TGIF is what most of you are saying, right! Well, I hope you’ve had a great week and that you’ve got lots of fun, mellow things planned for the weekend. Is anyone actually going to be braving the stores for some Christmas Shopping? As I mentioned yesterday, we don’t do gifts anymore, so I don’t have to fight for parking spaces or worse yet, fight for merchandise like sometimes happens on those Day After Thanksgiving Day sales when people get trampled over electronics or sweaters on sale!
Anyway though, I am really glad you enjoyed Alison’s post on her Weight Loss Success Story from yesterday. She is just an amazing woman and I love her so! Thanks again, Alison for sharing your lovely and inspiring story!
But moving on to what I really want to talk about today: Chocolate in Aruba!! You know how much I love my chocolate.
From Raw Vegan Chocolate Coconut Snowballs
And Raw Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Donut Holes–Another 5 Minute Recipe!
To My Raw Vegan PB Cups
Thanks, Heather, for mentioning these yesterday. So glad you got in on a little messy chocolate action of your own!
To My Vegan Guiltless & Fast Vanilla Hot Cocoa
It’s pretty hot here so Hot Cocoa isn’t on my mind, but of course, chocolate always is. So I whipped up:
Raw Vegan Overnight “Chocolate Brownie” Protein Oats
1/3 c dry oats
1 ripe & well mashed banana
1 heaping scoop of the Chocolate Sun Warrior Protein Powder (something that I did bring with me)
1 Tbsp Agave
Pinch of stevia (omit, reduce, or increase sweeteners to your taste)
Mix all ingredients (I use a little tupperware with a lid) together, Refrigerate for 6 to 24 hours…
...and Enjoy! (Pics taken 12 hours later.)
It tastes like an oatmeal-inspired chocolate brownie to me! Thick, fudgey, and delish!
And even though it’s hot and hot cocoa doesn’t come to mind, hot coffee still does. Did you catch the fact that I brought my own coffee pot with me to Aruba? And I also brought some Vanilla Stevia drops. Perfect in the ‘joe!
Now for more chocolate….
Some Chocolate Bar Finds!
White Chocolate
Note the Fair Trade Label. Cool!
And then this Dark Swiss Bittersweet Bar
And the Stats if you’re Interested
And then this Cappuccino Bar. A Chocolate and Coffee Lover’s Dream Bar!!!! (it’s not vegan though)
That Fair Trade Symbol again.
The white chocolate is the perfect compliment to the dark chocolate, which has a lovely coffee flavor according to Scott.
Yeah, it looks pretty good, I’d say.
And these Dark Chocolate with White Nougat…
…with Peanut Chunks inside the white Nougat. If Milky Way Dark were flecked with Peanut Chunks in the Nougat but with the caliber of Godiva or Sees’s Candies Chocolate, that’s what this is like. For 2 America dollars for 18 pieces. Score!
Ok so I confess I haven’t only been eating chocolate. There’s been plenty of kale, cukes, brock, and cauli in my life.
With the Homemade Vegan Slaw Dressing I gave the recipe for here.
And Brown Rice, and A Garden Salad dressed with my homemade CreamyVegan Cesar-Inspired Tahini Dressing
And there’s been Fruit.
Grapefruit
Fresh Mangos
And Grapes, Apples, and Pears which I didn’t bother to upload. Uploading here is like the Pony Express: Slow!
But for more Chocolate now…
There’s been some damage done to a batch of Vegan Chocolate Coconut Snowballs that I whipped up here. I omitted the coconut oil and just used maple as the liquid and things turned out just fine. 5 Minutes and sooo good!
And there was a dark chocolate-colored wooden statue that a friend of ours down here gave us. (Sorry bout the dark pics, the lighting is quite horrendous indoors here)
She’s the perfect drishti (gazing point) for my yoga practice!
Yoga Today is Skylar’s Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Savasana)
Ahh, inner peace.
Tips of the Day:
RodeyGirl is Having a Tea Give Away
Danica AND Brandi have Knock Knock goods!
April’s giveaway!
Iowa Girl has a Give Away!
What’s the food you never get sick of? I know Katie and I share a love of chocolate. Although she mentioned she actually OD’ed on it. And another person I know loves his chocolate. He’s got a stash to rival mine. I love chocolate, too…always. And coffee.
Seriously though, like Holly mentioned in this post, I crave green, raw, fresh veggies, some fruit, but just wholesome greenery and lots of it!!! Of course I love my desserts, but I find that when my diet is well-balanced and rounded out with enough veggies, fruits, and I am getting all those trace nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, I crave desserts less. So what food(s) or beverages do you never tire of?
Or, tell me about your weekend plans? Shopping? Packing for a holiday trip to see family members? Whatcha up to?
Stay Tuned For Week in Review Highlights Post, More Great Guest Posts, and Another Give Away Announcement…
I don't know why, but I get a huge kick when I see me, "Fredericton, Canada," arrive on the sidebar of your blog. I'm a dork :P
I've done a little raw "unbaking" but I need to step up my game now that I have a food processor. One think I like about raw treats is that a lot of them use dates as a base, and I lovelovelove dates. I think I eat almost more dates than chocolate!
My mom is finally opening up her kitchen and letting me provide a few dishes for Christmas dinner this year (she's usually pretty controlling about it, but it's way too much work for just one person). I'll be providing a few sides – sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and cranberry sauce. And a healthy-ish apple pie for dessert. Can't wait! :)
So glad to find other raw foodie mama's out here in blogland! Love all your recipes Shannon Marie and I'm so glad to have another site to check out for healthier treat ideas!
Averie girl I'm off to check out your winter solstice post now – your thoughts and musing ALWAYS stick with me. I'm not kidding.
So many great recipes Shannon!! I can't wait to try them!
Love, love, love the yoga gingerbread men: ) However do you find these things?
As for baking, I have been a baking fiend! I think I have 200+ cookies in the kitchen right now. Guess what? I haven't touched a one and I DON'T plan to!!
I love your blog! I've made a couple batches of your raw peanut butter cups and I can't wait to try the other cookie recipes! xx Jenna
Mmmmmmm Shannon Marie is a raw dessert goddess!! These treats are so tasty looking!!
I love your beach shots girl, you guys look like you are so relaxed this time of year when the rest of us are hustling and bustling!
Love you!!
You too Shannon Marie!!
Great post!! I think tomorrow I'm going to get crackin' on making some of your recipes!
For Christmas we're having typical New Mexican food.. pasole and tamales! But I'm also having some protein ice cream and cookies.. it's my birthday too!
Thanks for introducing Shannon Marie to me and others! She's awesome! Those cookies all look to die for.
Off to go visit your Nutridel giveaway now :)
Thanks for that super guest post! Nice to know that there are numerous creative raw unbakers out there- I like to unbake for gifts b/c it's so easy.
I go through phases of baking. Usually it is NOT good for my diet b/c small bits of dough find their way into my mouth (yes with raw eggs, I live dangerously). So I try to avoid it sometimes! Currently I'm on a nut-butter making kick! :-)
Keep enjoying. Weather looks splendid!
I am a baker for sure! I love it! The raw desserts intrigue me :)
Hey Averie!!
Wow this guest post is awesome! So many awesome and delicious sounding recipes. I love how creative everyone gets in the kitchen. Yum yum yum :D
I am definitely a baker during the holidays. I think cookies and breads cupcakes, what hve you make wonderful gifts! Especially because I usually want to give everyone something lol. So it's budget friendly hahaha.
My family was invited to a Christmas dinner and I plan on baking a Coconut Banana cheesecake with a chocolate macadamia crust. And I'm going to attempt to make a beet mosaic.
p.s. the chocolate-covered gummi bears are actually a gift my mom brought from her recent trip to Germany. BUT the brand is Hachez so maybe you can find them online?? I hope!! Ahh yes the bathtub picture. I was actually thinking twice about it but then I decided oh what the heck there's nothing bad about it. But you look hot in your bikini anyway ;) So hopefully those comments were about how radiant and beautiful you looked!
XOXOXO
Holy moly! Those treats look SO GOOD!
Great post and guest post! How did I miss the Samoas??? Those are my favorite!!!!
I'm all mellow about the holiday because I finished shopping/shipping ages ago. I just cannot have the stress that this week is capable of bringing. I refuse.
I do have to run out for a dish I'm dropping off at someone's Christmas Day, and we'll be having some sort of seafood that Chris will pick up at Pike Place Market tomorrow. Otherwise, our fridge is so full I'd just rather use up what's in there, which will probably mean a lovely seafood, kale, brussels sprouts dinner.
I don't bake regularly as sweets are my weakness and plenty seem to find their way into my life without me even trying.It's nice to know though if I REALLY needed something I could whip up an unbaked treat. :)
Hi Averie!
Looks like you are having a magical vacation. Love it!
I actually have been doing a little holiday baking, although I actually hate to bake. But, my parents are coming and they expect the whole sha-bang. (And I'd like to have a few traditions for Ava as she grows up.)
For Christmas dinner we are having crab legs, wild rice pilaf, asparagus, roasted cauliflower and a mixed green salad with your RAW CREAMY TAHINI DRESSING. nom, nom :-)
BTW, I've been doing the hot yoga twice a week at a studio. I LOVE it and have never felt better. Can't wait to get together for coffee when you return.
thank you for all the recipes!! this si going to be a great resource :) & i loove those adorable pictures
This is a seriously tempting round-up of raw cookies! Thanks Averie and Shannon Marie!
ohh day at the pot seems fun!!!
okay so now I am hungry again after seeing all those delicious goodies – especially the raw snickerdoodles :)