Birthday present

My birthday was a couple weeks ago and my parents asked what I wanted. They usually scoot me a small amount of cash, but this year they wanted to make it special since it was a milestone bday for me.

I think my mom has always wanted my sister and I to be twins, since she always dressed us alike and have always bought us the same things so that it was "equal". She and my dad bought my sister a charm bracelet and were on the way to buying me one too. I'm surprised she actually asked me what I wanted instead of just buying me the bracelet.

The foodie vegan nerd in me just couldn't get around a charm bracelet. I wanted something for the kitchen. I was sure that they would just laugh at me, but then this arrived in the mail.

Just another sweet baby to add to my brood! 

I'm SO excited!!!!!!!! Oh the things I can make with this sweet machine! The possibilities are overwhelming :)

2014 Book Challenge

Ever have that thought that you should get off the computer and just read a good book? (she says as she's on the computer) I have that feeling quite frequently, so this year I decided to make it reality.

I am going to try to read a book a month, but I'm not going to punish myself if I don't. Some books reel you in and can be finished in a week, others are tedious and a challenge and take over a month. I had been reading a lot on my 20 minute commute to work, but for the past month or so, have been walking the 2 miles to my desk, so sometimes I will be consuming my interests in the form of an audio book.

I'll document the books I read above under 2014 Book Challenge. Want to challenge yourself with me? Have any good books that you want to reccomend? Leave me a comment below.. I'd love to get some great suggestions on what to add to my book pile :)

Cashew Cheese Spread

This is actually easier than I thought it would be!

Cashew Cheese Spread

1.5 Cups soaked Cashews (I soaked them for 4 hours, you can get away with less)
1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Salt of your choice
1 Tablespoon Nutritional Yeast
1 Cup Water
I have also thrown in some herbs before, but you can go plain if you wish.

Blend everything until smooth and pour into a Nut Bag that is in a glass container. Loosely tie a knot at the top and place the lid on and put in fridge for 4 hours. Pour extra liquid (that seeps out) down the drain and remove the remaining cheese from the nut bag back into the glass container. Keeps for about 4 to 5 days.

There are so many recipes on the internet for this kind of spread, but I will credit Mimi Kirk for this adapted version. I was reading her book "Live Raw" and had to try it :)

Almond Pulp, Flax and Rosemary Crackers

I finally found a lovely way to use my Almond Pulp! Yummy Crackers! Yahoooooo!

These can be made Raw in your dehydrator or baked in your oven. I found this recipe on Elana's Pantry website. I changed from Thyme to Rosemary, but you can obviously substitute whatever you like!

Almond pulp, Flax Seed and Rosemary Crackers

• 1 cup firmly packed almond pulp
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds (I use a coffee grinder)
• 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
• 1 tablespoon Rosemary, finely chopped
• ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl
2. Roll dough into a ball, press between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll to ¼ inch thickness
3. Remove top piece of parchment paper
4. Transfer the bottom piece with rolled out dough onto baking sheet
5. Cut dough into 2-inch squares with a knife or pizza cutter
6. Bake at 135° for at least 20 hours, or until crunchy
7. Let crackers come to room temperature on baking sheet, then serve

I baked these at 200° for roughly 4 hours. I kept busy around the house and just checked in every 45 mins or so.

I have been eating these with my homemade nut cheese! Oooooh, that will be my next recipe!

Homemade Almond Milk

If I would have known how easy it was to make my own nut milk, I would have done it a looooong time ago! This is seriously the easiest recipe ever.

Homemade Almond Milk

 

1 Cup Almonds - soaked overnight
2-3 Pitted Dates (optional - if you want a hint of sweetness)
3 Cups of Water

After soaking the almonds over night.. (approximately 8 - 10 hours) Put them in the blender with 2 dates and the water and blended until smooth and milky. Add more water if you don't want it as creamy. I find 3 cups is the perfect amount for me.

You'll need a strainer of some sort. I have used cheese cloth, but a nut bag is SO much easier. You can also use a small strainer. Also use a tightly sealed container, like a mason jar. The one I use is 1L.

Strain a bit at a time, and squeeze out the milk into your jar. I tried to take a picture of me squeezing, but it proved to difficult to do that AND take a picture - HA!

You'll be left with the nut pulp. You can either store it in your freezer or compost it. I am currently trying to find recipes to use it in. Last night I added some to a banana mango smoothy....nice!

And that's it! Store Milk in the fridge for up to 7 days...although, if you're like me, it'll be gone before that! I find this is about 2 dollars cheaper for me than buying it at the store.

Raw adventure!

A few posts ago, I mentioned that I was going to try a raw diet. I spoke to a few friends who are fully raw and I have decided to test the waters very slowly. Since it's still technically winter (we've been having some pretty nice weather here in Vancouver!) I want to be able to still enjoy my hot/warm comfort foods.

Some people like to dive head first into new things, but I'm a slow cautious person. I slowly eased into being vegan and I can't imagine not doing the same for going raw.

One of my online inspirations has been Mimi Kirk. She has been raw for quite some time and looks great! I recently bought her book "Live Raw" and read every word in one evening. She's quite amazing :)

She has had quite a few adventures; I encourage you to read up on her. She was also born in 1938.. doesn't she look amazing?

Another book that I have been referencing is "Raw - the uncook book" by Juliano.

I've actually have had this book for over 5 years and have barely cracked the spine, but the last few weeks I've been referencing it non stop!

So my baby toe is in the water.. I've started with upping my juicing. I usually only juice once a day, but I've upped it to two. My usual green juice (apple, cucumber, ginger, leafy green and parsley) in the morning, now juiced and then blended with 2 bananas and then a V8 type juice (leafy green, parsley, celery, carrot, green onion, red pepper, tomato, cucumber) for the afternoon.

I have always tried to eat raw snacks, but my dinners tend to be the easy convenient vegan route for dinner, which in one word means - processed! - ack! So I'm going to try to tame that lion...by adding more veggies! yay!

Wish me raw luck!

Homemade Mayo!

I have been buying Vegenaise  since I've been vegan and often thought of making it myself. Now that I have my Vitamix it seems possible, although I'm sure a standard blender would do just fine!

Homemade Vegan Mayonnaise

1/2 cup Non dairy Milk (I used unsweetened Almond Milk)
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Ground Mustard
2 Tsp Garlic Powder
2 Tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tsp Agave
1 Cup Oil of your choice - I used Grapeseed

Place milk, salt mustard, garlic, vinegar and agave in blender. Turn slow to combine, slowly add the oil and blend until creamy.

Place in glass jar and store in the fridge. I've had mine over 10 days and it seems fine, but keep an eye on it :)

I'm pretty impressed with my first go!

I just put it into an old Vegenaise jar