Healthy & Decadent Vegan Chocolate Pudding

Another fun snack with the kiddos 🙂 It took a little bit to get the right texture. First I used just a silken tofu and it was more like A DELICIOUS chocolate milkshake (which we loved drinking!), but not the pudding we were looking for! By adding the firm tofu, it was pretty perfect and had that pudding/mousse consistency and chocolatey deliciousness!! Plus considering the ingredients I was super happy for us all to snack out on this! YUM!!

Healthy & Decadent V

Healthy & Decadent Vegan Chocolate Pudding

1 package silken tofu (the aseptic packaging kind)
1 package firm (or extra firm) tofu
4 heaping Tbsp raw cacao powder (adjust to taste)
6-7 Tbsp agave or maple syrup (Start with less and then adjust to the sweetness desired)
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 tsp pink himalayan sea salt

Super simple! Blend together and adjust to taste 🙂

No Bake Chocolate Macaroons

Oh how I LOVE Oh She Glows! Just amazing! I am a huge fan of raw desserts, but not everyone is. Thankfully my family loved these macaroons for Passover. They definitely are not your traditional but they were super yummy and even considered healthy! How fun! Another one of our recipes that can be enjoyed anytime!!

I doubled the recipe and used small and big ice cream scoopers to make big macaroons and mini ones 🙂 (or baby ones as my kiddos would say!) 

No Bake Chocolate Ma

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No Bake Chocolate Macaroons
Recipe from ohsheglows.com
Raw, Vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, grain-free

12 macaroons

  • 1 banana, finely mashed
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup (or other liquid sweetener)*
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 6 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted
  • 1.5 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)(I used)
  • small pinch of fine grain sea salt, to taste
  1. In a medium mixing bowl, mash the banana until most of the clumps are gone. Stir in the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla.
  2. Sift in the cocoa powder and stir until combined. Now stir in the coconut, optional chia seeds, and fine grain sea salt to taste.
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick mat. Using a spoon or retractable ice cream scooper, scoop rounds onto the sheet. Place sheet in the freezer for around 20 minutes, or until macaroons are firm. Store in the freezer until ready to enjoy. They will soften at room temperature.

Note: 1/4 cup pure maple syrup results in a lightly sweet macaroon. Feel free to adjust the sweetener to your own taste buds, especially because some cocoa powders may be stronger than others.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Matzo Squares

Passover dessert is not really known for being so great (think dry flour less cardboard), but these were awesome! Chocolate & Peanut Butter to me is always a winning combination 🙂 Not everyone eats peanuts/legumes during the holiday so you can always substitute Almond butter and I’m sure would be amazing too! Also to make this as a Non-Passover dessert you can use graham cracker meal or maybe even try coconut flour! mmmm ideas!

My dear friend Lisa posted these on her site and I’m so happy, and so was the rest of my family! YUM!!!!!

Chocolate Peanut But

Chocolate Peanut Butter Matzo Squares
recipe from lisasprojectvegan.com

1 1/4 cup organic natural peanut butter (room temperature)
4 tablespoons Earth Balance (1/2 stick, softened)
1 cup vegan powdered sugar
1 cup of matzo meal (approx 3 sheets processed)
1 cup vegan chocolate chips
coarse sea salt (optional)

Combine the peanut butter and Earth Balance.  Use a hand mixer and if it gets to tough, use your hands.  Work the powdered sugar in 1/2 a cup at a time.  When that is thoroughly combined, add the matzo meal and 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips.   Combine well.  Lightly grease a small square pan (mine is a 8×8 baking pan) and set the mixture in by really pressing it down firmly so it is even.   Melt together 1/4 cup of the peanut butter and the other 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips.  Pour it over the top of the crust and spread it out evenly.  If using sea salt, sprinkle on (I did so on half) Place in the refrigerator to set (at least an hour.)  Cut into squares and serve!  Enjoy!

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

PB2 is a fun powdered peanut butter made out of roasted peanuts, salt, and sugar. It has 85% less fat calories than typical peanut butter so I thought it would be a fun product to experiment with.

I think that chocolate and peanut butter is pretty much the ultimate combination for dessert, so of course it was the best place to start with this product. This was a yummy fudge that wasn’t overkill on the powdered sugar, which I typically LOVE but shouldn’t eat all the time of course 🙂 Enjoy!

If you have tried PB2 – let me know what fun recipes you have come up with!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

3 tablespoons of peanut butter
2 heaping tablespoons of PB2
2 heaping tablespoons powdered sugar
4 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder
3 dates
1/4 cup agave
1/3 cup cocoa butter, chopped
2 heaping tablespoons almond flour (ground almonds)
pinch of salt

Place all ingredients in food processor and blend till smooth. Spoon and smooth into an 8×8 glass baking dish. place in fridge or freezer to set. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Mini-Muffins

We went to an awesome Valentine’s Day Brunch with some lovely mamas and kiddos 🙂 This was a perfect treat to bring! Bite-sized deliciousness and no one knew (or believed me!) that these were really made from great ingredients like garbanzo beans and applesauce. They are low-fat and protein-rific, yet still have that fun chocolate bite! Plus they are super simple. I bet these would be great fun baking with the kids! (just make sure to save some for your husband! Mine LOVED them!!)

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Chocolate Chip Cooki

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Mini-Muffins
recipe from http://vegnews.com
Makes 24 mini muffins (I doubled the recipe and had 39 mini muffins)

  • 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons applesauce
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/2 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease mini-muffin pan or cookie sheet. In a food processor, process oats, garbanzo beans, applesauce, vegetable oil, vanilla, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and brown sugar until completely smooth.

2. In a medium bowl, combine batter and chocolate chips. Into mini-muffin pan, scoop dough. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from muffin pan.

Batter ready to bake!

Batter ready to bake!

Muffins resting/cooling

Muffins resting/cooling

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Of course I love all things veggie but sometimes and for some people you have to sneak them in there. So this is a great dessert recipe that also has a bunch of zucchini hidden inside 🙂  These taste just like chocolate chip cookies – YUM – but with a great added bonus! I am sure by the time my little kiddos are ready to eat cookies they will already be super veggie lovers, but I still think, why not have the extra fiber and veggies in there 🙂

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 1/2 dozen cookies

Wet Ingredients
1 Ener-G Egg Replacer
1/2 cup earth balance
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup agave
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
1 cup white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

1-2 cup finely shredded zucchini (I like to use more, as it is a great way to sneak a veggie into a dessert!)
12 oz chocolate chips..vegan

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 Degrees.
  2. Combine wet ingredients in a medium sized bowl.
  3. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
  4. Combine zucchini and chocolate chips into the wet ingredients and blend well.
  5. Mix all ingredients together and mix well.
  6. Drop by spoonful (I love to use a small ice cream scooper) onto greased baking sheet or silicon baking sheet, and flatten with the back of a spoon.
  7. Bake for 13- 15 minutes.
  8. Cool on a rack and enjoy!

Marisa’s Babies Blessing Party

Candle 79 is one of the best restaurants ever as far as I am concerned! It’s on the UES so a bit of a hike for us, but makes the ultimate date night spot. Romantic, Cozy and deelish!! Check out my review from 2009.

But I went there for a very different reason recently. I had my fabulous Babies Blessing Brunch Party there. SO much fun, a bunch of beautiful girlfriends and the best food to celebrate the almost arrival of our little kiddos 🙂 Benay, the manager, was amazing in helping me set up this event and everything went super smooth. The food of course was deelish!

My mom made fabulous favors: Super cute planters all prepped with organic soil and seeds and a super cute flower on top 🙂 So perfect!!

Thanks ladies! Such a great day to celebrate!!!

We had a great menu!

APPETIZERS


Guacamole Timbale
chipotle black beans, caramelized onions, cucumber-jicama salsa, tortilla chips, ranchero sauce

Steamed Dumplings
seitan, shiitake mushrooms, baby bok choy, sesame-soy-ginger sauce
Angel’s Nachos

corn chips, mozzarella, tomatoes, refried pinto beans, chili-grilled seitan, guacamole, salsa, tofu sour cream, romaine lettuce

ENTRÉE


Stuffed Avocado Salad
baby greens, quinoa, zucchini, cucumber, radishes, black beans, toasted pumpkin seeds, grape tomatoes, chipotle-avocado dressing

Black Bean-Pumpkin Seed Burger
mixed lettuces, avocado, polenta fries, chipotle ketchup


Home-Style Pancakes
seasonal fruit, cranberry butter, gingered maple syrup

Wild Mushroom-Squash Risotto
cashew cream, pumpkin seeds, fresh herbs, frizzled leeks

Seitan Picatta
creamed spinach, grilled potato cake, oyster mushrooms, lemon-caper sauce

Check out my version of this famous dish 🙂

and then Dessert 🙂

Live Sweet Potato Parfait
nut granola, huckleberry ice cream


Cannoli
vanilla cream filling, coconut-chocolate chip ice cream, chocolate sauce


Apple Cranberry Pie
toasted oat crumble, french vanilla ice cream, berry
coulis, candied almonds

There were lots of fabulous beverages going around. I was super happy to have ordered the Coconut-Mint Frappe avocado, coconut water, agave, mint, lime. AMAZING!! I have been craving this drink ever since!

Vegan Peanut Butter Mousse

Addictive does not even describe how good this is! You are lucky if it makes it out of the blender to serve. Have fun with this and change up the toppings or get super creative and make a pudding pie or cake with the mousse.

This one is so super easy to whip up but be careful, not sure we should have mousse EVERY day 🙂 ENJOY!

Vegan Peanut Butter Mousse

1 cup peanut butter
16 oz firm silken tofu (not the vacuum packed kind – I used Nasoya)
1/2 cup agave
1/2 cup vegan cream cheese
1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract

Blend tofu and peanut butter in blender or food processor until smooth. Add cream cheese and blend more, scraping down the sides. Add agave and vanilla and blend again.

Assemble with toppings or just enjoy alone (maybe even straight out of the blender :))

Toppings Ideas

bananas
strawberries
other fruit
granola
banana bread crumbles
chocolate chips

Yummy Protein Goo Ball Bites

I have been doing my best to get as much protein as possible lately. (Thank goodness for Brendan Brazier’s Vega Bars!) I have made many versions of this snack throughout my life, but never added protein powder before and it really was such a perfect addition! I made both vanilla and chocolate versions to enjoy 🙂 Awesome!

These were so super fast to whip up and even faster to eat haha so make sure you make some extra for the perfect on the go snacks.

Yummy Protein Goo Ball Bites

Chocolate Version

1 scoop chocolate protein powder (as I mentioned above – I love Brendan Brazier’s products from Vega and his Shake & Go Smoothie Chocolate is amazing!!!!)
2 tablespoons Artisana coconut butter (this is the best stuff ever!)
2 teaspoons honey or agave
1 heaping teaspoon organic peanut butter (or other nut butter)
1/2 cup unsweetened dried shredded coconut
1/4 cup light coconut milk

Vanilla Version

1 scoop vanilla protein powder (my absolute favorite vanilla powder – Life Time Lifes Basics Plant Protein)
2 tablespoons Artisana coconut butter
2 teaspoons honey or agave
1 heaping teaspoon organic peanut butter (or other nut butter)
1/2 cup unsweetened dried shredded coconut
1/4 cup light coconut milk

Combine all ingredients. You might need a little more protein powder or coconut if too wet or some coconut milk if too dry. Roll into balls in your hands.

Optional add ons:

  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  • Extra shredded coconut

Melt chocolate over a double boiler and dip the bites in the bowl. Then sprinkle coconut over and freeze until firm.

Vegan Fudge: Soy, Tree Nut, & Gluten Free

Thanks so much Averie for this recipe! OMG! This one “magically” dissappeared fast out of the fridge over the week. 😉 I don’t normally make these kind of desserts to keep in the house, but it was Birthday Week so I thought we could have this special treat. SO good, So fast (to make AND to eat!!). YUM!!!!!! It’s rich, decadent, fudgy, wonderful.


Vegan Fudge–Soy, Tree Nut, & Gluten Free; and a 10 Minute Recipe
Recipe from Averie

1 Cup Vegan/Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 box Confectioner’s Sugar
1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
2 Tablespoons Dairy-Free Margarine (Earth Balance)
1/2 Cup Regular Coconut Milk *DO NOT USE LIGHT Coconut Milk*
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

  1. In a large bowl, combine the chocolate chips, sugar, and cocoa.
  2. Separately, place the margarine and coconut milk in a small saucepan, and stir together over medium heat.
  3. Cook the mixture until the margarine has melted, and bubbles just begin to break at the surface.
  4. Remove it from the stove, and immediately pour the liquid over the dry chocolate & sugar mixture.
  5. Let everything sit for a couple of minutes (and if you wait too long and it hardens up on you, feel free to nuke it for 15 seconds at a time or until melty), and then stir vigorously to melt the chocolate and incorporate the dry ingredients.
  6. Continue stirring until a completely smooth mixture forms.
  7. Mix in the vanilla, and quickly pour everything into your prepared pan, a lightly greased or cooking-sprayed 8×8 pan (or another similar size)
  8. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

I'm surprised any of this made it into the pan 🙂 It was so good! The ultimate spoon licking dessert!!

Ready to Chill

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