 Hello, Sunshine! Did you really think I wouldn't create a delicious chocolatey recipe for Valentine's Day? Food is our love language around here.♡ This pancake recipe is the perfect breakfast to surprise your love with on Valentine's Day morning. If I’m being completely honest, I'd rather have this breakfast in bed than a box of chocolates any day.  Pancake Ingredients: 1/3 Cup Nondairy Chocolate Chips 3/4 Cup Birch Bender's Pancake Mix 2/3 Cup Water 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil Topping Ingredients: 1/2 Cup Fresh Strawberries, Sliced 1 & 1/2 Cups Frozen Strawberries 2 Tablespoons Coconut Sugar (Optional) 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup Whipped Chocolate Coconut Cream Whipped Chocolate Coconut Cream: Stick a can of full fat coconut milk in the fridge overnight. Open the can and scoop out the hardened coconut cream, leaving the excess coconut water in the can. Transfer the coconut cream to a stand mixer or blender. Add in about 1 Tablespoon of coconut sugar and 1 Tablespoon Cacao or Cocoa Powder. Using the whisk attachment, whisk the cream for two minutes, or blend in a blender for approximately 30 seconds. Instructions: Heat the frozen strawberries, coconut sugar, and maple syrup in a saucepan on medium-high for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook until thoroughly reduced down into a Strawberry Sauce. Next, whisk together the pancake mix and water until well combined with no clumps. Add in your chocolate chips. Brush a large nonstick skillet or griddle with coconut oil and heat over medium-low heat. Add 1/3 cupfuls of batter, and cook until bubbly on top and golden on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook until golden on the bottom, about 2 more minutes. Stack your pancakes and top with fresh sliced strawberries, any leftover Chocolate chips, the strawberry sauce, and the Whipped Chocolate Coconut Cream. Enjoy, love! 
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 Hello, Sunshine! I have been seeing a lot of people making Chia Pudding lately, so I thought I’d give it a go. This recipe was made so that you can completely customize your toppings to whatever you prefer. The chia pudding base goes great with any fruit, chocolate, nut butters, and coconut whipped cream. No matter what you decide to top it with, this chia pudding is packed with protein, fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. It’s perfect for a post-workout breakfast!  Ingredients: 1/2 Cup Chia Seeds 1 & 1/2 Cup Coconut or Cashew Milk 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Protein Powder 2-4 Tablespoons Maple Syrup 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract Dash of Cinnamon Dash of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt Toppings: 1 Banana 1/4 Cup Shredded Coconut or Your Favorite Fruit, Chocolate, Nut Butters, or Coconut Whipped Cream Instructions: In a bowl, whisk together the chia seeds, protein powder, cinnamon, and sea salt. Then, add in the cashew milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Whisk until well combined, and cover. Set in the fridge overnight, or for atleast 5 Hours. Top with banana slices and shredded coconut, or your favorite toppings.   Hey, Sunshine! I’ve been making these Southwest Loaded Sweet Potatoes for years, and I just love the combination of flavors. Since transitioning to a vegan lifestyle over two years ago, I feel like my taste buds have changed so much; I just crave bright, bold flavors. Going Plant Based has also helped my husband and I open up to trying new foods and food combinations that we never would have before. (I’m so thankful for that!) The black beans, corn, and avocado pair so perfectly with the flavor of the sweet potato. This recipe is one of our weekly go-to’s, so I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! Ingredients: (Makes 2 Servings) 2 Large Sweet Potato 1/2 Cup Black Beans, Cooked 1/2 Cup Corn, Cooked 1/4 Cup Tablespoons Red Onion, Diced 1 Tomato, Chopped, or 2 Tabslepoons Salsa 8-12 Pickled Jalapeño Slices 1 Large Avocado 2 Tablespoons Salt Free Taco Seasoning 1/2 Tablespoon Fresh Cilantro Lime Juice, to taste Tabasco Jalapeño Hot Sauce, to taste Instructions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Poke each sweet potato a few times with a fork, and lay them on a baking sheet. Bake the sweet potatoes until tender, about 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can microwave the each sweet potato for about 5 minutes, or until tender. Next, slice the sweet potatoes down the middle and mash the inside of the potato with a fork. Next, mix together about a tablespoon of taco seasoning with the black beans and corn. Then, layer on the black beans, corn, onion, tomato, jalapeños, and avocado. Top with Cilantro, and the remaining taco seasoning. Squeeze a little lime juice and some Tabasco Jalapeño Hot Sauce on top and enjoy!   Aloha, Sunshine! I may be stuck in the cold Midwest right now, but this Maui Smoothie Bowl has me dreaming of Hawaiian sun and sand. I swear, I was meant to live somewhere that stays sunny and warm all of the time. In the meantime, a girl can pretend, right? This smoothie bowl brings me all the Hawaiian vibes because it’s packed with powerhouse tropical fruits such as Bananas, Mangoes, Pineapple, and Coconut. These fruits are loaded with fiber and essential nutrients like Potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Magnesium, Folate, and Manganese. Bananas, Mangoes, and Pineapple are all beneficial to digestion, heart health, and even weight loss. Not to mention, they all taste delicious! Ingredients: 1 Cup Frozen Mango 1 Cup Frozen Pineapple 1 Cup Frozen Bananas 1 Cup Coconut Milk 2 Tablespoons, or 1 Scoop, Raw Vanilla Protein Powder Toppings: Banana Slices Chopped Mango Coconut Shreds Hemp Seeds Taste of Maui Gluten Free Naked Granola Instructions: Add Frozen Mango, Pineapple, Bananas, Coconut Milk, And Vanilla Protein Powder to a blender and blend on high for 1-2 minutes, or until smooth. Pour smoothie into a bowl and top with Banana Slices, Chopped Mango, Coconut Shreds, Hemp Seeds and Taste of Maui Naked Granola.   Hello, Sunshine. Let me start off by admitting that I have the worst sweet tooth, and it’s always worse at night. The other night, as I was searching for a midnight snack, this delicious recipe popped into my head. One of my go-to late night snacks are Dates filled with Peanut Butter and Cacao Nibs. Since Thomas and I always talk about how they taste kind of like a snickers bar, I decided to make a “candy bar” version of my favorite late night snack! With only 5 ingredients — and no need for all the fancy equipment — I’m sure these treats will become a staple for satisfying your sweet tooth!  Ingredients: 6 Large Medjool Dates 2 Tablespoons Crunchy Peanut Butter 1/4 Cup Nondairy Chocolate Chips 1/2 Tablespoon Coconut Oil 1 Teaspoon Sea Salt Flakes Instructions: Slice into the dates lengthwise, and remove the pits. Then, fill the middle of the dates with crunchy peanut butter and set them aside in the freezer for a few minutes. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate, and stir in the coconut oil for a smooth chocolate dip. Remove the peanut butter filled dates from the freezer and dip them in the melted chocolate. Place them back in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes. Sprinkle with Sea Salt Flakes, and they’re ready to enjoy!   Hey, Sunshine! This recipe was definitely inspired by both my motivation to clean out the fridge, and a sauce I love making for my “Bang Bang Broccoli” recipe. The Maple Chili Lime sauce is just healthier take on my sauce for bang bang broccoli. On that note, feel free to substitute the tofu with broccoli, or add in broccoli to your baked tofu. You will not be disappointed! Also, in other exciting news, we have officially started filming for the Raw Sunshine Youtube Channel. If you haven’t already found our channel on YouTube and subscribed, go do it now. Our first video will be up soon! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this Buddha Bowl Recipe as much as we do.  Buddha Bowl Ingredients: (Makes 2 Buddha Bowl Servings) 1 Block Super Firm Tofu, Cubed 4 Tablespoons Maple Chili Lime Sauce 1 Cup Quinoa, Cooked 2 Tablespoons Garlic, Minced 4 Cups Kale, Chopped 1 Avocado, Sliced 1 Cup Grape Tomatoes, Halved 1/2 Cup Carrots, Julienned Toppings: Green Onion, Chopped Remaining Maple Chili Lime Sauce Sesame Seeds Maple Chili Lime Sauce Ingredients: 4 Tablespoons Maple Syrup 1 Tablespoon Sriracha 2 Tablespoons Lime Juice 2 Tablespoons Coconut Aminos, or Liquid Aminos  Instructions: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Combine all ingredients for the Maple Chili Lime Sauce in a small bowl and stir until well combined. Toss your cubed Super Firm Tofu in 4 Tablespoons of the Maple Chili Lime Sauce, and set the rest of the Sauce aside. Lay the marinated tofu onto a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Flip the tofu cubes and bake an additional 10 minutes. Set aside baked Maple Chili Lime Tofu. Next, heat a pan to medium heat and add in your chopped kale and garlic. Make sure to take the stems off of the kale before adding it to the pan. Saute the kale for about 5 minutes, or until its wilted. Set aside for Buddha bowl assembly. Start your bowl by adding in about half of the cooked quinoa to the bottom of each bowl. Next, add in the Maple Chili Lime Tofu, and Garlicky Kale. Layer with the remaining ingredients: carrots, tomatoes, and avocado. Top with green onion and sesame seeds. Drizzle the remaining sauce over the bowls and enjoy!   Hey, Sunshine! This is the second part of our "Favorite Cruelty-Free & Vegan" Products blog posts. You can find the first one, Cruelty-Free + Vegan Makeup, a few posts down on the blog, if you're interested! Today, I'm excited to share with you my favorite Cruelty-Free & Vegan skincare products. My skin has been on quite a journey. I have had cystic acne from the age of 12. Cystic acne is an uncommon and very severe form of acne. It is much deeper and painful than your typical acne pimples. Around age 21, my cystic acne became so severe, and so painful, that I had decided to go on a "miracle" drug called Accutane. Shortly after going on the drug, I also transitioned to a vegan lifestyle. The combination of 6 months on Accutane, and removing animal products from my diet and skincare, has changed my skin forever. I'm so happy to say that I have not had any cystic breakouts since. I still get the occasional hormonal breakout around my chin area, but I am beyond grateful for the skin I have now. If I'm being honest, I feel that I'm pretty picky about the brands and products I use on my face and my body. So, without further ado, here are my favorite skincare products! My Favorite Brands: Pacifica First Aid Beauty Alba Botanica Mario Badescu Facial Cleansers: Pacifica Beauty Kale Detox Deep Cleaning Face Wash Pacifica Beauty Sea Foam Complete Face Wash First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser Toners: Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Chamomile, and Lavender Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber, and Green Tea Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater Moisturizers: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Josie Maran Light Argan Oil Makeup Removers: Alba Botanica Hawaiian Detox Makeup Removing Towelettes SKINNY & CO. 100% Raw Virgin Coconut Oil for Skin Masks: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask Yes To Coconut Moisturizing Mud Mask Acne Treatments: Mario Badescu Drying Lotion Alba Botanica Acnedote Face & Body Scrub Sets: Mario Badescu Spritz, Mist, and Glow Facial Spray Trio FAB Faves to Go Kit (Repair Cream, Cleanser, & Radiance Pads in travel size) Let us know in the comments, or on social media, if you would like to see a Youtube Video of a Cruelty-free + Vegan skincare routine of my Cystic Acne to Clear Skin Journey!   Hey, Sunshine! As soon as I found the Violife Vegan Feta Cheese Block at Fresh Thyme last week, I knew I had to create a greek salad and homemade creamy greek dressing. When I first took a bite of this salad, I was blown away. I haven't had Feta Cheese in over 2 years - basically, since we switched to a vegan lifestyle. The Violife Feta is exactly what I remember Feta tasting like, and the consistency is so similar! If you can't find Violife's Feta, you can still make this salad, but I HIGHLY recommend trying this recipe in its entirety.  Salad Ingredients: 2 Cups Spring Mix 1/2 Large Cucumber, Sliced 1/4 Red Bell Pepper, Chopped 1/4 Cup Red Onion, Chopped 1 Cup Grape Tomatoes, Halved 1/4 Cup Kalamata Olives 1/8 Block of Violife Feta, Crumbled Creamy Herb Dressing Ingredients: 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar 1-2 Tablespoons Tahini 1/2 Tablespoon Garlic, Minced 1 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard 1 Teaspoon Nutritional Yeast 1 Teaspoon Basil 1 Teaspoon Oregano 1/2 Teaspoon Parsley 1-2 Teaspoons Water Salt & Pepper, to taste  Instructions: Mix together all Dressing ingredients, besides the water, in a small bowl until well combined. Slowly, add in 1 teaspoon of water at a time, until you reach desired dressing consistency. Add all of the prepared salad ingredients to a bowl, and top with the Creamy Herb Dressing. Enjoy!   Happy Sunday, Sunshine! This Berry Cobbler Bowl is a rich, satisfying dessert bowl, or a breakfast bowl, if you prefer your breakfast on the sweeter side. Regardless of the time of day, this recipe is sure to warm your tummy and satisfy your sweet tooth, as well as nourish and energize your body. Berries are loaded with antioxidants, which aid in keeping free radicals under control, and preventing free radical damage. Berries also contain beneficial amounts of Vitamin C, Manganese, Vitamin K, Copper, and Folate. Purely Elizabeth Granola is also packed with ancient grains and superfood seeds, which help improve digestion, boost immunity, and deliver massive amounts of nutrients, like Omega-3 Fatty Acids, into your body.  Ingredients: 2 Cups Frozen Mixed Berries 2 Tablespoons Coconut Sugar (Optional) 1 Cup Purely Elizabeth Granola Toppings: Whipped Coconut Cream Coconut Flakes (Optional) Note: Store-bought Whipped coconut cream will work, but you can also make it yourself at home! Homemade Whipped Coconut Cream: Stick a can of full fat coconut milk in the fridge overnight. Open the can and scoop out the hardened coconut cream, leaving the excess coconut water in the can. Transfer the coconut cream to a stand mixer or blender. Add in about 1 Tablespoon of coconut sugar. Using the whisk attachment, whisk the cream for two minutes, or blend in a blender for approximately 30 seconds. Stovetop Instructions: Heat the frozen berries and coconut sugar in a saucepan on medium-high for 3-4 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked and combined. Pour berry-sugar mixture into a bowl and top with granola. Add a dollop of whipped coconut cream and a sprinkle of coconut flakes. Microwave Instructions: Add frozen berries and coconut sugar to a microwave safe bowl, and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Top the bowl with granola, and any preferred toppings. Stir & Enjoy!   Hey, Sunshine! A few days ago, on social media, I asked if you would be interested in some posts featuring my favorite Cruelty-Free + Vegan Makeup, Skincare, or Haircare. I was beyond thrilled to get such a positive response! So, here is the first post of 3 on my favorite Cruelty-Free + Vegan Products! When I first transitioned to Veganism, I was working as a hairstylist for Ulta Beauty, and I am so happy I had the opportunity to discover and play with tons of Vegan and Cruelty-Free Makeup, Skincare, and Haircare. (Feel free to message me with any questions you may have on the subject.) Also, shoutout to my Ulta Fam for supporting me while I transitioned into a healthier lifestyle! So, without further ado, here are some of my favorite makeup brands and products... My Favorite Makeup Brands: Tarte Cosmetics Pacifica Urban Decay Anastasia Beverly Hills It Cosmetics First Aid Beauty  Eyes: Tarte Cosmetics Lights, Camera, Lashes, 4-in-1 Mascara Pacifica Dream Big Lash Extending 7-in-1 Mascara Tarte Cosmetics Maneater Liquid Eyeliner Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Eyeshadow Palette Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Anti-Aging Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz - Taupe  Face: Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Foundation Tarte Cosmetics Smooth Operator Clay Finishing Powder Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer Urban Decay Beached Bronzer - Sun Kissed Tarte Cosmetics Amazonien Clay 12-Hour Blush - Exposed Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay 12-hour Highlighter - Exposed It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Concealer Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray Lips: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy Pacifica Bali Coconut Lip Balm Tarte Cosmetics Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint - Festival Pacifica Lemon Sugar Natural Lip Scrub  Makeup Brushes & Tools: It Cosmetics Brush Set Tarte Mermaid Brush Set Eco Tools Brush Set Tarte Cosmetics Quickie Blending Sponge Tarte Cosmetics Eyelash Curler Note: All links are directed to the product on Amazon.com, however, some product prices are lower on each Brand's Website. Leave a Comment below, or on Social Media(Facebook or Instagram), if you would like to see more info on these products in a Youtube Video!  |
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