Tag: Vegan

• Coffee Energy Bites

  Posted at 9:46 AM by Brittany, on January 25, 2013

  There is something magical about a morning cup of coffee.

  Not just any cup, a morning cup. The cup that allows for relaxation with the paper, the internet, a book, or with a friend. The cup that allows last nights dinner to be safely excreted from your body. The cup that gives that morning pick me up after a long night of work, school, or llama wrangling.

  

  While I love coffee in its more common form of a liquid, the beans and grounds are becoming a quick favorite of mine when it comes to baking. I made my basura cookies last week, and they didn’t stand a chance lasting more than 2 days. The coffee grounds in these cookies really stole the show. Here’s another favorite with the addition of some coffee grounds.

  Energy bites SHOULD have coffee grounds in them, don’t you think?

  Coffee Ground No Bake Energy Bites 

  

  Ingredients

  • 1 cup dry whole grain oatmeal
  • 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
  • 1.5 tblsp fresh ground “unused” coffee beans *
  • 1/2 cup creamy almond butter *
  • 1/4 cup of honey
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries

  *Notes: Peanut butter also works in place of the almond butter, however both MUST be creamy, and preferably store bought jars. While I love my self ground nut butters, they are much too dry for this recipe. When I say coffee grounds I mean take fresh beans, grind them, and use those grounds in the recipe. DO NOT brew them, and make sure your coffee is FRESH, old coffee will result in minimal coffee flavor. Also, the finer the grind of your coffee beans, the better the texture will be. If your coffee is too coarse you risk developing a cat like sandpaper tongue.

  Directions

  Stir your oatmeal, flaxseed, and coffee granules together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed, then add your almond butter, honey, and vanilla. Once well combined fold in your chocolate chips and cranberries. Stir well!  Let chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.  Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like, I usually make 10-12 balls. Store in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 1 week…if they last that long!

  

  

  Can you see the coffee?

  

  These are some of the best balls I’ve made yet. The addition of fruit, chocolate and coffee made for a flavor explosion. They won’t last a week.

  These pair perfectly with..guess what..a cup of coffee!

  Q: Do you like coffee? If you don’t drink it, do you like anything else coffee related?  Think CHOCOLATE covered coffee beans!

  

  | 268 Comments Tagged Coffee, Recipe, Vegan

• Running Thoughts

  Posted at 9:26 AM by Brittany, on January 21, 2013

  Running longer distances allows for a lot of time with your thoughts. Thoughts about life, thoughts about family, thoughts about food, and most importantly thoughts about cookies. While on a 10 mile run yesterday, I thought about all of these things. My running partner was with me for good conversation, but anytime there was silence my mind was thinking about how excited I was to get to the grocery store destination so I could buy myself a cookie.

  10 miles done and the grocery store was waiting for me to purchase sugar laden treats and guzzle water with blueberries floating inside. If you don’t end your run at the grocery store, you are missing out. While walking the aisles patiently waiting to stumble upon the cranberry orange cookie I had discovered just the day before, I looked at my friend as he muttered the most beautiful words I had heard all day, “let’s make compost cookies.”
  

  Compost cookies were originally founded by a restaurant called Momofuku, but I wanted to make my own version..vegan friendly of course. I used my chocolate chip cookie base, and added the random ingredients to it. It doesn’t feel right to call these compost cookies, and anytime I mentioned the fact that I was tired on this 10mile run my friend would say “basura” which means trash in Spanish  It was the theme of the run, so I present to you..basura cookies.

  Basura Cookies

  

  Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup raw sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup applesauce
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup crushed potato chips
  • 1 cup crushed pretzels
  • 2.5 teaspoons fresh ground UN-brewed coffee beans
  • a few splashes of almond milk depending on texture

  Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
  2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted coconut oil, brown sugar and raw sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, and applesauce until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips, potato chips, pretzels, and coffee grounds by hand using a wooden spoon. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
  4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted.

  

  I will run marathons for these cookies. I am savoring one of these as I type this post, they pair perfectly with a cup of coffee. Lets be real though, I haven’t found a cookie that DOESN’T pair well with coffee!

  Q: What do you think about on long runs/bike rides/swims/hikes? 

  

  | 83 Comments Tagged Cookies, Recipe, Running, Vegan

• Home Again

  Posted at 9:38 AM by Brittany, on January 11, 2013

  My trip to Arizona was a short but sweet ten days. I had a lot of fun with family, running, eating, and adventuring. I rode on a train, I ran on new streets, and I tasted my first Moscato. For the things I haven’t mentioned, here are some bullet points for easy viewing.

  • I watched horses dance like people. 
  • I ate garden grown spinach the size of my hand.

  

  • I ran 26 miles in unknown flat land. The best part about running in Arizona is the lack of hills. It felt like a vacation from running too.
  • I tried new food.

  

  • I ate at Pei Wei.

  

  • I watched a new blogger blossom. My younger brother has started a blog, and I had a blast being around to watch him write a post.
  • I had awesome family time.

  I’ve been home for five days, and am missing the flat roads of Arizona. Running on hills is supposed to make you a better runner..right? It’s good to be home.

  By the way, I have become completely engrossed by Instagram. I think the only bandwagon I just can’t get on is Twitter. At the rate I am going I will have a Twitter by the end of the year. Ugh. 
  

  Q: Do you have all the bells and whistles of social media? I just can’t do it..

  

  | 41 Comments Tagged Arizona, Cats, Food, Instagram, New food, Running, Vacation, Vegan

• That Time I Crab-walked Down A Mountain

  Posted at 8:40 AM by Brittany, on January 6, 2013

  If anyone has a spare parka or blanket made out of seal blubber, I would gladly take it off your hands. That’s not very vegan of me, but it’s been very hard to get out of bed in the morning because it’s so cold. Inside AND outside. I’m in Arizona..what gives!?

  

  I know some of my Canadian readers are laughing at me, and anyone else that’s in weather wayyy below this. Laugh away, I am a wimp.

  Fortunately going hiking means the blood flows and helps with heating up the body.

  

  

  Ohh the beautiful red rocks of Sedona. What a lovely hike, UNTIL we reached the destination.

  

  This vertical wall of death was the scariest thing I have encountered all year. I was shaking, breathing heavy, sweating, and planning my funeral just looking at this. Finally after telling my brother I would do it if he did..he was gone in a flash climbing up like a spider monkey. Finally I climbed, all while breathing like a cow in labor. So scared. Luckily the view at the top was well worth it.

  

  What goes up, must come…falling down to a painful death  down.

  

  To ensure maximum safety, I put my 5th grade PE skills to use and crab-walked down.

  

  Oh and I was wearing jeans since it was so cold. BAD idea. I went against everything I have ever stood for when it comes to hiking. I will never do that again. NEVER EVER.

  I’m sure you can figure out by now I survived. Once I came back down, I was able to resume regular breathing and my armpits started to dry off. I was glad to say I did it. Accomplishing such a grueling task required some serious nourishment.

  

  While taking this picture of my beautiful black bean burger, I didn’t notice I was missing a bun. Come to find out I kinda liked it sans bread. The world was realigned once again.

  Q: Have you done any scary hiking before? I get scared all the time, it’s either vertical walls of death, or rustling bushes. Like I said, I’m a wimp. I also watch too much Animal Planet.

  

  | 52 Comments Tagged Arizona, Cold, Hiking, Photography, Vegan, Wimp

• Fascinating Food

  Posted at 4:06 PM by Brittany, on December 30, 2012

  While playing a game with my younger siblings, I discovered that we are indeed of the same blood line. I asked a question, and my brother answered perfectly.

  

  I would have to agree to a degree, one of the most fascinating things about being a human is comprehending the amazing flavors of different foods. I’ve been away from home, but I haven’t been slacking in the food department. My Arizonian family agreed to go to a vegan restaurant with me and fortunately for me this restaurant is located in Seattle too!

  

  Started with an Asian style soup, and a sip of my dads Indian style chai.

  

  I love Asian food, but I like getting American style vegan food. I find it to be more fascinating and impressive when a vegan protein can resemble real meat. I went vegan because I love animals, not because I didn’t like the taste of meat! I got the Hawaiian burger with a side of steamed veggies.

  

  This burger was a mess, which lets you know it was delicious. Overall everyone approved..except the one that got the nasty vegan hot dog. It was rough, even I didn’t like it. Dessert always saves the day.

  

  I haven’t had carrot cake in years. This was delicious. An unpictured cheesecake was also annihilated.

  I’ve eaten a LOT of food, so I’ve been running a lot too. Today I had an amazing 8miler, and the previous two days I had comfortable 3milers. TOMORROW I am going to my first hot yoga class with my aunt and I couldn’t be more excited!

  Q: Does your family eat the same way you do? No, but everyone makes an effort to try my hippie fuel.

  

  | 38 Comments Tagged Food, Rest, Running, Vegan

• The Grinch 10K

  Posted at 9:56 AM by Brittany, on December 16, 2012

  Last December I set a goal to run one race per month for an entire year. Overall I was successful with this goal. I missed one race in August, and in November I made my own Turkey Trot because I went to sign up too late. Ok so I missed two races, but I’m going to pretend that the T-Trot counts. The year has flown by, and if you asked me last year about all the races and runs I would have completed I would have laughed in your face. Yesterday I ran my last race of 2012.

  The day was cold. I mean really cold.

  

  It also was trying to rain, but thankfully held off until the race was over. I always get to races extra early to avoid last minute crowds trying to get their packets. I don’t want any added stress, otherwise it would jeopardize my chances of winning. Joke..

  

  The 5K was called The Frosty 5K, and the 10K was The Grinch 10K. I’d rather be The Grinch anyway. I should have worn green. Instead I attempted dressing to the occasion.

  

  My shirt has candy canes and my socks are Santa-ish. I didn’t win best costume, but I tried. I wanted to wear my new leggings, but didn’t dare get them ruined.

  

  I’m in love

  This race course was the same as the race I ran in March for St.Patty’s day. This meant the chances for a legit PR would be good. I have come to realize that no matter where I am when I run, whether it’s in a “race” or running on the road for fun I always have the same pace. I never try to actually “race.” Just keep that information in your frontal lobe, I’ll come back to it.

  Once the race started I warmed up pretty quick. For the first 3 miles the pace was a steady 10:30. This is my regular pace. I felt fine, and was enjoying the run. At about mile 4 I saw an older gentleman start to pass me. Something inside of me clicked and all of a sudden I was like, “No.” Just no..no this man is not going to pass me, and no I am not going to leisurely finish this race. So I turned on the juices. Right before the huge hill nonetheless. I turned the pace from 10:30 to 9:30 and held strong the rest of the race.

  Once I started to feel myself slowing down, another girl around my age came out of no where and had an amazing cadence and stride to her run. She started to pull ahead of me. Once again I said, “no.” I turned up the juices even more. At this point I wasn’t going for a PR, I just wanted to beat this girl. She was on my heels for over half of a mile. Right before the end another fatty hill reared it’s ugly face, and thankfully Manfriend was there to give me that extra push I needed. Once the end was in sight I ran as fast as I could and left her in my dust.

  Overall finish time was 1:01:32 with a 9:55 pace. EXACTLY 2 minutes faster than my last 10K. Literally down to the second. I shaved 2 minutes off, and if I had only “raced” from the beginning I could have gotten that sub 1:00!! Next time..for sure. I am more than happy with this race rounding out my year.

  Afterwards I stuffed my face with a vegan burger and brainstormed ideas for 2013 fitness goals. I see some more half marathons in my near future!!

  Q: What were your main fitness goals of 2012?

  

  | 40 Comments Tagged Christmas, Race, Running, Vegan

• Cupcakes and Lace

  Posted at 9:33 AM by Brittany, on December 11, 2012

  If I were more of a crafty fashionista I would use this title as a blog URL. Actually I couldn’t because I just Googled it and this blog name is already taken, so I will just use it as a title. Lately I have been clothes shopping a lot. By a lot I mean like 3 times. THAT IS A LOT for me. I never shop..I hate it. I hardly find anything I like, and when I do it’s workout gear.

  I own ONE pair of jeans, and these are frumpy jeans that I wore to work at TJ’s because leggings just weren’t going to cut it at this job. I kept the jeans in case I ever need to do yard work or something messy. I don’t do jeans, I just don’t. While shopping the other day I found the most adorable pair of skinnies. I bought them, and have worn them like everyday. I also found a dress that brought out my inner grandma and fell in love with the sleeves.

  

  I had to snap a picture to prove that I was in fact born with two X’s. I just love those sleeves! Oh I also wanted to make up for the barbaric photo’s from yesterdays post! HA!

  More importantly, I am officially addicted and made a late night trip to The Bearded Lady. I went with the idea of getting ONE cupcake. I should have known, what a joke..ONE?!

  

  So I left with two cupcakes and a brownie. I wasn’t alone though, never do stealth operations alone.

  

  Gingerbread orange

  

  Gingerbread plum

  

  Blackberry chocolate brownie

  I need help.

  Q: Do you like shopping for clothes?

  

  | 48 Comments Tagged Bearded Lady, Shopping, Vegan

• No Shame

  Posted at 8:56 AM by Brittany, on December 10, 2012

  Saturday I went to Seattle with my mom.

  

  We rode on this.

  

  We sat up top, there was no heating, and middle aged women were talking louder than a howler monkey. The bus took us to Seattle to shop, so shop we did. Naturally the highlight of my shopping experience was the food. The Veggie Grill just opened up their second Washington location, which happened to be right where we were shopping. YES!

  If you live in Southern California, Northern California, Oregon, or Washington I suggest you eat here. It’s an all vegan restaurant, but don’t let that scare you. It’s delicious. Don’t believe me? Well I have some pictures that speak for themselves.

  

  

  “This is dripping ALL OVER MY HAND!” I also look like a small forest rodent.

  

  “I hope the table next to me isn’t watching.”

  

  “This burger is a mess.”

  

  “ANNND back for more.”

  

  

  “Is it too soon to want seconds?”

  I would like to thank my mom for capturing my true beauty in these photos. I clearly have no shame, and will do whatever it takes to convince my readers of a good foodie find. This place was good. Oh and in case anyone wants to know what I was eating, it was this.

  

  The VG Cheeseburger, El Dorado Style

  The bus ride home was filled with those same middle aged women, drunk, and dancing on the lower level of the bus. They are lucky I was sober or I would have pulled out my dance moves and their jaws would have hit the floor. I look identical to this guy when I bust a move. My hero is JT too.

  To Cliff Note this post I’ll say: I hung out with my mom for an entire day, I rode a double decker English bus, I froze, I ate a delicious vegan burger, and I experienced drunk older women. I slept well that night.

  Q: Have you ever ridden on/in a funky vehicle?

  

  | 42 Comments Tagged Adventure, Vegan, Veggie Grill

• Let’s Get Crafty

  Posted at 6:21 PM by Brittany, on December 5, 2012

  Being the Pinterest addict that I am, I found a craft on there I just had to make. Since I don’t know the exact website of origin, I can’t give credit to anyone other than Pinterest. So here’s my craft, courtesy of Pinterest.

  

  Some of you may have seen this, and when I did I immediately fell in love with the idea.

  

  A deck of cards, printed sheets with typed reasons of love, construction paper, two scrabble peices, a hole punch, glue, and binding rings.

  

  This craft was so much fun. It was time consuming at parts, which helped to keep me busy. If anyone is looking for an adorably fun craft, this is it! I chose to not use the side of the cards with the jack, queen, or the king. These were too “busy” looking to me and I didn’t want the typed words to get lost in the chaos of the picture on the card. That’s the extent of my craftiness for the year.

  After my craft making I went on a 5mile run, and then had an amazing home cooked meal that was inspired by the lovely Amanda. I am already craving a second helping.

  

  Asparagus with peppers, onions, and garlic. Baked potato slices with thyme and salt. Brown rice with field roast holiday roast and some beets.

  The rest of my evening will be polished off with some popcorn and a holiday movie. I also see a vegan cupcake in my very near future.

  Q: Do you like to make gifts, or buy them? I like both..it depends on the situation. Homemade gifts are more rewarding, but you can’t craft up a dolphin giving you a ride into Narnia. That’s something only money can buy. 

  

  | 43 Comments Tagged Craft, Pinterest, Running, Vegan

• Adventures in Canadaland

  Posted at 11:25 AM by Brittany, on December 1, 2012

  This week I went to Victoria, BC. This is partially why I have been MIA for almost a week.

  

  I saw a lot of gorgeous architecture.

  

  Parliament

  

  The Empress Hotel

  

  Random building in tourist town

  I ate a LOT of good food. I wanted to ensure that I experienced Victoria for their food, and didn’t want to eat anything I could eat in my hometown. I found a flyer for a vegan restaurant and asked two locals how to get there. 20 minutes later I was eating some amazing vegan food.

  

  

  That cake was so good

  I stumbled upon the most amazing Mexican cafe after deviating from the tourist area.

  

  

  This burrito was almost $10, but it was so incredibly heavy and stuffed with so much amazingness, I had to save 1/4 for later. SO.GOOD.

  I needed something sweet to wash it down, so I found another cafe that sold vegan brownies.

  

  

  Unfortunately, this brownie lacked in flavor and “kapow!”

  I also stumbled upon the tea store I see all over the Candian bloggers pages. There are only like 4 of these in the states, but the closest to me is California. It was more fun to see it in Canada anyway.

  

  I sampled that sleigh ride tea, SO GOOD!

  Canadian friends I need your help..what is this?

  

  It was some kind of squishy looking fruit. It almost looked like lychee.

  The main part of this getaway was to “relax.” I spent WAYY too much money on a hot stone massage, but I tried it once and now I know.

  

  I came home with a small bottle of  Canadian maple syrup, and I can’t wait to give it a test drive on some pancakes or waffles. Or maybe I can just drink it straight from the bottle.

  I loved this town. It was calm, quiet, simple, and the location was gorgeous. The cafe’s and food were perfect and I never struggled to find good food. What better way to experience a new area than by tasting it? See ya soon Canada!

  

  Q: How do you like to experience a new area? Walking the streets, and tasting the eats! 

  

  | 53 Comments Tagged Adventure, Travel, Vegan

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• Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com

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