Puttanesca Tofu Scramble

Sooo if you are new to tofu, or think that it's not your thing... think again. This is absolutely delicious, and incidentally it looks actually very much like scrambled eggs so YAY for a great substitute for breakfast. I first found this recipe in one of Isa Chandra Moskowitz's books... I think maybe Vegan with a Vengeance? Either way, the recipe is available on her website: NOM! 

Whip this up with a side of toast, fruit salad and a big, big cup of coffee. Hallelujah! 

Vegan, Gluten Free Pizza Dough

I cannot tell you what a saving grace this has been for me, it's so quick and delicious that I sometimes can't believe that I'm able to eat it and not get sick! It's also my solution to when I have a leftover can or portion of coconut milk that I didn't need for a recipe (I haaaate wasting canned coconut milk). 

I first was using a paleo Naan recipe from MyHeartBeets but I've really went wild with it to make it fit whatever my purpose is. I don't follow the portions of tapioca and almond flour anymore, I just add some of each until I get the density that I want. For pizza crusts, I add A TON more almond flour and tapioca so that I get a thick, dense batter. 

Essentially the recipe is:

Coconut Milk + Tapioca Flour + Almond Flour + Salt 

You can modify from there: Add some garlic, Thyme, Rosemary, Parsley, Cajun Spice, whatever floats your boat! 

I cook it same as in the original directions (So basically like a pancake) and then let them cool before storing in the fridge (or freezer) until I need them. Then you just reheat in the microwave (The hotter you get it, the more floppy it will be) and then use it as a wrap or gyro bread, personal pan pizza crust, etc. 

The crust was pretty floppy but I could still pick up the slices easily, or eat with a fork (but that's how I like my crust anyways). 

Here I added some Earth Balance and garlic powder, sprinkled some Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top and microwaved for 2 minutes to make a "white pizza" - YUM! And also a good way to use up the last of my shredded cheese. I'm sure it would be just as delicious with vegan cheese as well - and I'm definitely going to experiment with that in the future. 

The Best Buff Tofu Wings

I've been using this recipe for ages but I wanted to give it the lime light for a second for two reasons:

One, it was one of the first recipes that I tried way back when that made me realize how possible and enjoyable it would be to be vegan.

Two, recently, it was the catalyst to some hardcore bullying that I received that rather took me off guard.

First off, if anyone is interested in having their minds blown and is digging some buffalo sauce: Here ya go. Now mind you, this recipe is in no way a healthy example of a vegan diet but damn, does it hit the spot! If you need some greasy, hot wing goodness - this is your jam.

Look at this majestic pile of battered and fried, hot sauced deliciousness. I cannot even begin to describe how much this satisfied my craving. This recipe is definitely a keeper for life. 

Here I made a salad out of cabbage, carrots, the Toffalo wings and, if I had had time I would have made some sort of mock bleu cheese dressing. Instead I just put a wee dab of Veganaise for a dip and called it a day. It was really great! I'd love to revisit this and make this buff salad fancier in the future. 

Joni Mari is a vegan goddess and I have loved all the recipes created by her that I've made. If you're new to veganism and/or just want some decadent, delish vegan noms - please check out her blog at http://www.justthefood.com/

Remember! Cheekans are for snuggling, not snacking! UNTIL NEXT TIME, MY VEGERINOS! 

Increase Wisdom, Decrease Gluten

I was going back through my blog from 2012 and, while it was an incredible trip down memory lane, there was plenty of cringe-worthy stuff to go through.

First off, I didn't realize HOW MUCH GLUTEN I was consuming on the daily... breads, pasta, seitan (hello pure gluten), veggie burgers, pretzels, bagels, oh my god. No wonder I would wake up feeling fine and by the end of the day I looked like I was 6 months pregnant. I would literally cry on the way home from work because I was so bloated and miserable (and in pain!) without any understanding of why I was feeling that way! It wouldn't be until November of 2014 and a trip to the emergency department before I discovered that gluten and I just weren't meant to be. Looking back it makes sense, I was tired all the time, I slept A LOT, I was depressed, and I had the GI habits of a donkey.

After discovering my pretty significant gluten intolerance (I have never been formally tested for Celiac's Disease and honestly, I don't have any of the hallmark signs), I took a hiatus from my veggie ways and went back to meat, meat and more meat. It was my crutch.. eggs were my only binder for breads.. dairy was safe. But that too made me feel like shit.

It wasn't until I took a step back and breathed, got myself aligned mentally and spiritually, that I could look outwardly at what I was doing with my diet and health and truly improve upon it.

I discovered my love for all things hippie, natural, and pagan. I discovered my keen interest in astrology, yoga, crystals, meditation. Oh my god, meditation - it is the purest and best thing you can do for yourself. Once I took on a more simplistic way of life, it seemed second nature to apply that to my eating habits. Another cringe-worthy moment from my past was how much processed vegan products I was using, trying to mimic a meat-eaters diet with vegan junk.

Sure it was animal free, but it was still highly processed and not real food.

Then it dawned on me... the simpler the better. Some of my favorite foods are naturally vegan/vegetarian.

• Chips and Guacamole 
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
• Lentil Soup
• Rice and Beans 
• Cheese Nachos 
• Popcorn
• Oatmeal
• Baked Potatoes (any type of potatoes for that matter)
• Salads

I could go on and on...

Not only are these things veg in their natural state, but they're so much more affordable than all of the vegan fake-meats that I was buying. And they sure as hell taste a lot better!

I will always be curious to try new products and will buy them, even if they're a major fail (hello vegan nacho cheese- I'm looking at you!), but time and time again I'm realizing that homemade and simple is the way to go.

For dinner I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, some Brussels sprouts dipped in hummus. I'm completely satisfied, I feel good, no animals were harmed in the making of my dinner, and I am not farting myself into the next galaxy. All wins in my opinion.

So through my time, I hope to collaborate an arsenal of simple, affordable, and gluten-free vegan recipes to keep me satisfied and my conscience clear, and hopefully I will have the time to share my recipes here with all you lovelies! (If anyone's listening, that is).

Really Terrible Cheeze

WOW! How has it only been four years since I was blogging on here? That's just mind-blowing!! Four years ago I was still married, living in another city, everything was different. That life is completely unrecognizable to me now.

So anyways, before I get onto the main topic, which is the really, really terrible vegan cheeze I tried, here are the bullet points to bring you up to date.

• I got divorced
• I moved out on my own in Pittsburgh and did this for about 2 years
• I dated a huge jerkwad
• I got sick of said jerkwad, quit my job and moved back home to Ohio to be near my family
• I worked at OSU - The James for a time (only part-time though)
• I got another job that is full-time, I still get to work in oncology, great benefits, easy commute, AH-MAH-ZANG
• I have a boyfriend who I am quite fond of, and he is NOT a jerkwad 
• I went from being Vegan to Gluten Free to Paleo to Gluten Free again
• I ate a huge rack of ribs while simultaneously contracting norovirus, which caused me to be violently ill for 24 hours and it took me two weeks to fully recover. 
• Due to the Garcia Effect, I now can't even stand the thought of any meat and have come full circle.. back to Vegetarian.. mostly Vegan. 

What a ride man, what a ride. 

Like I said, unrecognizable. 

AND NOW, onto the point of the post. I like to keep track of various vegetarian and vegan products that I try so that, due to my incredibly terrible memory, I don't repeat buy something that I very much disliked. 

I am not doing this to dissuade anyone, these are my personal preferences and I just want to share what I thought. I really hate to be negative about ANY vegan or vegetarian product because good on them for making products that are meat and/or animal free! But at the same time, oh my- what... did I just eat. 

(I forgot to take a picture of the actual product before I put it down the garbage disposal- sorry!)

I got this tub of Heidi Ho cheese because it looked like nacho cheese... but it wasn't... like nacho cheese. At all. Purchased at Whole Foods for 5-7 bucks (I forget, and frankly it varies from location to location) with the hopes of topping my baked potatoes and tortilla chips with this bad boy but wow. I was both averse to flavor and texture. The flavor was bland, tasted like pureed vegetables, and I could pick up on a starchy texture as if it were made out of potatoes. The smell was off-putting too, like.. vegetable soup... I tried to make the best of it by mixing it with salsa and heating it (Like velveeta, ya know?) and I could barely choke it down. 

I love the idea of it, it's made out of vegetables, nuts and chia seeds and avoids being made out of a bunch of artificial funky products- the people on Shark Tank apparently loved it because that's how this company got it's start- but it's just not for me. Too gelatinous and vegetable-y. (Says the veggie eater, hah!) 

I have more vegan cheeses to try and report back on, but this one was a big, fat no for me! Luckily I have a fantastic nacho cheeze recipe that I can make (if I ever get around to cooking again, that is). 

On a positive note, I tried a new veggie burger that was being sold at Costco and it was SO FREAKING GOOD! The only downside is that it has egg whites in it, so it's vegetarian and not vegan. It tastes like Dr. Preager's California burgers, yummmm....

I took this picture from google pics because I got over-zealous with my recycling and pitched the box before I could take a picture of my own. 

As I was googling for an image of this, I kept seeing articles about Costco selling tons of VEGAN burgers and I just discovered that this same company sells a vegan burger at Costco as well!! Must have been in the freezer section, I'll have to give it a try next! In the meantime, these veggie burgers are flippen' delicious! 

LOOK AT ALL THE VEGGIES POPPIN' OUTTA THIS MOFO!!!!

Anyhoo, that's all from this Veggie Eater!

New Veg Cookbooks!!

So... a very good friend of mine and I have had this running joke that she's going to just deliver me this gigantic box of goodies one day because she's been holding onto not only my Christmas present, but my birthday present as well. She's unfortunately never having the opportunity to actually give me said gifts. This is 100% my fault because during the winter months I become this secluded, unsocial hermit where I just lay around my house in squalor and hibernate all day but, I digress.



Well she finally found the golden, opportunistic moment to bequeath me with my much appreciated loot and WOW does the woman KNOW ME!!

Check this out- vegan/vegetarian cookbooks! The way to this gal's heart for sure.

Now, I am a major dunce at times and thought that the cookbook meant spirited by "Yay! Feisty Vegetarian!" but NO!

NO.... NO... NO...

It's spirited because every recipe has BOOZE IN IT!! BOOZE! I am so jazzed because I'm a firm believer that things are automatically made fancier simply by sploshing a bit of wine into it.

Upon realizing this, I immediately scoured the recipes looking for something that I had all the ingredients for and boom.

It was go time.

 I cannot tell you how many times I've been bummed about vegan/vegetarian cooking simply because it makes some of my beloved kitchen utensils obsolete. Like my gigantic Le Creuset stew pot. When will I utilize such a thing that clearly calls for large stew-making endeavors?  And what stew would I make that would take that long? Or what about braising? I know that there's tons of veggie recipes that call for that but guess what- I didn't have a cookbook to tell me how. 

Until now <3

So...Freaking...Good....

With a yummy side salad 

Happy B-day to me!

So last week was my birthday, I have finally hit that age where I'm no longer excited and spouting the number out like some willy nilly P.Y.T. That's alright though, with age comes wisdom and I'm happy to say I'm finally growing confident and comfortable with who I am as a person- and I dig it.

I celebrated my b-day by going home to visit the family and taking a long overdue trip to Columbus, OH.

Now, some of you are probably thinking that Ohio is just this vast land of cows, Amish people, and factories with NOTHING to do unless you enjoy cow tipping, porch sitting, and pie? (I don't even know what others think of Ohio, I'm sorry that was lame) But you are WRONG people! Dead wrong! Columbus is an amazing, trendy place to be- there's something for everybody. There are tons of fantastic restaurants, awesome shopping centers, college football, we have the arena district, German village, short north (artsy cultural area), a wide variety of club scenes, etc. And most importantly for me, there are plenty of vegetarian/vegan foodies who with them bring along their amazing foodie products into the stores.

They just re-opened the Whole Foods on Lane Ave. and wow is it big and awesome. I was rather indulgent while I was there and I got an entire pound of their vegan general tso's 'chicken', a whole grain baguette  truffle butter, a brick of Italian flavored tofu, 2 chunks of Kerrygold cheddar cheese, some vegan mozzarella teese, and a wedge of Daiya's new(er) chedder style cheese.....

Have you had this? It's awesome! I feel like a few years ago it wasn't even a thing to dare to dream of, a palatable cheese substitute. I eat this crap on everything! Crackers, fruit, sammies, whatever! Now it does say that it melts but... I prefer the shreds for melting purposes, this is great just cold. It's super, super potent in taste though so a little bit goes a long way- same with real cheddar cheese actually. 

After Whole Foods, we attempted to go to the Cabela's store that just opened up, but it was so utterly packed I couldn't handle it. Afterwards we went to dinner and then back to my brother and sister-in-law's to chill and have drinks.

I think it's safe to say that I have this all consuming addiction to cookbooks. I just have to look at them, read through them, and OWN them. It's a sick, sick obsession and I just can't stop. Luckily, my sister-in-law let me borrow one of her vegan cookbooks that she had, otherwise I would have bought it on Amazon by now. 

I let this cookbook fall open in my lap and I was immediately hooked. The recipes are so simple and incredibly cute. The author is a stay at home mom and it's clear that she really loves her kids. I think the book has such a good vibe, she's really devoted to only giving her little girls clean and healthy food, it's refreshing to see parents so interested in their kids nutrition and health. 

Also, there's a recipe in there for something called a crack wrap. Yup. I wanted to try it just because of the name alone. 

It's basically a tortilla smeared with hummus, sprinkled with vegan cheese, and melted into ooey gooey perfection. I can definitely see why she named it as such, it is addicting. Also only 6 WW points! Woo woo! Next time I eat it, I'll take a photo- I was just too dang excited to eat it the first time. Oops. 

Dinner tonight: Chana Masala, an oldie but a goodie in my meat-free recipe bank. 

I'm convinced that no Indian food really is that photogenic, it's just a saucy mess of awesome. Oh well, I apologize for that. 

If you would like to get your chana's on, here's the recipe.

I sub the lemon juice with a can of lite coconut milk to really give it that full, rich curry flavor I so desperately love. Oh, I also let the said coconut milk reduce for 10-15 minutes on high.

If you split that recipe into 4 servings, it's 7 WW points incidentally. 

That's also lunch tomorrow- yay for not having to strain myself packing! 

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

So... it was kindly brought to my attention by a dear (and encouraging) friend that I hadn't blogged in over a month!! Feeling sheepish, I posted a quick snippet of my review of October's Yumvelope, but that was weak in comparison to my typical posts. I.. am.. a slacker..

I do this, I do this and then I berate myself (clearly). I get in a good rhythm, do something diligently, then I take a break (such as vacation) and never get back on the wagon. I did it with flossing too! I flossed for like 6 months straight, went on vacation, and then forgot to start flossing again. Now now, I started back up so don't get all "ew" on me.. According to dentists, no one flosses anyways.

But, I digress, now back to the topic at hand. I'm back to wanting to blog again but I have some new things I need to add to my regime.

I recently saw some alarming pictures of myself on facebook and realized that I needed to drop some lbs post-haste before this got anymore out of control. So I joined (re-joined) my trusty weight loss plan- Weight Watchers!!

It is seriously the only commercial program I've found where people consistently and efficiently lost weight and I highly recommend it. They take the effort out of tracking your food intake and I have to admit- it's so fun adding the food and exercise to my list!*

One snafoo about this whole thing is, I swear that they penalize carbohydrate intake and reward lean proteins (ei. boneless skinless chicken breast). This makes for a tough, tough time for a vegan or vegetarian. Now some of you might think I'm crazy because the fruits and vegetables are free, but I swear that the nuts, beans, seeds etc. are higher points than their meat equivalents in protein (due to higher fat and carbohydrate I'm sure) so it's tricky meeting your protein needs.

So anyways, my point is, I'm going to valiantly search for WW friendly vegetarian/vegan products and also come up with some decent meals that don't blow your WW budget and are also vegan (or just about).

I'm sure some of you could argue that simply switching to a vegan diet helped you with weight loss instantly but, unfortunately for me, I'm a big snacker and I need to work on portion control- ergo, I use weight watchers.

Anyways.. wish me luck!

Yumvelope Review - September 2012

I have to say, there's nothing more exciting than getting stuff in the mail, and when it's food, I'm even happier... 

I love you Yumvelope, I'm here to stay.

Abuh?! Maple and Sea salt popcorn? How decadent!! 

Mike and I have a thing for gummy bears, and boy were we excited to realize one of the packets was sour, so basically like sour patch kids.  I have to say, the flavor in these surf sweets was way, way better than gummy bears or sour patch kids- it was berryful and delicious! Yummm... 

I didn't really dig the sweet potato leather thing but I liked the idea.. it was kind of bland though. The granola bar was really good though! I wish I had more of those! 

The whole food snack bar was meh.. I'm getting tired of all the cinnamon flavored stuff though- not that big of a fan! 

........This was epic. I want to buy this in bulk. I mixed the toasted coconut chips up with some steel cut oats and I was tap dancing all the rest of the day. A good breakfast will do that to a person, well at least this person. 

As with other chips, I had to share these with Mike but I didn't mind! They were decent, a whole grain tortilla chip. Nothing to write home to mom about. 

Liven' on the Veg

So by the way, if you're ever vacationing in Long Beach Island, NJ, they have the most amazing vegan restaurant right there. In fact, it's the only vegan restaurant on the island- good thing it's so good! 

It's called Living on the Veg which I have to say, being an Aerosmith fan, I totally dig the name! 

It's located on 2613 Long Beach Blvd in Beach Haven.  

It's kind of small, not much seating (especially if it's raining, then you might just want to get it to go). The menu is absolutely impressive however, they have fresh smoothies, fresh pressed juices, wraps, burritos, blue plate specials, salads, sammies, and other hearty entries to satisfy that raging appetite you'll have worked up after laying on the beach all day! 

The menu was a long board above the cash register so I did my best to take a picture of it in two parts... 

My mouth is watering reading over the menu again, I wish I had a place like this in Pittsburgh!!

 

Daily specials..

This sounded so delicious!! I wanted to get it, alas we went around lunchtime, no worries though I had tons and tons to pick from still! I wanted to eat it all!

Also- I would like to point out that any restaurant sporting Bragg's as a condiment is immediately a four star place to eat in my book. 

After much deliberation, Mike and I decided on the Smooth Operator smoothie to split. It was so fruity and sweet and the soy milk added gave it a delicious creaminess, we were sucking this down in minutes!

I ordered the Buffalo Caesar wrap which was in a word, divine. I have dreams about this dish sometimes. The tofu soaked up all the delicious hot sauce and the caesar dressing on it was just perfect. That, mixed with crunchy, fresh romaine lettuce this wrap was perfection in itself. 

And don't even get me started on the potato salad.... I'm broken-hearted that I can't have that everyday. I don't know what they use for dressing on it, but it is literately of the gods. I have half a mind to call them and beg them for the recipe. 

Mikey got the Southwest burrito with a side of coleslaw.  I really dug the coleslaw also but I think he liked my potato salad better, it just had that extra zing of flavor. 

The seitan was very flavorful and cut into bite size pieces so that it was evenly distributed throughout the burrito, and the rice on it was delicious. I took a bite or two but it was so spicy, I couldn't take anymore. Mike, who could eat a jalapeno whole without blinking an eye, thought it was perfect. I liked that it also had black beans in it- love me some beans. 

Take out items, I still kick myself for not grabbing a pint of that amazing potato salad. Sorry for the crappy photo, I was in a hurry.. boo! 

So if you're into healthy food, vegetarian/vegan food, or heck just freaken' good food and you're in the LBI area- you have to stop by Living on the Veg or you will forever regret it and I will put a voodoo hex on you. Don't think that I wont, I actually have a voodoo doll.. 

Mom's Cucumbers & Onions

Now, my mom's a little bit leery about some of my vegan concoctions.  She still loves to call my seitan "satan." Well, little did she know one of her favorite summer dishes is already veggi-fied. Thanks for the recipe mom! 

Mom's Pickled Cucumbers and Onions
6 c. thinly sliced cucumbers
2 onions, sliced thin
1 3/4 c. sugar
1 c. cider vinegar
2 Tbsp salt
1 tsp celery seed (optional)

1. Layer cucumbers and onion in container
2. In a separate bowl, mix together sugar, vinegar, and salt
3. Pour liquid over cucumbers and onions
4. Let soak at least 24hrs before serving

Seriously, it's not summer at my house until we've made a big batch of these.... 

The Most Amazing "Chicken" Fingers Ever

Blargh, Mondays come way too soon and this one was particularly harsh.  I feel like I could sleep for another two days straight and I'd be happy.  For some reason, today I was a little mopey and craving some comfort food like nothing else when I got home from work.  I needed some fried chicken finger-esque food- pronto.  I didn't have any ready-made "chicken" nuggets handy, so I had to use my imagination and a little elbow grease.  And if I do say so myself, wow did I do a good job!! 

I know they don't look outstanding in this photo due to my poor photography skills, but they were so juicy and tender - I couldn't even believe it!  Drizzled with "honey mustard" (hint: yellow mustard + agave nectar),  these things really hit the spot. 

Also in photo: Lipton taco rice, Romano beans with sauteed garlic, and my mom's cucumbers & onions recipe. 

And because I'm nice, I'll share: 

Veg-tastic Fried Chicken 

1/2 c boiling water

1/2  vegan chicken bouillon cube (I used Edward & Sons) 

1/2 c TVP (textured vegetable protein)

1/2 c pancake mix, dry (I used Pamela's baking and pancake mix) 

1/2 tsp garlic powder (or to taste)

1 tsp nutritional yeast (or to taste)

2 Tbsp vital wheat gluten 

1/3 c bread crumbs 

1 tsp olive oil 

olive oil for pan 

1. Place vegan bouillon cube in glass measuring cup and add boiling water, stir until bouillon is completely dissolved.  Add TVP to broth, stir to combine and ensure all kernels are wet.  Cover with plastic wrap and soak for 10 minutes. 

2. Pour bread crumbs onto a plate or shallow bowl and set aside (we'll use this for breading the chicken strips later). 

3. Add pancake mix, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, and vital wheat gluten to the TVP and mix well.  Drizzle in olive oil and work through dough (I used my hands).  Coat your hands in olive oil to prevent dough from sticking to you! Dough should be sticky and want to clump together easily, add more wheat gluten if it's too runny or more water if it's dry and crumbly. 

3. Form dough into desired shape such as patties or thick strips, make sure you squeeze the dough firmly to remove any holes or air and prevent cracking during cooking.  Roll in bread crumbs to coat completely. 

4. Add a drizzle of olive oil to your liking to a 10 inch pan and let it heat up for 2 minutes. Add chicken fingers.  Saute until golden brown on all sides, drizzle in more olive oil as needed to prevent sticking and to get that delicious golden color. 

5. Prepare to be amazed. 

Serve with ketchup or honey mustard 

Yield: around 6 chicken strips 

Yay for leftovers, there were enough chicken fingers left to take for lunch tomorrow!! 

Cookie dough

Sometimes after a particularly long and annoying day, you just gotta treat yourself.  The hubbster was requesting something sweet and chocolate, and I was only too happy to oblige.  I've been obsessed with the Happy Herbivore as of late and, after purchasing two of her books on my Nook, decided to finally give one of her recipes a go.  I chose her instant cookie dough recipe because it was super fast and I had everything on hand! 

I tweaked it a bit: oats + agave nectar + peanut butter + cocoa powder 

I thought it was just too dry though, so I added a good splash of soy milk but then I felt like I was eating chocolate cereal.  Mike ate his up at this point but I had an idea brewing.  Why not combine the concept of overnight oats with this delicious mix?  I popped this in the fridge overnight and had an amazing, more cookie dough textured deliciousness the next evening. 

Sooo delicious and way healthier than traditional cookie dough! 

My First Yumvelope - July 2012 Review

After a crappy day of work one day, I came home to another super awesome package!! 

My first Yumvelope! 

Please ignore the awful mess piling up on my front room table. 

I was really impressed with how much was stuffed into a standard sizes shipping envelope.  They really stuffed this puppy to the brim!

Included in the bag was: 

• A card with a note from Yumvelope on one side, on the other side a list of the included goodies with coupon codes for 10% off GoPicnic Meals and 25% off Honey Stinger Waffles. 
• GoPicnic ready-to-eat meals: Hummus + crackers
• A granola with coconut Macrobar
• The Good Bean sweet cinnamon roasted chickpeas
• A Honey Stinger Waffle 
• Tulsi organics tea 
• 2 packets of Gogo Squeez in Apple Cinnamon 

I've heard of (and love) GoPicnic products, I had actually ordered a case of the peanut butter boxes a while back and was thoroughly pleased to receive a hummus one in my Yumvelope.  I love that these are shelf-stable and super portable.  I like to keep these in my drawer at work for emergencies and we have one in our glove compartment in the car.  This would especially be great for vegans/vegetarians who travel because sometimes finding fast food that is vegetarian (or remotely healthy) is tricky! 

The Macrobar comes in a variety of 10 flavors, is USDA certified organic, vegan, and macrobiotic.  I received the granola w/ coconut flavor and I am jazzed because I love coconut! This bar has 210 calories, 8g fat, 36g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, and 5g protein - this would make for a nice breakfast bar for anyone on the go! Other flavors I have my eye on are peanut butter chocolate chip and banana almond- mmm....

The Good Bean roasted chickpeas are sweet cinnamon flavored with a hint of vanilla.  They boast 7g of protein per serving, are high in fiber with 6g per serving, and are gluten free.  From the ingredients list they also appear to be vegan but they don't say so on the label. Other flavors include: Sea Salt, Cracked Pepper, and Smoky Chili & Lime- wow I bet the savory ones rock too! They also sell some fruit bars that look interesting. 

I don't know why, but I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into the honey flavored stinger waffle. I think it's because it feels so dense and chewy through the package.  It's super flat and lightweight so great for travel, and reminds me of a more dense looking pitzel.  The flavor is amazing, sweet and chewy like a sugar cookie flavored with honey- yum!  On their website, other flavors include chocolate, lemon, vanilla, and strawberry. One waffle has 160 calories, 7g fat, 21g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, and 0g protein.  I'm kind of disappointed that there isn't any protein in it but then, it's supposed to be an energy bar, not a protein bar.  While this is perfect for bikers and those performing high energy, endurance sports or races, I wouldn't recommend munching on these just because "they're healthy."  Save these for their intended purpose! 

So excited for tea! Included were three packets of Tulsi Organics tea: 1 Tulsi & Lemongrass, 1 Pure Tulsi, and 1 Tulsi Chai.  They also have Tulsi Ginger available.  Evidently, Tulsi is a plant used commonly in Ayurvedic medicine in India to promote calmness, alleviate stress, balance metabolism, and strengthen immunity. In English it's called "Holy Basil". Well if it does all that- sign me up!! It's caffeine free so I will definitely be having a cup in the evenings to relax me. 

Last but not least, some GoSo Squeez packets - I'm excited to try these because I love cinnamon flavored applesauce and I'm sure these won't disappoint.  There was also a packet of this in my Conscious Box so I'm glad to have a variety of flavors. As I mentioned before, these are cute and a good option if you're in a pinch without access to fast, healthy food but again I think it's cheaper and healthier to eat an apple and call it a day. Just sayen'.. I like the little cap at the top too- reminds me of a canteen. 

I can honestly say I am very impressed and pleased with the variety of products included and will be continuing my subscription with them- Lordy I can't wait until August now! 

I would also like to mention that I wrote this review of my own accord and received no money, free items, or anything of that nature from Yumvelope.  They didn't ask me to write a review for them, I did it merely because I love the idea, love the products, and think others would enjoy them as much as I do!

My First Conscious Box - July 2012 Review

So I have caught wind recently of this really awesome trend where people are subscribing and having awesome packages send via snail mail to their homes.  They have ones for food, beauty products, and I found a vegan, eco-friendly one that I have been absolutely ecstatic about finally getting!  The company is called Conscious Box and they are AWESOME!! I'm so pleased with my experience I've had with them.  Everything from quick processing of my order, to speedy delivery, fun updates on Facebook from them, and the box is so great and chock full of things I like! I also feel I definitely got my money's worth (something that was lacking with my Healthy Surprise box..)

Conscious Box tends to stuff their boxes with a theme, this month's theme is about enjoying the simple pleasures of the summer season in July.  

I have to confess, I was so excited to look through my box I opened it up and immediately started unpacking  all the goodies so I can't show you how genius they were about packing so much into this modestly sized box! I tried 5 times to get everything back in and I just couldn't.  Whoever works there must really rock it out when packing their clothes for vacation... 

I do remember that, lying on top of the goods was their signature card, explaining everything that was in the box for July.  Underneath it was a cute post card with an uplifting quote on it... I have to be honest though. I'm not sure what the photo is of- is that bamboo?

Reading through the list of items, I became super excited to see products from Aura Cacia!! I love, love, love their aromatherapy products and am so glad I signed up in time to get this box! 

Included in the box was a vial of sweet orange essential oil and a deck of Aromatherapy cards.  

These cards are so great!! They have three sections: Essentials, Benefits, and Formulations.  The essentials cards go over basic, commonly used scents, how they're procured and their common uses. The benefits section goes over common ailments that can be helped through aromatherapy (headaches, PMS, lethargy, etc.) and suggestions on what aromas to use to treat them.  The formulations section has great recipes and ideas for use, such as mists, bath gels, lotions. Also- a dollar off coupon was included! Woohoo! 

Next up was some makeup! They can't go wrong there, especially for me! They included eye shadow from The All Natural Face in the shade of Lemon Ice which I felt complimented my skin tone very well and had a lovely shimmery after-effect.  The shade seemed very forgiving for many skin tones actually. I think it would make a great highlighting tone to sweep over your brow bone. They also included a 20% off code! 

Also included was some "Muscle & Joint Therapeutic Cream" from Jadience Herbal Formulas. I haven't tried this yet but I'm all for more natural treatments so when in need- I will be trying this out. Skimming through the ingredients I see burdock root, goji berry, chinese foxglove, aloe vera, and jojoba oil.  The active ingredient is camphor (a topical analgesic).  Mike has had some issues with his knee recently, maybe we'll try it out on him next time and see how it does! 

As if I weren't already suspicious Conscious Box was eavesdropping on me and taking note of items I need and love, they also included a sample of "Naturally it's Clean" by Enzyme Fresh Home. I was literately just looking a few days ago for a natural cleaner for hardwood that wouldn't leave streaks or sticky residue. Directions say to mix this packet with a 1/2 gallon of water and mop as per usual. Safely cleans hardwood, ceramic tile, stone, cork, bamboo, laminate, linoleum, vinyl, and any water washable flooring. 

Next up we have a "Just Great Stuff" bar by Betty Lous in superberry acai flavor.  This bar is vegan and gluten free, made with goji berries, acai berries, and raspberries. The bar is also USDA certified organic.  The benefits of this bar include antioxidants and dietary fiber, as well as unsaturated fatty acids.  Sometimes I'm a little leery of these health bars because I've seen some with as many as 350 calories!! Yipe! I was pleasantly surprised to find this bar only has 180 calories with 7g fat, 24g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, and 5g protein. Not too shabby- this would make a nice snack or even breakfast on the go! Also a plus, I recognized all the items on the ingredients list as food. 

St. Claire's Organics Peppermints were an exciting find also, I'll be tucking these goodies in my purse! They are also USDA certified organic, allergen-free and vegan. The ingredients include organic molasses granules, organic evaporated cane juice, and organic peppermint essential oil.  They smell super strong and minty, I could smell them from the conscious box before I even opened it! They taste similar to an Altoid but not quite so overwhelming, and what's even more fun, there's a nice saying on the inside of the lid to inspire you every time you grab a mint.  I won't spoil what it says, buy a box and find out

I'm an avid lover of coffee and tea (hot or cold, on a boat, with a goat, etc.) so any tea samples will be welcomed with open arms. I've never heard of Tea Forte before, so I was thinking it was merely a sample of green tea in various flavors.  Then I noticed the heading of "Skin Smart antioxidant amplifier teas" which was intriguing.  How cool is that- they hone in on ingredients that help prevent skin cell oxidative damage to help prevent aging.  I'm not overly concerned with my skin, though I should be, but who doesn't want to keep their glowing, healthy, young face?  The flavors sound super yummy too, cucumber mint, cherry marzipan, and honey yuzu- nom!! Also included was a dollar off web coupon.  After meandering over to their website they also offer a myriad of other delicious sounding teas- especially the rare tea: jasmine pearls!

This Sun Warrior supplement looks rather intense... I was nervous this was for a power lifter or someone who clearly works out more than me (not that that's a huge feat). The warrior blend: a protein powder of pea, cranberry, and hemp protein (clearly all plant-based) also boasts being gluten free, soy free, dairy free, hypo-allergenic, and non-GMO.  Directions say just mix with 8-10oz of water, rice milk , or favorite beverage.  It wasn't outrageous in calories or powder- I would definitely use it just to supplement my diet in protein.  This puppy will be going in a nice cold glass of soy milk the next time I need a boost of protein! 

I thought that the GoGo Squeez mango flavored applesauce packet was a cute idea.  This is supposed to be a portable, quick way to get some food into your kids (or yourself). Ingredients: apple, mango, banana, and apple juice concentrate.  I guess if you're in a pinch and this is as healthy as it gets- go for it.  However, I still think it's so much better (and cheaper) just to eat an apple, get for fiber, and call it a day.  I'm really grateful for the chance to have sampled one though! 

Now that it's been in the 80-90's range here in Pittsburgh, I have been craving a nice tall glass of iced tea and BAM, thank you again conscious box!  A sample from Mighty Leaf Iced Tea is just what the doctor ordered.  Included was one sample of whole leaf tea in a silken pouch, Calypso Mango flavored and it smells amazing. $1.75 off coupon included seals the deal. 

To "sweeten the deal", Madhava Natural Sweeteners samples were included! One of organic light agave nectar and one of organic coconut sugar.  I have been a fan of Madhava's agave nectar for a while and use their products regularly, but I actually haven't tried the coconut sugar so I'm super excited to give that a go! A coupon was included for both items, a dollar off each product. 

Also included in the box:

• 20% off coupon for Maple Hill Dryer Balls 
• $1 off coupon for Naturally it's Clean (available at East End Food Co-op)
• $1 off coupon for Jovial Einkorn Pasta.(they also have a free shipping code on their website!)  

Last but not least, for an extra treat since I posted on Conscious Box's facebook page, a Powbab super fruit chew! This little chew boasts immunity strength by providing 100% daily dose of vitamins C & E, and a good source of vitamin A.  It also contains this fruit I've never heard of called a baobab, known as the "Tree of Life" in Africa. I'll let you know how this tastes..

Whew! Hopefully this peek into the Conscious box has caught your attention and interested you in giving it a try- I highly recommend because it ROCKS!!! 

Oh FYI- I have subscribed to Conscious Box of my own free will, have not accepted any money, free items, or anything of that sort from them, and am just freely offering up my time and opinions on the box because I truly enjoy their product.  Conscious Box didn't even ask me to review it- I just did it BECAUSE I CAN!!  

:)