HookedOnPlants

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Dessert

Raw Vegan Date Hemp Coconut Sneaky Greens Bliss Balls

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Dates glorious dates. Melt in your mouth. Chewy. Sweet.

Natures candy.

Date Balls!

Dates are amazing for well….  anything really. Buy them by the box, and make sure they’re as juicy and fresh as possible. These little morsels are taken everywhere. In the car, on camping trips, in my camel back, on the plane… you name it.

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Packed with fibre, minerals and vitamins, dates are not to be afraid of. They’re a whole food, unrefined and easily digested for amazing, clean burning energy. The perfect snack on the go. If you love caramel apples, take a bite of an apple with your date and call it a day. Seriously. Take them everywhere with you and you will be a happy camper.

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They are delicious as they are. But sometimes it’s nice to introduce them to a few other flavour buddies.

Hemp seeds add a great hit of flavour and essential fatty acids, oats create a cookie-like taste, and for the twist, quinoa puffs round out this delish ball with a surprising crunch and a complete protein (not that we have to be worried about protein, because it literally is naturally in every single whole, plant food).

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All you need is a food processor and a bit of a shimmy of the wrist to create these melt in your mouth hits of nutrition.

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Benefits:

~Dates are chalk full of fibre, magnesium, and selenium. Plus they are stars when it comes to smooth digestion, nutrient-density, and improving the gut flora. This is all beneficial for weight loss, satiety, and clean burning energy.

~Hemp seeds are a great balance of 3:1 omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids. In the Standard American Diet, there is WAY too much omega 6 fatty acids being consumed, and not enough omega 3. SO, hemp seeds are a perfect way to ensure you’re getting enough omega 3s in your life. This will help ward off depression, Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis, blood fat, asthma, and ADHD. Plus it’s one of the best options for plant-based protein.

~Coconut is packed with vitamin E, polyphenols, and vitamin A, which all work together to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

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Makes: 30 balls

Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 20 Medjool dates, pits removed
  • 1 cup oats
  • 1/4 cup hemp seeds
  • 1/4 cup Daily Greens Powder (broccoli sprouts, moringa, spinach, barley grass and chlorella)
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup shredded coconut

Directions:

  1. Process oats to a flour in food processor, then blend in Daily Greens powder
  2. Add dates to flour and process for 10 seconds
  3. Add hemp seeds, quinoa puffs and vanilla to the mix and process until a ball forms
  4. Spread coconut on a plate
  5. Shape date mixture into small balls with wet hands and drop them onto the plate (a few at a time). Shake the plate so the balls get coated with coconut shreds.
  6. Once the balls are all shaped and coated, store them in the fridge so they’re ready for snacking!
  • If youre having trouble keeping the mixture together, add 1-2 tsp of water to the mix then try molding again.

These keep their shape and travel like heroes!

So bring them on hikes, bike rides, camping trips, you name it.

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Vegan Pumpkin Pie (Mostly Raw)

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Guess what season is upon us… PUMPKIN PIE SEASON.

This Vegan Pumpkin Pie isn’t your typical pumpkin pie. This one here packs in that nostalgic, comforting flavour AND benefits.

Every season should be Pumpkin Pie season, am I right?

Of course, with Pumpkin Pie season also comes with ThanksGivin’er, friends, Mom’s birthday, crackling fires, warm socks, scarves, toques, crispy air bike rides, ‘I’ll have a 2nd latte’ kinda days…ahhhh Fall things. 

The beauty of this recipe is that it ticks all the taste + texture benefits, without refined sugar, butter, eggs, or flour.

I’ll have seconds please, because … Pumpkin Pie with benefits. 

This is a no-bake pie with mostly raw ingredients. Raw ingredients, by the way, have all their nutrients in tact which means their bursting with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

The only non-raw ingredient is the puréed pumpkin. Because hey, we want easy too, right? If you find some sugar pumpkins in the grocery store, and feel like baking + blending those up, feel free!

It melts in your mouth.

It pleases your friends.

It’s easy to make.

It’s pumpkin pie, I mean come’on.

OH YA, AND… COCONUT WHIPPED CREAM.

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and, Hello Thanksgiving dinner parties (Covid style)!

Benefits:

Pumpkin has a whopping 200% of your vitamin A needs in just one cup (does wonders for your vision)! It helps prevent cancer with the antioxidant beta-carotene. It also helps with weight loss because of combo of high nutrient density, low calorie density, and lots of plant fibre. Not to mention the vitamin C it carries to help your immunity during these colder months!

Dates are Nature’s candy. They’re packed with fibre, so the uptake of their natural sugars is slowed, and helps keep you energized. There’s a bunch of essential minerals and vitamins in these little juicy morsels as well.

Nuts are great for your brain, skin, and heart. They help create a decadent feeling raw dessert with their unsaturated fats.

Time: 20 minutes prep, 5 hours freeze

Makes: 8 – inch pie pan worth of pie

Ingredients:

Crust:

  • 1.5 cups pecans
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds (optional)
  • 1/4 cup oats
  • 10 dates
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp allspice

Pie Filling:

  • 1/2 cup cashews (quick soak in hot water for 10 minutes, then strain)
  • 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice (or 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp allspice)
  • 1.5 cups pumpkin puree, *not the pre-made pumpkin pie filling (equal to 398mL can)
  • 1 banana (ripe with spots)
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • Pinch of salt

Coconut Whipped Cream:

  • 1 COLD can of full fat coconut milk (store in fridge at least 2 hours before making!)
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

Directions:

  1. Soak cashews: Place in bowl, pour hot water over, let sit 10 minutes
  2. Make crust: blend all crust ingredients together in food processor. It’s done when a ball starts to form
  3. Spread crust mix on the bottom and up the sides of the pie pan (easier with wet fingers)
  4. Make pie filling: Strain cashews, blend them in food processor for 2 minutes, or until a cashew butter is formed. Then add the rest of the pie filling ingredients and blend until smooth.
  5. Spread pie filling over the crust evenly
  6. Place in the freezer for 3 hours
  7. Make coconut whipped cream: Flip coconut can upside down after it’s been chilled in the fridge, open the can and skim the liquid off the top (drink it!). Use just the thick, white cream. Blend the cream and maple syrup together in kitchen aid mixer, or whipping cream blender until stiff peaks form.
  8. Slice, add a dollop of whipped coconut cream, and enjoy!

*** Feel free to add in even more benefits with medicinal mushroom powders! I think Reishi would be great in this recipe.  You can use ‘Julia10’ for a discount here. 

Need help going plant-based?

Try the 80/20 Plants App

Bangin’ Banana Tahini Chaga Granola (Oil & Refined Sugar-Free)

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Who doesn’t love a good crunch in the mornin’?

I do.

But, I don’t love all the sugars + oils snuck into a typical store-bought granola…

Enter: THIS BANGIN’ BANANA TAHINI CHAGA GRANOLA

This recipe is:

-Easy

-Delish

-Free from refined sugars and oils

-Made up of whole foods baby!

Pour some milk on top (Earth’s Own new 4 ingredient oat milk are a fave), or sprinkle it on top of your coco yogurt bowl or smoothie bowl. How ever you enjoy granola, you’ll be able to enjoy it knowing you’re packing your body with quality nutrients and good energy. 

As for the mushroom part, totally optional, but any opportunity I can get, I’ll add in mushroom powders to my recipes. 

The Stay Wyld Organics Mushroom powders are North American sourced, steamed for best absportion, organic, and packaged in glass with a tin lid (plastic-free packaging for the win). I’m using Chaga here, but really could throw all 5 in this recipe!

 

Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Reishi AND Chaga all give you a mega dose of antioxidants and act as adaptogens in your body, bringing your body back to homeostasis (balance). They’re also immune-boosting and good for the gut. 

Cooking time: 16 minutes

Servings: 5

NOTE: This recipe is very double-able. Do it. 

 

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Ingredients:

  • Wet Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup tahini

  • 1 ripe banana, mashed

  • 2 tsp vanilla

  • optional: if you like it a bit more sweet, add 1/4 cup maple syrup

  • Dry Ingredients:

  • 2.5 cups rolled oats

  • 1/2 cup coconut shreds/ribbons

  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

  • 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

  • 2 tbsp cinnamon

  • 3 tsp Stay Wyld Organics Chaga mushroom powder (use ‘Julia10’ for a 10% discount on these North American, organic, steamed, medicinal mushrooms in plastic-free packaging!)

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • Add ins after baking:

  • 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries or chopped dates

  • 1/4 cup hemp seeds

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Directions

  • Pre-heat oven to 325F
  • Mix the wet ingredients together in a large bowl
  • Add in the dry ingredients to the wet and mix thoroughly (hand mixing is the most satisfying and gets the job done best)
  • Lay it out evenly on a parchment (or reusable baking sheet) covered pan
  • Bake for 16 minutes, mixing around halfway through. (Careful not to burn at the end!)
  • Remove from oven and let cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in your cupboard or the fridge. As you transfer it to your container, add in the additional ingredients and shake it up.
  • Snack, scoop, or sprinkle it on everything!

5 Vegan Easter Treats that will Blow Away Your Bunny Ears

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Easter was a huge deal when I was a kidlet.

Painted Easter Eggs, a string to follow that would lead me to the hidden chocolates under the couch and behind pillows, then a big kids Easter Egg hunt all over the forest with one mega, sought after chocolate bunny prize.

Why that doesn’t happen on Easter day anymore as a young at heart adult? I DON’T KNOW. Bring it back, please. When did we all grow up and think we’ve outgrown easter egg hunting? We’re all kids at heart, and that kinda stuff should continue on whether it’s for the new generation of kids, or just for yourself. Because you deserve to be a kid always, and forever.

Anyways… I thought I’d bring some Vegan Easter Treats to you that will complete your weekend  from some of my favourite veganista blogerellas. Hopefully this brings some nostalgia back to your Easter, or at least amps it up with a bit more deliciousness.

Peanut Better Balls  by Oh She Glows

Why I love em’:

  • 7 ingredients
  • Taste like Reeces pieces
  • Finger food heaven

Vegan Chocolate Creme Eggs by It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken

Why I love em’:

  • Just look at the creamy rainbow falling out of them!
  • They’re just fun.
  • Just like Cabury MINUS the dairy
  • Playful and perfect for making with the kids

Vegan Easter Cookies by Vegan Family Recipes

Why I love em’:

  • They’re coloured with turmeric, beet and matcha powder
  • They’re totally dip-able
  • They’re ready in 20
  • They wake up the creative side, and I’d most def’ be making them with my Grandma if she made a visit this weekend

Cashew Cream Egg by Nest and Glow

Why I love em’:

  • They’re on the healthier side (so we can all eat more)
  • Look how pretty they are!

Vegan Sachertorte by Moi and Mom

Why I love it:

  • A fool proof, dense, chocolate cake that is loved by all every time
  • It’s chocolate heaven
  • It’s ridiculously easy

ok…NOW I’M DROOLING.

Are you?

Here’s a few more Egg-y and Chocolate-y tips:

  1. Check out Pamela Fergusson’s blog post for a dozen things you need to know about eggs (this will enlighten you about the reasons why I steer clear of them…even on Easter)
  2. Ready to eat vegan Easter answers:

If you make any of these, tag me and the blogger so we can see your creations!

Happy Easter.

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Need help with eating more plants?

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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!