HookedOnPlants

When getting hooked is a good thing

Snacks

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!

 

Orange Pecan Chocolate Mushroom Vegan Fudge

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The other day I was flippin’ through my fave mag (Veg News) and luckily came across a drool-effect vegan fudge recipe by Jackie Sobon (Vegan Yack Attack). I say ‘luckily’ because… now you get to bask in the introduction to this decadent, melt-in-your-mouth fudge. I switched it up a bit to create what is seen here: Orange Pecan Chocolate Mushroom Vegan Fudge. It’s a mouthful…of AMAZINGNESS!!!

You can even benefit from eating this delicious dessert-y concoction.

I amped up her fudge recipe by adding in some Stay Wyld Organics medicinal mushroom goodness, and even a scoop of the simplest, cleanest Complement Protein powder.

The protein powder is a fave around here. 4 ingredients, and each one is stated on the front of the biodegradable bag in percentages.

And medicinal mushrooms? Well, they’re adaptogens, and they help bring your body back to homeostasis (in other words, balance everything out and help you deal with daily stressors).

Plus, they’re PACKED to the nines with antioxidants. Chaga especially is an antioxidant powerhouse.

Think of adaptogens as as a calming Grandmother, who brings you back down to earth when craziness hits the fan. If your adrenals are wired, they’ll help slow them down. If you’re immune system is out of wack, they’ll strengthen it up. If your mood swings are as steep as the Eiffel Tower, they’ll do their best to calm them back down to the flat-ness of the Saskatchewan plains kind of level.

Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Turkey Tail and Chaga… each of them have their special unique beneficial traits. Whether you want more focus, more energy, less anxiety or more immunity, they’ve got you. Today we’re adding Cordyceps to the mix to make this fudge super energizing.

Not only does this fudge bring on plant protien and mushroom benefits… but it also shines for what it doesn’t have.

No dairy: No cream. No butter. No milk.

Yet, it’s still incredibly decadent, creamy, fudge-y and mouth-wateringly heavenly.


Orange Pecan Mushroom Fudge - Adapted from Vegan Yack Attack
 
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A vegan, melt-in-your-mouth fudge with adaptogenic medicinal mushrooms! An energizing and delicious gift for the holidays, to your loved ones... or yourself!!
Author:
Recipe type: dessert, holidays
Ingredients
  • 4 cups vegan dark chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup vegan butter
  • 1 cup full fat coconut milk (the solid taken from the coconut milk can)
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract (peppermint would be great too!)
  • 2-4 tsp Stay Wyld Cordyceps powder (use code 'hookedonplants'
  • ¾ cup dried cranberries (save ¼ for the topping)
  • ¾ cup pecans, chopped (save ¼ for the topping)
  • 2 tbsp orange zest (half for the topping)
  • 1 tsp sea salt
Instructions
  1. Lightly greese an 8 x 8 baking dish with butter or coconut oil.
  2. Fill medium sized pot with 2-3 inches of water, and warm it up over medium heat.
  3. Create a double boiler by placing a steel or glass bowl over the pot.
  4. Add chocolate chips, coconut milk, maple syrup, vegan butter and orange extract.
  5. Whisk occasionally until smooth (about 5-8 minutes)
  6. Add the mushroom powder, whisk until smooth.
  7. Remove the bowl from the heat and fold in ½ cup cranberries, ½ cup pecans, 1 tbsp orange zest.
  8. Pour fudge mixture into the prepared baking dish (spread evenly)
  9. Sprinkle the toppings on there (1/24 cup each of cranberries and pecans, 1 tbsp orange zest, sea salt)
  10. Place in the fridge for 1 hour before serving.
  11. Chop it up and enjoy (place chunks in mason jars for an amazing Christmas present)

If you make this tag: @hookedonplants on instagram!

… and if you want more:

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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!

Halloween Goblin Green Dip | 4 Minutes | Protein-Packed

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It’s all about dat’ dip!

…or sauce, or spread, or how ever you want to put this easy peasy goblin green dip to use.

I figured this one deserved it’s own post. It’s beautifully green, it’s super delish, and ridiculously nutrish (plus it happens to be the secret magical ingredient in the Wild Mushroom Green Lasagna last week).

Packed with protein from white cannelloni beans, kinda cheezy from the ‘nooch’ and ridiculously easy to whip up.

A great addition to the Halloween table!

This makes a big batch so you can keep it in the fridge to use on your next buddha bowl, tempeh burrito, or grilled cheeze sammy!

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!