Vegan Vanilla Yogurt Cake
Making a great tasting moist vanilla cake without butter and eggs has never been easier. The secret lies with using unsweetened cashew yogurt, and cake flour which has a lower protein content than all purpose flour and is lighter (finer), and softer than other flours. However, with the knowledge that white cake flour doesn’t have a lot of nutritional attributes, there are two ways to make this cake:
- Use only white cake flour for a lighter, higher rising cake; or
- Use a combination of white cake flour and whole grain spelt flour or whole wheat pastry flour for a slightly denser but more nutritious cake.
In addition, using unsweetened plain cashew yogurt (I use Forager’s) gives this cake a moist, tangy flavor that is greatly enhanced with the added zest of a lemon. Read more 
Almond Biscotti Cookies (Vegan)
Almond Biscotti Cookies are not quite biscotti – that tends to be dry – and not quite a cookie – that tends to be very sweet – which makes them the perfect treat for someone who prefers an insanely delicious snack that falls between these two categories of sweets. Moist and slightly sweet, Almond Biscotti Cookies are vegan but are not a “health” food owing to the inclusion of canola oil and sugar but they are worth it. That these cookies are super easy to make is an added bonus!
These cookies disappear quickly. The recipe is easily doubled (note: the standard recipe below makes about 20-22 pieces). In terms of oil and sugar, each cookie has about 1 teaspoon of oil and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Read more
Temple Balls II
When vegans or plant-based eaters discover dates, it’s a game changer. Dates are moist, chewy, and naturally sweet, so this luscious “food from the Gods” lends itself to making naturally sweet treats including what many people refer to as date balls: dates, nuts, seeds, spices, and other ingredients (i.e. cocoa, coconut, goji berries, raisins, etc) mashed and blended together into dessert or snack balls.
Although there are a zillion recipes for date balls on line, there are occasions when time or equipment (a food processor) is a factor so people turn to ready-made balls. But, as with every prepared food, ingredients are key so read labels or turn to Glaser Organic Farms – a trusted preparer of raw, vegan, and organic certified snacks. Read more
L’Artisane Creative Bakery in Miami Beach
When I made the transition from a vegetarian to a plant-based diet, there were foods I never thought I would ever eat again. One of those foods was a croissant: that exquisite French pastry known for its buttery layers of flaky baked dough, a crunchy exterior and a chewy melt-in-your-mouth interior. Without butter, how could a croissant be a croissant? And, so I thought my croissant days were over. Read more
Pink Peppercorns
If you’re looking to spice up a salad, pasta dish, or virtually any side dish or entree, think about sprinkling pink peppercorns on the top. In contrast to red, white, green, or black peppercorns which are hard and crunchy and really need to be ground to release their powerful flavor, pink peppercorns are light, airy, and have a hollow like texture making them very easy to eat.
In terms of flavor, pink peppercorns are slightly sweet with a very light peppery flavor (so you won’t be overwhelmed with eating them straight). These super beautiful and tasty dried berries add color, texture, and flavor to almost any dish. Read more
10 Great Holiday Food Gifts for 2019
Holidays are all about enjoying food so there is no better time to give a palate pleaser than now. Not everyone is a foodie but nearly everyone appreciates wholesome, delicious food like pure maple syrup, colossal roasted cashews, creamy, rich peanut butter cups or almond cups, award winning crispy potato chips made with extra virgin olive oil, dark chocolate mint meltaways, fresh fruit, and chewy, sweet dates. To wash all that down, consider Fever Tree drinks: tonic, club soda, or ginger ale. Read more
Escuminac Organic Canadian Maple Syrup
Pure maple syrup is an addictive indulgence that most people pour over pancakes and waffles but like any whole food, the quality and taste of maple syrup varies greatly. Starting with healthy maple trees and an agreeable climate (night temperatures in the 20’s and sunny days in the 40’s, which is why Canada and the northeast are the primary sources of maple syrup), good harvesting processes, and a commitment to not use additives makes for a good syrup but the single greatest factor affecting the taste of maple syrup is the time in which the maple sap is harvested during the season. Harvest early and the syrup is light golden and mild while a later harvest produces a darker amber and a more refined maple syrup. Read more
POMONA Organic Pure Beet Juice
Beet juice may boost stamina to help you exercise longer, improve blood flow, and help lower blood pressure some research shows.Why? Beets are rich in natural chemicals called nitrates. Through a chain reaction, your body changes nitrates into nitric oxide, which helps with blood flow and blood pressure. ~WebMD
Beet juice is not on any top ten juice list that I am aware of but that could change as more and more people realize the benefits of beet juice, especially for athletes. According to Nutrition Facts (www.nutritionfacts.org), consuming beet juice has been shown to improve athletic ability and endurance which is an amazing finding (click here to watch the 2-minute video entitled “Doping With Beet Juice“). In addition, consider watching a short video entitled “Whole Beets versus Juice for Improving Athletic Performance” and “Oxygenating Blood with Nitrate Rich Vegetables.” Read more
The Kale and Everything Salad
Kale is one of the most nutritious greens we can eat but the leaves have a bit of a bitter flavor so there are two things you can do to get your kale and enjoy it, too. First, remove the leaves from the stems (throw the stems out; but don’t put them in the sink disposal) and rip the leaves (or cut them) into bite-sized pieces. Place the shredded kale in a medium sized bowl and sprinkle with the juice of 1/2 lemon. Massage the leaves (I always count to 100 and that seems to work). You will notice the leaves will darken as you massage. This is good.
The second way to make kale more palatable is to mix these super greens with bean and vegetables. Pick your favorites or just choose whatever is in the refrigerator or pantry. In less than 15 minutes, a scrumptious, super healthy salad will be ready to devour! Read more
Organic Sweet Carnival Grapes
Last week my husband brought home a produce carry tote that contained “Organic Sweet Carnival Grapes” which were described as “as sweet as any carnival treat.” To be honest, my first thought was “cotton candy” which didn’t sound appetizing as I was never a fan of the sticky, puffy, blue and pink stuff sold at carnivals. But, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Sweet Carnival grapes are sweet and super crisp (an essential attribute of a good grape for me) but they are especially delicious when ice cold, although they are also exceptional chilled or at room temperature. The flavor is reminiscent of cotton candy for sure so they taste like a sweet crunchy flavorful treat that is a healthier choice than cotton candy. That these green (although they are called “white”) are seedless and organic is an added bonus. Read more
