Neopolitan Fountain Float & Almond Joyful Postum Cocktail Recipes!

This is the second part of yesterday's post where I introduced Postum Cocoa Blend. Today, we are going to look at two super fun recipes using this awesome new cocoa stuff, one being a cool summer cocktail.

I was initially planning on posting two alcoholic drink recipes, but since not everyone drinks alcohol and a portion of my readers are under the age of 21, I wanted the post to be fair and have one boozy drink and one non-alcoholic kind. Of course the cocktail can be made non-alcoholic by using another type of liquid, like coconut milk or maybe even coconut water instead. These are both really fun drinks and seriously so yummy! Get creative and don't forget to keep sharing pictures of your Postum creations with us on social media!

Neopolitan Fountain Float
makes 1 drink

What you'll need:

-2 teaspoons Postum Cocoa Blend
-6 ounces boiling water
-3 scoops vanilla ice cream
-3 ripe strawberries, sliced

What you'll need to do:

Prepare Postum by mixing it with boiling water and set aside to cool. Once cooled, fill a tall glass with ice cream scoops, strawberries, then fill with prepared Postum. Top with whipped cream and an additional strawberry for garnish, if desired. Enjoy!

Every Postum recipe I make I really do say that it is my favorite one, but this has got to be my favorite one! HA HA! They are all so good, but I drank this down the fastest of them all! Just so absolutely tasty! The flavors melded so well together and it really does taste like neopolitan ice cream!

Almond Joyful Postum Cocktail
makes 1 drink
(*21+ to make and enjoy this one!*)

What you'll need:

-1 teaspoon Postum Cocoa Blend
-4 ounces boiling water
-1 ounce coconut flavored rum
-.5 ounce almond flavored liquer
-splash of vanilla coffee creamer
-ice

What you'll need to do:

Prepare Postum by mixing it with boiling water and set aside to cool. Fill a cocktail shaker about 2/3 up with ice and add rum and liquer to the shaker. Then add cooled prepared Postum and coffee creamer (a splash or to taste) to the shaker (you can even add the creamer in afterwards and just float it in the glass, like I did in the photo - which I think looks more beautiful!); shake it up! Then fill a tall glass with ice and pour shaker contents into it. This drink can be topped with whipped cream, if desired.

Please, as always, drink responsibly! This one was really interesting to make and I loved the way it turned out! It tastes just like drinking one of those classic candies that has coconut, almond, and coated in chocolate - and the drink is just as decadent as I remember the confection being!

I hope you enjoyed this one! I always have a good time creating and I truly love what I do, but this one was big fun for sure! Please stay tuned for more recipes using Postum; the next one is totally unexpected and will be awesome, so get excited for it!

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off - hope your day is soda fountain and candy shop sweet!

This blog post was sponsored by Postum.

Real Chewing Gum for Vegans!

No joke, I've had this fear lately that during book signings I'll be meeting people and I'll have coffee breath or something. I actually have been worried about it for a while now. You see, us vegans don't encounter a whole lot of chewing gums or breath mints that are vegan-friendly and not terrible for you at the same time. Then, like a mini miracle, the PUR company sent me a goodie bag and now I have no worries about the book signings, meet and greets, events, or about coffee breath in general.

My past experiences with vegan chewing gum have been this: they are too chewy but then fall apart as you are chewing them and don't actually freshen your breath at all. It's a waste of time and calories and money. But with PUR, it is real and actual chewing gum. Exactly like the unhealthy ones that I remember, but these are vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free, contain xylitol, are free of nuts or peanuts, use natural flavors, are non-GMO and a cool bonus, they are Swiss made. This gum kicks aspartame in the pants!

What I tried in my goodie bag were all of their flavors of gum and also two breath mint flavors! This was super fun testing the different flavors and experiencing a really awesome breath mint for the first time in a long time. I was thrilled by this whole goodie bag because I am a little self conscious about breath (I mean who isn't? Especially someone like me who loves her garlic!) and I can foresee that being a possible concern for me during book signing events.

Let's take a look at the PUR products, shall we?

Amazing gum flavors like: cinnamon, peppermint, bubble gum, spearmint, wintergreen and more!

I noticed that the wintergreen and spearmint tasted just like this gum I used to love back in high school, a popular brand that still exists today (I'm not that old), but that is loaded with bad stuff you really shouldn't ingest. I also noticed that the bubble gum flavor is perfect! I really enjoyed every single one.

They come in a pack that keeps them fresh and are easy to carry around in your purse, bag or pocket - they are individually sealed in each foil rectangle (9 pieces per pack) and the gum doesn't come out until you are ready to use it, then you just pop it through.

I didn't have a problem with any of these ingredients, especially considering what is in other gums.

I absolutely love the mints too!

They come in flavors: tangerine tango and mojito lime mint - both are refreshing and tasty!

The gum and the mints both freshened my breath and I was really pleased.

You can connect with PUR on social, they are @thepurcompany. Also, if you want to order some of this gum to try, visit thepurcompany.com; if you use the code ilovepur you get a $10 discount! 

And huge shout out to PUR for sending me your awesome products to try! And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off - stay fresh.

Testing Exciting New Vegan Products: Enjoy Life Foods!

This is such an exciting time for vegan food and I'm so grateful that companies send me care packages to try out the latest products. There are so many amazing new food items just recently released or that will be available very soon, and I am over-the-moon happy about this!

The latest Enjoy Life vegan stuff! Yay!!!

I wanted to talk about the latest three delicious and gluten-free Enjoy Life products added to their line of wonderful vegan offerings and allergy-friendly foods.

The red bag is the Dark Chocolate Regular Size Morsels, which I thought they always had but maybe these are new because they are 69% cacao. Anyways, these are for baking and other recipes but are so good straight from the bag! What?? I didn't eat the whole entire bag before getting a chance to use them for a recipe post. What? There's a recipe using these scrumptious chocolate morsels coming soon...maybe.

Then there's the brand new protein bites, ProBurst Bites that I'm most excited about! They are nut-free, made with sunseed butter (sunflower seed butter), they are completely natural, they pack a 6g of protein punch, but most importantly...they taste more like a dessert than a snack. I was expecting these to taste like the protein balls that I sometimes eat (you know when I'm in workout mode, occasionally) but they actually taste like the best chocolate truffles I've ever eaten! You get 5 servings per (resealable) bag, however that's 3 bites per serving and they are so rich and decadent that I can easily eat one or two and be satisfied. These are a great value and nutritional, but yummy, offering.

And last but certainly not least, the Muffin Mix with Ancient Grains. My favorite aspect of this muffin mix is that the mix has 5g of protein per serving developed with probiotics. I absolutely love when something like muffin mix isn't void of nutritional value. These muffins are coming in at only 170 calories each prepared muffin, and you can make about 10- 12 muffins per box, so if I am in workout mode (haha, yeah right) I won't feel guilty at all eating them...all...eating all the muffins. Damn, they are tasty muffins - don't judge me.

Big thank you to Enjoy Life Foods for sending these new products over to me to try. I am a big fan of this company and they really continue to make vegans lives so much easier with their delish and revolutionary products. Bravo!

Which of the latest Enjoy Life products are you most exciting to try out? 

Homemade Vegan Chocolate Malt Candy Cookie Bites Recipe featuring Postum

I have been really enjoying my morning cup of Postum. I'm sure you guessed that from my Postum review, if you read it. I like to drink a variety of beverages, like many of us do, so I don't limit myself to just coffee or tea. I have added Postum to my daily beverage intake, just like I enjoy water and other drinks throughout the day. What has been perfect about drinking Postum, is that it is ideal for those mornings that I want the taste of coffee or a nice warm drink (and that distinct and comforting flavor of Postum), but don't want the caffeine. I would drink coffee all day if I could, but the caffeine often makes most of us feel jittery, for me even decaf can do that, so enjoying a Postum has been awesome lately! I'll have one in the morning or sometimes if I fancy a coffee first thing, I'll sip a nice cup of warm or iced Postum at night, without worrying that it'll keep me up for hours! I'm loving the Postum product so much that I thought to myself, what else can I do with it? The flavor is amazing and there are so many servings (a whopping 75!) per can. How about experimenting with some recipes?

I was sitting down with a cup of Postum and a book the other day, and was really stuck on what it had reminded me of, in that one sip, in that moment. Then it struck me! Remember those chocolate malt candies that you get at the movies or they came in a speckled candy coated Easter egg version at this time of year? Those types of candies have been off limits for us vegans but also for people who avoid overly processed foods and candy, and those who prefer to make their own sweets. After countless hours and testing in my kitchen, I perfected the recipe inspired by what I remember, what my childhood memories recall of those chocolate malt candies, but with a healthier twist and in the form of cookie bites! It was all possible because of this wonderful and versatile product, Postum. So here is the recipe! I hope you enjoy them! When you try this recipe, I'd love to see your pictures or hear what you think about it. Feel free to mention or tag me and Postum on Twitter!

Homemade Vegan Chocolate Malt Candy Cookie Bites Recipe featuring Postum
Makes 2 dozen cookies

Cookies Ingredients:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 cup Postum (or more for stronger malt flavor), I used Original (Roasted Wheat-bran Molasses) Flavor
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup vegan milk (use a little more if needed to achieve cookie dough consistency)
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Chocolate Coating Ingredients:

1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
2 tablespoons coconut oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with baking-safe parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, mix first five ingredients (dry ingredients) then add in vegan milk and vanilla extract. Drop small balls of dough, about one teaspoon in size, on parchment lined baking sheet, about one inch apart. Bake for 8- 10 minutes then remove from oven and allow cookies to cool. Place cookies in freezer for about 5 minutes. Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil together and blend well. Dip each cookie in chocolate to coat, then place on parchment paper. Freeze cookies for 30 minutes, or until coating is dry, to set then enjoy! Cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Coming soon: a Postum prize pack giveaway!!! Keep an eye out for that in my next Postum post!

This blog post was sponsored by Postum.

The Vegan Easter Basket

Anyone who is vegan understands that their Easter basket will not be the same as it may have been before becoming vegan. No dyed eggs. And let's face it, most stores are lacking in the vegan candies department. Luckily, these products make it all better. Here are some ideas for your vegan Easter basket.

You can get most of your candy from A Real Treat candy boutique in Los Angeles, California. They are an all natural candy store that literally has the largest selection of vegan, organic, kosher, gluten-free, non-GMO, and allergen-free sweets around! Think candy store, huge selection, picking different sweet treats and putting them in your candy bag... yeah that is A Real Treat. And if you're not in the Los Angeles area, no problem. Check out their website for online ordering. Here are some delicious vegan candies that I sampled from A Real Treat. Also, a little birdy told me that they are carrying vegan cream eggs for Easter. All you Californians better head on over. No, run on over. I'm pretty sure a treat like this is very hard to come by!

 In the pictures you will notice a plethora of Easter basket candy. A Real Treat has everything from gummies galore to vegan starburst-type candies (which taste like real fruit, melt in your mouth candies) to vegan milk chocolate covered and filled candies (that tasted absolutely heavenly). All of the candies that I tried tasted divine. The best part? These cruelty-free candies are also free of corn syrup and dyes. I, like many people, have a sensitivity to certain dyes and artificial ingredients. This candy boutique is out-of-this-world! This is something just so unique and clever. I totally want to move to California just so I can park my vegan butt in front of A Real Treat candy store and basically eat their delicious candy all day long. I've already started manipulating Hubby... West Coast here I come!

The goodies from A Real Treat are perfect for filling plastic eggs with for baskets or for Easter Egg Hunts. When you are filling your plastic eggs with these candies, every egg is like finding the GOLDEN EGG!

Definitely check them out; you won't be disappointed. I loved them!

And when you need the convenience of finding your vegan candy at virtually any store, you can always rely on America's Favorite Candy for 64 years, vegan Smarties. Smarties are easy to just pop in your mouth and munch on, as well as being the perfect plastic egg filler. The folks at Smarties even have a section of their FAQ dedicated to vegan-love, stating, "All Smarties® products are vegetarian and vegan. Feel free to refer to our Product page for the nutritional information and ingredients in each product, and our Vegan Candy page for more information about our vegan sweets.". How sweet is that? Smarties are awesome!

And last but certainly not least, I would like to introduce you to a product called Eggnots. These extremely realistic eggs are made of ceramic and you treat them exactly how you would an Easter Egg. You can dye them, write on them, paint them, stain them, or keep them "as is". They are fantastic and best of all... you can keep them forever! We will be dying these Eggnots for Easter with Baby and signing them with the date. What a wonderful keepsake for Baby's First Easter! 

Eggnots arrive in an egg carton complete with instructions and an egg dye recipe.

My mother thought that these were real eggs. I handed it to her and after she held it, she still thought it was an egg. These are so cool for us vegan folk who have since resorted to dying tofu, painting rocks, and other creative things at Easter. Eggnots take the guesswork out of things.

What an amazing egg to dye for Easter. They can go right in the Easter basket as soon as they're dry, they won't spoil, they are vegan-friendly, and great for people with egg allergies as well. I can definitely see this becoming a beautiful tradition in many homes, year after year. Your family can see how your works of art evolve over the years and you can create such pretty memories. These are not just for Easter; think other holidays and craft ideas all year long. You can even surprise your honey by writing a romantic message or proposal and hiding it in your love's Easter basket. Or how about a fun Easter scavenger hunt with the kids; just write the clues on the eggs and hide them! For just $15.95 per dozen, the possibilities are endless! There are 20 days until Easter, so get your orders in fast to ensure that you can receive your Eggnots in time! 

 So there you have it, vegans can still partake in Easter traditions and festivities. No animals harmed in the process. And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Hoppity, hop!

BREAKING NEWS: Candy Bars Disguised as Protein Bars!

In my time, I have tried many protein bars. Most of them boast that they taste dessert-like or that they taste incredible and they usually taste like cardboard. I can say with all honesty, that NuGo Dark bars are the superstars of protein and nutrition bars, hands down. NuGo Nutrition makes a ton of bars with lots of organic and/or vegan options, but the NuGo Dark bars are definitely my faves; they taste just like candy bars! And they have a couple new flavors, so I'd like to tell you about them.

I've always loved the Mocha Chocolate and Chocolate Chocolate Chip flavors, but recently they sent me a couple new ones, including their two newest Darks, Peanut Butter Cup and Chocolate Pretzel.

YUM!

Upon opening the new ones, I thought to myself, "Okay, they look the same as the others. Crisps covered in dark chocolate. What's the big deal?", but then once I tried the Peanut Butter Cup and the Chocolate Pretzel bars, I was impressed!

DELICIOUS!

NuGo Dark bars have always been an exceptional protein bar (NEVER having the nasty protein bar aftertaste, you know the one) but these two new flavors are amazing! I really liked the Mint Chocolate Chip, but to be honest, I could live without it. My faves are the four others.

SWEET!

These bars are crispy, protein packed (10 grams of protein per bar!), real dark chocolate (that melts so deliciously in your mouth!) dipped, nutrition bars, that taste more like a dessert than a recovery supplement. Eating these after a workout is the best treat ever! I love that eating one of these when a sweet tooth craving strikes, not only satisfies that craving, but also is a way to not cheat on a healthy eating plan, while curbing that hunger at the same time. These bars have a lot of health benefits in addition to a protein boost. In each bar you are getting antioxidants; I absolutely love a "candy bar" that delivers a nutritional advantage as well. I have to mention that these bars are a great compliment to a nice cup of hot or ice coffee. A NuGo bar PLUS a vanilla iced coffee with extra soy milk EQUALS my weakness!

NOM, NOM, NOM!

You can find these bars at Whole Foods Markets, other health food stores, or on their website. To find a participating retailer that carries these delicious NuGo Nutrition products, check out their store locator. 

GET IN MY BELLY!

I really adore these bars and I'm happy to be able to share the good news with you. Hopefully you'll get to try them, if you haven't already, especially their newest flavors! And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Here's to chocolaty deliciousness!

CHOCOLATE!

Beans are the New Trail Mix!

Move over Trail Mix, there's a new healthy snack in town!

Gone are the days of boring snacking. No beans about it, I am glad that I got my hands on some goodies from The Good Bean! So here is the scoop, The Good Bean makes all natural, roasted chickpea snacks in a whole bunch of delicious flavors. Flavors like, Sea Salt, Cracked Pepper, Smoky Chili & Lime, Sweet Cinnamon, Mosquite BBQ, Thai Coconut Lemongrass, and Chocolate! Basically, any flavor that you fancy. Why snack on these chickpeas when you can get potato chips in lots of flavors, you ask? Well because just one serving of The Good Bean roasted chickpeas has as much protein as almonds, as much fiber as two cups of broccoli, and as much folate as three cups of spinach (hello prego mamas)! For just those reasons alone, makes these tiny crunch-machines superior snacks, but there is more.

Taste The Good Bean rainbow!

Not only are these portable and great for lunchboxes, briefcases, gym bags, lockers, desks, camping or hiking backpacks, you name it, the flavors are outrageous! Each flavor has a unique taste and texture also. Depending on your mood, you have flavors that range from simple to sweet to savory to complex. The Sea Salt has a smooth coating and is crunchy and smooth. Sea Salt is great for snackers who typically go for the plain or classic flavors but love the major crunch factor. For the sweet tooth there are flavors like Chocolate or Sweet Cinnamon. They remind me of healthy, candied nuts with huge flavor; what a smart way to snack when you are craving dessert. When you want savory and spicy you can choose Smoky Chili & Lime and Mosquite BBQ which are better than any potato chip that I have ever had. And as for the most complex of The Good Bean flavors, the Thai Coconut Lemongrass literally tastes like I'm eating at a Thai restaurant! It actually almost reminded me of Penang Curry Tofu!

Another great thing about these roasted chickpeas is that your jaw has to do a lot of work to eat these! You can't possibly overeat these and even if you did it is healthier than scarfing down chips. Usually with snacks I can easily eat much more than the recommended serving size, however with The Good Bean I am completely satisfied after my one ounce serving, not to mention my jaw is completely tired! These are also great for people looking to lose weight or maintain their weight and have a snack obsession like I do!

The Good Bean roasted chickpeas come in two bag sizes, a single serving bag to take on the go and a larger bag with a resealable zipper. And although snacking right from the bag is great, you can also enjoy these as salad toppers instead of croutons, in soups, mixed into vegan yogurt, over vegan ice cream (especially the chocolate - yum!), to make your own snack mixes with, or any other way that you can think of! These would also be fabulous to put in pretty dishes or bowls to offer guests during cocktail parties. These are absolutely scrumptious and are now my new go-to snack!

You can find The Good Bean at Whole Foods and other markets using their store locator or you can simply shop right on their website. The Good Bean offers FREE SHIPPING for orders amounting to $35 or more! That is easy to do when you stock up for school lunches, camping trips, road trips, college dorms or care packages, etc. 

I am so psyched about this great product and excited to make this a regular part of our family's snacking! And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. I hope you have a crunchy, crispy, flavorful day!

Make Candy Bird's Nests! Kiddo Friendly!

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. -Chinese Proverb

This recipe is so much fun! This is such a great recipe to make with your kiddos, whether you are a parent, teacher, caregiver, babysitter, or a big kid yourself. There are lots of things that your children can help with, like mixing the nests, molding the bird's nests, spreading the chocolate, and decorating with jelly beans. Just be sure that you let your ingredients cool before you or your child start messing with them with your hands. 

Happy Spring 'Peanut Butter & Chocolate Granola Cereal Bird's Nests'

recipes makes 16 nests

What you will need:

• 2 cups granola (I used Nutty Steph's Vermont Granola)
• 2 cups of your favorite cereal (I used Erewhon's Crispy Brown Rice & Trader Joe's O's)
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 cup vegan cane sugar
• 3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter (think about texture when choosing cereal and pb, it makes your nests more beautiful)
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
• splash of almond milk
• About 80 of your favorite vegan jelly beans, about 1/4 of the bag 
• 1 tbsp vegan butter, for hand buttering (I used Earth balance. Great for hand buttering!)
• 1/3 cup measuring cup for molding nests with
• baking sheet lined with parchment paper (I always use If You Care brand)

What you will need to do:

In a large mixing bowl, combine granola and cereal. In a saucepan on low heat, melt maple syrup and cane sugar until smooth, then add peanut butter. Continue mixing until smooth and well combined. Remove from heat and let sit for a few moments so that your mixture is not too hot to handle. Butter your fingers and hands with the vegan butter. Pour sugary peanut butter mixture into your granola and cereal bowl. Mix and mash with your hands until it seems good enough for forming nests with. Take your 1/3 cup measuring cup and scoop some mixture, indent the middle with your finger, packing down into the cup, then tip cup over in the palm of your hand, placing the indent-side up on your parchment paper. Once you make all of your nests, place in the freezer to set while you melt chocolate chips and almond milk in a saucepan on low heat, making a thick ganache and let it cool for a little bit. Decorate the tops of the nests by spreading chocolate on top with a spoon (when ganache is cool enough to work with), and placing jelly beans on top. Place these in the freezer (or refrigerator for longer) for a moment or two to set, then enjoy! You can also color shredded coconut and place these on a serving dish for a pretty presentation. 

Or you can use shredded brussels sprouts for "grass" like I did!

This is also a great opportunity to talk to your children about nature. You can make this a fun activity about nature. If it is a nice day outside, maybe take your nests, chocolate, and jelly beans outside to decorate them on your deck while you look at birds and nature together. Or you may want to talk to your children about birds and tell them some nature facts like, "There are about 9,865 species of birds alive today.". Or, "The largest bird egg produced is by the Ostrich, and it can measure up to 9 inches long.". You may also want to talk to your children about how birds start their families by laying eggs and caring for their babies in their nests once they grow out of the eggs. Starting this respect and understanding for nature early, makes it easier when your children grow and wonder why you don't eat eggs in your household. You can then refer back to your discussions about animals and their lives. Knowledge is power! Talk with your children and you will be surprised on how they will come to their own conclusions about this. In the end, no one really wants to hurt another living being. If you provide alternatives, eating animal products seems like an odd concept and outside of the norm. Making these fun and yummy bird's nests, offers a great chance to have a thoughtful discussion about nature and possibly observe nature while you are doing so. If you are making and decorating these nests indoors, later on you may want to take some outside with you and enjoy them with your child in the park. These can also be a fun Easter dessert. Enjoy!

Chocolate Covered Granola?! Wha, Wha, What???

I absolutely love granola. I'm like a granola freak! Sometimes it is hard to find a good vegan granola since many seem to contain honey or milk products. I also adore chocolate. Cocoa is like nature's way of making your day more awesome. Now imagine, just imagine...chocolate covered granola clusters. I know, in our wildest dreams right? WRONG! Nutty Steph's has made this fantasy a reality. I honestly had never thought about this nutty combination, but now that I know about Nutty Steph's, I can't see how I lived without chocolate covered granola for this long.

 

Nutty Steph's is a Vermont-based granola company that specialize in handmade treats like granola, trail mix, dried items like fruit, chocolate candy, and their special creation called Magic Chunks.

 Magic Chunks!

Nutty Steph's has their ingredients on the website with their products, so you can see that they offer many vegan options. I love that their granola is sweetened with pure maple syrup and not honey. Pure maple syrup just so happens to be a favorite of mine. Plus, Vermont is known for excellent maple syrup. Their products are handcrafted, which is really neat. They also have a gluten-free selection, so everyone can enjoy these.

I tried the following vegan Nutty Steph's products, and here is what I thought of them:

Magic Chunks in Dark Chocolate flavor: using chocolate grown in protected forests by Ecuadoran farmer cooperatives to cover these granola chunks, the flavors you get are vast and intense! They are 70% cacao and you get nutty notes from the chocolate, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, and sunflower seeds. You can also detect the beautiful flavors of cinnamon and vanilla. Marvelous to get all of these elements in one scrumptious bite!

Magic Chunks in Chewy Fruit Chocolate flavor (Black Forest): My favorite of the two chunks I've tried. You can really taste the coconut, sun dried bananas, and cherries with every bite. What a lovely combination along with the delicious granola. Amazing and addicting!

Vermont Granola: this is definitely a great granola. The flavor combinations are superb and I loved trying it with almond milk and also over my vegan yogurt. The oats combined with nuts, cinnamon, and maple syrup make this a very special treat. Try not to eat the whole bag in one sitting, I dare you. I have tried a lot of granolas and Nutty Steph's is one of the best.

Blackbird Dark Chocolate with Three Seeds: what an interesting way to experience your candy bar. Seeds in this smooth and buttery (from cocoa butter) chocolate make this a yummy and nutritious treat. And think about it, the antioxidants and omegas you are getting from the cocoa and flax seeds make this a health-worthy indulgence.

Lemon Ginger Pecan Dark Chocolate: if you like zing in your chocolate, this one is for you. Nutty Steph's chocolate is super delicious along with refreshing lemon, spicy ginger, and pecans to balance it all out, which make this a really fun one! I'm definitely a fan.

If you want to get your hands on some Nutty Steph's, they are available on their website and they also have a Flagship store for anyone who is in the Vermont area.

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Hope you have a sweet and nutty day!

Vegan Organic Fair-trade Gourmet Chocolates, In Time for Easter!

I would like to begin today's post by saying, I HAVE NOT HAD CARAMELS THIS GOOD BEFORE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. Got my hands on some scrumptious vegan candies from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates and let me tell you, there are hardly words for how I feel about them. As I am sampling a variety of their confectionery offerings, trying to decide which is my favorite, I keep saying to myself (out-loud and by myself...hello, crazy person), "This one is my favorite, yum! No this one is my favorite, yum!".

Oh yes, all that you see here is in fact vegan-friendly. Sjaak's has a whole vegan section on their website and trust me it is pretty unbelievable. Sjaak's has you covered for holidays and all-year-round. Let me talk to you about these amazing vegan chocolates...

YES, that is a vegan peanut butter filled chocolate Easter egg! YES, those are vegan salted caramels!

Vegan "Milk" Chocolate Salted Caramels

In my entire life, vegan and my non-vegan past, I have never tasted caramels like this before. I honestly feel that Sjaak's are the masters in caramel making. This is the softest, most perfect tasting caramel I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. If there was ever to be a caramel-making contest, I know Sjaak's would win, hands down, with their vegan caramel. With the soft delightful caramel, covered in their vegan milk chocolate, with a touch of sea salt and the nicest slight vanilla aftertaste, I feel like I'm in heaven. These caramels are also perfectly packaged and pretty. I am hooked.

Chocolate Easter Egg Filled With Crunchy Peanut Butter

I didn't think it was possible. I didn't think vegan stuff like this even existed. Vegans look no further, you can finally fill those Easter Baskets. Not only is this egg packaged really cute, the taste is out of this world. Exactly what you would imagine. Sjaak's are masters in vegan candy. Holy crap.

Chocolate Bars in "Milk" Chocolate with Creamy Caramel & Dark Chocolate with Almonds

I want these for Easter, I want these for Mother's Day, heck I even want them for Father's Day...I will just order them for hubby and steal them! That is how good these are. Vegan milk chocolate with a gooey caramel center...I've been looking for a vegan version of this candy bar for quite some time now. The dark chocolate and almond is also fantastic. I've never tasted dark chocolate this smooth before. I don't know how Sjaak's does this, I don't care, just never stop making these candies. Okay, thanks!

Eli's Earth Bars in Treasure Bar, Dream Big Bar, & Celebrate Bar

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates also make a line of candy bars called Eli's Earth Bars. They are organic, they are fair-trade certified, and they are vegan. Also, 5% of proceeds are donated to a charitable children's organization. Why wouldn't you fill your child's Easter Basket (and Halloween bucket, and Christmas stocking, and Valentine's mailbox, and birthday party favors or gift bags...) with these candy bars? A portion of proceeds go to charities that help children, so that's an amazing thing. These are absolutely knock-your-socks-off delicious, and charitable - can't beat that. What do these bars taste like, you ask? Besides rainbows and magic...

The Treasure Bar is a chocolate covered, peanut butter crunch and caramel bar. It kind of reminds me of a nougaty, peanut, caramel bar that I've had in my past, but so much better.

The Dream Big Bar is a chocolate covered, caramel, peanuts, and peanut butter bar. It is really smooth and crunchy and the flavors mingle together so nicely that you will feel like you're dreaming, but its real and its vegan.

The Celebrate Bar is a chocolate covered, caramel, coconut, and almonds bar. It is my favorite because it just melts in your mouth and the flavor combos are like, "Pow! Let's celebrate!". Amazing.

Sjaak's certainly has a way with candy and caramels. I'm not one to tell people to go out and buy things, I kind of just objectively share my opinion BUT after this post you'd be crazy not to want to try this stuff. Simply said: a vegan's dream come true.

The Dirty Vegan's Everything Bars

These bars are so amazing that I really don't have words for them. So I'm just going to post the recipe. However, I do want to mention one thing...these may become your new favorite food. Just saying.

The Dirty Vegan's Everything Bars Recipe
makes 16 bars

What you will need:

• 10 oz of chocolate sandwich cookies (I used 365 brand from Whole Foods), crushed
• 10 tbsp vegan butter (I used Earth Balance Buttery Spread), melted
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (I used Edward & Son's, Let's Do Organic)
• 12 oz package vegan semi sweet chocolate chips (I used 365 brand from Whole Foods that are vegan)
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 2 Jokerz bars by Go Max Go Foods, cut into chunks

What you will need to do:

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Line a 13x9x2 inch pan with a piece of parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together crushed cookies and melted butter then press into pan in an even layer. Bake in oven for 5 minutes then let cool slightly. In a large bowl combine coconut flakes, chocolate chips, and pecans then spread evenly into pan onto the crust. Finally, sprinkle Jokerz chunks on top and bake for 18 minutes. Let cool completely then transfer to the refrigerator to chill overnight. Cut into squares. Enjoy your new favorite food! 

Tip: Best eaten room temperature.

Look at that melty deliciousness...just out of the oven!

Store bars in an airtight container!

Happy Valentine's Day To Me!

What a Valentine's Day I've been having today! I woke up to hear a sweet voice say to me, "Happy Valentine's Day", romantic greeting cards, received a delivery of a delicious bouquet of heart-shaped fruits, and just got a velvety box of vegan chocolates delivered to me, all from my wonderful husband! I couldn't be more excited for our date tonight! I did want to share these chocolates with you because they are from a company who makes these gourmet sweet treats in vegan and gluten-free options. How cool is that?

Sweet Pete's in Jacksonville, FL! They ship to your door!

A knock on the door. A package. I opened the cardboard box. To my surprise, a giant, velvet, heart box!

I opened the heart-shaped box. Did I mention how nice and velvety it felt? How adorable, a little caramel of sorts. I ate it. It tasted like caramel, butter toffee - chewy with a little crunch.

Oh my! This box has the most delicious marzipan candies, chocolate covered cherries, caramels, filled heart candies, and more! Absolutely delightful! I have the best husband ever!

Just wanted to share with you. This candy company will definitely be a lifesaver during all of the candy-related holidays...which are like every single holiday. Hope you have a sweet day too! Happy Valentine's Day!

Mister Winky's Sweet Giveaway: Announcing the WINNER!

The last blog post introduced Mister Winky and his super sweet giveaway. I am excited to announce the winner in today's post. We asked you guys to be creative with a photo with Mister Winky for a chance to win $30 worth of Dirty Vegan Foods goodies. This was such a hard decision to make; all of the entries were so good, funny, and imaginative! The chosen winner is the entry we felt to be the most original in use and creativity. Thank you D.J. Hops for this awesome picture and Congratulations! Please e-mail your mailing address and we will send out your prize! info@dirtyveganfoods.com

Again, thank you everyone for your entries; they were so all amazing! And don't worry, there will be more fun and exciting giveaways to come very soon! Don't forget that for the rest of May, if you order $30 or more of product (before tax and shipping) from www.dirtyveganfoods.com/ you will receive $5 off!

And for now, Mister Winky the Dirty Vegan is signing off!

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Mister Winky's Sweet Giveaway!

Introducing Mister Winky! This adorable and creme-filled cartoon wants to make your acquaintance in style - by giving you free dessert! The Dirty Vegan and Dirty Vegan Foods are announcing Mister Winky's Giveaway! Please read on to find out how you can win a box of sweet goodies from www.dirtyveganfoods.com!

Dirty Vegan Foods - Home of the Original Winky!

The Prize: 

Sweet treats from Dirty Vegan Foods!

HOW TO ENTER

Send me a picture of you and Mister Winky (using the above picture) or show me the funniest, coolest, unique Mr. Winky somewhere (click on the picture of Mister Winky to print him out). The chosen winner will be the one with the most creative and original photo. You can send the photo to me:

Via E-mail: thedirtyvegan.blogspot@gmail.com OR info@dirtyveganfoods.com

Via Twitter for ex. by Twitpic: @theDirtyVegan and/or @DirtyVeganFoods (don't forget to follow us!)

Via Facebook wall: The Dirty Vegan Facebook Page OR Dirty Vegan Foods Facebook Page (and don't forget to "Like" us on Facebook!)

DEADLINE TO ENTER: Entries must be received by Thursday, May 19th at 9:00 PM EST.

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN AND ANNOUNCED ON Friday, May 20th!

*by entering you are agreeing that we can announce your name and share your photo if you win* the Dirty Vegan reserves the right to change the prize in the unlikely event that the prize is no longer available* - Good luck!

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Homer Simpson, Vegan Donuts, Farmer's Markets, and Sugary Fun!

Donuts are fun! Just ask Homer Simpson...



Unlike Homer's situation, Dirty Vegan Foods donuts are not forbidden, they are just so good that they taste like they are.

This is the *Butter Cake Donut with Chocolate Frosting dusted in Coconut*!

Other varieties of Vegan Donuts include:

*Chocolate Glazed Donut*

*Strawberry Glazed Cake Donut*

*Strawberry Glazed Hemp Cake Donut*

*Hemp Cake Donut with Chocolate Frosting dusted in Coconut*

*Chocolate and Coconut Dipped Cake Donut*

Honestly these are the best donuts I've had in my life...gone are the days where vegans had to be without donut shop style donuts!

Also, Dirty Vegan Foods is now offering chocolaty and creamy Whoopie Pies!

You can find all of these new products along with the Winky, Knock Knocks, DVF Cupcake, and Rocky Bites, on DirtyVeganFoods.com in the online shop. If you like Dirty Vegan Food and would like to come meet The Dirty Vegan Crew and pick up some famous sweet treats, please see the farmer's market schedule below:

Mondays (May 2nd- October 24th): Whole Foods Market University Heights, Providence, RI 3:00-7:00 PM

Tuesdays (May 17th- October 25th): Whole Foods Market Garden City, Cranston, RI 3:00-7:00 PM

Wednesdays: TBA

Thursdays: TBA

Fridays (July 29th- October 7th): Rhode Island College (RIC) 3:30- 6:00 PM

Saturdays: Various Festivals & Events TBA

Sundays (June 12th- October 30th): Elmhurst Farmer's Market, Fargnoli Park, Providence, RI 11:00 AM- 2:00 PM

Thank you everyone for all of your support! It makes me so happy to have you all coming up to the booth telling me that you are Dirty Vegans and love the blog and products! Means the world. Thank you for all that you do for animals and the environment. Together, I know we will change the world for the better. And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Hope you have a sweet-sugary-donut kind of day!

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