What I’m Loving Monday!

 

Well hello there!

Hard to believe another Monday is here!?  I thought it might be fun to show some pictures of some of my recent “loves, likes and leave it” items!   Please note – I pay for all these products* and always give my honest opinion.

*I will note if I received products as review items – however my opinion of them is always honest!

 

LOVES;

 

This hummus from Costco!  So creamy with amazing flavor!  This is my favorite base for pizza!

Another Costco find (thanks to my BFF) These are awesome for individual pizza’s or Panini! (More on my favorite Panini coming soon!)

 

If you follow me on facebook you already know this – while it’s not a product – it’s too amazing not to share!  Spabettie’s Pumpkin Caramel – it’s so incredibly easy to make and seriously amazing!  As you can see – it didn’t last long – and yes I used a spatula after this photo and ate every single bit!

Baby Products I’m loving!

This stuff is fantastic – it’s smell is incredible and if your baby has any dairy sensitivies (even skin) it’s a vegan product!

While I’m still having fun making baby food – I have been buying these also for backup! They taste great (Some baby food tastes SO bad, I make sure to taste it before feeding it to my little man!) I love that it’s organic and cheap – because sometimes life doesn’t allow me to buy organic veggies and fruit.

And a few products I haven’t LOVED but that I’ve liked…

I’ve really enjoyed this in my potato salad – I didn’t enjoy it so much on my beloved toast with mayo, cucumbers and tomatoes.  I will however likely buy it again, but it won’t be a staple in my fridge!

Leave It? (but maybe I’m missing something)

 

   I think maybe I am missing something with this stuff? Has anyone else tried it out? I was expecting yogurt constancy and instead it’s fairly thick – not a Greek yogurt kind of thick but thicker.  I could only eat a few tablespoons at a time – the taste was ok, but it was more the texture I didn't love.

I will try this again, because I’m honestly thinking I maybe got a bad batch of it?  I’m curious to know if anyone else has tried?

 

Curious to know what products you are loving, liking or leaving?   Leave a comment or a facebook comment!

Much love,

Jessica

4 Ingredient Potato Salad (VEGAN)

 

I am trying to blog more – I really am!  I’ve been updating sections of my blog, and am thinking of doing a total blog overhaul in the next little bit to clean it up, add things like PIN IT buttons and just to give it new life!   Please let me know if you have any suggestions!  If anyone has any tips on moving from blogger – wordpress please contact me!!!

 

Ok moving on!

We were so lucky this summer to head out on our friend’s boat.  We spent the day out on the water enjoying the sunshine and the company – we even got to see some Orca whales towards the end of the evening – even though I’ve lived on the coast my whole life, I have never seen Orca’s up close and personal – check out a few of the photos I took!  Amazing!

Plus there was an incredible sunset that night…

Amazing. 

Anyways onto the food!  We had a BBQ on the boat and our friends made this awesome potato salad that I had to share!  With only 4 ingredients – it’s easy as can be!

 

4 Ingredient Vegan Pesto Potato Salad

2lbs potatoes of choice – cut into cubes

3/4 cup Veganise Pesto Mayonnaise

Juice from 1/2 lemon

1 cup frozen peas

Optional – daiya cheddar shreds.

 

Directions

Boil potatoes until soft about 10 minutes

Put frozen peas into a strainer

Pour the potatoes and the hot water over the peas

Let potatoes and peas cool.

Once cooled – add veganise and lemon juice (and any extras you choose – I added 1/4 red pepper and chives for added color and crunch – but it’s great as is also!)  Mix together.

Add salt and pepper to taste (optional)

Our friends also added daiya cheddar shreds which added even more creaminess to this – but totally optional!

 

There you have it – super simple and perfect for a BBQ or potluck – or a quick easy addition to dinner!

Lucky us – we got to enjoy this while gazing at this beautiful view.

Hope you enjoyed this quick and easy recipe!  Coming up in the next few days – a post about a few of my new favorite (and not so favorite) things!

Much love,

Jessica

No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars & a GIVEAWAY

 

One of my favorite things about blogging (other than being able to hopefully help people out) is that publishing companies often offer me up free review copies of their new cookbooks that have just or are about to be published!  When BenBella Books, Inc contacted me this time to check out the China Study Cookbook by T. Colin Campbell, PHD, I was super excited!

I read the China Study a few years ago – if you have not read this book please do.  It’s very eye opening.  From the website;

“In The China Study, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Professor Emeritus at Cornell University, details the connection between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Recognized as the most comprehensive nutritional study ever conducted on the relationship between diet and the risk of developing disease, The China Study cuts through the haze of misinformation and examines the source of nutritional confusion produced by government entities, lobbies, and opportunistic scientists.”

After reading the book, I felt inspired to follow the ideas laid out in the book, I remember wishing that there were recipes at the end – so I could take steps towards living a more whole food, plant based life.

Fast forward a few years and they now have published a book that is the “Official Companion to the China Study” and I’m lucky enough to be able to share one of the yummy recipes with you & offer a giveaway for the cookbook for anyone in the US or Canada!

It was a natural choice for me to choose a peanut butter/chocolate recipe – because let’s face it – that combo cannot be beat!   Check out the recipe and see below for the giveaway!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Preparation time: 15 minutes | Chilling time: 1 hour

Makes 9 servings

These bars are rich, creamy, sweet, and satisfying—everything a dessert should be!

1 cup low-fat graham crackers, crushed

1/4 cup crushed walnuts

1/2 cup reduced-fat, unsweetened coconut

1/3 cup natural peanut butter

1/4 cup nondairy milk

1 cup nondairy chocolate chips

5 tablespoons rice or almond milk

1 | Crush graham crackers in food processor. In separate bowl, add walnuts, coconut, and peanut butter. Stir in crushed graham crackers.

2 | Slowly add milk and mix. If mixture does not hold together, continue adding additional milk until all ingredients stick together. However, don't make it too soft, and, if necessary, use your hands.

3 | Spread mixture evenly into a 9 × 9 nonstick baking dish.

4 | In a saucepan, melt chocolate chips together with rice or almond milk over medium heat. Stir until smooth.

5 | Spread chocolate mixture on top of peanut butter mixture. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until hardened. Cut into squares and enjoy!

 

To Enter the Giveaway

Leave a comment telling me about your favourite plant based recipe OR why you would want to win this book!   That’s it!  One Entry per person*****

Contest Closes Wednesday September 18th at 8pm! Winner will be announced on facebook and have 2 days to provide me with their address!

 

  *****YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE A BLOG TO ENTER!!  Just use the NAME/URL option and type in your name and your email address (which will never be shared!)

 

*Permission to publish recipe and use photo were given by BenBella Books, Inc