pumpkin pie protein shake

This is the most delicious shake that I have had in a while! I have been on a protein shake kick trying to get this body ready for all of the holiday grubbing that is likely to occur in the upcoming months. One of my favorite things about the holidays are those yummy drinks that pop up at Starbucks and Coffee Bean. Yes, those sugary, caramely, and spicy concoctions that call for an extra workout if you choose to indulge.  But why do that to ourselves? Instead make this healthy version that adds fiber and protein to your day. . .

1 cup coconut milk or almond milk // 4oz pumpkin puree // 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice // 1 tblsp raw pecans // 2 scoops vanilla protein powder // 1 scoop fiber // ice

ENJOY!! XOXO

vegan broccoli slaw in the raw

This is SO quick + easy there really is no reason why you wouldn't whip up a batch of this delicious slaw! It is like vitamins in a bowl! I made the ginger dressing out of a few things that I had in my pantry. Don't worry, there will be some left over to save for future veggie dipping. Our broccoli slaw is the perfect snack or meal on the go. . . simple and pure.

GINGER DRESSING

•  3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root
• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 cup water

In a mason jar or bowl, combine the garlic, ginger, olive oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, and water. Cover the jar with a tight fitting lid, and shake well. Remove lid, and heat jar in the microwave for 1 minute just to dissolve the honey. Let cool, and shake well before serving. Store covered in the refrigerator. 

BROCCOLI SLAW

• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 bag of broccoli slaw
• 4 tblsp ginger dressing
• 1/2 cup raw slivered almonds

Mix together the bag of broccoli slaw, chopped bell pepper, and slivered almonds in a bowl. Toss with ginger dressing. Best served chilled!

recipe // vegan chickpea salad

Step 1 // chop the following organic veggies

romaine lettuce, cucumber, red bell pepper, avocado, tomatoes, chickpeas

Step 2 // layer on crumbled falafel + pita chips

Step 3 // toss with Goddess salad dressing from Trader Joes

Enjoy!!

fresh squeezed mai tai recipe

We made this recipe for our rum loving, island worshipping, dad for father's day. Made with freshly squeezed juices, this potion {in our dad's words} is healthy and full of vitamins and minerals. And yes, it will leave you feeling a little giggly too ;) Whip up and squeeze out a big batch of these mouth watering mai tais for your next bbq or dinner party. . .

Island Style Freshly Squeezed Mai Tai Recipe:

3 oz. light rum
3 oz. dark rum
1 oz. orange curacao (or grand marnier)
2 oz. fresh squeezed pineapple juice
2 oz. fresh squeezed orange juice
2 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
1 oz. almond syrup  {you can get it in the mixer section}

To drink it mystics+mint style, pour all of the ingredients into a mason jar with ice. Put the top on and shake your heart out! Take the top off, stick a straw in it and enjoy responsibly, or not. . .

magical morning shake

With memorial day right around the corner, we are determined to have the healthiest and most heavenly bodies possible! Let's start with a recipe for the most important meal of the day. This magical morning shake is full of fiber, protein, and yumminess to keep you full for hours. Whether you go to school, work full time,  or chase kids around all day, it is important to wake your body up correctly. If you are looking for a something to begin your day with lasting energy, that can help you lose weight, and can help in the fight against heart disease and other anxiety-inducing diseases, drink this shake!! It is pretty darn delicious too. . .

here is what you need:

1 banana

1 cup almond milk (or whatever kind of milk that you like)

a handful of raw almonds

1/4 cooked oatmeal (we used organic, plain, gluten-free instant rolled oats)

a sprinkle of cinnamon

1 scoop of ground flaxseed

1 cup of ice

optional: add fresh organic fruit like strawberries or blueberries, and hey throw in a spoon full of almond butter too!!

enjoy!!

peanut butter pretzel sandwiches

Salty and sweet. Nutty and delicious. Naughty and oh so nice. These little sandwiches are packed with a sugary potion that will blow your mind! I made a batch of these little devils for our recent road trip to the Coachella music festival. Perfect for snacking, dinner parties, and birthday surprises. . . these sandwiches are beyond divine. Go ahead, give your taste buds a chuckle!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 bag of pretzel bites

1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

salted pecan pieces

2 tbsp softened butter

Combine peanut butter and softened butter in a large bowl.  Add the sugars and mix to combine until dry enough to roll into a ball. If the filling sticks to your hands, add more sugar until you reach desired consistency. 

 Use a spoon to measure the filling.  Roll each portion into a small ball, then sandwich them between two whole pretzels thins.  Place the sandwiches on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Stick the whole tray in the freezer for about half an hour.

 Melt your chocolate chips in a small sauce pan over super low heat. Stir constantly until the chips are completely melted. Dip one end of each sandwich into the chocolate. Tap to remove excess chocolate and place back onto the parchment paper. If you are adding the pecan crust, sprinkle the pieces onto the top and allow to cool. Return the tray to the freezer to set up completely. Store in the fridge until you are ready to serve them!

Enjoy!!

// recipe adapted from two tiny kitchens //

recipe :: vegan chocolate cake

Who doesn't love chocolate cake?? This recipe is for the most amazing vegan chocolate cake that I have EVER had!! You would never know that it is dairy free. I hosted a girls' night at my place and knew that I wanted to make this delicious treat for my friends. I served it with wine, fresh sliced strawberries, and a sprinkle of powdered sugar to make it even more irresistible. . . make this for your next get together or party!!

Chocolate Cake

1 1/2 cups unbleached flour

1 cup sugar

3 tbs dutch cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla extract

5 tbs vegetable oil

1 cup cold water

1 tbs white vinegar

1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Mix together flour, sugar, cocoa, and baking soda. 

Next, add the oil, vanilla, and water, mix well, add the vinegar last. 

Blend until creamy. Pour the batter into a greased 8x8 or 9x9 inch pan (I used a round spring form pan) and sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until center is done. 

Allow to cool then add chocolate frosting.

Home Made Chocolate Frosting 

3 tbs dutch cocoa powder (or 3oz unsweetened chocolate)

2 tsp vegan margarine

1/4 cup hot water or heated ricemilk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2+ cups of powdered sugar

Over low heat, melt the margarine + cocoa together. Add water + vanilla. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar until the frosting gets thick and creamy. 

(recipe from the amazing cookbook Rabbit Food. I bought mine from Anthropologie!!)

vegetarian patchwork pasta salad

By the end of the week, our fridge looks like a patchwork of leftovers! Time to get creative and pull together a fabulous meal to celebrate the weekend. We grabbed all of the fresh veggies that we had straggling around and the last box of pasta noodles that was hiding in the back of the pantry. Mixing them all together turned out to be a very happy medley of flavors and a guiltless night of grubbing! We think that the patchwork pasta is worth adding into our weekly meal plan. . . and it is great for lunch the next day too! Only if you don't eat the whole batch in one sitting like we did!

ONE

 cook and drain whole wheat pasta

TWO

 chop your organic veggies:

carrots

red onion

red bell pepper

fresh corn

peas

edamame

THREE

 saute veggies in a skillet over medium heat

FOUR

 add a little:

garlic

salt + pepper

extra virgin olive oil

FIVE

 toss veggies and pasta together, adding feta cheese (optional) and a little balsamic vinaigrette

enjoy!!

the mystics cleanse

healthy. pure. natural. clean. happy. energy. glow. beauty. lovely. 

These are all words that describe the way that you should be feeling as you go about your day. If you aren't experiencing this, then pay attention. It is easy to add a simple smoothie into your daily routine to help heal and nourish your body from the inside out. We designed our own mystics cleanse to jumpstart our "spring cleaning". Packed with vitamins and minerals, these drinks give you a natural boost- that little hop in your step! Add them into your day and we promise that you will feel fitter, happier, and more productive. . . Our goal was to drink 3 juices, 3 times a day for 3 days, filling in the gaps with organic fruits and veggies! Easy enough right? 

P.S. We bought those cute little starbucks frapuccino bottles from costco to bottle our juices in. Trust us, it made them feel oh so fancy. . .

Here are a few of our favorite juice combos!!

{Greens}

spinach, kale, romaine, green apple, lemon

{Pre-Shred}

carrots, beets, apple, celery, apple, pear

{Post-Shred}

alkaline water, raw almonds, cinnamon, agave

adapted from the ritual cleanse

bunny bark

We love holidays and birthdays because they give us a reason to go all out with sugar and candy!! Who doesn't love easter candy in those amazing pastel colors and cute bunny and chick shapes? Pick your favorite candies and get to work. . . bunny bark is super easy and makes a fun project for the kiddos. Package it up for your easter baskets or place it on a cute plate for your easter gathering, who wouldn't love an explosion of candy smothered on top of chocolate? 

step 1: pick your poison

Choose your favorite easter candies and chop them up into tiny pieces. We chose reese's peanut butter cups, mini marshmallows, easter sprinkles, and m+ms of course. If you buy the bags from the grocery store you will have left overs for your candy bowl or jar!

 step 2: create your foundation

Melt a bag of chocolates and a bag of pink chocolates in separate bowls according to the instructions on the package. Layout a piece of wax paper and pour the chocolate in a 1/4 inch thick layer. Add drops of the pink on top. Take a knife and draw a line straight through the pink to create "heart" shaped swirls in the chocolate. We had left over pink chocolate so we made a mini batch of pink bark on another piece of wax paper. . . we wouldn't want any to go to waste!!

step 3: sprinkle time

Sprinkle your toppings onto the chocolate until you are satisfied with your bark coverage.

Allow your bark to set for 3 hours before cutting into it.

step 4: break time 

When the bark is completely cooled start breaking it apart- get crazy with it!

That's it!! Enjoy this little bunny treat with your friends and family. 

Watch out- this can lead to a serious sugar buzz!!

aroma therapy

Boy do we love filling our houses with beautiful, calming aromas!  After a long day of work, the front door opens, shoes + bras come off, and candles get lit! This is a quick recipe using all natural ingredients that will fill your home sweet home with a glorious simmering scent.  All you need is a lemon, a few sprigs of rosemary, and a dash of vanilla extract {the scent from the vanilla extract will help relieve stress + anxiety}. Simmer all of the ingredients in a pot and enjoy. . .

morning energy snacks

Pinterest is the new black. . .  everyone is pinning, repinning, liking, searching, and getting inspired by this never ending magical site. Here is a quick little recipe for the healthiest, vegan, no flour, no sugar, morning snack ball of energy that we have ever made. . . check out some of our other favorite pinterest recipes here and here!

 1.5 cups of oats

 2-3 super ripened bananas

1 cup of unsweetened applesauce

a handful of craisins

a sprinkle of cinnamon

a handful of raw sunflower seeds

 Mix everything together and throw it on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes!!

sleep potion

Sleep Potion

3-4 lettuce leaves

1 stalk celery

Blend lettuce and celery with one cup of water and ice. 

. . . Drink into a deep sleep . . .

graphics by Lynn Woods Turner, illustrations by me

image credit: i don't wear dresses ,  studded hearts

cheers

Raw Vegan Creamy “Pistachio Ice Cream” Kale Shake

• 1 cup curly green kale leaves (about 3 large leaves)
• 2 ripe bananas - fresh or frozen
• 2 cups ice (a little less ice if using frozen bananas)
• 1/2 cup filtered water 
• 1/2 cup raw cashews
• 3 Tbsp raw agave nectar
• 1 tsp pure alcohol-free vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp finely minced ginger
• pinch of Celtic sea salt

Throw all of the ingredients into your blender and puree until smooth and creamy!! Cheers!! 

credit: healthy blender recipes , ego tripping

superbowl sunday funday

Superbowl Sunday is the one day that we actually look forward to watching football! We love to spend the day preparing snacks that not only are delicious but healthy too. . . post game you won't be promising yourself to hit the gym for 3 hours on Monday! If you are hosting the party, write down these recipes onto fun cards and hand them out to your guests. And if you are crashing another party, bring a mason jar full of mixed nuts as a hostess gift tied with some bakers twine.

spicy mixed nuts . skinny jalapeno poppers .  baked mozarella sticks . crispy sweet potato fries

**makes about 3 cups

1 1/2 teaspoons Ener-G egg replacer

2 tablespoons warm water

1 pound roasted, salted mixed nuts

1/3 cup evaporated cane sugar

2 teaspoons sea salt

1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne powder

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg replacer and water until foamy. Add the nuts and toss to coat. Transfer the nuts to a strainer and let drain for at least 2 minutes. Meanwhile, wipe out the bowl and combine the sugar, salt, and cayenne. Add the nuts, tossing to coat. Spread the nuts in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet.

Bake for 40 minutes. Stir with spatula and spread the nuts out again. Reduce the oven to 200 degrees F and bake another 30 minutes, or until dry. The nuts will crisp as they cool to room temperature. Thoroughly cooled, they can be stored for up to one week in an airtight container.

We dare you not to eat the entire batch before the game starts. . . enjoy!!

credit: late afternoon . skinny taste. taste of home . the art of doing stuff . wildfox . decor8 . oh so beautiful paper .