vegan Archives - Page 6 of 29 - Compassionate Women

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

June 22, 2017 by Jillian Leave a Comment

You know it’s gonna be a good cake when it’s the same exact color as your wooden table 👌😂

But really, it’s got those crispy brown edges, caramel color, chocolate chips, and a perfect rise. These are all things you can see, but how does it taste you ask? Well, it’s got that nice moist cakey flavor, bursts of dark chocolate, and tastes amazing with a cold glass of coconut milk. And did I mention this cake is vegan, gluten free, and contains nutrient dense ingredients? Yep, it does 😘

I realize summer is in full swing and that means 90+ degree weather for most people and the last thing you wanna do is turn on the oven and make your house feel like the depths of hell, but trust me, this cake is totally worth it. VegNews liked it so much they published it on their website, and VegNews is pretty legit so check it out below!

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A Small Good Thing

June 17, 2017 by Jillian Leave a Comment

The documentary A Small Good Thing is named after an award winning short story written by Raymond Carver. At the center of the story is a message of the healing power of community. In the same vein, the documentary centers around 6 people who have chosen to find happiness by focusing on family and community.

The problem with today’s world is that it’s so convenient and we have everything at our fingertips, but that doesn’t equate to happiness. You can’t be truly fulfilled if you don’t have to work for anything. And what are we doing with all that time freed up by so much convenience? Browsing social media and watching Netflix, mostly.

Collectively, we also believe that happiness = success = money. We have a lot of material wealth but we also have the highest rates of mental illness and depression ever recorded. We aren’t happy and we aren’t connected with one another. We feel alienated and alone. Studies show that once a person reaches the $75,000 mark in terms of yearly salary, anything above that makes zero difference in happiness.

The material growth we’ve been pursuing is not reliable and it’s destroying our planet, literally and figuratively. So how can we live in a better way? A Small Good Thing follows 6 people in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts who are trying to live according to this philosophy. There’s a yoga instructor, dance teacher, college student, produce farmers, and a livestock farmer. What did they discover by simplifying their lives and taking a more holistic approach to happiness? You’ll have to watch it yourself to hear their answers. But here are some interesting and important ideas that I took away from the film…

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Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary

June 5, 2017 by Jillian Leave a Comment

If your favorite color is bright green then you are going to enjoy this post. Disclaimer: You may have to shield your eyes from all the bright green colors of nature 💚🌳✅🐸

While I was still living in the pine filled region of southeast Texas I discovered a hidden gem that not many people know about. The Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary is right on a Texas highway in the small town of Kountze, but it’s easy to miss the entrance. I remember driving along the highway, thinking I had the wrong address because I was totally not seeing an entrance to any kind of park or sanctuary. Finally, I noticed a small wooden sign that blended in perfectly with the tree trunks surrounding it. Found it!

With over 5500 acres and multiple trails to explore, the Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary is a quiet retreat for nature lovers who want to hike, bike, photograph, or simply enjoy the great outdoors. Here’s some of my fav photos from one of my visits there 📷

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The Taste of Injustice

May 24, 2017 by Jillian Leave a Comment

I recently went back to school to finish my undergraduate studies as a 29 year old sophomore. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, in fact, I was somewhat dreading it. I was worried that as a full time student, my free time would be nonexistent and I would be struggling to pursue any outside projects. But actually, the opposite happened. Being in school made me more proactive to work on my passion projects, and what I was learning in my classes directly affected those same projects and made them, like, 100% better. With my first semester complete, and a 4.0 GPA under my belt, I’m officially a junior woo hoo!

Going to school in a South Texas town right next to the Mexico border has certainly immersed me in a whole new culture and I’m learning more about how my beliefs and passions for animal rights and veganism parallel some of the same issues occurring in the lives of immigrants and Mexican workers. For me, it really reinforces my belief that humans will continue to struggle with peace and kindness until they can extend the same courtesy to animals. We forget how much we mirror our animal counterparts and that if we want respect and compassion, we should first be able to give it out regardless of species.

I made a 2 and a half minute video for one of my classes titled The Taste of Injustice. The main purpose of the video is to get people thinking outside of the box. The more connections we can make between humans and animals, different cultures and races, the struggles of various peoples and animals, then the more we begin to see that we all want the same thing – to be free to be ourselves.

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Turmeric Persimmon Nice Cream

May 9, 2017 by Jillian Leave a Comment

Summer is just around the corner! Unless you live in South Texas like me, in which case, it’s summer year round 🔥

But I’m okay with that because it means it’s always nice cream weather. I’m still going strong 2+ years into my obsession with banana nice cream and all it’s versatility/deliciousness. I used to make chocolate peanut butter nice cream all the time and I still love it, but lately I’ve been coming up with new flavors 🍌🍨

Enter Turmeric Persimmon Nice Cream. There’s something about persimmon that kicks up the nice cream game like a million notches. Persimmon adds natural sweetness, a gorgeous bright orange color, and a creaminess that I can’t even explain but it’s amazing. Bananas are one of nature’s most perfect foods and lends more natural sweetness as the creamy base for this recipe. Finally, ground turmeric balances out all the sweetness from the persimmon and banana, adds to the vibrant color, and contributes antioxidants and other healing properties.

Blend this dish up in just a few minutes, then top with coconut flakes, fresh fruit, and coconut whipped cream. I love having this Turmeric Persimmon Nice Cream for lunch, a snack, dessert – I’ve even had it for breakfast! Aside from being sweet and creamy and A++ all around, it gives you a ton of energy to go about your day.

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