup of Pumpkin Spice Soy milk, a tablespoon of apple sauce, a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar, a dibble of maple syrup, and a dash of Vanilla extract.

I mixed those things together, then poured in some  Gluten Free All Purpose Flour (enough to get the consistency of pancake batter) dropped in a little chickpea flour, about a tsp of baking powder, dash of salt, and a bunch of cinnamon.

Mixed everything together, while adding a little more liquid or flour as necessary and poured in to the donut maker thing.   This made about 3 batches of tiny smooshed donuts.  (two of the batches were gobbled up before they made it to the plate)

This is what was left by the time I could grab the camera:

I then decided to use the remaining 1/2 of banana, to make Everyday Happy Herbivore Fried Bananas.  Only I stuck the slices in the donut maker to see if it would work (since it was already heated).  Closed the lid for a second... and Voila..It worked!  Tasty bananas not burned with no messy pan.

The bananas are shown in the picture with cinnamon on top.   Can you tell we like Cinnamon.

And of course, I threw some chopped carrots on his plate since I was already chopping them for my salad.

Multi-tasking at its finest!  

End result?  Vegkid gobbled up every single bit, then asked me to make it again another day!

So there you have it, My kind of Fast Food!  (even if I had to use the donut maker)

 

 

Happy Herbivore Vegan GF Chocolate Mug Cake

I'm not a fan of the Microwave, in fact I think I used it three times in all of 2011.  But this Chocolate Mug Cake from Everyday Happy Herbivore was too intriguing not to try.

5 Minutes, and you can have a Single Serving Chocolate Cake??? How cool is that!!  Enough sweet to curb a craving but not so much that you have a 10 pound cake left to eat in the house.

So one night when the choco bugs hit me big time,  I gave it a try using GF Flour:

 

And my Favorite Mug:

Turned out to be moist and delicious.   While it is called single serving, I could have split this 3 ways, as it was actually way too much for me.  But definitely solved my choco craving for the day.  

Its not one of those things that I would make often since the Microwave = BAD in my book, but nice to have this 5 Minute Baking option for those once in a while cravings.

Vegan Salad Wrap

An Easy Lunch:

Raw Vegan Coconut Wrap filled with Chick peas, Carrots, Celery, Spinach and sprinkled on top with Orange Juice, White Balsamic Vinegar and Garlic Salt.

Enough Said!

Cheater Vegan Bean Patty

Another Quick Single Serving meal for the Vegkid.... He loves when I make Oven Bean Patties, or Grilled bean patties of any kind.

The other night he wanted a Grilled Bean Sandwhich for dinner.  But I was out of Hummus that I normally use and didn't feel like making two meals.  Since I already had Chickpeas on the stove for another recipe, I grabbed a few in to a small bowl.

I mashed the Chickpeas then added the following to the same little bowl as a test:

• Scoop of Premade Vegan Refried Black Beans
• Dash of lemon Juice
• Sprinkle of Garlic Salt

Mixed the four ingredients together (could also add taco seasoning or something to spice it up) but we went pretty plain. 

The mixture was scooped on to a bun and the whole thing went in to the Toaster Oven.

Push the little button, wait a minute for the ding..  (watch so the bun doesn't burn)

Then Voila!  A Quick and Easy single serving Bean patty on toasted bread, that got gobbled up QUICKLY!!

You could even make a big batch of gooey mixture to keep in the fridge for a couple days and grab as needed. 

So there ya go!!  An easy Single Serving Bean Patty.    No pots, No pans, No Dirty hands!!!

And the Kid LOVED it!!   Who knew we could have so much fun with the toaster oven?

 

Cheater Vegan French Toast

The Vegkid Loves French Toast.  Especially Happy Herbivore  French Toast.  And while it is always fast, and easy, there are some mornings/nights when this Mama needs faster and easier.

So I took snippets of the HH recipe, and made a toaster version.  YES I DID!

I mixed the following in a tiny measuring cup:

• Dash of Pumpkin Spice Soy Milk (or other non-dairy milk)
• Bunch of Cinnamon
• Dribble of Maple Syrup
• Sprinkle of chickpea flour
• Splash of Vanilla

Then mixed it all up and drizzled on top of two slices of bread.  The drizzle has to be carefully done so it doesn't make the bread too soggy (or it will stick to the toaster oven tray) but make sure all top portions of the bread are covered. (just not soaked through)

Then Stick the bread in the Toaster Oven on light to medium setting.  When it goes ding, you have delicious moist (but not too moist) Toast that tastes like French toast.

Sprinkle with some more maple syrup if you'd like, or serve with side of fresh apple sauce or other fruit.

The Vegkid has liked this so much, he asks for it again and again.  It takes all but 2 minutes to make so I don't complain.   Why would I complain?  This method doesn't dirty a pan, bowl, spatula etc.  Its sooo quick and easy.  Also limits the bread to 2 slices, vs.  1/2 a loaf.

Its a win/win.  Cheater Toaster Vegan French Toast!

Look for more Cheater Suggestions, as I'm all about Simplifying this year.

 

 

Good Bye 2011 - Hello 2012

Hubs and I sat down last night to put all our memories from 2011 in to our little book.  We basically write down everything that comes to mind from the year prior.  For some reason it was hard to remember EVERYTHING.  Thanks to this blog and my Family picture blog, I was able to piece together all the interesting events.

A lot of business travel, personal travel, several family trips to Michigan, an Awesome Florida trip where Dolphins and space shuttles were involved, An Amazing South Carolina trip where Dolphins, forts and long sandy walks were involved.  Veg learned how to swim this year.  We had several visitors at the homestead. Saw a light house, a great lake, went to Airforce Museum, Mountains, Chess club and sporting events.  We grew lots in the garden, enjoyed the Farmers market, started Juicing, and So much more!

2011 was a Great Year!!!

We drank lots of these:

And these:

Lots of NeeNee Soup:

Lots of Raw Vegan Goodness:

This one is Bananas, Pomegranate and Pecans with Macadamia Cream sauce:

First Persimmon Try:

Raw Vegan Creamy Kale Salad:

Raw Vegan Baklava:

Developed a love for Cauliflower:

I completed my First and Last Full Marathon... 

I simplified more in 2011, Made a lot more home body care products, Started my 10 Minute rule (breaking tasks in to 10 minutes so they don't seem so daunting).  I also began being happy about what I have accomplished vs. what I still have left to do.

At the end of 2011, my Accomplishments were many!! Both in the house and out of the house.  Both mentally and physically.. I even enjoyed crafts again as I prepared my self for 2012.  

Prepared myself Mentally that is!!  2012 is going to be another Big year.  I can feel it.

To start with, my Nutrition Classes will officially begin, and I'm super excited about that.  I'm going to complete another 1/2 Marathon (if my hormones cooperate that is).  But this time, I'm going to drop at least 15 minutes off my time.  I'm going to focus on myself a little more, find MY HAPPY, while being the best parent and wife I can be.  Most importantly, I'm taking back control of my happy!  The moods of others should not dictate my own.

Yesterday I got out for the first 1/2 Marathon training day of 2012.   For not running much the past few months, I was impressed with my Body's ability to jump back in.  I went a total of 4.5 miles with the first 3 running non-stop with no pain.  Powered by Greens!!!

My rest days for this 1/2 marathon training will be different! I'll be including some strength training and muscle stretching to the mix.  If I want a different result, then I must do different actions.  2012 is the year for Different and for finding my Happy!

Bring it on 2012... This will be the best year ever and I'm ready!!!!

 

A Simple Snack

Peel, chop, Eat!

Now that is Easy!!

Sometimes, ya just gotta go back to basics!

 

Vegan Christmas Eve Plate

Hubs and I had some raw and some cooked vegan goodness for Dinner.  But my Vegkid needed something special.. It is Christmas Eve after all, and I haven't made any food shapes in a while, so why not tonight?

Two pieces of bread make the tree, with Vegan cream cheese spread to hold them together.  The green garland is Celery, and the star is Kiwi.  Of course the ornaments are Pomegranate seeds (Yum).. 

As for the presents under the tree, those are little peanut butter and jelly covered bread chunks with strings of celery for the ribbons.

I'm pretty sure the Vegkid is getting too old for this stuff, but I'm thinking I never will be THAT old.. For now he humors me and says "Mom, you are so weird but I love you"

And I'll take that!

Merry Christmas to All and to All a GOOD NIGHT!

Crafts and Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Hubs asked for Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Bars for his birthday.  But when his Birthday came, he ordered a cupcake instead.  

A few days later, he reminded me that I neglected to make the Choco Peanut Butter Bars. 

And far be it from me to turn down Chocolate:

Here is the recipe I use, but Veganised.  I've seen many more similar recipes since, but that is the one I wrote down long ago, and have continued to use.

While the family was chowing on this Chocolate Peanutty Goodness, I was busy grabbing them to help me with crafts.

Lots of Cards were made and a calendar was completed, see here!

Hubs made me these shorts from an old T-Shirt:

This mess had to be cleaned:

It was a week full of Chocolate and Crafts, aka FUN... I'm not complaining.

Happy Herbivore In The House

Between these two books I have officially made over 30 HH Recipes:

And this week was no exception:

Carrot Cake Pancakes with Maple Syrup Drizzle for the kiddo;

Cauliflower Hash for me:

Fried Bananas for all of us:

More Chickpeas for Me (but I shared with Hubby)

Pinto Bean Patties for everyone (except mine was without the bread)

And Raw Sweet Potato Soup for the Kiddo (but he shared with me)

It has been a Happy Herbivore Cookbook kind of a week and I'm not complaining one bit!

PS.  The Raw Sweet Potato Soup was my new Raw try of the week, so I mastered two tasks with the work of one!!

P.S.S  The Sweet Potato Soup is not listed as raw, but I made it in the Vita-Mix per a "chef's note" and it turned out rather raw but warm and delicious.  I will go lighter on the Ginger next time but otherwise.. Oh My Yum!

P.S.S.S  The Chef's Notes in HH Books, are so absolutely awesome. Be sure to read them or you can miss out on something really tasty!

My First Persimmon Try

Getting back to my New Raw Food Tries, this one was super easy because it required no preparing (except washing and cutting) but OH WAS IT GOOD!!!

I have never in my life (that I know of) consumed a Persimmon:

Vegkid calls them "Percinnamons"  for no reason except that is how it rolled off his tongue.  Hubs calls them "Papples" because he thought it tasted like a mix of pear and apple.

I just call them Tasty!  Because, well, they are Tasty!

It looks like an Orange Tomato.  So I thought it was an Orange tomato with a fancy name.  But when I cut into it, the consistency was certainly not tomato'ish.  It was sort of Mango'ish texture.  We just cut chunks and ate!

Anyway, we all liked it and fought for the last bite.  

Must - Get - More - Persimmons!

Have you had them?  Like dislike?

 

 

Feel Better Sludge

We have used Garlic and Onion for several years here in the Vegmom house.  Everything from helping earaches or colds, to getting rid of strange skin infections and of course tasty additions to foods.  

But let me tell you, NEVER have I experienced the healing power of this Feel Better Sludge until I hinted about it yesterday.

Citrus, Garlic, and Onion all in the power of a drinkable concoction:

Drinkable I say with a puckered scrunched up face, that is!   And enough garlic that the vampires will stay away from me for a life time.  Luckily my meetings today allowed me to sit in the back of the room (a full table away from people).

First let me set the scene..

Kids at Veg's school have Pnuemonia, three of them to be exact.  Several have the flu too.   I've been around at least 10 people in the past week that are either sick or have a sick family member.  Every where we go there are people sneezing, coughing and talking about there month long sick bugs.

Hubs is on his 4th week of a cough (he went the medical route), Vegkid finally got it, and we nipped it in 5 days (naturally no medicine).  So when I woke up yesterday with the sniffles, as in stuffy head all over, I knew that the yuck was pending.  In fact I only lasted at work for a couple hours and had to come home. 

I arrived home with a full head, clogged sinuses, uncomfortable, unable to sleep and beginning to cough.  I took all my normal natural stuff to get me comfortable (including a garlic capsule) and settled in to the fact that this would be a doozy, but I would kick it fast.  Figured a couple days Max!

Then I remembered this recipe..    I immediately whipped up a batch and thought "What in the world am I doing"  The smell alone was enough to send me running.  But I knew this HAD to go down the hatch!  It would work, I could feel it in my natural bones.

TBS 1 went down the hatch.  Surprisingly, it stayed down, and it seemed to settle in my belly OK.  I noticed after the second dose that I was drying up quickly.  My head no longer stuffy and I was able to rest.  In fact I fell asleep, for 3hrs!   Really!!

Before the night was Over, I had a couple more doses and FELT great!  Slept better last night (as in deep dreamy sleep) then I have in years!!!  

I woke up with out even a thought of a sniffle, had a clear head, tons of energy and ready to face the day.  I've felt great all day! Even did a workout.  (although did take a couple more TBS just in case)..  

No cough, no sniffles, no headache, no clogged sinuses, no sinus pressure... Gone Gone Gone!!!

TAKE THAT YOU SICK BUGS!    Less than 18hrs and you are Squashed!!!  

As my Mom would say "I don't want any of your business"

 

This Raw Vegan Sludge may taste nastier then anything I have ever experienced, but you won't hear me complain!

Nope, not one single bit!!

 

My Latest List of Favorite Things

Playing around on Amazon, I made a list of all my latest favorite things.  I know it is supposed to be a side bar widget but I'm trying it in a post.  Hopefully it will play nice.

Guess what I just added to the list??   Everyday Happy Herbivore  Oh Yeah, she has ANOTHER book, and it is out, and I'm excited.  My copies came in the mail the other day.  I say "copies" as in plural because I got some for other people.  

Vegkid grabbed the book before I could, and started documenting what he will have.  I will say that he did not like our first try, which was the grilled cheese but LOVED the pinto bean burgers and has already asked for more of those.  That is as far as we have gotten so far.

So what is different about this book from the last one?  

It is still vegan, still low fat, still has an awesome pantry list, still amazing pictures and easy to read instructions.  But this time it is all about 30 minute or less meals, some one pot meals, make ahead meals, AND more single serving goodies which I love. 

But I'll fill you in on a little secret.  My most FAVORITE part??  

It is full of Chickpea Goodness (My new addiction)  I mean even Cocoa Chickpea Puffs are found in this book!  Really, how much better can it get?  Chocolate and chickpeas in one bite!  Enough said!

 

My Favorite Vegan Ice "Cream"

Frozen Bananas, Spinach, Peanut Butter, Chocolate chips and Mr. Vitamix

Oh My Yum!!!  

This is good with just the bananas and spinach which would make this raw, but my Peanut Butter and Chocolate chips make it not 100% raw.  Either way, all ingredients go in the Vitamix, mash with the Tamper and Voila!  

Creamy, Frozen, Tasty, Vegan Goodness 

Thank you Mr. Vitamix

Vegan Pumpkin Spice Pancakes - The Recipe

The Very Awesome Mom of 3 over at Brown Vegan  asked for the recipe for our Pumpkin Spice Pancakes.  I was going to provide a link to the Silk Website Recipe, but can't find it... 

So I thought the recipe deserved its own post...   here that post is:

We buy the Silk Pumpkin Spice Soy Milk each year that we find it and one year my friend said "Hey, did you try the pancake recipe on the back of the carton"

Well No... I hadn't... But then I did... and the Vegkid LOVES them.  If I were eating bready things or soy for that matter right now, I would love them too.  

But I still love them, because they are so easy.  My personal Vegan "Buttermilk" Concoction takes a whole lot more ingredients.  So I love that this only has 8 ingredients and takes about 10 minutes to cook a whole batch.

The recipe is no longer on the carton nor the website,  But I do remember theirs requiring eggs, which I don't use.  I also add cinnamon and choco chips depending on the day.. So here it goes with my modifications:

Note: I have been known to double/triple this recipe for a fridge/freezer stash or extra visitors and they come out just as good.  I also take short cuts by using a Glass Measuring cup as my wet ingredient mixing bowl.

• 1 Banana
• 1 Cup Flour
• 2tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• Lots of Cinnamon (to taste)
• 1 Cup Pumpkin Spice Silk Milk
• 1tsp Vanilla
• 2TBS Oil

Pour the Silk Milk in a Measuring Cup, add Vanilla and Oil, stir then set aside.

Mash a Banana with fork in the bottom of a large mixing bowl, Add remaining dry ingredients to mixing bowl.

Pour wet ingredients on top of the dry ones and mix it all together with spoon...  Add choco chips if desired or more cinnamon if needed. (we like lots of cinnamon)

We make our pancakes on a very old electric skillet set at 350 Degrees, or poured in donut maker thing.  But you can use this mix anyway you choose.  Maybe even waffles?

Don't forget to flip them!

Sometimes I pour one set on the skillet, THEN add the chocolate chips to the rest of the bowl.  Providing options, as not everyone likes the chocolate ones (Gasp!  its true)

OK, now I'm hungry!!!