Vegan Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Whipped Cinnamon Vanilla Cream Cheese

 

So, after our wedding we couldn't take a honeymoon.  However, I am determined that we will some time.  But, my husband got a few days off work, so we had some extra family time which is always great!
So, I told him I would make a special breakfast, and this is what we had.  Not your everyday healthy start, but it tastes amazing!!
This is an easy easy version.

The way I did it was totally vegan.  You wouldn't be able to tell, and you won't miss the animal products in this tasty treat, promise!

Pancakes:
Makes 4-6 (Very Filling)
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
dash of salt
dash of cinnamon
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup almond milk or any non dairy milk you like
2-3 tablespoons vegan chocolate chips. (Ghiradelli semi-sweet)

Preheat a large skillet on medium with some canola oil.  In a large bowl add all dry ingredients and stir.  Then, add the rest except chips and mix well. It will be thick which will make for some awesome and filling cakes.  Lastly, fold in a couple of tablespoons of the chips.

Cream Cheese:
1 8oz tub of Tofutti Cream Cheese
2 tsp vegan butter
1ish tsp of cinnamon
1 ish tsp of vanilla
1-3 tablespoons of sugar

I used some short cuts on this to save time.  Put all of the cream cheese in a medium bowl and microwave for a few seconds to soften.  Add the butter and micro again for another 10 or so seconds.  Then, you can even skip the mixer and whip with a whisk!  Whip until smooth and combined.  Add the rest of ingredients, and sugar to taste.  Whip again until mixed.  Use a spatula to get all the goodies out of the whisk.

Make your pancakes and I like to add a few more chips when they are cooking and some to garnish, and they get all melty!  The pancakes won't bubble like normal cause they are thick, so just watch them.  Flip them when they are golden. Serve right away, enjoy!!

What's left of my beautiful wedding bouquet!  Designed and arranged by my mother!

Neutral Ombre Nails and Bachelorette Party

I used a nude opi color and a yellow nail art.  This look requires some layering and a little work, but looks really good if you take the time.
Start by applying your nude base coat and allowing it to dry.

Then, apply your yellow color to a sponge thats cut small so it doesn't make too big of a mess on your hands. Then, just apply it from one side to the other.
Then you need to layer.  So, you will get another sponge and dip it in some nude color and start layer on where the nude already is and overlapping the yellow a bit. This creates the gradient effect.  Do this with the yellow and then again with the nude.  You don't have to let the polish dry for this.
Once you are done put on a few coats of a shiny topcoat!  Then, just dip a q tip in polish remover to clean it all up.  That's it! Lasts a long time and looks really good!

So, my bachelorette party was so fun!
Here's me and my beautiful momma..

I had some yummy vegetarian food at an Asian restaurant

Then went to a comedy club and a nightclub, it was a great night!

Zucchini Squash Basil Noodles

Really easy and yummy!  Baby and I loved them.

Okay, I haven't blogged in a few weeks because we have had internet issues.  Oh yeah, and we got married last weekend!  I'll be posting some pics, it was a beautiful day, and I got to marry my best friend! I know a lot of people say that, but he really is my best friend and yeah he will admit it.

Just get some yummy looking yellow squash and Zucchini and peel them lengthwise until you get to the seeds.
Then, toss with olive oil and some fresh grated garlic.  Steam or boil like noodles for 5 or so minutes.  You want them soft, but not falling apart.
Finally, put back in the original bowl and add some freshly chopped basil and a little salt and pepper. Toss, and Enjoy!!

Cute Nail Gradient Tutorial

This is a super easy and cute pink and silver nail tutorial.  I imagine Jem doing this to her nails. You know from Jem and the Holograms?!  Yeah, I love that show, and my daughter watches it.  Okay, anyway here it is.
Here are the polishes I used, plus a clear topcoat that's not pictured

From left to right Sinful Colors: Purple Diamond, Folly, Dream On.  I also used a silver glitter nail art.
This is the order I did the gradient also. Lightest to Darkest.

Cut a sponge to about nail sized, swipe on first color and start at base of nail and cover well.  It will get all over your nail, but just clean it up later

This is the purple diamond, it's very sheer but adds nice shimmer to the whole look.

Then do the next color overlapping and covering a little more of the nail

Use the same sponge.  I got all these colors at the drugstore. I think they were a dollar.

Then do the last color.
Then do the same thing with your silver except just sponge on lightly near the cuticle.

Then, add a clear topcoat.  Soak your hands in water to dry and break up the mess. Once dry clean up with a qtip and polish remover.

Vegan Chocolate No Sugar No Bake Cookie

So, last night I really wanted some chocolate.  But, I'm trying really hard to eat well because my wedding is in, oh god two and a half weeks! Aaah! Freaking out a little.

So, I had to have something, so I made some simple no bakes. I only added some maple syrup, no extra sugar!  I really want to find alternatives to sugar in my baking from now on.  I love treats and sugar is so bad for you, so I must figure out a way to have my cake and eat it too!  Today I'm going to make some black bean brownies because I've got some bananas that are going to go bad if I don't bake something.

Anyway, moving on, these cookies are so easy and really yummy.  You won't miss the sugar.

So, I'll try to remember exactly, but I really just threw all this together.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup vegan butter
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup rice milk


Method:

Add the butter and peanut butter to a medium bowl and microwave for a few seconds to soften.
Mix well. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
Place on wax paper and chill for awhile to allow time to set.
Eat!

Protein Packed Meal for Baby

This meal is yummy for anyone, and really great for babies and toddlers.
If you are making this for a baby, just make sure they have had all of these things before.  If not you might want to leave something out.  This meal is not vegan because I used a little cheese, but you could easily leave that out or use dairy free cheese.  I like Daiya cheese.

So, the red lentils in this dish are a perfect protein.  Plus, broccoli has protein and lots of vitamins along with the mushrooms that boost immune system.  Overall yummy healthy meal!

It's really easy to make too, and can be adjust easily to make more.  I just made a small amount for us to have lunch.  There were red lentils left over when we were done.


Ingredients:
1 cup red lentils
1/4 cup frozen chopped broccoli
1/4 of a red onion diced
1 garlic clove minced
2 button mushrooms diced
1 tomato diced
1 tsp oregano
1tsp thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp vegan butter
2 tbl sharp cheddar cheese



Method:

Make red lentils according to directions
While that is cooking dice and mince your onion and garlic.
Turn a skillet on medium low with about a teaspoon of evoo
once hot add your onion and garlic.
Dice your mushroom and tomato.
Let the garlic cook for a few minutes then add your mushroom.
Get your broccoli steaming at this point.
Add the tomato to the mushroom mix
Add the oregano and thyme and little salt and pepper as well
Check your lentils, they're are done when most of the water is absorbed. Turn them off when done.
Add the tsp of butter and cheese to lentils if you like, and a little salt and pepper
Plate the lentils and top with mushroom, tomato mix.
Dice up the broccoli for little mouths and your all set!!

My daughter happily ate every yummy bite, and wanted seconds!
It was delish, I had some too!

She ate so good, I gave her some of these after. They're great for those crazy times you just need something to occupy your little one.  Organic and made of fruits and veggies!

Notice the leg on the table! Haha she's so cute

Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

Delicious vegan muffins with hardly any sugar.  When I make muffins I try to make them healthy enough for my daughter to be able to eat them as well, and these are it!  They're really yummy, and totally sweet enough!  Everyone that tried them like them and were surprised that they only had 1/4 cup of sugar.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sugar
1 Tbl spoon vegan butter softened
3 Tbl spoon agave
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 Tbl spoon fresh grated ginger
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbl spoon vegetable oil
1 cup whole wheat flou
1/2 cup self-rising flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup vanilla rice milk
1/2 cup quick oats
3/4 cup blueberries

Method:

Preheat oven to 350
Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl
Peel ginger and grind in food processor or use a grater, which will take longer
Add ginger, agave, vanilla and stir
Add vinegar, and oil and stir well
Slowly add in flours and baking powder while mixing
Add rice milk and stir
Fold in oats and blueberries

Line muffin tin with baking cups
Fill 2/3 full to make space for rising
Bake for 12-15 minutes
Makes about 15 muffins
let cool and enjoy!!

Fried Potato Salad

This dish is so yummy and so easy and vegan and just awesome!  We usually eat this once a week for dinner.  Last night I made some awesome vegan garlic bread to go with it, but you don't have to.  This meal is filling all on its own.  Which is another great thing about making this when you don't have time to get three burners going.

It's so yum and easy, I highly recommend this.  I got the recipe from my sis in-law and everyone that has had it, liked it!

Serves 3-4

Salad Ingredients:
3 large russet potatoes diced. (any potatoes are awesome, this is just what I have this week)
Lettuce blend that you like (I use half spinach half spring blend usually)
I also added a couple of leaves of kale.  Just rip it into bite sizers
a little sliced red onion
any veggies you like in salad
I added cucumber last night and usually use green or red pepper

Method:
You can bake the the potatoes for an hour at 350 beforehand if you like.  This makes them crispier, but I used a lot more oil this way.  If you do make sure they have cooled.
Dice your potatoes. Fry them in an olive oil coated pan around medium until very crispy.  This will take almost 30 minutes.
In the meantime just get your salad ready.  Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and set in the fridge.

Dressing Ingredients:
1 clove garlic minced
a good drizzle of olive oil
splash of apple cider vinegar
Squeeze of lemon
Salt and Pepper to taste
It's hard to say how much, this is all to taste. However, do two times as much oil to vinegar.
It doesn't take a lot to dress the salad

Method:
Add garlic and lemon to bowl.  Slowly add in some olive oil and whisk at the same time.  Add some vinegar and keep whisking.  Salt and Pepper, taste.  Adjust as needed.  Set aside.

Once the potatoes are done, dress your salad.  Just enough, don't soak it.  Add the potatoes on top. Top with a bit of salt and pepper.

Serve hot!! SOoo Good, and so easy!!

Garlic Bread:
Italian Bread
butter with Vegan butter
Sprinkle with salt pepper
garlic powder
nutritional yeast
Broil on low for 5ish minutes!! mmmm