Mango Kesari Bath (Soy-free)

I don't know if you've heard - but I'm in one of the best vegan groups in the world called "Vegan Temptivists" where I was originally invited because of my Oatmilk Yogurt recipe (soooo long ago)! In it I've met so many amazing bloggers with the most TEMPTING food from all around the world and so we set up a gift exchange. Now, during that time I had just started working in a cafe (where I became head line cook, mind you ^.~) and got my first debit card! I had to buy something awesome for Somer of Vedged Out, and I knew that she was into healthy stuff so I decided to buy her some of that Sunwarrior protein powder I had been hearing about it and by chance I got Vanilla - the one that she wanted to try!

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I got the most amazing package from Susmitha of Veganosaurus, all the way from India! It took about a month to receive it and boy was it worth the wait. I started with the crunchy snacks and the cookies and found that the coconut ones were my favorite! I also looooooved those spicy banana chips and chickpea snacks. I probably ate everything, except for the adorable jewelry in the corner, within a week with the help of my mother. All that was left was the Mango Bar, Sesame Brittle, dried fruits and the Kesari Bath. Now, I've never had kesari bath a day in my life, and couldn't read the instructions other than the information of it being a dessert - Susmitha's favorite, if I remember correctly.

So, I decided to set it up for my "cheat day" breakfast, and instead of adding water and regular oil as suggested in the instructions, I put in about a cup or two of almond milk, 1/4 of the mango package, some of the dried papaya and a few bits of the sesame brittle and let it turn orange from the sweet fruit. Then I slowly poured in the kesari bath (which is made of semolina, and seems to be sort of like couscous!), thinking I would only use half of it for now. Well, apparently that wasn't enough for my taste so I dumped the whole package in and whisked it rigorously, folded in some coconut oil cubes from an ice tray and then sprinkling on more candied papaya.

On the side I had baked some un-sweetened puff pastry twists filled with cinnamon to counterbalance the sweet gooeyness of my kesari bath.

(Mango Kesari Bath Ingredients)

• 1 & 1/2-2 C. Cold Almond Milk
• 1 16 oz package of Kesari Bath
• 6 tbl Chopped Dried Mango
• 1 tbl Cold Coconut Oil
• 2 tbl. Minced Sesame Brittle
• Candied Papaya

(Directions)

Start your almond milk in a pot and add in the mango immediately, stirring once in a while so nothing sticks or burns, then whisk in one part sesame brittle and some of the candied papaya, however much you like. Once your milk has turned orange and the mango melts, slowly whisk in your kesari bath and allow it to thicken, only just before it is the "right" consistency for you but make sure that it is fully cooked and not too hard or grainy. Fold in your coconut oil and the rest of your brittle and top with candied papaya. Enjoy!

Fun fact:Mangos contain 100% of the daily required Vitamin C, 35% of Vitamin A and 12% of fiber!

Peanut Butter Protein Bites for Easter (Soy-Free, Gluten-Free, No Added Sugar)

Happy Easter, everyone! I don't really celebrate it - but when I did my Easters were filled with Cadbury eggs, bunny-shaped cakes and Chinese takeout on a picnic blanket. It was a little personal celebration between my mother and I as I'm the youngest in the family and the only one living at home, and it filled me with glee to decorate butterfly masks and watch old movies with her as we ate the treats. We never actually took the picnic blanket outside, and instead opened all of the windows and turned on the fans whenever it rained into our living room as we decorated the Easter eggs or took the time to unfasten the VHS tapes from their sticky, suctionny packages.

It still makes me happy to think of that and I hope to do that one day with my own children (if I have any).

Although I don't celebrate it as we used to, these treats are too cute to pass up! They're simple, sweet and easy to share.

(Peanut Butter Bites Ingredients)

• 1/3 C. of Peanut Butter
• 2 scoops of Vanilla Protein Powder*
• 2 tbl. Melted Coconut Oil
• Melted Chocolate
• Your favorite Icing
• Rice Krispie Cereal for rolling

(Peanut Butter Protein Bites Directions)

• Roll your peanut butter, oil and protein powder together and place in the freezer. Once hardened, shape into eggs with your hands and two spoons.
• Roll in the rice krispie treats and freeze once more.
• Decorate and freeze.
• Serve and enjoy!

* I use Sunwarrior Vanilla Protein Powder

Easy Homemade Twix

There's a little glow on these simple things - I can enjoy my favorite childhood treat with ease and have even made it a bit more "mature" with the addition of coffee. Crisp, sweet, velvety and chocolate with a great crunch and a dark-chocolate bite to balance everything out. An easy short-bread recipe combined with a simple cocoa coating and an amazingly easy shortbread recipe. I've become quite the little candy-making queen with this simple 5-ingredient caramel and a little eye-balling.

(Shortbread Ingredients)

• 1/2 cup of Raw Sugar
• 3/4 cup of Vegan Margarine
• 1/4 cup of Applesauce (Optional, I didn't use)
• About 2 cups of White Whole Whea

(Coconut Caramel Ingredients)

• 1/4 cup of Cold Coconut Cream
• 3/4 cup of Cold Water
• 3/4 + 2 tbl Raw Sugar
• 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract
• A pinch of Salt

Dark-chocolate (for coating)

(Directions)

• Preheat oven at 325 degrees.
• Simply cream your margarine and sugar together for the shortbread.
• add flour and knead a bit and cut into 1/4-1/2 inch thick strips, roll in oats, poke a few holes and then place in the fridge for about 15 minutes.
• Bake at 325 for about 30 minutes or until hard, then place in the fridge as you start the caramel.
• For the Coconut Caramel, boil everything together until it gets to the firm-ball stage using a candy thermometer or using the cold water candy test.
• Spread on top of shortbread, then coat in dark chocolate.
• Enjoy!

Homemade Reese's Pieces

I've been wanting to do this for so long - I've had aching dreams of creating the perfectly thin candy coat over a creamy peanut butter paste. I knew that I needed it soon - and I was very correct in that. While these are most definitely not the type that you would get at the store, it is a very lax (and much healthier) ingredient list. The plus side is that its so fun to make and looks quite retro!

(Vegan Reese's Pieces Ingredients)

• 1/4 cup of Natural Peanut Butter
• 1/2 cup of Confectioner's/Icing Sugar

(Candy Coating Ingredients)

• 1/2 cup of Cold Water
• 1 cup of Raw Sugar
• 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract
• Natural Food Coloring
• A Pinch of Salt

(Directions)

• For the Reese's filling: I would suggest mixing your peanut butter and sugar together first. Using the smallest measuring spoon you have to plop them down onto some greased parchment paper. Then, place in the freezer


• For the candy coating: Boil your sugar and water together until they get to the hard ball stage. (To test this, have a bowl of ice water nearby once the mixture starts to crackle and boil on the stove. If you can pull it from the bowl as a ball without falling apart but still squeeze it - its ready.)
• Add your extract and dye and mix thoroughly. Then either take a fork and lightly dip each peanut butter ball back into the candy mixture or do as I did and little spoon it over each.
• Let it come down to room temperature for about an hour, serve and enjoy!