Vejje Vegan Mixes

Vejje was created because Kris and Doug wanted to create a shelf-stable vegan burger mix that was as tasty or better than any commercially available frozen or refrigerated plant-based burger.  However, not only was taste a priority, the mix also had to be easy to use, cost efficient and extremely versatile. After several years of work, Beef-Free Mix (and the famous Vejje Burger) were born. Sausage-Free Mix soon followed. Chicken-Free Mix is the newest addition to the Vejje family of plant-based meats and although Beef-Free Mix is currently their most popular mix, the newer Chicken-Free Mix is a real game changer. “There simply is nothing else like it on the market!” According to Doug.

Shelf Stable

All of the mixes are dry so they are shelf stable with most mixes having a one-year or longer shelf life.  The mixes are also easy to hydrate and use and each box of Vejje makes between 2½ to 3 pounds of plant-based meat. This makes Vejje very economical to use.  Prepared Vejje meats taste amazing and you can prepare so many different meals using their mixes. Additionally, once hydrated, cooked or uncooked, the meats can be refrigerated for 5 to 7 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

“Our plant-based mixes are unique in that if you are looking for the “meat experience” you can make burgers or breakfast patties. However, if you are looking more for the “vegetable experience” you can use our mixes in unlimited recipes that include a wide array of vegetables, beans and lentils. Our website has some of these recipes, but even something as simple as chili or burritos could include many vegetables and then our mixes would be used to replace the meat” says Doug.

Chicken-Free Mix

Kris loves to use the Chicken-Free Mix to make everything from chicken pot pie and other casseroles to chicken sandwiches and stew.  “Customers seem to especially love Vejje BBQ Chicken and Vejje Chicken Salad and both of these recipes are on their website. The chicken salad recipe uses cranberries so the dish will be a festive addition to any gathering this holiday season” she says.

Beef-Free Mix

The Beef-Free Mix can also be used to make burgers, burritos, meatloaf, stuffed cabbage and beefy mac & cheese.  You can also add sautéed vegetables or mashed beans to the mix when making burgers. You can get really creative making burgers. In fact, Vejje was specifically designed to be easy to use yet allow for cooking creativity.  Customers especially enjoy tacos and burgers and these recipes are both on the company website.

Sausage

Several favorite ways to enjoy Vejje Sausage is in pasta sauces, lasagna and as a topping for pizza.  As a pizza topping and in lasagna all you do is hydrate the sausage according to package directions and then simply crumble it on your pizza or in your lasagna before baking. For sauce simply add hydrated sausage to the sauce and simmer for about 30 minutes If you have leftover hydrated uncooked Vejje Beef or Sausage, simply refrigerate or freeze it.  All of the meats freeze beautifully.

Where to buy Vejje Mixes

The company has seen some great growth in the last few years and Kris says she feels very proud when she hears from people who love preparing meals for family and friends using Vejje.  “It feels really good to know that Vejje Mixes are helping people share more plant-based meals!”

Doug is also happy to share with us that “Vejje has consistently been in the top 3 spots on Amazon for best-selling new releases in the meat substitute category.” Congratulations Vejje!!!

People can find Vejje Mixes online at Amazon.

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Buffalo Vejje Chicken Rollups

Veganized from Pillbury’s recipe for Buffalo Chicken Rollups

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword vegan chicken rollups, Vejje

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Author Sarah Eastin

Ingredients

• 2 cups diced Vejje Chicken this will be about 3 patties (prepare and cook according to package directions and then dice the patties into small chunks)
• 2 oz vegan cream cheese softened
• 2 tablespoons Buffalo hot sauce or hot red pepper sauce
• ¾ cup shredded vegan Cheddar cheese about 3 ounces
• 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dough sheet
• ½ cup vegan ranch dressing

Instructions

• Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 9-inch round pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix cream cheese, Vejje chicken, hot sauce, and vegan Cheddar cheese until well blended.
• On large cutting board, unroll dough sheet; spread Vejje chicken mixture evenly on dough to within 1/4 inch from sides. Starting with one long side, roll up dough; firmly pinch seam to seal.
• Place seam side down on cutting board. Using sharp knife, cut roll into 8 equal slices; place cut side down in pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until deep golden brown. Serve with ranch dressing and, if desired, additional Buffalo sauce.

And now for our giveaway! Follow the instructions below to enter 1 package of each flavor. Contest ends at midnight on March 22nd. U.S residents only, please. Good luck!

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5-Ingredient Vegan

5-Ingredient Vegan is the most recent cookbook by innovative author, illustrator and recipe developer Nava Atlas. Just a few of her other popular cookbooks include; Plant Power, Wild About Greens, Vegan Holiday Kitchen, Vegan Soups, Vegan Express and Hearty Stews for All Seasons. What I love the most about all these cookbooks is that they are all focused on making plants taste great.

The ingredients Nava includes in her recipes in 5-Ingredient Vegan are easy to find in grocery stores in any part of the U.S. Just one of the time saving techniques Nava includes in this fun new vegan cookbook is using items like fresh produce, whole grains, good quality canned and frozen foods along with prepared sauces.

Another one of the secrets you will learn in 5-Ingredient Vegan is how to pack your dishes with flavors that will have your friends and family coming back for more! I would also recommend getting fruits and veggies from local farms or farmer’s market that will kick your dishes up several more notches!

20 Minutes or Less

Many of the recipes in this cookbook are ready to eat in a or less than 20 minutes and have you covered for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and more. They are also fun to create, very pleasing to the eye, and would be great for people starting out on a plant based diet. They’re also helpful for someone who you are encouraging to eat more plants. Many of the dishes will also make you the star of the show if you brought them to parties!

Delicious Recipes

With dishes like Scallion Pancakes, Southwestern Tofu Burritos, Tempeh Fries with Fresh Dill Mayonnaise, Smoky BBQ Chickpeas, Baked Polenta Fries, Coconut Sweet Potato Bisque, Pasta with Power Greens, Salsa Verde Bean Burritos, Skillet Blueberry Crumble, Pineapple-Orange Ambrosia and Chocolate Granola Clusters, how can you go wrong?

5-Ingredient Vegan is my kind of cookbook, it contains unique recipes that focus on bringing out flavors of whole foods, and that is what I love! I think you will too, so pick up a copy of your own. If you’d like to learn more about Nava, she has a really fun website loaded with other tips, travel and restaurant recommendations and more recipes: https://theveganatlas.com/

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One of the best things we can do for our overall health, disease prevention, to keep our memory sharp and help us feel our very best, is eliminate inflammatory foods which include: gluten, sugar, dairy, meats, fast and processed foods, fried foods, pastries, alcohol, food additives, and preservatives. Instead turn the focus of your diet onto eating more fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and especially greens, lots of healthy, whole foods, plant-based fats and foods low on the glycemic index.

There are many plant-based foods that have proven especially beneficial for dementia prevention and treatment.

Foods for a Healthy Brain Include:

• Apples
• Blueberries
• Beets
• Coconut
• Grapes
• Herbs – especially Sage and Rosemary
• Leafy greens (Kale, Turnip Greens, Swiss Chard and Broccoli are the best)
• Mushrooms – most notably Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
• Olives
• Oranges
• Spices – especially Ginger, Saffron and Turmeric
• Strawberries
• Omega-3 rich foods including; Walnuts, Flax Seeds, Chia Seeds and Hemp Seeds

You can prepare many easy dishes to sneak the above foods, minus those that trigger inflammation, into your daily meal plan.

Meals for a Healthy Brain Include:

• Chia Seed Pudding made with Coconut Milk, Turmeric and topped with Berries
• Avocado Toast (on Gluten Free Bread)
• Baked Sweet Potato topped with Almond Butter, Blueberries, Bananas and Ground Flax Seed or Granola
• Energy Balls
• Spiced Nuts
• Dried Fruit
• Chopped Veggies with Hummus or another plant based dip
• Green Leafy Salads loaded with veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds
• Beet Salad
• Fruit Salad
• Buddha Bowls
• Cauliflower Steaks topped with Herbs and Spices
• Zoodles or Spaghetti Sauce topped with Herb Pesto
• Roasted Broccoli
• Roasted Carrots with Rosemary
• Soups loaded with beans, veggies, herbs and spices
• Golden Milk
• Ginger or other Herbal Teas
• Water Infused with Fruits, Sage and Rosemary
• Indian and Thai Food are excellent choices when dining out. Did you know that India has one of the lowest rates of dementia? It is thought that is largely attributed to the abundance of herbs and spices that they eat each day.
• Any recipe that includes mushrooms are great for your brain but especially the delicious gluten free and vegan stuffed mushrooms below which are a huge hit with everyone!

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Good for Your Brain Stuffed Mushrooms

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword vegan stuffed mushrooms

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Author Sarah Eastin

Ingredients

• 1 cup walnuts
• 16 ounces baby bella mushrooms stems removed and chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 shallot small dice
• 2 cloves garlic small dice
• 1 handful of spinach or other leafy green
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon miso
• Salt & Pepper if desired

Instructions

• Clean mushrooms and remove stems. Set the caps aside. Chop the stems and then sauté along with the shallots, garlic, rosemary and sage in the olive oil on medium heat until the shallots are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the spinach, walnuts and nutmeg and cook another minute. Let the mixture cool and then transfer to a food processor, add the miso and process until thoroughly combined and the mixture is the consistency of bread crumbs. Add salt and pepper to suit your taste, place the caps upside down in a casserole dish and spoon the mixture into the caps. Cook at 350⁰ for 30 minutes. Serve with any desired herbs, chopped veggies or seeds as a garnish.

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• “I don’t know what to make”
• “It takes too much time to cook it”
• “It’s not convenient, etc.”

VegReady

When he noticed people reverting back to fast foods and meats that were destroying their bodies from the inside out, the wheels in his head began turning. He thought, “What if there could be a vegan/plant-based meal that was easier and more convenient than the fast food alternative?” And VegReady was born!

Mark created VegReady with the mission of helping 2 million people eat just 2 more plant-based meals per week as a first step on their transition to a better life. The meals require no cooking, no refrigeration, and no heating. These meals are ready for you when you are. In the office, at home, in the cabinet—all you have to do is open and eat.

VegReady Meals are made with 100% plant based ingredients and make eating healthy, simple, and convenient. They allow you to do more of the things you love like; spending time with family, doing your hobbies or getting outside and enjoying life, something we all need to do more of!

VegReady’s vision is to offer 200 dishes from four regions of the world; South America, Mediterranean, India, and Southeast Asia. The current line of dishes come source from Peru – where they have various Quinoa and Rice trays with a variety of sides.

There are two ways to purchase VegReady Meals; with the subscription service or individually. Customers can save with the monthly subscription, or purchase quantities of 8 or more meals at a time.

When you purchase VegReady, you receive a cardboard case containing 8 custom-built MealBoxes, each with three dishes listed below. Each MealBox is decorated with mouthwatering images of the food inside. As a bonus, each MealBox comes with a pamphlet outlining the benefits of two plant meals per week for our bodies and our planet.

Inside each VegReady monthly delivery you’ll receive:

Main Trays (8 total):

• Quinoa & Lentils
• Blond Quinoa

Sides & Sauces (a mix of 2 per box):

• Ratatouille with Tomato, Eggplant & Zucchini: A succulent medley of rich and savory vegetables. Full of nutrition and flavor!
• Zucchini & White Onion: A savory mix of hearty vegetables, with plenty of crunch and loads of taste! Delicious on it’s own or mixed with a spinach & broccoli dish!
• Piquillo Pepper, Cabbage & Lentils: One of our saucier mixes, perfect for stirring in with a quinoa or lentil dish, and packed full of nutritious and delicious veggies!
• Tomato, Mango, Hearts of Palms & Peppers: A rich and savory sauce, with a sweet undertone, with no oil and plenty of flavor. A delicious addition to the quinoa dishes!
• Spinach & Broccoli: perfect for adding flavor and nutrients to complete each meal. Getting your greens has never been so tasty!

With the 12-month shelf life at room-temperature, you can be sure you always have a healthy meal within arms reach. No refrigeration. No heating.

How can you help VegReady help to be successful? Try their meals, let them know what you think of them. They can be ordered through VegReady.com and if you’d like to spread their message, VegReady has a Brand Ambassador program where you can earn rewards and points used towards your next purchase.

And today, the folks at VegReady want to get their meals in your hands so they are allowing me to give away a case of 8 meals to one lucky winner! Follow the instructions below to enter. Contest ends at midnight Eastern Time on July 28th. U.S. residents only, please. Good luck!

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The Essential Vegan Air Fryer Cookbook

I have several of Tess Challis’s cookbooks and love them all. I love the way Tess makes cooking healthy simple yet incredibly flavorful and delicious. In her new cookbook, The Essential Vegan Air Fryer Cookbook, Tess shows us how fun and easy it is to work with an air fryer. The Essential Vegan Air Fryer Cookbook serves up the most comprehensive collection of good-for-you vegan recipes that pack deep-fried taste―without all the guilt. This air fryer cookbook book doesn’t just give you 80 healthy recipes―you’ll also learn the ins and outs of air frying with expert advice and a handy troubleshooting guide.

Tess Challis

A little about Tess–she is the author of 6 cookbooks. She is a plant based chef, cooking instructor, recipe developer, a health coach plus more and has worked with many people helping them get on the path to great health. If you don’t already know about Tess, you can find more on her website.

Vegan Air Fryer Recipes

Tess has several classic recipes including Crispy Tofu with an Asian Spicy Sweet Sauce that I’ve made before and just had to make it again. It is perfection! So simple and the flavor combination with the sauce is just perfect. This is the way you cook tofu friends – spread the word!!

I am amazed with all of the recipes in this cookbook and am so very excited to try them all, but for this review, I just had to make the few pictured here and especially the Sweet Spicy Tempeh Cubes along with the Tamari Roasted Eggplant. Both were wonderful and so easy to make.

Other very intriguing recipes in this cookbook include:

• Air Fried Spring Rolls
• Asian Buffet Bowl with Crisp Tofu
• Banana Churro Oatmeal
• Blueberry Breakfast Cobbler
• Low Fat, High Flavor Buffalo Cauliflower
• Eggplant Parmigiana
• Gooey Lemon Bars
• Gorgeous Granola
• Immune Boosting Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Indian Spiced Okra
• Mexican Stuffed Potatoes
• Raspberry Lemon Streusel Cake.

Easy to Use

I also love that Tess is a mom and her recipes are great for kid’s as well. They are also great for people that may be new to a plant based diet or perhaps you’re are sharing them with people you’re trying to get to eat more healthy. The Essential Vegan Air Fryer Cookbook also helps demystify cooking in an air fryer. It provides a good guide for people who might be a little anxious to start using one.

I started simple by making the crispy tofu and some french fries but am really excited to tackle a few more complex recipes now that I see how easy to work with. The thing I love about an air fryer is that cooking with it is so quick, and it doesn’t heat the whole house up as drastically as an oven or stove does. It is also a great way to keep things a bit more healthy but still get that crispyness we all love. I am very interested in making up some of my favorite recipes in it, too. I definitely recommend investing in one if you’ve been thinking about it!

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Gooey Lemon Bars

Ooey, gooey delicious! These dangerously delectable treats come together quickly to create a lemon lover’s dream dessert. If you don’t love lemon, this probably isn’t the dish for you – I purposely created these with a serious kick because I can’t be bothered with a paltry “hint of lemon” when it comes to lemony desserts. Incidentally, these are one of my daughter’s all-time favorite treats. She’s requested them over cake for quite a few birthday parties over the years! There’s something unbeatable about the combination of lemony tartness with just the right amount of sweetness.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword vegan air fryer, vegan lemon bars

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Author Tess Challis

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

For the crust

• ¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• ¼ cup refined coconut oil melted

For the filling

• ½ cup organic sugar
• 1 packed tablespoon lemon zest
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ cup unsweetened, plain applesauce
• 1 ¾ teaspoons arrowroot (or cornstarch)
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• Cooking oil spray (sunflower, safflower, or refined coconut)

Instructions

To make the crust

• In a small bowl, stir the flour, powdered sugar, and oil together just until well combined. Place in the fridge.

To make the filling

• In a medium bowl, add the sugar, lemon zest and juice, salt, applesauce, arrowroot, and baking powder. Stir well.

To assemble the bars

• Spray a 6-inch round, 2-inch deep baking pan lightly with oil. Remove the crust mixture from the fridge and gently press it into the bottom of the pan to from a crust. Place in the air fryer and bake at 347⁰F for 5 minutes, or until it become slightly firm to touch.
• Remove and spread the lemon filling over the crust. Bake at 347⁰F for about 18 to 20 minutes, or until the top is nicely browned. Remove and allow to cool for an hour or more in the fridge. Once firm and cooled, cut into pieces and serve. You might use a fork to get each piece out, as the pan is a little small for traditional spatulas.

Notes

Excerpt from The Essential Vegan Air Fryer Cookbook, by Tess Challis, published by Rockridge Press. Copyright © 2019 by Callisto Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

And now for the giveaway! One lucky winner will win a copy of the great cookbook! Contest ends at midnight Eastern Time on June 25th. U.S. residents only, please. Good luck!

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The post Vegan Gooey Lemon Bars from The Essential Cookbook appeared first on Chic Vegan.

The Ultimate Age-Defying Plan

The Ultimate Age-Defying Plan provides a comprehensive roadmap to staying vital and living a long life – using plant-based cuisine and simple daily self-care rituals that boost health and support healthy functioning in the body. Practical steps are provided that we can all take daily which will help maintain mental sharpness and neurological health, cardiovascular health, bone health, eye and vision, digestive health, and provide protection against major diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain forms of cancer.

Healthy aging is a topic that many people are interested in and Mark and Ashley wrote this book because they wanted to share their decades of experience on what has worked for them and the other people they feature in the book, such as Miyoko Schinner, Joel Kahn, Victoria Moran, Cherie Sofia, and many others.

Chef Mark Reinfeld & Dr Ashley Boudet 

I’ve written about Chef Mark Reinfeld before, and I am still astounded with his creations! I like to think that I’m pretty savvy when it comes to food trends but this new book includes some incredibly innovative and unique recipes that use seven ingredients or fewer. Just a few of these include: Rosemary Star Anise Tea, A Chlorella Smoothie Bowl, Adzuki Bean Chili, Baked Sesame Zucchini Fries, Black Gomasio Crusted Tofu, Portobello Cheez Steak Stuffed Peppers, and The Great Pumpkin Cheezcake, as well many, many delicious sauces, snacks, and a variety of desserts. He is truly an artist and pioneer when it comes to creating vegan dishes.

Dr Ashley Boudet also has such a great wealth of knowledge and it’s always so interesting to learn about naturopathic principles from her, she makes learning how to heal ourselves using medicines from the earth fun!

Healthy eating can be simple and in The Ultimate Age-Defying Plan Mark and Ashley outline easy, very doable steps we can all take to have a lifetime of great health. By adding in healthy, healing foods and arming ourselves with knowledge we can truly do our bodies just a world of good that will set us up for a long, happy, healthy life.

The Doctor and the Chef

In addition to the book, Mark and Ashley share their knowledge through The Doctor and the Chef, where they travel the world teaching people naturopathic healing principles and how to use integrate these principles using culinary medicine. The Doctor and the Chef also serves as an online community along with a subscription site so you can have access to health and nutrition information, whenever you need it.

Vegan Fusion

You can also learn from Mark through Vegan Fusion where teaches students the basics of plant-based cuisine as well as more advance techniques through in person classes. If you can’t make it to a class in person, you can also learn from him online through his Vegetarian Times ecourse. Mark also just released an online training where you can become a Certified Vegan Fusion Cooking Instructor!

Thank you so much Mark and Ashley for the opportunity to review and giveaway this great book!! I highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself, you can find it on Amazon. And please keep an eye out for Mark and Ashley to make it to a city near you! You will enjoy days of some of the most delicious food you’ve ever tasted and learn information that will help you easily cook nutritious foods for yourself, your friends and family.

And now for the giveaway. You must live in the US, we will send the winner a copy. Follow the instructions before for your chance to win a copy of this great book! Contest ends at midnight on April 28th. Good luck! 

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I’m one of the very lucky people that got to work for them for a few months. During that time, I learned a lot about what they offer and was able to create some really nice recipes using their products too! All vegans should be familiar with how to cook with Kite Hill because it becomes a very nice component in many dishes and really will just kick recipes up a notch. It’s also so easy and convenient to work with and often great to take to parties, potlucks, holiday meals, etc. Everyone is always amazed when you bring a fancy little cheese plate with an assortment of fruits and veggies and Kite Hill cheeses!

Kite Hill Almond Milk Foods can be purchased throughout the US at many natural grocery stores, you can find a store locator on their website to find where you can grab them near you. I highly recommend any of their products- everything I’ve tried that they make is delicious!

Some of the best ways to use Kite Hill:

Sweetened Yogurts (Greek & European) 

These are great to make into parfaits by adding granola, nuts and a variety of dried or fresh berries and other fruits. They are also excellent served with ground flax or chia seeds as an easy way to sneak in those incredibly important Omegas! Another one of my favorite ways to use the Kite Hill yogurt (Vanilla) is to use it as a dressing on a Waldorf salad made with chopped apples, grapes, celery and walnuts!

Unsweetened Yogurt

This yogurt can be used as a dip but adding a dip packet or by making your own herb blend, you can also use it as nice sour cream replacement by adding a little lime or apple cider vinegar and add it when you make a homemade dressing to make it creamy.

Greek Yogurt 

These are great eaten just by themselves with a little fruit, nuts, seeds or granola or use the plain to make a tzatziki or cucumber raita. You could also add other veggies and herbs and spices for a savory dip.

Cream cheese 

There are quite a few cream cheeses on the market now, and Kite Hill is definitely a favorite. They make 4 flavors; plain, chive, jalapeno and now an everything bagel! To the plain, you can add any fruit, sweetener, nuts or herb blend and finely chopped veggies and spread on bagels. You can also serve it on crackers, make into cheeseballs, stuff it into dates, jalapenos, pastas, alfredo sauce, chili rellenos, enchiladas, use for frostings or cheesecakes! The cream cheese is so versatile and such a great addition to many, many recipes! Another fun and super simple way is to warm it slightly, top with your favorite jam, and serve with crackers. This is great for holiday meals and really fun to take to parties, try it with pepper jelly!

Soft Fresh

Similar to mozzarella or feta, these cheeses can be crumbled in salads, pastas, serve on crackers, serve on a skewer with other fruits or veggies, in caprese salad. The soft fresh comes in Truffle, Dill & Chive as well as a Plain and the Plain is one of the most delicious vegan cheeses I’ve tried on a pizza!

Ricotta

This cheese is amazing in lasagna, stuffed shells, pasta, ravioli, salads and desserts- take it in a sweet direction and use it in ricotta cheesecakes, pancakes, cookies. It is wonderful with lemon added. Also add some herbs like basil, olive oil, garlic to the lemon and turn it into a really fabulous dip!

Ravioli and Tortellini

These pastas can be topped with marinara, sautéed veggies, or you can make an alfredo sauce (which can be made from scratch with Kite Hill cream cheese).

You can basically use the entire line of Kite Hill products the same way you would traditional dairy based cheeses and yogurts. So have some fun and get creative!!

Kite Hill has additional products and is also adding to its line. They appear to have some new dips as well as Strawberry flavored Cream Cheese, too! Yum!

Print

Kite Hill Spanakopita

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Greek

Keyword kite hill, vegan spanakopita

Servings 30 bite-sized spanakopita

Author Sarah Eastin

Ingredients

• 45 frozen phyllo cups (three 15-count packages)
• 2 tablespoons water or vegetable oil
• ½ onion or a small one finely chopped
• 1 bunch green onions finely chopped (you could also finely chop one leek)
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 16 ounces fresh spinach washed and roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 4 ounces Kite Hite Truffle, Dill & Chive Soft Fresh (crumbled) or Ricotta, 8oz (use additional cheese if you’d like the recipe to be creamier)
• 1/2 cup Egg replacer follow package directions. (½ cup blended tofu would also work.)
• Lemon juice from half of one lemon optional
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the phyllo cups on a large baking sheet and set aside.
• Heat the oil (or water for a healthy sauté) in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the finely chopped onions and season with salt and pepper. Sauté until translucent. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the spinach and cook until spinach is soft. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool slightly.
• Add the parsley, dill, egg replacer, nutmeg, and stir to combine. After completely combined add the crumbled Kite Hill Soft Fresh and stir until lightly mixed, don’t overwork the mixture.
• Spoon the mixture into the phyllo cups and bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve hot.
• If you can’t find the phyllo cups, you could also use phyllo dough and make this recipe as a casserole. Just place the spinach mixture in a casserole dish and top with the dough in layers and bake.

Hope these ideas help inspire your creativity and are helpful for you! If you are a fan of Kite Hill and use it often in recipes, please share with us your favorite ways to use it or recipes! We are always looking for ideas!

The post All About Kite Hill Almond Milk Foods appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Dementia

Dementia is a general term for a disorder of the brain which can be characterized as memory loss and impairment of everyday function. There are several stages of the disease and progression can be slow or it can be very accelerated. People can be affected at any age but onset is generally noticed around the age of 65 and memory related problems can increase with age. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, this number is projected to rise to nearly 14 million! That’s some serious stuff! And the problem with the disease is that you don’t know if you’ll get it until it’s too late.

Numerous theories are proposed as to where dementia comes from. A single source has not been identified as the cause of the decline in cognitive function and findings based on research is unclear. Many experts believe a variety of damaging factors that can accumulate lead to brain health decline. (Bredesen)

Photo by Jack Finnigan on Unsplash

Luckily, the most promising treatment for Alzheimer’s and Dementia appears to be nutrition protocols, supplementation and positive lifestyle choices.

Several programs which have been developed recently by neurologists, have shown promise, most notably the ReCODE protocol. These protocols do recommend a mostly plant-based diet and healing through foods and the elimination of inflammation causing or damaging foods along with other lifestyle choices as well as supplementation (Bredesen) (Sherzai).

 Turmeric Coconut Bliss Balls

Just a few of these basic lifestyle choices for optimal brain health include:

• Exercise at minimum 5 days a week, 30 minutes a day. Be sure to get involved in activities that will make you sweat.
• Ensure a minimum 8 hours of restful sleep each night.
• Have a stress management routine in place including yoga or meditation.
• Work on brain training games daily and never stop learning.
• Maintain a strong social and family connections.
• Eliminate common sources of inflammation like gluten, dairy, meat, alcohol, sweets, pastries, processed and fried foods.
• Eat a diet abundant in plants with brain protective compounds including; beets, oranges, leafy greens, walnuts, blueberries, olives, lion’s mane mushrooms, herbs like rosemary, sage, saffron, ginger and turmeric and other foods rich in whole foods, plant based fats.
• Learn how to keep blood sugar in balance and prevent insulin spikes.
• Work with a knowledgeable natural health practitioner who can analyze your blood work and provide supplement recommendations. For prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s it’s important to get vitamin levels into an “optimal” range.
• Drink abundant filtered water and consider a detox several times a year. Prevent toxins from entering your body by keeping a toxin free home and body care routine.

Beet Salad

I recommend taking brain health seriously

If you notice forgetfulness in yourself or a family member, be sure to speak with a functional medicine specialist as it could be one of the early warning signs of the onset of dementia. Testing yourself for the APOE4 gene will also determine your risk factor and allow you to better plan and implement lifestyle changes. The earlier you follow a program that will help minimize your symptoms the better chance you will have at a lifetime of good memory. With a family history of dementia myself, I know declining brain health can be a scary reality but by empowering ourselves with knowledge you will learn that there is hope, and we don’t have to be resigned to a genetic fate. As Doctor Dale Bredesen says “Our genes load the gun but our lifestyle choices pull the trigger”.

Creamy White Bean and Rosemary Soup

 

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Rosemary has been found to be incredibly beneficial for general health but in particular, your brain. Just by smelling rosemary your memory can improve. Sneak this aromatic and tasty herb into as many dishes as you can or add it to a glass of water with a sliced orange for a refreshing and brain boosting beverage. This Creamy White Bean Soup is an incredibly delicious soup, and just one of the many ways you can use culinary nutrition to give your brain a little extra power.

Author: Sarah Eastin

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves of garlic, finely diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Small head of cauliflower, broken into pieces
• 2 cans of white beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups veggie broth
• bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1 teaspoon tamari

Instructions

1. Sauté garlic, onion in olive oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add cauliflower to a saucepan with 2- 3 tablespoons of water and steam on medium high heat until cauliflower is soft. Add one cup of veggie broth, allow to cool.
2. Transfer just the cauliflower mixture to a high-speed blender, add the white beans. Process on high speed until fully blended and creamy. Add the final cup of veggie broth and blend until the mixture is fully mixed.
3. Transfer the creamy mixture to soup pot.
4. Add the bay leaf, rosemary and stir to combine. Warm on low heat for 5 minutes.
5. Add the tamari, taste. Add more tamari, if desired.
6. Be sure to remove the bay leaf and enjoy!

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The post Follow These Ten Tips For A Lifetime of Great Brain Health appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Bliss Bites!

Bliss Bites! are vegan, raw, organic, gluten free, but not free of flavor or any of the good stuff. They are packed with healthy fats and superfood ingredients like cacao, coconut oil, goji berries and hemp hearts.

Bliss Bites! were created after the Trulee founder, Sherry Lee White, overcame her debilitating auto-immune disease through clean eating and positive lifestyle changes. In order to improve her health she changed her diet and discovered just how fun and tasty eating health can be!! By pairing the nutritional power of superfoods with pure, simple and flavorful ingredients, she created Bliss Bites!

Eating superfoods like goji berries, coconut oil, cacao and hemp hearts can provide an abundance of benefits including; anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, they support the cardiovascular, neurologic and immune system, they regulate hormones, helps balance blood sugar, increase brainpower, and reduce threat of heart disease and stroke.  And these are just some of the many benefits! As Sherry, the founder of Trulee discovered when she incorporated more of these more whole, nutrient dense foods into her diet and started eating a less processed, Standard American Diet, her body responded in a positive way and started to heal itself. I’ve seen this happen to so many people too, their bodies recover from multiple conditions and feel great after eating whole foods that not just healthy, they’re delicious too! So eat superfood powerhouses in any form that you can as often as you can. Bliss Bites are a great way to do that.

Bliss Bites! really do taste quite blissful and you can really tell that lots of love and thought goes into preparing each tasty little bite. My favorite was the Mint Chocolate but my friend Goldberry enjoyed the Peanut Butter Cup the most. They were all quite delicious and each had their own unique flavor and nutrition profile.

Bliss Bites! are made in Texas but can be shipped any where in the US and come with this super cool little cooler! If you are in Texas you can also find them at HEB, Central Market, and Market Street.

A very special thanks to Bliss Bites for letting us try these delicious little treats! They are the perfect snack and would be excellent to give as a gift for your loved ones or a gift to yourself!!

And the great folks at Bliss Bites are giving us 10% off all purchases, just use the code heal10 at checkout.

You can find all their great products and order from their website: https://www.truleeco.com/

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The post Experience Bites of Bliss with Bliss Bites! appeared first on Chic Vegan.

I’ve lived in the mountains all my life and, while, in the past, stylish cute apparel has been hard to find, things are getting much better and I believe that we make the best of what clothes can find. Mountain lifestyles are very active so comfy clothes like yoga pants, sandals, and t shirts are some of the most common things you’ll find on the streets and trails in the summer but, in the winter, we need a little extra planning and warmth. As some readers know, finding ethical products to keep you warm in the winter can be a bit challenging. Many boots are made with leather, jackets are made with down and hats and socks made with wool. It’s taken me a long time to find products that align with my values. My hope is that some of the info below will help with surviving winter in mountains the compassionate way

My tips for preparing for cold winter month include; wearing layers (long underwear has been a lifesaver for me many times), always being prepared for a variety of conditions with fun, warm accessories; gloves, warm hats, a nice scarf, warm socks, comfy footwear and wearing bright colors to keep from experiencing winter blues. Also, do your shopping at some of our great Colorado local or online retailers!

Some of my favorite places to grab vegan winter clothing, if you are in Denver, include:

True Love Shoes and Accessories: https://www.trueloveshoes.com/

Hoodlab http://www.hoodlabstore.com/

And for online shopping you can find some great ecofriendly, Colorado vegan finds and beyond at:

The Compassionate Closet https://www.compassionatecloset.com/

The Vickerey http://www.vickerey.com/

The North Face and Patagonia are also great sources for jackets for skiing, snowboarding or other adventures. Look for products that contain Primaloft®, which a synthetic insulator, ThermoBall or other products made with synthetic fibers.

Hiking boots and outdoor recreation gear can be a bit tough to find, a good online source is Vegan Outdoor Adventures, they have all sorts of great product information and reviews for those of us who love to adventure: http://veganoutdooradventures.com/

I’ve also even found some good, budget friendly and good looking vegan accessories, clothes and shoes at Target!

When it comes to a beauty routine be sure to wash your face often with natural products and moisturize your face and neck as well as apply a non-toxic, vegan sunscreen. My favorite places to find the best include natural grocery stores! This way you can test out which products are the best fit for you.

I also very much enjoy wearing lots of cool hats to protect me from the sun in both the winter and summer! And don’t forget your sunglasses!

Many of retailers listed above and the designers they carry have found an alternative to the use of animal products and provide sustainable and environmentally conscious clothing. Many jackets, shoes and other accessories are made hemp, recycled and sustainable fibers, even bamboo. Purchasing these products is also such a great way we can close the loop on recycling and love our environment too!

In your search to find compassionate winter clothing, always be sure to read the labels before purchasing and ask the retailer about the items that the products contain. This also sends a signal that the demand is there for high quality, cruelty free products!

And finally, for a comprehensive list of cruelty free clothing, check out Peta’s Shopping Guide to Compassionate Clothing! Have a wonderful winter!

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The post Surviving Winter in Mountains the Compassionate Way appeared first on Chic Vegan.