5-Ingredient Vegan Cashew Cream Cheese [Gluten-free]

It's my birthday! To celebrate, my sweet boyfriend surprised me with Blueberry and Corn Pancake Sandwiches with Lemony Filling. I guess he noticed me drooling over the photo of them in Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day as we rode home on MBTA with our vegan book swap swag.

There was definitely some food lust happening over these mini pancakes, but I didn't dream of making them myself for two reasons: Firstly, there are just way too many steps for me. I'm a "wash it, steam it, eat it" kind of gal. Secondly, it required vegan cream cheese. Ugh! I hate vegan cream cheese!

Or so I thought.

Richard was smart enough to not buy the crappy stuff in the supermarket. There are so many mysterious ingredients and it's so processed it barely feels or tastes like food. Instead he made his own in minutes in our Vitamix. What's in it?

soft tofu // cashews // sweetener // water // salt // nothing else

(Check out the full recipe on WikiHow.)

The results were super natural and super yummy! If you don't like dairy or vegan cream cheese, you'd probably like this.

I feel like a door for using cream cheese in other recipes has been opened: carrot cake frosting, between cookies, schmeared on bagels, cheese cakes, ... Okay, that's a lot of sometimes foods, but it's nice to know that sometimes foods can be made a little healthier.

Oh, semi-related: I signed up for the October Unprocessed 2013 Challenge at Eating Rules. I'm looking forward to eating less processed foods with Andrew's support and some awesome Bob's Red Mill coupons. Join me! If you're more of a voyeur, look for photos documenting my experience on Facebook and Instagram.

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RI Food Swap at Craftland on Sunday!

Calling all Rhody foodie friends: I've joined RI Food Swap to host an event at Craftland on this Sunday, September 29th 2-4pm.

The RI Food Swap is a community group that encourages the celebration, discovery and sharing of food. Here's how it works:

You arrive at a swap with edible items that you have made or grown. You leave a swap with edible items that someone else has made or grown. 

We hope this simple act of giving and receiving will connect you to the community and nourish your feelings of well-being.

Still not quite sure what a food swap looks like? Watch this video of a food swap in Portland, OR.
 
In addition to the items you'll be swapping, please bring a non-perishable item to be donated to the RI Food Bank. Also consider bringing samples of your items for taste-testing and a potluck dish to share with the group.

Wondering what to donate to RI Food Bank? Check out the food bank wish list.

As a bonus: Craftland is offering 10% off coupons to swappers! You can use them the day of the event or save them for holiday shopping.
 
I'm really looking forward this food swap. It will be the first one I've ever been to. I'm baking vegan cookies. I hope to find some delicious savory treats, like soup.

Have you ever been to a food swap? You can learn more about them and how to create one in your neighborhood at foodswapnetwork.com.

RSVP for Craftland food swap via Facebook (optional)

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The Safest Cookware: 3 Alternatives to Teflon

A study commission by The Environmental Working Group (EWG) suggest that nonstick pots and pans coated in Teflon can be dangerous to our health and the health of our pets.

The synthetic chemicals that make up Teflon (called PFTE) are released into the air when nonstick cookware is overheated. These toxic fumes may kill pet birds and cause people to develop flu-like symptoms (called "Teflon Flu" or "Polymer fume fever").

The chemicals that make up Teflon belong to the perfluorinated (PFC) family. The EWG reports that PFCs have been found in nearly all Americans. They are associated with smaller birth weight and size in newborn babies, elevated cholesterol, abnormal thyroid hormone levels, liver inflammation and weakened immune defense against disease.

Teflon manufacturers DuPont claim the chemical coated cookware is safe because normal cooking temperatures aren't high enough to release toxic fumes. Even according to the data shared by EWG, it does look like you need to reach some pretty high temperatures for the chemicals to become airborne. Still, these temperatures aren't exactly uncommon. I know I have accidentally burned pots by using the wrong burner or forgetting about a pan that I was preheating.

What are we supposed to do about this? Besides becoming raw vegans, we can swap our Teflon cookware for safer options.

At my house we use stainless steel cookware. I bought this set of T-fal copper bottomed stainless-steel cookware on Amazon pretty much as soon as I learned Teflon was dangerous. I've had it for about three years and I'm really happy with my purchase. The one weird thing is the large frying pan doesn't have a lid to fit it but besides that it's great. Things do stick to it, but I know several ways to clean food stuck to pans, so it's not a problem.

Image via Serious Eats

We also use four cast iron pots and pans. One is a ceramic coated cast iron dutch oven pot (similar to this one). It's perfect for lentil chili! We have two preseasoned Lodge frying pans. We use the large skillet for sauteed veggies, tofu scramble, and deep dish pizza. My boyfriend uses the mini skillet for his omelets and fried eggs. We also use a Lodge grill pan to make awesome sandwiches and hot dogs. It's really easy to care for cast iron cookware.

Another healthy cookware option is Xtrema 100% ceramic cookware. I don't have any personal experience with this type of cookware but consumer product toxins watchdog Debra Lynn Dadd offered a video testimonial for Xtrema cookware's safety. Sadly, the Xtrema Skillet reviews on Amazon weren't very good. The Xtrema saucepan had only one Amazon review but the customer seemed happy with it. Still, I'd like to buy some of their bakeware to replace my old nonstick cupcake and loaf pans based on Debra's recommendation.

Would you rather not sautee your organic kale over toxic chemicals? Does the information about Teflon freak you out? What kind of cookware do you like?

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DIY Jojoba Oil Wood Cleaner

For the millionth time, I tip my hat to green cleaning guru Annie B. Bond. In Cleaning Problems Solved, she suggests adding a few drops of jojoba oil to 1/2 cup white vinegar to create an improved wood cleaner.

She claims there are two benefits to using jojoba oil:

1. There is no risk of it going rancid, which can't be said of vegetable and olive oils, which are in many homemade recipes (including the one I've been using).
2. It's actually a liquid wax, not an oil, so it won't be as greasy-feeling.

The more you know.

Jojoba oil is wonderful for skin. I can't wait to see what it does for my wood furniture!

Read the full article from Whole Living magazine for more tips to trick out your green cleaning routine.

Order organic jojoba oil from Mountain Rose Herbs to support this blog and earn karmic huggles.

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How to Make a DIY Swiffer Duster

I think this reusable, microfiber Swiffer duster alternative by Aimee Ray at Little Dear Tracks is brilliant. If only I had seen this before buying one. Check out her adorable pattern:

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The fabric used was a microfiber fleece blanket. I've seen similar dusters made with flannel.

Let me know if you try this and how well it works.


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How to Clean a Durty Old Tub

Got an old tub so stained and grimy it's not just dirty, it's durty? Try this durty tub detox scrub. It's gentle enough to not scratch, but it's also strong enough to bleach stains without chlorine.

1. Make a paste of cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide.
2. Apply to stained tub or sink.
3. Let dry.
4. Rinse with water.
5. Repeat as necessary.

Happy bathing!

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Carrot Cake Breakfast Cereal Recipe [Vegan, Gluten-Free]

Leftover rice: Great for lunch, dinner... and breakfast. Yes, IIN alum chef Andrea Beaman, the official cheerleader of whole grains, recommends eating leftover rice as part of a healthy breakfast. I am certain she was whispering in my ear with her awesome heavy NYC accent when I thought of this recipe for carrot cake breakfast cereal.

Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Breakfast Cereal

Source: www.oliviacleansgreen.com

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Vegetarian

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 ¹⁄₂ cup cooked, leftover brown rice
• ¹⁄₂-³⁄₄ cup coconut milk (I like unsweetened vanilla coconut.)
• 1 large carrot (shredded)
• 1 small handful raisins (about 1/4 cup)
• 1 small handful unsweetened shredded coconut (about 1/4 cup)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 supershakes of cinnamon (about 1 tsp)
• ¹⁄₂ tsp almond extract
• nutmeg weeshake of
• pinch sea salt
• brown sugar or maple syrup fairy-dusting
• 12 walnuts
• 4 tsp coconut oil
• 1 banana sliced

Directions

1. Put 1/2 cup coconut milk and the next 9 ingredients (up to salt) in a medium saucepan.
2. Heat for about 7-10 minutes on low heat, until warm and the flavors combine. Stir often. Add more milk as necessary.
3. Divide into bowls and cover with toppings. Toppings (per bowl): 1 tsp coconut oil and a few crushed walnuts. Delicious with optional fairy-dusting of brown sugar or maple syrup. If you're adverse to sugar, I bet a few slices of banana would be yummy too.

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Serves two hungry people who are serious about breakfast. Can also serve up to four people who prefer a light breakfast and are somehow not concerned that lunch is 4 hours away. (You folks are as mysterious as unicorns to me, but it's all love.) This could also be served cold as a rice pudding dessert.

Let me know what you think of this if you try it. 

Also, I've just realized I'm on a mission to turn my favorite sometime foods into healthy whole grain breakfast cereals. Check out Quinoa Parading as Blueberry Pancakes.

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6 Ideas for Exercising with Your Pet

Written by guest blogger Maya Rodgers.

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Obesity is one of the leading causes to diabetes and other health related issues. Not enough attention is focused on family pets and their weight. Harmful diseases are at higher risk when your pet is overweight. So next time you go to burn some calories bring along your pet! Not only will you be helping out your pet, but a partner of the furry family is a great addition to your workout. Whether it’s with your dog or your cat, there are some workouts that give you the results you’re looking for as well as giving your new exercise buddy a chance to enjoy their time outdoors.

Jump In
Simple activities such as taking a dip in the pool on a hot summer day can lead to happiness. Seriously, it’s that easy sometimes. Give your canine the same taste of happiness by sharing this activity with them. Many of the muscles in your body are at work when you swim. Besides burning calories and offering a great workout for your dog, swimming is particularly beneficial to animals with joint pain or arthritis. Next time you’re poolside be sure your pet is there with you.

Mind Games
Not only is physical exercise beneficial to your canine and feline friends, strengthening your pet’s mind is important as well. Food puzzles are a great way to occupy your hyper pet as they try to retrieve food from the toy. Puzzle toys help to stimulate pets’ brains. During the act of solving the puzzle, cats and dogs will improve dexterity and build their coordination.

Thrill of the Chase
Another exercise that can work with both cats and dogs is completing sit-ups with a laser pointer or small flashlight in your hand. The constant and random movement of the light will capture your dog or cat’s attention. They energy that they exert in pursuit of the light will serve as their workout.

Block After Block
Jogging with your pet is a great way to stay healthy. This workout will build endurance, burn calories, and strengthen muscles--plus your dog gets a chance to release all that pent up energy. Take a jog around your neighborhood. If your neighborhood isn’t exactly pedestrian friendly, try your local park. Be sure to check into your park’s rules concerning pets and off-leash areas.

Reaching New Heights
If you live in a home with an ample sized backyard, take your dog off its leash and throw a Frisbee around. Lots of running, throwing and chasing is guaranteed to happen. Your dog will appreciate the time away from the leash. Challenge your dog by throwing the Frisbee up high. Watch as your dog amazes you with the height it clears.

Kitten Curls
This exercise is tailored for your cat. Did you know that lifting weights can serve as a method of toning your muscles as well as keeping your cat active? Tie a toy on a string around one of your dumbbells and allow it to dangle. As you do arm curls the toy will catch the attention of your cat and keep them busy. Grab your new workout buddy and try out these exercises. They’ll make you and your pet feel so much better in the end. Exercise helps to improve your overall health. That means you and your pet will look forward to seeing lots of each other for years to come.

Guest blogger Maya Rodgers is the mother of two children and always on the hunt for new ways to make the small things in her daily life more environmentally friendly. Her hobbies are diy projects, spending time with her family, and writing. She enjoys writing on her Pets and Pests blog in order to inform others on the tools she has learned as a pest control consultant at Terminix. 

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What's Your Makeup Hiding?

I just read a great article: Why Your Makeup is More Harmful Than You Think. Honestly, I never think about makeup because I don't wear any. However, it's not all about me so I'm taking a moment to share with you beautiful readers three ugly facts about makeup that the article pointed out.

• Out of 1,000 carcinogens the EU has banned, the US has only banned 9 of them. 
• Scientists have only "improved" upon all of the chemicals used in our beauty products, making the particles both smaller and stronger. This means they're more easily absorbed into the skin and past the protective layers that once served as a barrier to these toxins.
• Terms like "herbal," "organic" and "natural" on beauty packaging aren't regulated and have no actual meaning. Trust us, there's not one "herb" in Herbal Essences shampoo. Go to safecosmetics.org or ewg.com/skindeep to suss out which exact products are chemical-free.

 Read the rest of the article on Wellness Today.

Before you get all emo and worry you'll have to expose the world to your raw, unedited beauty (which I'm rooting for), know that you can totally make your own natural makeup. Amy at A Blossoming Life shares homemade natural makeup tutorials for mascara, foundation powder, blush, and bronzer. Katie at Wellness Mama blogged a bunch of natural makeup options, including eyeliner, and has another blog post on how to make natural tinted lip balm. I haven't tried any of their recipes, but the safe ingredients make me happy.

Do you seek out natural makeup? Have you ever made your own makeup?

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5 Herbal Remedies for Restful Sleep

Sleep: You don't miss it until you don't have it. If you're struggling to experience a full 8 hours of sleep each night, here are some natural remedies that may help.

(img source)

Lavender Essential Oil
Rub a drop of lavender essential oil into the bottom of each foot. It's so simple but it really works! I've been doing it every night for about two weeks. It's consistently hard for me to keep my eyes open about 30 minutes after doing this. I also sleep more soundly. (This tip comes from my friend Laura at Green Living Ladies.)

Passion Flower
Herbalists in Mexico, Central America, and Texas have used passion flower as a calmative and sleeping aid for over 200 years. Currently there is a German E monograph for passion flower citing its use as having sedative qualities. You can take 2-5 g of the herbal remedy as a tea, 3-5 times a day. Spread your cups throughout the day and have one a half-hour before going to bed. Pregnant women should avoid passion flower, since it can stimulate uterine contractions. (Source 1 & 2)

Valerian Root 
Valerian root has been used medicinally for over 2000 years. It is traditionally used to support healthy sleep and relaxation, though clinical trials regarding its efficacy have shown mixed results. When combined with hops, valerian root has been approved by the German Commission E to support healthy sleep. (Source)

Oat Straw
The German government also commissioned oat straw extract as an effective herbal remedy for anxiety and stress. This is most likely due to the high Vitamin B complex content contained within the herb. Oat straw's calming qualities strengthens nerves and encourages a restful night's sleep. (Source)

Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family, possessing a pleasant aroma, strikingly similar to that of lemon. The herb can grow to nearly five feet tall, producing small white flowers. The Latin name "Melissa" translates to "bee," referring to the plant's ability to attract honeybees and other insects. The German Commission E has approved lemon balm for supporting a calm and healthy sleep. (Source)

Watch this YouTube video to learn how to make a relaxing herbal bedtime tea. 

Order the essential oils & herbs mentioned above from Mountain Rose Herbs using this affiliate link and earn Karmic huggles.

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#MeatlessMonday: 7 Tips for Becoming Vegetarian

Happy Meatless Monday! Here are some tips that can help anyone get started with a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Focus on your "Why"
There are many great reasons to adopt a vegetarian diet, but it's important that you take a moment to think about your motivations. Why do you want to become vegetarian? What results to you hope to achieve? Jot a list. Post it on your fridge or tuck it in your wallet. Keeping your goals in mind, and visible, will make the transition much easier.

Do it with a buddy!
If you have a vegetarian friend, ask him to share his favorite recipes, direct you to the best veg dishes at local restaurants, and give you the scoop on things like the latest nut milk everyone is going gaga for. If you don't know any vegetarians, see if a friend is willing to try going veg with you.

Eat plants.
This sounds obvious, but if you think about it, there are lots of vegan and vegetarian foods that are anything but vegetables. They are expensive, over-packaged, highly processed, and contain lots of salt and sugar. If you're going to change your diet, why not make a change for the better? Eat vegetables. Eat fruit. Eat whole grains. Eat real food!

Visit PetsandPests.com to read the rest of my post and learn 4 more tips for becoming vegetarian. I'm really happy to be the guest blogger there today. 

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Vegan Boston Book Swap to Benefit Vine Sanctuary

I'm superexcited to be an organizer for my first swap in the New England area. My dear friend, journalist/ activist Jamie Hagen and I are hosting a Vegan & Animal Right Book Swap to Benefit Vine Sanctuary in Boston.

Saturday, September 14th, 4pm-7pm 
Cambridge Women’s Center 
46 Pleasant St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Open to all regardless of age, gender, or diet.
Wheelchair accessible.
FREE

Please join us for an evening swap of inspiring vegan cookbooks, theory books, how-to dvds, and all other media related to vegetarianism and animal rights. Bring up to ten items to swap or just come mingle!

There will be a raffle in support of VINE animal sanctuary in Vermont with awesome prizes donated by Sudo Shoes, Two Trick Pony, Life Alive, Veggie Galaxy, Kristin Crane, and Compassion Company. I'll be baking some brownies and other treats to sell in support of the sanctuary as well.

A guest speaker from The Humane League will talk about their Boston campaigns.

Follow #bostonbookswap on Twitter and Instagram for updates.

RSVP on Facebook so we don't think no one is coming and get all emo.

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Wanna keep nerding out about creative green living? Let's stay connected: Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Newsletter // Bloglovin' // YouTube

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Best Blood Stain Remover You Probably Already Own

I love Bon Ami! I could sing it's praises for hours, but for now I'll just talk about one awesome surprising use for this cleaning powder.

You can use Bon Ami to remove blood stains from cotton fabric. It works on fresh blood stains, as well as those that have dried for a few hours.

1. Rinse stain thoroughly with cold water.
2. Sprinkle on a little Bon Ami.
3. Scrub stain with an old toothbrush.
4. Rinse again with cold water.
5. The stain should be gone. You can toss garment into the wash with the rest of the laundry if you want to clean the entire thing and spend less time rinsing away the Bon Ami.

You should be able to find Bon Ami at your supermarket. If not, you can order Bon Ami via my Amazon Associate link (and I'll get a commission).

What do you use to remove blood stains? Did you ever think there'd be a clean reason to post a pic of your skivvies on the internet? I certainly didn't think so before today!

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My Natural Hair Care Routine

I love my hair. I also love talking about my hair. So when a reader asked what products I use I practically jumped over myself to create a post on the topic.

Here are the natural hair care products I use, listed in the order I use them along with some Amazon affiliate links to where you can buy them, if you choose. None of these products contain synthetic fragrances or parabens. They're all made without animal products or animal testing. Most are fair trade and use organic ingredients. So I have an afrotastic hair day and nobody gets hurt. Yay!

Hair Typing: I'm not sure how much hair typing matters, but I do find it useful for managing expectations on how my hair should look after using a certain product or styling technique. I have 4A hair, which means it grows in lots of tiny, defined, and supertight coils. (You can discover your hair type here.)
Remembering that there are little distinctions even within hair types might help you determine if the products I use and how I use them will work for you. In other words, please don't get mad at me if your hair doesn't like the products I use.

My hair, today, showing it's natural curl pattern. (It hasn't been stretched or styled.)

Deep Condition: Everyday Coconut Super Hydrating Conditioner, Beautiful Curls Shea Butter Deep Conditioning Treatment, or coconut oil. I finger comb or use a wide toothed comb to distribute about 1/3 cup evenly through damp hair. I put on two shower caps or reuse plastic bags (produce bags are great for this) and a warm knit cap. I leave my hair alone for about 30 minutes. Now is the perfect time to work up a sweat cleaning up around the house. The steam created by body heat helps the conditioning process.

Shampoo or No Poo: Alaffia Kola, Ginger & Shea Daily Fortifying Shampoo. (I'm not sure if they still make it.) The bottle I used before this one was Alaffia Neem & Shea Scalp Recovery Shampoo. Both are sulfate-free, meaning they are low poo. low suds, non-drying, and non abrasive. This keeps curls happy. I only shampoo once and don't use a lot of shampoo. Squeaky clean is too clean. Hair needs some oils to stay awesome.
If you're dead set against shampoos, or just thrifty, an alternative to shampoo is the Baking Soda No Poo method.I tried it once. It does work.

Final Rinse: Once all the shampoo is rinsed from my hair, I do a final rinse with 2-4 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) + 8-10 oz homemade herb infused water or 2-4 TBS ACV + 8-10 oz water + 4 drops essential oil. (Lavender is my herb/essential oil of choice.) I do not rinse this out. It leaves my hair supershiny and the smell of vinegar eventually dissipates.

Dry: I gently squeeze hair dry then partially towel dry. I use Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel.

Leave in Conditioner: In a spray bottle, I mix together 1 part aloe vera gel (Aloe 80 Organics Skin Soothing Gel) with 3 parts filtered water and a few drops of essential oil. (Again, you can also use herb-infused water in place of filtered water and skip the essential oil, but for some reason I'm just thinking of this!)

Moisturizer/ Hot Oil Treatment: Coconut oil is a great way to seal in the moisture from leave-in conditioner. I usually want a hot oil treatment after washing, so I heat it by placing a small cup of oil (I use a sake glass) in a larger bowl of hot water. The heat makes the oil extra potent. 
When I rock a wash-and-go, I rub it through my damp hair with my palms so I don't disturb my natural curl pattern. If I am going to wear two-strand twists, I may use a comb or brush.
I've used many brands of coconut oil. Right now I'm using Dr. Bronner's White Kernel. Last month I used Dr. Bronner's Whole Kernel Coconut Oil. I haven't noticed a difference in results. I just buy what's on sale at Whole Foods. I like olive oil too. I would recommend always going for organic and food quality oil.

Touch-up/ In-between wash days: I do all the above every one to two weeks. Every other day or so, I mist my hair with my DIY leave-in conditioner and seal in moisture with a little coconut oil.

Random Tips: Healthy hair is part of a healthy body. A food based multivitamin supports hair growth and strength. (My hair stylist says a prenatal vitamin is even better.) Eating healthy fats like flax seeds and flax seed oil, coconut oil, walnuts, and avocados help keep your hair and skin well moisturized. 
Water is a friend of hair. I drink lots of water. I also let the steam from a hot shower treat my hair as well.
Massaging your scalp with your fingertips is also beneficial for scalp health and hair growth.

What hair products do you use? What's your routine?

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Let's Get Kale Krazy with Cooking with CSA!

Today is The First Annual International Day of Kale! Yippee!

I'm celebrating by joining Sarah and Peter from Cooking with CSA for a Google Hangout. We're going Kale Krazy today (Tuesday, September 3rd) at 6pm EST. I'll show how to clean and store kale. S & P will demonstrate how to make a kicky kale salad. If you have any questions about kale, there will be time for you to ask them too!

Register for the *FREE* live Google Hangout here. 

(If you don't make the hangout, you can watch a video recording of it on the Cooking with CSA YouTube channel.)

Who are Sarah & Peter? What's Cooking with CSA?

S & P are two ordinary young folks who transformed their lives by switching to a whole foods, plant-based diet and exercising. The enthusiastic couple runs an exciting, and affordable, recipe subscription service designed to get you in the kitchen every night cooking the best seasonal, local foods. All their recipes are vegan and gluten-free, so everyone can enjoy them! I highly recommend signing up for their free 7-Day Healthy Kitchen Series.

Hope to see you tonight!

*Update: Click here to see the video.*

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Wanna keep nerding out about creative green living? Let's stay connected: Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Newsletter // Bloglovin' // YouTube

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