Ice Cream Sundaes for Breafast... on a Wednesday!

Happy Humpday everyone! How's your week been so far? 

The great time I had with my grandmother last weekend has definitely kept me going. A little rest and relaxation really can do the body good. (I could still use more sleep, but that is another story...)

...Especially if it includes one heck of a cauliflower. I wish you could see how big this was; it was about double the size of my head and weighed a few pounds. The bounty of fall is surely upon us!

The end of the first quarter in school is swiftly approaching for me,---eek---so while I am busy now, a little reprieve might be in my future. But all work and no play is just not fun. Everyday, it is our job to find those little things that really make our heart sing. It may be cozying up with a good book or even just giving a hug to someone you can tell needs a little love. It is the thought, not the time, that counts!

How do you play? 

I find the most freedom on my yoga mat and in the kitchen. Actually, today's creation is thanks to that. It seems that we are always waiting for something, most notably Friday and the start of the weekend. I try to remind myself to live in the moment, and today I did just that. Today might be just another Wednesday, but why should that mean it cannot be special? Heck, every day should be a cause for celebration. Maybe even with an ice cream sundae...

...for breakfast!

Breakfast Chocolate Wednesdae 

Oatmeal Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1 TBS ground flax seeds (optional)
• sweetener, vanilla extract, or other flavorings (optional)

Protein Hot Fudge Sauce:

• 1 TBS hemp protein powder (or protein powder of choice) 
• 1/2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder 
• liquid stevia or other sweetener, to taste
• 2 TBS water or non-dairy milk, divided 
• toppings (ex. raspberries, chocolate chips, sprinkles, shredded coconut, etc.) 

Directions: 

To make the oatmeal "ice cream" base: prepare the oatmeal according to your your preference. (I add 1 TBS ground flax seed while cooking the oatmeal to make it fluffy and creamy. Please note: adding flax seed will require more liquid to be added as well. Sweetener, vanilla extract, or your favorite flavoring can also be used in order to recreate your favorite ice cream flavor.) Remove from heat and place in a bowl.

To make the hot chocolate fudge sauce: mix the protein powder, unsweetened cocoa powder, stevia (or other sweetener), and 1 TBS water in a bowl. Slowly add the other TBS of water, adjusting the consistency to your liking. Taste and add more sweetener, if necessary. (Optional: warm sauce in the microwave for a few seconds.) Pour over hot oatmeal. (If you used flax seed, it will stay on top instead of sinking. Either way, it is delicious!) Sprinkle on your favorite toppings and devour! 

I love that I can enjoy my healthy take on an ice cream sundae on a chilly day, for breakfast, no less! Sometimes its just nice to have a hot breakfast to warm you up from the inside out. Now if only I could figure out how to make banana soft serve appropriate for colder days... hmmm... 

Anything can be special with just a little imagination, even breakfast on a Wednesday. And there are so many options, too! You could experiment with different oatmeal flavor bases and play with your toppings as much as you want. The options for topping your breakfast oatmeal hot fudge sundae are really limitless. I toped mine with ground flax seed "sprinkles" and raspberries, but you could go a more traditional route by using sprinkles, chocolate chips, or shredded coconut. Maybe even a dollop of cashew cream or nut butter? Go crazy! 

And the fun does not even have to stop there! I love using this fudge sauce for dipping apples or drizzling over strawberries. All you have to do is adjust the liquid. To make it more dip-able, simply add more liquid until you reach a viscous sauce.

Actually, you could make it more like a piece of fudge, as well, by using less water. Yumm, I love me some chocolate!

The hemp protein is also such a welcomed bonus. I do not usually use protein powder since I prefer to get my protein from whole sources (and would rather just eat the food), but it is really nice to have a way to use it when I want. To be quite honest, this grew out of an experiment that started with me finding my mom's neglected, never-opened Bob's Red Mill Hemp Protein Powder in my cupboard.

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Hemp has so many nutritional benefits that I figured, why not? (I also have a hard time throwing food out, but again, that is another story...) I am always up for trying something intriguing :). Hemp is usually touted as tasting too "green." However, I think that is exactly what I liked about it. I did not feel the need to cover it up and actually ended up using very little sweetener. (Accordingly, please adjust the recipe to your protein powder's sweetness and your taste.)

I guess it just goes to show that playing around is really important. Not only does it give us an outlet, but it can lead to amazing (and even extremely delicious!) things.

Do you use protein powder often? What is the best thing you recently created by "play" (it does not necessarily have to be food)? 

Have a lovely Wednesdae! ;)

xox,
Mandiee

P.S. Did you notice I went through a whole post without mentioning winter squash? (Unless you count that, of course.) My love for it is running stronger still, but I figured I would give you a little break. Are you still loving squash or a little tired out? It seems like the blogosphere is pretty divided.

Wrap it Up

Hi Lovebugs!

How was your Sweetest Day? I am never sure how I feel about it; is it a "Hallmark Holiday" or just another cute opportunity to show love? Sweetest Day or not, I am all about spreading the love, so I suppose one more day devoted to that is just fine with me. However, I should admit that I did not even know Sweetest Day was today until my mom casually mentioned why she picked up a special treat for her husband. Good thing I spent the day with the ones I loved.

Oh yeah, and I might have also baked them vegan cranberry orange scones...

Speaking of how I "celebrated," today was filled with quality grandmother time centered around something we both love: food. How, you ask? Enter the Farmer's Market:

Yes, I really did buy a GIANT stalk of brussels sprouts. And in case you were wondering, I fully intend on eating them all... very, very soon.

For $3, instead of $6 at the store, and about a plastic-grocery-bag-ful of sprouts, it was a total steal. Credit for this one goes to my grandmother. She introduced me to brussels sprouts and we have shared a love of them every since. Not to mention, my love of food probably would not be so passionate if it were not for her nurturing my love of baking and cooking from a very young age.

Spending the day with her was so fun and refreshing; she is really trying to teach me to take time for myself and I definitely feel better already! I got to enjoy being with my amazing grandmother at one of my favorite places, and even enjoy this:

I would say it was one winner of a day.

Roasted Kabocha, Broccoli and Chickpea Wrap

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 roasted kabocha squash 
• 1 cup steamed or roasted broccoli
• 1/2 cup chickpeas 
• 1 brown rice tortilla 

Directions: 

1. Roast kabocha squash. (My caramelized, slow-roasting method is to come!)

2. Roast or steam broccoli until very tender (almost falling apart).

2. Roughly mash chickpeas. 

3. Warm brown rice tortilla in the microwave for ~20 seconds or until pliable, making it easier to form a wrap. 

4. Mash roasted kabocha until it is smooth, adding water to thin if necessary for a pureed consistency. (I did not have to do this because my slow-roasting method produces a silky consistency.) 

5. Spread mashed kabocha on the brown rice tortilla. Top with broccoli and slightly mashed chickpeas. 

6. Wrap it up! (Or alternatively, eat it open-face like a pizza.) 

I cannot even tell you how much I swooned over this. The sweet and creamy kabocha was absolutely perfect with the soft broccoli and textured chickpeas. I think it really all has to do with preparing the ingredients the  right way (and with love, of course!) Fresh foods take on so much flavor when they are handled with care. The proof is in the taste! 

Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. 

What is one thing that you like to eat au natural? 

Have a lovely day!

xox, 

Mandiee

Quick Food

Heya, chickadees! Thanks so much for your feedback on yesterday's post about my stressful junior year. The consensus seems to be that while school does not get any easier, we seem to learn how to balance everything better and put things in perspective as time goes on. Maybe I need to turn "later" into "now" and just relax a bit. Good thing cooking is like therapy for me!

However, when I am in a rush, sometimes nothing beats quick, whole-some food. Today I am so excited to share with you the meal that made my crazy week so much easier.

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No, not that. But America is known for being a fast food nation. McDonald's, Burger King, Arby's, Sonic...---you name it, we have it! These names are not typically known for being the picture of good health, but they are sure are one thing: fast. Conversely, healthy eating is usually associated with being long and laborious. Well I am here to show you that healthy eating can be quick and delicious.

Now that's more like it!

Naturally the first component of quick food is the amount of time it takes to prepare. The nice thing about this meal is that you can make things ahead or just pop them in the oven while you shower, work, etc.

Baking a winter squash or a few sweet potato ahead of time is totally encouraged. However, if you are unable to do so, popping the sweet potato in the microwave for about 2 minutes before placing it in the oven really speeds things up. Just make sure to prick it with a fork all over so it can release moisture.

Now for the protein. My time-saver came with a little help from the awesome people at Tofu Xpress. (Thanks, Richard!) They sent me one to try out a little while back and I have been a convert ever since.

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While I was at yoga, I placed a block of tofu in my Tofu Xpress and put it in the refrigerator. This product is seriously the time-saver of all time-savers. Whether you put the tofu in for hours or just for a few minutes, it does its job, and it does it like better than I ever could. The fact that the creators of Tofu Xpress even found a way to press tofu without making a mess is a miracle.

If you have ever tried to press your own tofu (or ate it without pressing for lack of time or knowing how---ick!), you know that it is a complete pain. Soggy paper towels and puddles of tofu water everywhere does not equal a good time. Just skip the confusion and let the Tofu Express do all the work; we are going for quick here, remember?

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[Please note: I honestly would not be telling you about this if I did not believe in the product. I think it is so important that bloggers be truthful. After all, I want to know someone's completely unbiased opinion so I am able to make more informed decisions. Actually, I would have bought this anyway because of all the great things I have heard of it. I may even buy one for my grandmother who is tofu-curious.]


When I got home, my tofu had released more water than I knew possible. The amazing thing is that I have tried using it with different amounts of time and it never fails. Sure, it gets SUPER pressed if I leave it in longer, but no matter, it comes out better than I could do with any length of time.

So once your tofu is pressed, you can crisp it in the oven or on the stove. My method of choice differs depending on what I am making, but lately I have really been loving the stove. This is especially helpful if your sweet potato/winter squash is already cooked because then you do not even have to wait for the oven.

Simply heat a greased pan (with either cooking spray or oil of your choice) on medium-high heat and place cubes of tofu on until they are golden, turning to achieve desired effect. I cut my tofu into little cubes for maximum crisp, and crispy it was! I sprinkled a little smoked paprika on top and made smears of spicy mustard for dipping. Quick and simple.

I always like to serve some fresh veggies with my meal as well. I steamed a mix of my favorites one night and made kale chips the other. Frozen veggies are always good to have on hand for even more ease.

Well there you have it: a quick meal that is both satisfying and delicious. I liked it so much I made variations of it 3 days in a row. It left me feeling satisfied and energized, perfect for studying.

What is your favorite go-to meal or quick food?

Have a lovely day!

xox,
Mandiee

No Joke

Dear friends, junior year of high school is no. joke. To those of you that have already survived it and moved onto bigger and better things, does it get any easier? :-/

But I will be serious now: how do you all handle a heavy work load and lots of stress?

I will be the first to admit that I can work myself a bit too hard. Sure, I have 2 AP classes, 1 honors class, and 2 others that might as well be one of the two, but losing sleep every night just to try to achieve perfection is just not healthy. Silly, Mandiee, perfection is unattainable! In the end I just want to know I tried my hardest and enjoyed it (or at least tried). That is all that really matters, right?

As all things, though, I think these challenging periods come in a wave. I am definitely looking forward to this Wednesday when things should start to look up. In the meantime, though, I have been in need of a little comfort food.

But where do I turn? If you guessed winter squash, you would be correct. While my school work wave should be washed back to sea soon, the squash tide is still going strong. And what is more comforting than some warm pumpkin cornbread with almond milk and coconut butter?

Don't tell me that doesn't look good.

I love the little hint of pumpkin against the soft cornbread. If you are looking for a dense bread, this definitely is not it. However, its crumbly and moist nature make it the perfect delicate delight. I think it is wonderful as shown above, but I cannot help thinking it would be absolutely perfect crumbled into this chili for a Thanksgiving treat. (Speaking of which, I may or may not be making that chili tonight...)

Vegan Pumpkin Cornbread
Makes eight pieces (and can easily be cut in half for smaller servings)

Ingredients:

• 1 flax egg (1 TBS ground flax seed + 3 TBS water)
• 3 cups almond milk (divided)
• 1 + 1/2 tsp baking soda 
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt 
• 1/2 TBS maple syrup (=1.5tsp) 
• 2 cups cornmeal (medium grind preferred)
• 3/4 cup canned pumpkin

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350*F. Spray a baking pan with cooking spray or melt desired amount of coconut oil for greasing.

2. Heat water and add to flax seed. Mix with a fork and let sit until it becomes gelatinous.

3. Combine the "flax egg," 2 cups almond milk, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and maple syrup in a mixing bowl.

4. Carefully stir in the cornmeal.

5. Add the pureed pumpkin and remaining almond milk, starting with 1/2 cup and thinning as necessary. 

6. Pour batter into the greased baking pan and bake in oven for 25-30 minutes, or until golden (I like to use a toothpick to test for doneness, especially because this cornbread is very moist.)

7. Remove from oven and wait until it is cool to take the cornbread out of the pan. It is delicate (and delicious, as is evident from that little nibble)!

Enjoy with a dollup of pumpkin.. 

...and a kiss of coconut butter.

*Wednesday's Note: I had standardized testing today so if all goes well, I will probably be back tomorrow with another post. I specifically want to show you my go-to meal of busy week and the product that made it all the easier. Stay tuned! 

Have a lovely day! 

xox, 

Mandiee 

P.S. I would love to give a little shout-out to my grandmother. She has been the absolute sweetest in helping me with my crazy week. Through thick and thin, I know I can count on her for a hug and a smile. Grandmothers always know how to make things better. I love you, Nan!

Is there anyone you would like to thank for all the do for you just simply by being themselves? 

Squash Rehab

Heya :)!

I am glad to hear you are all enjoying fall food just as much as I am. While there are so many great ones to choose from, it seems that winter squash is the unanimous winner. It definitely ranks number one in my book!

I usually hesitate to throw around words such as "best" or "favorite" since I love so many different kinds of food, but squash is my exception (and, uhem, a certain muffin). Hands down, winter squash is my favorite food. Now I know that is a pretty bold statement, but you are just going to have to trust me on this one. My squash consumption is out of control! My step dad even joked that he would have to send me to "squash rehab." But what can I say, when cravings hit, you just have to roll with them, orange hands and all.

Seeing Libby's pumpkin around the blog world spurred some curiosity. For the longest time, I was convinced that I was allergic to pumpkin because pumpkin pie always left me feeling woosey and lightheaded. Turns out it was probably just all that heavy cream and sugar. Finally able to enjoy the pumpkin I feared for so long, I finally gave in and tried Libby's for myself.

I deemed it delicious, but not quite as good as buttercup or kabocha. That being said, I should admit that I could not stop eating it. Spoonful after spoonful, the can seemed to disappear. What can I say, I may be a squash snob, but I love it all just the same. Before I demolished the whole thing, I decided to make some fall-inspired soft serve.

Spiced Pumpkin Soft Serve
adapted from Oh She Glows

• 1 frozen banana (cut into chunks prior to freezing) 
• 3 TBS pureed pumpkin 
• 1 TBS almond milk 
• 1/2 tsp molasses (for a little added nutritional punch)
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions: 

Combine all ingredients in a food processor until fluffy and creamy. Sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy!

It was like eating chilly pumpkin pie in a bowl. Except this time, it was minus the headache. Thank you, Libby's, for showing me the goodness of what I have been missing!  

While this was pretty tasty, it barely put a dent in my squash cravings. Remember what I said about squash rehab? Well, maybe J was not joking after all. ;)

And so the return of the buttercup began...

I have no shame in admitting the fact that this meal was all about the squash. With simple baked tempeh, steamed veggies (broccoli, zucchini, and brussels sprouts), the buttercup easily took center stage.

That is, until this showed up...

What can I say? Kabocha will always reign supreme. Always. I have had such a hard time finding them that I almost forgot how superior they really are. When slow-roasted, kabochas are super sweet and smooth as buttah. You can even see the natural sweet juices that started to collect as it baked!

The tell-tale sign of a kabocha is a smooth button bottom, rather than the traditional buttercup cap. HEAB did a great post on differentiating them here if you are curious or in search of a kabocha of your very own. Trust me, you will never go back.

Especially if you bring coconut butter to the mix. Oh my...

I have no words.

One of my yoga teachers told me that because of my personality and energy (according to Ayurveda), winter squash is one of the best things for me to eat, especially because it is soothing in high-stress times (like now... Hello, junior year!) Well I clearly have no problem with that!

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And lucky for me, squash is also quite the nutritional power house. According to The World's Healthiest Foods, it "an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene); a very good source of vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber and manganese; and even a good source of folate, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B1, copper, vitamin B6, niacin-vitamin B3 and pantohenic acid." Wowza, talk about a long list of goodness!


It is even found to have anti-cancer effects and protect against diabetic heart disease. Seriously, is there anything it cannot do?! 

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On that note, I will leave you all so you can find some winter squash for yourself (preferably buttercup or kabocha if you have not tried it yet.) Squash may be a strange craving, but I cannot say I am complaining. If given a choice of one food to eat for the rest of my life, there would be no question as to what it would be.

How have you indulged in your cravings lately (food or otherwise)? And if you had to choose one food to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be? 


Have a lovely day!

xox,
Mandiee

FALLing In

Hi there, sugar pies! (I feel pumpkin season coming on ;) )

I first just want to say thanks to any of you that are still out there reading. Hopefully you are all fearing well with this chilly weather we are having!

After hours of sitting in cold classrooms (oh when will they turn the heat on?) just to be greeted by the fact that I must walk outside to go to the next one, I have been in need some warmth. Sure, I layer my clothes liberally, but walking around like the abominable snowman does not always do the trick.

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Sometimes the only remedy is warming from the inside out. That, my friends, is when I turn to soup.

...Smokey Split Green Pea and Sweet Potato Soup, specifically.

I honestly was not in love with it on the first day. It tasted great, but it was just missing something. I let the flavors meld for a day and BAM, head over heels. I finished off the last of the soup today, leaving me wanting more. I most definitely considered making another pot.

Are you a soup lover? I hated it as a kid (drink my dinner? puh-lease!), but now I see the light. Since I do not want to burn out on one kind of soup so early in the season, I am on the lookout for some great recipes or suggestions. Do you have any ideas? What is your favorite kind of soup? 

Clearly soup is not the only evidence of my transition to fall. I have been absolutely crazy for squash lately. Seriously, I tried to not have any one day to lessen my chances of turning orange(homecoming is in a week after all), but I simply could not do it. Some people crave sweets, I crave squash. Story of my life.

To accompany my roasted buttercup squash, I made Curried Chickpeas and Parsnips. Oh my, the flavors worked so well together! Both dishes were savory while still retaining their natural sweetness. There will definitely be a repeat of this combo (and a recipe for you) in the future.

I think I am falling in love with Fall. Okay, maybe not the weather, but the food almost makes the cold bearable :). Not to mention there is nothing like the beauty of the leaves changing colors.

What is your favorite fall food? Winter squash hands down for me! But who am I kidding, kabocha is my favorite food period. 

Well I am off for now! Yoga awaits :).

Stay warm and fall into the wonders of Fall...

xox,
Mandiee

THE Muffin

Hello again :)

I really cannot believe it has been over a month since I last posted! What started as a short break due to vacation and the start of school apparently ended up lasting a bit longer. Never fear, though, I am now back to stay. With a few weeks of junior year under my belt and armed with a whole new inspiration, I am ready to go; I hope you will all will jump on this boat with me!

As a matter of cleaning house, I should probably mention the new ways of my blog. I keep talking about my "new" blog, and I can assure you this is not just a teaser. I have really been working hard on launching a new site that will be more user-friendly (hopefully up and running in a bit more than a month). In it I plan to include more recipes and posts on vegan living/life in general. While I love writing long posts, I definitely think they get to be overwhelming. Therefore, I think I am going to post short things more frequently. (My favorite almond butter eater seems to have it down pat.) 

How does that sound? I really want your input on what you would like to see in the future for Sweet Treats and Vegan Eats. Please, do not hesitate to request (I would love to hear your ideas though either comments or emails at manda5 at mac dot com)! 

I believe that blogging is like the saying "it takes two to tango" (I may or may not be a former dancer). The blogging community is as amazing and supportive as it is because of the strong relationships between writer and reader. I am so thankful for all of you and value each and every thing you contribute (even silent blog readers contribute!) 

On that note, it probably does not surprise you that I have definitely missed blogging oh so much! And now that I am back, I want to show you a bit of what is to come. While I do have lots of photos collected from my trip to NYC, I will probably just save them for a special post. My practice of yoga has really taught me to live in the moment so that is where I am going to start from in the next post. But I guess a little past muffin action first would not hurt...

Best. Muffin. Of. My. Life. (Vegan or otherwise.) I actually cried a tear of sadness when I had to leave New York, and the maker of these glorious muffins, behind. Now that is true foodie love, my friends.

What is the best thing you have ever eaten that you simply could not stop thinking about? 

While I could name many other foods that beat muffins on my list of favorites, this one was like no other. I will always remember the luscious scent it radiated and the wonderful man (don't get worried, it was just my step-dad!) I was luck enough to share the experience with. 

Have a lovely day! 

xox, 

Mandiee