Monday, July 11, 2016

Magic Water Fairies, Being The Change & Watermelon Mint Water :)

I think its good to stay aware of current events.  Whats happening around the globe.  I believe its important to get involved and stand for injustices and causes you believe in.  Be the change you want to see in the world.  Change wont come if we leave it to other people.  So I live by my beliefs and I fight against social injustices every day.  But this can be a very dark and upsetting place.  


We have to keep in mind that there is good in the world.  Beauty in the world.  Although the News is a filled with sad and sometimes infuriating events, this is not all we have.  Look around, there is good everywhere.  Good loving people.  The beauty of nature.  So much to enjoy in this life.  
Make magic :)
Spread Magic :)



My grandmother used to make flower fairies for me and float them in her bird bath ... Today I saw these Hollyhocks alongside the road and decided to make some magic.




You'll want to pick a fully bloomed flower and also a bud.  This will be the body and the head.


leave the "neck" on your blossom.  Poke a hole in the "head" bud, and place the head on the neck ..  Float!  walaaa You now have a water fairy ... Hollyhocks come in lavender and pink as well!!




My infused water today is Watermelon, Mint & Cucumber ..  This mint is actually 'strawberry mint"  It really does taste like both berries and mint ... 




And then this happened .. 


signing off is our residnt today .. hes actually huge, I can here him russtleing through the garden all the time .. I should give him a name.



Thursday, July 7, 2016

Easy No Bake Chocolate "Nice' Cream Cake .. Whole Food, Healthy, Guilt Free

Happiness is ... Healthy desserts!!

I love this recipe and I must say its the prettiest dessert Iv ever made.  5 stars in the impress others category and .... its SUPER quick and easy to make!!
oh and its HEALTHY.




Its a hot Thursday in July .... scorching Thursday in July, but I refuse to turn on the AC.  Yup Im one of those non AC-ers.  I love the sound of the breeze blowing through the trees in my backyard and the birds.  Therefor I will sloth it out today as I do everything at 30% speed.  With a cold Berry water in hand and my best friend Bear by my side, on the patio, I shall survive :) 


So back to my Nice Cream Cake .. 
I was always a dessert gal, but traditional desserts with the refined sugar and oils never did me any good.  Hence my obsession with healthy desserts.  In my eyes it just cant get better.  A sweet treat that is actually good for you and wont put the love in your handles.  
With these wonderful ingredients this recipe serves up a kicking does of antioxidants, rich in fiber, vitamins C,E, B1, B3 & B6/ Minerals including Iron, selenium, calcium, magnesium & phosphorous.  
Plus its lactose free.



I used a glass pie plate but next time I will use a spring form cake pan 




I used frozen berries (defrosted with a little maple syrup) at first but the fresh berries were so so much better.




I also made cocnut whipped cream ... HEAVVVENNNNN! I'll post the recipe for that soon



side note. put on the whiped coconut cream just before eatinng, it freezes as hard as a rock ..



Ingredients:
The Crust
       1/2 cup cashews
       1/2 cup hazelnuts 
       10 medjool dates pitted
       1/4 tsp sea salt
       1/4 cup coconut oil
For Nice Cream filling:
       20 medjool dates pitted
       1 can coconut milk (not lite)
       5 tbs cocoa powder
       2 tbs cornstarch or arrowroot powder
       2 tbs nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew)  the peanut butter                  will have a distinct taste, the others will not.
       2 tbs agave nectar (or maple syrup)
       1 tbs vanilla extract
       1/2 tsp fine grain sea salt
fresh strawberries to garnish
coconut whipped cream

*You can add 2 tbs espresso powder if you'd like for coffee nice cream which goes amazing with date "caramel" (Ill post recipe later but you can search Pinterest for "vegan caramel sauce"


Directions;
1. Grease 9 inch pie pan or 10 inch spring form cake pan with coconut oil.
2.  in food processor, process crust ingredients together.  It should be crumbly and sticky.  Press the crust firmly into the pie pan.  If the mixture is dry you can add a little agave.
3.  Wipe down your processor and add the nice cream ingredients.  process until good and smooth.
4. Pour the nice cream mixture into the pie dish.
5. Place in freezer.  I let it sit uncovered until its completely firm.  Then I cover it.

Thats it! When its completely frozen, wa-laaaa!!  add your strawberries and your good to go.. Guilt free happiness!!  

I was thinking this nice cream filling would be good between two cookies as an ice cream sandwich with some chocolate chips .. endless possibilities :))

Tell me if you like it and any variations you make!





MY BFF Bear.  This man is 14!  We just found out he has kidney disease :(  but he too now eats whole foods like the rest of us ... no more kibble .. and hes doing great! Just loooook at that face!!!  <3




xo Theresa