As promised at the end of the Thai Peanut Zuke Noodles post yesterday, I’ll grace you with some sweet action today. I’m glad that I am not the only one who finds the zuke schlong totally humorous. It’s like bathroom humor…it may not be adult-like, but it sure is funny!
No Bake Vegan Chocolate-Coconut-Chia-Oat Dessert Squares/Energy Bars
Into the VitaMonster went
*2 Tbsp chia seeds that I ground well
*Then I added 4 Tbsp of shredded coconut (mine was sweetened because that’s all I had)
*1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
*1 Tbsp Agave
*Dash Vanilla
*2 Squares of the TJ’s Dark Chocolate 73% bar(Or, 2 Tbsp Choco Chips/Carob Chips/Cocao Nibs would all work)
*2 Tbsp Oats (afterthought because they were really soupy so I needed something to dry them up)
*Blended til everything’s incorporated
Put into a freezer container
And here’s the up close drool shot
And another
And after sitting in the freezer a few hours, here ya go, squared off and dusted with powdered sugar. Totally omittable but makes it look pretty. A sifter would be nice, but just a massive sugar dump worked perfectly well ’round here.
I also find that rolling things into balls is a total PITA (playing with balls is always a PITA to me, but that’s another topic for another blog). So squares work in this casa. It all tastes the same, right!
And then I pimped up Scott’s world by making a shallow grave in a mound of banana softserve and burying a Chocolate Coconut Treat
And then I thought, well, he’s going away for a work trip and is workin’ hard for us, so some Cool Whip will take his dessert to X-Rated Proportions. And, it did.
Yoga is Plow Pose, aka Halasana
:)
Averie
Tip of the day: Those pesky contests again. My Chia GiveAway and the NuNaturals GiveAway!!
With the Vegan Chocolate Coconut Chia Treats recipe you could tweak that in sooo many ways…dates, nuts, add seed or nut buttahs, just jump off with it. With raw “baking” or making sweet things, I just roll with the stash I have on-hand. Chocolate chips, carob chips, dark chocolate bars, oats, nuts, dates & raisins, agave…If you have those things, you can create just about anything raw(ish), vegan, and in short order. And, if you had a dehydrator, you could tweak them down that road, too.
Are you a recipe follower or a tweaker?
Hope you guys are enjoying the weekend, what’s everyone up to? I am flyin’ solo because my main squeeze is gone and so it’s just me and the lil pumpkin. Work trips on the weekend are sucky, that’s my final answer.
Tomorrow…less dessert porn and more green-n-healthy eats. Stay tuned for more spiralizin’….
so many blogs, so little time. I try to make it a point to read and comment on my main squeeze's posts (you being one of 'em..holla!) and the others just read in my spare time.
happy friday Averie! xo
Wow that spaghetti looks just amazing. I'm loving your blog, I just found it and I'm off to explore some more!
Oh and I believe I WILL be making that apple crumble and I will totally give you a heads up if I do! I'm hungry now just looking at it!
XOXO
I still can't believe I've got THREE POUNDS of chia seeds coming my way! You're the best, mama!
I'm so glad you are feeling more at peace with the family issues, e-hugs coming your way.
There are so many raw recipes out there I want to try. I'm so glad you use and feature your spiralizer a lot because it's making me believe if I had one I'd use enough to make it worth the purchase. Maybe I'll start with a mandolin.
My commenting style has changed as time goes on. I went from blog lurker and rarely commenting to commenting on almost every post I read and now I've got way to many blogs in my reader to do that. Yesterday I started to do something you mentioned… I resorted things and moved my Top 15 to the top and everyone else is in their perspective "Mommy", "Runner", "Foodie" folders and if I have time to get to them, I get to them. I'm finding that it works to comment the most in the morning, then if I have time I'll work through a couple others in the afternoon. It shouldn't feel like a "job", and it doesn't – but I do believe that commenting is a part of running a successful blog and being part of the community. I definitely don't get to every blog every day but I do try and leave comments regularly, even if that doesn't mean frequently.
Mmm, those "noodles" look so good! I need a spiralizer like whoa.
Hmm, commenting and reading. I try to respond to everyone who comments on my blog. There are so many blogs that I love, but sometimes I just don't have time to comment! I usually catch up on my Reader in the mornings, and, if I don't get home at a ridiculous hour, comment at night.
I love zucchini 'pasta', I need a spiralizer though! And the apple crisp looks so good.
BTW, your yoga poses are incredible. I love to see what you have on next!
The marinara looks so stinking good! I am green with envy over your vitamix creations. Maybe santa will bring me one. ;)
I have not figured out how to keep up with blogs. I'm pretty new to the blogging world and don't have a strategy. I do try to comment on the ones that I read. Some days I don't have time to read but one or two. If I know there's someone I've skipped for a day or two I try to read theirs first the next day.
Lauren and VG-Glad you like the tip of the day, hugs to you both :)
InsideEllen-Thank you for your detailed account,and never apologize for comment length, anyone ever seen some of length of comments I leave on other people's blogs? LOL I actually like your strategy. I do something similar…but it's all in my google reader.
Hayley-anyone can use googlereader, and I believe it's compatible with any feed, blogger, wordpress, self-hosted, etc.
But my current strategy is about a Top 30 food blogs that I read that I feel like are my friends. Deb, Some of these are the "rock star" bloggers and I just treat em like they're my friends and comment away :)
But after that 30, then I have another 30 or so that I skim maybe once or twice a week.
And then I have about 100 that have been added but I really dont follow them, not even sure why I just dont delete them, I guess I am a cyber pack rat :)
Cindy-you're welcome on the blogroll ad, I realized that I was lacking on that for some of my friends and blogs I read/comment alot on and who always comment on mine.
If you think I've overlooked you on my blogroll, please holla and I'll put you on there!!!
Warm foods…lordy, it's still 105 F in Phoenix so sorry girl, I still pop food into the freezer. If I was raw and living in a cold weather place, I guess I would get a dehydrator and lightly warm things? Or just incorporate more warm/cooked foods when you want em. There are no rules…do what your body wants/needs :)
Deb & Shannon-Glad you likey the zuke pasta noods, I think they're really pretty too, thank you :) It's the spiralizer, I'm tellin ya :)
And Deb my magazine and book reading is dusty I havent done it in so long.
Hayley back to you-please do try out the crumble and don't even tell these fools (sorry!) that it's raw vegan, just let em enjoy and then mention after they have licked their plate clean. And actually make it 24hrs before you plan to serve it if possible b/c it's been gettin better, natural juices coming out, etc as it ages. And dont be afraid to go heavy handed with the agave, you want big smiles on everyone's face :)
To all that may comment the rest of the day, I love you but may not have a chance to reply b/c I'm gonna be real busy in the kitch and errand runnin' with the lil one.
xoxo
averie
Love your tip of the day (as always, but today in particular); and the holy yum eats and yoga! :)
Hugs, my dear.
I've tried Gena's raw marinara before and I loved it so I'm sure your variation is good, too! I was actually thinking about making a marinara to go with some 'zuke noodles. I just bought a bunch of 'chinis (how many different words can we substitute for zucchini??) from the store so I need to spiral them up!
I am DEFINITELY going to make your apple crumble. My mom comes in tomorrow and I'm anxious to try it out on non-vegan/non-raw people.
As for blog reading – I have all of my favorite blogs in a folder and I try to go through them one at a time each day. There are TONS that I want to read, but it can definitely be time-consuming and I don't want to give up those that I've become accustomed to reading and leaving comments on. I try to always leave comments, just because I appreciate when people do the same for me.
Does Google reader only work for people who use Blogspot.com?
I've been whipping up some crisps and cobblers lately, because they are so quick and easy. I need all the help I can get right now.
As for the pasta, I've given my spiral slicer a rest. I think I just overdid the zucchini early in the season.
But, now that I've eaten your "pasta" with my eyes first, my tummy might like it if I dusted the spaghetti-making gadget off soon.
Haha, I thought those were eggs in your smoothie! I was a little confused ;) Love the spiralized pasta! I definitely need to break out my spiralizer again soon.
Right now I've been so insanely busy that I haven't had much time to read blogs. When I have time, I do check a core group of people (usually commenters on my blog) and other friends. Then when I have more time I have more blogs I check in my google reader. If people have posted multiple times, I'll usually read em all but just comment on the most recent post :)
I might have to invest in the spiralizer you have- I'll have to see if mine makes zuke pasta as pretty as yours.
Blogs: I have a handful on Google reader (these I feel are like my "friend" and I read/comment on those every day many. I can't handle more than that. Otherwise I hit the "rock star" blogs whenever I think of it, and comment too. I figure if I've read the whole post, then I can leave a comment- even if it's short and sweet.
As I'm so new to the blog world, I have felt a little bit overwhelmed b/c there are so many good blogs. I sense that you feel the same way?
I'm falling WAAAYYYY behind on my wonderful magazine reading: OXygen, Fitness RX, On Training, and the standard Fitness, Shape, and HEAVEN forbid…my First for women (geeky) and In Touch!!
Have a good one!
D
Thanks for adding me to your blogroll!!! way cool !
oh, okay, I am one of those Mama's who already has your crumble recipe saved and ready for action. I think I will make it wtih my cooker's assistant teen this weekend! so wait for the Shout out
and I sorta blog/read like insideiamdancing…. i have my dailys reader/comments my daily perusers and my hit and misses. it IS hard to be a blog o holic and have a life! fo sure!
love your tip o the day too. it's a keeper.
question for you.
what do you do when you want WARM comfort foods with your raw foods?
lately in the am's I am craving warm food and not even my oats are doing it.
summer was easy but now that it's cooling down I am wondering how it's all gonna shift.
Love the tip and love the crumble… I think I need to save up for a Vitamix.
Blogs… K. I have a folder in my bookmarks of ones I read, but rarely comment on. I like them and will comment if I have something to say, but there's never been a "back and forth" communication so unless there is something I want to ask/say, I just skim through and catch up. Kind of feel like a stalker, but there are about 50 blogs on that list! Then I have a second folder bookmarked with about 20 blogs that I also read every day… I sometimes comment, sometimes not. I only read them once. THEN I have Google Reader. Those are my favourite blogs that I love keeping up with, commenting on, feeling like I 'know' the people and they know me. That sounds really…obsessive/weird/mean when I write it out like that, but as much as I would LOVE to, I don't have the time to read/comment on every single post on every single blog. Plus, in case it's not obvious by now, my replies tend to be on the long side…haha. If I wasn't such a blabbermouth, I'd have this down to an art.
Woah. Long reply.
have a fab day!
Awesome tip of the day! I love that! :)
Don't you just love food that is better the next day! YUM!
As for blog reading, I usually read whatever is updated in the morning then if I am bored throughout the day I will read whatever has been updated since. I use my blog roll or google reader. I try to comment whenever I can, but sometimes I am too busy.