Recipes, Uncategorized

Power Packed Quinoa

Power Packed Quinoa | Vegan Living by Danielle

Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch kale (sub spinach if desired)
  • 1 lg sweet potato
  • 1/2 cup dry quinoa
  • 1 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1/2 sm yellow onion
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1-2 cloves garlic (sub 1 tsp powdered garlic)
  • 1 sm zucchini
  • 1 can of garbanzo beans
  • 1 cup of pine nuts
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp of plain hummus per serving as topping (optional)

Directions:

  1. Cut all leafy greens of kale from stems into pieces roughly the size of a playing card. (The best way to cut kale is to slice directly along the stem, on both sides of the stem, removing the leafy green from the stem entirely. Then cut the greens into desired size. The stems are edible, so feel free to add them to the meal if desired. I like to put the greens into a colander after cutting to rinse.) Set greens aside for later.
  2. Cube the sweet potato and put in a pot with the dry quinoa.
  3. Add 1/4 tsp cumin and 1/4 tsp chili powder to the pot.
  4. Add water and put the pot on high heat.
  5. Cover pot and set a timer for 20 minutes, but reduce heat to medium-low once it reaches a boil. (No stirring is necessary while quinoa is cooking.)
  6. Chop onion and place in pan over medium heat with olive oil. **If using garlic cloves, mince garlic and add to the pan now as well. Add powdered garlic later with the other spices.**
  7. Slice zucchini, then cut slices into quarters. Add zucchini, kale, garbanzos, pine nuts, and remainder of the spices (add powdered garlic here).
  8. Cook until all veggies are tender, stirring occasionally.
  9. Serve veggies on a small bed of the quinoa and top with a tablespoon of hummus and a sprinkle of cumin or chili powder if desired.
  10. Enjoy!

Makes approximately 4 servings.

Recipes, Uncategorized

The Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies | Vegan Living by Danielle

CAUTION: These cookies are highly addictive!! Even my dad, who refuses to eat anything vegan and identifies highly with Ron Swanson [see Parks and Rec], cannot get enough of them even though he knows they are vegan! My omnivore family and coworkers always request that I bring these cookies too.

After baking these cookies year-after-year for Christmas presents and parties, I have a few tips to add!

  • Using metal sheets helps make the cookies more cake-like which seems to be the most popular. Bake time will vary depending on sheet type
  • One 15 oz can of pumpkin puree makes about 5-6 dozen cookies. Using a full can requires the recipe to be quadrupled.
  • I use mini chips so there are more chocolate chips per cookie
  • Substitute King Arthur’s Gluten Free measure for measure flour for a gluten free version!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 Tbsp applesauce
  • 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice, or 1/8 tsp each of ginger, cloves, all-spice
  • 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (Enjoy Life chips are allergen friendly. Also Stop and Shop’s organic semi-sweet chocolate chips are “accidentally” vegan)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Stir thoroughly pumpkin, sugar, oil, applesauce, and vanilla.
  3. In a separate bowl, stir thoroughly flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and other spices.
  4. Slowly pour flour mixture into pumpkin mixture and blend well.
  5. Once all the flour mixture is blended, stir in the chocolate chips.
  6. Scoop dough in 1-inch balls onto a lightly greased cookie sheet spaced 1 inch apart, they don’t expand too much.
  7. Bake for about 12 minutes. I recommend testing a few cookies before to make sure you’ve got the right time for your oven. They should come out a bit cake-like.

Makes approximately one dozen cookies.

Enjoy!!

Uncategorized

Vegan Snack Giveaway!

Vegan Snacks Giveaway | Vegan Living by Danielle

**UPDATE: WINNER CHOSEN

Thanks to all participants!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!! I am so excited to be sharing some vegan snacks that I love and that are easy to find! I found everything pictured at my local grocery store or Target.

I am going to share them with one lucky winner. To enter, follow me on Instagram and tag a friend in the comments! To get your name in for the drawing 2 additional times, pin one of my recipes on Pinterest and message me on Instagram with a screenshot, or repost this photo or one of my Instagram posts of a recipe.  

Contest ends Friday, April 14 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be announced the following day!

xo,

Danielle

Lifestyle Tips, Uncategorized

Fighting Animal Testing

Lush Cosmetics | Vegan Living by Danielle

If you’re looking to support a company that makes efforts to end animal testing, I highly recommend checking out Lush Cosmetics. Lush marks their vegan products to make shopping easy. You can put your mind at ease shopping with them because you know you’re supporting a company that is fighting to end animal testing and treating yourself.

I purchased these two items, the Kiss and Charity Pot, a few months ago and love both!

The Kiss smoothed my lips so nicely and left a little tint on my lips. You can just lick it off when you’re done scrubbing too and it surprisingly tastes good! I’ve found this product useful to keep lipsticks from flaking off my lips throughout the day. (My favorite lipstick comes from Kat Von D, Everlasting Liquid Lipstick. It’s also vegan and cruelty free!)

But my favorite is the Charity Pot lotion. I’ve always suffered from extremely dry, sensitive skin, especially in the winter. Over 20+ years I have tried numerous tricks and lotions and nothing stands up to this lotion. I only use a dime sized dollop on my hands right before bed and my skin has never been more soft! Plus all profit from the purchase goes to charity.

Lifestyle Tips, Uncategorized

Cruelty-Free Beauty Products

 

Cruelty-Free Brands | Vegan Living by Danielle

Have you ever gotten shampoo, face wash, or soap in your eye in the shower?

Didn’t it burn terribly?

Weren’t you relieved to finally rinse it out completely, even though it still burned?

 

In 2012, an article by the Humane Society International stated that over 100 million animals around the world will die in one year in animal testing laboratories.

You can help end animal testing by purchasing products from companies that don’t test on animals and stop buying products from companies that do test on animals. You can also help by signing this petition with PETA.

To me, being vegan is much more to me than a diet, it’s a lifestyle. It deeply upsets me to think about animals being hurt, mistreated, or killed because of something I want to eat or put on my skin! Whenever I reach for a product that I know is tested on animals, I can’t stop myself from thinking of all the bunnies, dogs, cats, and mice that were tortured in laboratories just so I could use this product for reasons of vanity! Why do we continue to use the same brands that test on animals when there are so many products available that don’t test on animals?!

Cruelty-free brands are much more attainable and affordable than people think, but make sure to do your research. Many companies print on their label that they don’t test on animals, but frequently are owned by companies that do test on animals, which in the long run you are supporting by purchasing from them. Some examples are Maybelline, NYX, Lancome, and Pureology, which are owned by L’Oreal who admitted that their company tests on animals.

Here’s a short list of some cruelty-free beauty product brands you can find at Target, Wal-Mart, and most drug stores!

To aid in your own research, check out my blog post, Vegan Lifestyle Apps, for apps that will help you shop vegan! Also, find an entire list of companies and if they’re certified by Leaping Bunny certified.

Don’t forget, cleaning products like Lysol, Windex, and Febreze are also tested on animals. Look for cruelty free options of these as well, Target carries a lot! Method, Mrs. Meyer’s, Citrus Magic, biokleen, 365 (Whole Foods), Trader Joe’s, Earth Friendly Products (or ECOS), and most DIY cleaners! (My family swears by the mixture of 1 part vinegar to 1 part dish soap and add any essential oils for desired fragrance. Take an old spray bottle, or buy one at the dollar store or Target!)

Companies-That-Do-Test-On-Animals-PETA-new