Purple Power juice (without a juicer) and I Just Became a LivBetter Ambassador at Liv360.com!

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On to the Juice!

So, I made this smoothie/juice based on this Bolthouse Farms juice I bought and didn't really like.  I don't buy these that often, but I didn't want to just throw it out and I didn't want to drink it. So, I made it a tasty smoothie!

I called it a juice because the consistency was more juice than smoothie, but I just used my blender. 

1. • Beets are high in many vitamins and minerals. Potassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, iron; vitamins A, B & C; beta-carotene, beta-cyanine; folic acid. ...
   • Beets cleanse the body. ...
   • Beets help your mental health. ...
   • Beets are used as a stomach acid tester. ...
   • Beets are a high source of energy.  Information came from FullCircle.com   

   
   
2. This bottle of juice also has purple carrots, and purple sweet potato, give it a try if you're lacking in some root veggies!  

                                    The babes enjoying some purple root power

Quick and kid approved!

Comment if you try it, and what you think of the taste of the juice.  It's a quick way to get some beets into your life!

 Ingredients:

1 banana
2 cutie oranges
1/2 bottle of Bolthouse Farms Daily Roots

Method:

Put all into blender, blend, drink!

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Vegan Quinoa Pizza Bites

Super tasty and easy and awesome!

I got this recipe from Chocolatecoveredkatie.com , her site is amazing for treats and a few good non dessert recipes as well.  Here is the link for the original recipe and I will tell you how I made it a little different, since it's impossible for me to follow a recipe.  

After Baking                                                                    Before baking

The awesome cheese I used, and had a bunch leftover.  And I stuffed as much in there as I could!

Before the cheese.  I stuck the cookie sheet in the fridge for an hour before I stuffed and baked them (optional)

Things you need:

Cookie Sheet

Parchment

1/2 cup dry quinoa cooked

1 1/2 cup beans (i used white beans, cause that's what I had)

Any spices you like for example: oregano, rosemary, parsley, thyme, salt, pepper

Tiny little can of tomato paste

Vegan cheese (daiya mozzarella)

For the full recipe click here...  

Method:

Preheat oven 350

Cook Quinoa, and while this is cooking, put beans into a large bowl.  Smash beans as well as you can, and cooked quionoa and all other ingredients except cheese.  Mix it up and place as many tablespoon sized bites on a parchment lined cookie sheet as you can.  I think I got 14.  Then, I stuck it in the fridge for an hour or so.  This step isn't necessary I just wasn't ready to make dinner yet, however it may help hold them together.  Then, I put some cheese in a bowl so it was easier to get to and just opened them up and stuffed as much cheese in the middle as I could and then tried my best to seal them back up.  I probably got around a teaspoon in each one, and then I sprinkled some on top just cause.  Then bake for 30 minutes, and I broiled them for the last 3.  Done!

Do it! Kids and hubby approved, no one could tell the cheese was vegan and mine made a full sheet of good sized pizza bites, with leftovers!  Great simple, versatile recipe!!

Heart Shaped Rice Crispy Treats for Valentines Day

Okay so this is not a typical blog post for me.  I know that marshmallows are not vegetarian.  They are made with gelatin which has bone fragments and gross things.  And I know there are vegan marshmallows, but that is not what I used this time.  Moving on...

I made these for my daughters Valentine's Day party at school after seeing it on Pinterest.  It was super cute so I wanted to share.  I didn't read the recipe, so I probably didn't do this the best way, but I'm going to share how I made these cute and rather tasty treats.

Ingredients/Tools:

6 cups Rice crisp cereal (any cereal can work, I've made them with organic o's as well)

3 tbl vegan butter

10 oz large marshmallows

1 drop red food color

1 tsp vanilla

Heart shaped cookie cutter

Parchment paper

Popsicle sticks

Vanilla candy coating

Heart shaped sprinkles

Method:

First put marshmallows and butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Heat for up to 3 minutes and stir after each minute.  Next, add food coloring and vanilla and stir.  Add cereal and mix well.  

Then I pressed the treats out into a squarish shape on some parchment.  To do this without it sticking to you, place another sheet of parchment on top and press down.  It helps to make it more even as well.  Then, I just used my cookie cutters to make as many heart shapes as I could.  Once,  I made the shape I pushed it out of the cookie cutter with a popsicle stick again to prevent sticking.  Then, gently put a popsicle stick in the center of the heart.  I had to slightly remold the hearts after doing this, which I again did with two sticks and that worked great!

I kept reshaping the treats to get as many hearts as I could and once I was done, I let them sit and harden for the next step.

This was the fun part for me and my daughter.  First in a microwave safe bowl melt some of the candy coating.  I had a 16 oz bag and I only used about a third of that.  I don't know exactly and it doesn't really matter.  So, melt some of that and lay out a layer of sprinkles on a plate.  Then, like an assembly, spread a layer of candy coating and then either dip or lay in sprinkles.  Add more sprinkles to the plate as needed.  

The candy made these so yum, and my daughter was very excited to have such a cute treat to share with her friends!  I know this seems like a lot, but it's really simple and doesn't take that long.

Quick Healthy Vegan Banana Pancakes (no sugar, no oil)

Here we go again on Pancakes and Such!  Just kidding, but obviously I've got a problem.  There has been the carrot cake , the chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream cheese , chocolate chip oatmeal , and blueberry pineapple .  What other kind of pancake creations should I make?

Super tasty and quick!  Great breakfast for kids or anyone who loves pancakes, but wants to enjoy a healthy guilt free version!

My three year old always wants her pancakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse, with syrup on the side.

These are really easy to make you just need a coffee grinder.  Which I've recommended before.  It's a great kitchen tool to have for stuff like this.  Plus, it's small and probably cheap.  Alternatively you can also use a blender, but I really like the convenience of the grinder.  Also, my three year old can use it and help me in the kitchen, which always makes us both happy.  No sugar and oil might not sound too good, but a ripe banana is filled with different types of sugar.  It will be plenty sweet. I just happened to make these without oil, and they taste great and stayed together fine.  

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

2 ripe banana

juice from 1/2 lemon

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup rolled oats (gf if you want them gf)

1/2 cup raw cashews (or any other raw nuts, or more oats)

crack of pink salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cup to 1 cup almond milk (I usually just pour until I get the consistency i want)

                                                         Baby also digs pancake mornings





Method:

Mash up banana in a medium bowl.  Add vanilla, and lemon juice, and stir.  Grind up oats and cashews and add them. Add the remaining dry ingredients.  Slowing add milk and stir until you get the consistency you want.

Cook on medium heat in an oiled pan.  I used canola oil because that's what I have.  I like using unrefined extra virgin organic coconut oil best.  Cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until they turn golden brown.  Then I put vegan Earth Balance butter on them and usually some peanut or almond butter and of course pure maple syrup. Eat!