One of my favorite things about the Holiday season is baking! I’ll admit I 100% agree with Santa that the best cookie around is a Chocolate Chip Cookie. Hands down my favorite thing to make.  However, I have a close second...  BROWNIES! Yes, I’m shouting because I love them so much!

Over the past 7 months since starting a vegan diet I have struggled to find a brownie recipe I really like. One that was good enough to share with those most dear to me, my family and friends. There were a lot of mishaps in the kitchen and one time my attempt to make vegan brownies resulted in something as solid as a rock. I cannot lie. I still ate them anyway (I was desperate!). Fortunately, no teeth were lost from the ordeal, but I’m certain my husband would not have been surprised if that happened! There was a lot of loud crunch crunching, which reminded me of the dinner scene on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. 

LOVE that movie!

Finally, I got with the program and tried a recipe from the best Vegan baker/cook I know- Oh She Glows. Angela Liddon, founder of Oh She Glows, also came up with my favorite recipe for Vegan Chocolate chip cookies. Therefore, it was no surprise that her brownie recipe is also the best one I’ve found to date.

Little Helpers, with No Shirts because that is how we roll!

Now doesn’t that make you want to try one right now?!

To Angela’s recipe I only made two slight adaptations.
  1.       I replaced the almond milk with soy milk
  2.       I left out the walnuts. Going for pure chocolate goodness!

Angela is so kind in allowing me to share her fabulous recipe with you here.

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350◦F.

Line pan (approx. 9x9) with parchment paper.

Grease pan with baking spray.

In a large bowl mix dry ingredients (almond meal, flour, cocoa powder, salt, & baking soda)

In a medium microwave safe bowl add ¾ cup chocolate chips and earth balance. Microwave for 45 seconds (or until melted); stir.

To the melted chocolate whisk in vanilla, soy milk, and sugar.

Poor melted chocolate mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until combined.

Add remaining ¼ cup chocolate chips, stir.

Poor brownie batter into prepared pan.

Bake for approximately 35 minutes.

Tip: *Let cool completely (2 hours), before gently removing from pan and cutting.

Enjoy!

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For those interested Angela also offers a Gluten-Free recipe option as well.


Happy Baking, my lovely friends!

What is Love?

Love is when your husband brings a glass of wine to you in your office Friday evening while you are working.  Love is when he offers to bake cookies for the family and for the out-of-town guests coming the next day.  True love is when on top of all that; he offers to make you special vegan cookies, just because he cares sooo much about you. 

Love is the greatest blessing.  And cookies are pretty good, too! ☺

As I quickly scrambled to jump on that great offer and jot down a recipe for my husband I did a mental check to see what I was in the mood for.  Chocolate!  Shocking, I know.  I adapted my Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal cookie recipe to better satisfy my chocolate craving.

Handing my husband the semi-legible recipe on a scrap of paper, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.  As he walked out the office door, I said “Maybe I should check the consistency of that before you bake it?”  “Uh-huh.  OK!” he said.

Is it wrong to send your hubby into the kitchen with a recipe you have never actual tried making before???  Luck was on my side and all went well in cookie land, leaving this cookie monster a very happy woman.  If you would like the recipe for the cookies my husband made for everyone else, click here.

Ingredients:

½ cup unbleached all-purpose flour

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

½ cup old fashioned oats

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 Tablespoons water

¼ cup brown sugar

¼ cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce

¼ cup carob chips (or chocolate chips)

 

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350▫F

In a medium bowl mix flour, cocoa powder, oats, baking powder and salt.

In a small bowl add water, vanilla, and apple sauce.  Whisk together.

Add brown and white sugar to apple sauce mixture.  Whisk until well combined.

Make a well in the center of flour mixture.  Add apple sauce mixture to the center and stir together until combined.

Stir in carob chips.

On a cookie sheet (lined with a silpat if you have one) drop by the rounded Tablespoon.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes.


Yield: Approx 10-12 small cookies or 7 large (like in our house ☺)


*Special note: As far as cookie recipes go this makes a fairly small batch.  It serves two purposes.  One- it keeps this cookie monster from eating a cookie everyday for two weeks straight, which I’ve been known to do.  Two- it prevents lying.  After a day or two you can tell your children honestly that they cannot have any more cookies because they really are gone.

A few months ago, my friend Monet faced tough times.  The loss of loved ones dear to her heart.  Although the pain is still greatly felt, she has many friends who care deeply for her.  Together some of her blog buddies created a book of recipes, as a way to send love to Monet, who among a great many things is a beautiful baker and writer.  Please do visit Monet at Anecdotes and Apple Cores, and send your healing love.

Today, we are all sharing our contributed recipes.

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Monet,

Within you lies all the strength that you will ever need.  You are an incredible person full of light, and the gift that you give this world by letting it shine through brightens and warms all of us more than any words of thanks could ever say.  Beyond your strength and light you have captured our hearts, and our love.  This love is a constant and will help carry you through every moment you need it.

Thank you for sharing the beauty of your soul!

With love, your friend,

Wendy Irene

There is something so incredibly comforting about banana bread.  Maybe it is the use of fruit that nourishes the body and our soul.  Or maybe it is the delightful aroma of cinnamon and vanilla that swirl together to heighten our senses and induce calm.  It could be that there is nothing more comforting than breaking bread and sharing it with a cherished friend.  Here, my friend is the recipe for Soulful Banana Bread.  Each and every morsel contains love, and comfort from me to you! ♥

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup vegetable oil

3 ripe bananas, mashed

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

In a separate large bowl beat eggs and sugar.

To the egg mixture stir in cinnamon, vanilla, vegetable oil, and mashed bananas.

Stir in flour mixture until combined.

Pour batter into a loaf pan.

Bake for approximately 55 minutes to 1 hour.

Enjoy!

 

♥Wendy Irene

Baking brings me so much joy!  I love everything from brainstorming ideas to creating, the process itself, and the end result.  Baking is a great way to immerse yourself in the moment- the smells, the taste, the sweet moments shared with excited little helpers when you are lucky to have them by your side! :)

Embracing a new healthier way of eating has brought out the inner baker in me, and I couldn’t be happier about it!  Frequently I am searching for new ways to make great treats meant to be shared by family and friends in a heart healthy way.  After all, I’m all about heart ♥

Here is my latest creation-

Ingredients:

½ cup unbleached all-purpose flour

½ cup oats

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon vanilla

2 Tablespoons water

¼ cup brown sugar

¼ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup unsweetened cinnamon apple sauce

¼ cup carob chips (or chocolate chips)

 

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350▫F

In a medium bowl mix flour, oats, baking powder and salt.

In a small bowl add water, vanilla, and apple sauce.  Whisk together.

Add brown and white sugar to apple sauce mixture.  Whisk until well combined.

Make a well in the center of flour mixture.  Add apple sauce mixture to the center and stir together until combined.

Stir in carob chips.

On a cookie sheet (lined with a silpat if you have one) drop by the rounded Tablespoon.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned around edges.

Yield: approx 12 cookies

I’m away visiting the beautiful state of Montana!  Soaking up the scenery, breathing in the fresh air, and letting nature do its miraculous work of healing, renewing, and inspiring.  In my absence I have prepared for you two very basic recipes (if you can even call them that) in an attempt to inspire you to find joy in food in its most fundamental form.  These recipes are simple and worked out beautifully.  Please enjoy! :)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

Cut Whole Wheat Pitas into triangles

Spread evenly on pan

Bake approximately 8 minutes

 
Delicious served with Salsa or Guacamole

(Who needs measurements!)

Frozen Mixed Berries

Juice of 1 Lemon

Cinnamon

2 sprigs of Rosemary (optional)

In a pot over medium-low heat combine frozen wild berries, the juice of one lemon, and a very tiny amount of water to lightly coat the bottom of the pan.  Sprinkle in cinnamon.  Add two sprigs of rosemary.  Let reduce until a thick consistency.  Discard Rosemary sprigs. 

The jam is lovely on toast or in a bowl of oats.  It is super simple and you won’t even miss excess the sugar.  The way nature intended!

Sunday is Mother’s Day!

In honor of the occasion I have devised a special chocolaty treat.  My husband and I have committed to 3 months of revamping our diet.  With that in mind, I give you a new delightful recipe.

Ingredients:

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 cups white sugar

¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup water

1 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1 tsp vanilla


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350▫F

In a large bowl stir flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.

Add water, apple sauce and vanilla.  Mix until well blended.

Line a 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper.

Spread brownie mixture in pan.

Bake 25 minutes.

Let cool for 10 minutes or more before cutting.

Smile & Enjoy!

Now that we have chocolate crossed off the list for Mother’s Day, what goes better with chocolate than a

Michelle from Trent & Company sent me a TheraPearl Eye-ssential Mask to try out.  I love that it can be used hot or cold, and has many functions from relieving stress and tension headaches, to soothing puffy eyes.  You guys know how much I love to meditate, right?  These packs are a great addition to my 10 minute routine.

Kindly, Michelle sent me a gift to giveaway to one of you- a lavender scented Aroma Home Cooling Eye Pillow! 

I am super excited about this one because as I learned in The Happiness Project, cultivating good smells increases happiness.

From Aroma Home:
“Aromatherapy has been used for healing since the first century.”

“Several scientific studies show evidence that the scent of lavender helps in relaxation, soothes and helps promote sleep, and relieves anxiety.”

Even sitting in its bag in my office, it smells amazing!  I am really excited for one of you to receive the cooling eye pillow.  Whether you use it for daily meditation, or relaxation before bed, I think you’ll love it! Not only that, it is amazing even when you are not using it, making the whole room smell beautiful.

·         This contest is open to everyone. 

·         To enter all you have to do is leave a comment below telling me one thing you love about your Mom. 

·         If you are feeling especially excited about the giveaway and want to spread the love (Please do! :), you can get a second entry by sharing the giveaway on Facebook, Twitter or by email.  Just leave a second comment letting me know you did so you are entered 2 xs.

·         The contest ends on Sunday May 8, Mother’s Day!  The winner will be selected at random using random.org and announced on Monday afternoon.  Good luck!

While you are here don’t forget to check out

www.therapearl.com  and on Facebook

www.aromahome.com and on Facebook

Fish is a nutritional powerhouse!  You don’t have search long to find numerous studies that show the many nutritional benefits.  Today, I am going to share with you an incredibly fast and easy recipe for Salmon. 

This idea came from watching Food Network a couple of weekends ago.   It was raining outside and we were enjoying a relaxed morning while savouring a steaming cup of coffee.  I wish I could remember which show I was watching.  After searching I was unable to find it.

The best part is there's no measuring involved and hardly any prep!

• Sprinkle Salmon filet with salt and pepper.
• Brush filet with Dijon mustard (we used Jack Daniels Dijon!!)
• Sprinkle filet generously with fresh dill.
• Lastly, top with a sprinkling of brown sugar.

Bake, Smile & Enjoy your heart healthy choice!

For more Salmon recipe ideas go to- Salmon: Several Ways to Make it Fabulous!  While you’re there be sure to read the insightful comments, there are several more fantastic ideas from readers!

Fresh herbs are a true culinary gift!  I love to find ways to use the rest of the herb in my weekly cooking so it doesn’t go to waste.  Try using the leftover dill in a homemade Chicken Noodle Soup!  The perfect comfort food to soothe the soul ♥

Speaking of a healthy body, heart, and soul I want to share with you a link that I strongly encourage you to check out:

Dr. Oz’s Five Wrong Turns That Can Lead to Cancer

If you have taken any of these wrong turns, fear not!  Dr. Oz shows you the right turn you can make to get back on track.

Here’s to a healthy you, friends!

Today’s Question: