Yummy Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

Being the health nut that I am, I'm always on the lookout for vegan, low sugar sweets. But most of the time I find vegan or gluten free this to be loaded with sugar. This makes me upset.

I received a cupcake recipe book at my shower and came across a recipe for Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes. 

The first time I made these I didn't add sugar. The second time I cut it in half, which was still a whopping cup for 12 cupcakes. I noticed that the first batch was more cocoa-y and the second batch was much tastier, as my husband ate a few (That is a HUGE victory!).

Here is my adaptation to the recipe found in 500 Cupcakes:

Dry Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

4 TBSP of cocoa

Pinch of Salt

Wet Ingredients:

1/2 cup applesauce (I used an organic TreeTop apple sauce pouch)

2 cups cold water

2 tsp of white vinegar

2 tsp of baking soda

Additional: 1/2 cup Ghiradelli 60% dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl, wet ingredients in medium bowl. Then combine the wet with the dry ingredients and add 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips. 

Spray muffin tins. Add cupcake mixture to muffin tins, about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before removing.

Enjoy!

Do you have a fun vegan recipe?

 

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What's For Dinner Week 9

Well I'm back to meal planning. I like it too much. Even though we signed up for emeals, I'll be using it for new recipes, but we are not totally committing to it. 

I love being creative and it's a control issue probably, but if I want my family to eat healthy, I've got to do it! 

Here are this weeks meals (most from cookbooks I have around the house). I also used this book I picked up from the library:

No, we haven't taken the plunge to vegan, but I think that while trying to stay within a budget and eat healthy, you can't go wrong with veggies!!

This book has a wealth of yummy meals. Can't wait to share.

Monday: Braised Cabbage Rolls, hummus and pitas

Tuesday: Crockpot Teriyaki Pineapple Meatballs over Quinoa

Wednesday: Creamy Green Enchiladas

Thursday: Grilled Chicken and Wilted Spinach Salad with Spocy Peanut Dressing

Friday: Nachos

Saturday: Hot and Sour Noodles

Sunday: Family Dinner 

Hope you have a wonderful week!!

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Walnut Chickpea Burgers

We have this lovely little place near Sacramento called the Sunflower Drive-In.

It is home to the most fabulous Nut burger.

Even before I knew what a vegan really was, I indulged in this vegan/vegetarian place.

The menu is full of natural goodies, like Falafel and Nut Tacos.

I've always experimented with different ways to make nut burgers.

This is one of the simple ways.

1/2 bag of soaked chickpeas

1 cup ground walnuts

3 T of flax seed

3 T of water

Put chickpeas in food processor and blend until still chunky.

Combine ground walnuts, chickpeas, flax seed and water.

Add any flavorings (I use garlic powder).

Form into patties.

Cook in a pan and Enjoy.

These burgers are messy and tend to fall apart. I have also used this  as a mixture for tacos and added the taco seasoning to it.

Yummy!

 

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Book Review: Skinny Bitch

I've read this book before and this time it only took me a day to read. Its short and definitely to the point. 

The writing is much more harsh (and trucker-like) unlike the last book I read. 

This book is not for the faint at heart. Its for those of us who are motivated by the Jillian's from The Biggest Loser.

It's in your face attitude can definitely offend, so don't read until you are ready.

But I must say, I agree with it.

It preaches a vegan lifestyle because of the treatment of the food we eat, because it is rotting carcass that we put in our mouth (and that is disgusting), and because the treatment of the animals in inhuman.

I'm not a PETA activist and if I had my own farm, I would eat meat and dairy.

But since I don't have my own farm, I'm really really limiting my intake of these products.

Seriously, if you haven't read Fast Food Nation or Slaughterhouse, the images described will make you want to rid your fridge and body of all things dairy and meat.

It's really sad that we live in such a wonderful country full of wonderful veggies and fruits and access to so much and we can't treat our meat right. It's really frustrating.

I don't totally agree with Freedman and Barnouin on the fact that we are not meant to eat meat as humans. I will have to check on that one.

I just believe that meat has vitamins that we need, so we shouldn't count it out.

Anyway, I've decided to only eat meat on the weekends.

We'll see how long this lasts :)

I can't wait to share my next book review....Real Food...I LOVE IT!

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Vegan Black bean quinoa burgers

I've been vegetarian during the week and enjoying a little bit of meat on the weekends (fish is the exception, as I will eat it when ever, especially sashimi).

These are super easy and can be customizable too. I've added onions before, but I really enjoy eating them raw for their health benefits.

Ingredients

2c black beans

1c quinoa

1T garlic salt

3T flax seed

3T water

5 cloves garlic

Dash of salt and pepper

Blend in Vitamix but not purée.

Add additional seasonings to taste.

If mixture is too soggy, add additional flax seed.

Create hamburgers (I get three out of this recipe).

Place in pan and cover.

Heat about 4 minutes each side twice.

BE CAREFUL WHEN TURNING OVER. IF BURGERS ARE TOO SOGGY THEY WILL NOT HOLD TOGETHER :)

Serve on a bun, a lettuce wrap, or over a field of greens.

Enjoy!

Vegan: To Healthy

Yes, Yes, I know it should say "Vegan: Too Healthy" But I've changed my diet. AGAIN!! I know so indecisive. But the more I really thought about why I was vegan/vegetarian was not because I don't think meat is healthy or that I think I am a PETA activist (I'm not), but because of how meat is handled. That includes fish. As I begin to read about pregnancy (I'm not, I'm just also not a procrastinator) and diet, I have been reading horror stories about the meat industry. EWWW Gross! (If you wanna know check out Skinny Bitch/Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven). Whether I'm pregnant or not, I refuse to eat non-organic, hormone raised meat. I'll venture out and eat hormone free meat, but I'm really relying on my friends who hunt to stock me with some awesome yummies (Last week, we enjoyed venison sandwiches and elk burgers). I've also been buying organic and still avoiding dairy. I might splurge if I received home grown eggs. Thanks for being patient with me on my journey, I've had to eat more meat because I believe I'm anemic (I did that penny test: run a penny down your cheek. If there is a black line then you have anemia, if their is no line, you are fine).


I can't wait to find more yummy recipes and share them with you!!

OOOPPPPS! Minor setback

First day I ate meat and it hadn't even been a week. Last night we had family dinner at my in-laws and I caved. I had a chicken sausage. I know, I know...HORRIBLE! But I have to allow myself some slack when I go to people's homes because otherwise I'll starve.

And I should say that I'm not actually vegan, more like vegantarian. I not all hardcore about animal protection rights (but it is disgusting how they harvest meat). I am actually more intense about excluding dairy from my diet. Meat is a choice that I have made to exclude from my diet. Every now and then I will have a slip up and I figure that is okay. If I go cold turkey, I'm doomed to fail. I also know that when I become pregnant (whenever that is) I'll have to give up fish, so I'm starting now (I'm so not a procrastinator).

Wish me luck! And send any advice this way :)

I also got in some yoga in the past two days!

Day 3 of Being a Vegan

I recently decided to get my health into gear and eliminate some staples in my diet. Every now and then I crave a challenge and it is usually health related. I am currently trying to complete a 13.1 mile run every month. So far I been successful! (6 months). I have in the past eliminated the use of a microwave for a year (with the exception of eating at other people's house, which was minimal). I have cut out coffee/caffeine, when lumps were found in my chest. And I of course no longer drink soda :) 


Anyway, last year I tried to become a Pescetarian, which is someone who eats fish as the only 'meat'. That lasted about two weeks. But this time I am dedicated. I know its going to be difficult and I will have to slide occasionally. (I'm such a people pleaser and I don't want to put any one out.) 

I drink Almond Milk (Almond Breeze is my fave).
I take vitamins, especially B-12, which you can only get from meat.
I eat lots of veggies, beans, whole grains, and am trying to eliminate salt :)


I am having a hard time with cheese...I just love it!
Giving up sushi is going to be the hardest. (Please sympathize with me, I LOVE sushi!!!!)




Stay tuned to see if I can do it. 2 weeks we go on a family vaca...I'm really nervous.


Check out Hurleyeatings.blogspot.com for recipes.