Showing posts with label Breakfast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breakfast. Show all posts

Thursday, April 27, 2017

7 Fun Things To Do With Postum!


As I've mentioned in previous posts, Postum gives you a lot of "bang for your buck" since it yields 75 servings per container! I have been drinking it regularly because it is delicious, but I wanted to find other uses for it too. So here are some recipe, beauty, and other fun ideas. Enjoy!

1. Postum Granola! Make your usual granola recipe but this time, sprinkle some Postum on it to season it! It gives the granola almost a caramelized flavor, which us vegans always appreciate.

2. Postum Beauty Mask! Mix a little Postum with some apple nectar and apply to face. If you don't mix the Postum in as much and leave some granules, you'll even get some light exfoliating action going on when you wash it off your face.

3. Postum Frosting! Add Postum to your frosting, icings and glazes to make your desserts extra special!

4. Postum Art Projects! Instead of using coffee grounds in your arts and crafts, why not use Postum in your DIY projects? Especially important to keep caffeine from coffee grounds away from children and pets, where Postum is safe for most - it is just wheat and molasses.

5. Postumpourri! Add some Postum to your homemade potpourri satchels; the smell of Postum is devine!

6. Postum Topping! Use Postum as a topping for ice cream or granola by taking a very tiny amount and sprinkling it over top. Yum!

7. Postum Baked Goods! By adding Postum to your baked goods, like muffins, pancakes or breads, you get to enjoy such a beautiful flavor. All of your family and friends will be begging you for the secret to your exciting new recipes!


You must really want to try Postum now, huh? You are in luck! I am hosting a Postum giveaway on twitter where you can win a Postum prize pack! There are still a couple more days to enter! Click here to get to the giveaway tweet, then:

That is it! Such an easy giveaway to enter, it literally takes only a few clicks that can be done right from the giveaway tweet! Voila!


Good luck!

This blog post was sponsored by Postum.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

This Vegan Protein Shake IS GOOOOD!!!

So I got these cool vegan products in the mail from Elite Lifestyle Cuisine and I have to tell you about their vegan protein shake, which is amazing.


First of all, it is only 133 calories and 5g carbs per serving, which is awesome because depending on if I want to make it as a snack or meal replacement, I am adding either water or soy milk with banana, so this protein is perfect for my needs, whichever I'm choosing at the moment.


Super simple to use: just one scoop to 8 ounces of water (or vegan milk) and the scoop is included.


Impressive Amino Acid Profile here. I also love that the protein comes from pea, rice and pumpkin, which opens up this product to those who have soy allergies or sensitivity. Plus I like the taste, since the protein powder is a mixture of pea, rice and pumpkin protein, it is smooth and balanced and you don't get that funny aftertaste that can happen with other proteins that are just one main protein. Plus I really love balance. I'm not a fan of too much of one protein or thing in the diet, so the variety in this protein powder is really perfect actually.


I took a picture of this because when I opened up the container, the scoop was covered in powder and reminded me of a chocolate marshmallow or a marshmallow in cocoa powder and I giggled. Oh, the little things in life. Also, when you open this protein it smells SO FREAKING DELICIOUS! Smells like chocolate brownie or cake mix! I'm planning on using this in recipes too, like protein balls - how exciting!

The prepared protein shake is such a treat too! Amazing flavor and so versatile. I've already made it with banana, with spinach, with vanilla soy milk - all the different ways, it is super yummy! Probably one of my favorite protein shakes right now and I'm definitely enjoying this brand.

ELC also sent me their vegan multivitamin that is in a vegetarian capsule. 


Impressive nutritional breakdown for sure.


The capsule makes it easier to drink down than my regular multivitamin which is actually really difficult to take, but the ELC vitamin is required to be taken as 4 capsules per day and do that twice per day if you are in poor health. I'm more of a fan of a one-and-done vitamin, so I'm not sure if this is a product I'd try again. I felt the same taking it as when I'm taking other multivitamins or when I'm not taking one regularly. I would say it is worth a try if you are one that needs the ease of a vitamin that goes down super effortlessly, also if you are one who likes to break up your vitamin taking to spread it out throughout the day. I would love to do it that way if I had time, but with this product, I can see myself taking them all at once so I don't forget later because of how super busy my schedule is.


This protein powder is the winner, hands down, and I would definitely get this protein again and again. I love that it is 100% vegan, soy-free for those who care about that, gluten-free, sweetened with Stevia (awesome because I typically add sweetened vegan milk and ripe bananas) and non-GMO. There are protein powders on the market right now (I won't name names but I think you might know) that are awesome nutritionally and protein-wise, but are GMO or non-confirmed GMO-free, so the fact that ELC vegan protein powders are non-GMO is so important to me. This protein is also a whopping 21 grams of protein per serving, so you really can't ask for anything better than this stuff. I think the price is resonable and affordable, especially for those of you who are used to buying supplements and aware of their cost.

Loving this vegan chocolate protein, for reals. Big thank you to the folks at ELC for thinking of me and sending me your wonderful vegan products to try! 

And for now, The Dirty Vegan is signing off - I hope you enjoy lots of health food that tastes like junk-food today too! Muah!

Monday, April 17, 2017

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? 

Friday, March 24, 2017

Orange Carrot Tomato Celery Smoothie Recipe

This recipe came over to me from Tyler at Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company. Enjoy!

Orange Carrot Tomato Celery Smoothie





Servings: 2 smoothies (14 oz each)

Ingredients

•1 container (about 5.3 oz) vanilla flavored vegan Greek yogurt
•1 banana, broken into 4 pieces
•1½ cups frozen berries
•½ cup Natalie’s Carrot Tomato Celery Juice
•½ cup Natalie’s Orange Juice
•1 cup baby spinach leaves, washed and dried

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse until the mixture is well blended and no large pieces of fruit remain. Pour into 2 glasses and enjoy.

Credit: Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company

Thanks to the lovely Folks over at Natalie's for sharing this recipe with me and the Dirty Vegan community! And if you would like to check them out, here's their social:

Twitter: @nataliesoj

Instagram: @nataliesoj

Facebook: @nataliesoijc

www.orchidislandjuice.com

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Dolcedi Me!


Did you ever have a moment when you were like, I need something to sweeten my coffee, tea or whatever else but I'd like something new and interesting and low glycemic...possibly made from apples?

Just go along with it.

So this stuff is like really cool. Seriously, like really really cool. 

What is it like? What does it taste like? HONEY. Legit, it tastes exactly like honey. Vegans rejoice!

The ingredients are just: concentrated apple juice. That is it! And it tastes like honey. How? I don't freaking know - all I know is that it is good and it is vegan.

I'd like to thank the awesome folks at Rigoni di Asiago for sending over this sweet bottle of amazing Dolcedi! I am hooked on this stuff for sure.

*pours dolcedi over entire life*

Friday, July 29, 2016

VEGAN Organic Chocolate Hazelnut Spread and GIVEAWAY!


Remember Nutella? That chocolate hazelnut spread that literally every person I have ever met loved and ate like a million jars of in their lifetime? Well, for vegans, we haven't really had anything like that. Justin's brand has a nice chocolate hazelnut spread, but it is their own, does not taste like anything else, and definitely does not taste like Nutella.

Then I was approached by a company named Rigoni di Asiago, and had no idea what they were sending me in the mail until it arrived. See, I get a TON of emails every day from companies asking me to try their products (and if I were to say yes to every single email, all I'd be doing is writing reviews every second of my life), so when they are certified vegan and I'm pressed for time, I'm like sure send it and I kind of half-read the email about Nocciolata...woops! So I thought it was vegan jams (I'm like, oh that's cool - I'll give it a try; something different), then it arrived and I realized what it was and I was like...WHAAAAAT, SAY WHAAAAAT...this is VEGAN NUTELLA right here! Wake up, KATIE, wake up! They sent you the world's only vegan Nutella, to your knowledge, and it is ORGANIC and certified vegan and freaking AMAZING!!! Not only does Nocciolata taste exactly like that other non-vegan stuff that I already mentioned too many time than I should have, but it tastes BETTER! I cannot stress this enough. You all know me, you know when I dig something, when it is just okay, and when I'm like over-the-moon wanting to marry it...So here it is, Nocciolata, will you marry me and make me the happiest woman alive??



Here are the specs on the product, to be technical...

"Made with organic ingredients completely free of GMO's, preservatives, colors, additives, or artificial sweeteners, Rigoni di Asiago's Nocciolata Dairy Free combines hazelnuts, cocoa and cocoa butter, natural vanilla extract, and raw cane sugar for a chocolate-hazelnut spread with undeniably superior flavor. Nocciolata Dairy Free is like a vegan, organic, better-for-you Nutella, made with environmentally-responsible cold-pressed sunflower oil. It also contains far less sugar than other brands and is free from hydrogenated fats"

Rigoni di Asiago also makes amazing fruit spreads called Fiordifrutta. The company has confirmed that they are vegan - pectin is an ingredient, but I'm told it is vegan, so fruit pectin - and they taste fresh and just really delicious. This company has impressed me more than any food products company has, in a long time.

I have been eating copious amounts of this Nocciolata and haven't gained a pound, not one. It is rather amazing, but I know why. This is an organic product made with pure ingredients that my body can recognize...and my body is absorbing this nutrient rich treat and I'm smiling like a nut! I hope you noticed that pun because I work rather arduously trying to be funny.

Here's the fun...oh I'm no rub-it-in-your-face'r...I'm gonna GIVE one LUCKY reader TWO jars of Nocciolata and TWO jars of Fiordifrutta (for the two jars of fruit spreads, you pick the flavors you want - Apricot, Strawberry, Peach, Wild Berries, Wild Blueberry, Raspberry, Cranberry, Lingonberry, Lemon, Seville Orange, Cherry, Organic Fruit Spread Cherry, Blackberry, Black Currant, Fig, Pomegranate, Pink Grapefruit, or Pear)!

TO WIN the GIVEAWAY: all you have to do is RT my giveaway Tweet on Twitter that has the link to this blog post. You MUST be following me on Twitter. Winner will be chosen and announced on August 10th after Midnight, so RT and Like and Tweet about it until then! Rules: must be U.S. resident, must follow me on Twitter (@theDirtyVegan), must RT my tweet with the link to this blog post in it, to be eligible to win.

Let's tell the world about this amazing vegan Nocciolata!

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Vegan Cream Cheese Singles! Say Whaaaat???



Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows that I am a huge fan of the Go Veggie brand. They have evolved over the years to include so many vegan options and they are GOOD ones. I've always loved their vegan cream cheese, and have especially enjoyed them since they added Strawberry and Chive & Garlic to their product line.

Something particularly exciting has occurred over at Go Veggie, and I'm happy to share the news with you. They have made single serving cream cheeses! Oh yes, you hear this right. Long gone are the days of bringing our entire tub of cream cheese to Panera, or taking our own giant containers with us to breakfast. Now we can just bring a little single serving portion of Chive & Garlic along with us, or pack them in our lunch boxes, then they can be thrown in the recycle; easy!

These cute boxes contain 4 single serving minis that are 1.3 oz each!

Adorable, am I right???



The bagel shot. Yum!

Keep an eye out for this exciting new product from the fabulous Go Veggie brand and let me know what you think! Tweet me! 

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Hope your day is extra cheesy!

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Breakfast Banana Bites: Toddler Approved!



Any parent knows that getting a toddler to eat, especially around that molar-teething phase, is a full time job in itself. If you have a toddler like mine, who yells "cupcake!" in poo-poo protest of my delicious and nutritious full course meals that I serve, you have to get inventive. I am betting that you'll appreciate this recipe for banana bites.

These breakfast bites are not just for kids... and not just for breakfast either. You can make these anytime, for anyone. Dipped in warm maple syrup, they are a delightful addition to your day. Toddler and mama approved!

What you will need:

  • 2 large bananas 
  • 1 cup all purpose flour (I used Target's brand this time)
  • 1 tbsp cane sugar
  • 2 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1 cup vegan milk (I used Very Vanilla flavored soy)
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
To garnish and dipping:
  • vegan butter (I used Earth Balance)
  • pure maple syrup


What you will need to do:

Slice your bananas in long horizontal slices, try to keep them thick enough to handle without breaking, but thin enough to warm nicely, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Then make your batter by mixing the rest of the ingredients.

Dip your banana slices into the batter and place on your preheated griddle. Grill each side for about 1 minute, or until you see tiny bubbles in the batter.



Keep doing that until all of your banana slices and batter are gone. Butter your bites when they come off the griddle and place them onto a plate while you're doing this. Once you are finished griddling, warm up some maple syrup for dipping.



Enjoy!


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Vegan Blueberry Brown Sugar Coconut Muffins Recipe

Blueberry Brown Sugar Coconut Muffins

What you will need:

1.5 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp fine sea salt
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup vanilla soy milk
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup shredded coconut

What you will need to do:

Preheat oven 400°. Line 12 spots in a muffin pan with liner cups. Combine first 3, dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine next three (wet) ingredients. Combine both dry and wet ingredients, then fold in blueberries and coconut. Divide batter evenly among 12 spots in muffin pan. Bake for 20- 30 minutes, or until toothpick can be inserted and come out cleanly. Enjoy!

Monday, February 24, 2014

Read THIS Before Buying Your Next Batch of Protein Powder!

When I first tried protein powder by Naturade, I tried their Pea Protein, Vegan Formula in Vanilla flavor. I was overjoyed to find this in my local natural foods store because it has 20 grams of plant based protein, potassium, and some fiber. Basically all I would need to boost my protein intake or help my body out when I have a french fries only day. But then again, on those days I am still supplementing with vitamins, omegas, etc. Well, it wasn't until I tried Naturade's VeganSmart All-In-One Nutritional Shake that I thought of their Pea Protein powder as great and all, but more like VeganSmart's annoying (but still loved) little brother.


Naturade was nice enough to send me some VeganSmart to try. And as a technicality, I must disclose that I am only paid in VeganSmart sample packets, and no other green stuff. As you can see from my picture, the packaging is a lot more hip looking than their Pea Protein packets. You can get VeganSmart in Vanilla, Chocolate, and Chai flavors. In my opinion, Naturade is like the better version of Vega protein powder, and I'm not just saying that because Vega hasn't sent me any samples, I say that because VeganSmart is cheaper to buy, and it tastes better than Vega.


Now let's take a look at the scientific stuff. As you can see from this picture of the Supplement Facts in Naturade VeganSmart, this can be a vegan's most valuable insurance policy. With a healthy vegan diet and drinking one of these babies everyday, how can anyone say that they are deficient in anything as result of a vegan diet (unless there is seriously something medically wrong with them, like they can't absorb nutrients correctly)? Not only are you getting 20 grams of plant based protein in each shake that you make with each packet, the protein that you are getting is complete (Pea, Hemp, Chia, Potato, and Chlorella). And 20 grams of protein in your daily diet that comes from something other than soy, will shut your friends and relatives up won't it? Yeah, if you are vegan you know exactly what I mean. Other than protein, this is an all-in-one nutritional shake, including good stuff like a whole food complex (yes, with real food), fiber and omega blend, probiotic blend, and digestive enzyme blend. Looks like I only have to drink this and take my daily vitamin rather than supplementing to achieve a superior level of healthy everyday. VeganSmart has everything that I would want and more! This is what I want to have tons of in an apocalyptic situation. These shakes taste great too! They are decent on their own, but I recommend vegan milk and/ or fruits and ice. I have created a yummy recipe for you to try with Naturade. I call this peanut butter and jelly tasting shake the Purple Protein Monster!

Add 1 packet/ serving of Vanilla VeganSmart in blender with 9 ounces of almond milk, 1 cup of blueberries, 1 cup of strawberries, 1 cup of ice, and 1 tbsp peanut butter. Blend all ingredients for at least 30 seconds.

Enjoy!

Naturade's VeganSmart tastes delicious, is packed with lots of protein, 22 vitamins and minerals, and lots of other really great stuff! I loved the taste, but I also loved the way it made me feel. My body started feeling better than it had before I drank the protein shake. I also felt a gentle energy boost. This protein is terrific for breakfast to replenish your body after the fast of the night, or ideal after a workout for recovery. And you gotta love how this product is nearly half the price of those other vegan protein powders and has the same all-in-one nutrition that us vegans desire. Hey, anything that provides me a healthy cushion so that I can still enjoy my vegan pancakes and french fries, is alright in my book!


And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Hats off to Purple Protein Monsters and Pea Protein!

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Attention Mommies! Oatalicious Breastfeeding Breakfast!

For me, there is nothing more boring than a bowl of plain oatmeal. And for me, there is nothing that boosts my milk supply more than a bowl of oatmeal. With that being said, I have gotten creative with my bowl of morning oats. Here is a recipe that I love for taste and as a great breastmilk supply booster. If you try this for milk boosting, I would suggest eating it for a few days in order to start seeing a difference. Sometimes I notice a difference just after one bowl and sometimes I notice the increase after a couple days, but then it is a huge difference. Let me know how it goes for you or how you like this recipe!



Dirty Vegan Lactation Boosting Oatmeal Breakfast

What you will need:

  • 1/2 cup quick oats
  • 1 cup vegan milk (I like soy for the creaminess but almond also tastes great. I use anything that has a lot of nutrients, protein, and calcium)
  • 2 tbsp nut butter (I use Smart Balance with omegas. Remember the importance of getting Omega ALA that turns to EPA and then DHA during pregnancy and breastfeeding. DHA is essential for your baby's brain development. Here is an article I wrote about this.)
  • 1/2 cup Kashi Go Lean Crisp Cinnamon Crumble (the first ingredient in this cereal is oat and it has 10g of protein per serving)
  • 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

  • 1 cup Bolthouse Farms Amazing Mango smoothie (I love drinking this with breakfast as a way to up the nutrition factor)
What you will need to do:

Place quick oats and vegan milk in a bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. Stir and melt in nut butter. Mix in cereal and berries. Enjoy with a glass of mango smoothie!

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Monday, March 11, 2013

Quick Breakfast Sandwich Idea

 Make a quick southwestern tofu breakfast sandwich on the fly! Being pressed for time shouldn't mean skipping important nutrients and protein in the morning.



Press some tofu, slice it, and pan-fry it with vegan butter. Also, pan-fry veggies like peppers, onions, and fresh baby spinach. Melt vegan cheese on top, dollop on some salsa, and place between two slices of your favorite toasted bread.

And well...enjoy! 

Tofu stuff like breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and scrambles are my go-to breakfasts for when I want something filling and need to put it together in a flash. What is your go-to breakfast?

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Cereal, How I Love Thee. Let Me Count the Ways...

I have been craving corn flakes. You know, the kind that you grew up eating as a kid as you sat in front of the tube and watched Saturday morning cartoons. Yes I'm serious, kids did that back then, instead of playing around on their smart phones as toddlers, like they are doing now. So back to the flakes...

To my surprise (not really surprised at all), as I scanned the boxes in the grocery store's cereal isle, all of the corn flakes were filled with junk. Junk, trash, chemicals, trans fats, preservatives, and cancer-causing ingredients. No way am I going to put that trash in my temple body, especially my pregnant (and soon-to-be-nursing) body. Plan B, what will be my Plan B?



Luckily, I was introduced to Erewhon Organic Cereals, by Attune Foods, (you know, the makers of the probiotic dark chocolate candy bars and other wonderful products that you can find at Whole Foods) just in the nick of time! Erewhon Corn Flakes definitely fulfilled my cereal craving and then some.

Corn Flakes...hmmmmmm!

You will be delighted to know that Erewhon Corn Flakes contain no GMO ingredients. These cereals are NON GMO Project Verified. Yes, I mean it, a corn product that actually is real, old fashioned, corn and not some creepy GMO science experiment. The taste of this cereal is real, delicious, honest to goodness corn flake cereal. That is exactly what I was looking for. Golden in color, the way nature intended it, what cereal from corn should look like. I enjoyed a huge bowl (or two, or three, or four...) of these corn flakes with cold almond milk and I thoroughly enjoyed every solitary bite.

Ingredients: Organic Milled Corn, Sea Salt. <--- doesn't get much better than that now, does it?

Oh wait it does, each serving (who eats only 1 serving anyways?) contains 60mg of potassium, 3g of protein, and even some Vitamin A, Iron, Phosphorus, and Magnesium. Its not the hugest amounts of these vitamins and minerals, but again, who only eats just 1 cup of cereal? We go through boxes and boxes of cereal in my household per week; cereal is an important thing. Moving on...

Crispy Brown Rice, Gluten-free, tastes like I remember it!

I also tried the Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice, Gluten Free cereal and it reminded me of cereals past but way better. This actually tasted nutritious...because it is. You don't get that brown rice taste, it tastes like a white rice cereal would taste, however you get that nice fulfilled and satisfied feeling after a bowl of these little treasures. Gluten-free, contains 2g of protein per serving and less than 1g of sugar. Its healthy for your children too and they will never know its healthy. Shhh, it will be our secret.

Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Sea Salt.

Low on the Glycemic Index and safe for your health-food kick. You'll forget though, this cereal tastes that good; not kidding. Dirty it up, you ask? Do what I do and add a splash of Silk creamer to your vegan milk. For some reason I do this only when I eat rice cereal. I'm glad to have finally found a brown rice cereal that I love; this will be a staple in my cupboard for sure!

Last but certainly not least, my personal favorite, a superfood-cereal-powerhouse!

Erewhon's Supergrains, Buckwheat & Hemp cereal packs a nutritious punch, let me tell you. I love hemp, it is a perfect food for your body. Bodies love hemp. Buckwheat is also great for your body and the combination gives you fiber that your body needs to haul away harmful waste in your intestines. This cereal contains a whopping 6g of protein, 5g of dietary fiber, 9% iron, and 2% calcium. If you eat your cereal in generous portions the way I do and pair it with your nutritious vegan milk, you have yourself a super breakfast. This cereal is organic, it is gluten-free, and contains absolutely no GMOs. Six ingredients, that is it. Cereal that is so close to the whole food itself that your body can immediately begin to utilize it as fuel for your functions. This cereal is tasty too; if you eat any type of bran flake in the morning or use it for baking, I recommend trying Erewhon's Buckwheat & Hemp cereal. You can even process some in your blender and use it as a really healthy breadcrumb. I would suggest using it for breadcrumb in stuffed mushrooms; I think that would make a delicious and hearty appetizer.

All three of these cereals will be making regular appearances in my pantry and I'm excited to try other Erewhon cereals. Attune Foods makes other great vegan-friendly products, so keep your eye out for them at Whole Foods. It was exciting to share this with you because as you know, I am very passionate about good food and I'm obviously not going to keep it all to myself. These cereals are great finds and I feel comfortable feeding them to my family. That is a rare occurrence these days, as there are a lot of gross ingredients in packaged foods, so it is a relief to find products like these that work for the health conscious.
The Holy grail and ass-kicker of cereal! Yum!

Monday, August 6, 2012

Best Muffins EVER!!!

“A film is just like a muffin. You make it. You put it on the table. One person might say, ''Oh, I don't like it'.' One might say it's the best muffin ever made. One might say it's an awful muffin. It's hard for me to say. It's for me to make the muffin.” -Denzel Washington


Muffins are awesome, especially these! Using a small amount of pure maple syrup instead of sugar and the high fiber/ protein ingredients included, make these a healthier alternative that just so happen to be Naughty enough to strike my fancy. Serve these warm (or lightly toasted if having them the next day for breakfast) with a spat of vegan butter and you have a satisfying treat that was super easy to make.

Bake and Enjoy My Delicious 'High Fiber & Protein Trail Mix Muffins'

Makes 12 muffins.

1 cup flour (of your choice)
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 trail mix
2 ripe bananas, mashed
2 apples, grated
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup maple syrup

Preheat oven 350 degrees and grease or paper line your muffin pan. Combine wet and dry ingredients in a large bowl. Scoop even amounts into cups. Bake for 15- 20 minutes or until clean when pricked. Enjoy!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

How to Eat Vegan in the Apocalypse: a Home-style Recipe



Have you ever seen that show Apocalypse man?
All he really eats are canned foods he finds around the abandoned city, things like cat food. He never addresses being a vegan, natural foodie during the Apocalypse. So today, I'm going to give you a great idea for a comforting vegan meal, that is Apocalypse-friendly!

As soon as the shit goes down, head to the natural foods store. I'm sure no one will be there, because everyone figures there will be an abundance of grass and twigs outside after the catastrophic event takes place. It will be our little secret that there is actual good food in there - wink, wink. Grab a bunch of those pouches with brown rice, quinoa, and grains (you know the ones that say, "microwave in the pouch for 90 seconds"), then head to a Target or Walmart (the grocery is too obvious of a choice - really who is going to go to a place that sells targets and walls?). You might have to fight others in the bean isle, but once you win, grab yourself a can of black beans. In that same isle, you will find canned vegetable mixes that are natural and seasoned, especially if you are in a Super Target or Walmart. In my mock-Apocalypse scenario, I chose a can of seasoned okra, tomatoes, and corn. If you are concerned with your health still, read the back of the label, some cans of seasoned mixed vegetables do contain preservatives. The same goes for the black beans. If at this point, you don't give a flying fudgesicle about keeping your beautiful vegan body healthy, do what you gotta do. Now, you will have to find a bowl, which won't be hard in a store like this. Like really, who would be looting bowls at a time like this? Find one that is fire-safe. *Please note, the Dirty Vegan does not encourage or condone looting. We are talking about a fictional scenario that probably will not occur in our lifetimes (insert foot in mouth if the Mayans are right, hello 2012!)* Now is probably a good time to get a can opener and hang on to it. You will really need this now. Also, it might be a wise idea to cruise down the camping isle and get yourself some supplies. *Side note: After you enjoy your delicious home-style meal, you will want to get to a library. At the library, grab a book that tells you what plants are edible and safe to eat, you will be needing this also* Find a safe place for your fire. Set up one of those hangy things that you see hobos heat their beans on. Start a fire to cook your food. Don't ask me how to do this, I'm not a boy scout, I'm a vegan food blogger. Open pouch of grains, can of beans, and can of mixed seasoned vegetables, and combine in bowl. Heat food to your desired temperature, and enjoy!

Here is the full recipe:

Survival Home-style Vegan Meal #1 (yes, this means I will be doing another one of these ridiculous posts in the future)


2 cups rice/ quinoa/ grain combination
1 15oz can black beans
1 15oz can seasoned mixed vegetables



Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Give It To Me Toasty For Breakfast!

Now this is eating breakfast like a queen!

Banana Foster French Toast


Vans Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
2 bananas, sliced
3 tbsp vegan butter (I used Earth Balance)
3 tbsp pure maple syrup, plus extra for drizzling
cinnamon to taste


Prepare french toast according to package directions. They do not recommend stove top, however I did mine in a fry pan and lid on low heat with cooking spray, until defrosted, then turned the heat up and lightly browned them. In a small sauce pan, combine bananas, vegan butter, and maple syrup. Cook until caramely. Top french toast with sweet banana sauce, drizzle some maple syrup over it all, then sprinkle with cinnamon. Bon appetit!

Carte blanche!



Thursday, July 28, 2011

Breakfast of...Vegans

If you are vegan, chances are you have leftovers such as rice, pieces of tofu and fruits like apples in your kitchen. And chances are, no matter who you are, you have probably been in your kitchen in the morning and felt a little bored making your usual breakfasts. Well here is something totally new and different for you to try. It just so happens to have protein, fiber, healthy carbs, and tastes like breakfast. Bon appetit! 


Be a Champion With My 'Buff Apple Tofu Brown Rice Breakfast' Recipe
*Makes 1- 2 Servings

3 oz tofu, drained and cubed or crumbled
1 apple, chopped
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 tsp pure maple syrup

In a small pot, cook first four ingredients on medium heat for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. When ingredients are warmed and apples are soft, remove from heat. Drizzle maple syrup on top before serving. Discard cinnamon stick before eating. Enjoy!

Upcoming...
Stay tuned for a Reader Request blog post coming your way soon!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Path I'm Taking...

Okay, so I just got a generous package of goodies sent to me from Nature's Path (thank you!!!)...and I'm embarrassed to say I've completely wolfed through the entire stash (okay maybe I'm not so embarrassed, I am the Dirty Vegan after-all. Did you expect anything different?). 



I've been a Nature's Path Organic fan for years now. I love a vegan-friendly cereal that has no dairy products or honey in it! Hello, Organic Flax Plus Multi-Bran! Nature's Path makes other vegan-friendly foods as well (bars, waffles, etc.). Here is what I think of the new NP products I've just tried for the first time...

Hemp Plus Granola - I love a granola cereal that is 3/4 cup per serving!!! Calories are good, fat is all healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, protein is 6g per serving (great for cereal/ granola!), lower sugar, has iron...and I haven't even gotten to the taste! This box only lasted a couple days between my husband and myself. This stuff is ridiculous tasty! What can I say, vegans love their granola, and their hemp...

Crunchy Maple Sunrise cereal (gluten free) - The taste of this cereal is crunchy, fun, and totally reminds me of camping and autumn for some reason. For that, I am hooked on this - my new breakfast staple. It's got potassium (add banana slices and you'll have even more), quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, fiber, whole grains, Omega-3, and other good-for-you ingredients (while tasting like a dessert cereal). And its even gluten free; too cool.

Mesa Sunrise cereal (gluten free) - This cereal is healthy cereal at its finest, and tastes really amazing for something so healthy for you. This cereal will get your metabolism revved up with body fuel like flax, corn, and amaranth. Sodium and sugar are real low in this too, which would make this my go-to cereal the next day after being maybe a little too Naughty (is there even such a thing?).

Trailmix Granola Bars - I'm in love with these bars! Best bar I've ever had! Its not a protein bar, so don't expect that. These are trail mix granola bars. Some have more protein than others. I think this is the perfect snack. Incredibly yummy, not heavy or junky, and the Pumpkin-N-Spice reminds me of camping and autumn - two of my favorite things. 

Any food that reminds me of good times like that is definitely a keeper. Remember, food is very emotional and significant. Food is fuel, keeps you alive, can represent family or friends, can heal, can bring back memories, can bring people together, can comfort, can nourish, can break the ice...and so on. I think Nature's Path Organic nailed it all. Wholesome food that also fits into people's lifestyles. I'm more of a fan than I was before (and before I was a big fan, so now I'm a MEGA FAN!).


I would also like to note that Nature's Path uses a lot of wholesome ingredients such as: ancient grains, hemp, quinoa, buckwheat, flax, and more  - all organic. And I love their eco-packaging, called EnviroBox ("Less Package. More Sustainable") and they also do Eco Pacs for products like Mesa Sunrise! They also are the makers of EnviroKids cereals and snacks (oh, don't pretend you don't eat em'...you know you do! I do...kid at heart!).

Thank you NP for making awesome products! Keep on keepin' on! And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. Wishing your next meal brings you joy, great memories, smiles, and good health!


The Dirty Vegan Favorite!