So did you enjoy your weekend? What were you up to? Fill me in on everything!
Remember Saturday morning when I tried to go to a yoga studio but was locked out? Well Sunday morning I took a class hot 75 minute power yoga class at the gym I’m teaching at, and it was awesome! Sweaty, vinyasa, flowing fun & bliss. I loved every hot hanumanasana second.
Sunday as a family, Scott, Skylar, and I went to the Artfest of Scottsdale. It was so much fun walking around looking at the handcrafted and one-of-a-kind pieces of art ranging from glass to sculpture to paintings. Didn’t buy anything, but it was fun to kick tires and be impressed. Did you do anything fun?
So now that it’s time to gear up for another week, hopefully one filled with Thanks & Gratitude, I’ve created a great recipe that you can make in 10 Minutes, and more than likely, with everything you already have in your cupboard and really impress your friends-n-fam on Thanksgiving. But before I get to the recipe, I’m glad you enjoyed the Highlights of the Week Post.
Everything from
Raw Vegan Peanut Butter Cups
to Kale Salads
to Vegan Espresso Drinks were covered
But let’s talk about my new recipe!!!
Averie’s Raw Vegan Almond Butter Cookies-5 Minute Recipe (Gluten & Soy-Free)
1/2 c Flax Seeds. Grind them well.
Then Add
2/3 c Almond Meal (this is Almond Flour kids. Ground Almonds. Many names, same thing. You can buy it in the pre-ground state or grind your own almonds)
3 Tbsp Maple Syrup (if you are hung up on keeping this totally raw, use 6 Tbsp Agave instead and omit the Maple)
3 Tbsp Agave
2 Tbsp Almond Butter
2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
Optional: 1/2 Tsp Vanilla, Almond, or Hazelnut Extract
Yields: Approximately 16 Silver-Dollar Sized Cookies or 4 “big cookie”-sized cookies
Here’s what the Process Looks Like:
After your grind the flax seeds, combine all the rest of the ingredients in your VitaLove, Food Processor, Magic Bullet, or you can even make this entire by hand. Simply use pre-ground flax seeds and pre-ground almonds (almond meal) and you don’t need to break out a single appliance.
After everything is incorporated
Take out your Cookie Dough and form Cute Cookies (or balls, or patties, whatever works for you)
I thought the cookies were looking a little naked…
Optional other Garnishes & Tweaks include:
Dusting with carob, cocoa nibs, or coconut flakes
Smearing more nut butter on top
Substituting a different kind of nut butter for the Almond (i.e. Peanut, Cashew, etc.)
Adding Dried Fruit to the Mixture or as a Garnish on Top
Adding 2 Tbsp of Cocoa Powder to the Batter to Create Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies
Lots and lots of options…
And after I got done making them, I wrapped the cookies up into pairs for lunches and snacks. If I had anywhere to go on Thanksgiving, I’d bring these as a Hostess Gift rather than the standard Planters Salted Nut Mix or a lame floral centerpiece type of gift.
So not that you probably care because you’re totally fixated like a dog in heat on those Almond Butter Cookies, but, I did also make a couple great salads over the weekend. This one had Mixed Greens, Cukes & Zukes, Orange & Yellow Peppers, Carrots, Tomatoes, B.S., and I dressed it with the Juice of 1/2 orange, agave, EVOO, and cracked black pepper.
And this pile of rabbit food was a little salty. From all the Dulse Flakes that is. Greens, Cukes & Zukes, Orange & Yellow Peppers, Carrots, Tomatoes, and I dressed it with Homemade Vegan Slaw Dressing. The sweet tangy-ness of the dressing, the cool cucumber vibes, and the salty dulse flakes was a great combo!
After I ate my veggies for dinner…
…it was time for dessert and a few Raw Vegan Almond Butter Cookies went down like buttah. Almond buttah that is.
I really hope you make these cookies because they are fast, easy, no exotic ingredients were used, they’re chewy, melt-in-your-mouth and just delish! Not to mention, raw, vegan, and gluten & soy free. Success!
Yoga Today is Astavakrasana (8 Angle Pose)
Tip of the Day: If you’re feeling stressed out about “getting everything done” or making the perfect meal, or rushing around to 3 different markets for the “right ingredients”, ask yourself if in a week, or a month, or a year, will you care? Will anyone else care? Will anyone remember? The answer is probably a resounding No!
So rather than get all stressed out and worried about small potatoes like whether your napkins match the tablecloth or that you’re not making everything from scratch, or that your outfit won’t be as cute as your sister-in-laws, or whatever it is…,just take a deep breath, take a step back, and give yourself permission to let a few things slide. No one else will likely notice and you’ll be a more more relaxed & happy person! Ahhh, sigh, breathe, let it all hang out….now that’s better.
What are you going to let slide this year as we go into the holiday season? For me, I am not over-cooking & stressing about trying to cook it all. Meaning, it’s just me, Scott, and Skylar. So rather than making too much food and obsessing about food that will never even get eaten, I picked a handful of key recipes & dishes and am focusing my energy on those few things and letting everything else slide. What are you giving yourself permission to let slide this season?
Stay Tuned For Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts…
That turkey looks great. I bet the dutch oven really made it good. That was sooo nice of you to make it for your hubby, too. I think it's soo cute that you spent the holiday just you, your daughter and husband. When I was a kid, that's how I would spend Thanksgiving with my parents.
Hey girl! That is one mighty looking thanksgiving feast! Wow! The pics of the sweet potatoes made me run out to the store to buy some. They looked ssoooo good!=) I think its awesome too how you made something to please everyone in your family. Thats really fabulous! It all looked so tasty too!
I love your post about the holidays and gift giving. The simplest gifts are the best and it is the thought that really does count. The one thing I look forward to so much is just hanging out with my family. We live across the country from them and I dont get a chance to see them all that much. I just like being together again, gifts or no gifts…=)
Thank you so much for stopping by my site too! Your post put a big smile on my face=)I hope you have a wonderful day sweetie!
Averie, you are amazing. Thanks for posting all those recipes!!!
I neeed to try those almond cookies, though. Fo-real.
I love your spin on the thanksgiving meal, and I hope Scott enjoyed his traditional version. You are such a sweet wifey :)
great TOTD today, babe. I thnk a lot of people tend to feel obligated to get others things so they tend to just waste money on everything and anything. Case a point, in high school my girlfriends and I always felt like we HAD to get eachother something. More often than not I'd go to bath and body works and throw down a pretty penny on silly lotions or comfy socks that lord knew they never used. Needless to say once we got in to college and became broke and struggling college students, we rejected that tradition. My family has done the same. No more silly knick-knacks from my aunts and uncles or a zillion pairs of underwear from my mom, just so there's more presents under the tree. I think it's far more important to stick to a few, special, thoughtful gifts. Quality, not quantity – right?! :)
Have a great Saturday pooks! muah!
It sounds like you guys enjoyed a lovely holiday! I think that's really nice of you to make the turkey for your hubs. As a vegetarian I have ZERO interest in handling raw meat (even when I ate meat I couldn't stand it) so kudos to you!!
It looks like you guys had a great day and MAJOR props to you on your turkey trot and "actual" turkey! Can't wait to hear about that endeavor!
Thanks for visiting my site – add me to your 'Roll' if you have one! – you have such a great following :) I'm glad to hear you don't do 'additional' strength training actually…I don't and just find it rather boring…and I have NO time anyhow!! Haha.
I also wanted to say that I love your idea of homemade gifts! I don't do much gift-giving anyhow – I am not close to family and live away – but I plan on baking up some goodness for friends with cards – I love cards :)
Your meal looks wonderful! Your hubby is a lucky guy :-)
As for gift-giving, James and I have been keeping it simple for the last few years, esp. since we got married and bought a house- One year was chocolate covered pretzels and the next was biscotti. This year we are going for the biscotti and maybe some other cookies to go along with it since they were such a hit last year. The thing that is funny to me is that when you don't buy people something it's like they expect some sort of reason as to why you weren't rushing around "Walmart" -bleh- for some stupid thing that they were going to toss away anyway! By now they know that James and I aren't into all that hype. We don't ask for anything- and we give simply..Though I really feel like it's worth a whole lot more :-)
Aw, what a fun celebration! I love all the food! But of course, everything you make is perfection!
how seet to make hubs a turkey! I didn't want to make a turkey for two of us..so I didn't. but I tried to make a few other things and we have been spending all of our time together which is great
You are definitely the most RAWkin' wife to make the husbster a turkey!
Oh man your gift giving tidbit hits close to home. I do NOT want to go overboard on gifts and have to use credit just to do what I think makes everyone happy. We've decided with extended family to just take it easy this year and give ornaments – hallelujah! I don't want to be stuck in the malls, stressed about what to get everyone, worrying about making people happy and did "spend enough". UGH. The only people I TRULY enjoy buying gifts for are my kids, but I'm still not going to break the bank trying to have more toys than the Jones'! They truly love it so much at this age that they make it easy to shop for. ;)
And my pants still fit comfortably today (and yesterday too). SHEW! Nice run on Thanksgiving morn mama!
Btw thanks so much for your sweet comments. I just read your latest one. I always look forward to seeing them on my blog. Xx
You are such a doting wife. Look at that turkey and I'm VEGAN :) And all your other eats look terrific too.
Looks like you had a fabulous thanksgiving. Glad it was some special time with your loved ones :)
Oh my the roasted potatoes and that raw dessert look DELISH!!!!!!!!!! Your family is so lucky to have such a great chef baking up the most delicious treats for them! :)
Have a great weekend girl! xoxo
oh my goodness..you put in a lot of love and work into those thanksgiving dishes!!
thanks for sharing about your workouts girl!
and gotta love the pig..its like 2 miles from our house so its convienent!! where did you say you lived in SC again?
You silly girl. I just got done posting the "loaf" recipe and you are going to laugh at me when you see how easy it is! I'm like you, though, I could give or take it. I just know for my hubs and the kiddos, having that "meat" on their plate is important. Plus the protein and fiber can only help me too!
You are so sweet to share all of your delicious looking recipes!
We are really going to make an effort not to go overboard with Christmas this year. We are so perfectly happy with what we have, what more do we REALLY need?
Enjoy your weekend, girl!