Squash and onion with red beans

2 medium yellow squash

1 small sweet onion 

1 tbs italian seasoning

1 tsp garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Kidney beans, drained and rinsed.  

Sautéed squash and onion till soft and onions translucent, you might need to add a little water to pan if not using vegan butter or olive oil. Add seasonings and then at last minute at 1/2 cup red kidney beans. Serves 2 or 1 really hungry person. 

Enjoy. 

Summer tempeh bowl

1/2 bar tempeh browned in pan. 

5 baby carrots. Chopped. 

1 handful of kale

1/4 cup sliced tomatoes

1/2 red cabbage. Sliced. 

Mix together. 

Dressing-

1 tbs peanut or almond butter

1 tsp agave

A dash of ginger powder

1-2 tbs liquid aminos or soy sauce 

1-2 tbs rice vinegar 

Mix together and then combine with salad bowl. 

Cheesy millet with cilantro pea pesto and red pepper

1 cup of cooked millet

1/4 cup pea pesto 

2 tbs nutritional yeast

1/2 red pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

Pea pesto:

1/2 thawed frozen peas or fresh

4 sprigs fresh cilantro

Salt and garlic powder to taste

--blend and add water if necessary. 

Add all ingredients into a bowl and stir. 

You can also use vegan cheese instead of NY. It will need salt and pepper. Add cayenne if you like spicy foods and a little more garlic powder if you like. It you think cilantro tastes like soap then omit and use parsley or another leafy herb. 

Beautiful skin

My skin is nowhere near perfect. I have some acne, scars, and other fun stuff but it is healthy! It's soft and has a glow to it! I want to share my favorite beauty secrets that most definitely work! 

Tip 1. Lots and lots of water

Tip 2. Hands off! Don't touch your skin or mash it! 

Tip 3. Lay off the sugar and white carbs. I don't consume any processed sugar and barely any wheat, it is easier than you think. 

Tip 4. Exfoliate. I'm not just talking about face skin. Legs. Back. Chest. But. 

Tip 5. Lotion

Tip 6. Don't go to bed or long periods without washing off makeup or sweat.

So those are my tips now on to my favorite products. 

For acne:

For acne and scars and overall healing:

Yes that's an aloe Vera plant. The juice is miraculous. 

Finally, lotion for everywhere. Face and body: 

Spicy garlic hummus

1 can of garbanzo beans

Juice of 1 small lime

2 tbs tahini

1/4-1/2 tsp salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, cumin, and smoked paprika. 

Blend in food processor. Add a little bean liquid if to thick. 

Salad time.

When someone says vegetables don't contain any protein I really want to punch them, in a nice way of course. THEY DO! A head of romaine lettuce has about 8 grams. Not only that but greens have iron, vitamin c, and other green goodness. I, for one, really like the taste of lettuce whereas some people might gag. I have a solution. Nutritious dressings. How?? 

My favorite is an agave peanut dressing. 

1 Tbs peanut butter or almond 

1 tsp raw agave

1-2 tbs braggs liquid aminos 

1-3 tbs rice vinegar 

Pinch of ginger powder

Mix everything together and have the consistency runny like but not watery. 

I hate dressings with artificial crap so this is an alternative. 

Ice cream-but you're vegan!

Yes. I eat ice cream. Maybe not the sugar and heavy cream kind but nonetheless, creamy. 

The star of the show...coconuts! 

You're nuts, right? Right but wrong. 

It's amazing. 

1 can of full fat coconut cream

1 banana

3 tbs cocoa powder 

3-4 tbs raw agave 

Blend and then pour into an icecream churn or into a semi deep dish to proceed with freezing. 

Variations can include more or less sweetener, different fruit, peanut butter, vanilla instead of chocolate, or any other crazy combo. Go on, try it! 

Sweetened or unsweetened?

Recently-a month ago- I cut out processed sugars in my "lifestyle". I only consume, in small amounts, stevia and raw agave. I feel that even though sugar in moderation isn't a bad thing it also isn't a necessary thing. Fruits have sugars in them so it's not like we will shrivel away with out sugar. When I turn down sweets at parties or anywhere people look at me like I'm a crazy person, I DIDN'T EVEN TELL THEM I'M VEGAN YET. 

My number one dessert- dates. 

Fancy medjool dates are just plain amazing. 

Dates and bananas plus cocoa powder and peanut butter blended is like sweet sweet music to my ears. 

Strawberries and cream

My mom and I hit up the local strawberry patch today and picked four gallons of strawberries. Needless to say our supply is hefty. Fresh strawberries are delicious by themselves but add a little almond milk and Bon apatite. 

In a bowl generously heap the strawberries and then lather with creamy almond goodness. Sprinkle with sugar or agave- I used stevia. I tried something new, lime juice. Just a hint. Top with a little cinnamon and bam. Amazing. 

Strawberries and cream. 

Also great in oatmeal,smoothies, pies, cookies, muffins, breads...oh boy. 

Avocado toast

I love avocados but when they are on crusty bread and are covered with melted vegan cheese it makes them amazing. 

2 pieces of desired bread 

Half an avocado

1/4 cup vegan cheese-I use trader joes kind

Slice or mash avocado equally on both slices of bread then sprinkle cheese evenly over both pieces

  

Toast for roughly five minutes until cheese is bubbly. 

Sprinkle with sea salt. 

This is vegan?

PANCAKES

Someone I was talking to the other day said, "I tried vegan pancakes once and they were disgusting."
I told him that my vegan pancakes were not and that I needed to prove that to him sometime. He's never taken me up on the offer(maybe he's scared) but these pancakes are a huge hit in my house.

"No one will know they're vegan pancakes":

1.5 cups flour-sifted if you're a perfectionist
3.5 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbs. sugar- omit if you're sugar free like me
1 1/4 cup almond or other non-dairy milk
1 flax egg- 1 Tbs ground flax seeds combined with 3 Tbs water
3 Tbs earth balance butter, melted- or other vegan butter

-to sift or not to sift-it makes them fluffier-I'm going with sift.

Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a bowl. Take the back of a spoon or a small cup and make a well or dent in the middle of flour mixture.

Melt the butter and in another small bowl combine flax and water.
Add butter, flax egg, and milk to flour.
Stir to combine. For some reason I always find I need more milk so if you find it hard to mix or it's not "runny" enough add until consistancy is easily pourable but not liquidy.

Turn on griddle and let the magic begin. I usually find that using a ice cream scoop works well to put on griddle. A 1/4 cup measuring utensil works well too.

Depending on scoop sizes it should make about 12 medium pancakes.

Chocolate milkshake

My sister was in the mood yesterday for a chocolate milk shake. Needless to say I was enlisted to make her one.

My recipe is as follows(warning: not a low calorie food, recommended for bad days or celebrations...heck what am I kidding? ANYTIME!!)

1/3 cup coconut cream
1 banana
1-2 Tbs cocoa powder
1-2 Tbs vegan cane sugar
1/4 cup chocolate soymilk or regular almond milk
1-2 Tbs  vegan chocolate chips- this is totally optional
Ice to desired consistancy

Blend and stick in freezer for a few minutes. If you're like me and don't wait for the freezer to work its magic then so be it.

NOTE: The amount of coconut cream, sugar, milk, and cocoa powder are all adjustable.

Trying new recipes. Exciting or nerve-racking?

I am always interested when it comes to new recipes. I have found so many that don't line up with the instructions and am thankful I have culinary abilities. Even so, some are just plain bad while the majority I couldn't live with out printing out and saving in my huge cookbook. The other night I tried something new, Greek food. My weekly meal plans consists of different cuisines: greek, asian, mexican, and good ole american. My favorite recipe this week(so far) has been an authentic greek salad. Since I'm strictly vegan I replaced the feta cheese with chickpeas. The texture of this bean is somewhat reminiscent of feta crumbles.

Classic Greek Salad

Serves 4

Soaking onion slices in a red wine vinaigrette tames their bite while flavoring the vinaigrette with onion.

• 1 medium red or sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 3 Tbs. olive oil
• 2 Tbs. red wine vinegar
• ½ tsp. sugar
• ¼ tsp. dried oregano
• 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
• 2 medium cucumbers, peeled, quartered, and cut into ½-inch-thick slices (2 cups)
• 2 tomatoes, cut into wedges (2 cups)
• ½ cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
• ¼ cup kalamata olives, optional

1. Place onion, oil, vinegar, sugar, and oregano in 1-qt. resealable plastic bag. Seal, and shake to coat onion with liquid. Refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.

2. Toss together lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, and olives (if using) in bowl. Add onions and vinaigrette, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Welcome

I am relatively new to blogging but I have a strong love for cooking and baking vegan food. I am also a pianist and an avid health enthusist. Life, college, the piano and my culinary endeavors keep me busy. Above all, the number one thing in my life is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.