Vegan Awesomeness & Favourites

I wanted to share some of my absolute favorite plant-based/vegan products in case you were looking for something in helping you or/and loved ones adopt a kinder, healthier way of eating.

Our favorite go to 'milk' is Silk organic soy milk.

My absolute favorite coffee, now that I am off of caffeine, is Starbucks Decaf house blend

but it must be with my absolute favorite creamer, also from Silk, their almond vanilla flavored creamer...try it, you'll never crave 'real cream' again and it's so much better for you.

We recently, just in time for summer, discovered that Nestle makes a vegan drumstick

and as far as we can remember what the dairy ones taste like, these taste the same, super yummy.

One of my favorite plant based companies is Gardein (they are Canadian by the way whoot whoot)

I don't think I've disliked anything that they make.  They are on the pricey side for the amount you get but well that's unfortunately the culture of vegan food right now because it's not subsidized like dairy and meat products.  These pork-less bites are my honey's favorite,

they have a really nice spiciness to them with a ooey gooey sauce and very tender 'meat'

and I love the crab-less cakes, they are creamy and as far as I remember, taste quite a bit like crab.

Califia Farms makes these cold brew espressos that's just dreamy.

I admit, I had to add a bit of sugar because I like my coffee super sweet.

I can't have it now because I am off caffeine for my migraines & chronic pain but

if your a coffee drinker, love your summer time cold cafe treats, I highly recommend them.

(If you've never had salted dried broad beans, find them, they are delicious).

SoFresh's cold brew coffees are really tasty too, they just aren't as strong as the Califia

but when we can we stock up on SoFresh's oat milk, oat milk it one of my favorites,

it tastes so fresh and just so nourishing for the body.

Earth Island makes one of my favorite cheese, a provolone and a cheddar.

We are also huge fans of Sheese's cream cheese, it actually tastes like real cream cheese,

the slices not so much but  we love love love their feta too.

Vegannaise is my favorite mayo, especially the garlic one but nowadays even Walmart has vegan mayo and they are all wayyyy healthier for you than regular dairy mayo. 

Now back to Gardien...the beefless tips are one of my favorite treats.

They don't look like they do on the package but they are yummy all the same.

We like to just cook up a whole bag & eat it beside steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes.

We  recently gave the Emborg cheese a try on pizza and it did a really good job.

SoDelicious has so many super delicious vegan ice creams available,

we try every single new flavor and we haven't been disappointed once.

However one of my favorite all time ice creams comes from Ben & Jerry's, it's their Cherry Garcia.

I am honestly not a fan of any of the Halo ice creams...not after the other ones.

I am always so surprised that even in our little Northern meats & potatoes town,

plant-based options are quite readily available, not so much in restaurants sadly but in grocery stores, there is usually an option for most things I find, sometimes you just have to search.

You can't get attached to anything unfortunately because it seems that most things plant-based

seem to come and go without rhyme or reason (except for your big companies like Tofurky or Daiya) BUT it's always fun trying new products anyway.

You don't need any of this stuff to go vegan, this is all just extra treats but if your looking for

substitutes to make kinder, better, smarter choices, these are all a really great place to start.

If you ever have any questions about going plant-based, don't hesitate to contact me,

I am more than happy to try to answer any questions, to encourage you & to cheer you on XO.

Gusta Cheese

So I know I have already highly suggested that you guys try the Gusta sausages,

well the Gusta cheese turns out to be good too, because well lets face it a lot of Vegan cheese sucks!

(I highly suggest trying out and supporting your city's local vegan artisanal cheese makers)

We find the Gusta Swiss is great on sliced as is, melted on pizza or on mac n' 'cheese'.

but beware of the original flavor, don't expect a cheese taste!,

it is tasty no doubt but it's no way shape or form tastes like cheese, it 100% tastes like meat.

Food Friday - Vegan Breakfast

This is one of my absolute favorite breakfasts...acrorn fig coffee, tomatoes fresh from the garden...

Tofurky slices sauteed in butter, beautiful avocado with smoked paprika & homemade fried potatoes.

Vegan Food Friday - Beet Patties & Kale

Time for Food Friday because I LOVE food & being vegan and showing people that
us vegans 'don't starve' we get to enjoy all kinds of yumminess that's good for the earth, animals & us.

Anyhow, the one thing in our kitchen that we couldn't do without is our big stainless steel steamer (besides my espresso machine & my smoothie blender!)

Tonight for example we're having this...steamed kale with nutritional yeast (we L-O-V-E it)

with a store bought beet patties on the side (sorry I forget the brand at the moment)

With steamed buttery mashed potatoes with a topping of vegan sour cream...Quick & Yummy.

Enjoy if you give this food idea a try XO

Food Friday - Vegan Roasted Pizza

Are you in the mood for Food Friday?

Well here's an ideal for all of my fellow vegans out there if you need one...

This is one of our favorite usual easy Friday night go to dinners.

Vegan roasted pizza with a nice big side of streamed kale with nutritional yeast.

Cut up tomatoes, sweet potatoes & onions,  drench it all with olive oil & salt on a flat pan

and than let them roast in the oven at 350 for about 40 minutes.

After that put all of that roasted yumminess on top of your pizza dough

and cook it all again for maybe another 20 minutes.  Simple but so yummy...Enjoy!

Vegan Food Friday

This is our healthy & easy usual go to meal for when we're hungry but to tired for anything fancy.

If your looking for some vegan dinner ideas this weekend, maybe this will inspire you.

Tofu sauteed with mushrooms, steamed kale with nutritional yeast & olive oil & sweet potato mash.

Don't forget to add some garlic salt & a splash of maggi to the tofu/mushroom mix.  Enjoy!

Food Friday

I've been vegetarian for a really long time and going the step further to being Vegan

was easy once I educated myself on the horrors of the dairy industry.

It was made easier too because typically I don't crave anything super much (except for coffee!)

BUT once in a while I was still craving just one thing...tuna salad sandwiches!

Well a couple weeks ago my honey tried his had at Tuna-Free Tuna salad sandwiches

and holy crap, we are over the moon with it and right now it's all we want to eat!

You gotta try this recipe like now...  

Tuna-Free ‘Tuna’ Salad Sandwiches (My honey's recipe)

         19-oz can of salt-free chickpeas, drained and rinsed

         ½ cup vegan mayo

         2 tbsp dijon or whole grain mustard

         2 tbsp Maggi

         1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

         4 tsp celery seeds

         2 celery rib, chopped

         2 tbsp minced green onion or red onion or shallot

         ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

         2 tbsp dulse flakes (or more to your taste)

Mix all ingredients in food processor, just don't blend too much,

spread on your favorite bread and HELLO YUM.

Food Friday

This is a pretty typical looking dinner in our house...

Zucchini with Daiya melted on top (Daiya kinda sucks unmelted but melted it's a differernt thing)...

the always present steamed kale with nutritional yeast & tofu of course & homemade Miso soup
YUMMY & KIND...I hope you give this tasty and healthy mix a try...Happy Eating XO.

The North Star Travelling Cafe

There has been this somewhat elusive phenomenon in our little tiny city, ha ha...

It's an amazing, adorable, quaint, special and very vegan phenomenon

called 'The North Star Travelling Cafe"

You gotta get to the farmers markets early or they are usually cleared right

out of their gastronomical delights & than your whole day kinda sucks, ha ha!

They are opening a restaurant in our very not vegan town & my tummy grumbles with anticipation!

Food Friday

Need a dinner idea for this weekend?

(This one is gluten-free by the way).

My niece and my honey have been so sick this past month

so I've been eating on my own a lot  because I've been on a gluten-free diet myself,

and they have been opting for quicker, easier on the flu/cold kind of things.

But I loved this bean and rice dish that I whipped up for myself the other week...

I am a rice lover...

I'll always choose rice over pasta (so that part of a gluten allergy will be easy!)

Here I cooked up some black rice and whiles that cooked

I sauteed a whole can of Marizano tomatoes (chopped up) with celery, garlic, spinach

and white beans all in olive oil.  Once the rice was ready I put that all on top of the rice

with a smidge of Himalayan salt

and voila a healthy, pretty tasty easy meal made quickly for one.

Enjoy XO.

Food Friday

Okay so it's missing some greens but some meals are just like that aren't they!

Need an idea for this week?  Try this tasty, quick and simple plate out.

 Here we've got pan-seared button mushrooms with potatoe slices fried up as well and

a grilled cheese on Bavarian rye using Daiya cheddar cheese, tomatoes and sunflower seeds.

YUM.

Food Friday

So I've been dealing with some health stuff...

One of them is related to my tummy, it's all messed up &

I don't know why because I am a healthy eater for the most part.

So I've had to begin a not so fun food "elimination diet"

to figure out if I am allergic to gluten or have Celiac disease.

It's shocking how many foods contain gluten and I am REALLY hoping that my

stomach flora has just somehow gotten really outta whack...so right now it's extra healthy eats.

Like this meal,

which is common for me for breakfasts or even dinners right now.

It takes me about an hour to get all this in, as I've always been a super slow eater, nor a big eater.

Here we've got a healthy and gluten-free mix of

half a cantaloupe, organic banana, vegan ham 

and oatmeal with a fresh apple, lots of cinnamon & different nuts added,

all with lots of peppermint tea.

Give it a try, it's really a pretty tasty mixing of things.

Food Friday

If your like me, you often run out of ideas of what the heck to eat for dinner

So I thought maybe just maybe I can give you some inspiration/ideals now and than

with a possibly new Friday topic called "Food Friday"...let's give it a try anyhow yes?

 

 

Maybe tonight you can give this a try, it's a favorite easy go-to for us:

Steamed kale with a sprinkling of salt, olive oil and nutritional yeast with

grilled cheeses on the side,

I love Daiya (soy and dairy free) 'cheese' the best for grilled cheeses

and I love to put sunflowers seeds, tomato and tofurky slices in as well.

 

Enjoy and Happy Friday XO



Lemony Lentil Soup, Sunflower Pate & Than Snooze

Hi ya everyone.

Well as promised on Instagram, I am going to share
two of my all time favorite dishes with you.

They are both easy to make, super satisfying, super healthy for you and both completely vegan.

First is my Lemony Lentil Soup

(This is a staple dish in our house and I've perfected it over the years.

Everyone I make it for loves it and they always ask for the recipe).

 

 

To Make:

 

In a big pot, heat about 2 tbsp. of olive over medium heat and than toss in one big chopped onion.

Add 4 or 5 finely chopped garlic cloves and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Than finally chop a nice big handful of fresh parsley and that to the pot.

Peel and finely chop a potato and a nice big whack of finely chopped kale and add to pot.

Than add 1 heaping teaspoon of cumin...don't forget the cumin!!! and salt & pepper of course.

Than your going to put in 1 and a half cups of red lentils and stir them all in

(you can use green or brown lentils too but they don't break down as much as the red).

Add to everything 6 cups of vegetarian soup stock and 2 tbsps. of lemon juice and stir.

Bring this all to a boil and than turn it right down to a simmer...

make sure you cover the pot with a lid and let it cook for a full hour.

Serve with fresh parsley if you want...extra lemon and a slice of the pate.

YUUUUMMMM.

 

*********************

 

Now for my Sunflower Pate

 

(This is healthy and so insanely delicious, I bet once you try it, you'll be hooked

we love it spread on crackers or even fried up in the mornings as part of breakfast, it's SO tasty).

 

 

To Make:

 

Whiles the oven is preheating to 350 degrees

Grease any pan that you would normally use for a loaf, I like my ceramic 4 x 10 inch pan

Than just toss all of the following in a food processor...

1/2 cup water

1/4 olive oil

1 onion, peeled and chopped coarsely

1/4 soy sauce (or a bit more if you like it really salty)

1 large potato, peeled and diced

1/2 flour

1/2 nutritional yeast (yum)

1 cup of sunflower seeds, salted or not (keep these in your freezer so they stay nice and fresh)

4 garlic cloves

1 tsp of thyme, oregano and 1/2 tsp of sage.

Than...

blend all for that up really good until pretty smooth, pour into your pan

and bake for about 40 minutes or until a fork comes our pretty clean.

 

 

Gobble these two recipes down and than take a nice long siesta

cause you deserve it, cause life is tiring and most of all because it's good for you

just like that yummy food ya just made.

Yummmm.

 

I really hope you love them and that they make your tummies happy.

XO



All About Bunnies

It's been about basking in sunsets before rushing back home to the babes...

 

 

It's been about evenings with no time for anything but bunny bonding.

Teela & Fren were 100% bonded some time ago and Yuuji is behaving 99% , we're almost there!

 

It's been about preparing yummies for the bunnies whale sized tummies, like dehydrated carrot tops...

 

It's been about homemade healthful Vegan loveliness inspired by a love for bunnies... 

 

 

Bunnies...bunnies...bunnies...

life is very rabbit-centric indeed but we wouldn't have it any other way!