Tag Archives: recipes

{meatless monday} — “chocolacado pudding”

18 Feb

avocados are an amazing superfood.  packed full of nutrients like potassium, vitamin e, and health fats – avocados also are helpful at maintaining a healthy cholesterol.  they go great with tuna like in my tunacado sammy… i had heard about making chocolate avocado pudding but had never tried it…

until now 🙂

there are lots of variations and i plan to try another soon – but this one is about as simple and delicious as you can get.

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so simple.  so delicious.

– avocado

– cocoa powder

– sugar

agave works well as a sweetener, also.  i used a mix of cane sugar and agave. Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — ch-ch-ch-chia… drink?!

14 Feb

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happy thirsty thursday!  oh, and valentine’s day…

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remember this?!

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well this is the same stuff!

they are chia seeds. 

these tiny amazing protein-packed seeds are full of awesome nutrients including fiber, antioxidants, and heart-healthy omega-3.  and while they make excellent “pet plants,” they also make fun drinks when added to liquid!

you may have started to notice chia drinks pop up all around your favourite health food stores. you can purchase the seeds in bulk or in packages online and i know you can pick them up at whole foods market. Continue reading →

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happy fat tuesday!

12 Feb

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wear some of these…

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laugh at stuff like this…

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and if you wish, eat one of these…

and be safe, ya’ll!

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{meatless monday} — cute, crunchy, colourful : kaniwa

11 Feb
honey drizzled kaniwa with mushrooms and red peppers

honey drizzled kaniwa with mushrooms and red peppers

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i’ve written about kaniwa – i’ve only eaten it once before but i totally loved it and wanted to try it again.  you can read a little about my first experience here. i really love the stuff.  it’s similar to quinoa but with a little more “crunch” and it’s much smaller in size – so tiny!

there’s not a lot of nutritional information available in the US about this great ancient grain just yet – but it is loaded with protein and fiber, so it’s great for vegans, and it is naturally gluten-free. there’s talk of it being a superfood. keep your eyes and ears open for more information as it surfaces on this amazing little grain… Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — still lovin’ the vitamix

7 Feb

when i tell people i have a vitamix they usually ask two questions :

1. do you love it?

2. how often do you use it?

and i always say, “yes.  and every day!”

and i really do.  i use it at least once a day to make a smoothie.  usually for breakfast or with it or before i head to work in the afternoon.  i use my vitamix every single day.  and i love it!  i’m working on perfecting recipes to share on the blog of other amazing things it does.  for example : nut butters, soups, flours, and sorbet to name a few.

but it was still love at first sight and i’ve been falling in love more every day. how can i not?!  heavy duty, all one-piece, little to no food waste, easy cleanup – what more can you ask for in an all-purpose kitchen appliance?!

this creation was one of my favourites to date :

vitamixsmoothie-6 Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — “this is the healthiest superbowl party i’ve ever been to”

4 Feb

hA! i’m still sort of giggling from the comment one of my friend’s made at the superbowl gathering my former roomie had this weekend.  and what a game!  way to go, ravens – so well-deserved!!

since going pretty much 100% vegan recently, it’s hard to eat out or even go to a friend’s house to eat, because basically everything that is prepared has some form of dairy or animal product in it.  so i brought over my own food and made something easy to munch on for the big game.  it was a hit!

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i also toasted some falafel in the oven and chopped up some celery, carrots, and mixed sweet peppers as well as some fruit.  one healthy spread, indeed. and all 3 dudes gobbled it up!

“this is the healthiest superbowl party i’ve ever been to”  – one of them exclaimed.  i laughed so hard, it was so great.

salsaguac-web-1 Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — another vitamix smoothie!

31 Jan

vitamix – i highly recommend investing in one.  they are incredible machines!  i juice every day now!

i whipped together a different blend of juice this time from random stuff i had inside the fridge…

vitamix1-30-1 Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — an easy make-ahead meal : rainbow rice

28 Jan

greetings, you faithful readers, you.  and thanks for reading 🙂

here’s a great make-ahead meal that keeps well in the fridge – one you can take to lunch during the week or add to your plate at dinner time. nutritious, colourful, and budget-friendly – that’s quite a trifecta!

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rainbow rice – because it’s so colourful 🙂

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– about a cup wild rice, rinsed

– 3 small zucchini, chopped

– 3 small bell peppers, chopped Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — my morning vitamix smoothie

24 Jan

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this has been on the menu for a few weeks now.  eventually i’ll switch it up and try new things.  but i have had a lot going on in my life as of late – however, i believe the dust is finally starting to settle.  and no, i don’t have measurements for you – i just wing it! 🙂  i try to use all organic products, as well… for many reasons.  i ought to write a blog on organics soon…

– frozen strawberries

– frozen blackberries

– frozen cherries

– fresh kale or spinach

– 1/2 banana {a whole one takes over the flavour!}

– 1/2 pear {seeds included}

– a few dates {pitted}

– orange juice

– grape juice

– almond milk

– raw protein powder {this is my favourite}

– flax seeds

– maca root powder {a smidge – stuff is potent!}

throw it all in that amazing vitamix machine on high and blend for about a minute – the consistency is so awesome with the vitamix!  i highly recommend investing in one.  it’s totally worth it!  i can’t wait to experiment more with other things like soups and nut butters… !

SLAINTE!

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{meatless monday} — spaghetti squash primavera; it’s kind of one of my favs.

21 Jan

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i make this meal a lot.

it’s basically just a bunch of vegetables.  have you ever had spaghetti squash?! it’s amazing.  i want to make some kind of soup with it soon… ideas are welcomed!

i moved recently, as i think i mentioned… and i’m still getting used to my new kitchen.  i will admit i very much miss the kitchen i used to live in – i just loved how big and open it was and with LOADS of counter space… but i’m grateful for my new home and once we get the garden going, i will be extra joyous!  and yes, i will be blogging all about that adventure!

here’s today’s simple meatless monday recipe.  takes a bit longer to make than most of the dishes i feature on this blog, but this is well-worth the wait! so good for you, packed with nutrients and vitamins and yanno, it obviously tastes amazing or why would i bother?! 🙂 Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — shitake mushroom and cippolini onion risotto w/ an authentic abbey

17 Jan

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i’m extra excited about risotto now. wanna know why?! besides the fact that it’s kinda fun to make – i just found out that risotto is naturally gluten-free… hooray for that!  it’s a rather starchy grain, and makes for an outstanding vegan dish such as this.  simple ingredients, simple cooking, COMPLEX flavour!  delicious.  i super heart risotto, and you should too… it’s easy to fall in love with it.  here’s what i made for this dish :

mushroomrisotto-web-1 Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — “amazeballs” – a new year’s resolution-kinda snack you can enjoy 7-days a week!

31 Dec

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a new year is ahead of us. {hooray!} this means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.  for me, it means manifesting only good things derived from light, happiness, peace, honesty, community, harmony, respect, and most of all – LOVE. because that’s just how it has to be… and it will be.

and for a lot of people, new year’s resolutions are a common theme – many of which include things like “living a healthier lifestyle” or “eating better” and the like.  so in the spirit of new beginnings and living a healthier, simpler, easier life – here is a recipe i came up with a couple weeks ago that will blow your taste-buds away.  they’ll want to be calling more buds and be like, “dude, you gotta try this!”

easy. healthy. simple. delicious.

that’s how i roll. just like these “amazeballs” – and they’re sweet and savory – like me 😉 Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} something fun for the holidays! — mini chocolate-dipped lady apples

17 Dec

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every now and then, i’m creative with sweets.  i’m not much of a baker, so i don’t keep common baking components around the house – i seldom even have milk in the fridge.  half & half, maybe… anyway, i wanted to try to make some candy-dipped apples of some kind without having to make an extra trip to the store, so this is what i came up with. i bought the apples prior, with the idea of creating something fun with them for the blog, and i had all the other items lying around.

i just think these are so fun – take them to the office for the holiday party, or make them as a special after-school snack for the season… either way they’re super easy and cute and everyone will love them! Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — snowfall, a christmas movie, and eggnog : the perfect december combo

13 Dec

hooray for snowfall this week here in colorado! we SO needed it!!!  we need a lot more, but the mountains got much more than we did in the city, and i’m grateful anyway.  my roommate and i went out to snap a few fotos near the lake by the house, but it was seriously freezing {about 18 degrees}, so i didn’t stay out long.  just long enough capture the mood and run back in 🙂

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we didn’t get much – not even an inch. Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — caramelized onion and heirloom tomato risotto

10 Dec

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i’m lovin’ me some risotto lately.  i just love the texture and the creaminess of it.  my favourite way to have it is with mushrooms.  but i had these items lying around and so i decided to try them together with the risotto.

caramelizedonionandtomatorisotto-web-1 Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday – buffalo chicken wraps and a favourite lager}

6 Dec

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i’m excited to share this super easy, fun, and delicious recipe i discovered this a while back from the cute sisters over at deux chicago – they always have the cutest ideas! and no game day is complete without eating something with buffalo sauce on it!

these are so super simple and easy to prepare and they are always a hit!  i simply buy a preroasted chicken, eat a little of it for dinner, then pick the meat off and use it for my buffalo chicken wraps! Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — creamy mashed “yamtatoes”

3 Dec

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who says you can only have ONE kind of mashed potato at once?!  well, maybe nobody said that, but i’m breaking that rule anyway.  sometimes my mashed potatoes just aren’t sweet enough, i need something else in them. well wait a minute… this other potato over here is even named “sweet” – why can’t i mix the two together?!  well, you CAN audrey, you so can.

plus you know me, i love my dishes to have lots of colour! Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — super simple one-pot veggie stew

19 Nov

simple is as simple does.

my birthday is on thanksgiving this year, did i mention that?!  i was born on thanksgiving, and every 6 years or so it falls on the day.  do i have an opinion about this, of course i do. i mean, it might seem cool to share your birthday with one of the bigger american holidays, but it’s actually not all that great. every year i have to plan my birthday around the turkey and quite frankly, i’m much better than poultry and my presence on the planet is more crucial, i feel.  alas, every year i kind of get forgotten about.  story of my life.  i’m not cut up about it, but this year i did decide that i would make it all about ME. whatever i want to do, i’ll do it.  and if that means staying home, making dinner alone, listening to my favourite music as loud as i want and taking like 3 naps before i meditate under my stars, well then by golly that’s what i’m going to do.

this year has been pivotal for me.  i have much to celebrate.  and i feel like birthdays are kind of like new years day.  like, it’s actually a NEW YEAR for each of us on a different day… you know?! anyway, it definitely feels like that for me this year and i want the chance to reflect, give thanks, and meditate in order to manifest what i want this year to look like for me… which mostly means being open to whatever the universe has planned for me 🙂

that had absolutely nothing to do with today’s meatless monday recipe. other than the fact that because since i’m planning on completely spoiling myself with some delicious food all day long, i must pinch some pennies during the week.  this means the crockpot gets a workout!  last weeks lentil soup was a hit – i had a few readers tell me they tried it and loved it.  my friend miss J put sweet potato in hers… YUM!

soups are such a great make-ahead meal and can be so unbelievably easy to make. i made this dish for some friends of mine when visiting in the rockies and it was such a hit that not only did i make it again for the roomie and myself, but when i went shopping yesterday, i bought the ingredients again. not a drop was wasted, i love that! Continue reading →

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{thirsty thursday} — mini-eggs florentine w/ a twist and my first vitamix smoothie!!

15 Nov

i’m really pleased with how cute and delicious these little treats turned out.

half the time i plan my meals and half the time i wing it with stuff i have around the kitchen.  only on occasion has that not worked out for me.  my roommate usually eats whatever i make anyway because he’s a wonderful guy, but there have been some creations even i had to pass up because it just didn’t turn out good.  haha – but i grab a spatula, put the apron back on anyway and try again 🙂

this time, it turned out brilliant.  didn’t see how it wouldn’t, either.  when you start with a basic classically good recipe, you can pretty much bet it’ll taste terrific.  these were no exception.

Continue reading →

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{meatless monday} — overnight lentil soup

12 Nov

happy monday, ya’ll!

sorry for my absence – i missed you.  i was away last weekend in the mountains, and i didn’t get the chance to blog remotely on monday or tuesday and by the time mid-week rolled around i just decided to take the rest of the week off from blogging.  with the holidays rapidly approaching, my “day job” will get more demanding of my time and energy, and thus i will appreciate the “calm before the storm,” if you will.

so, we’re back on track and here is today’s meatless monday recipe. it’s all about soup in the audrey michelle household.  soup is all the things i look for in a meal : simple, healthy, easy, filling, and delicious. cost-effective, too!

see, i just bought a car.  i think i mentioned that?  well, a car means a car payment for me and that means reconfiguring my budget.  i typically just splurge on food – it’s just my thing, i don’t shop, i don’t go out, i don’t eat out – my “treat” is food, always has been.  and it will continue to be that way, i just have to be a little more aware and plan ahead.  i plan on posting a blog about batch cooking, which ultimately saves time and money… just need to allot some time to yourself to plan ahead and just do it!

soup is a great make-ahead meal that keeps well in the fridge and is friendly with the wallet. so, on with the recipe!

Continue reading →

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