Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

Category : Recipes

It’s been a very long time since I’ve had a cinnamon roll. I absolutely love them but they’re difficult to find in the vegan variety. I finally remembered that the Pillsbury Crescent Rolls are vegan so I got busy with creating some super easy, semi-homemade rolls.

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Pop open one package of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls and unroll 4 rectangles of dough.  Spread a thin layer of Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread over the dough then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Roll from the shorter side then cut into 3.  You’ll come out with 12 small rolls.  I should’ve used a smaller pan – I used a pie plate but that was too large so some of the rolls fell over – no problem, they still tasted fantastic!  Bake at 350 until golden brown, about 12-15 minutes.  While baking, melt a tablespoon of butter, add a few tablespoons of vegan milk, a teaspoon of vanilla and then enough sifted powdered sugar to come to a decent consistency for pouring over top the rolls when they come out of the oven.  You’ll be in heaven – so easy and so delicious!

Native Foods – Chicago Loop

Category : Dining Out

The new Native Foods location in the Loop is open! I went yesterday for lunch and was super excited to see the restaurant packed! I’m so happy there is such a desire for healthy vegan food in the Loop. I had such a difficult time deciding what to order – that’s what happens to me when I can actually eat everything on the entire menu! I opted for the Chicken Run Ranch Burger – seriously the best faux chicken I’ve ever had – delicious!  Already looking forward to going back today.  It’s a little pricey but well worth it.  My sandwich was $9.95 – if I’d gotten the special of the day I’d have gotten a free side but to be honest this sandwich was totally enough to fill me up.

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Chicago – Loop

map / directions
218 South Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 332-6332
Hours:
Mon-Fri: 10:30am – 8pm
Sat: 10:30am – 4pm
Closed Sunday

WayFare Vegan Sour Cream

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Category : Food & Beverages

As much as I said I LOVE their cheddar spreads – I’m so so glad I didn’t get sucked into the coupon on the side of the WayFare vegan Sour Cream (buy 2 get one free).  This stuff is horrible!  I’ll be sticking to my Tofutti Sour Supreme.  This stuff is like yogurt.  The consistency and flavor!  It’s thin and not smooth, nor do I think it has the right flavor to try to pass as sour cream.  Don’t waste your money on this product!

“Egg”Nog French Toast with Carmelized Bananas & Pecans

Category : Recipes

Sunday morning I made an AMAZING breakfast! On the side of my SO Delicious Coconut Milk Nog was is a recipe for french toast…

So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage - Nog

I only wanted enough for myself so I cut down the recipe:

1/2 C nog

1/2 banana

a few sprinkle of cinnamon

blend until smooth, pour into a wide bowl, soak your bread

slice the other half of the banana in half and sautee in earth balance vegan butter along with a few crushed pecans

put your bread in a frying pan with a bit of earth balance, when finished, top with the bananas, pecans and real maple syrup – DELICIOUS and so easy!!

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WayFare Hickory Cheddar Spread

Category : Food & Beverages

The other day I picked up the WayFare Hickory (vegan) Cheddar spreadable “cheese” at Whole Foods and I’m in love!  It’s so good!  I’ve been enjoying it on some nice whole grain wheat crackers.  The consistency is thick but still easy to spread and the flavor is great – even my cheese eating husband said it was decent!  This is going to be a new staple in my fridge for snacking!  I’m looking forward to trying the other flavors.

Festive Shoes

Category : Shopping

I’m in search of a festive outfit or two for the holidays and of course with that goes shoes!  Finding vegan friendly shoes in mainstream stores can be tough.  I don’t mind ordering shoes online but I do love to be able to go into the store and try them on – it just saves me from having to return the wrong size and then hope the other size fits.  There aren’t too many places a vegan girl can shop for shoes but Macy’s carries the Madden Girl line which are typically vegan and cheap!.  These are adorable…

Madden Girl Toriie - only $49.95!!!

They’re satin with man made soles so they appear to be vegan.  I love the sparkly detail on the platform – makes them fun festive without being over the top.  I think I might go try them on!  I love all three color options but black is so versatile…the pink and red ones are super fun though…hmmm…check out these high heels for yourself!  They might be on the high side for me but then again, they’re reasonably priced and it’s not like I’m looking to wear them to work – I can handle a little pain for an evening here and there :)   Paired with a fun sparkly skirt and sweater they’ll help to make the perfect outfit for my holiday party this weekend.  Now that the important stuff is sorted out I need to get working on the menu!

Lula’s Sweet Apothecary – NYC

Category : Dining Out

I’d have to say my favorite part of my weekend in New York City was visiting Lula’s Sweet Apothecary. I was in absolute heaven! The shop is tiny but the selections are vast. It took me forever to decide what I wanted. I had been craving a vanilla malted lately – thinking back on going to Steiner’s Pharmacy in Grand Haven, MI when I was little where I’d get a grilled cheese and vanilla malted. mmmm, sounds so good – I wish I could create a vegan version now – but I need to find where to buy vegan malt powder! Anyway, I was so so excited to find Lula’s has malt powder! But they also have hot fudge brownie sundaes! ugh, the decision was rough! I finally realized I could have a bit of both worlds….I ordered the brownie sundae…it was a warm brownie which I topped with a scoop of mint chip and a scoop of cookies and cream, then added hot fudge, malt powder, whipped cream and a cherry. It was delightful! I can’t even tell you how happy I was to enjoy such a magnificent treat! My sister had a cup of the mint chip and as a non-vegan said it was by far the best ice cream she’d ever had! So it just wasn’t me gushing over it!

I can’t emphasize enough – if you’re ever in NYC you NEED to make it over to Lula’s – it’s well worth the trek and it’s in a super cute neighborhood so do some exploring while you’re there.

Lula’s Sweet Apothecary
516 E 6th Street
New York, NY 10009
 
Sunday 3-10pm
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday – Wednesday 3-10pm
Thursday – Friday – Saturday 3-11:30pm

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Pala Pizza – New York

Category : Dining Out

Sunday while in NYC my sister and I went to Pala Pizza in the East Village for some amazing vegan pizza! They have an entire vegan menu and use Daiya cheese! It was insanely difficult to decide what to order but we opted for the funghi e salsiccia. It was a delicious wood fired pizza with veggie sausage, field mushrooms, Daiya mozzarella and hot peppers. That was definitely the best pizza I’ve had in a long time.

The atmosphere was great – super cute place and our server was fantastic. I’d highly recommend it!

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not the best photo – it was a bit dark in there and I forgot to turn on my flash!
Pala Pizza
198 Allen Street
New York, NY 10012
212.614.7252

Dun-Well Doughnuts in NYC

Category : Dining Out

Monday morning while waiting for my flight home from NYC I had my first Dun-Well Doughnut. It was so so yummy! It’s been ages since I’ve had a doughnut so I was pretty excited. I purchased it at Lula’s Sweet Apothecary Sunday afternoon – more on that later!! It was very difficult to select a flavor – plain glazed, chai tea, coconut, chocolate with nuts, and a couple of others – I opted for the classic chocolate w/o nuts. By the time my precious chocolate doughnut arrived at LaGuardia it was in rough shape as you can see, but that didn’t change how lovely it tasted…mmm…

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Kahlua Pumpkin Squares

Category : Recipes

Back in 1993 I received “Favorite Brand Name Cookie Collection” cookbook for Christmas. One of my favorite things to make from this book was the Kahlua Pumpkin Squares with Praline Topping. My nana especially enjoyed these and I have fond memories of us enjoying these over a cup of tea as an evening treat. The other day I realized I hadn’t had them in years and set out to veganize them.

1 C flour

1/4 C powdered sugar

1/2 C Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks

1 C pumpkin

1 8oz pkg of vegan cream cheese (I usually use tofutti but this time used Galaxy Nutritional Foods brand as I was so excited to see they are also making a chive & garlic version – yea! I don’t have to flavor my own cream cheese now!)

2 T arrowroot powder or corn starch

1/4 C So Delicious French Vanilla Creamer

1/4 C Kahlua (this time I was out so used amaretto – was good but doesn’t compare to using Kahlua!)

1 C chopped walnuts or pecans

1/2 C firmly packed brown sugar

3 T Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour and powdered sugar, cut in 1/2 C butter until mixture forms fine crumbs – you can do this right in your 8 inch square pan, press mixture into bottom of pan and bake for 18 minutes or until golden.

Meanwhile, in food processor or blender, puree pumpkin, cream cheese, arrowroot/corn starch, creamer, sugar and Kahlua until smooth. Pour mixture over warm baked crust; return to oven and bake about 25 minutes or until set. Cool, cover and refrigerate.

In small sauce pan melt 3 T butter and combine with nuts and brown sugar. Sprinkle over top just before serving.

 

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