Banana, Avocado, Chocolate smoothie GIVEAWAY!!

This is the most amazing smoothie EVER!! I promise if you love chocolate, you will LOVE this! Avocado pairs really well with chocolate, and the banana...well its a match made in heaven. CHOCOLATE HEAVEN.

2 bananas

1 avocado

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 cup ice 

1 cup non-dairy milk

1tsp Acai powder

kid approved

A Canadian company Earth Notions sent me a bunch of Organic Acai powder. I have never used Acai powder before so I had to do a little research on it.  I have read that it has health benefits, along with the essential fatty acids and is very high in antioxidants.There is only one ingredient  Organic Acai fruit, which is what you want when you are buying Acai products.With anything its important to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. 

If you would like to try out some Organic Acai powder just leave a comment, one comment per person please...and you will be entered to win a bag! ( there will be 5 winners!!)

Vegan Marshmallows with toasted coconut

A while ago I was sent some marshie mix by angel foods...it took me awhile to make them because I didn't own a candy thermometer, and I knew I would find one, somewhere, somehow, someday.

We just bought a home, and I have spent time there cleaning and getting ready to move in. A few days ago I was going through some of the stuff the people left there, and I came across a candy thermometer! SCORE!!
I was so happy, I actually did a little dance.

I have been planning on making these for sometime now,  I was amazed on how simple they were to make.
I have never eaten a homemade marshmallow before so I didn't know what to expect. They taste just like the real thing, only WAY better & fresher.

They take about an hour to set in the refrigerator. Although the instructions say to release the whole pan on a cutting board. I didn't want to screw it up. So I cut them out individually, and rolled them in toasted coconut
(I cooked that in the oven until it was golden).

My daughter came into the kitchen, and was excited to try one. She sandwiched it between two baby cookies!

The package made a 9" by 13 inch pan worth of marshmallowy  goodness.

Chocolate truffle cupcakes: made in the heart of the home

I have been running around a lot trying to get the home we just bought in order. Buying an old home has its ups and downs. I love the look of older homes, the charm that they seem to have. New homes are nice but they don't have the same qualities. I guess its like a young teenager compared to a cool old lady. I would way rather spend my time with a cool old lady hearing her stories and learning from her, then a has everything going for them, but it doesn't last (because its no longer in style) teenager. lol

I finished priming Oceans room, we picked two colours. Watermelon splash (for 1 wall), and whipped cream for the other 3. I have so many ideas for her room. We have moved around a lot with her, never being able to put down any roots. She is a super kid I figure she deserves her room finished first. After all she will be in her room a lot more then me in mine.

I like to dream about things I want to do with our home, mainly the kitchen. Since that is my space, and I have come to realize through home decor books that it is the "heart of the home". I like the way that sounds.

On to the cupcakes, getting mail is fun especially when its a present or in this case ORGANIC RAW CACAO CHOCOLATES, from UliMana. Yum Yum. I wanted to showcase these yummy treats so I used them as the topping to my chocolate cupcakes. OH YEAH!! These are amazing. I wanted to eat them as soon as I opened the package, but I contained my impulsiveness. Decided to wait for something special to do with them.

I used my GOTO chocolate cake recipe, its good, moist and has never failed me. This time I added a shot of espresso. Just to kick it up a notch. The frosting I usually eye it out and taste along the way, but here is the jist of it, feel free to change it up ( too sugary, not enough cocoa powder, etc...)

3/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup organic icing sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tbsp earth balance margarine
3-4 tbsp vanilla almond milk

With a mixer, blend until fluffy

What is more special then a cupcake topped with a truffle?

Ulimana

Coconut Chocolate Macaroons

The good  folks at Tropical Traditions sent me a big jar of  Virgin Coconut Oil to sample. When the mail person delivered it to my door this morning I quickly opened the box, then the jar... took a sniff and stuck my finger into the thick coconut goop, tasted it YUM!

I love coconut, but I have never worked with coconut oil before. It sort of  reminds me of sun tan lotion:P  This is my first recipe. I wanted to keep that amazing coconut flavor. Rummaged through my cupboards and decided to make coconut macaroons, with a little chocolate flare:P  This is not to be mistaken for the french macaron, that I have been seeing all over the blog world.  Which is probably why I made these...subliminal messaging (must make macaron:P)

• 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1//4 cup soy milk-(if I had almond I would of used it)
• 2 tbsp Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil-melted

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.  Mix wet ingredients in a seperate bowl.
Combine the two together. Stir it up.
Spoon onto a parchment papered baking sheet.
Bake for 12-15 minutes.