Move over Fig Newton

A few years ago when I decided to become vegan, my friend Suzanne pointed me to the blog of her sister in law, www.greenbeane.blogspot.com.  On this blog is where I discovered these little gems.  I hadn't made them for a while but decided to bring them to my church small group on Sunday night and they were a huge hit. Since they all got eaten up, I made them again today so I could have them all to myself.  They are packed with tons of healthy and nutritious foods, but be warned, this is not a low calorie treat. I made 30 little heart shaped bars from one batch and each little heart contains about 85 calories, so eat 2 or 3, even when you are tempted to eat all 30. The greatest part about this is you don't have to cook anything, just throw all of the ingredients into a food processor and shape as you please.

 A couple notes about modifications I made:
The recipe calls for maca powder, I've never added it nor have I substituted anything for it, I leave it out altogether. It's a great super food so if you have it on hand use it, but don't buy it just for this recipe, it's pricey.  I ran out of cacao nibs so the last two times I substituted with a tbsp of raw cacao powder. I tried adding agave on Sunday but it was messy and totally unnecessary. I always use black mission figs, they are the sweetest fig.  Today I only had 10 mission figs left so I threw in a few Turkish figs, it worked out fine. Use Medjool dates if you can.  They are softer and sweeter than regular dates. I use sweetened coconut flakes even though the recipe calls for unsweetened. Finally I never soak the nuts. A good food processor eliminates the need for that.

For the recipe click Fig Bars

Blue/gold beaded French manicure

A few days ago I bought some awesome vegan blue and gold nail polish at Whole Foods and I have been dying to try it. I've also been wanting to experiment with nail studs.  To be honest with you I think I like the version with just the studs and not the gold tips better, but I will show you how to tip off your nails in the traditional curved French manicure way even if you don't have a steady hand.
Below are the tools you will need. I have 2 nail polish colors, Sally Hanson Nail Arts Stud Kit, reinforcements and a good base/top coat.

Start with a base coat, then paint 2 coats of the color of your choice.

Next use the tool provided with the stud kit to carefully apply the studs while the polish is still wet. I found it easier to start at the tip and work my way to the base of the nail.  I kind of wish I stopped right here and left the look simple and classic....but I digress. 

I really still wanted to use my gold polish so I decided to add a French tip. If you want a very straight squared off tip. You can simply use a piece of scotch tape to block off the nail, but I wanted a curved look, so I applied reinforcements to my nails. 

Then I painted the tips gold.

Remove the reinforcements while the polish is still wet. Finish with a shiny top coat.

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

When you are craving something chocolatey but want the nutritional benefit of some super foods, this  pudding is a great option.  It uses two of my favorite superfoods, chia seeds and raw cacao.

Let's take a minute to explore the benefits before I give you the recipe.  Chia seeds were carried in the pockets of Aztek messengers to give them energy as they ran from location to location and they are making a big comeback. They are tiny little seeds that expand in liquid and help you feel full.  They are packed with fiber, omega 3's, calcium, manganese, phosphorus and protein.  Chia seeds help stabilize blood sugar and fight insulin resistance, therefore helping to fight belly fat. They are good for heart health and contain tryptophan ( yep the stuff in turkey) which helps to regulate your appetite, improve your mood and help you sleep! All this in a tiny little seed! Hail to the chia!

This recipe also contains another favorite super food of mine, raw cacao.  This is cocoa in it's raw, unprocessed form. Cacao is packed with antioxidants to help destroy free radicals in your cells and tissues.  Antioxidants also help reduce inflammation which can lead to arthritis and can even help to reduce blood clots. We all knew antioxidants were good for us, but who knew we could have chocolately goodness and antioxidants in the same bite!  Raw cacao is also good for your heart and studies have shown it may even interfere with the development of cancer.

Without further adieu, I present to you Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Disclaimer: this will have the texture of tapioca - I know that bothers some people

1 c. Non dairy milk ( I used almond)
3 Tbsp of chia seeds
1 Tbsp of raw cacao powder
1 Tbsp of pure maple syrup
1 tsp of pure vanilla extract.

Stir all the ingredients together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.  This gives the chia seeds time to expand and the pudding will thicken and gel.

Orange Avocado Smoothie

Green smoothies are all the rage this year. I drink at least one a day and I've recently expanded my horizons from the staple banana and berry smoothie on to more adventurous, delicious and healthy options.  It is important to eat a varied diet to ensure we get all the essential nutrients we need.  I can't think of a more delicious way to get in a bunch of fruit, veggie and healthy fats in a quick and easy way than a green smoothie.  So you will be seeing plenty of smoothie recipes on my blog.  I got this idea from my friend Diana, and it is my favorite so far.  Disclaimer: I eat a vegan diet. This smoothie contains honey. Some vegans will argue that honey is not vegan. It probably isn't, but I eat it.  If you follow the no honey rule, sub it with agave or leave it out altogether, it's yummy without the extra sweetener too!


Serves 2

1 c. almond milk
2 naval oranges
2 c. baby spinach
1 banana
1 avocado
2 tsp. honey
a few ice cubes

Blend in a good blender ( I use the magic bullet but I have my eye on the Ninja) and enjoy!

Chic Peas and Kale with Cashew Cream Sauce

It was so cold yesterday and I worked from home. When dinner time came around I realized I was starting to run low on groceries but there was no way I was headed out to the store in 5 degree weather, so I wanted to find something I could make with with the ingredients I had on hand. I figured I could make some adjustments with the ingredients if needed, but then I came across a recipe that looked awesome and I actually had ALL of the ingredients already in my kitchen! Score! I did make a couple adjustments. I didn't add the basil (I forgot) and I didn't make the confetti quinoa I just cooked up some Trader Joe's tri colored quinoa and didn't add anything to it. This was yummy, healthy and fresh.
Get the recipe here from The Fat Free Vegan

Run Forrest! Run!

In the words of Forrest Gump, "Everywhere I went I was running"! This is so not true of me, but I am trying. I am an on again off again runner.  I like running, even love it when I am in shape and looking and feeling good.  But when I am out of shape and a little pudgy I hate it. Let's face it, pounding the pavement, gasping for air, freezing your butt off in 20 degree weather and coming home and discovering your over the belt belly has not disappeared after that grueling run royally sucks. But oh, when you finally see results, and your pants are a little loose and you look down in the shower and can finally see your feet again you feel like a rock star. This is when running becomes your best friend. So I have attempted to become a runner a few times, succeeded, succumbed to injury and took way too long to get back into shape after my injuries. But I have been on a comeback the last few weeks and I am in training for a half marathon on March 30th.  I'm slow, I will always be slow, but I am determined to finish that race strong ( last time I hobbled the last few miles and barely crossed the finish line). During a running expo I came across a product I can no longer live without.  It's called the Go Belt by Hippie Runner. This thing is like a clown car. It's so small but fits so much.  In my last race I was able to carry my car key, Chapstick, my Android phone, my Blackberry, a Cliff Bar and 4 Cliff Shots! All in one teeny tiny stretchable belt.  I wear this every time I go out for a run. It doesn't carry water, but on race day water is provided for you. I do carry water on longer training runs, but I will get into how to carry water as my runs get longer over the next month or so. Get the hippie belt here
I hope this post motivates you to get out there and run with me.  Training plans to get your butt off the couch coming soon! Run Reader! Run!

Superbowl Tofu Hot Wings

Super Bowl parties are more like a super junk food binge for me normally. But this year I'm looking for healthier ways to party. I made these amazing tofu wings with homemade ranch that really do the trick when you are craving that buffalo sauce that permeates every living room on Super Bowl Sunday. The ones I made are in the photo below, but I can't take credit for the recipe. Get it here