Black Bean Brownies
Ten years ago a black bean brownie wouldn’t have done it for me because I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Back then my favorite brownie was made with a Ghiradelli boxed brownie mix blended with melted unsalted butter and eggs (yes, I am ashamed to admit this).
Fast forward a few years when I tasted a black bean brownie sold in a cafe called Fresh in Des Moines, Iowa. Moist and chewy with a deep dark chocolate flavor, the black bean brownie was simply delicious but I didn’t attempt to make my own until recently when I realized that it was time to figure out how to make a delicious but nutritious (key word) alternative to traditional brownies. Read more 
10 Healthier Halloween Treats
My home was not the most popular house in the neighborhood last year on Halloween, for a variety of reasons. My next door neighbor went all out and gave full-sized name brand candy bars (i.e. Snickers, Hershey Bars, Milky Ways, etc) which gave them “most favored nation” status among trick-or-treaters in the neighborhood.
We gave out a variety of healthier treats several of which were sought after (i.e. Little Secrets, Nature’s Addict Fruit Sticks, Matt’s Munchies) and several which were not (anything that wasn’t sweet). One 4-year old summed it all up by saying “I want nothing” after surveying our Halloween treat basket full of packets of trail mix, pistachios, and crunchy dried fruit snacks. Read more
Pressed By KIND®
Pressed By KIND® is a new snack bar that provides a “convenient and tasty way to add fruit” to your diet. Made primarily of fruit – mangos, apples, strawberries, bananas, pineapples, and cherries, Pressed By KIND® bars are unique in their simplicity (the name of the bar includes the ingredients).
Dairy-free, gluten-free, low-sodium, and vegan, these six bars contain no preservatives, artificial flavors or colors, and no added sugar (except for 1 gram in the two bars that contain dark chocolate). But, best of all, the bars are nutritious, chewy and delicious: Read more
Vegan Dining Options in Asheville, NC (Part 5)
Asheville has an abundance of dining options including speciality places where plant-based devotees can enjoy a melt-in-your-mouth doughnut or a creamy, rich chocolate truffle, a piece of moist dark chocolate cake, cold-pressed juices, smoothies, chocolate chip cookies, homemade pies, freshly made soft pretzels, and more. Scroll through these culinary destination hot spots and then make some plans to taste the flavors of Asheville. Read more
Himalania Organic Dark Chocolate Covered Chia Seeds
Rich in Omega 3’s, fiber, and magnesium, organic and fair-trade Himalania chia seeds are grown in Peru. A popular seed used in cereals, chia seeds are also used as an egg replacement because the seeds when moistened expand into a gel-like texture that helps bind and elevate foods together. But beyond using chia seeds as a nutritional boost, leavening agent, or binder for cereals, puddings and baked goods, chia seeds are also a great tasting snack food, especially when they are covered in rich, dark chocolate. Read more
Candy Bars by Nelly’s Organics
In my ongoing search for a healthier alternative to the sugary and additive filled confections offered in supermarkets, I came upon Nelly’s Organics: a line of scrumptious certified organic candy bars in the refrigerated section of a Fresh Market that sell for just $2.99 a bar (note: most certified organic chocolate bars cost two or three times as much). With no preservatives (which is why they are in the refrigerated section), additives, dyes, powders, fillers, by-products, nutritional supplements, or added stimulants, Nelly’s Organics contain real ingredients that have been certified organic. Read more
The How Not To Die Cookbook
When the groundbreaking book, How Not To Die was published in December, 2015 by Dr. Michael Greger, MD, who had no personal financial stake in book sales because all of the proceeds are donated to charity (www.nutritionfacts.org), the public took notice putting the book on the New York Times Bestseller List instantly and keeping it there for more than a year. Read more
The Silvermoon Medicine Ball
Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Let Us Celebrate Life’s Sweetness
Most great ideas and products spring from the mind of someone forward thinking which is exactly how the Silvermoon Medicine Ball came about. With the knowledge that food is medicine – particularly raw living food – and a reverence for the cacao plant and other superfoods, Stacey Aradhana Silvermoon created the ultimate nutritious and delicious raw and organic treat: the Silvermoon Medicine Ball. Read more
Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Bark
One of the many traditions during the holiday season is to enjoy chocolate bark – a sheet of chocolate with nuts, dried fruits, pretzels, chips, or candy blended in. Although peppermint bark is one of the most popular treats during the holiday season, chocolate hazelnut bark or chocolate bark made with roasted hazelnuts is growing in popularity because the hazelnut (also known as a filbert) is naturally sweet with a rich, nutty, and versatile flavor that goes well with dark chocolate. Read more
Salted Galapagos Turtles
Chocolate caramel turtles – the unbeatable combination of roasted nuts combined with creamy caramel enrobed in chocolate) were one of three foods (the other two being a slice of cheese on my toasted bagel with lettuce, tomato, and red onion; and bread pudding) that made me think twice about changing my diet from vegetarian to completely plant-based.
I could certainly enjoy nuts and dark chocolate on a vegan diet but caramel which is typically made with milk and butter was out of the question. After much soul searching, I made the leap anyway and went through a brief period of mourning until I discovered Lagusta’s Luscious Salted Galapagos Turtles – which turned out to be better than the chocolate turtles I gave up! Read more
Paddock Post 