Emily von Euw's Blog, page 9

MAGICAL SUPERFOOD CHEESECAKE

Greetings, my darlings. 
1) I will be sharing this cake at a potluck I am hosting tomorrow at Trout Lake in Vancouver, Canada. Come on by for chill, fun times and delish vegan grub. More info here. 2) This cake is chocolate-free and I am really proud of myself for that. There is NOOOOTHING wrong with chocolate. Ever. But I am highly aware of the fact that my blog's description could accurately be "Mostly chocolate recipes". I like variety and a bit of colour, so that's what we're goin for with this cake. 3) This cake recipe is "magical" because it's pretty(?) AND secretly very nutrient-dense. It is full of healthy fats from nuts and seeds, multi-source vitamin B (thanks to Pranin Organic's PureFood B), complex carbs like oats, and dried fruits. It is creamy, rich, sweet, satisfying, easy to make and let's be real, it's also gorgeous (*pats self on back*). In short: I FRICKEN LOVE PLANTS. UNGH. CONTINUE READING...

SEXY CARAMEL SLICE (RAW, VEGAN, XO)

I wanted something decadent and sweet today so I made a pan of caramel slices. The base is mostly oats and almonds, the caramel is a mix of dates and cashews, and the layer on top is simply raw dark chocolate sprinkled with some flaked salt. The result of all these glorious whole foods coming together is a luscious, rich treat that is at once nourishing and orgasmic: food for the soul and the body.

CONTINUE READING...

COCONUT SHAKE

This was 100% inspired by a drink I had the pleasure of slurping a week ago with some friends at Chau Veggiexpress. Their coconut shake came highly recommended and it hit the spot on the hot beach day we were having. Chau has some of the freshest, yummiest vegan food in Vancouver and I need to go back ASAP for their pecan caramel bar.


In other news, my lil brother scared the shit out of me earlier today when he surprised me with a fake skeleton as I walked out of the bathroom.


COCONUT SHAKE

1/2 cup young coconut meat
1/2 cup coconut cream
1 cup chilled coconut water
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 1/2 cups ice cubes
Handful mint leaves (optional)

Blend the coconut meat, coconut cream, coconut water, maple syrup and 1 cup of the ice together until frosty, sweet and smooth (unless you like it a lil chunky). Adjust according to taste preferences (I added more maple syrup but I'm a sugar fiend). Pour the shake over the remaining ice and mint leaves.

Notes: Try to find raw coconut meat and raw coconut water, the flavour is waaay different and in my opinion, much more delicious. Feeding Change is the brand I'd recommend. You can use any other sweetener you like (coconut sugar or coconut nectar would be fitting).

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VITAMIN-PACKED POWER SMOOTHIE

Another day where it was challenging to get out of bed. I got more tattoos last night and it was much more painful than I was prepared for. Jack has been on my mind a lot, I miss him terribly and I know he doesn't miss me at all. And my depression and anxiety are rearing their un-sexy heads more than usual this month. It's tough, I'm not going to lie. But I continue to get through each day. And that's enough for now. I'm gonna talk a little more about mental health and self care in this post, and shout out a product that helps my mood, plus that's also simply part of a more general food philosophy that benefits my mental state. 

I feel empowered and energized when I regularly consume superfoods like ashwaganda, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, leafy greens, veggies, fruits, beets, beans, whole grains, chia seeds, walnuts, coconut and other whole foods and whole food-derived powders. My skin gets this incredible clarity and kinda glows, I smell great (in my opinion...), I sleep more soundly, I perform better in the gym, and most importantly: it's easier for me to maintain a positive mental attitude and outlook. One company that is doing an amazing job of curating excellent whole food-derived nutritional boosters is Pranin Organic. They are actually local for me (I'm in Vancouver, Canada, they're in Richmond!) which is rad, and I'm very impressed with the quality and ingredients of their products. They sell Smoothie Boosters that are essentially nutritional supplements - because they give you so much of your RDI for a long list of vitamins, minerals and nutrients - but they're made from simply fruits, veg, seeds and other plants. They also offer actual supplements for Iron and vitamin B, which are both very important for EVERY BODY (and that includes vegans). Their method is to take the powerful nutrition in whole plant foods that evolution - and agriculture, let's be real - have produced and gently refine them further, boosting their impact and efficiency. 
Their products are all in powder form so they're effortless to add to smoothies and raw desserts. I'll be making another recipe featuring Pranin again soon. If you are intrigued I highly recommend you check them out on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and their website. For a limited time, if you use the code "RAWSOME" at checkout, you will get off your order. Mwah. AND fellow Canadians: they do free shipping on orders over $120, whaddup. 
Below is an example of a recipe I've been making daily, it's packed with fresh whole food goodness but also gets an extra nutritional hit from Pranin's berry-centric Smoothie Booster. Filling my body with high quality, plant-based foods goes such a long way in keeping me mentally motivated and positive. Mental health matters.
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VITAMIN-PACKED POWER SMOOTHIE
[ serves one ]

1 frozen banana
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 tablespoon maple syrup 
1/2 cup young coconut meat
1 peach
1/2 red beet
1-2 cups non-dairy milk, water or tea
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 pouch Pranin Organic Super Berry Smoothie Booster

Blend it all up and drink it all down! Yesssss. Consider yourself boosted. P.S. I sprinkled mine with chia seeds because they're cute.

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VEGAN EDIBLES: NUTELLA MACAROONS

I have been eating so many of these in the past two days and I have ZERO regrets. They help me feel relaxed, less anxious and more fun. They also taste amazing. The recipe is quite similar to one I posted a some weeks ago, but the coconut oil in this version is infused with herbal goodness. It's optional, of course. Do what works for you. I dig it. Another adaption is that I used hazelnut butter instead of peanut butter here, so they taste a bit like Nutella. (Yesssss.) I highly recommend Prana Bio's hazelnut butter, it's the best I've ever had by far. Your mind will be blown.


Merely keeping my mind in a state of semi-wellness requires meditation twice a day, very clean eating, daily exercise and outdoors time, social time (but mostly alone time), music, dance, reading, writing, a consistent sleep schedule, and more. If one of these things falls to the wayside for more than a few days I can guarantee that within a week my mental health will visibly suffer and I'll end up in bed for at least a day, either scared to leave my house or apathetic to life. It's so challenging navigating my own brain and existence, and I cannot express enough how unfairly fortunate I am to have the time and capabilities to care for myself in all the cushioned ways I do. We all deserve to live the lives we want, yet the systems in place do not allow for that. But that's another discussion.

I am feeling a little better now. I had a couple of these macaroons and they've mellowed me out. I miss Jack a LOT today. He was always so good at making me feel better. I've been seeing a lot of people casually and upon reflection I'm realizing that with many of them, I'm just trying to find pieces of Jack. But I know that the answer (if there even is an answer...) will not be found in another person: it's all in me. I need to keep getting to know myself and discovering how to make this life hurt less. I will end this post with the same thought I ended my last journal entry with: "I'm not OK, but I'm OK with that."

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NUTELLA MACAROONS

Herb-infused coconut oil:
3/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup your fave dried herb, roughly ground

Macaroons:
1/4 cup herb-infused coconut oil
1/4 cup hazelnut butter
2 heaping tablespoons cacao powder
3/4 teaspoon vanilla powder
1/4 cup maple syrup
Pinch sea salt
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup shredded coconut

To make the herb-infused coconut oil: prepare a double boiler (place a bowl/pot on top of a boiling pot of water) then turn the heat to low. Melt the coconut oil in the top bowl/pot of the double boiler. Add the herb to the oil. Let it infuse for at least 6 hours, but preferably all day. It should become slightly green and smell pretty strongly. Check on the water in the double boiler regularly and refill when necessary. Also smell the oil occasionally to make sure it doesn't burn (as long as you keep the heat low this shouldn't be an issue since we're just using steam). Let the oil cool and then blend it up with the herb, or strain the herb out. Let solidify in a jar and keep in the fridge!

To make the macaroons: melt the coconut oil then stir in the rest of the wet ingredients followed by the dry ingredients. You will have a moist, crumbly mixture. Press into cookies or bars or whatever you like (I used an ice cream scoop) and leave in the fridge for 10-15 minutes or until solid. Enjoy responsibly!

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SUPERFOOD DOUBLE CHOCOLATE POPSICLES

Today has been a whirlwind but also super chill. I had a bunch of social plans - beach day with comfy inspiring friends, late afternoon tea with a wise lady bud, and then a date with a new person - but I woke up feeling anxious and decided to stay in my house all day. Sometimes I just need to do my hermit mode. I would confidently say it's worked out though. I got some work done (i.e. this recipe), painted more of my room white, listened to a bunch of great albums and podcasts, and I think this evening I will do some yoga and have a bath. I just had a cyber "chat" with my ex partner and it didn't totally petrify me so that's progress too. One foot in front of the other, right? I have been trying to take it easy this week because I have my new tattoos that are healing, so I can't really sweat or be in the sun. For those of you who know me even a little bit: you know that sweating and sunbathing are all I really do in the summer. So I have been actively trying to stay cool and in the shade. I miss the gym and biking, but it's nearly been a week so I can get back to 'em soon. I'm not good at sitting still.

Enough of me, though. On to popsicles.


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SUPERFOOD DOUBLE CHOCOLATE POPSICLES
[ makes around 9 ]

Pops:
2 heaping tablespoons cacao powder
2 heaping tablespoons coconut sugar
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon ginger powder
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon ashwaganda powder
1/2 teaspoon your fave edible mushroom powder
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups coconut cream
1/2 cup cashews, preferably soaked for 4 hours in water then rinsed
1/2 cup water

Chocolate coating:
1/4 cup coconut oil
3 heaping tablespoons cacao powder
3 tablespoons maple syrup
Pinch sea salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

To make the pops: blend everything until smooth, thick, delicious and creamy. Adjust according to taste. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze until solid.

To make the chocolate: melt the coconut oil and stir all the ingredients together. Dip the frozen pops in your liquid chocolate and decorate 'em with seeds and nuts (I used sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and chia seeds)! ENJOY.


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GINGER BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE with SECRET INGREDIENT

I had an amazing weekend. On Friday I went to a live show for one of my fave podcasts with my best friend. It's called Throwing Shade and it. is. hilarious. The hosts - Bryan and Erin - pretty much just make fun of sexists, homophobes and other bigots in ways that always make my abs sore (because... I'm laughing so hard). On Saturday I got NEW TATTOOS, BABY! Check 'em out here on Instagram. Nicer pics to come. I had them done by Ciara at Studio Nest, and the whole experience was so enjoyable and satisfying. 

I'm going to RELAX, watch movies, do my laundry, stretch and make a bunch of juice, smoothies and more raw fudge. Speaking of smoothies... here's a recipe. *winky face* Talk to ya later! (P.S. the "secret ingredient" is broccoli).

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GINGER BERRY SMOOTHIE with SECRET INGREDIENT

1 frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
2 tablespoons hemp seeds
1 cup broccoli 
2 cups grape juice
1 teaspoon ginger powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/2 cup pineapple

Blend it all up and drink it all down. I topped mine with more bloobs and some chopped pistachios cuz why not.

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BOUNTIFUL BANANA BOWLS with STRAWBERRY SAUCE + MINT

Hey, Gorgeous! HOW YA BEEN? Here I am, trying to keep up regular posting. This is a SUPER simple recipe that is inspired by an oldie. It's easy and delicious, like any decent meal/snack should be (imo). The recipe takes two seconds to make and is bursting with colour and flavour. I'd suggest adding dried berries and some crunchy granola or nuts if you like. Not to steal the limelight away from this bowl, but I need to give a(nother) shout out to my last recipe, 3-ingredient fudge. I made it again today (third time in a row) and my mind was blown yet again. It's foolproof and ADDICTIVE. Get yerself some brown syrup immediately... IMMEDIATELY... make the fudge recipe and change your world forever, for the better. 


BANANA BOWLS with STRAWBERRY SAUCE + MINT 
[ serves one or two ]

2 ripe bananas
1/2 cup strawberries
1 tablespoonspoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Handful mint leaves

Cut up the bananas and place in a bowl. Blend the strawbs with the maple syrup and pour over the bananas. Decorate with mint leaves (I also added some sesame seeds for aesthetics).

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THREE-INGREDIENT VEGAN FUDGE

Folks: I've figured it out. The secret is using brown rice syrup, it is very thick at room temperature so it gets gooey when refrigerated and makes the perfect sweetener for easy vegan fudge. The ingredients, amounts and instructions here are like my chocolate recipes, but the brown rice syrup makes the final product chewy - fudge! - instead of totally solid. 
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Base:2/3 cup cacao powder1/2 cup coconut oil2/3 cup brown rice syrup
Optional add-ins:
Flaked salt
Vanilla powder

To make the fudge: melt the coconut oil then stir all the ingredients together until you have a smooth, thick chocolate batter. If it's too sweet, add more coconut oil or cacao powder. If it's not sweet enough, add more brown syrup. Add some salt and/or vanilla if you like. Spread evenly into a lined pan and leave in the fridge until solid, it'll take a few hours. I left mine overnight. Enjoy!

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THE ONLY 3 BEAUTY PRODUCTS I NEED

It's the last night of a big road trip I've gone on with my mother across the States and back to Vancouver, Canada. (Mom says hi.) I could not feel more satisfied with all that has happened and how much I have grown in the exact ways I was hoping to. I am WHOLE again! I am ME again! Out of the 30 days we spent on the road, 9 were camping and the rest were staying with friends and family in various gorgeous houses and homes around the country. I was sweating the ENTIRE trip because we unknowingly decided to follow the midwest's record heat wave of the summer, and I am not used to humid weather ANYWAY. It became an auto response when stepping outside to exclaim: "Oh GAWD it's hot!?!?!"


1. GOOD SOAP. Luminance Skincare soap is ALL made by hand (usually by Kim, in fact) with organic hydrating oils, so it cleans and moisturizes all at once. I use it as shampoo and body wash. It's the only thing I need to bring into the shower. They have one that is scented with marzipan. Just saying. 
2. ROSEWATER TONER. It smells like a garden, hydrates my face and keeps my largest organ at its ideal pH. Kim is all about maintaining your skin's healthy pH balance so every Luminance product is crafted with that concept in mind. I spray it on my face after I wash it in the morning and after my shower/bath at night. 
3. LIP BALM. Made with just various fruit and seed oils, Luminance's Fresh Lemons lip balm is my preference. I rub it on my lips several times a day and it never fails to refresh and hydrate. 
I am hosting a $100 Luminance Skincare giveaway! Check out my Instagram post to enter. 
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