Homemade Apple Juice

Homemade Apple Juice

Ingredients:

• 1 cups, Water
• 400 g, Apples (not green apples; unless you really want to)

Tools:

• High-Speed Blender (I used my Vitamix)
• Nut Bag 
• Something to help you pour the apple juice into its storage container

Directions:

1. Put all the ingredients into your high speed blender. Blend for about 1 minute.
2. Using a nut bag, strain the apple juice into a bowl.
3. Pour the contents of the bowl into a storage container. That's it! :)

24 Hours to Vegan

24 Hours to VEGAN

Condensed Version

Do you want to learn how to transition to a vegan diet with ease and without sacrificing great flavor? Pick up a copy of the book, 24 Hours to Vegan (Condensed Version) by Daniella Cardoza for $8.99; published June 27, 2016 by Azure Publishing.

24 Hours to Vegan breaks down the difference between a vegan diet and the standard American diet and answers relevant questions/concerns in regards to switching to a vegan diet. Other subjects include:

• How to start a quick garden
• Quick and easy swaps to turn any non-vegan recipe into a vegan meal
• Over 35 recipes to get you started
• Lists to help you know what to buy and what to avoid
• And much more!

To follow the book on Facebook, visit 24 Hours to Vegan's fan page. To follow the author on Facebook, visit Daniella Cardoza's fan page. The full version of 24 Hours to Vegan will only be available as an eBook soon. 

Breakfast Smoothie 1

Vegan Breakfast Smoothie 1

Instead of eating a heavy meal before you exercise in the mornings, try drinking a delicious, healthy smoothie as a pre-workout. Or drink it because it's delicious and healthy. If you need more, double it.

Ingredients:

• Spinach leafs, 40 g
• Frozen Mangoes, 70 g
• Frozen Pineapples, 70 g
• Dried Goji Berries, 14 g
• Ground Flaxseed, 7 g
• Organic Protein (plant based), ~7 g (if you don't have this product then use cashew or almond nuts)
• Organic Coconut Water, 8 oz
• Optional: sprouting seeds, 1/2 or 1 tbsp

Tools:

• Nutribullet or Vitamix

Directions:

Put all your ingredients in your Nutribullet or your Vitamix.

Vitamix: If you have presets on your Vitamix, use the smoothie option. If you don't have presets, start on v. 1 and slowly move up High for about 45 seconds. Enjoy your smoothie!

Nutribullet: Blend your mixture in the Nutribullet until it completely coats the container you're blending it in. Blend it a little while longer and then turn it off. Enjoy your smoothie!

Comment below and let me know what you think! :)

WALNUT MILK

WALNUT MILK

Ingredients:

This is my first time making walnut milk and I'm very happy with my results. :)

• 4 cups, Water
• 1 cup, Walnuts
• Optional Sweetener (pick one or all)
• 1-2 tbsp, Organic Blue Agave (you can use more if you like)
• 1/2 tsp, Vanilla Powder
• 3 or more Dates (pitted)

Tools:

• High-Speed Blender (I used my Vitamix)
• Nut Bag 
• Large Spoon
• Something to help you pour your milk into its storage container

Directions:

Soak walnuts overnight with more than enough water to cover it. The next day, drain the container.

Put all the ingredients in order of the ingredients' list into your high speed blender.

Turn on the blender and slowly increase the speed from the lowest setting to the highest. Blend for at least one minute or more to get the consistency you want.

Let the mixture sit in the blender for a few minutes. Using a large spoon, scoop off the top layer of foam from your nut milk.

Put the nut bag into the large bowl and then pour the milk mixture into the nut bag. Pull the draw string and start squeezing your milk into the bowl until only the pulp is left in the nut bag. Put your walnut milk into your container of choice and store in the refrigerator for a week. Put the walnut pulp into a container to use for another recipe.

That's it!

Comment below and let me know if you like it! :)

Perfect Baked Potatoes

Perfect Baked Potatoes

Ingredients:

This recipe is simple. 

• 4+ medium to large Potatoes (the kind that's soft and started growing sprouts)
• Olive Oil
• Salt

Directions

Preheat the oven for 425 degrees (or toaster oven for 450 degrees). Put foil paper in the pan of your choice and set it aside.

Remove any sprouts. Clean each potato by rinsing and rubbing it with either your hands or with a brush. Pat dry and let it sit for a while.

Coat each potato with olive oil. Using a fork, poke holes in at least three spots on one side of each potato. (For example, take the fork and stab close to the top, middle, and bottom of one side of the potato. It's up to you if you want to do the other side.) Lightly sprinkle salt on each potato.

Place the potatoes in the pan with spaces between them and place the pan in the oven for 1 hour.

While in the oven, flip the potatoes every 20 minutes (flip twice: 40 minutes remaining and 20 minutes remaining).

Take the potatoes out, cut them in half or slice down the middle, add your vegan butter, and use a fork to fluff. You can add other garnishes if you like. That's it!

Comment below if you have any questions or to let me know if you like my recipe. :)

VEGAN PANCAKES

Vegan Pancakes

Ingredients:

I normally make what my kids call applesauce pancakes, which they love. Today, I decided to change up the recipe and it turned into another favorite. Lol, my daughter told me to put it up on my blog because it's great. Enjoy...

Serves: 4

• 1 1/4 cup, Unbleached Self-Rising Flour 
• 1 tbsp, Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil
• 1/2 tsp, Salt
• 1 cup, Unsweetened Cashew Milk (you can use water, instead)
• 1-3 tbsp, Organic Blue Agave (you can use sugar or 100% pure maple syrup)

Directions:

Mix flour, salt, and hard coconut oil. Then add cashew milk and blue agave.

Using the 1/4 cup, add batter to nonstick pan or griddle. Cook like normal pancake.

These pancakes can be eaten without toppings. My kids eat it with our vegan butter and maple syrup. That's it!

Comment below and let me know if you like it! :)

Scrambled Tofu With Veggies Burrito

Scrambled Tofu w/ Veggies Burrito

This is my first breakfast on January 1, 2016. This was also my first time making tofu scrambled and I made it without a recipe. I was asked to create a recipe for it. That's kind of hard for me because I don't measure seasonings, so I think a video would be best. Until then, I'll try my best to do a recipe.

Serves: 2

INGREDIENTS:

• ~7 oz, Firm Tofu, drained 
• ~2 cups, Dark Leaf Vegetables (e.g. Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard, Collard Greens, Callaloo, etc--use at least one kind)
• 1 small Red Potatoes, cubed
• ~1/3 cup, Red Onion, chopped or in rings
• ~1/8 cup, Green Onion, chopped
• ~1 tsp, Turmeric
• ~1 tbsp, Coconut Oil
• Seasonings: Complete Seasoning, Black pepper, Oregano, Garlic powder
• Optional: Mushrooms, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Scotch Bonnet Hot Sauce, etc
• 2 medium to large Tortillas
• 2 slices, giant green Avocado (you can use a Hass Avocado if you want)

DIRECTIONS:

Heat a medium nonstick frying pan on medium heat, then add coconut oil.

Lightly season the potato cubes (do not add the turmeric) and add them to the pan. Stir until mostly cooked, then add the vegetables (add dark leaf veggies last or at the same time as the tofu). Cook until potatoes are cook through.

Push the potatoes to the side. Add the tofu to the pan and start breaking it up if you haven't done so already. Season to taste: add seasonings in order of the seasonings on the season list (the amount depends on the order, as well--more to less) and then add the turmeric for color. Stir everything together until it looks the way you want.

Warm the tortillas. I warm my tortillas one at a time while I'm cooking by using them as covers over the pan. However, you can warm yours however you like.

Put each tortilla on a plate and add the tofu scramble equally on each tortilla. Top it off with a slice of avocado and then close it up. Serve.

Complete below with your questions and comments.

7-Day Juice/Smoothie Challenge

7-Day Juice/Smoothie Challenge

2016 DATES:

January 3-9, February 7-13, March 6-12, April 3-9, May 1-7, June 5-11, July 3-9,

August 7-13, September 4-10, October 2-8, November 6-12, December 4-10

Calendar Events: Facebook, Google+

GUIDELINES

• If you don't have a good blender or juice, click here for options.
• Take a picture of yourself before the challenge and at the end of the challenge. It's up to you if you want to share those pictures with the group. It's also optional if you want to take additional pictures during the challenge.
• If you're not used to eating a good amount of fruits and vegetables each day, then prepare your body 1-3 days prior to starting this challenge
• During the challenge (and forever if possible) drink 8-10 cups of water each day. Minimum amount of water depends on your weight.
• 
• Replace at least one meal a day with your detox juice
• DO NOT drink alcohol
• NO drugs unless prescribed by your doctor
• If eating solid foods, DO NOT eat animal products
• If eating solid foods, DO NOT eat processed foods
• NO dairy products
• NO caffeine (however, if you're addicted to coffee and this will prevent you from doing the cleanse, then continue drinking coffee, since, like a drug, it's hard to quit.)
• NO carbonated drinks (caffeine or not)
• Your only sweeteners are maple, agave, or real fruits

WATER

Start each morning with at least 8 ounces (1 cup) glass of warm water with lemon (optional: you can make tea with it) right after you wake up and on an empty stomach to start your day. This will flush toxins from your body and maintain your body's pH balance. It will also increase your metabolic rate (helps with losing weight), help your gastrointestinal and kidneys to function even better, repair skin cells to increase elasticity (look younger), etc. You can use a straw with your warm lemon water to bypass your teeth and/or rinse with plain water afterwards. Do not eat for 30 minutes after you drink your warm lemon water.

BEST TIMES TO DRINK WATER

• Drink one glass of water after waking up to activate your internal organs and to remove toxins before your first meal
• Drink one glass of water 30 minutes before you eat a meal. However, if you want to drink water after your meal, wait an hour to ensure your body absorbs the nutrients
• Drink one glass of water before taking a shower to lower your blood pressure
• Drink one glass of water an hour before you go to bed to replenish fluid loss during the night

EXERCISE

Lots of options here. Do as little or as much as you can. If possible (also depends on the type of exercise), try to exercise after you drink your warm lemon water in the mornings. You can use your smart phone or a step/activity/pedometer tracker to track your steps throughout the day. If you're tracking your steps, at minimum, try to do 8,000 to 10,000 each day. Here are some exercise ideas:

• Planks (Plank Challenge)
• Squats (Squats Challenge)

Ideas Taken From http://q.equinox.com

• Running/Cycling
• Strength-Training/Conditioning Classes
• Swimming/Pilates
• Yoga
• Low-Intensity Cardio (Walking/Cycling)

HEALTHY BENEFITS OF EXERCISING

From mayoclinic.org

• Controls weight
• Combats health conditions and diseases
• Improves mood
• Boosts energy
• Promotes better sleep
• Puts the spark back into your sex life
• Can be fun

From greatist.com

• Reduce stress
• Boost happy chemicals
• Improve self-confidence
• Enjoy the great outdoors
• Prevent cognitive decline
• Alleviate anxiety
• Boost brainpower
• Sharpen memory
• Help control addiction
• Increase relaxation
• Etc

BENEFITS OF JUICING

From Huffington Post

• Rest the stomach
• Rest and repair the gut
• Rest the liver
• Reduce your appetite
• Ease food decision-making
• Eliminate harmful foods
• Floods our body with super nutrition
• Lose weight
• Improve energy
• Re-hydrate the body
• Reduce physical problems
• Allow maximum detoxification
• Heal our cells

JUICE RECIPE IDEAS (5 Websites)

• http://www.justonjuice.com/7-day-juice-fast-plan
• http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/drink_recipes/how_to_start_juicing_7_day_juice_plan_to_add_more_fruits_vegetables_to_your_diet
• http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/meal-ideas/clean-green-food-drink-cleanse
• http://www.avegangoddess.com/2012/03/recipes-for-seven-day-cleanse.html
• http://www.vegancooking.com/juicing/3-day-juice-cleanse

Vegan Dining Out: McDonalds

Vegan Dining Out

What Can I Eat At McDonald's?

2015

In this segment, we're going to talk about various fast-foods and dining out facilities to see what we can eat there as a vegan. We cannot eat any foods coming from an animal, which includes dairy products and meat (this also includes eggs). Today we're going to talk about McDonald's. (Update: this post is based in the US and it is NOT satire)

Breakfast:

• Fruit & Maple Oatmeal (minus the cream, if allowed)

Lunch and Dinner:

• Burger with vinaigrette dressing and veggies (minus meat, cheese, and other dressings)*
• Salads with vinaigrette dressing (minus meat, cheese, and other dressings)
• Premium McWrap (minus meat, cheese, and the sauce it comes with)*

Sides:

• Apples
• Side Salad
• Snack Wrap (minus meat, cheese, and sauce)*

Desserts:

• N/A

Beverages:

• Apple Juice
• Fountain Drinks
• McCafe Coffee (black or with a sweetener: sugar, Splenda, or Equal)
• Orange Juice (overpriced; can buy a container at the grocery store for the same price)
• Water

Note: You can only use sweet n' sour sauce, barbeque sauce, marinara sauce, ketchup, or mustard. In addition, vinaigrette is the only dressing you can use. If you're trying to eat healthier, then vinaigrette and mustard are your best first options; the next in line is the marinara sauce. Sweet n' sour sauce and barbeque sauce would be last on the list.

So you're wondering what about fries and hash browns? Well, fries and hash browns are NOT vegan. They are both made with milk and beef flavoring. Don't make the mistake (like I did once) of believing someone working there or the manager when they say, "It's just regular fries that we cook in vegetable oil." McDonald's baked apple pie is also NOT vegan. It is made with L-Cysteine which comes from animal hair and feather. As you can see from this list, McDonald's have limited options for those of us on a vegan diet. It's not vegan friendly.

Comment below if you have any questions or comments...

*Some places will not allow this option

The Power Of A Vegan Diet: Annette Larkins

The Power of A Vegan Diet

Annette Larkins

Annette Larkins was 70 years old in this video. She will be 74 in January 2016. Although some people dismiss this with "black don't crack" (or genetics), that didn't work for her husband. Her mother and her aunts died young from breast cancer; she changed her eating habits to vegetarian at the age of 21. As far as race and youthfulness, I do realize that blacks in general do look younger than their white counterparts, but not to this extent. You are what you eat and what you eat can age you as well as make you sick.

Like Annette, I didn't want to eat flesh anymore; it wasn't because I was trying to be healthy. I stopped eating red meat (that's called a pollotarian, but I didn't know that at the time) when I was 20 and had every intentions of going vegetarian, but I got married at 22 and between my husband and everyone else convincing me that it's not healthy, I decided to stay pollotarian. However, occasionally I would go vegetarian or vegan. I really didn't care for beef so there was no convincing me about eating it; I did occasionally at family or friends houses to be nice; after a while I stopped doing that.

One day, without anyone's permission, I got up and just became a vegetarian. Before that I had stopped drinking cow's milk (never liked it anyway) and started drinking almond milk because I felt like cow's milk was too heavy and route of why my face was breaking out. I did however, continue to use cow's milk as an ingredient when a recipe calls for it. Months after becoming a vegetarian, I decided to become a vegan. Once again, it had nothing to do with longevity or health or animal rights; I just didn't want to eat any flesh or anything from an animal anymore. Like Annette, I cook separate meals for my family.

Now, after seeing Annette, it does make me feel good about my decision. I do wonder about the health of her real hair though and I would be interested in seeing it. As I age, I want my face, body, and hair to look healthy. I want a balance. Time will tell.