Month: March 2016

Chocolate covered strawberries (vegan, dairy-free, nut-free)

Published on by Hannah2 Comments

It is always the saddest feeling when you bite into the first strawberry of a big box and taste…nothing. No flavor. No sweetness. Nada. Those deceptively vibrant berries lured you in (likely when they’re not in season) and now you’re left with a whole box. PLEASE do not throw them out. There is always a way to make them worthwhile. One of my favorite ways to turn a dull berry into a delicious berry is chocolate.

Now, of course you can melt some dark chocolate and dip away, but that gets messy and requires a microwave. I love to make my own chocolate dip and you only need a few ingredients!

Chocolate dip:

-3 tbsp cocoa powder (Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder will change your life)

-3 packets stevia, or sweetener of choice

-1 tsp coconut oil (I recommend Artisana Organics)

  1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well
  2. Add in 1 tbsp of hot water and stir, repeat and add additional tablespoons of water until the consistency is thick and dip-like. I usually use 3-4 tbsp of water.
  3. Dip your woebegone strawberries in your delicious, rich chocolate dip and enjoy!

A photo posted by Hannah (@craving_happy) on

Pad Thai Salad (Grain-Free, Gluten Free)

Published on by Hannah3 Comments

So I typically throw salads together on the fly and add a bunch of random spices, but this time I had a plan in mind…PAD THAI! (Or at least my own bizarre version of it.) Plus, it takes about ten minutes to toss together.

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Ingredients:
2 eggs, or 3/4 cup egg whites
Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
Red pepper to taste
salad greens (4-6 cups)
Roasted veggies of choice (I had brussel sprouts on hand)
mushrooms

1) Grease a small microwaveable bowl with coconut oil and combine eggs  with 1 tsp Bragg’s Liquid aminos and spices
2) Microwave for 1 minute
3) Stir
4) Microwave for 30-45 seconds or until eggs are fully cooked
5) Meanwhile, throw your greens in a big bowl and top with veggies of choice (marinated mushrooms are a great addition)
6) Put your eggs on top, mix, and enjoy!
7) I recommend adding more liquid aminos to taste.
8) Enjoy!

 

Hemp Protein and Ethical Eating

Published on by HannahLeave a comment

I got the chance to try the new Manitoba Harvest Protein Smoothie line and got a bag of each flavor to try. I love their Hemp Hearts product, which is a great way to get your omega-3s. I have never been a huge hemp protein fan, but with nutritional stats like 15g of plant-based protein and the inclusion of organic spinach, kale and broccoli greens into the mix, it definitely is appealing!

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Flavors: Chocolate, Mixed Berry, Vanilla Chai

Ingredients of Chocolate Hemp Protein Smoothie: HempPro 70 (hemp protein concentrate, natural plant extracts), organic coconut sugar, organic fair trade cocoa powder, organic harvest greens blend (organic spinach, organic kale, organic broccoli)

Does it get any better than that?

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I made a smoothie bowl using half a frozen banana, 30g of Chocolate Protein Smoothie Powder, 5-6 ice cubes, water, and about 1/2 tsp of xanthan gum until it blended smoothly. I topped it off with Kim’s Magic Pop chocolate drizzle bites, coconut chocolate granola, and Kashi GoLean cereal.

Manitoba Harvest is committed to the environment and social justice. From the ingredients, it’s easy to read that their cocoa powder is fair trade and their coconut sugar is organic, but these small details mean a lot. It means that the company is working to create an honest product that is both high in nutrition, while promoting sustainability and equality. Buying products like this shows the power of the consumer–we can choose brands that value our earth and everyone on it. That, to me, is the core tenet of ethical eating. BONUS: It’s tasty.

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If you want to win your own Hemp Protein Smoothie enter in the contest and post pictures on instagram, facebook, or twitter using the #hempproteinsmoothie and tagging Manitoba Harvest. Participants will be entered to win a case of their favorite flavor of Hemp Protein Smoothie.

Or if you want it and you want it now, order with promo code “hempsmoothielaunch16” for 15% off your  order.

Although I was compensated for this post, the opinions are my own and reflect my honest beliefs.