Coconut Milk Vanilla Ice Cream

Coconut Milk Vanilla Ice Cream

• What's in it?

Coconut Milk, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla bean, vanilla extract

• Want the recipe?  Click here.

• Where did I find it?

Chloe's Vegan Italian Kitchen, Chole Coscarelli, Vanilla Gelato

• Why do I like it?

Chef Chole is absolutely adorable!  I just love her cookbook.  This ice cream has a really nice flavor.  I like to make my own ice cream so I can avoid gums and other additives.  The addition of a bit of oil makes the texture less icy and more creamy.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I used maple syrup instead of agave.  I swapped the canola oil for coconut oil.  I omitted the guar gum and bourbon.

Spinach Salad with Grains and Lemon Marinated Fennel

Spinach Salad with Grains and Lemon Marinated Fennel

• What's in it?

Spinach, grains of choice, avocado, fennel, lemon, olive oil, salt

• Want the recipe?  Click here.

• Where did I find it?

I had all the ingredients in my fridge and threw them all together!

• Why do I like it?

The texture of chewy kamut is nicely balanced with the crunch fennel.  The flavors also compliment each other with the nutty taste of grains and bright taste of the vegetables.

It is quick and easy to prepare.  You can make the grains and fennel ahead of time and keep in the fridge.

Maca and Cacao Almond Milk

Maca and Cacao Almond Milk

• What's in it?

Unsweetened almond milk, cacao powder, maca powder, maple syrup, ice

• Want the recipe?

Young and Raw, 2 Iced Coffee Alternatives

• Why do I like it?

This drink is a nice change from coffee.  It is a great way to incorporate maca into your diet.  The maca powder adds a flavor which reminds me of a malt type of drink.  The recipe is very easy to make.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I adjusted the measurements as the original recipe gives a range on the amount of cacao and sweetener.  Be sure to use a brand of almond milk that is organic and does not have any questionable additives like carrageenan and other thickeners or preservatives.  

Broccoli with Nutritional Yeast

Broccoli with Nutritional Yeast

• What's in it?

Broccoli, coconut oil, nutritional yeast

• Want the recipe?

Kimberly Snyder, Vegan Cheesy Broccoli

• Why do I like it?

Sometimes you just want a quick and simple way to change up a basic staple.  This is an easy preparation and makes the broccoli into something special!

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I would like to try this with roasted broccoli and/or cauliflower.  Might also be good with other vegetables like brussels sprouts.

Chickpea Croutons

Chickpea Croutons

• What's in it?

Chickpeas, olive oil, salt, garlic powder

• want the recipe?

Oh She Glows, Crowd-Pleasing Vegan Caesar Salad

• Why do I like it?

I was looking for something tasty to use as a crunchy topping on salad and found this recipe from Oh She Glows.  It is meant to be served over Caesar salad, but I used it on this simple salad of organic baby romaine, raw yellow beets and avocado.  I like this alternative to croutons made from bread.  You can also eat these as a snack or use as topping for soups or anywhere you would use conventional croutons.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

These were great as is - and very simple to prepare.

Cashew Sour Cream

Ancient grains tortilla with salad and cashew cream

Jackfruit tacos with cashew cream

Pasta with sautéed veetables tossed with cashew cream

Cashew Sour Cream

• What's in it?

Cashews, water, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, salt

• Want the recipe?  Click here.

• Where did I find it?

Oh She Glows, Homemade Vegan Sour Cream

Angela Liddon's The Oh She Glows Cookbook

• Why do I like it?

I have tried several recipes for non-dairy sour cream and I like this one the best.  It can be used any time you want a non-dairy sour cream.  For instance, I made a simple lunch using a warmed ancient grains tortilla.  I added some salad that I had in the fridge and topped it with the cashew sour cream.  I also use in on jackfruit tacos and as a sauce for pasta.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

This recipe is great exactly as it appears in the cookbook.  Just make sure you blend for a while until smooth, this may take longer than you think so keep going if it is still lumpy.  I start blending on my Vitamix number 4/5 for about 5 minutes until you can only see small pieces.  Then I put the blender on full blast to get a really creamy consistency.

Organic Greens with Quinoa and Citrus

Organic Greens Salad with Quinoa and Citrus

• What's in it?

Salad - Organic romaine (or greens of your choice), orange, green apple, pomegranate, dried cranberries, quinoa, avocado

Dressing - red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, maple syrup, olive oil, orange juice

• Want the recipe?  Click here.

• Where did I find it?

Minimalist Baker, Kale Citrus Salad

• Why do I like it?

It is a beautiful, colorful salad full of wonderful ingredients.  It is versatile, you can opt for any type of greens, swap grapefruit for oranges, probably use blood oranges.  You can top with any grain you like, nuts or seeds.  The dressing is terrific and works well on any type of green salad.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I swapped the kale for romaine because I wanted a sweeter tasting lettuce.  I think it would be good with butter lettuce or fresh spinach leaves or a combination of greens.

I had limited time to make this so I did not make the pickled onions.  I think they would taste great, but the salad works well without them.  

I chopped the cranberries to make them easier to eat.  I blended the dressing in the food processor to get a smoother emulsion.  I added orange juice to the dressing as is suggested as an option.  Lastly, I added avocado on top.

Antioxidant Avenger From The Blender Girl

Antioxidant Avenger From The Blender Girl

• What's in it?

Coconut water, frozen berries, grapes, pear, ginger, cinnamon, orange zest, dates, ice cubes

• Want the recipe?

Hallmark Channel Recipes, Antioxidant Avenger Smoothie, The Blender Girl

• Why do I like it?

With smoothies it is all about the taste and this one tastes great!  If you want to lower the grams of sugar, omit the grapes.  

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I didn't have any grapes so I made it without.  

Cashew Cream Cheese - 2 great recipes

1)Cashew Cream Cheese

• What's in it?

Cashews, water, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, onion powder, salt, chives, parsley

• Want the recipe?  Click here.

• Where did I find it?

Kris Carr, Beetroot Ravioli with Cashew Cream Cheese

2)Sour cream + onion cashew cream cheese

• WHAT’S IN IT?

  Cashews, non-dairy yogurt, lemon juice, green onions, mild miso, salt, maple syrup (optional), guar gum

• where did i find it?

Dreena Burton, Vegan Cream Cheese from The Cheese Trap

• Why do I like these recipes?

The first recipe for cream cheese comes from Kris Carr.  It is meant to be used between slices of beets which are fashioned as ravioli.  I liked the cheese so much I use it as a spread instead of cream cheese.  Most non-dairy cream cheeses are soy based and have lots of questionable ingredients.  This one is delicious with a creamy texture.

The second recipe is from Dreena Burton’s book, The Cheese Trap. This recipe is also so simple to make and tastes great. I have made it without the maple syrup as I prefer a savory cheese. Additionally I have made it with and without the guar gum and prefer it with the guar gum. So I recommend purchasing the guar gum powder, the recipe only calls for a small amount.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

For recipe #1, I cut the quantities of all ingredients in half.  With less in the Vitamix, you need to blend for longer at a slower speed (4-5 speed).  I keep a small container of chopped chives in the freezer.  For this recipe, just measure out desired amount and mix in, no need to thaw.  You can make it with or without parsley or experiment with other herbs.

For recipe #2, I prefer it without the maple syrup. Sometimes I substitute 1/4 teaspoon onion powder for the green onions.

I have also made the cheese and layered some Everything But The Bagel (sold at Trader Joe's) seasoning - it tasted great!

Sweet Potato Cheese Sauce

• What's in it?

White fleshed sweet potato, non-dairy milk of choice, nutritional yeast, salt, lemon juice, onion powder, chili powder, pasta of choice

• Want the recipe?

Detoxinista, Sweet Potato Mac N' Cheeze

• Why do I like it?

This sauce is wonderfully creamy and tasty.  It can hold its own over pasta or vegetables.  It lasts in the fridge for up to 4 days which can be convenient to have on hand for several meals.  It is easy to prepare with a simple list of ingredients.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I did not change anything!  I did make this one time with orange fleshed sweet potato, but found it to be too sweet. 

Superfood Smoothie

Superfood Smoothie

• What's in it?

Coconut water, vanilla protein powder (vegan), cacao nibs, goji berries, maca powder, hemp seeds, chia seeds, flaxseed, beet, frozen berries, greens, coconut oil, ice

• Want the recipe?

Karen Malkin Health Counseling, Karen's Superfood Smoothie

• Why do I like it?

Since I make a smoothie every morning, I like to mix things up.  This has a great taste and really fills me up.  I love using all these amazing ingredients to get my day started.

I used Karen's MCT Lean protein powder, which I like a lot.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I used half water and half coconut water for the liquid.  I didn't have gogi or cacao but I did have some organic superfood trail mix (Essestial Living Foods) so I used that instead.  The trail mix has the goji, cacao and more!  I used beet greens, the leaves from the top of the beets.  In this photo, I used frozen blueberries.  If you want a lighter smoothie, omit the hemp and chia seeds.

Coconut Whipped Cream

Coconut Whipped Cream

• What's in it?

Coconut milk, maple syrup, vanilla

• Want the recipe?  Click here.

• Where did I find it?

Coconut Whipped Cream: A Step-By-Step Photo Tutorial, Oh She Glows

Easy Coconut Whipped Cream, Detoxinista

• Why do I like it?

This recipe is a combination of techniques from two of my favorite sites, Oh She Glows and Detoxinista.  The taste and texture are lovely.  It is heavier that dairy whipped cream but can be easily substituted.  It is wonderful atop any dessert you create, over fresh fruit or non-dairy ice cream.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I liked the ingredient list from Detoxinista and the technique from Oh She Glows, so I put these two together.

There is a great comprehensive article on Coconut Whipped Cream on the blog For The Love of Coconut. I highly recommend you check it out! To see this article click here.

Dill Pickles

Dill Pickles

• What's in it?

Cucumbers, kosher salt, dill, white vinegar

• Want the recipe?  Click here.

• Where did I find it?

Smitten Kitchen, Easiest Fridge Dill Pickles

• Why do I like it?

I wanted to make pickles but I didn't want to have to wait days or weeks to eat them.  I saw this recipe on Smitten Kitchen and gave it a try.  It is super easy and the pickles are crisp and tasty.  I made these without the dill and they still came out great!

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

Omitted the dill (my kids don't like "green things"!).  Used organic cucumbers, there were no organic pickling cucumbers - it still turned out well. 

Pineapple Green Smoothie

Pineapple Green Smoothie

• What's in it?

Frozen pineapple, frozen banana, water, coconut water, parsley, avocado, cucumber, fresh ginger, lemon juice

• Want the recipe?

Oh She Glows, Happy Digestion Smoothie

• Why do I like it?

The flavor is fresh and bright.  The pineapple and banana compliment each other perfectly. There is enough green to make it healthy but not grassy tasting.  I like adding just a sliver of avocado for thickness.  Some recipes add more and the texture is too thick and slimy for me.  This one has just the right amount for my taste. Someone said it was the best green smoothie they ever tasted from my kitchen!

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I didn't measure the parsley, just added a handful.  I used a 1" sliver of avocado.  I had some cucumber to use up, so I added a 3" piece.  I also added some lemon juice, about 2 tablespoons.

Almond Butter Blondies

Almond Butter Blondies

• What's in it?

Chickpeas, maple syrup, nut butter, vanilla, salt, baking powder, baking soda, chocolate chips

• want the recipe?

The Fit Housewife, Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies

• Why do I like it?

I was pleasantly surprised at the taste of these blondies.  I have used chickpea flour in the past and did not like the taste.  In this recipe I did not taste the chickpeas at all.  It was easy to prepare and didn't take too much time.  I had all the ingredients on hand so there was no need to make a special trip to the market.  The texture is like a conventional blondie.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I used almond butter rather than peanut or sun butter.  I made my own organic almond butter. If you want to the recipe for almond butter, click here.  I baked it for 25 minutes and the inside was still soft.  Next time I will try baking for 5 minutes longer.  

Warm Lemon Water with Turmeric, Cinnamon + Coconut Oil

Warm Lemon Water with Turmeric, Cinnamon + Coconut Oil

• What's in it?

Organic lemon juice, organic turmeric powder, organic ground cinnamon, filtered water (room temperature and boiling), organic virgin coconut oil

 

• Want the recipe?  Click here.

• Where did I find it?

mindbody green, Warm Water & Lemon with a Turmeric Twist

Food Babe, Habits for the New Year and Beyond

 

• Why do I like it?

I have been starting my day drinking warm water with lemon for several years now.  After reading this article from mindbodygreen, I decided to add turmeric and cinnamon.  It helps move fluids through the body and is a great way to start the day.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I add some virgin coconut oil to help my body absorb the spices.  I use a glass mug and straw as the lemon can be staining on your teeth.   I also follow the directions from Food Babe (see link above) about mixing in room temperature water then hot water to avoid damaging the enzymes in the lemon.

Vegan Ranch Style Dressing

Vegan Ranch Style Dressing

• What's in it?

Detoxinista Recipe - cashews, water, olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, salt, mustard, onion powder, garlic power, pepper, dry parsley, dry chives, dry dill

Clean Food Dirty Girl Recipe - cashews, dates, lemon juice, garlic, salt, dill, onion powder, water

• Want the recipe? I like both of these below, the first one has a small amount of olive oil, the second one has no oil.

Detoxinista, Vegan Ranch Dressing

Clean Food Dirty Girl, Whole Food Plant Based Oil Free Salad Dressing Recipe That Tastes Like Ranch

• Why do I like it?

Both recipes are so quick and easy to prepare.  They make a big enough batch to last for several days to a week in the fridge.  It tastes great over salad, cooked veggies and baked potatoes.  The flavor is not too heavy - it is just right.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I didn't change anything, however I didn't have any dried dill so I used dill seeds.  These broke up well in the Vitamix and still gave the flavor of herbs.  

I also made it with fresh dill instead of dried.  I would recommend blending all ingredients - except the dill - first then adding the dill so the mixture doesn't turn green!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Soft Serve

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Soft Serve

• What's in it?

Bananas, almond milk, maple syrup, cacao powder, peanut butter, salt, vanilla

• Want the recipe?

Detoxinista, Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Milkshake

• Why do I like it?

This recipe is a winner - it comes from one of my favorite sites, Detoxinista.  It is so thick and creamy, it's meant to be a milkshake, but I eat it with a spoon like soft serve.  If there is any left over, you can freeze, but I doubt there will be any left! It is always such a treat to find a really great tasting, better for you, vegan version of a not so healthy dessert. 

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

Sometimes I use a bit less almond milk to make it thicker so it can be eaten with a spoon.  

Two Variations of Qi'a Cereal

Two Variations of Qi'a Cereal

• What's in it?

Top photo - Qi'a, coconut milk, kiwi, blueberries, vanilla, maple syrup

Bottom photo - Qi'a, almond milk, cinnamon, cacao powder, stevia, raspberries

• Want the recipes?  Click here.

• Where did I find it?

Top photo - Young and Raw, Chia Coconut Milk Pudding

Bottom photo - combination of recipes I searched on the internet + back of cereal package

• Why do I like it?

I was intrigued with the superfood cereal Qi'a which I found at Whole Foods.  I was looking for something interesting to do with it when I found the recipe from Young and Raw.  Sometimes you just want a bowl of cereal and this one uses the healthiest ingredients.  I love the crunch from the Qi'a with the texture of frozen berries and kiwi.  The color of the milk goes purple from the frozen berries.

I also wanted a chocolate version and came up with this recipe based on searching and combining several recipes from the internet.  The raspberries are a great balance to the chocolate.  I like the frozen ones as they cause the milk to thicken a bit and add a nice, cold crunch to the cereal.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

Swapped out plain chia seeds for the Qi'a cereal which is a combination of organic chia, buckwheat and hemp.

Used frozen fruit in both.  This helps the cereal thicken up and adds a nice texture balance.

Dandelion Iced Tea

Dandelion Iced Tea

• What's in it?

Hot water, Dandelion tea bags, vanilla stevia, non-dairy milk

• Want the recipe?  Click here.

• Where did I find it?

Elana's Pantry, Instant Dandelion Latte

• Why do I like it?

When I first saw the post on Elana's Pantry about Dandelion tea I couldn't wait to try it.  It is a coffee-like drink with many health benefits.  The flavor is unique and bold.  I have tried several blends from Teeccino.  The Dandelion Caramel Nut is my favorite.  I have also mixed their Dandelion Dark Roast with their Chocolate.  I have found the tea bags at Whole Foods, online at Amazon or on the Teeccino site.  Follow the link to Teeccino to read more.  It gives me a great energy boost without any jitters.

• Any recipe notes or tweaks?

I decided to try it iced.  You can keep a pitcher of it in the fridge for up to a week.  Just brew and sweeten.  Add ice and non-dairy milk when you want to drink it.