cruelty free Archives - Page 3 of 6

Berry & Herb Coconut Ice Cream Pops

July 14, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

With all of the rain in central Texas these past few months, I ALMOST forgot it was summer. It hasn’t been it’s usual scorching self. And then my mom sent me some popsicle molds in my birthday package a few weeks ago and I finally got to use them this weekend – and oh yeah, it’s summer! Nothing screams summer like nice cold popsicles. But these are special popsicles. They are magical raw vegan popsicles. The coconut base is rich and creamy paired with frozen berries and fresh herbs. Toss in a little raw sugar to sweeten the deal and you’ve got homemade popsicles that are way better than anything store bought!

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Vegan S’mores Fudge Brownies

June 29, 2015 by Jillian 6 Comments

These brownies are flaming good. Literally. The last part of the recipe requires you to broil the brownies to get the marshmallows nice and toasty looking. They only need 1 minute to broil and they are ready. But I got distracted and left them in the oven for 3-5 minutes. When I went to get them, surprise! They were on fire. My first thought was to grab some water, but I put so much time and effort into these brownies, I wasn’t about to demolish them because of a semi-raging fire. Luckily the flames went out quickly and I was greeted by the shrill tones of the smoke detector, which I promptly ripped off the wall. When all was said and done, my poor brownies were covered in a layer of ashy marshmallow. On the plus side, after I scraped it off, the brownies looked and tasted great. Lesson of this story? Just because your recipe doesn’t go quite as planned don’t freak out. Sometimes it will turn out even better!

Here are some more surprises from my Vegan S’mores Fudge Brownies: they are gluten-free, they contain roasted beets, and the base of the batter is black beans! However, these brownies taste just as good as any brownie made with wheat flour and dairy products. No one would ever suspect they have veggies and legumes in them!

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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Brownies

June 14, 2015 by Jillian 2 Comments

I like pumpkin. I like chocolate (understatement). I like brownies. So my little, tiny, genius mind thought “Why not put them all together?” Before I even came up with the recipe, I just knew it would be tasty. It had to be. How could it not? Well, they came out perfectly – just a tad of crunch on the outside, gooey melted chocolate on the inside, and the thick, moist pumpkin that gives it all a great consistency. There are some recipes that I make one time and I’m good. But this is a recipe that I intend to make again and again. It’s yummy, easy to make, gluten free, vegan, and as close as you can get to healthy when it comes to brownies.

Plus, look at that color! Just beautiful. These will make great treats during Halloween time, but trust me, you need to try these brownies now. RIGHT NOW.

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Culinary Creations at Bistro Vonish Food Truck

June 12, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

The beautiful creation you see above is from the delicious food truck in Austin, Texas called Bon Vonish, run by the very talented Chef Craig. The menu changes daily, based on what local and seasonal ingredients are available, and everything is vegan and often gluten free. Appetizers, side dishes, main course, brunch, desserts – this food truck has it all. And Craig does a wonderful job of showcasing the beauty and versatility of plant based dishes with his unique touch.

On the rainy day my friend and I visited, there was comfort food (mac & cheese), kolaches, pizza, salad, a chocolate mousse pie, and more! There’s something for everyone, vegan and non-vegan alike. What I like about Bistro Vonish is that anyone can enjoy it regardless of their food lifestyle. It’s tasty, filling, healthy, and each dish looks like a piece of art!

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Vegan Quesadillas With Homemade Guacamole

June 8, 2015 by Jillian Leave a Comment

Mmm mmm quesadillas! And these are extra special, super duper quesadillas because they’re vegan and gluten free. Oh, and some rockin’ guacamole to slather all over them doesn’t hurt either. I absolutely love Mexican food but when I go out to eat, I find that if it’s not stuffed with dairy and meat, then there’s the gluten and oil and processed foods to worry about. So I decided to make my own plant-based ‘dillas with very few processed ingredients. If you want a quick meal that’s cheesy, crispy, and savory all in one, then read on!

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