Baked Spinach & Artichoke Dip

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Today I bring you another gluten free, dairy free, vegan recipe. Follow the instructions below to enjoy all of the creamy, flavorful heartiness of the traditional recipe without the dairy.

For this recipe you will need:

{Fits a 26 cm dish} Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup of vegan mayo {I used Just Mayo from the Hampton Creek brand}
  • 1/2 cup vegan cream cheese {I used Tofutti brand}
  • 1 cup vegan parmesan cheese {I used Follow Your Heart brand}
  • 8.5 oz can of artichoke hearts
  • 10 oz of frozen spinach {1 bag, thawed}
  • 1/2 cup of chopped fresh spinach
  • 1 tablespoon of minced garlic {optional}

Ingredients for Topping/Garnish:

  • 1/2 cup of vegan parmesan cheese
  • Dash of paprika
  • Sprig of fresh parsley

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Instructions:

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
  2. In a medium sized bowl – combine the mayo, cream cheese, and parmesan cheese.

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3.  Add the fresh spinach to the mixture.

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4. Squeeze any excess moisture from the frozen spinach; chop and add to bowl.

5. Drain the artichoke hearts; chop and add to bowl.

6. Add the garlic, to preferred taste.

7. Transfer the well-combined mixture to a lightly greased baking dish.

8. Top with additional parmesan cheese + paprika.

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9.  Bake for 30-35 minutes.

10.  Garnish with parsley + serve with pita s-done-2

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Vegan Salted Caramel Brownies

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By Valerie A. Cody

Valerie

Today I wanted to share a recipe for a crowd favorite: My vegan salted caramel brownies. These vegan brownies are topped with a three-ingredient homemade (dairy-free!) caramel, what’s not to love?  This recipe is decadent. It is moist. It is rich. Please enjoy 🙂

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Ingredients For Brownies:

  • 2 cups flour (may use a gluten free option)
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar (secret ingredient!)
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder (I used cacao)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 teaspoons sea salt

Instructions:

(Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F) 

1. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and regular

2. Pour in water, vegetable oil and vanilla; mix until well blended.

3. Spread evenly in a 9×13 inch baking pan. Bake for 28-35 minutes. You will know it is done when the surface of the brownies no longer appears shiny.batter-in-dishThe brownies will look like this when finished baking:

brownies

Ingredients For Date Caramel:

  • 8 whole dates
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • About 1.5 cups water

Instructions:

1. Pit the dates and place in a small bowl.

2. Cover the dates in boiling water. Let soak for 10-15 minutes.3. Strain the water from the dates, leaving a small amount of liquid amongst the dates. Squeeze about 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice into the bowl.

4.  Blend on high until the mixture has formed a thick paste.  Spoon this paste onto the brownies and sprinkle a small amount of sea salt on top.

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Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

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By Valerie A. Cody

Valerie

Today I wanted to share a recipe for homemade vegan chocolate chip cookies. These are a chewy cookie. I do appreciate a cake-like texture from time to time, but this recipe offers a more true-to-cookie feel.

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Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp ground flax + 3 Tbsp water (To make a ‘flax egg’)
  • 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup Earth Balance butter (I recommend the stick butter)
  • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup non-dairy chocolate chips

Instructions:

(Pre-heat the oven to 325 F. Place a piece of parchment over a baking sheet.)

1. Combine the ground flax seed and water in a small bowl. Set aside.

2. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.

3. Place the room-temperature butter in another bowl. Add the sugars and whisk continuously for about 2 minutes. It should become light and fluffy and be light beige in color.

sugar

mixed

4. Add the flax mixture and the vanilla to the butter mix. Whisk until well incorporated.

5. Add the flour mix to the butter mixture and stir together with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon just until combined – make sure to not overmix. 6. Add the chocolate chips and gently fold into the dough.

6. Drop by the tablespoon onto the baking sheet. Bake for 10-13 minutes, rotating once. They should look underdone on top.

cookie-pan

7. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. 

cookies

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Super Moon Spa Night

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By Valerie A. Cody

Valerie

If you gaze up to the sky tonight you will see something that has not been visible since 1948. Something that will not be seen again until 2034. You will see a super-moon. Super-moons themselves are not all that uncommon; we just had one on October 16, and after the November 14 super-moon, we’ll have another one on December 14.

However, the November 14 Moon becomes full within about 2 hours of perigee, so it’s going to look the biggest it has in nearly seven decades.

I like the way Mind Body Green describes the happenings:

The full moon is a time of positive opportunity if you use it correctly.  It can increase your positive energy or conversely, it can wreak havoc on your emotions. 
 
Since the full moon pours down a tremendous amount of energy, you must be in a calm state of mind to receive a positive effect. Remember that whatever is going on in your body, mind and spirit will be amplified. 
 
If you are angry, you will feel angrier or if you are happy, you will feel happier. During the full moon, the ocean swells and emergency rooms have more patients. The energy is very powerful so it’s important to direct it with positive intention. 
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In order to harness the power of positive energy and to create the calm state of mind referenced above, I’ve put together a list of ways you can enjoy an in-home spa night to celebrate the super moon.
 
1. Have a Bath. Both the moon and water are wrought with feminine energy. A woman’s natural (versus someone on the birth control pill) monthly cycle is 28 days. The moon’s cycle of waxing/waning is also 28 days. The moon is receptive of the sun’s light, which is why we can actually see it. The moon itself does not generate light at all. It only appears to glow due to its reflecting light from the sun. The ocean tides are also directly affected by how close or far the moon is from the Earth. I will be using a classic bubble bar from Lush Cosmetics called “The Comforter.” This one in particular is a favorite of many bloggers, so I picked it up while in Chicago.
 
 
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2. Exfoliate While exfoliating, focus on physically removing negative energies from your being. Focus on watching these negative thoughts swirl around and go down the drain. Any emotional blockages which make it difficult for you to express how you truly feel, negative self-talk which holds you back from evolving into your best version, and especially thoughts of you not being the creator of your own destiny; take back your personal power. I just purchased a new sugar scrub from one of my favorite brands, Tree Hut.
 
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3. Drink Tea Non-caffiniated herbal teas are a lovely way to wind down after a long day. My favorites for this time of year are the spicier, heavier flavors such as chai or ginger.
 
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4. Bentonite Clay Masque In the spirit of removing toxic energies, I could not forget to include the application of this masque. Bentonite clay has a very strong negative electrical charge. Since many toxins have a positive charge, the clay bonds to them. When it comes in contact with a toxin, heavy metal, chemical, or other impurity, the clay will envelop the toxin and release its minerals for the body to use. In addition, Bentonite clay also pulls hydrogen from cells, allowing room for oxygen. This helps with circulation, and overall skin tone and health. I’ve been using Aztec Secret Healing Clay for years now, and it still continues to be a favorite. Following the directions on the container, simply mix with apple cider vinegar until a paste is formed.
 
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Top 3 LUSH Products

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By Valerie A. Cody

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After becoming the favorite of many bloggers and vloggers, Lush gained what some would consider a cult following. Their natural products are hand crafted using the freshest ingredients; meaning their products have an actual expiration date. Body balms, shampoos, face masques and more; all so fresh they could literally expire.  It is becoming widely accepted that processed foods with a long shelf-life aren’t the best for our health; Lush is applying that concept to our hygiene products.

Lovely scents aside, I can also get on board with their stance on animal testing:

We’ve been fighting against animal testing for decades and believe in only buying ingredients from companies that do not commission tests on animals. We only test our products on human volunteers, and have turned our belief into a company-wide policy.

See below for a quick list of my top 3 favorite Lush products. 

  1. Bubblegum Lip Scrub This lip scrub smells amazing, tastes delicious and it’s vegan. Why would you ever want to scrub your lips with any else?screen-shot-2016-11-06-at-12-24-11-am
  2. Veganese Hair Conditioner This conditioner is extremely light, which means it delivers massive amounts of volume to your hair. The herbal scent is lemony with an Earthy undertone. screen-shot-2016-11-06-at-12-23-58-am
  3. Daddy-O Shampoo Blondes, thank me later. As flaxen-hair babes, we understand the struggle that is brassiness. If you find your blonde strands to be yellowing, get your hands on this shampoo. screen-shot-2016-11-06-at-12-23-36-am

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Cruelty-Free Cosmetics

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By Valerie A. Cody

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For today’s post, I bring you a much anticipated topic: Cruelty Free Beauty Products. Yes! I found a way to fuse two of my interests: Veganism & Makeup.

Not until I watched the documentary “Earthlings” did I begin to understand how cruel the cosmetic industry is to animals via animal testing procedures.  What’s worse, I even saw a puppy who looked exactly like my dachshund Sundae being tested on (during a scene from Earthlings).

Let’s discuss some current favorites:

TyraBeauty: Specifically, I am loving the Light in a Stick cream highlighter. This product melts into the skin to create the ‘lit from within’ glow that we are all looking for.

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Light in a Stick Highlighter ($25)

Too Faced Cosmetics: Mascara lovers, the search is over. I can honestly say that the Better Than Sex mascara is my favorite of all time. This product provides volume and length and DOES NOT wear off during the day. I have oily eyelids, so trust me when I say: I know the struggle. Recently I’ve purchased the Milk Chocolate Soleil bronzer and will vouch for it as well. It’s matte (perfect for the winter months) and smells decadently of chocolate.

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Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer ($30)
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Better Than Sex Mascara ($23)

Kat VonD Beauty:  Her products are Holy Grail status. Spoil yourself with one of the eyeshadow quads. I literally CAN’T even use my Urban Decay Naked Palette anymore because the KatVonD shadows are vastly superior. Pictured below a few of my favorites.

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Shade + Light Eye Contour Quads in “Rust” ($26)

 

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Studded Kiss Lipstick in “LoveCraft” ($21)

 

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Shade + Light Refillable Face Contour Palette ($49)
 

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DIY Bath Salts: Lavender Vanilla & Peppermint Green Tea

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I wanted to share a quick and easy recipe for homemade bath salts.

For this project you will need:

epsom salt

essential oils: lavender & peppermint

food coloring (optional)

measuring spoon (1 tsp)

tea leaves of your choice

jar for the finished product

bowl and spoon for mixing

Epsom salt is a wonderful base (as compared to dead sea salt or other options) due to its high levels of magnesium. The body is able to absorb this crucial element through the skin.  A few benefits of magnesium include: Alleviation of muscle cramps, reduction of inflammation, and soothing of any cuts or abrasions on the surface of the skin.

salt

We will begin by filling our holding jar with the desired amount of salt, this helps ensure we are making exactly enough to fill our jar.

Once you have measured the correct amount of salt, place the salt into the mixing bowl.  The next step is to mix in the tea leaves.

I have chosen my favorite green tea, which includes notes of vanilla, by Harney & Sons Fine Teas. Next, mix in 1 teaspoon (or more if you would prefer) of essential oil.

I think these measuring spoons are adorable! You can find them at World Market, I’ve linked them: here.

teaspoon

Once the leaves & oil are fully incorporated, it is time to drizzle in the food coloring. I used purple for the Lavender Vanilla jar and green for the Peppermint Green Tea jar.

food coloring

green

purple

Enjoy these salts on your own or give as a gift to your glamorously health conscious vegan friends. XO!

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Gluten Free/Vegan Pancakes

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By Valerie A. Cody

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Ingredients

Ice cold water: 1/2 cup

Gluten free & dairy free pancake mix: 1.5 cups

Almond milk: 3/4 cup

Egg replacer: 1 large egg equivalent

Fruit: unlimited

Vegan chocolate chips: 3/4 cup

I found all of the ingredients for this recipe at my local EarthFare.  All ingredients would be available at Whole Foods as well.

This was my first experience with the ‘vegan egg.’

Vegan Egg

To make 1 ‘egg’ you simply whisk 1/2 cup of ice cold water with 2 tablespoons of the powder.

The resulting mixture is a creamy, thick, yellow liquid.  At this point you can scramble it, make it into an omelet, or add it to any recipe which calls for eggs.

Next, add the pancake mix, egg, and almond milk into a mixing bowl. Once combined, you may fold in chocolate chips, fruit, etc.

Chocolate Chips

The final step is to plate your creation and enjoy!

Pancakes

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Luscious Locks: A Coconut Oil Hair Masque Recipe

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By Valerie A. Cody

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Sunday night is self-care night at the Cody household.  Face masques and hair masques for both of us, plus an epsom salt bath for me.

I’ve always had a self-care night. I can remember as far back as middle school; sneaking to steal my mom’s face masques and foot creams.

True girly-girl at heart right here. 

If you don’t already have a self-care night, I would recommend you adopt one.  It doesn’t have to be Sunday, we choose Sunday because it prepares us for the week ahead.  Here are a few additional ideas you may feel compelled to incorporate.

*Read.

*Get a Manicure. (highly recommended for men as well!)

*Get a Pedicure. (highly recommended for men as well!)

*Do a mini-declutter. Recycle three things from your wardrobe that you don’t love or regularly wear.

*Unplug for an hour. Switch everything to airplane mode and free yourself from the constant notifications of social media and email.

*Meditate. Even five minutes is progress. 

*Get fifteen minutes of sun exposure. (especially if you’re in a cold climate.)

* Do a Pinterest DIY. 

I started using this weekly coconut oil hair masque over a year ago now.  Here is the recipe and method for application of my Clary Sage, Lavender, and Coconut Oil Hair Masque.

You will need:

Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Essential Oils: Clary Sage and Lavender

Small mixing cup or bowl

Spoon

Hot Water

Hair tie or hair clip

Shower Cap

 

Coconut oil has a low melting point.  If you’re in a warm climate, your oil may already be liquified.  If not, simply submerge your jar in hot water.  This is the most natural way to melt the oil (compared to microwave or stove top).

Then, using your spoon, fill your mixing bowl with 2-6 tablespoons of oil.  This amount will vary depending upon your hair length.

Quickly touch the coconut oil to make sure it is not burning hot.  We are about to add the essential oils, which are quite sensitive to high heat.  We do not want them to evaporate. Once your coconut oil has cooled (but is still liquid) drip 5-8 droplets of both clary sage and lavender into the mixture.

Next, saturate your hair from root to tip with the mixture.  Make sure to apply this when your hair is dry. If your hair is wet, it will repel the oils. 

I typically leave this masque on for about 2-3 hours while wearing a shower cap. The cap traps heat onto the scalp which renders this mixture more effective.

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Are You Consistent?

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I have learned that consistency is key.

I thrive when I make sure to consistently take care of my mind and body.  Even if I don’t have time to workout for 2 hours a day, everyday — I still make sure to get in at least 45 minutes (everyday). I prioritize the process of holding myself to the personal standard I have set for myself.  We should all set our personal standards high, as this is what creates excellence. When we have a personal commitment to excellence, this helps to guide our daily decisions.  At the core, all ‘consistency’ really means is making the proper choice in the moment.

Are you choosing to carve out a bit of time in your day to follow the plans you have set for your growth? Or are you choosing to do nothing at all, just because you can’t fit in as much time as you would like?  These are the little moments which make all of the difference when it comes to creating success.

Choosing to remain inconsistent when it comes to self-care, exercise, or personal growth is detrimental to long term success.

Are you building your goals to be such mountains, that taking even the first step seems impossible?

Don’t do that to yourself.  You don’t deserve that sort of pressure.  Relieve that pressure by taking small steps in the moment which move you *even a minuscule amount* toward your goal. This is how we build momentum.

Choosing to consistently move towards your goals (whatever they may be) is nothing more than a choice in each and every moment.  Make your moments count, because moments add up to days which become years.  Do you really want to spend years in stagnation?

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