Vegan Shakshuka

"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success." -  Louisa May Alcott

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My dad gave me a little Oregano plant last time I visited since I've been super interested in growing my own little indoor garden lately. 
I wanted to make something really delicious with the oregano, to me oregano reminds me of something hearty and warm, I was thinking a pasta would be a perfect dish to use my first sprig of oregano in, however, there's a time and a place for pasta and this morning was neither the time or place for it. I wanted something more Brunch like. so I thought why not try an African dish since I love the spices that are used in traditional African dishes (wait until I share my Lobia recipe)
 Also since I am a such big fan of throwing a bunch of stuff into a pot and seeing how it turns out this was a really good dish for me to try.
This dish is so perfect for the snowy cold weather we have been getting in Vancouver lately. You are going to love it!!!

Vegan Shakshuka 

5 Mins prep time 

30 minutes cook time

Serves 2

Ingredients: 

2 TBSP olive oil 

1/4 onion 

1 clove of garlic 

1 potato 

1 can of diced tomatoes

10 cherry tomatos 

1/2 TSP salt 

1/2 TSP cayenne pepper

1/2 TSP cumin 

1/2 TSP oregano 

1/2 onion powder

1/3 cup water

handful of Spinach (optional but as you guys probably know by now, I need to eat tons of spinach for my iron levels)

Instructions

1. Put olive oil in pan and turn heat to medium 

2. put onions and garlic cloves in the pan with the oil let cook for a few minutes 

3. Once the onions and garlic have been cooking for a few minutes add in the can of diced tomatoes and the potatoes let cook for about 10 minutes

4. Add in all spices & the cherry tomatoes and the 1/3 cup water (sauce will thicken from cooking for so long)

5. let cook for another 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Then add in the spinach (spinach will cook pretty much right away. 

6. Let cool and enjoy and with some Vegan naan bread or a bun. 

Carrot Cake Smoothie

 

Yesterday after we could barely make it out of our driveway because of the snow, we headed over to my moms who made this delicious Carrot Cake Smoothie for us. 

I love Carrot Cake but I don't love that a single piece is packed with so many calories and topped with a sugary, heavy cream frosting. I want to eventually try a recipe to make raw vegan carrot cake bars, but in the meantime this smoothie satisfied my cravings. 

This smoothie is for my fellow dessert lovers out there who need some sweetness in their life, plus it's fully raw vegan. Happy Dance! :) :) :) 

Carrot Cake Smoothie

Serves: 3 

Ingredients: 
2 Carrots
1 frozen Banana
2 Cups of cashews
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2" piece of ginger
1/2 tsp all spice
1 cup water
3 medjool dates

Blend everything in a high speed blender. add more water if you don't like it super thick. I ate this one with a spoon it was so thick. 
Enjoy. 

How to Cure a Cold Super Fast - The Natural Way

I believe in north America we have 5 seasons , spring, summer, fall winter, and sick season. Everyone seems to be sick all the time. Not me though. I never get sick. I'm a Vegan so that just doesn't happen. Just kidding, but for real I haven't been sick in almost a year. and I owe it all to these 3 little steps.

as soon as I start to feel even the slightest bit sick I consume these 3 things:

1. garlic
2. apple cider vinegar tea
3. drink lots of water

First step is to eat a whole clove of garlic every few hours. this sucks because it is disgusting and kinda burns the mouth, but it works. If you really can't eat the whole clove then cut it up and put it on a spoon with maple syrup (or honey if your not vegan).

Second step - lots of tea with apple cider vinegar. If you've never read the benefits of this super food you should, it literally heals everything...but you need to be drinking it constantly.

Third step - As if drinking tons of tea is not hard enough, push yourself to drink as much water as you can. Hydration is key.  your pretty much drowning yourself with liquid but it will get rid of that little bug so fast you won't be suffering for days.

These are my 3 awesome steps to not getting sick so next time you get sick try them to see if they work for you and let me know how it goes.

Molasses Cookies & Snow

"Before the fruits of prosperity can come, the storms of life need to first bring the required rains of testing, which mixes with the seeds of wisdom to produce a mature harvest.” 

― Lincoln Patz

Ok so lots of stuff today. First off it's snowing in Vancouver.... pretty hard at the moment. It's a dream come true mixed with a apocalyptic feel, since us Vancouverites don't see it very often and really stop functioning as soon as we do.  I couldn't even drive to work this morning there were soooo many accidents. 

Also I NEED a vacation. like really badly. anyone else ever feel this way, when they are starting to get really close to a vacation. All of my mind functions start breaking down. 

So whats one to do when they are unable to drive any where and feeling burnt out. In my opinion relax and bake cookies. So that is what I did this afternoon while wrapping presents. Happy Holidays!!!!!

Vegan Molasses Cookies

Makes 20 

prep time 10 minutes

bake time 15-20 minutes

Ingredients:  

1/2 cup of maple syrup 

1/3 cup molasses  

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup coconut oil 

1 banana 

1 tsp of vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups of flour 

1/2 tsp of salt

2 tsp of all spice

2tsp baking soda

Instructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

2. Mix butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract and a banana together in a bowl 

3. In a separate bowl mix flour, salt, all spice, and baking soda together

4. Add dry mixture to wet mixture and mix well

5. drop spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet

6. Bake for 10-15 minutes. 

7. Let cool and enjoy. 

Vegan Sour Cream

“The first supermarket supposedly appeared on the American landscape in 1946. That is not very long ago. Until then, where was all the food? Dear folks, the food was in homes, gardens, local fields, and forests. It was near kitchens, near tables, near bedsides. It was in the pantry, the cellar, the backyard." - Joel Salatin

Guys....super excited me over here. I finished all my Christmas shopping early this year (that never happens) and now I can enjoy the rest of the month before we go to the island for Christmas. 

I have not taken a vacation in a year so I'm starting to get really anxious to get out of here and just relax. 

Todays recipe is definitely not a Christmas recipe, but one that is long overdue. My sister in law has asked me about dairy-free substitutes since she found out her little guy may be lactose intolerant. so here a super yummy sour cream recipe that tastes almost the exact same as the original. 

Vegan Sour Cream 

5 min prep time 

Makes 1 1/2 cups 

Ingredients: 

1 cup cashews soaked for at least 2 hours 

2 tbsp lemon juice 

1 tbsp vinegar

1/4 tsp salt 

1/2 cup of water 

Instructions: 

drain soaked cashews 

Put all ingredients into a high speed blender until super smooth

refrigerate for at least an hour before serving

enjoy