Vegan Aztec Hot Cocoa smoothie, easy recipe!

I am loving this easy DIY holiday gift idea: Hot Cocoa with Marshmallows. Vegan style...

Such a simple idea and seriously, who doesn't love hot cocoa and marshmallows? I used Sweet & Sara mini mallows. You can buy them online. Or you can skip the marshmallow part too. Hot cocoa is a very worthy holiday gift, so whip up a long line of cocoa jars and your holiday gifting is done! And super delicious.

Vegan Marshmallows! (These should be kept in fridge FYI) *The marshmallows should be good for a half a day or so, but tell your giftees to store the cocoa jar in the fridge if you use Sweet & Sara mallows. Dandies seem to be fine stored at room temp, but they can also keep longer in the fridge.

Love these minimalist cards I found at Whole Foods..

Glass jars. You could use basic mason jars or the easy seal variety in my photos. I found these jars at my local craft store for a few bucks each.

Boost it: If you want to boost this gift a bit, place the jar in a pretty gift basket or box with the following:

* extra vegan marshmallows (Dandies or Sweet and Sara)
* vegan chocolate bar(s)
* vegan graham crackers (smores + cocoa!)
* super soft socks
OR
* A pretty jar or popping corn + jar or coconut oil with a recipe for chili-cinnamon popcorn .. also yummy with cocoa

..instant cozy night. You could even toss in your favorite DVD for your movie lover giftees. Or an itunes gift card.

DIY Vegan Aztec Hot Cocoa
8-10 servings - if filling multiple jars you should make a larger batch, depending on your jar size

1 1/2 cups organic vegan sugar
1 cup cacao powder
1/2 - 1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp pink salt
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/2 vanilla bean, sliced into two pieces
optional: 1 tsp mesquite powder or maca powder (or both!)
optional: vegan mini marshmallows - buy them at Whole Foods (or another store) or online.

Directions:

1. Add all the ingredients, except the marshmallows and vanilla bean to a large mixing bowl. Toss well. Use a sifter to remove any clumpy cocoa bits. Fold in one of the vanilla bean pieces.

2. Pour cocoa mix in serving or gift jars. Top with optional marshmallows and another vanilla bean slice.

To serve: Use 2-3 Tbsp of cocoa mix for every cup of non-dairy milk.

Also check out my DIY Winter Wonderland Spa Day + gift ideas..

raw hot chocolate

i've made this before but this recipe is simpler. if you thinking eating raw means you can't have hot chocolate... think again, my friend! an added bonus (and a pattern in the raw food diet) is that this is guilt-free and in fact - healthy. if you've ever heard david wolfe ranting about how cacao is gonna save the world and our collective health then you'll understand.

although i'm comfortable chillin on the fence when it comes to the question of wolfe's genuineness; i do love chocolate. some say cacao is poisonous to humans and shouldn't be consumed at all. all i know is that mayans have been enjoying it for thousands of years and it tastes pretty dang YUMMY. you just can't make me give up chocolate. too bad.

anyway, just as many people offer up that cacao is a superfood and should be eaten like a vitamin supplement everyday. until the evidence is conclusive, you can find me sipping delicious vegan hot chocolate on rainy nights in my living room.

(if you actually come to my house and find me i'd be a little scared though.)

raw hot chocolate: serves two

6 pitted medjool dates
3-4 cups nut milk
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cayenne powder (careful with this...)
1 teaspoon vanilla 
2-3 tablespoons cacao powder
1 tablespoon melted coconut oil (optional)

note: the cinnamon, cayenne and vanilla are optional but i really recommend them. warm the nut milk on the stove then add it and all the other ingredients to a high speed blender and blend until smooth. pour into mugs, cuddle up with a loved one and enjoy! you could add some peppermint or candy canes to this too. 

raw chocolate mousse

uh... yeah. make these now.

i felt like creating something a wee bit fancy yesterday for my family and friends. we had a ripe avocado so i utilized it in the name of raw vegan splendor. turned out pretty decent, if i do say so myself (and i just did, so there). while you read the post, look at the pics and check out the recipe - i suggest you listen to THIS. i took lots of pictures for you today to feast your eyes on. FEAST:

i love having fresh mint from the garden for garnishes on desserts. to be honest, i'm not the biggest peppermint fanatic but i do adore the splash of colour. i am addicted to chocolate (that should be pretty apparent by now) but all the brown leaves something to be desired; purely for aesthetic reasons.

the bottom of these is a chocolate nut crust and it's topped with a chocolate pudding kinda deal. i made a quick chocolate sauce to decorate. i suggest letting them sit in a fridge for a few hours. i let them set overnight. i'm pretty sure if you do everything wrong in this recipe - it will still be delicious...

IT'S ALL CHOCOLATE.

double chocolate mousse delights: makes around 8 

crust:

1 cup walnuts

1 cup almonds

1 cup dates

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1-2 tablespoons cacao/cocoa 

mousse:

1 avocado

3 tablespoons cacao/cocoa

1/4 cup honey/maple syrup 

1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil, melted (optional if you're using a chocolate bar)

3-4 tablespoons nut butter (i used peanut butter)

vegan milk, as needed (around 1/2 cup or something?)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon 

1/3 cup dates/prunes

1 vegan chocolate bar, melted (i guess this is optional, but i recommend it!)

chocolate sauce:

2 tablespoons almond butter

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 tablespoon cacao/cocoa

3-5 tablespoons vegan milk

to make the crust, put all ingredients in your food processor and process until the nuts are crumbs and everything kinda sticks together. press into the bottom of big cupcake molds lined with plastic wrap or tinfoil; put in the fridge.

to make the mousse, blend all ingredients until smooth (you can do this in the food processor.) see if you wanna add anything. it should be pretty thick already, and it will set more in the fridge. spoon into each of the cupcake molds and stick it in the fridge for an hour or more. 

when you wanna eat them - ASAP i would assume - make the chocolate sauce by stirring all ingredients together. take the mousse cups out of their molds and decorate on plates with whatever you like! drizzle on the sauce and serve. YUUUMMM <3

chocolate coffee face mask

i've had the worst sleeping hours lately and because of it i have been suffering deprivation symptoms - puffy face, baggy eyes, messed up digestion, and just being really frickin tired but not being able to fall asleep. SO I FINALLY DID SOMETHING ABOUT. i made this glorious, delicious, chocolate coffee face mask, adapted from crunchy betty. here it is on my face. laugh at me.

chocolate coffee face mask: makes enough for one face... aaaand a snack

2 tablespoons freshly, finely ground organic coffee
2 tablespoons cacao/cocoa powder
water/fresh almond milk, as needed

mix the coffee and cacao together and add water until it's a good face mask consistency. you want it sticky but easy to spread. smear all that goodness onto your gorgeous face and gobble up the leftovers in the bowl! yum! i don't even like coffee... let it stay on for around 15 or 20 minutes. rinse it off gently with warm water.

P.S. this is a lovely song that i am obsessed with currently. you'll probably think it's weird but i hope you like.

chocolate peanut butter magic

these are uber tasty! my friend and i went to a music festival in kitsilano (awesome hipster/hippie/yuppie town) and saw a bunch of cool bands play. i really enjoyed nu sensae, weed and peace. anyways THE POINT IS: i got a delicious smoothie at sejuiced and she got this peanut butter chocolate dessert concoction. it was so good we decided i had to make my own version at home.

SO HERE YA GO.

 -

chocolate peanut butter summer delights: makes around 20

1/4 cup honey/agave
1/2 cup dates
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup peanuts
1/4 cup coconut chunks
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 carob powder
1/4 cup cacao powder
1/3 rice puffs (preferably whole grain, organic)

put everything EXCEPT the rice puffs in your food processor and pulse until it sticks together. i didn't measure anything so you may have to adjust some of the amounts til you get the consistency you want. it should taste amazing. add the rice puffs and mix in with a wooden spoon. press the mix into circle molds (or whatever you have) and put in the fridge for a couple hours. or eat them right away. i did.

okay one more thing. i've been finding all kinds of awesome music lately. most of it is pretty bizarre though so i don't share it with you because the chances are the majority of you won't like it. BUT this song is pretty chill and darn beautiful so i hope you enjoy.

raw hot chocolate: OMG!

I've made raw hot chocolate (I'm just gonna call it hot chocolate, okay) before so I know it's delicious. But I guess tonight the universe just wanted it to taste more out-of-this-world decadent than normal. So it did! I also haven't made it in awhile, so it was extra yummy.

This hot chocolate warmed me up and was the perfect accompaniment to the cold winter's night AND for the lame 90's movie I watched - Clueless. DON'T YOU JUDGE ME. I am not embarrassed to admit: I love this movie and have watched it at least 3 times. Don't worry, I otherwise have very good taste in cinematography.

So indulge in this wonderful winter treat, without the guilt! No sugar, no dairy; just healthy fats, cocoa and spices. You won't believe how yummy this is. And easy to make in big batches for the whole family around the holidays =) Enjoy!

Warm Cocoa -Raw Hot Chocolate: makes about 2 cups (I drank it all myself)

1 1/2 cups hot water

1 T honey/agave/maple syrup

Handful nuts (I used a mix of brazil nuts and cashews)

Handful dried coconut (I used chunks of coconut they sell at the health food store - so tasty)

1/2 t of cinnamon (or to taste)

2 T cacoa/cocoa 

Pinch of cayenne - TO TASTE
I also added 1 or 2 of my chocolate truffles, because they were there... and, well, chocolate. 

Blend all ingredients in high-speed blender until smooth and creamy... mmm. Sip up the foam and then delight in the chocolatey goodness of health.