BLUEBERRY HILLS SMOOTHIE- Vegan & Gluten-Free

I don’t think that I’ve posted a recipe for a good two years now…and then I made THE BEST smoothie I have literally ever had and I just had to share it! I know, I know “THE BEST” is quite the statement, but honestly I took a sip of this smoothie and gasped in shock over its deliciousness. I haven’t fed it to the hubby yet, but not because he won’t like it…because I love it too much to share and I only have 1/2 a banana left (aka. only 1 smoothies worth). The picture doesn’t do it justice, obviously. But what’s a girl to do when you discover absolute deliciousness 5 minutes before you’ve got to run off to work?

Blueberry Hills Smoothie

Sweet blueberries mixed with fragrant cinnamon, creamy almond butter and hormone helping maca root powder. This smoothie will keep you smiling for hours!

Adapted from this recipe.

Ingredients

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 banana

2 tbsp rolled oats (GF as needed)

1 tbsp smooth almond butter

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp maca root powder

1 tbsp vegan vanilla protein powder*

1 cup of unsweetened cashew milk (of less, if you like a thicker smoothie)

*if you don’t have, or don’t want to use, protein powder- feel free to substitute with 1 tbsp of hemp seeds and a splash of vanilla extract

Instructions

1.) Throw it all in the blender

2.) Blend away and be happy

 

xoxo Erin

 

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Crazy for Carrots…in Cake!

One thing that I enjoy about this time of year is all of the carrot cake. It’s one of my favourites and I think that it is completely appropriate to eat for breakfast….lunch….or dinner. I mean come on, it’s a cake based on a veggie 🙂 Anyway, I’ve spent far too much time drooling over carrot cake treats on Pinterest tonight so I thought that I would share all of the deliciousness that I have stumbled across:

Carrot Cake Smoothie

photo credit: Vega

Carrot Cake Raw Buckwheat Porridge

Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

Carrot Cake Quinoa

photo credit: Kiss My Broccoli

Carrot Cake Muffins– shameless plug alert 🙂

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies (use egg replacer to make vegan)

photo credit: Amy’s Healthy Baking

Carrot Cake Bars

photo credit: Our Four Forks

Vegan Carrot Cake Cheesecake

Carrot Cake Popsicles

Dairy-Free Carrot Cake Ice Cream

And of course, since it is Easter weekend…

xoxo Erin

 

SPICED PECAN COOKIES- (Gluten-Free, Vegan & Refined Sugar-Free)

I don’t think that there’s a better treat on a warm winters night than freshly baked cookies.

Especially when they’re as delicious as these cookies are!

Gluten-Free & Vegan Spiced Pecan Cookies

Soft and fragrant cookies filled with crunchy pecans and pumpkin pie spices. No butter, no eggs, no gluten and no dairy make these cookies a treat for almost everyone!

Adapted from this recipe.

Makes 24 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 3/4 cup coconut sugar (any granulated sugar should work)
• 1 1/2 tsp egg replacer mixed with 2 tbsp water
• 2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp butter extract (it’s vegan- go figure!)
• 2 tbsp unsweetened non-dairy milk
• 2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour mix (I used Bob Red Mill)
• 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tsp tapioca starch
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Beat the coconut oil until it softens. Add the coconut sugar and continue to beat until the sugar crystals dissolve into the oil.
3. Mix the egg replacer powder with the 2 tbsp of water and add to the oil/sugar mixer. Beat until combined.
4. Add the extracts and non-dairy milk and beat until combined.
5. Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the pecans, and beat until a dough is formed.
6. Fold in the pecans.
7. Drop cookies onto lined baking sheet. Flatten cookies to desired thickness.
8. Chill cookies on baking sheet for 20 minutes.
9. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for another 5 minutes before removing them to a cooling rack.

xoxo Erin

BANANA PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP OATIES- Vegan, Gluten-Free, Oil-Free & Refined Sugar-Free

I cannot believe how long it has been since I’ve posted a recipe here. I wish I could say that I will start posting recipes frequently again, but my recipe notebook is packed in a box somewhere and I don’t know when I’ll be unpacking. My fiance and I are currently staying at his parents house while we finish up renovations in our new house. So not only do I not have my recipe notebook, I also don’t have my own kitchen to experiment and make a mess in. One day in the near future I will though and it will be glorious!

In the meantime, I’m sharing a recipe today that I have memorized because I’ve made it THAT many times. And yes, it is a cookie recipe. What other recipe would I make that often?

I love these cookies because they’re naturally sweetened with banana and they’re packed with protein thanks to our friend Mr. Peanut Butter. These cookies are healthy enough to enjoy frequently but they don’t taste like it. The richness of the peanut butter mixed with the decadent chocolate makes these beauties a real treat!

Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oaties

Decadent cookies that are naturally sweetened and healthy enough to enjoy everyday!

Serves 12-15

Ingredients:

• 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
• 2 tbsp ground flax seeds
• 1 medium banana, mashed
• 1/3 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
• 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• arrowroot starch for dusting

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl mix together rolled oats and ground flax seeds and set aside.
3. In a medium bowl cream together the mashed banana, non-dairy milk and peanut butter.
4. Add the oat mixture to the medium bowl and mix until combined.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips and then portion the dough onto the lined baking sheet.
6. Use a fork dipped in arrowroot starch (to prevent sticking) to flatten the cookies to your desired thickness, remembering that they will NOT spread while they bake.
7. Bake for 10 minutes and let cool on baking sheet for another 5 minutes before enjoying!

xoxo Erin

You May Also Like:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

 

BLUSHBABY SMOOTHIE- Vegan, Grain-Free & Refined Sugar-Free

Ever wanted something that tasted like a dessert but was filled with veggies?

Well you’re in luck because Leanne Vogel’s newest cookbook Vibrant Life Cleanse Program & Cookbook (that I introduced the other day) is filled with juice and smoothie recipes that are absolutely delicious. There’s even an entire chapter in the book dedicated to dessert smoothies. Now that’s my kind of chapter! I’m honestly drooling just thinking about all the recipes I cannot wait to try!

Leanne was kind enough to let me share a recipe with you. This recipe is fantastic because it’s a smoothie made with fresh juice. A bit more labour intensive than just a smoothie or just a juice, but the flavour is unbelievable. It’s definitely worth the extra effort. I would suggest making a double serving when you make this. Believe me, you won’t regret it.

Blushbaby Smoothie

Shared with permission of Leanne Vogel. 

Serves 1 (Makes 500ml)

Ingredients:

1 orange, juiced

4 carrots, juiced

1 golden beet, juiced

8 frozen mango chunks

6 strawberries

3 ice cubes

Directions:

Juice the orange, carrots and golden beet.

Pour the juice into the jug of your high-powered blender, followed by remaining ingredients in the order they are listed.

Blend on high for 1 minute, or until smooth.

Transfer to a glass and serve immediately.

To store: pour into a glass container and keep in the fridge for 1-2 days. Alternatively, pour into a plastic container and freeze for up to 1 month.

Grab your copy of the cookbook here and after you do, immediately flip to the dessert smoothie chapter!!! Just do it.

xoxo Erin

ALMOND ORANGE BROCCOLI- Vegan, Gluten-Free & Oil-Free

I sat down with the intention to write my next review of Happy Herbivore Light & Lean. But as soon as I looked at my computer screen I felt exhausted. I spend about six of my eight hour work day sitting at a desk writing an assessment. Turns out that’s enough to make me not want to write anything else today!

Almond Orange Broccoli

Crisp broccoli smothered in a sweet and salty sauce. 

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets
• 3 tbsp orange juice
• 1 tbsp gluten-free soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 1/2 tbsp almond butter
• 3 tbsp sliced almonds

Instructions:

1. Heat frying pan over medium-low heat and add broccoli florets.
2. While the broccoli cooks, add orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar and almond butter to a blender (I used my Magic Bullet) and blend until combined.
3. Once the broccoli is cooked to your liking (I cook mine just until it starts to turn a brighter green), pour the sauce over the broccoli and sprinkle with the sliced almonds.

xoxo Erin

You May Also Like:

       Butter Chickpeas

UPDATE! This recipe has been shared at Healthy Vegan Fridays.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER DONUTS- Vegan, Gluten-Free, Refined Sugar-Free & Oil-Free

I’ve seen lots of red desserts floating around the internet lately. Some coloured with food colouring, some with raspberries or cherries and some with beet juice. Even though all of these valentines treats look amazing, I’ve had an aversion to foods that are unnaturally red for a long time. When I was younger I would break out in hives whenever I’d eat a little too much of something with red food colouring. I expect that I would still break out in hives but I’ve been avoiding red food colouring since I realized what was causing the hives.

But this valentines treat won’t be causing any hives. These peanut butter and chocolate goodies are decadent enough to make for your sweetheart on valentines day and healthy enough to make again and again for no reason other than they taste like a little piece of heaven. Sweet peanut butter and chocolate heaven, mmmm! Oh, and if you’re looking for more delicious non-traditional valentines recipes, check out The Healthy Maven. Davida has been baking up some ridiculously amazing treats…lemon swiss roll with coconut cream frosting, banana fosters cinnamon rolls and double chocolate cherry cookies kind of amazing! Excuse me while I drool a little…and by a little I mean a lot 🙂

Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts

Soft and decadent chocolate peanut buttery donuts smothered in sweet and creamy peanut butter glaze. 

Serves 5-6

Ingredients:

Donut- 

• 1/2 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
• 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
• 3 tbsp water
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup brown rice flour
• 1/4 cup tapioca starch
• 1 tsp xanthan gum
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar (any granulated sugar will work)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder

Glaze-

• 3 tbsp peanut butter
• 1/3 cup coconut sugar (any granulated sugar will work)
• 1 tbsp tapioca starch
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp unsweetened non-dairy milk

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and set aside a donut baking pan.
2. Add apple cider vinegar to the non-dairy milk and let stand for at least 5 minutes.
3. Mix the ground flaxseeds with the water and also let stand for at least 5 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, mix together brown rice flour, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, cocoa powder, coconut sugar and baking powder.
5. Add the peanut butter, vanilla extract, non-dairy milk mixture and flaxseed mixture to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour over the dry mixture and mix until combined.
6. Use an icing piping bag to fill the donut pan with batter.
7. Cook for 9-11 minutes and let cool in the pan for at least 5 minutes before removing the donuts to a cooling rack.
8. While the donuts are baking and cooling, add the coconut sugar and tapioca starch to a blender and blend until the sugar is powdered.
9. Combine the powdered sugar with the rest of the glaze ingredients and mix until combined. Spread the glaze over the cooled donuts and enjoy!

xoxo Erin

You May Also Like:

Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cups

  

UPDATE: This recipe has been shared at Vegan Mondays Roundup, Gluten-Free Fridays, Potluck Party and Healthy Vegan Fridays.

TROPICAL DESSERT SMOOTHIE- Vegan, Gluten-Free & Refined Sugar-Free

I created this recipe for my mom. My mom loves the summer. She loves the weather, the sunlight and of course, the flavours. Since this winter has been especially cold and since my mom has recently obtained a high-power blender, I thought I’d create a recipe for her. I thought of no better recipe than a smoothie that is delicious enough to call a dessert but healthy enough to enjoy at any time of the day. This super healthy smoothy is completely mouthwatering and will take your taste buds to tropical heaven.

Okay, so it doesn’t look that pretty when it’s just a pile of stuff in a blender, but once that “on” button is pressed and all the ingredients are pulverized, tropical heaven is achieved. Just trust me.

See, I told you! Look at those beautiful green glowing smoothies. I love the look of green smoothies but I can appreciate that lots of people think they look like alien goo. Although I’ve listed this as a dessert smoothie, I still like throwing spinach in there for extra nutrition. You cannot taste the spinach at all. The fruit and coconut milk are so strong in flavour that the spinach is covered up immediately. If I was making this as a meal instead of as a sweet treat I’d probably throw at least 2 cups of kale in there as well. This will make the smoothies much brighter green though and that may be off putting for some. Feel free to leave out the spinach if you’re making it for picky eaters…but I promise if you blind-fold them and serve them the green version they would never know!

Tropical Dessert Smoothie

A creamy smoothie that’s filled with bright tropical flavours and is sweet enough to be a dessert. 

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup coconut milk
• 1 cup water (use 1 1/2 cups if you like a thinner drink)
• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
• 1 cup frozen mango chunks
• 1 banana
• 1 tbsp macadamia nut butter
• 2 cups spinach

Instructions: 

1. Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender, making sure to add the liquids first. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and let your taste buds escape to the tropics!

xoxo Erin

You May Also Like:

Pina Colada Oatmeal

UPDATE: This recipe has been shared at Healthy Vegan Fridays, Raw Food Thursdays and Weekend Wholefood Blender Party.

Minimal Ingredient Mondays: Carob Chia Mousse & Cucumber Beet Smoothie

It’s time again for Minimal Ingredient Mondays! This is a weekly link-up party where bloggers link-up their gluten and dairy-free recipes that have minimal ingredients. Basically this is a space where you can find delicious recipes that you can whip up on a busy weekday night. Check out these fantastic recipes from last week:

Creamy Carob Chia Mousse from Coconut and Berries

Cucumber Beet Smoothie from Sayana Lifestyle

This week I’m submitting my Tagalong Cookies:

There’s my submission to Minimal Ingredient Mondays, what will yours be this week?

Please review the following guidelines before linking up:

1. Recipes should contain a minimal amount of ingredients. Remember, minimal is however you define it. Your recipe may have few ingredients or it may have less ingredients than it’s more traditional counterpart. Your recipe may even have a decent size list of ingredients but most of them are kitchen staples. All of the above are welcome!
2. Recipe must be gluten and dairy-free. Bonus for recipes that are also plant-based.
3. Lastly, please leave a link to your own recipe that goes to that week’s Minimal Ingredient Monday post, not on this static page.

Your recipes don’t need to be from this week, but it does need to be your own recipe. I will sometimes share photos of the recipes with links back to your blog, so by sharing your recipe, you are giving me permission to use your photo and link back to your recipe. 

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

xoxo Erin

SUSHI RICE SALAD- Vegan, Gluten-Free & Sugar-Free

As much as I’m enjoying creating Project Light & Lean posts, I felt it was time for a good old recipe. I made this salad before the holidays for a potluck at work. I wasn’t planning on making a sushi salad, but I forgot to go to the grocery store after work and once I was in the house the last thing I wanted to do was go out again. I had to make something for the potluck with whatever I had in my fridge. I was pleasantly surprised when this is what I came up with. You can make the flavour in this dish as bold as you’d like. Since I was making it for others I kept the ginger down to 1/4 cup and the wasabi down to 1/2 tsp. When I make it for myself and my partner I use closer to 1/2 cup ginger and 1- 1 1/2 tsp wasabi.

Sushi Rice Salad

All of the bright flavours of sushi without all of the complication of making a sushi roll!

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup sushi rice
• 2 1/3 cup water
• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 2 cups julienned cucumber
• 2 cups julienned carrot
• 1 pkg frozen spinach, thawed
• 1/4 cup pickled ginger
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1/4 cup gluten-free soy sauce
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1/2- 1 tsp wasabi paste
• 1 tsp sesame seeds

Instructions:

1. Bring 2 1/3 cups of water to a boil over high heat. Add the sushi rice and bring the water back to a boil before reducing the heat to a simmer, covering and cooking until the water is absorbed and the rice is soft. This should take approximately 20 minutes.
2. While the rice is cooking dissolve the coconut sugar into the rice vinegar.
3. Once the rice is finished cooking, remove it from heat and stir in the rice vinegar mixture. Stir and let it cool uncovered while you prep the veggies.
4. Julienne the carrots and cucumber and drain the thawed spinach very well. Set aside.
5. Mix together gluten-free soy sauce, 2 tbsp water, sesame oil and wasabi paste until well combined. Set aside.
6. Once the rice has cooled to room temperature and the rice vinegar mixture has been absorbed by the rice, stir in the carrots, cucumber, thawed and drained spinach, pickled ginger and diced avocado.
7. Add the dressing and mix until combined. Top with sesame seeds. Serve right away or let chill in the fridge before serving.

xoxo Erin

You May Also Like:

Ginger-Soy Rice Bowl

UPDATE! This recipe has been shared at Wellness Weekend, Allergy-Free Wednesdays and Gluten-Free Fridays.