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Meet Amy + her Velvet Underground Hazelnut Brownies

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I’m excited to have Amy from Velvet Underground Cafe here this week to write a guest post.
I’m totally in love with all that she’s doing with Velvet Underground (it’s a must-stop when you’re here in Whistler) from the food, to the vibe, to the fun clothes and local product zone. I’ll let her introduce her rad self.
“Hello hooked on plants family!
My name’s Amy and I’m the owner and founder of Velvet Underground in Whistler BC.
We are a plant-based cafe, a second hand and vintage clothing store, and we are obsessed with reducing our environmental footprint on this beautiful planet. We consider ourselves a community, and a movement more than a store.
I grew up on a farm as an “animal lover” that still ate animals!
I even had pet cows and sheep but I just hadn’t made the connection that those same animals I loved I was also eating! It’s a weird feeling to think back to those times and try and understand my mentality around-consuming animal products.
Like many, I thought, it is what we as humans are supposed to eat.
And I get it, in some cultures – in snowy arctic climates – where vegetation is limited, they probably did need to eat meat and animal products, but in this day and age we can walk into any store and buy whatever our heart desires year-round!
I realized that we have the ability to thrive on a plant-based diet, so bit by bit the pennies started dropping.
Another huge deal breaker for me was the environmental impact animal agriculture has on the planet.
That was the first thing that started to really open my mind up to this more conscious way of living. I was interested in the environmental aspect of minimizing the demand of fast fashion and instead consciously choosing second-hand everything in all my shopping habits.
The vegan thing was a natural progression from that.
It was a slow process though, all though I’ve been vegetarian and about 80% vegan for around 5 years I only became fully vegan about 2 years ago, and I haven’t looked back!
This way of life has not only made me feel healthier and more energetic, but also I honestly believe it raises your consciousness to a level I can’t begin to explain.
Through my cafe, I get so much joy from inspiring others to make the change and seeing how stoked they are to learn that they can have everything they would ever want to eat but made VEGAN!
It’s actually so great! 2020, what a time to be vegan!  
So in light of that, I wanted to share this recipe from our cafe. It’s one of my faves because it’s super chocolate-y, and decadent, uses up the nut meal we have as a bi-product from making fresh nut milk, and tastes like a real ‘treat yo-self’ kinda dessert!
Heat it up with berries and coco whip to really pimp it out!”
Check out 80/20 Plants for all the plant eating help.

HAZELNUT BROWNIES

Makes 12 brownies

INGREDIENTS

½ cup (8 tsp) chia blended and mixed with just enough water to make a gel

4 cups nut pulp (we use the leftover hazelnut and almond from our nut milk but you can sub regular almond meal for a similar result)

1 cup (100g) dutch cocoa

1 tsp sea salt

½ tsp baking soda

1 cup (170g) dark chocolate (we use east van roasters couverture dark chocolate)

½ cup of coconut milk

1/2 cup (125g) of coconut oil, melted

2 cups date puree: make this by soaking dried dates in warm water for half an hour or more, then blend

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup (170g) chopped hazelnuts

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt the coconut oil and chocolate together separately in a metal bowl over a pot of simmering water

2. Assemble all other ingredients together in a large bowl, then mix in the melted chocolate and coconut oil together

4. Transfer to a 10 x 8 (ish) baking dish tin (lined with baking paper)

5. Bake at 350 F for 50 minutes

6. Let cool and put in the fridge for 30 minutes or overnight so it can easily be cut. Then enjoy!

 

Warm Vegan Pumpkin Spice Banana Milkshake | 3 Ingredients

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Sometimes all you need is something warm to put your hands around. Enter: pumpkin spice and bananas.

With just 3 ingredients and a blender, you will have this delicious pumpkin spice banana milkshake (minus the dairy) to knock your cozy socks off.

The taste?  Pumpkin pie in a cup (but, actually good for you).

Fall is definitely upon us, and this comforting bevy will be the cherry on top of your Netflix n’ chill sweatpants.

Tis’ the season for pumpkin everything. Let’s make the most of it.

Benefits:

Bananas should be enjoyed be in their ripe form (with spots). They’re amazing for digestion, high in potassium and rich in fibre.

Pumpkin Pie Spice gives us that spicey cinnamon and ginger, both bringing us great benefits. Ginger is a well-known immune-booster, and cinnamon? The king of lowering those blood-sugar levels.

Vanilla (the pure extract) is anti-inflammatory, helping you fight disease, and allowing your body to thrive.

Warm Pumpkin Spice Banana Milkshake

On to the recipe!

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Bowl

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It’s that time of the year. Bring out the pumpkin everything. Especially this drool-worthy pumpkin pie smoothie bowl.

Why is that word so comforting?

… pumpkin…ahhhhhh, Yes.

Fall, I see you. This pumpkin pie smoothie bowl hits that comfy spot, with some extra surprise nutrition.

Not only will you devour each n’ every spoonful of this deliciousness (and lick the bowl), but you’ll also reap the benefits of a couple secret ingredients. I’m talking about Pranin’s Iron and Vitamin C powders sourced straight from whole foods.

Why take Iron and Vitamin C together? Vitamin C enhances the absorption of the iron in your GI tract.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Bowl

The beauty of using these whole food supplement powders is that you’re getting the good stuff from whole food sources! The vitamin C and Iron comes from a blend of organic curry leaves, amla berries and moringa leaves. Boom.

Blend this up for yourself and reap the benefits of vitamins + minerals not only from the extra whole food supplements, but also the pumpkin purée, dates, and bananas. Serious YUM in ma tum.

If you make these, make sure you tag @hookedonplants + @praninorganic on instagram!

Need a guide towards a plant-based lifestyle? Try the 80/20 Plants Program.

Check out my e-book (your new vegan handbook) AKA …all you need for a #PlantsForAWeek mini challenge.

For more inspiration and info on eating plant-based, sign up to my emails for bi-weekly inspiration, recipes, plus a free PDF on How to Get Hooked On Plants!

Basic Vegan Peach Crisp | 10 Ingredients

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A basic vegan peach crisp as basic as your 2nd grade art class!

There’s nothing like a dessert with gourmet feels that you can whip up and devour in an hour.

Make the most of the end of the juicy peach season, and load up on those juicy peaches at the next Farmer’s Market.

Eat it for dessert. Eat it for breakfast. Because YOLO;)

No dairy butta’ needed for this beauty.

Top it off with coconut whipped cream or banana ice cream, and enjoy!

If you make these, be sure to tag @hookedonplants on instagram!

Need a guide towards a plant-based lifestyle? Try the 80/20 Plants Program

Check out my e-book (your new vegan handbook) AKA …all you need for a #PlantsForAWeek mini challenge.

For more inspiration and info on eating plant-based, sign up to my emails for bi-weekly inspiration, recipes, plus a free PDF on How to Get Hooked On Plants!

The Dessert Queen’s Basic Veganized Peach Galette | Mom’s Specialty

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My Mom is the dessert queen. Always has been and always will be. The only difference over the last few years is that the desserts she’s always made…the ones that have earned her the title…are now veganized. I’m talking about the dense chocolate flourless Sachertorte Cake (best birthday cake), her amazing fruit crisps, her Tarte Tatin (insanely delicious), and now this, the Peach Galette (the best way to put these seasonal peaches to use).

Thanks to Mom for veganizing old faves.

She’s been plant-based now for about 3 years. Ever since reading The China Study, and Eat to Live, she was hooked on the disease prevention, energy boosting and longevity aspects of veganism. Then she watched all the documentaries around…. Cowspiracy and Forks Over Knives, and dove into Dr. Gregor’s Nutrition Facts.org… Her main reason is the desire to live a long, healthy life as the athlete and energizer bunny she is, so we can continue to bike, ski, and now kite board (we’re both learning!) together. I’m so grateful that she and my step Dad are on the plant train.

Ok, moving on with this dessert.

First of all, I want you to know that you can easily veganize any of your fave baking.

Like this:

Grab yourself some juicy peaches and enjoy this Galette from the dessert queen herself;)

If you make these, be sure to tag @hookedonplants on instagram)!

Need a guide towards a plant-based lifestyle? Try the 80/20 Plants Program.

Check out my e-book (your new vegan handbook) AKA …all you need for a #PlantsForAWeek mini challenge.

For more inspiration and info on eating plant-based, sign up to my emails for bi-weekly inspiration, recipes, plus a free PDF on How to Get Hooked On Plants!

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