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- Which snack would you choose?
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Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies and Winners
September 27th, 2011
I actually took my husband’s advice last night. He told me to take a break from chores, cleaning or anything baby-related and sit down to read a random book. He did not think I was going to do it because I tend to be concentrated on tasks on hand.
He was surprised to see me lounging on the couch last night. He was so happy I took his advice. I started reading My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I might be the last person reading this but it was recommended to me and I luckily found it at a garage sale for 0.25 cents. How about that? I have to say it is a VERY good read and I believe I will be done with this book in 2 days. Anyone read it or watched the movie?
Anyway, after a quick dinner last night I decided to to get to making dessert. I was inspired by the Secret Recipe Club when I saw a recipe for Red Velvet Brownies and decided I was going to veganize them and make them OUR dessert for the evening. YUM! Actually I wanted an excuse to use my Natural Decorating Colors from India Tree.
I know I have seen recipes for red velvet desserts using beets as the colorant but I liked the fact that these colors are made from all natural ingredients, like red cabbage, beet and turmeric. Amazing! I hope now you can see why I was excited to use them.
The recipe calls for the brownies to be made in a 9×9 pan but I only had a 10×10 pan for the moment since the others were occupied with casseroles. I actually liked them thinner brownies because it meant I could half 1 1/2 pieces. Ha ha ha, lousy excuse, eh?
My cream cheese topping did not swirl as much as the original recipe but I believe it had to do with not having a thick enough brownie layer so I will try it with the 9×9 dish next time.
Can you believe you do not need eggs to make this dessert set? Flax seed meal played a great part even for the cream cheese topping. Try it! This would be perfect to go with National Coffee Day on Thursday, so have a pan ready.
Who wants to know who won? Random.org chose number 6 and 20, so here are the winners:
Please send me your mailing address ASAP so I can mail them today! Thanks!
Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies
adapted from Sweet as Sugar Cookies
makes 9 brownies
Red Velvet Layer:
3/4 cup whole wheat-wheat flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
Pinch kosher salt
1 stick Earth Balance margarine, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs or 2 flax seed “eggs” (2 Tbsp flax seed meal + 6 Tbsp water)
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon all-natural red food coloring
Cream Cheese Layer:
8 ounces Tofutti cream cheese or regular cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon all-natural red food coloring
1 egg or 1 flax seed “egg” (1 Tbsp flax seed meal +3 Tbsp water)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking pan, and set aside.
Brownie layer: Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt and set aside.
Add softened margarine to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachmend. Add the sugar and beat until well-combined. Prepare the flax seed “eggs” and set aside for 5 minutes for it to set a bit. Beat in the flax seed “eggs”, vinegar, vanilla, extract, and food coloring into the margarine/ sugar mixture, making sure to mix completely before each addition. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
Cream cheese layer: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, sugar, “egg”, and vanilla until smooth. Gently spread the cream cheese layer on top of the brownie batter in the pan. Using a skewer or the tip of a knife, drag the tip through the cream cheese mixture to create a swirl pattern.
Bake the brownies for about 30 minutes until set. Remove to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely
before cutting.
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So Delicious Coconut Coffee Creamer Review and Giveaway
September 26th, 2011
This is all I can muster right now folks. I am pressed for time and am really busy cleaning the house (nesting), preparing for this baby girl to arrive in 3 weeks!
I pretty much have everything done except for 1/2 the hospital bag and the car seat installed in the car, oh, and looking for a pediatrician. WHEW! So many new things to handle with a new life coming into our lives. It is terribly exciting. 😀
I will be going to Zumba again tonight. I am determined that this baby will come out dancing and full of great moves, hahaha.
My sister and her husband come in this week. I am SO excited to see my sister. I have not seen her since she got married in May so I am glad she is coming even if it is before the baby is born. I have missed her a whole bunch.
Before I let you go I want to leave you with a fun review. Did you know that September 29, 2011 is National Coffee Day? Well, coffee day is always everyday for me but officially it is Thursday.
So Delicious were real generous with sending me 3 of their coffee creamers, a fun red mug and some Peets coffee. Thank you!
Their coffee creamers are my favorite and I only use them along with the So Delicious coconut milk. They are under 100 calories, vegan, kosher, dairy-free, soy-free, and cholesterol-free. Here are the flavors they sent me:
Hazelnut coconut milk creamer: A delicious hint of hazelnut flavor with a delicious, light coconut flavor.
French Vanilla coconut milk creamer: French vanilla, all-natural flavor and perfect coffee enhancer.
Original coconut milk creamer: It has 1 gram of sugar and is 32 calories a serving and perfectly sweetens coffee without the need to add more sugar.
I also have cooked with their creamers and substituted heavy cream or any cream ingredient with the Original coconut milk creamer with no problems! Check out my Hazelnut Plum Crumb Tart.
I want 2 people to have a chance to try these coconut milk creamers and to enjoy them the way I have. There are so many artificial creamers out there and even ones claiming to be all-natural but nothing compares with these products especially since they are DAIRY-FREE too!
The giveaway is TWO coupons for Free So Delicious products.
This contest is open to US readers and I will pick a winner tomorrow morning! I will mail ONE coupon to TWO winners just tell me the following:
Which coconut milk creamer would you like to try?
Extra entries:
2. Follow So Delicious on Facebook and Twitter
3. Follow Opera Singer in the Kitchen on Facebook and Twitter
4. Tweet the following: “@So_Delicious Coconut Coffee Creamer Review & Giveaway. OPEN all day. Winners picked 2morrow! #vegan #dairy-free #win bit.ly/nwlcOv“
Giveaway ends TONIGHT at midnight EST, September 26, 2011 so that I can mail the coupons in time for you to try this creamer by National Coffee Day. Good luck!
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Navitas Naturals Giveaway Winner
September 23rd, 2011
Happy Friday everyone! I am just going to announce the winner of these yummy snacks and then write another post.
Thank you everyone for entering and for those who did not win, check these snacks out at the listed stores. I can’t wait to have them with me at the hospital.
Kaycee from The Vegan Machine won her choice of these yummy snacks: Email me your address! 😀
“The Cacao Goji Superfood Power Snack looks delicious!
My favorite go-to snacks are chips and salsa and Larabars! Yum! Thanks!
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Peaches and Buckwheat Shortcakes / Blogiversary Winners
September 21st, 2011
Happy Wednesday! I can’t believe that it is the 21st of September and that this week is almost over. Whoa! Is it going by fast for anyone else?
I am glad that my headache is gone after going through one the WHOLE day yesterday. There was a lingering fog most of the morning so I attributed the headache to a pressure and temperature change. Oy! What matters the most is that today is a new day and it feels better.
Before I share with you the easiest but most delicious dessert I want to announce the winners of the blogiversary giveaway.
Buckwheat flour is not something I bake with often but I thought this would be a great time to use contrasting flavors and make a different version of shortcakes. Buckwheat is high in iron and amino acids and is an herb plant related to rhubarb.
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35 weeks + Navitas Naturals Power Snacks Review w/ Giveaway
September 19th, 2011 I am actually starting my 36th week of pregnancy this week! I keep on looking at the counter on the website and I can’t believe the amount of time left for this baby girl to arrive! I have actually been feeling well except that now I am waking up more often at nights and changing pillows and positions in order to feel comfortable. I am also going through awful heartburn, which I am glad I had one night free from that last night, praise the Lord!
I spoke to my mother because she was a little concerned I mentioned to someone that I was doing fair but in reality I have been doing better than fair. If anything, the heartburn has been the biggest pain in the butt or gut, but all in all the Lord has blessed me with a great 2nd and 3rd trimester. My mother reminded me that I was going to continue to feel the heartburn until I had the baby so I was to eat light fare. Boo! I guess I will have to try my best but my meal plan for this week is no too much on the light side. I have lots of food to use in the freezer and fridge before the baby arrives. I am also planning on making freezer meals this weekend, God-willing.
On Friday I had my last baby shower thanks to the girls from MSU. A grad student’s wife and a master’s student hosted an evening shower that was really beautiful! I embrace and thank the love and generosity I have felt the last few months just going through this transition. I know there is more to come. Each guest was asked to bring their favorite book as a gift for the baby. Here is a picture of the fun books:
Did you know that Ryan received a gift too? Does anyone get it? 🙂
I took a self-portrait at 35 weeks. I did my best!
I am happy to share a new product I got to review that comes in really handy! I know I have told you that I am not a big snacker but since becoming pregnant I have been forced to eat snacks in order not to get nauseous. Navitas Naturals has come out with 2 new flavors of Organic Raw Power Snacks. Both snacks are gluten- and dairy-free, high in fiber and vitamin C, and with absolutely no refined sugar.
The second bag is called Cacao Goji Superfood Power Snacks. These were definitely my favorite. Anything with chocolate and cacao wins me over. The flavor is decadent but not because it is but because the flavor combination is perfect. I am very much looking forward taking these as my snacks to the hospital. Look at the ingredient list: date paste, chia seeds, raisins, sesame seeds, cacao powder, goji berry powder, sunflower seeds, maca powder, camu camu powder, sunflower meal,lucuma powder.
What are those ingredients known for or what benefits do they have for our bodies?
These snacks have healthy fats and ingredients that are super nutritious for the body without adding chemicals or artificial ingredients. Be on the look out for the third flavor, Blueberry Hemp to come out later this year.
You can find these treats Navitas Power Snacks and other Navitas products are available at a wide variety of retail locations throughout North America including Whole Foods Markets, Wegmans and HEB, and at many online stores such as Amazon.com and NavitasNaturals.com.
But wait! ONE reader will have a chance to win and choose a snack of their choice to try!
How to enter? Answer the following questions:(leave in ONE comment)
