Simple Homemade Chai Tea (Great for Chai Tea Latte!)

Last night while fiddling in the kitchen I decided I should make a chai tea concentrate since I've been crazing chai tea lattes! 

A little google search and 1 2 3 chai tea concentrate! 

The one I made is so so simple as it uses black tea bags, cinnamon sticks and some whole cloves! That's it! 

All you need is: 

 5 black tea bags 

2 cinnamon sticks

Whole cloves

*Can be adjusted to taste as well!

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and add in tea bags, cinnamon, and cloves 

2. Allow to simmer for a few minutes and remove from heat! 

3. Strain and there you go, chai tea concentrate! 

I refrigerated mine until use. 

I made myself a chai tea latte with almond milk today!

 Just use equal parts chai tea concentrate to milk! I used 1/2 cup of chai, 1/2 cup of almond milk and served it iced! 

My chai tea latte is only 15 calories compared to Starbucks' Short 8 oz. at 120 calories!

Peanut Butter Coconut Energy Bites

I love no- bake and energy bites. They are easy and quick to make and extremely convenient to take with me around campus! 

Original recipe from Mom Endeavors, found here: http://www.momendeavors.com/2014/08/peanut-butter-coconut-snack-bites.html

Ingredients: 

• 1 C oats
• ½ C peanut butter 
• ¼ C honey
• ½ C shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
• 1 T cocoa powder
• 1 T flax seeds
• 1 t vanilla

Instructions: 

Again super easy, all you have to do is mix all ingredients together*, roll into balls about 1 tablespoon, and let set in the fridge or freezer!

Store in the fridge. 

*I also usually melt my peanut butter before adding to make it mix better!

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Get into the pumpkin season without the guilt! 

These are easy to make and easy to grab for a to-go snack! AND they are pumpkin AND peanut butter, potentially my two favorite foods. 

Original recipe from Averie Cooks, found here:

 http://www.averiecooks.com/2011/10/pumpkin-peanut-butter-oatmeal-bars.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+LoveVeggiesAndYoga+%2528Love+Veggies+and+Yoga%2529

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 c peanut butter
• 1 c pumpkin puree (or you use sweet potato puree either canned or sweet potatoes that you boil/puree yourself)
• 2 c oats (whole rolled, not quick cook)
• 1 c light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 c granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice (adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp cinnamon (adjust to taste)
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Averie Cooks also suggested adding in some add ins like cranberries, chocolate chips, nuts, etc! 

*If I had read through the recipe prior to making I think I would have cut back on some of the brown and/or granulated sugar because for me the peanut butter is already sweet and adding too much extra sugar could make it too sweet. 

Instructions: 

Preheat: 350 Degrees F

Time: 22-25 minutes 

1. Combine everything together.

 *Special tip: I like to melt my peanut butter a little before adding to make it combine easier. Microwave for 10 seconds at a time. 

2. Place mixture in a parchment lined 8x8 or 9x9 pan and bake for 22-25 minutes

The bars will be soft when taken out and need to rest until they cool to room temperature to cut. They will harden as they cool. 

Store in the fridge, freezer, or countertop! 

Puppy Photobomb

Vegan Pumpkin Pie with Date and Almond Crust

October is over. The nonstop eating extravaganza for Thanksgiving and Christmas/ the holidays has commenced. Last year I went to a vegan Thanksgiving event at Whole Foods and they made a vegan pumpkin pie, so this year I decided to try my own! 

I had to combine to separate recipes I found, one for a date almond crust and one for the filling!

Crust:

Quite simple literally process dates and almond until it becomes kind of like  dough and forms a ball.

• Dates 
• Almonds 

*If mixture is too dry, add water.

Filling:

• 1 cup original almond milk (I use unsweetened original)
• 3 tablespoons corn starch
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• optional - 2 more teaspoons maple syrup

Instructions: 

1. Soften dates in warm water for a few minutes to make them blend better. 

2. Once softened, puree dates and almonds into a paste/doughy crust 

3. Make crust in pie pans, I then let mine sit in the fridge before baking.

4. While crust is sitting, began filling by combining almond milk and corn starch by whisking in a pan. 

5. Once almond milk and corn starch have combined with no lumps, bring pan to a low medium-medium heat on the stovetop and continue to whisk. (Original post has very good pictures of this process)

6. Whisk in maple syrup and whisk for about 2 minutes until mixture has thickened. Once this consistency is reached remove pan from heat and add pumpkin puree, coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and salt. 

*Adjust sweetness with more maple syrup, if desired.

7. Allow filling to cool before placing in pie crust. Then allow pies to bake for 5-10 minutes, just until they set up and the top is minimally done by turning a darker orange. 

8. Allow pies to set up more in fridge for 8-24 hours. 

Date and almond crust

Puppy photobomb

Before baking, after baking it should set up a little and then cool in the fridge for 8-24 hours. 

I like this recipe version of the pumpkin pie because the crust is definitely healthier and I think overall the recipe is healthier and better for you, especially during the months of non stop eating and holiday celebrations!

New York Vegan Adventures- Vegan places to eat in NYC

I recently got the chance to visit New York because my mom was running the NYC marathon. 

Yay! 

I spent so much time googling and checking out other blogs for places to eat and then picked some that were close to our hotel or where we were going to be around! 

For some of these places I was too exited and took blurry photos or I forgot to take photos. Apologies in advance. 

1. Blossom du Jour

First stop on this vegan vacation, Blossom du Jour! Now I didn't visit the main restaurant, but this place was awesome! I had a roasted vegetable wrap and my mom had an avocado tempeh wrap, the smokey avocado I believe! There was seating around the wall and in front of the window, but that was about it in seating. There were juices, wraps, cookies, etc. 

They had pre made cold wraps for a quick grab and go meal, which is what mom's was, or hot wraps that were made and then called out when done, which was mine. They had juices ready to go in the fridge as well. 

Look at how cute and clever their trash and recycling bins are! 

Website: http://blossomdujour.com/menu.html

I went to the midtown west location, but there are four locations in total!

2. Kale

Mom and I stumbled upon Kale while we were walking to Macy's one day. On the way back to the hotel we decided to get a light fuel up with some juices from Kale! 

I really needed it too after all the indulgences I had eaten and getting the extra greens in made me feel so much better! 

Mom got the Green Machine with collard greens, kale, cucumber, green apple, pineapple, and ginger, while I had the Kale Lemon Tart made with kale, spinach, banana, avocado, lemon, honey, and almond milk (note I do know the honey made it nonvegan, but as I am not fully vegan I got it, but you can probably request to leave it out). 

Green Lemon Tart

Green Machine

 Website: http://www.kalenyc.com

Located on Lexington

3. Franchia

Mom and I ate here the first night in NYC. We didn't plan to go here originally, but after researching best vegan restaurants this was one of the top! It is a vegan Korean restaurant and it was delicious! Mom and I ordered some lettuce wraps to start and then we both had the pad thai! It was filling without making us feel like we couldn't move!

Website: http://www.franchia.com

Located on Park Ave.

4. Green Symphony

This is located very close to Times Square and they had pre made wraps and little vegan treats (think date and dried fruit bites). 

Mom and I split a simple spinach pita bread sandwich and a dried plum treat covered in coconut flakes. I also had a nondairy smoothie, the Classic, I believe it was orange, strawberries, and banana! Again really good and they had sitting in the front. They also had a hot serve yourself set up in the back (kind of like Whole Foods, you know you walk in fill a plate and cost is based on weight). They also had a lot of rice bowl options and juices!

Website: https://www.grubhub.com/nyc/green-symphony/?showSmallSearchWidget=Y

5. Dun-Well Doughnuts

Definitely one of my favorite vegan spots of all! 

OMG LET ME TELL YOU! 

Originally this wasn't on the list of "places to go," but on the day of the  marathon Dad and I were running around NYC to find mom in the race! So we made an extra excursion while in Brooklyn to Dun-Well! 

Dad got a Toasted Coconut doughnut and I had a Chocolate Pretzel doughnut! The place was precious also! It's set up to look vintage and has old silent film music playing. So cute. And with vegan doughnuts, I'm convinced this is what heaven is like!

Website: dunwelldoughnuts.com

6. Atlas Cafe (Anthony's Cafe?)

A little confused about this one as on google it's Atlas, but it seemed like they were transitioning/ in the process of changing the name to Anthony's Cafe. 

They had lots of vegan and non vegan options, so if you're like me traveling or eating with those that would prefer a non vegan meal this works with everyone! It was very cute and had tables inside, however I think when it's hotter out they put some seats outside. 

We were some of the only people sitting down and eating for a little, but while there many people came in and ordered food to go and sat until it was ready. 

I had an almond milk latte and a grilled vegetable sandwich, Mom had vegan lasagna with red sauce, and Dad had a non vegan crepe with cheese and mushrooms (They also had vegan crepes!)!

Grilled vegetable vegan sandwich

Website: http://www.atlascafenyc.com/_/Home.html

7. Cinnamon Snail

My manhattan lunch and treat favorite spot I think! It's a food truck that is completely vegan and organic and they won best food truck last year! They and doughnuts and treats in the window (including raw choices) and they also have sandwiches and salads! They send out their locations for the day via twitter and Facebook so check there or follow while you visit to know where to find them! 

Mom and I had the special, Rosemary Lentil burgers and they were miraculous. Seriously the bread was good, the lentil patty was good, the fermented leeks were good.

 I was in heaven. Probably shouldn't have eaten it all since it was huge,  but I was livin by the motto CAN'T STOP WON'T STOP. 

I seriously went all Miley Cyrus "can't stop, won't stop" with this burger. I liked it so much that I begged my mom to go back a few days later for some vegan treats! I got a cinnamon snail roll, thai basil doughnut, and a raw jalapeño brownie! 

Jalapeño brownie and it was definitely spicy!

Facebook and twitter to find them in NYC

Doughnuts and treats

Cinnamon snail roll and thai basil doughnut

  When we were on the way to the airport we even passed them. It was so sad. 

I just wish we had more time together, ya know?

 I love you Cinnamon Snail, I love ya. 

Website: http://www.cinnamonsnail.com