Buffalo Cauliflower Dip

I have always loved the spicyness and texture of buffalo chicken dip, but since I don't  eat animal products I've been thinking of a healthier vegan option that is not only simple to make but delicious. It will have your friends drooling. 

What you'll need:

(I made for a large party; so for a smaller batch, half the recipe)

2 17oz containers of Sabra Original Hummus

1 cup of Sriracha chili hot sauce (I like mine hot so I used about 1.5 cups, use more or less depending on your heat tolerance) 

1 large head of cauliflower

Cashew Cream Cheese:

1.5 cup raw cashews

3 tbsp nutritional yeast

1/4 cup lemon juice 

1/2 tbsp canola oil

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Water (to make cream cheese thinner if needed) 

Directions:

For cream cheese start by soaking the raw cashews in water for at least 3-4 hours.

1. Using a grater, finely grate the cauliflower and place in a large pan on the stove and warm; add about 1/2 cup sriracha and stir. Try to coat all the cauliflower.

2. Transfer the cauliflower mixture into a large mixing bowl. 

3. Add the hummus to the cauliflower mixture along with the remaining hot sauce and mix thoroughly.

Cashew Cheese:

1. After letting the cashews soak, drain them and add to a food processor along with all the other ingredients. Blend until everything is mixed. Add water if needed.

Now add the cashew cheese to the cauliflower and hummus mixture. Mix thoroughly. Add more hot sauce if you like it spicy.

Serve with your favorite dippers. Cauliflower, celery, pita chips, tortilla chips or use it on a sandwich or wrap.

Enjoy, I hope you love it as much as I do! 

I am.....

I was the girl in high school that was the “good one”, I never drank, partied or participated in risky behavior, rather I was doing community service, being nice to everyone and being the perfect one I thought I had to be. I had the nice clothes, the name brand bags, shoes and the big house. However, on the inside I was screaming. I was unhappy, lonely and frustrated with Jesus for allowing my parents to divorce, allowing my stepfather to pass away and allowing my house to burn to the ground. I was screaming for something more, a more I thought I could find in my church. I was raised in a strict catholic home; I attended catholic school till 6^th grade, went to church on Sundays, went to confession and prayed before family meals. I taught religious education at my church for 4 years and was who I thought Jesus wanted me to be. Yet, I was still empty and alone. How was I still empty when I was doing all of these things for others and was going to church and doing what I thought to be godly?

 

Senior year of high school came and went and I later committed to Penn State New Kensington. About 3 months into the school year, I began talking to a guy who I thought was all I deserved. I thought I deserved his taunts, his hateful and hurtful comments and his want for me to be the person he wanted. I believed that all I needed was him. During this time, I began a journey of a lifetime; a journey I thought would make him love me. Picture a 240 pound girl, short, has acne and unhappiness written all over her face; that was me; the fat girl who just wanted to be loved and be accepted. Over the next few months, I ate healthy, began running and shed more weight, but the taunting continued and I was still empty. After, almost an 8 month abusive relationship, I grew the courage to end it, but the taunting did not end. As I walked down the halls to class every morning I would hear a walrus imitation and gagging noises coming from behind me. All I wanted was to be loved and yet again, I became frustrated. How could Jesus do this to me?

 

1 year later, 105 pounds gone and successfully finishing a half marathon and many 5ks I transferred to University Park. I was still empty and looking for more; a more that I gave up on, but Jesus had other plans for me. About 3 weeks into the semester, my roommate Kara invited me to DCF and to be honest I was not very convinced. I could see the change in her and how Jesus had impacted her life in the short months of the previous semester but I just didn’t think it was for me. She later asked me to join her at Calvary church but I was hesitant because I assumed it was like the strict Catholic Church I grew up in. I found myself crying as we left the service, I was overwhelmed and so impacted by the service, but still I wasn’t convinced and I questioned whether I was empty because I didn’t have Jesus. About 2 more weeks went by and I continued to come to DCF on Fridays, I started attending Gospel Group Thursday nights and Calvary on Sundays but it was not until I heard Zack talking about how Jesus was all I needed that it truly clicked. For the first time it hit a spot in my heart; a spot that had never been touched. I left feeling confident that Jesus was in fact all I needed.  I didn’t need everyone else’s approval or the love from someone who clearly was not for me; I needed Jesus.

Over the past month I have found myself really examining my life and what is really important to me. Realizing that I am not alone and unwanted. Jesus is with me all day every day and God sent Jesus so that I could be saved of my sins. He wanted me how I was; I don’t have to change or be perfect for him to love me. My thoughts were confirmed while at fall conference when once again I felt Jesus’ presence; his presence in my heart. I felt different, a good different. While talking with Kara about what was on my mind and while reflecting on that day’s talk I caught myself say, “since I am a baby Christian now.” After speaking those words; I burst into tears and for the first time I called myself a Christian. I accepted Jesus as my savoir and as the only person I needed. I was not alone and no longer empty; a feeling id been trying to fill for so many years. I am a baby Christian.

 

Chickpea Salad Recipe

I get asked a lot if I miss meat and dairy, and my answer is no but don't think I live a vegan lifestyle because I didn't like the taste of meat. I loved it. I grew up on a farm where I helped and saw animals be slaughtered and would later eat bacon and sausage almost everyday. My family knew how much I loved bacon cheese burgers with tons of mayo. I have seen the other side first hand, not just by watching films and documentaries. I lived it but as I child that's all I knew. You ate what you killed. 

Today on the other hand, I have no desire to consume meat or dairy. The site and smell make me nauseous and very uncomfortable. I have learned to love other options and dont see my life any other way. I'm vegan, vegan for life. 

I appreciate the flavors of foods and live my life for nutrition and I have many dreams, one of which is to become a vegan chef, own my own resturaunt and change the culinary world. Creating food is my passion and makes me happy even if I'm having a bad day. Today was no different, numerous exams and projects this week and I needed to take my mind off of it so I came up with this chickpea salad. 

Chickpea salad is a perfect meal or snack. Packed with protein, vegetables, healthy fats and is very versatile. 

What you'll need:

Yields about 2 cups

1 can rinsed and drained chickpeas

1/3 cup diced red onion

1/3 cup finely diced red and green pepper

2 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds

2 tbsp grated carrots

8 tbsp avavado

1 tsp diced hot banana peppers (optional)

Juice of half a lemon

1/2 tsp garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste 

Directions:

Rinse and drain chickpeas. Cut all veggies. Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix until avavado is evenly coating everything. Serve in a lettuce wrap, tortilla, stuffed pepper or just put of the bowl. 

**** note: should be eaten right away. Doesn't stay as fresh if held longer.

Power Nut/Date Balls

1. I'm obsessed with Dates. 2. I'm obsessed with dates....can you guess what 3 is? Yes I love dates and I'm always snacking on these little things that provide so much energy! I wanted something fun so I used the extra walnuts and dates and came up with these!

Yields: 5 large balls

What you'll need:

1 cup of raw walnuts

.5 cup walnuts for coating

10 Medjool dates

Water (optional)

Directions:

1. Add walnuts to food processor and pulse until fine. Set aside in bowl.

2. Take pitted dates and place in food processor and blend till smooth. It will be sticky and depending on how fresh your dates are you may have to add some water to make smooth.

3. After smooth, add the pulsed walnuts and mix together. You will most likely have to scrape the sides of the processor. Very sticky.

4. Take mixture out of food processor and place into bowl.

5. Using a flat surface like a paper plate or cutting board place the extra walnuts onto a plate or flat surface and lightly crush. You can make the walnuts small or large pieces, but I used small chunks.

6. Using your hands roll into ball shapes. I made 5 from this recipe, but you could make them smaller.

7. Now roll the balls through the walnut mixture. Coating all sides. They are fairly soft so make sure not to crush them.

*I have also seen people use goji berries, almonds, chocolate chips, flax and other toppings as well. Totally your performance. 

Chickpea Peanut Butter Cookies

I have always loved peanut butter cookies but always felt guilty after eating them. I saw this recipe on a friends Instagram page and figured why not. Who would think of using chickpeas in cookies, not me. I was so surprised at how amazing they were and that the taste of chickpeas was not there.

What you'll need:
Yields about 25 small cookies

I can of garbanzo beans drained
1 cup plus 1/4 cup organic creamy peanut butter
6 tbsp. raw agave
2 tsp. baking powder
4 tsp. vanilla


Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 350F
2. Place drained and washed beans and all ingredients into a food processor and pulse till smooth. It is very sticky so you may have to slightly stir and continue to pulse.
3. Roll dough into small balls. Mine were a little larger than a quarter.
4. Place on greased baking sheet pan.
5. Using a fork make grooves going vertical and horizontal. Pushing down on the dough.
6. Place in heated oven for about 13-15 minutes or until slightly brown.
(You can eat them when they are warm but they are slightly mushy so may want to let them cool.)

Week 1 Review: GoRaw Banana Bread Flax Bar

Go Raw: Banana Bread Flax Bar

Gluten Free-Wheat Free-Nut Free-100% organic

 

 

All Live (Dried under 105 F-All Seeds Sprouted-No GMOs-No Trans Fat-No Cholesterol-All Hand Made-All Raw Kitchen-All family Owned)

Go Raw, is a small company who is developing tasty raw products with everyone in mind. I am a huge fan of Go Raw and appreciate their creativity and efforts for more raw foods.

Where to buy?
   Any specialty grocery store. I purchased mine at Whole Foods but I have seen them at Wegmans and Trader Joes. Also on their website at http://www.goraw.com/

How much?
   $ 2.99

What is in it?
   Sprouted Organic Flax Seeds, Organic Banana, Organic Coconut (unsulphured), Organic Date

Nutrition Facts:

Serving Size: 1 bar                          Vitamin A: 0%
Calories: 190                                   Vitamin C: 4%
Total Fat: 9g                                    Calcium: 4%
Cholesterol: 0mg                             Iron: 0%
Sodium: 5mg
Total Carb: 25g
Dietary Fiber: 5g
Sugars: 12g
Protein: 3g

My Thoughts:

I was overall very impressed and the taste was true to its name. The bar tasted just like banana bread but with a different texture. If you like bananas this bar is for you. A very convenient food and great if in a hurry. From a nutrition standpoint, I believe that the calories and nutritional value are worth it. The amount of beneficial and organic ingredients are like no other and packed with all of my favorite foods and go to ingredients.

For the price; its definitely something I would not buy or eat everyday but it is a great option! The texture was also a little weird for me and was kind of tuff to chew; this may be a common theme among raw foods but since this is my first dehydrated bar I am not sure. I cut it into 3 slices so I could eat it later, very cutable.

 Overall, my roommates and I give the GoRaw Banana Bread Flaxbar a thumbs up and would definitely recommend and eat it again.

Check out their website at http://www.goraw.com/ for more products and details.

Raw Apple Crumble

I've been in the mood for apple crisp but as I am trying to eat more raw foods I came up with a raw alternative. I'm a huge fan of dates so I use them often when I'm "baking" raw foods or just want something sweet. I also found raw gluten free oats at Whole Foods which I use when making dessert type foods. They aren't so good plain but great when mixing foods. So here it is; super quick and easy. If you want you could also bake.

What you'll need:

1 honeycrisp apple  or your favorite 

1 cup raw oats

5 pitted dates

1/4 cup water

1 tsp raw agave (optional)

Nutmeg

Cinnamon

Directions:

In a food processor process the oats. 

Then add the dates and mix. It may be dry so water can be added here. 

Add agave if desired and mix. It should all stick together.

Cut your apples into chunks or wedges.

Place apples in bowl and crumble toppings on top. (Is sticky so more like place)

Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Top with any other ingredients.

Baked: