How are you doing today? I’ve had a great day! I designed some business cards for my yoga business but for a girl who feels like I need to see every last choice, I think I have looked at 9834573 versions of backgrounds, layouts, fonts, colors, from multiple online printing sites. But I decided on some zen-like cards with earthy tones of soft brown & green with white text and can’t wait to see how they look when they arrive!
Then, I had a blogger meetup with Madeline of GreensandJeans! We drank coffee, had a great time gossiping about all you other bloggies talking shop, talking life, and catching up! It was just what I needed...thanks, Madeline, you rock!
Sorry, we didn’t do a photo op today but here’s a Photo and Link to our last Coffee Cluth
And then it was time for me to get home with Skylar, get her some lunch and a nap, so I could get ready to go teach yoga. Which is where I am off to now.
But first….
I am really glad you appreciated the Easy Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes Post:
Raw Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes from yesterday’s post were a hit and they’re a cinch to whip up. 10 minutes or less so you still have time to impress your non-raw, non-vegan friends-n-fam tomorrow.
And thanks for the props on the Roasted Potatoes receips
and the Salads & Homemade Vegan Dressing Recipes
For today, let me show you just a few of the things I’ve whipped up as day-to-day eats before the Gorge Fest Thanksgiving Feast happens tomorrow.
There was a bowl of Overnight, Raw, Soaked Coconut & Mango Tropical Oats
That I made un-raw by nuking. (As I mentioned in this post, cooked food is fine. If your body asks for it, then feed it.) I added half a sliced banana, cinnamon, & brown sugar to the cooked oats.
For dinner, I made a Great Kale Salad with Cauli, Tomatoes, Brock, Orange Peppers, Asparagus….
….& My Homemade Vegan Slaw Dressing just dripping off every last leaf. Delish!!!
And there was a Bed of Greens, Radiccio, Dulse Flakes, Carrots, Yellow Peppers, Cukes, Cashews…
….and the Holiday Spice Orange Viniagrette I told you about yesterday.
Skylar snacked on a Clif Bar in White Chocolate Mac Nut. I had really high hopes for this bar and I tried a tiny piece and it was kinda meh.
These are way better. Wild Blueberry Pure Bars. Num.
But I do have high standards in the Chocolate Department, I suppose. Which is why I whipped up another bath of my Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls.
I never get sick of these things!
They taste just like real raw chocolate chip cookie dough and the dough is vegan, gluten & soy-free, and they’re ready in 10 minutes or less!
But really, it doesn’t take much to impress me if you have a jar of this, TJ’s Sunflower Seed Butter. I know there are other brands, but I really love this one. So I’m not messin’ with a good great thing.
And then a spoon and dark chocolate chips. Use your imagination.
Oh, and those Raw Vegan Almond Butter Cookies that I made have been burning a hole in my vegan pocket, so I noshed on a few of those, too.
Yoga Today is Hanumanasana (Monkey Pose, or the full splits). A wonderful hip opener and way to stretch our your hammies, quads, and hip flexors.
Tip of the Day: Enjoy your holiday!!!! Don’t stress, don’t sweat the small stuff. No one will remember whatever, comment, food you made/brought/ate/didn’t eat, or you name, it in a month. So don’t worry about it now. Just enjoy your day in whatever way makes you feel special!
Tips 2 & 3–Two GiveAways:
Elina from Healthy and Sane is having a NuNaturals Stevia Products Giveaway!
Shelby, La Belle Vegan, is having a Oh Nuts Giveaway!
Is there a food you are super excited to eat on Thanksgiving? For me, honestly, I think I’ve gotta go with my raw vegan apple crumble. Not that it’s a long-standing tradition or anything, but it sure is good! If I was back home, I’d say my mom’s wild rice casserole or the homemade Christmas candy she starts breaking out before Thanksgiving are wonderful memories from my childhood. What foods do you have fond memories of or can’t wait to dig into tomorrow?
Stay Tuned For A Recap of What I Made for Thanksgiving….
yummy! I want to try this recipe!!
I like the way your improvise your raw, vegan creations in the kitchen as you go…experimenting and whatnot. It reminds me a lot of my own cooking style…perhaps its a vegan thing… :)
anywayz, my family is going vegan for the holidays with me (they are EXTREMELY supportive and considerate of my veganism, and for that I am forever grateful) so I will be leading the way in the kitchen most of the time I am home from college for Christmas. Aaaaand I'm most definitely going to whip up a batch of the creme de menthe bars and the raw vegan coconut snowballs too! heck yes. Thanks so much for your culinary insprations!
These look so amazing that I am going to make some tonight!!! yumyum.
I absolutely love mango, frozen or fresh. I should really buy some of those soon, they are so delicious! And those chocolate peppermint donut holes look so good… Aaaah, I have to remember, MODERATION!
I absolutely love mango, frozen or fresh. I should really buy some of those soon, they are so delicious! And those chocolate peppermint donut holes look so good… Aaaah, I have to remember, MODERATION!
Fantabulous way to get your serving of Chocolate (antioxidant!) Amazing Grass, Averie! :-D
The "snowballs" look and sound SO SO great!!!
Love the layers in your creme de menthe bars…that middle fluffy layer of minty-goodness looks so good :)
Greens powder in your snowballs — great idea! Way to kick up the nutrition a notch!
checked it out.. slobbered.. yummo
You are so creative – these look delicious!
All those chocolatey balls look awesome! Fudgy and coconutty :)
Frozen mangos are so good!
And that creme de manthe bars O_O Woah you're one hell of a baker!
Have a nice day
These look awesome! I just checked out your raw cookie dough balls too… and kale chips… I think I've been inspired to be in the kitchen today :)
I have to make some more of the creme de menthe bars. The ones I made are already gone!
those snowballs look too good to be true!
emily
leavesareyummy@ix.netcom.com
ooh, amazing grass in snowballs? fabulous!
I am dying to try the chocolate snowballs. They look so yummy. You pictures always make me drool :)
Goodness this is a yummy post!
Those Vegan Creme de Menthe Bars look fantabulous! ;)
how brilliant is that – using AG instead of cocoa! yummy AND good for you :)
omg these look amazing!!!! I would make them but I think I would eat them all :(
You already inspired me to buy organic unsweetened coconut & this would be the perfect way to pop my "raw vegan chocolate coconut snowball" cherry! With amazing grass!! Brilliant!
the snowballs look delicious.. in need of coconut asap
Yum — the flackers crackers look delicious. I learned that there are raw crackers on the market — I didn't know that and would love to try them!
The snowballs look delicious — I usually just put Amazing Grass in smoothies, I hadn't thought about trying anything else.
I can't wait to try this recipe for Raw Vegan Chocolate Coconut Snowballs! Thank you!
Snowballs with Amazing Grass? Nice idea :)
…you asked for it…
You are a sneaky chef.
(tee-hee) :)
Blessings,
Amy
Those balls look great and I want to win some Amazing Grass!
I think I would probably love to take a yoga class taught by you!
Those crackers sound amazing! Look at those stats! Wonder where I can buy me some…
Ok as soon as I get back from my cruise I'm making those creme de menthe bars! Mmmm
and the snowflake balls are a) adorable and b) look SO good!
Have a great night, sweetie!
Um I guess I missed??? the post where you added Amazing Grass to your Snowballs. Hollaaa GENIUS. That A.G. stuff is wayy too expensive for me though, (even with the parents card) so I'll just be sticking with my cocoa powder. Great idea though. I bought my first Amazing Grass bar today actually to try (splurge). I swear I almost bought that same Pro Bar too, but I'm all about a voluminous bar and thats just too small for me.
So the other day I was wondering if you ate fruit.. and then I see your frozen fruit posted here; and remembered you used to post pics of your frozen fruit allll the time, back like in the beginnings days of me reading! Lol. Gah, its been like months now! My blogging career continues to wow me day to day.
As for not eating at parties: if its served on a plate, I'll just pick at it, and eat what I want, but if I have the option of foregoing a meal, usually I'll just say I already ate, or a No thanks usually suffices. :)
I just love your posts :) I like how everyone is different and it's interesting even though I'm not vegan or raw at all :)
Anyhow, what I found interesting was the mat colors – mine is like a earthy yellowish/very light greenish hue?? Would that be solar?? I'm also drawn to violet…mine's not very good but it's all I can afford right now so you do what you can. Cheers girl!
No fair! I am full from lunch and your photos make me want to eat!
:-P
i must admit i have never tried a pro bar~even though they are local for me~because of the caloric content and high carbs. BUT.. they look good. they are just so tiny. mmm MANGO! i love me some mango. loved the reviews and even more~loved the tips of the day :) i will just not eat it if it is not up my ally! people usually don't ask. OH and i totally wanna do a GP i havent had time to reply to emails this week.. but count me in! when is the deadline again? oh nevermind, i will go look :)
Fabulous Idea!! I love the idea of adding the amazing grass powder into some treats! I havent seen the chocolate version though. Might have to keep an eye out for it. Very cool!! Love it!!
Great holiday tips too! For me personally if I'm somewhere where I don't want to eat the food but everyone loves it. That's ok with me! I just simply won't eat it. I would never be rude about it but I wont eat something either just to be polite=) I would just either pass and say that it looks fabulous but cant eat it due to dietary restrictions or something like that. I am sure if everyone else is indulging they won't mind if I don't have a few bites=) If I know Im going somewhere that often times has food that I cannot eat I try to bring my own with plenty of extras to share!
I love the holiday tips series that you are doing! Great info to help keep us lovely ladies (and gents) on track this holiday season!
Okay, those creme de menthe bars still look scrumptious! I'll have to make them for Christmas and give them to my family to try. I'll make them explain every detail of how they taste so I can just imagine it ; )
You just had to talk about eggnog lattes didn't you!! That is my biggest sadness at this point in my Raw life, no coffee. The colder it gets the harder it gets. Maybe I'll splurge and have one on Christmas Eve. That could be a BIG mistake, we'll see :O
Fall off track? Who does that?!? Surely not us OCD people, hee hee hee…..
If I don't want to eat I use the, "I don't feel very good, I think I may be coming down with something" line. Usually at that point they want you to leave the premises : )
Nicole
I am still drooling over your mint dish! I have to go buy a few things (like powdered sugar)
I have become a Kale addict as of late…stuff is amazing for sure and using the amazing grass in your dessert was brilliant! nice job!
you know what??? having a toddler is a great buffer between you and the table of food. I had to admit it but if I don't see much of what I enjoy, I have a few nibbles of veggies or whatever I do see I might like/ want and then go chase JJ. PERFECT.
I almost always have a green smoothie before an event so I feel well fed and the rest is just bonus. Truth be told I never met many foods I didn't like. Now it's more of what do I need to fuel my body rather than feel like I have to try everything to satisfy my taste buds.
I kind of like this new approach. I am never really disappointed.
( I am sleeping better and the runs are getting better too)
xo
I am totally about to go get in my kitchen and bake vegan creme squares or snowballs! They look amazing!!! Hurray for tons of great products too!! Amazing grass, pro bars, flackers!! I actually have never tried any of those -> crazy, right?!
have a wonderfffffffffffffful Tuesday, mama dear! I love you!!!
Morning Averie,
Great pics of all your yummy eats!
That yoga mat is cool. I bet having that focal point would be really helpful. I need to new mat!
As for gatherings and if I don't like or can't eat the food–most everyone I know realizes that I have tons of food intolerance's and they realize that I will probably just bring my own. It makes things MUCH easier to just take what I can eat. Then, if there is something there that I CAN eat, I will have plenty :)
Sounds like a great Monday!I love days where you feel like you ran through a nice list of accomplishments. I got one of those yoga mats too! I can't wait to try it. It feels just incredible.
Mmm…I love the TJ's frozen mango!
Thank you so much for your advice last night. I took your advice on the D-Mannose. TOTALLY CLEARED UP. I cannot believe it.
You are just an angel in disguise as a awesome yogi, mommy, raw chef guru!
you really are an amazing raw vegan chef, averie!!
i cannot wait to try those pro bars!!
and great holiday tips, too !
i love the chocolate amazing grass mixed in with pure pumpkin and some nu natruals sweetner :)
perfect!
THANK YOU for the bar review! ive been wanting to try them and im glad i read this!! and those crackers soundin goooood! :)
I eat frozen fruit straight from the bag all the time! Whenever I'm at a party or a restaurant where the food just isn't my thing, I try not to talk about it, eat what I feel comfortable eating, load up on water, and enjoy the company!
Wow. Chocolate galore! Of all kinds! Nice!
If I don't like the food that is being served, I still eat it. Part of being social is to follow the group. I won't die with one bad meal, and it's not worth stirring bad feelings just for one meal.
But I'm not vegetarian at all, though, so it's easier for me to just eat, I suppose.
Next on my list will be your coconut snowballs, these are perfect for the holiday gatherings!!
I was going to ask you for some holiday vegan recipes….I will bring my dishes everywhere I go this year :) LOL!
I just made some amazing chocolate cups that I will post shortly, I am thinking you will like them ;)
I'm not a mint girl but I do want to give you mad props for the networking!!! I'm of the age/experience where I realize the importance of getting out there and getting known. Good for you.
Sounds like a perfect day (give or take a few abc's)
I joined grassheads and get the quarterly order. I can already tell it's not going to be enough but it's all I can bear to afford right now. The box of packets is $21 at my local co-op. Ouch! I LOVE Amazing Grass though! And lately I've felt great!
I need to try your veggies and slaw combo, it always looks so good! As for your question, that is such a toughie! My mother taught me the fine art of strategically pushing food around while complimenting some aspect that is sincere. "how interesting" comes to mind. Her other trick is to always offer to bring something specific like a salad or fruit tray so she knows she always has something that she can eat. My problem is that my face is usually a dead giveaway to my true thoughts! Oh well! :)
I had an awesome weekend, but it's definitely a lil hard to adjust back to routine. The menthe bar looks amazing! Like I always say, I have no clue how you keep coming up with such fab and creative recipes :)
I really do enjoy your blog. You are so positive, and I am trying hard to be more positive in my life. Particularly hard with the holidays. I tend to look at everything I cannot do, the sadness in life, and seeing others cheeriness and bubbliness and excitement gets me very sad. I am now working on more positivity and hope it pays off. You are a creative baker. I am lazy in that department, some day I will try to do more baking instead of the lazy-man way out :)
i have those mango chunks in my freezer right now!! they are so tasty in smoothies with some almond milk and chocolate amazing grass!
great review on those bars! too funny that skylar loves coffee already! haha…she takes after her mama I guess!
I love your strategies, I NEVER go to a party on an empty stomach! also because I dont know what food is going to be served there so I might as well eat something that I know I like and know where it came from!
have a great night!xoxo
dude that yoga matt looks luscious. if that's even possible..
those mango chunks (haha im so immature) from tjs sound so good! i'm for sure gonna have to be on the lookout for those the next time i'm there! i'm thinking they would be delicious in some oatmeal too.
mmmm
have a great night girly!
Hahaha, only you would think to make vegan chocolate coconut snow balls with Amazing Grass ;)
Okay, this may sound awful, but if I'm in a social situation where people are eating gross food around me, I just say I'm allergic. Which is aaaalmost true. I have a digestive intolerance to high fat foods, so greasy pizza WILL make me sick. I just use that excuse kinda liberally ;)
STANDING SPLITS!! Did that this morning – loooove it.
Your Creme de Menthe bars look so professional! Uh oh, your little peanut likes the chocolate coffee?! Is she prepared for a life filled with addiction?! ;) She has good tastes!
Those Dr. Flacker's crackers sound like an awesome find! Thanks for the heads up on those.
LOVE your holiday tips! Nothing aggravates me more than hearing people "save up" for the big event. Usually I'm game for eating anything (as long as it's vegetarian) BUT I don't do fried foods. I tell people that fried foods upset my stomach (the truth) and they usually let it be. Have a wonderful evening, Averie!
I'm gonna have to try a Pro Bar. I love when you can see that they are made of REAL FOOD!
Sounds like a busy day, but it's never a bad thing to keep your mind occupied once in while!
I LOVE the idea of mixing the Chocolate Superfood in your recipe. I've only used mine in smoothies, but I imagine it could be used in almost any recipe calling for cocoa! Great idea Averie!
What an amazing yoga mat! I love how the color actually represents something as well. Reminds you of your intentions each time you get on your mat!
xxoo
Heather
I love those Trader Joes mango chunks, yum.
When I'm at a restaurant where I have trouble with the food and I'm with a bunch of people I usually either try to order it to accommodate my dietary needs, or I just eat a few bites like you said. Not ideal, but I hate to be "that girl" haha
Thanks for the product reviews!
I still can't get over those creme de menthe bars! I'm seriously thinking of making them :)
Hey Averie – Just started reading your blog, and holy mammoth posts (in a good way)! So many yummy looking foods and sweet chocolaty recipes begging to be made :)
I have those same TJ's mango chunks in my freezer – those and frozen cherries are one of my favorite lunch "desserts"!
Flackers…love the name!
Those mango chunks are my fav! So delicious!
I still can't get over the creme de menthe bars. I think you are a raw dessert genius. :)
The new dessert looks delicious, too! I love your holiday eating strategies and you know I agree with them all. Especially the part about being gentle on yourself if you do overindulge.
I use TJ's mango chunks in my shakes alot. Recently I felt like they were lacking a bit of flavor? Maybe mine are old. They've been in the freezer for awhile!
I love the chocolate amazing grass–I just might have to buy a whole container because it's that good.
I totally agree with the "saving your calories" mentality. I cringe whenever I hear someone say they do that, but I hate imposing myself and trying to explain to them how that's not necessarily the more healthy option.
I'm happy to have a family who understands that I have certain dietary restrictions and I mean nothing rude in not eating their food. I'm not quite sure how Christmas Eve will work when we visit my mom's family but there's a first for everything and I intend to bring red-colored all natural anise christmas cookies
Those crackers sound awesome.. what a great prize!!!
If Im ever at a place that I dont like (Which happens if we are visiting the in laws who enjoy chain resturants.. ahhh). I pack some trail mix, veggies, and an apple in my purse and shut my mouth.lol. Sometimes its JUST easier that way!
I just checked out your guest post.. awesome. I love Soap and Chocolate!
I love those frozen TJ's mango chunks – they have a kind of marshmallowy texture!
I actually did the very same thing with my Amazing Grass Chocolate Superfood. Although I make my own granola bars and added about 8 scoops to the granola before patting it down. It is SOOOOO yummy and so good for you too! Don't you just love it when that happens! :)
Tiffanie
http://www.healthyhappenings.blogspot.com