banana bread

I ate HALF of this WHOLE LOAF of the most satisfying BANANA BREAD in one sitting.

Seriously tho. Then I ate the rest of it within the next 2 days. I could't help myself when it came to this bread.

You all need to indulge this as well!!!

Preheat oven to 350; lightly grease a 9in bread pan.

In a small bowl combine:

2 cups flour

1 1/2 baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

In another bowl whisk together:

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup coconut oil

Once these are whisked together you add:

4 ripe mashed bananas

1/4 cup water

1 tsp vanilla extract

Once this bowl is all mixed together, you can gradually add the flour mixture and continue to mix in.

Bake for 45 to 50 mins

Check bread at 45 mins by poking a toothpick into the bread and if the toothpick comes out dry it is ready to come out of the oven.

ENJOY
Seriously as I'm sitting here writing this, all I can think about is devouring a whole load right now. But fortunately, Im out of bananas at the moment. lol.

Okay seriously go gather these simple ingredients and get going!!!

*one page one screenshot* simplicity is key!

xoxo

banana bread

Monday, April 1, 2019

matcha waffles

If you don't have a waffle maker already, you should seriously get one!!!

This recipe was super easy & of course vegan!

This recipe calls for about 4-5 waffles.

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 

2 tbsps coconut sugar (I got a bag off Thrive Market)

2 tsps baking powder

1-2 tbsps matcha powder

1 1/2 cups nondairy milk (I used unsweetened oat milk from Oatly)

3 tbsps olive oil 

Mix all together until all flour clumps are mixed then pour a 1 cup of the batter onto the waffle maker.

3 mins later you have a delicious waffle!!!

I topped it off with soy free Earth Balance butter & agave syrup

ENJOY! TAG ME @the.vegan.virgo on instagram when you try this recipe!!

*I like the make these blog posts simple and to the point so you can get one screenshot of everything you need.* I get bothered when I go on food blog and I have to scroll through 4 pages just to get to what we are looking for. Maybe here and there they will be longer than one screenshot but I want to get to the point as soon as possible when looking for a recipe!

matcha waffles

Thursday, March 28, 2019

2 min microwaved CHOCOLATE CAKE IN A MUG

 This was so friggin yummy & takes about 5 mins of your life and most minimal baking mess. 

Grab one of your larger mugs (make sure its microwave safe),

Gather all your dry ingredients and put them directly in the mug;

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar (I used brown sugar)

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp baking soda

2 tbsp cocoa powder

Mix together all ingredients in the mug

Now add in your wet ingredients

2 TBSP melted coconut oil

Splash of vanilla extract

1/3 cup choice of milk (PlanetOat milk)

Add 1 TBSP chocolate chips (EnjoyLife)

Mix together everything and place in the microwave for 2 mins!!

Then you have the easiest at home simple ingredient dessert! 

I topped my chocolate cake with some sunflower butter & added more chocolate chips.

Next time I'll be adding some nice cream!!!!

 

2 min microwaved CHOCOLATE CAKE IN A MUG

Thursday, February 21, 2019

clean skincare

Isn't the beauty industry suppose to develop products that we can trust and buy knowing they are safe and effective!? Well I hope you already knew this is completely wrong. In the United States the beauty industry is the least government regulated industry. Less than 20% ingredients for beauty products   have been tested for safety. In the US, only 30 ingredients have been banned from use in personal care products but in the European Union over 1300 have been banned. Why!? I seem to believe that marketing teams of these different beauty companies know that they can market their products successfully and that people will buy them regardless of the companies ethics or what really goes on during research and development. Consumers buy for names or for looks, not closely looking at what is in the bottle. Approximately one out of five people who are in the market for buying beauty/cosmetics will never even take a look at the ingredients labeled on the back. 

LET'S CHANGE THAT!! Isn't your hard earned money worth something even when your buying miscellaneous bath and beauty products. Well it should be, you should be putting your money (no matter what it is) where you know the quality you are receiving, and why are you supporting this company in the first place. Yes, the soap may only be $3 but you are still giving that company support and trusting it for whatever that reason may be. I'll tell you what I do when I buy products.. I turn the the product to the back side and look at the ingredients. I'm looking for minimal ingredients and/or ones I can pronounce and are familiar with. I also look for "cruelty free" and/or if it says it is vegan than compare it to the ingredients I just looked at. Well simply because I don't want anything that I'm using on body to be harming animals and using them as experiments. That is just disturbing that this is still even legal in the United States and plenty other countries. If it was questionable in the first place that the product and/or ingredients are safe or not, I don't want it. Approximately 100,000-200,000 animals suffer/die from the cosmetic industry all over the world. Disturbed.  

Our skin is the our largest organ of our body!! We should be treating it with kindness & wellness just like the rest of our body. We only get one body in this life of ours, treat it with the best intentions. You absorb up to 60% of everything you put on your skin. Saying this, we should be aware of what cleaning products were using also especially if your not wearing gloves. I think it's important to know what your buying and consuming. We should not be supporting companies that release products to the public that may be linked to any duration of health issues. Luckily, the company Follain exists that I am lucky enough to work with, they strive on the importance of clean beauty and personal care products. They only support companies whom are ethical, have all clean ingredients & of course cruelty free. "Ingredients can be harmful for different reasons. Some may dry out skin while others have been linked to cancer. Often, these ingredients are put into products to make them more pleasing- whether to smell a certain way, create a richer lather or give them a longer shelf life. But our bodies don't know how to process them. At Follain, we ensure every ingredient in our products plays a positive role in your health. No downsides or compromises allowed". Follain gifted me this travel kit with just a few different clean brands they work with. I've been using the cleanser, toner & cream everyday since I received the package. I love the way everything has been working and feeling on my skin. I'm excited to try different brands as well that I have been dying to get my hands on but now you and I have a 15% off each product
  discount code: ref15_rpw7gj

Invest in products that not only serve you & your personal care but animals & planet as well! Let's work together to only buy clean products and not support the companies who are unethical and selfish. You are essentially investing in yourself. SO take care of yourself.. and read the ingredients!!!

https://follain.com

clean skincare

Monday, February 18, 2019

superbowl fans fav

Buffalo Cauliflower Wings with Blue "Cheese"

I'll take these over any "wings" any day/life time haha. They're so friggin good & crispy !! ............    just fabulous.

Simple snack here is it. One page, one screenshot.

Preheat oven to 450.

Ingredients:

for the wings

1 head cauliflower

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 cup flour

3 tsps garlic powder

2 cups bread crumbs 

1 cup hot sauce (Franks Red Hot)

2 Tbsps butter (Earth Balance)

for the blue cheese (optional)

1 cup Veganaise (Trader Joe's)

1/4 block of extra firm tofu

1 tsp Tahini

lemon juice squeeze

dash of apple cider vinegar

dash of garlic powder

garnish (optional)

sliced green onion

To start cut up the cauliflower head to desired "wing" sizes. In a bowl mix together your almond milk with flour and garlic powder. This batter should very thick. 

Get your oven pan and spray with a non stick spray. Cover the wings with the batter in the oven pan. Once all the wings are covered evenly distribute bread crumbs all over wings & batter. Then place in the oven and bake for 18 mins.

While the cauliflower bakes, melt your vegan butter and hot sauce into a saucepan and mix the combination. Once the wings are baked, take them out and add the hot sauce/butter mixture.

Place the wings back into the oven and bake for an additional 5 mins.

Now for the vegan blue cheese dressing;

Mix your veganaise with the tahini, dash of garlic powder, apple cider & lemon juice.

Crumble your block of tofu into bowl. This will give the blue cheese crumble texture. 

After mixing all these ingredients you may want to add more garlic powder, or tahini/lemon juice that's up to you! Optional, drizzle this dressing over the wings.

Lastly optional I chopped up green onion and garnished.

So yummy & delish! It will even satisfy the meat eater's cravings!!!

#everybody eats

superbowl fans fav

Sunday, February 3, 2019

chocolate chip cookies!!

These are so easy and delish!! Why do we need to add the bullshit?

Let's get straight to the point for what you came here for. One page, one screenshot. Here you go.

Preheat oven 375, bake time 9-12 mins

Ingredients : 1/2 cup coconut oil (not melted, if it is getting 'melty' put in the freezer for a few minutes before mixing in)

1 & 1/4 cups light brown packed sugar.

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (this is the replacement of eggs, btw).

2 & 1/4 cups ap flour or you can use almond flour for GF.

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp himalayan pink salt

2 cups vegan chocolate chips. I love the brand "Enjoy Life"

Whisk together in one bowl: not melted coconut oil, brown sugar & vanilla.

Then add the milk & applesauce.

In another bowl: whisk together all the dry ingredients. Once combined begin to gradually add dry ingredients to wet. The dough will be thick just keep working it with a wooden spoon until all combined. Then add 1 cup chocolate chips.

Make your balls of dough and place an inch apart on a cookie sheet.

Once finished I would say about 10 mins they will be slightly browned let them cool for 20-25 mins. They taste better with time!! 

Simple, easy, and all eaters will love them. 

chocolate chip cookies!!

Saturday, February 2, 2019

cheez its

This was actually super easy and fun! SO I'll make this short & to the point!

Field Roast "Chao" vegan cheese- grated

Bragg nutritional yeast - 2 TBs

vegan butter (I used Earth Balance)- 3 TBs

1 cup of all purpose flour

Add all ingredients, measured out above, into a food processor

Once all ingredients have been pulsed thoroughly roll into a ball and wrap it in plastic wrap

Place this into the fridge for about 30 mins or until it has cooled down

Preheat the oven to 375, and take the dough out of the fridge 

Place the ball onto parchment paper and with your hands flatted the dough into a rectangular shape Now with floured rolling pin, flatted to a large rectangular on the parchment paper

Take a knife and begin to cut down horizontally and vertically and make about 1 inch squares

Then take a toothpick and poke holes into the 1 inch squares to give it the "CHEEZ IT" look

*if dough is too oily from the cheese when trying to roll the dough out, just gradually add flour*

Bake for 12-15 mins

Half way through, rotate the pan in the oven to get an evenly crispy cheez it

You will notice they will be slightly brown once they're finished.

Best served when cooled off at room temperature. 

Field Roast Chao "cheese" slices

Bragg Live Food Products- nutritional yeast

cheez its

Monday, January 14, 2019

here to spread the love

Hello to all you beautiful people taking the time to make a stop on my blog!

I just wanted to start off with a little about myself and where this all started. SO... I started a blog my second year during college because it has always been a pondering thought in my head for probably 6 years now. This first attempt at making the blog I wanted to express to my audience about health lifestyle habits, fashion on a college budget, skin care, etc. Then I found myself judging myself and comparing myself to other bloggers where they seemed to have more of this "blogging" thing down. I stepped aside from this blog that I started because of my Virgo self being a perfectionist (not that great of a thing). Recently I just got a reading from an astrologist based in LA area. I learned so much about myself and that thing exactly that I'm super judgmental of myself. Scott (astrologist) expressed to me that this is just who I am and I need to learn how to cope and work around who I am. We are all completely different in how we feel our emotions and how we work with ourselves and others, and of course much more. Who we are and what we do is written in the stars. In our conversation I asked him about my career and if he could give me some insight on my direction. With this being said, I graduated from a university with a Bachelors Degree in Business Management this past May(2018). Long story short of what I've been up to since then, basically in limbo. I'm sure there has to be a handful of people who've been in my situation (right?) where you are just trying to figure out what next. Yikes. In the conversation I had with Scott, I told him that I've been battling myself to start up a blog again but I had much more of direction this time; vegan lifestyle. He said to me, "Mikaela you need to do this blog", after he took a look at this chart he has during the reading; he told me that my career path would long aside "in health on a public platform in partnership". It's been a few weeks since I've had this conversation and here I am, starting this sh*t. 

I have been vegan for over a year now and its been easy!!! You know those comments like; "how could been vegan?, isn't it expensive!, I don't have time for that diet., where are getting your protein?", you know all those questions. Vegan is not diet, well to me it is definitely not, it is a lifestyle. I didn't chose to be vegan to lose lbs. I did it to change how I feel physically and mentally, and hopefully influencing the minds of others. I watched a documentary with a friend in college and yes it did in fact change my life. What The Health, gives you insight and extensive information in what is really going on behind that steak served all up on your plate. I'm vegan for my health, the environment, the animals; "because my treatment of animals is governed by my sense of right and wrong, not my senses of taste and smell".

here to spread the love

Friday, January 11, 2019