How’s this Holiday, and hopefully short, week been for you so far? I just got back from sitting in on the yoga class I’m going to be teaching next week, like I mentioned before. It was a great group of people and a lovely facility and I am so excited to get started teaching there!
And, there are just a couple more days til Turkey Day Tofurkey Day. Just kidding, there will be no Tofurkeys here. But, I’m actually making a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner for One: My Husband. Skylar and I are of the veggie persuasion, but Scott adores traditional Thanksgiving Day fare, and since we have no family in town that I could just send him to to mooch a meal from, yours truly is cooking. I have to brush up on my turkey & stuffing making skills. I’ve got the raw vegan desserts down pat, though!
Speaking of which, I’m glad you enjoyed my Thanksgiving Desserts & Grocery Finds post. I had great comments from so many of you. Thanks for your suggestions about which dessert I should make. Lots of you said, Make Both Apple and Pumpkin. Love your thinkin’ on that!
My Vegan No-Bake Pumpkin Pie (Gluten & Soy Free, too!) is really easy and in case you still have an extra can of pumpkin puree laying around, that recipe will help you use it right up, for sure.
And the Raw Vegan Apple Crumble. Totally a fave of mine. I love that dessert!
Especially the slurpy cinnamon-infused agave juice that I love to drink sauce. Uhhh-huhhh, love it!
But moving along….
In case you’re not interested in making a Vegan Pumpkin Pie or a Raw Vegan Apple Crumble, then maybe I can twist your holiday dessert arm with my…
Raw Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes – 5 Minute Recipe It’s extremely fast & easy. And, other than the cooked pumpkin puree, they’re raw. Some people get very technical & uptight about verbiage so I wanted to clarify for the undies-in-a-raw-bunch-crowd. They’re no-bake but rather than screwing up all my existing labels & tags, I am just sticking with the word Raw.
And they are pumpkin-ey and slightly sweet, without being over-powering in either of those departments. Try a Raw Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donut Hole, you’ll like ’em!
Options, Tweaks, & Tips:
Substitute canned sweet potato, fresh or canned squash puree you may have on hand, or something else that floats your boat instead of the Pumpkin Puree.
Roll donuts in coconut flakes at the end
Roll donuts in cinnamon & sugar
Add Chocolate, Carob, or Raw Cocoa Nibs either in the mixture or dust over the top at the end
Add a Smear of Nut Butter or as a Dipper on the Side
Whatever you do, if you’re looking for a last minute dessert, these Vegan Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes are sooo fast & delish!
But maybe you’re not in the need of any dessert recipes and you’d like to roast some potatoes as a lovely side dish…
Well, I roasted these potatoes. Maybe these will float your tater boat.
Or maybe you’re a Curly Girly and the Curly Sweet Potato Fries are where it’s at for you.
You need Raw Veggie & Salad inspiration, you say?
Try a lovely massaged Kale Salad with Homemade Vegan Slaw Dressing
Or a Vegan “Cesar”-Dressing Inspired Salad
Or just a lovely, simple, Green Salad with…
Averie’s Vegan Holiday-Spice Orange Vinaigrette
1/4 c Orange Juice
2 Tbsp EVOO
1 Tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp of Agave
Pinch of Ginger and/or Nutmeg and/or Cinnamon and/or Black Pepper
Whisk Until Combined
Yoga and Tip of the Day: Camel (Ustrasana). Open your heart chakra, let the love in. And give extra special thanks & gratitude to the Universe this week for all the lovely blessings you DO HAVE in your life.
What’s your picture taking strategy on the holidays with Friends & Fam? Some families are very into getting that staged, perfect shot. Other people roll with the impromptu & candid photos, but some people despise getting their picture taken, and nothing worse than an relative getting all bent out of shape over a “bad picture”. Usually though, I think the candid shots are the best shots. And for those of us with kids, we all know, that trying to plan or stage a photo op is like asking for trouble because it never pans out. So I guess I lean more towards candid shots but I do enjoy getting a big massive, staged group photo, too. What’s your strategy with holiday photos?
Stay Tuned For Holiday Food & Photos…
I'll take the big square please!! Amazing. So jealous of the Sugar Cookie Tea…grrr – can't find it here anywhere…I've found the Gingerbread and Nutcracker though -yum – mixed with hot chocolate and marshamallows :)
As for the Holidays – I agree with a poster above – there is no such things as "Bad Foods" and I don't think they should be labelled as such. Everybody is different and has different tastes and wants and needs. As long as you are enjoying the spirit of friends and family and fun, then you shouldn't worry about having a few too many glasses of wine or hor d'oeuvres.
An ND/Yoga Instructor once told me that sometimes when you keep searching for the perfect foods or diets or what is 'right' or going lactose/gluten/sugar- etc etc ''free" …well, you can keep searching forever. It's really about the underlying issue of finding happiness and life! Don't center your life on what the perfect 'diet' is!!
Not that any of that pertains to you!! I'm referring more to others -most of North America! – with distorted ideas/images, etc.
And…now – I want your recipe book?! Are you doing one?
oh wow.. i LOVE chocolate+mint! that would be awesome. gah you with that pose, you are like the fittest momma ever!
that is so cool you lived in myrtle beach! it's gotten a little trashy the past couple years, but I love Litchfield (which is right beside myrtle) I bet Cali was SO MUCH BETTER! .. always wanted to go there!
All I can say is WOW!!!
OH YAY you found Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride!!
Holy crap those Creme De Menthe Bars look positively amazing! You never cease to amaze me.
I channeled you tonight when I came up with my own cookie recipe! ;)
And your tip of the day is so right on. I always try to remember that "I can have this again" and that helps with my urge to over do it. I find that if I let myself have a treat whenever I want it, instead a "just on the weekends" or "just at parties", I don't go nuts when I've finally got the chance to eat something sweet. I don't feel like "this is my chance! Better get it while I can!" Took me a while to figure that out though… you don't lose nearly 40 lbs without going a journey I suppose. Thanks for this great reminder.
I am really a baking novice so I'm not quite sure I'm ready for the creme de menthe bars recipe just yet… but it's something to work towards!
as you well know the holiday season can cause major stressors, but something that really has helped me this past thanksgiving was reminding myself that there are no such thing as "bad" foods. I tend to convince myself that "a slice of pumpkin pie" or "gingerbread cookie" can only be eaten on the actual day of the party — so in past years i've overdone it then and felt deep guilt and self-hatred after the fact. Reminding yourself that these foods will be available to you and it's not a "one shot deal" realllllllly helped me to focus on moderation and balance this season. Bring on the christmas cookies! :)
wow, ramble much? sorry for blowing up your wall – you always provoke my thoughtful side ;) love you for that!
OMG I COULD JUST PEE MY PANTS WITH EXCITEMENT! I can't wait to try your newest dessert! Fabulous!
Your creativity is out of this world, girl!!
Glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Mine was fantabulous. No family drama. Sorry! LOL
Hugs,
Michele
I'm a fan of the "there will always be more" philosophy.
And once again I leave you blog hungry…. :)
When is your recipe book coming out?? :-D
Vegan creme de menthe bars! Mind blown! These look awesome.
Oh my stars, you have outdone yourself again! I will try these mint bars once I am feeling up to it…my annoying cold turned into bronchitis. Boo. No post tonight :) We'll catch up tomorrow!
ummm andes mint candies needs to hire you like now. that's insanely genius girl! you are the queen of easy delicious vegan treats.
HOLY YUM!!!! Creme de Menthe bars?!? OHMIGOSH Averie – you are incredible!!
I am so lucky to have NO family drama. I have an awesome family.
I am right there with you on the food philosophy. It is so true!
I love your philosophy.. couldnt agree more! I used to be all stressed out about the holidays because I focused on FOOD. Now, I understand that its the company you are with. I plan on devoting my time catching up with the fam.. not wondering how long I need to work out after some cookies.
I enjoy your "rabbit food".. love it! Colorful and o so healthy. I feel crappy if I dont get my 2 lbs of raw veggies for the day. lol
Have good eve Averie :)
All your salads with that orange-essence vinagrette look amazing and Summery.
That dessert–wowowowow it lived up to the hype. I must try that with a cocoa powder topping. Now I just need to explain to my parents why I need creme de menthe haha.
I agree that there will always be more and I'm blessed that I have such a supply of food. I try not to let the holidays carry me away: If I can eat all-natural during the summer I can do it during the winter, too. And I feel fine passing up desserts or treats that might not fit my diet because I've been able to find so many delicious ones that do
Like that philosophy….It is so true, there will always be more!