Happy Monday Bloggie Friends! How are you today? How was your weekend? Mine was great! Let me count the ways. Some of the cool things included getting together with fellow blogger Madeline, like I mentioned I would be. Here’s a few pics from our coffee outing.
Skylar with me today and 2 year olds generally last about 3.478 minutes in coffee shops. Skylar lasted over an hour which was great, but Madeline was awesome with her and humored Skylar by drawing and playing along with Skylar’s “artwork”.
She even let Skylar try on her cool yellow shades.
During the rest of the weekend, I whipped up a few creative vegan chocolate treats, and taught yoga, which still has me grinning from ear to ear! Tell me about how your weekend unfolded and what kinda trouble you got into stayed out of.
Thanks for the great feedback on enjoying my Weekly Highlights & Recap post that I did. I’m glad you liked everything from Dark Chocolate Fudge Balls
To Kale Salads
And a big Congrats to the Winner of the $25 EcoStore USA Gift Certificate…Enjoy it, Sweetie!
But it’s a new week and time to start fresh, so here’s a few things I made this weekend…
Butterfinger Oats
1/3 c dry oats, 2/3 c water (could use almond milk but I didn’t have any open), and then added cinnamon, brown sugar, butterscotch chips, and a smashed mini-Butterfinger (we’re slowly making our way through the excess Halloween candy I purchased. At this rate we should have it done by Halloween 2010.)
For one of our din-dins I took some of the never-ending bounty of potatoes that I bought on my TJ’s Grocery Haul and cut up some red potatoes + yukon golds, mini-carrots, doused with EVOO, S & P, 1 Tsp Ground Ginger(ginger is a great tenderizer and flavor booster)
Roasted at 400F for about 40 minutes
And served the roasted veggies along side a Hugh Jass Pea kinda Salad of greens, cukes, carrots, tomatoes, peppers with some of my Homemade High Raw Vegan Slaw Dressing
So after all those taters and green goodness, it was time for dessert. Enter my newest, super easy, 3-ingredient (raw) vegan dessert. No fancy appliances needed. A spoon will do. Curious?
[print_this]
Averie’s (Raw if You Want) 3-Ingredient, 10-Minute Vegan Peanut Butter Cups
Yields: 2 Peanut Butter Cups. Intentionally a very small recipe, feel free to mass-produce.
1/2 cup melted chocolate (i.e. 2 Full-Size Squares of Melted Baker’s Brand Chocolate because it’s dairy-free, or melt 1/2 c Chocolate Chips, or a Cocoa Powder/Agave/Coconut Oil Mix)
2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter
1/2 Teaspoon Nutritional Yeast, optional
In a microwave-safe bowl melt the chocolate and spoon a thin chocolate layer into paper muffin liners (two). Allow chocolate to cool in the liners. While it is cooling, prepare the peanut butter and nutritional yeast mixture by stirring to combine it in a small bowl. If you don’t have nutritional yeast, omit it. It simply gives a slightly salty, cheezy, “gritty” and more authentic texture to the filling (similar to the Reese’s filling) but is not essential. Spoon the mixture on top of the cooled chocolate base layer. Melt additional chocolate and spoon melted chocolate over the top to completely cover the peanut butter. Allow cups to set up fully before eating, at least 5 to 10 minutes in the freezer if you are in a hurry.
[/print_this]
First, melt your chocolate (Raw Foodies, use whatever ratios of raw cocoa powder, agave, & coconut oil suits you to keep it raw). I use the 45 seconds in the microwave trick and melted about 1/4 c worth, which is 1 Baker’s Chocolate Full-Sized Square. (You’ll melt the other square later).
Then, take paper muffin liners and Pour the Melted Chocolate in, just coating the bottom of the liners.
Mix up the Filling
2 Tbsp PB + 1/2 Tsp Nooch
Optional: Dash of Salt, Dash of Agave, Dash of Vanilla Extract. This is to your taste and highly subjective, so do as you wish friends, but I think my version is quite Reese’s-like.
If you’re having a hard time getting your nooch well-incorporated into your PB, zap in the micro for 15 seconds.
I love how the nooch actually gives the PB that barely there, ever-so-slight chunky factor like the filling in Reese’s Cupsis.
Spoon the Filling into the now-hardened (or somewhat hardened) Chocolate Layer
Transfer your cups carefully to a plate
Put them in the Fridge to Harden Fully
And look at how chilly & yummy that looks!
Unwrap & Notice the rippled or ruffled Reese’s-like edges.
I normally would just make teeth marks, but I used a knife to show you the inner workings of my Vegan PB Cups.
Kinda Highly Addictive. But the fun stuff usually is. Feel free to make a larger batch. There are lots of pics, but the whole thing took less than 10 minutes of active cooking time. You just have to let them firm up, and I bet that could happen in 15 minutes in the freezer. So, you’re less than a half hour away from homemade vegan PB Cups!! What are you waiting for?
They are rich, smooth, and even more satisfying because you made them yourself. And, you can feel awesome knowing there are no yucky ingredients in them. And did I mention the pretty rippled edges. Love those.
Do you like peanut butter cups?
Have you ever made them at home?
oh my gosh.. i want one of those toys!! and im dying to try the nutridel cookies-thanks for the reminder!
fantastic post! The clothes are great! They do make some awesome stuff. Coffee maker looks fun too. I love your comment at the end about not getting too wrapped up in the gift giving over the holidays. I totally agree. I actually just really like hangin with the fam more than anything. Have a great day!
Yay for lulu, yay for espresso machines and super yay for great holiday tips! I always get anxious about gift giving – I want to find the perfect gift for each person, spend the right amount etc. But this year I'm thinking of making most of my gifts – tasty, healthy recipes in pretty jars – so people have something they'll enjoy but it wont break the bank!
Staying sane at the holidays: I keep a little notebook in my purse and anytime someone mentions an item they'd like I jot it down right then and there. By the time Christmas or their birthday comes around, I have a long list and they've long forgotten. I'm no longer stressing about trying to come up with ideas at the last minute!
FAAAAAB-ulous Lulu haul!! I love those cropped pants and I totally understand about the tight pants thing. I can't stand suction cupped pants!
Nice espresso machine AND caramel macchiato. Those drink and I had a very intimate relationship back in the day.
I kind of do the same thing as you in regards to the holidays but I keep the gift UNTIL the holiday. I've had birthday cards in my room for MONTHS just waiting for the special day to come.
Love the Lulu gear! I could wear all their stuff, day in and day out. And the espresson maker?!!!!! Awesome! Ah, so much fab stuff you can create. I loved the Nutridel cookies too.
Staying sane in the holidays- ack, not an issue this yeat. My mom is busy with her new partner, my brothers are away and my dad doesn't celebrate so…just another day for me. Kind of happy about it! I'll find a way to make it special :)
I hate tight pants too! I'd rather have to tug them up every so often than feel restricted or cramped in any way. Nothing cramps my style, baby! I LOVE those lavender shorts, I think I would have had to buy a pair too, they are gorgeous and I love how soft you say they are.
All your food looks yummy and even though I don't drink coffee you've got me craving a big cup of jo!
Love the Lulu gear! Now that I'm finally home from college I'm going to be making some of your recipes, so I'll let you know how that goes :) Also, your espresso maker looks awesome!
I love all of your lulu purchases! I need to get there ASAP, as I'm teaching class in nike workout pants I bought back in 2004. I wonder how many times I've worn them?
Great day and great buys! I've never been into an actual lululemon store- just seen the items through Yoga shops but they have some great stuff. Hope your Friday is just as wonderful as your Wednesday
Congrats on the espresso maker! I have a stove stop maker myself- I love it because it's hard core old school.. haha. I have yet to hit up a lulu lemon- but I have been to the site and they have some really adorable clothes. I LOVE those pants! As far as the holiday season and gift giving: A couple of years ago I started to just make my gifts and decorations. I love to cook the most- and I figure sharing that with others is the best gift that I can give, because it's filled with so much love! I started off with simple chocolate covered pretzels, packaged in mason jars- with holiday fabric covering the tops. Now the tradition is biscotti.. I have realized that I like to stay true to my heritage, and although I'm only 1/2 italian- I identify with that the most! Plus who doesn't love italian food?! I do agree that it's better to do something special for people through out the year :-)
just the title of this post alone grabbed my attenion!! we talking woo-woowemon in here?! IM HERE! lol
cute clothes, aves. you look so hawwttt
and that coffee looks amazing, my uncle would be so proud :) I have had some trouble making almond milk get so frothy, what is your trick?
happy fridayyyyyy
I LOVE your new clothes! You SO deserve them. My yoga pants are all circa 2004…there may be some holes in the waist band. Ick. I'll will upgrade someday too, and wouldn't Lulu just be the most fitting place :)
I love your tip of the day. I HAVE to put my mind in the detach from the "what you think is going to happen" you are right..most anxiety is in your head and most of the might haves may never become.
I love your take on gift giving. That is EXACTLY what I want to do but always feel pressured …That is what we are doing this year.
I totally adore you new clothes….you look adorable in them too!
thank you also for the reader tribute…that was fun to see all the things every one has made!
The holidays this year we are keeping it simple.
I have been stress free for a while and I am not ready to jump back in the crazy tree!
love to ya!!
Adorable new gear! Can we share?
I haven't been able to tolerate raw veggies today because my throat is so sore…you're making me jealous with that salad!
To stay sane during the holidays I…well, I guess I never stress about them. But I try to help MamaJ because she definitely gets stressed. I just try to bake, sing and be merry :)
I'm so loving the Lululemon digs! That is so cool to have a legitimate reason to buy new workout gear!! Maybe I should get a job teaching step or something : )
Nice job on scoring a deal on that espresso maker! I so miss my coffee but oh well, I won't die.
This year Christmas is going to be low-budg so no worries there. I never care about getting gifts myself, I just like giving them : )