How are you doing today? Friday, at last! I thought it would never come!
Today I went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. I go to the dentist 3 times a year for cleanings. I know that may sound a little excessive, but I like to keep my teeth scrupulously clean, and I’ve never had a cavity! It was my first time going to this dentist because it’s my first dental visit here in Phoenix since moving from San Diego. It was fine but not super friendly or even that thorough so may have to keep shopping around. Has anyone ever moved to a new city and you find yourself either getting lost on simple trips to the post office because you don’t know where anything is? Or feeling clueless when it comes to health care practictioners like new dentists and doctors?
Saturday morning I am going to do yoga, specifically the Primary Series, with my guru and teacher who’s supervising me with my 500 Hour Teacher Training that I had mentioned I embarked on! I have been certified since 2001 at the 200 hour level, and have been teaching since 2001, but just as a personal mission, I wanted to reach for the highest level and that’s why I embarked on my 500 hour training program!
I’m glad the Raw Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Donut Holes sound good to you! Thanks for all the great compliments and feedback!
And I pity the poor soul who doesn’t like peppermint because this week has been super minty on my blog…
Holiday Peppermint Chia Seed Pudding
And yesterday’s Raw Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Donut Holes.
But I think I’m done with Mint. For now.
Today’s eats included a fresh batch of kale chips. (that’s the big batch of kale chips link, and then there’s a link to a smaller sized batch)
For detailed and step-by-step kale chip recipe instructions, check this post out.
Making the Coating for the Kale
Slathering it On and Getting ready to put the kale chips into the Magic Box
Close Up Before Dehydrating…And Note: Many readers have successfully made kale chips without a dehydrator. 200F oven, check and flip, check and flip, every 15-20 minutes. Try it!
And then smelling the savory delights of cashews, red peppers, and nooch wafting though my house. I finally got to remove the kale chips from the Magic Box and indulge.
Perfection.
Love these things!!!!
Get a load of that cheezy noochey goodness baked right in. (For all new readers: nooch = nutritional yeast. See WF or Health Food Store for your next Must Buy Item)
Skylar begs me for kale chips.
We are the cloth napkin using, re-usable stainless steel non-BPA sippy cup drinking, yoga doing, crunchy kinda crowd…
…that stuff our faces with kale chips!
Also found a few new products at the grocery store.
Pina Colada Gum. Oh yeah baby! Wonder if there’s any rum in it? After my beloved Sangria Fresca is no more, the Pina Colada is an awesome find! Tastes just like I am drinking a bottle of Hawaiian Tropic, and I mean that in the best possible way!
Mary’s Crackers in Black Pepper Flavor. Normally I get the Originals, so this was a nice treat. That’s not full of onion & garlic, two flavors I happily do without.
I also love to do without my Sun Dried Tomatoes coming to me in jar vat of oil or loaded up with sodium.
I was stoked to find these at a new grocery store I checked out. No oil, only a trace of sodium. Perfect.
And this bar, we’ll do without these in the future. A Think Thin Bar from TJ’s. I was attracted to the 20g of protein and the Gluten-Free Status.
But the ingredient list is a mile long…
….and the taste. Well, it’s dry, chalky, super fake, bland, and generally not so hot.
Never fear, there’s no shortage of bars around here. And these bars are awesome!!!!!!! I was Thrilled Beyond Belief to find a care package from Bora Bora Foods!
An organic t-shirt
And this tiki-man mug. Who’s face looks like mine if I can’t get to my coffee in the morning. Grrrr!!!
Things that rock about Bora Bora
And a certified Vegan symbol. Right next to the Gluten/Wheat-Free and the Organic Symbols. Is that not cool, or what?!! Thanks Bora Bora for the great stuff and the early field report is that the taste of the bars is awesome, two Tiki Torches Up!
So after all those kale chips, all that grocery shopping, and my lovely post office surprise, this green plate included: mustard greens, cukes, tomatoes, brock, and cauli. Slathered with my Vegan Slaw Dressing.
This green plate was mixed field greens, cukes, tomatoes, red peppers, dulse flakes and dressed with my Holiday Orange Spice Vinaigrette Recipe
And for dessert, medjool dates stuffed with dark chocolate chips and TJ’s sunflower seed butter which I pop in the freezer a half hour before spreading it. Thickens it up perfectly.
And then a couple Raw Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Donut Holes.
And More Kale Chips. I kid you not.
Yoga today is Parsvottanasana (Intense Side Angle Stretch)
This is a very active pose. As you are folded over your straight, strong front leg, make sure to keep your quads engaged, and your back leg strong and engaged, too. Chin to shin. Drop your neck. No tension in the head, neck, and shoulders. Looks like you’re just flopped over, but there’s alot more going on. Enjoy the deep stretch!
Tip of the Day: My Kay’s Natural’s Give Away for 2 Lucky Readers!!!!
And My Chocolate Amazing Grass Give Away!!!!!
Go Get Entered, Now!!!!!!!!!! This is an awesome Give Away, and Santa is definitely coming early for someone!!!!
Are you going to brave the malls this weekend and do any holiday shopping? Are you planning on purchasing gifts? Or will you be cutting back at all this year? Or, are you a smart kiddo and doing your shopping online? I am not going to be doing any holiday shopping other than a few online gifts this year but sadly I need to brave Target this weekend for random items. What’s on the weekend agenda for you? Shopping, or not so much?
Stay Tuned For A Weekly Recap of Recipes & Highlights…
You could make the hot cocoa and add it to coffee for a chocolatey coffee drink! Yum.
Is it possible to use cacao instead of cocoa? I'm new at this cacao stuff…probably right, just use more sugar/sweetener?
The cocoa looks so good- I will surely be making this during the winter here in IL!
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most recent favorite use of vanilla stevia drops would have to be mixed into plain nonfat Greek yogurt with some cashew butter and banana. Heavenly!
I would use vanilla stevia in yogurt
I want to win Vanilla stevia to use it everywhere: in my protein baked goods, hot cocoa, oatmeal…
https://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2009/12/vegan-vanilla-hot-cocoa-product-reviews.html – so funny you mentioned this post! I was checking this recipe of yours out the other day and I definitely could have used some vanilla stevia! I rolled with agave nectar :) (and I used the new-ish silk almond milk in plain flavor… so delicious!)
I would LOVE to win some NuNatural vanilla stevia to make the hot cocoa (and a million other things!)
Hmm.. so many things are good with vanilla — I'm wondering how it would taste in alternative or COMBINED with vanilla extract! I think I would try to make some fancy dessert like vanilla creme brulee? Mmm!
If i win stevia i would definately put the vanilla flavor in my coffee, tea, maybe use some in some baking like cookies or brownies?!
I'd use the stevia in my pancake recipe, in smoothies, and all sorts of raw desserts!
How would I use vanilla stevia? Mmmm. Let's count the ways…. no, nevermind, I'd be here for days. In my smoothies, in my chia puddings, in my superfood fudge, in my tea (hot and iced), in my buckwheat/coconut/sesame seed/pear/vanilla granola recipe, in the whipped cream recipe I want to try… the list goes on…
I practice blogging :-) hee hee!
Rain? Depends on who I'm with. If I'm alone or in So Cal, I would rather poke my eyes out with daggers than step my princess foot outside. If we are in the UK with our out-doorsy friends, we are GOING OUT rain, shine, sleet, snow. A little drizzle would be considered a fabulous day out! :-)
Gahhh it was cold here too! AZ and its weird windy days. Blech. I didn't want to leave the house at all. (Yesterday I did manage to get out for a couple hours, to blog with free wifi+coffee though, gotta love that.) Hehe.
So happy you finally got your yoga groove, and everything is falling into place in Phoenix. That makes me a happy gal, for you. Headstand for three minutes?!! Geeze, I am proud of myself if I manage 30 secs, and thats with the legs bent. I'm getting there.
I love your new yoga duds! And your tattoo. So cool. Me= not a fan of the large cliffs either. Cliff Kid? Ok, once in a while, (when in an emergency strikes) but yeah not my fave.
I really love this cocoa recipe, Averie. The other day at work peeps were making that swiss miss junk with fake marshmallows and I thought man I really want some "good" hot chocolate!
Can you believe Ive never had a cliff bar? I like the kids ones (Z bars or whatever) but the regular ones never jumped out at me.. thanks for the review!
I am making that coco tonight no doubt about it! you know i have all this chocolate goodness that needs to be eaten so THANK YOU FOR THE RECIPE, AVERIE!!
the tye dye is awesome! I love making tye dye I used to do it at camp all teh time, we did everything from our underwear to pillow cases!
and althought I lOVE working out with weights and the rush of weight training or spin i KNOW that yoga is a Killer workout, sometimes way to hard for me!!
I mean, look at your hot bod, I think its quite a workout and keeps you in stellar shape!
oooh, that hot chocolate looks good. i wonder if you could do a peppermint hot chocolate by using cocoa powder and peppermint extract. or maybe peppermint tea and hot cocoa… like a tea latte? i wonder…
looks delicious! thanks for the link to your granola post