My Plant-Based Family

Eating Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet recipes, On a Budget.

Vegan MoFo

Nutty Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

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Sometimes I get stuck in a breakfast rut. As the seasons change I find myself craving new flavors and textures. Oatmeal is the perfect vehicle to test out my newest ideas whether I add fresh fruit and berries or dried fruit with seed and nuts.

This morning my thoughts drifted back to my childhood and the single serving packets of Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal I remember eating. I’m sure that oatmeal was better than the Count Chocula I ate regularly, but they were both full of sugar and devoid of nutrients.

Nutty Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (An Unrecipe)

Ingredients (amounts will vary depending on your number of servings)

  • Rolled Oats
  • water
  • 1-2 apples, diced
  • cinnamon
  • sweetener (I used maple syrup)
  • walnuts (optional)
  • ground flax (optional)
  • almond slivers (optional)

Do

  1. Bring water and diced apples to boil. Two cups of water for every 1 cup of oats is a general rule.
  2. Add oats and stir regularly.
  3. Once oatmeal is done, add cinnamon and sweetener of your choice.

Serve

I like wait until the oatmeal is put in bowls to add the optional add-ins. Add a side of fruit to round out the meal is always a good idea. 🙂 My kids loved this by the way and I’m willing to bet yours will too. You can also try this with quinoa or brown rice to mix things up a bit.

On a side note, Vegan Month of Food, Vegan MoFo is still under way. I am a few post behind but I’m cutting my self some slack because I’ve been super busy. I had hoped to catch up over the weekend but made the executive decision that my sanity is more important than catching up. 🙂

 

Chocolate Mousse…How I Love Thee

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When I first posted this recipe for Chocolate Mousse it just happened to be on Food Waste Friday and it was right before Valentine’s Day. It really deserved its own post but I tried to do two things at once and always kind of regretted it. With the holidays right around the corner I thought it was only fair to give this delectable recipe it’s very own post. 🙂

avocado Chocolate Mousse

Let me tell you, everyone who has ever tried this has LOVED it! Even people who aren’t normally chocolate lovers LOVE this.

Before you attempt to prepare it make sure your avocados are nice and soft.

Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients

  • 4 ripe avocados
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 cup agave (you could maple syrup or date paste instead)
  • pinch of salt
  • a few drops of vanilla

Do

  1. Open avocados and empty them (minus the pit) into a blender/mixer/food processor.
  2. Blend until smooth.
  3. Add half of the cocoa powder and half of the agave along with the salt and vanilla.
  4. Blend until well mixed, taste and add more cocoa powder and agave until it is the flavor you like. You will not taste the avocado.
  5. Refrigerate until cold.

Serve

This could be served with almost any fruit, strawberries make a wonderful accompaniment. I’ve even frosted cupcakes too. I could eat it with a spoon but I’m wild like that. You will not believe something this creamy is dairy-free. For a frozen treat, freeze it by the spoonful (on a plastic spoon). You can also freeze it in a small bowl or cup, just let it defrost for a few minutes before enjoying.

This has a really long shelf life (when refrigerated) probably due to all of the sugar. I have done experiments but it’s safe to say it usually lasts well over a week. If it’s frozen I’d use it within a month. It seems to work best for me when I use my food processor but I have used my Magic Bullet with good results, it just takes longer.

Eating Well

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Last weekend I hopped in the car and drove 1 1/2 hours north through the mountains and arrived in a considerably cooler Payson, AZ for a women’s retreat. I don’t know about you but anytime I travel I get a little nervous about what I’m going to eat.

A few months before the retreat the organizer sent an email asking if anyone had any dietary requirements. I did my best to explain mine but told them I could bring my own food so they wouldn’t have to worry about it. I admit I was a bit nervous at that point. As the weeks went on I’d get emails asking if I could eat this or that. They even sent me a copy of the regular menu and asked about adapting it. I didn’t know it at the time but one of my friends who is also plant-based (and gluten-free) had a meeting to discuss our menu.

The food was awesome. I couldn’t finish my meal regularly because there was so much good food for me to eat. Those who follow me on Facebook got a sneak peek at what I was eating.

Dessert was so good that I never got a picture because those amazing little truffles just kind of hopped in my mouth and into my tummy. I didn’t take my camera so I was doing my best to try to take pictures with my phone. Most of the time I’d start eating then remember to take a picture. Oh well.

When I arrived there was an amazing vegan chili waiting for me. It tasted a lot like my chili. That made me happy! 🙂 We were off to a good start.

The next morning I had brown rice with peanut butter, raisins, maple syrup, and I think almonds. Lunch was a deluxe salad bar with everything you can imagine plus an incredible vegan pear vinaigrette (pictured at the top). Dinner that evening was gluten-free pasta and broccoli.

The last morning there was oatmeal but it was almost gone when I went to breakfast. I didn’t want them to have to cook more but then I heard the words “special granola” they had made it just for the vegans and gluten-free ladies. It was delicious! I want the recipe! They also made us special smoothies that we could barely finish. We were so full from everything else but they tastes so good. I didn’t get any pictures this last day but I have a lot of great memories.

I really enjoyed the non-food elements of the retreat also. I met a bunch of incredible and inspiring women who I feel incredibly blessed to know. There was insightful teaching and activities and dynamic worship times. When I arrived on Friday I only knew a few of the women there and when I left on Sunday I wished I had more time to nurture those new friendships. It was really hard for me to leave my family to get away for a weekend but I’m so glad I did. I only wish I could attend an event like that with my husband.

I was definitely challenged to make Jesus preeminent in my life, to rest and rest in Him. To trust God, exercise faith in Him, and strive to live a life of obedience.

Have you ever gone somewhere and been so well taken care of?

October Healthy Cravings Recap

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Last week I had a great time at my Healthy Cravings group. I kept it much simpler than in September but it worked out well.

I made Chili and Taco Soup. My friend Cara brought over her Vitamix demonstrated making a soup for everyone.

is always a crowd pleaser so I made a batch with chocolate chips and a loaf without. I also made the Pumpkin Cupcakes I shared yesterday. I frosted some with Chocolate Mousse and they disappeared! I always send leftovers home with the ladies who attend. One of the ladies told me when she woke up the next morning all of the banana bread and pumpkin cupcakes she took home were gone and no one would admit to eating them! She also mentioned that her husband really like the Taco Soup.

November’s Healthy Cravings is on the 8th!

 

Almond Dream Dessert Bites Review

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For the record no one asked me to do this review. Recently I was checking out the freezer section at my local Sprout’s when I saw these little yummy looking bites. I picked them up, looked over them, then put them back. The lady next to me said, “those are really good.” She told me how she will often have three pieces (serving size is 15) after dinner for a nice little treat.

I decided to try them. When I got home and got the groceries put away you better believe I tore into that little container. I ate one and it was heaven. Yes, I’m sure I could have eaten the whole container but I did not. After all these are not a health food, but sometimes you need something a little on the junk food side.

Since these are made with almond milk they are non-dairy but they don’t taste different from the normal treats I grew up eating. It kind of reminded me of Snickers ice cream bars.

All in all I loved it. These probably wont make it into my shopping cart every week because I try not to eat this type of dessert often. These are perfect for an occasional treat and very tasty. I think they will make the perfect after dinner taste of chocolate that often crave.

Have you tried these Almond Dream Dessert Bites? What did you think about them?

Planning a Party (Really 3)

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I’ve had a lot going on lately and it’s not slowing down any time soon. This week I’m hosting another Healthy Cravings group in my home. Healthy Cravings is simply a gathering of ladies who want to learn more about eating a whole food, plant-based diet. Ok, a lot of them just want to learn how to lose weight, some just want to show up for the food, but others are poised to make one of the biggest changes in their lives and reclaim their health.

This months menu isn’t completely decided but most of it is worked out, at least in my mind. I’ll be making Chili and Taco Soup. I’m also planning to serve pumpkin cupcakes or cakes (haven’t decided on that) and I’ll be sharing that recipe no later than next week. Last time I had twice as many people RSVP than actually showed up and way too much left over food. I plan on playing it way more conservative this time.

November’s Healthy Cravings is on the 8th so I really need to be on the ball with that one. It’s theme will be Thanksgiving foods so send me links to your favorite healthy or healthyish Thanksgiving dishes.

I’m also helping a friend plan a baby shower for one of my besties. The food will all be brunch fare. So far I’m making my Party Worthy Parfait’s, Pumpkin Bread (Muffin Style), and a smokin Fruit Platter, tray, bowl or something schmancy. I’m gonna bring my favorite So Delicious Coffee Creamers and Chai. The other hostess is making all of the food that requires meat, dairy, or eggs. Isn’t she a gem!

These three parties all take place in the next three weeks. Did I mention I’m headed off to a retreat this weekend? No, I don’t think I did. This is the part where I should gloat right, just kidding.

Do you have any suggestions for my party menus? I’m really needing help for my Thanksgiving Healthy Cravings, so many recipes to discover and test before November 8th. YIKES!