vanilla Archives | figgy and sprout

Orange Crush Smoothie

August 1, 2016

Hey friends!

Hope you are all having a nice summer (or winter, if you are on the other side of the world from me)!

It’s been a bit quieter over here lately and I wanted to touch in. I started this little blog of mine a while back as a way to inspire and educate people around the importance of eating real food. Sadly, I lost my way as the pressure of keeping the blog updated grew to be too much. While things may appear sparkly on the surface, there are times I’ve wanted to throw in the towel or just work on someone else’s dream. The good news is – I’m back!

I adore you readers and the community we have created here. You have no idea how much joy I find in being part of your health journey. When you pour your heart out about your daily struggle with digestive issues, weight loss or body image – I totally feel your pain. You then have gone on to tell me your life has transformed after making a few small changes that were mentioned in the blog. It is in these moments when I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, doing exactly what I was meant to do.

Wherever you are on your journey, I’m here for you.

I’m working determinedly behind the scenes to be here for you in a much bigger way… details to follow later this week!

In the meantime, I wanted to share with you this refreshing smoothie.

Orange Crush Smoothie

Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Raw

Serves 1

Ingredients:

2 oranges, peel and pith removed
1 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
2-3 ice cubes (optional)
1 teaspoon coconut oil

Directions:

Toss oranges, almond milk, vanilla bean and ice in a blender. Blend until smooth.
Place coconut oil in last and blend for additional 10 seconds. *Note – coconut oil may clump depending on temperature of ingredients. Don’t desire clumps? Omit ice, make sure ingredients are at room temperature and use coconut oil that is melted.
Pour into large glass and enjoy.

Photo credit: My sister, Jenny Norris

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Caramelized Pear & Hazelnut Porridge

March 7, 2013

You might not have guessed it from reading this blog, but I get into a routine with recipes that I make for us at home. I will get stuck eating the same thing over and over, for breakfast especially. It is usually a green smoothie or some toast and a fruit bowl. I’ve been trying to break it up by doing something different one or two days out of the week.

Recently I decided I was going to make some porridge. You see, believe it or not I never had a bowl of porridge before moving to Europe. I was always a cold cereal kind of gal. I’ve been missing out. Porridge is super easy to make and also an easy way to switch up my routine.

I have never seen or made a fancy porridge, so I thought, why not. There is no reason simple ole porridge cannot get fancy. In this recipe, pears are caramelized lightly and infused with cinnamon and nutmeg which takes basic porridge to a heavenly level. It is then topped with warmed hazelnuts and maple syrup just before serving.

This porridge helped break up my morning recipe routine, and then some. Because it is good to break up the routine once in a while.

Caramelized Pear & Hazelnut Porridge

Vegan & Gluten-free

Serves 1

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 pear, sliced
1 Tbsp. hazelnuts
dash of cinnamon and nutmeg
1/2 cup fine rolled oats (I used organic gluten-free)
1 cup water
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
maple syrup or honey, if desired

Directions:

In a small pan over medium heat add the coconut oil and pear. Sauté the pears until they are soft and caramelized. When they start to brown, add the hazelnuts, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
Place oats, water and vanilla in a saucepan over medium high heat and stir gently until the porridge has thickened – about 5 minutes.
Spoon the prepared porridge into a bowl and pour the pears and hazelnuts on top. Serve with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup if desired.

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Exotic Spice Cookies

February 13, 2013

Valentine’s day is silly, but I’ll look for any kind of excuse to get dressed up and take my handsome man out on the town. While we don’t go over the top with celebrating, I get into the spirit of the day the only way I know how to show true love: food. I baked again, and with a vengeance.

These are my latest creations – Exotic Spice Cookies. They are perfectly spicy, wonderfully soft and deliciously chewy. They are an ideal companion for a hot cup of tea. And the best part of all – baking a batch or two is incredibly easy. And on a day like today (rainy), baking is the perfect way to pass the time.

Happy baking!

Exotic Spice Cookies

Vegan

Makes 12 cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup quick oats
1 cup spelt flour or whole grain whole-wheat flour
2 tsp. fresh or powdered ginger
3/4 teaspoon cardamom
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup nut butter (I used organic almond butter)
2 Tbsp. coconut oil or olive oil
1 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup non-dairy milk (I used rice milk)
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
In a large bowl mix together the dry ingredients: oats, flour, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
In a small bowl mix nut butter and oil until well blended. Stir in sugar, non-dairy milk and vanilla until combined.
Add wet to dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon just until combined.
Drop dough by spoonfuls onto baking sheets. Bake 12 to 14 minutes, until lightly browned. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

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Raw Vegan Chocolates

October 31, 2012

Whether you plan to frolic or not on Halloween, it’s still fun to enjoy a few sweets. As for us, we’ll be having a Halloween film-fest party. The holiday wouldn’t be complete without an evening of horror films, food and drink. That’s just what I’m in the mood for after the strenuous event earlier in the week.

This year I made my own Halloween treats – Raw Vegan Chocolates. The secret to good candy at home is to start with a spread of high quality, delicious ingredients and use your creativity to dream up some creative confections. You’ll feel like the vegan version of Willy Wonka.

This chocolate is the real deal. It melts in the mouth, it’s rich and satisfying, and has a deep, dark aroma that can only be described as divine. Surprisingly, it only contains three basic ingredients, and is gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan and raw. Enjoy them with your friends and loved ones.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Raw Vegan Chocolates

Ingredients:

1/2 cup raw cacao butter
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
4 Tbsp. sweetener of choice – agave nectar, palm sugar, xylitol, stevia, etc.
1/2 vanilla pod or a tsp. of vanilla essence (optional)

Directions:

In a double boiler (or a glass bowl over water) over low-medium heat, melt the cacao butter slowly until completely smooth. Add the cacao powder, sweetener, vanilla and stir to thoroughly combine. Remove from heat.
Pour into molds or paper casings.
Place in the fridge or freezer to firm up. Store chocolate in a cool, dry place away from direct light.

You can also add cacao nibs, goji berries, coconut, almonds, hazelnuts, orange zest or whatever your imagination desires!

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