Emily von Euw's Blog, page 22

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT and PEANUT BUTTER CREAM CAKE (aka THE ORGASM CAKE)

Oh yeah, I went there. Again. I made this cake for my mum's party, so fingers crossed that her friends like it. I'm also saving a piece as my secret santa gift for a party tomorrow night. Double fingers crossed. Or... fingers crossed on both hands; that's more comfortable. I am still on my Mariah Carey binge so please make this cake then eat it while listening to this (just wait for the chorus). 
I want to talk about a new habit I've been trying to form lately. I will start by letting you know I am a very cynical, sarcastic person. I get this largely from my family, the von Euws have a dry sense of humour. In itself this isn't necessarily a bad thing; but I let it turn into judging others very quickly. Not in a serious way, but just in off-handed thoughts in my head or casual comments in conversation. I never mean anything important by them, but they are thought or said nonetheless. An example: Jack and I were in his car when he was bringing me to the airport several weeks ago and the car in front of us had a mini disco ball hanging from the rear view mirror. Jack said, "Look at that." And I responded with a scoff and, "That's obnoxious..." Another example: I was on the bus a few days ago and the driver pulled up about a metre past where he should have, to pick a few people up at a stop. I sarcastically thought, "Good job, buddy." Maybe these instances don't sound like a big deal, and in most ways, my responses were harmless. All my life I've taken this sort of judging, sarcastic attitude for granted, never analyzing it or questioning if it was good or bad. But as I spend more time with Jack - who is very calm and non-judgemental - and researching meditation techniques, I realize that it is kind of a bad habit to allow myself to have these automatic cynical judgements, no matter how casual they are. 
This is because they are not positive and usually not fair. Instead of making fun of the people with the disco ball, why can't I simply say, "Hmm. Interesting! I wouldn't hang a disco ball from my rear view mirror but good for them." Or instead of negatively judging the bus driver's skills, think, "Oh, he pulled up a bit past the stop. I suppose he didn't see the people waiting." Jack has really helped me to realize how immediately judging I can seem, with the nonchalant comments I make; and this in turn helps me register when I simply have an automatically judgemental thought about something or someone. I also watched this TED Talk recently and it was inspiring for me, in terms of how we should allow thoughts to enter and leave our minds without getting caught up in them. Finally, I am also reading The Secret which essentially promotes trying to feel and think happy thoughts no matter what your situation is (there's more to it, but that's the message I am choosing to take away from it). The book talks about how positive, happy thoughts bring more positivity and happiness into your life, and negative thoughts foster negativity. So with all these things considered, in the past week or so I have been focusing a lot of mental energy into not allowing myself to manifest those negative thoughts or say those judgemental comments. When I have a negative or judgemental thought, I recognize it as such and then rethink it into something non-judging and positive. I saw an older, rather dirty man with a very... bright, unique outfit a couple days and ago and my automatic reaction was to think, "Oh God, what are you doing with your life?" Now since I am working on getting rid of this negative habit and replacing it with a positive one, I realized how judgy this was to think and so corrected my thought to, "Woah! Cool outfit, you must be a very original, independent person." 
I'm trying to use this technique with familiar people and situations as well, not merely strangers in passing. When a friend or family member frustrates me (or vice versa) I try to remember to take a deep breathe and put myself in their shoes. I tell myself there's no reason I need to feel irritated, and the person(s) has an understandable reason for acting the way they are. None of us are right, wrong, good or bad. We are all simply organisms, thrown into this life by surprise, trying to find a comfortable mental, emotional and physical space in this world. There is no need to judge others cruelly or harbour negative thoughts or feelings within you. 
I wanted to share all this with you because I imagine a lot of us probably do this; that is, have automatic judgements to people and things we see around us (or it could be that I am just a total jerk and the only one who does/did this). I think it is useful for us all to recognize, analyze and then correct our cognitive patterns when they are negative. For the good of your mental health, life outlook and - if you believe in thoughts having effective, external energy - those around us. All it takes is a little practice. Just a week in, I am already thinking fewer and fewer negative thoughts and thinking before I judge. Everyday I strive to improve myself, not because I don't currently love myself. I do, very deeply. But because I want to be even better, do even more, than the day before. Whether this be by being more helpful to others, developing my awareness of my own spirituality and personality, or simply finding deeper avenues of joy while experiencing this crazy thing called life. Get happy! Eat raw vegan cake! 

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT and PEANUT BUTTER CREAM CAKE with WHIPPED COCONUT CREAM

Crust:
1/2 cup oat flour
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon melted coconut oil

Chocolate hazelnut swirl:
1 cup hazelnuts
1 cup dates
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons cacao powder
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil

Peanut butter swirl:
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
1 tablespoon maple syrup 

Whipped coco cream:
Follow this recipe. 

1/4 hemp seeds (optional)

To make the crust: mix the ingredients together until they aren't crumbly. If the mixture stays crumbly, add some more coconut oil or water, then press into the bottom of a 6 inch springform pan and put in the fridge.

To make the chocolate hazelnut swirl: blend all the ingredients together until smooth and similar to thick yogurt in consistency. Pour into a separate bowl and set aside.

To make the peanut butter swirl: stir together the ingredients until smooth.

Assembly: make the first layer by dropping alternating dollops of the chocolate and peanut butter mixtures onto your crust, then swirl them together gently with a chopstick. Continue doing this with each layer until you have used up your mixtures. Put in the fridge for 24-48 hours. Then coat the edges with hemp seeds if you like, and serve with the coco cream!

Alternative options: use cocoa or carob powder instead of cacao; use any other nut butter instead of peanut butter; use date paste instead of maple syrup; use cacao butter instead of coconut oil; use buckwheat flour or almond flour instead of oat flour. Substitutions are limitless!

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Ey, babes! This is the first holiday gift guide I have ever done, mostly because in past years I have been lazy. But the past has passed! This year I have put together a nice little collection of my favourite objects, sounds, tastes and tools. [Almost] all of these gift ideas are from awesome companies that are doing a great job promoting veganism, environmentalism, wellbeing and yumminess; they are worthy of your dollar. I also tried to balance the collection out: I have clothing, food, books, kitchenware and even a calendar! I think as long as you have at least one cool person in your life, you will find something useful in my guide. Hehe. Okay let's get onto what is IN IT! From the bottom right hand corner, going left up the rows...

Edgar's Mission 2015 Calendar: Edgar's Mission is an animal sanctuary in Australia that does some amazing work, and you can support their important mission to save innocent creatures from ending up on a dinner plate by getting their calendar. It's full of the CUTEST pictures ever. You kinda have to get it just to see the baby pig learning to walk again with training wheels. It's printed on recycled paper using veg-based ink in a solar-powered plant. Grab it here for $20.00!

Dr. Martens Vegan Leather 3-eye Gibson Shoes: I love these, and it's hard to tell they are vegan leather. I have run into some folks who don't believe it! They are great for basically any outfit, fancy or casual. They will last you a lifetime, so think of them as an investment. I wish the company was 100% vegan, but I feel like buying their vegan shoes is still a positive move, since it nudges them in the right direction. "Psst.. Doc Martens! Go vegan!" I got mine at Nice Shoes.

Gray and Pink Dress from Maya Epler: Maya is an inspiring woman. She designs and makes all the pieces from her clothing line herself, and she is now Peta-approved as a totally vegan company! I love the dress she sent to me, it's unique, comfortable and sexy.
Harmonic Arts (Ginger Root Powder): Harmonic Arts Botanical Dispensary is right by me! They are located on Vancouver Island and source many of their ingredients from the wild, or at least organic farms. I love all their products and recently featured their coconut in this recipe. They have an extensive selection of healing, medicinal tea blends. Take a look at all their products here.

Park Woodshop (Spoon and Cutting Board): I LOVE everything Park and his partner, Leslie, do. They take gorgeous photos, consume lots of tea and super foods, and create stunning, functional wooden tools from sustainably harvested trees. Who doesn't want a hand-carved spoon for Christmas!? See more from them here.

The Veggie Republic Bracelet: vegan jewelry for everyone! This bracelet is wooden and each bead is embedded with a picture of a different vegetable. The company is run by a mum and daughter, and for every bracelet you buy, they donate 5 lbs of fresh produce to a local family in need! Gifts that give to more than one person are the best kind. Get a better look at the $14.99 bracelets here.

The Soap Dispensary (Jars): The Soap Dispensary is a lovely little shop on Main Street run by Lihn and her husband. They sell EVERYTHING that is home, bath and body related with an eco-friendly, organic, local vibe. They have a great selection of jars and everything else. See more from them here. The jar + lid I bought was $1.75.

Organic Burst Superfoods (Baobab and Wheatgrass): Organic Burst is terrific company selling high quality organic super food powders and supplements. Their products are vibrant, delicious, and fun to add to raw desserts, oatmeal, smoothies and juices. If you know someone who needs an extra nutrition boost, consider buying some goodies from Organic Burst.

Rawsome Vegan Baking: my first and bestselling cookbook! It's full of over 100 raw, vegan, gluten-free dessert recipes along with a full page colour photo on every second page. Pretty much perfect for everyone. *shameless self-promotion cough cough* Buy it here or here!

The Songs of Leonard Cohen: he makes me weep with his words. Buy the masterful album here if you have a record player, or download it on the web if you don't. It needs to be in your life.

Hippie Chips (Raw Vegan Veggie Chips): I could eat about 7 bags of these if I had them on hand. They are SO flavourful and all the ingredients are organic and super wholesome. They currently have 3 different flavours and I suggest you try them all. Hippie Foods is the company that makes them, and they rawk. Check out their products and locations here.

100 Best Juices, Smoothies and Healthy Snacks: more shameless self-promo. Don't judge me. This is my second cookbook, and it is BRAND-NEW. Seriously, it was officially published just a few days ago, worldwide. The title kinda gives away the contents, so I don't have to explain much about what's in it; but if you or anyone ya know is interested in getting healthier, this is the book for you. Buy it here or here.

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AVOCADO ZUCCHINI SUSHI with BROWN RICE

So technically this isn't sushi, it's maki. But shh. 
I could eat this all day long, and sometimes I do. Avocado is one of my true loves (alongside Jack, Dante, my record player, papayas and raw chocolate) and with good reason - it's creamy, rich, and super good your body and mind. It goes really well with zucchini because they're kind of opposites, when you disregard their shared colour. Zucchini is light, fresh and juicy so the avo balances it out. Wrap it all up in seaweed and brown rice and you have made one happy girl outta me. Or I guess I did that myself... because no one ever cooks for me. Sad face. I am kind of joking but also semi-serious. Someone make me dinner, please. 
I don't have too much to say today because A) I woke up at 7 am this morning to do a radio interview about my new cookbook and that was really early for me, B) I am itching to go for a bike ride while the sun shine lasts and before I fall back to sleep, and C) I am craving a smoothie. 
Eat as much of this as you care for, really. It's all good. And change it up as much as you want! Try quinoa instead of rice, add some carrots or bell peppers, and make different dipping sauces! Spicy chili peanut sauce + pseudo-sushi!? YES, PLEASE. By the way, that is the second time I have said please in this post. I am feeling polite. The ingredient list and instructions for this recipe are so simple it's almost unbelievable, but that is what happens when you can appreciate whole foods. You don't have to do much to them! Okay we can ALL tell the quality of my writing has quickly gone from a C+ to a D in the last three very short paragraphs so I am going to say adieu until next time, my lovelies. Enjoy the sushi maki.
x 

AVOCADO ZUCCHINI SUSHI with BROWN RICE
2 cups brown rice or other grain, cooked according to instructions on package1 avocado, sliced1 zucchini, cut into thin strips with a mandolin or spiralizer 3-5 nori seaweed sheets
Sauce ideas:  Coconut aminos Peanut sauce
Set out all the ingredients and get going! Use these instructions to roll it all up because they are more useful than anything I could type. But P.S. why does the video has so many dislikes!? Did I miss something obviously wrong? She's just making sushi! Anyways. Enjoy. I love to serve mine with coconut aminos or peanut sauce. 
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BERRY MANGO SORBET with BANANA and PINEAPPLE

Apparently it's National Hot Chocolate Day... I am doing it wrong.

But don't worry! You can still grab my healthy recipe for hot cacao here. I personally went in the opposite direction and made a cold, fruity treat. It was delicious nonetheless. I need to announce that as I write this my record player is spinning the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever. I thought that was important for you to know, as it might affect the content and quality of my writing. The Bee Gees can do that to me.

Well let's see, how can I connect a disco movie to sorbet... oh! This recipe is as vibrant as the leather platform boots John Travolta wears in Saturday Night Fever. There! (Seriously though, they are like 3 inches high.) This recipe is a mix between banana ice cream and sorbet, if I am being 100% honest - and I am. That's because the base is walnut milk, and there's also 2 bananas in here, making it oh-so-creamy. The pineapple and mango add sweetness, and the berries add colour. Yes! No refined foods required to make this baby sing. Speaking of singing... do yo have carollers  yet? I've seen and heard some a few times now. I personally wouldn't carol, but I do appreciate that other people do. Kind of like how I feel about neurosurgeons. Good thing SOMEONE wants to do it. And it does create a nice, cheery mood when you're out 'on the town' (the carollers I mean, not the neurosurgeons, although I am sure they do their part). I'm not really that into Christmas, but I do love the joy it brings to [some] people's faces. Happier folks around Emily = happier Emily. City people can look downright depressed most days, and I can only try to compensate for them with my own smile so much. Stay strong, carollers, you're making a difference.

What are your weekend plans? I'm gonna go see my mom's Christmas play with Jack, then we will probably go check out some locally-made pottery that I want for my food photos, maybe walk in a park, and eventually go out for pizza! Vegan, of course. One thing that is priceless about treating your body and mind right is waking up EVERY morning excited to be alive to experience another miraculous day. Now let's eat/spoon.


BERRY MANGO SORBET with BANANA and PINEAPPLE

1/4 cup walnuts
1 cup water
1 cup frozen mango
2 frozen bananas
3/4 cup pineapple
3/4 cup frozen berries 

Blend the walnuts together with the water until smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth and thick. Feel free to add whatever else you want. I topped mine off with goji berries, coconut, cacao nibs and later some carob syrup. Yum. 

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WIN A BOX OF RAW VEGAN CHOCOLATES!

Raw. Vegan. Chocolate. Bliss. This is what Heather Pace - the creator of Sweetly Raw - does all day. She has made it her mission to healthify the world one superfood chocolate truffle at a time, and I dig it. I hope you all know the blog Sweetly Raw already, it was one of the first sources of inspiration for me when I started my own blog in 2011. Lo and behold, she recently moved to my city! We met up at my November Vegan Potluck and she gave me a few boxes of chocolates to try out. Needless to say I squealed with excitement. It should also be needless to say that the chocolates are INCREDIBLE! So rich and decadent, and also 100% raw and vegan. There ain't anything bad here, folks. The best news is that YOU can also enjoy a box of raw chocolates! I am having a giveaway for Heather's divine treats; you can win a box of 6 truffles plus an OMG macaroon (I threw in the OMG because I know they will really make you say "OMG"). Just enter the giveaway below and cross your pretty fingers. They make the BEST Christmas present ever and even if ya don't win, it is never a bad time to receive a box of good-for-you chocolate in the mail. P.S. I know I have been posting a lot of chocolate stuff lately, if you're tired of it - lemme know. 
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ALOHA, SUPERFOOD CHOCOLATES!

This recipe was inspired by Aloha's superfood chocolate bar. Their chocolate is some of the best I have ever put in my mouth, so I HAD to recreate it in my kitchen. I think the superior taste must come from the magical ingredients - spirulina, mushrooms, berries, coconut, cashews, vanilla - that develop this ridiculously satisfying flavour. It just tastes... real. It's like a vitamin pill in the form of decadent, sweet, dark chocolate. Share these with the ones you love, because it'll give 'em long life and good vibes.

Although I am a passionate advocate for eating whole foods and believe the ideal diet for most of us is a diet based around whole plant foods, I also can't help appreciating super food powders. In today's world - where the air, soil and water are polluted no matter where you live (depressing but true) - it's more important than ever to nourish our bodies with the most highly nutrient-dense foods available. Is it "natural" to take spirulina from the ocean, dehydrate into a smooth powder and then drink it in a smoothie? Is it wrong if its not in its whole form? First of all: what the hell is natural? Anything that happens in nature, without the intervention of humans? That is a ridiculous definition because humans are part of nature; we are organic mammals that have evolved over time and on earth and we are not inherently separate from the 'natural' environment in any way. So in a very real sense, everything is natural, because it IS. 
Also, I dunno about you, but I tend to think about early homo sapiens as being super healthy, because ALL their food was organic and wild (duh) and they were running and walking around all day, everyday. But this is a silly thing to believe. Yes they were constantly moving, yes all their food was wild and organic, but were they super healthy? No! The archaelogical data shows that it was the norm for these folks to be malnourished and nutrient deficient. So let's forget this ideology about living exactly like our ancestors - they didn't get enough food! Having said that, I do think it's paramountly important to study the diets of earlier humans to understand the foods our bodies have adapted for, that is, lots of cooked and raw plants and a little bit of meat. Apparently we have been eating meat for as long as we have been cooking our food... and that's a REALLY long time. NOW DON'T FREAK OUT. I am not saying we should eat meat. There is no need, because of agricultural improvements we can get all our calories and nutrition from plants today. End of story. 
The question we SHOULD be asking about super food powders is not if they are natural, but if they are good for us. I think they are. Their nutrition is concentrated in an easy-to-digest form, and can give us the vitamins and minerals we need to function optimally everyday in just a few minutes. Most brands that sell super food powders use organic, fairly-traded and sustainably-harvested ingredients, so no one gets hurt. Yes, they can cost quite a bit so if you can't afford 'em - don't sweat it. Just try to eat a large amount and variety of colourful veggies, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, seeds, beans and grains everyday. But if things like cacao, wheatgrass and goji berries are in your budget, I would definitely recommending trying them out. Not only are they fun to use, they make you feel great. Although I eat a mostly organic, whole foods, vegan diet with plenty of water - I still like to be sure I get EVERYTHING I need from my food, so every few days I add some super food powders to my smoothie, or have a treat like this chocolate. Since these powders are dehydrated, it's a good idea to consume them with a tall glass of water to balance out. 
In any case, we can all agree that plants are awesome and everyone should be eating more of them. 

ALOHA, SUPERFOOD CHOCOLATES!
1/3 cup cacao powder (or carob powder)1/4 cup cacao butter (or coconut oil)2 tablespoons coconut sugar (or maple syrup) 2 tablespoons tahini (or almond butter) 1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder (or vanilla extract)1 package Aloha Daily Good Greens*
Melt the cacao butter in a pot on low heat, then take off the stove and gently whisk in the rest of the ingredients. Pour into chocolate molds or cupcake papers. Put in the freezer until solid. I like to eat mine dipped in almond butter. *Or use 1 teaspoon spirulina, 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, and 1/2 teaspoon mushroom powder if you have any (the magical kind or otherwise)... 
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RAW VEGAN HOT CROSS BUNS

Just in time for the holidays, here's some wholesome buns for ya. I have way too much studying and essay-writing to get done today so I am gonna keep this post short and sweet (no pun intended... well okay, it was intended). As usual this delicious, easy, healthy treat is made from mostly nuts and fruit. Magical, ain't it? I know I say it like every day but I will never cease to be amazed and endlessly thankful that whole foods taste so damn good. Of course, it's not a coincidence. We have evolved to be attracted to foods that sustain us. That's why mangoes are perfect all by themselves. Try making these buns for the xmas season (or whenever you please) and see if ya like 'em. They were all devoured at my house within a couple days (thank you, Jack). 
I am really looking forward to the semester ending (Dec. 8, it's goin' down yo) not because I don't like my classes. I love them! But I need to get away. Jack and I have tentative plans to drive north for a week and stay at his grandparents cabin, but apparently it's covered in snow. We miiiight go to Portland instead... not sure yet. When we know, I will let YOU know, because if you live where we're headed I wanna meet you! Until then, enjoy my buns. 

RAW VEGAN HOT CROSS BUNSBuns:1 cup almonds1 cup oats1 cup dates1 cup raisins1 teaspoon vanilla powder½ teaspoon cinnamon powder½ teaspoon ginger powderWater, as neededDrizzle:½ cup cashews2 tablespoons coconut oilJuice from 1 lemon½ teaspoon vanilla powderWater, as neededTo make the buns: put the almonds and oats in a food processor and process until they become a rough flour.Add the rest of the ingredients – except the raisins – and add water as needed until it all begins to stick together. Taste and adjust accordingly. Add the raisins in by hand and mix well.Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet or dehydrator tray, then press them down slightly. Cut a cross on the top of each one. Put in the dehydrator (or your oven at its lowest temperature) for about 2 hours or until they hold together. Alternately, just leave them as-is!To make the frosting: blend all the ingredients until smooth, adding water as needed to get the desired consistency. Drizzle on crosses on the buns and enjoy! I sprinkled mine with more cinnamon. 
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CHOCOLATE COCONUT ALMOND BUTTER CUPS - OH BABY

Caution: these are almost as addictive as my chocolate cream caramel bars. This is the THIRD TIME I have made them because they are so damn delicious. Please, make them. Share them. Rejoice in the miracle that is raw vegan chocolate + almond butter + coconut. Essentially what you have here is a super wide peanut butter cup with raw chocolate, but I use almond butter instead of peanut butter, and I mixed in coconut shreds to thicken it up. By the way, I found the best shredded coconut! It's from a really neat little company right beside me (on Vancouver Island) called Harmonic Arts. They have the most amazing tea blends too, and many of their products are wild-harvested. Everything is organic.

The idea for these chocolate almond butter cups came my lover, Jack. He suggested I use my mini tart tins to make peanut butter cups with. We didn't have peanut butter, and I love almond butter more anyway, so I used that. Holy HOLY. We couldn't get over the magic and quickly proceeded to inhale one a piece. Then I had to make more. So I did a few days ago at his place, and left them in the freezer overnight. EVEN BETTER. Then I realized... hey, why am I not sharing this with all my favourite people (i.e. you guys)? So I made 'em yet another time just to take photos. These are not my best pics ever, by a long shot, but they get the point across. That point being: this recipe is a life/game changer. Perfect for any human, but especially the ones who don't think eating plants is the best thing ever (in other words, those who are skeptical of veganism). As plant-lovers, I think it is our responsibility to share our delicious grub with the world in order to prove the stereotypes wrong. We don't munch on carrot sticks and lettuce while we cry about being deprived (although I cannot speak for all vegans here). We actually can be some of the healthiest, happiest, SEXIEST - ya know I am lookin' at you - and most emotionally-grounded folks around. Inspire and lead by example! That is my philosophy. Certainly there are other methods out there to sharing the plant-based message, but I prefer to just get excited about healthy, cruelty-free food and share it with others whenever they are open to it. I don't preach (or at least I try not to), and I don't guilt trip people if they eat McDonald's! I give them a chocolate coconut almond butter cup and dance around while subtly letting them know I am this happy mostly because I eat a lot of plants and love animals. It doesn't have to be a negative experience. I think support, encouragement and baby steps are the best way to go when it comes to helping people change their minds about their diet and lifestyle. CHOCOLATE COCONUT ALMOND BUTTER CUPS FOR EVERYBODY!


CHOCOLATE COCONUT ALMOND BUTTER CUPS 
Makes two huge cups, or a few smaller ones. 
Chocolate: Use this recipe (you'll only need 1/3 cup or so) 
Coconut almond butter filling:3 heaping tablespoons almond butter1/4 cup coconut shreds 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional) 
To make the coconut almond butter filling: simply stir everything together! 
Prepare two mini tart tins by lining them with plastic wrap, or use cup cake papers. Pour half the chocolate mixture evenly into the bottom of the tins or papers, then put in the freezer until solid (it should only take a few minutes). Scoop the almond butter mixture evenly into each tart tin or paper, then cover with the remaining half of the chocolate - decorating with a nut if you like - and put in the freezer for another few minutes til solid, or leave 'em in overnight for a frozen treat.
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WIN SOME RAW VEGAN HAIR CARE PRODUCTS!

Yo yo! Great news for you, my sexy people: one of my fave body care companies, Morrocco Method, is doing a giveaway for This Rawsome Vegan Life! You can win a box of their awesome shampoo! It's 100% cruelty-free and made with organic and wildcrafted ingredients. I love how rich it makes my hair feel, and it's super gentle and natural so it's a good option for those with sensitive hair. In fact, they were one of the first companies who ever contacted me for a product review. Check out that review here, but please ignore my ugly amateur photos and super grammatically incorrect prose... I was a newb, okay!? I still am, in so many ways. Anyways: this company is the bomb dot com, and their products are rad! Check 'em out and enter the giveaway below for your chance to win some top quality hair care products. x

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HOT CACAO with CINNAMON, COCONUT + DATES

Fall is upon us and nothing feels more appropriate when I finally get home after these busy, rainy days than a big ole mug of hot chocolate. Make that raw, vegan and super easy to make and you got me head over heels in love with it. I wonder if Freud would have something to say about how frequently I compare my food to romantic lovers. Just a moment ago I was telling my dinner (homemade green curry with baked eggplant, greens and Israeli couscous) that I was seriously considering leaving Jack in order to go steady with the curry. I regularly kiss and hug my fruits and veggies before eating them, and at any hour of the day if you entered my brain you would notice countless love signals being transmitted to the nearest edible plant. I thought I wanted to marry my record player, but when it comes down to it, my ideal spouse might be an avocado. Or mango. Dammit. Is fruit polygamy legal? 
I JUST LOVE MY FOOD SO MUCH. 
Frankly I wish everyone would be as stoked about their diet as I am (although perhaps not so much with the desire to wed everything they're about to put in their mouth.) I see people around me all the time eating bland, boring, processed foods that they clearly find no enjoyment or excitement in. What's the deal!? If I am about to literally BECOME something, I gotta 100% adore that thing! My cells are going to be reconstructed from the matter I put into my body, so that matter better be the highest quality, freshest, sexiest stuff around. Otherwise, no thanks. Of course I am saying this from my privileged seat in a [relatively] developed country wherein I always have access to organic fruits and veggies AND the budget for them; I am aware it's a restricted category of humans that have these advantages. Nevertheless the people who I see eating these drab, refined, personality-less "foods" are  virtually always in the same social cohort I am, and so they can most likely afford to eat the way I do.  Why don't they? At the end of the day it seems to come down to education. Folks simply are not taught - in school or popular culture - that their diet can be a major source of joy, compassion, environmental sustainability, self-improvement and long-term wellness. Whatta bummer! So until every last person discovers the pure, holistic bliss that can come with a plate of food, I will not stop blogging! 
Without further ado, go ahead and enjoy this super easy and quick recipe for hot chocolate. And please, giggle with excitement as you drink it, because life is great. 

HOT CACAO with CINNAMON, COCONUT + DATES

For one or two people. 

2 cups ginger tea (or just hot water)
1 tablespoon cacao powder (or carob powder)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon power
1/4 cup dried shredded coconut 
1/4 cup dates 

Blend everything until smooth, then strain through a nut milk bag and pour into a mug. Roll the left over pulp in coconut sugar and hemp seeds and dehydrate for an hour (or bake lightly) to make coconut balls! Enjoy!

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