Chocolate Peppermint Malt

1 cup So Delicious Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
1/2 cup Silk Very Vanilla Soy Milk
1 tsp peppermint syrup

1: Add all ingredients into a blender (I like to chop up the "ice cream" so it blends easier)

2: ...and blend!

Bacon Green Beans

My Bear's grandparents sent over a batch of garden green beans this summer... delicious!

2 cups garden green beans
Mccormick Bac'n Pieces
1 tsp chopped garlic
2 tbsp chopped onion
olive oil for sauteing

Makes: 2 servings

1: Cut ends off of garden green beans
2: Saute on medium heat with garlic, onion and Bac'n pieces in a bit of olive oil

Cheesy Butternut Squash Ravioli

Rising Moon Organics Butternut Squash Ravioli
1/3 block of Daiya Cheddar style wedge
1 tsp Earth Balance
salt & pepper

Makes: 2 servings

Mix it all together in a pan on medium heat until Daiya and Earth Balance are completely melted.

Another alternative is to just cook the ravioli with a bit of olive oil, salt & pepper and a bit of parsley:

Fried Spaghetti

This is a favorite from my childhood... Mom's (leftover) fried spaghetti!  If you like baked spaghetti, this is a quicker option.

1/2 package of Barilla angel hair pasta
1 green pepper
1/2 chopped onion
1 jar/can of marinara sauce
salt & pepper

Makes: 3 servings

1: Cook pasta according to package instructions, rinse and set aside
2: Chop peppers and onions

3: Saute on medium heat and remove from stovetop

4: Add precooked pasta and pasta sauce and mix

At this point, you could either refrigerate the pasta to fully absorb the sauce or move along to the next step.

5: In a medium skillet, fry 1/3 of the pasta until each side is browned

6: I like to add lots of salt and pepper during this step...yum!

Alternative: Chicken Strips & Fries

Just a quick kid-friendly alternative!  For a healthier option, opt for carrots and hummus... I like some nice baked fries every once in awhile though.  ;)

Gardein Seven Grain Crispy Tenders
crinkle cut fries

Vanilla Triple Berry Smoothie

A purple smoothie!  Love, love, love the vanilla soy yogurt in this one.  What a treat!

1 cup Very Vanilla Silk Soy milk

6 tbsp vanilla soy yogurt
1/2 cup frozen berries (blackberries, blueberries, red raspberries)

1: Put soy milk in first, then yogurt, then the fruit... this is important because if you put the yogurt in first, it won't mix as well.

2: Blend it up!

Oh my goodness...so creamy and delicious!

Alternative: Hot Apple Cider

Not a recipe, just a fun beverage option for Autumn.  I put my own spin on it with the marshmallows, although I'm told that marshmallows and cider do not mix (...they do).  ;)

Macaroni & Cheese

Mac & Cheese is a classic dish...you won't believe how creamy and delicious this is!

1/2 package of pasta

1/4 cup Earth Balance
2/3 wedge of Daiya Cheddar style

Makes: 4 servings (a great side dish!)

1: Cook pasta according to instruction, strain, add back to pot
2: Cut up Daiya and Earth Balance into cube

 3: Add Daiya and Earth Balance to pot and cook on low-medium and stir until all is completely melted together

 4: Add salt & pepper and there you have a perfect lunch or side-dish!

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Sticks

"Nobody better lay a finger on my..." chocolate covered peanut butter stick!  ;)

1 cup Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tbsp Earth Balance
1 tbsp vanilla extract
8-10 mini Chick-O-Sticks

Makes 8-10 candies

1: In a medium saucepan, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, Earth Balance and vanilla on low until completely mixed

2: While hot, pour a spoonful of the chocolate mixture on a plate or flat surface and roll each Chick-O-Stick in it until they are completely covered

3: Place on wax paper or aluminum foil until chocolate has completely hardened
4: Wrap each piece in wax/foil individually.  I put mine in the freezer and take one out for a treat every now and then.  Very sugary,  but satisfies the sweet tooth!

Three Berry Smoothie

 

Happy World Vegan Day!  This is a tasty, quick drink to make on the go!  Try some fruit variations!

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup mixed frozen (or fresh!) fruit...I used three berry
1/2 container of Amande cultured almondmilk

*I prefer cultured Coconut Milk for a creamier consistency, however, my local grocery store no longer carries it!  Boo!

 1: Simply throw it all together in a blender and mix!  I like using frozen fruit because it gives more texture to the smoothie.

 2: Add a soy or hemp protein supplement if you'd like.

Update: Tried this with Soy Vanilla Bean Yogurt...SO MUCH CREAMIER!  Loved it!