Hello, Beauty!

Happy Friday! Hope everyone is enjoying the start to the weekend. Make sure to stop your local Whole Foods Market tomorrow (Saturday, March 21, 2015), as they'll be giving away the first-ever Whole Foods Hello, Beauty! bag at 10 a.m. "Packed with cutting-edge cosmetics and luxurious skin care, the Hello, Beauty! bag has a retail value of $60, but your local Whole Foods Market store will offer it for $18 (while supplies last)," according to this Whole Foods blog post.

The bag is reported to contain the following products, which are cruelty-free and vegan:

Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub

Salon-quality skin treatment with Dead Sea salt and volcanic sand

Acure Cell Stimulating Facial Mask

Purify, moisturize and renew with French green clay, sea buckthorn oil and Moroccan argan stem cells

Trilogy Vital Moisturising Cream

Versatile moisturizer with rosehip seed oil, marula oil and orange flower

Gabriel Mascara

Gentle and effective formula with plant waxes and vitamin B-5

Giovanni 2chic Blackberry & Coconut Milk Ultra-Repair Shampoo

Botanical compounds pamper damaged, overprocessed hair

Pacifica Eye Shadow Duo or Lipstick

Rich, long-lasting color without parabens

 

I don't know about you, but I'm interested in getting my hands on one of these bags, as well as checking out some of the other beauty products available there. For example, Jen of My Beauty Bunny just did a post about her 8 Beauty Swaps from Whole Foods Market. Based on her recommendation, I might have to pick up some of Alaffia Everyday Coconut Water Toner.

Fingers crossed that I make it there tomorrow in time. Let me know if you get one of these bags before they're gone.

Throwback Thursday: Mallomars

I can't believe I've had this blog since 2007. Sometimes it's just fun for me to look back at my old posts and share them again with you. For example, in March of 2009, I got my first taste of a real Pure Food and Wine raw Mallomar, thanks to my friend Rawbin (hey lovely; we really need to get back to some girl talk and yummy unbaked treats). To this day, I am amazed that she brought it all the way here to me from NYC.

To my surprise, the real PF&W Mallomar tasted very similar to my attempt at making them almost a year prior to sampling the souvenir Rawbin brought me. The main difference was the size, which just means I can get away with eating more than one of my version (the top photo and other step-by-step photos in this post are of my mini experimental version back in 2008).

I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to experience an actual raw treat from PF&W, especially since I may never get the chance to dine there (even during my We Like It Raw days, I didn't get around to visiting there). It saddens me to hear about restaurant closing its doors and the whole mess behind it. I hope Sarma's latest post means things really are on the mend. I feel for her and all those involved.

Green Dream Sweet Potato Salad

It's been a while since I started this blog, so obviously, it has evolved (did anyone notice the new look?), along with my way of eating. I no longer strive for an almost all raw diet (although I eat that way the majority of the time), and therefore feel free to post the occasion cooked recipe, like today's Green Dream Sweet Potato Salad.

This recipe is the perfect way to enjoy sweet potatoes in the springtime (Spring is only a week away), served chilled with celery, peas and marinated artichoke hearts, coated in a tangy cashew mayo. The addition of the Philosophie Green Dream Vegan Protein and Superfood Powder amps up the nutrition and turns this salad a festive green hue for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow.

To make this recipe, you'll need the following:

• 2 large organic sweet potatoes
• 1 cup organic frozen peas
• 1 small jar of marinated artichoke hearts (about 8 oz.)
• 2 large stalks of organic celery, chopped
• 1 cup cashews, soaked a few hours
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. marinade from the artichoke heart jar
• 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp. honey, such as Philosophie Green Bee Honey
• 2 Tbsp. Philosophie Green Dream Vegan Protein and Superfood Powder
• sea salt, to taste

Start by chopping your sweet potatoes into cubes of equal size. I prefer mine to be on the larger size, but that's my personal preference. I also like to leave the skin on my potatoes, but feel free to peel yours, if you want.

Add your cubed sweet potato to a steamer and steam until fork-tender. I recommend stirring occasionally, so the potatoes cook evenly. Mine took about 12 minutes. Then, add the frozen peas and steam for 2 more minutes. Put the cooked sweet potatoes and peas in a large bowl, and add the celery and drained artichoke hearts, making sure to reserve 2 Tbsp. of the artichoke marinade for the cashew mayo.

To make the cashew mayo, combine the soaked cashews, water, lemon juice, raw apple cider vinegar, reserved artichoke heart marinade, Dijon mustard, honey and sea salt in a high-speed blender.

Blend until smooth, so it looks and tastes like mayo.

Next, add the Green Dream powder and more sea salt, to taste, if desired.

Blend until incorporated. Then, pour your Green Dream mayo into your bowl of potatoes and other veggies. Make sure you don't add it all at once, as it may be more than you need. Stir to coat your potatoes and other vegetables; then add more based on your preference and size of your sweet potatoes. For example, I used about half of the mayo and saved the rest for another salad, etc.

Chill your Green Dream Sweet Potato Salad until ready to serve (it isn't the prettiest salad, much like ambrosia salad, so it's nice to garnish it with some celery leaves and more peas). It tastes best when made ahead, so I made it today in preparation for St. Patrick's Day.

*As I mentioned before, I purchased these Philosophie products myself. You can find links to my other Philosophie recipes in my last post.

Cacao Magic Mousse

Happy Pi Day everyone! Hope you're celebrating this mathematical wonder with a big slice of pie or perhaps some pie filling minus the crust. I was always a fan of the filling anyway.

For example, today I'm enjoying some crust-free pie that's as simple as 1, 2, 3. All you need is three ingredients (not counting a splash of vanilla, if desired) to whip up this no-bake treat in a jiffy.

To start, pop open a can of chilled full-fat coconut milk (I recommend keeping one of these in your fridge overnight or further in advance for when a craving may strike). Make sure it's been sitting undisturbed in your refrigerator, so the coconut cream separates from the coconut milk. Carefully, scoop out only the coconut cream (it should be about a cup worth) into a cold mixing bowl and use a handheld electric mixer to whip it into a whipped cream consistency.

Sweeten your whipped coconut cream with some honey (I added about 1 Tbsp.), like Philosophie's Cacao Bee Honey, and whip it some more. I also like to add vanilla at this stage, although it still tastes amazing without it.

Next, mix in some cacao powder or Philosophie Cacao Magic Vegan Protein and Superfood Powder (I like to amp up the nutritional profile by adding the Cacao Magic, which also contains hemp seed protein, cacao nibs, maca root powder, mesquite seed pod powder, vanilla, chia seeds and reishi mushroom powder; I used about 2 Tbsp.) and whip one more time, just enough to incorporate it.

Divide your resulting Cacao Magic Mousse into 2 or 3 serving cups and allow to set in your fridge until ready to serve. Delish!

Happy Pi Day (minus the crust)!

*****

*So you know, I purchased the Philosophie products used in this and prior recipes on my blog. I love that the powders, honey and coconut butter come in three flavors without any added sweeteners, like stevia, which sometimes bothers my stomach or gives me headaches. It's nice to see a line that allows you to adjust your own level of sweetness or gives you the option to not use any sweeteners at all.

In case you missed it, here are some of my other Philosophie posts:

Berry Bliss Philosopops

Magical Minty Cacao Cookies

Chocolate-Covered Berry Cookies

Warm Green Dream and Popcorn 

 

Green Dream

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, the kids and I have been getting in the "green" spirit. The kitchen is stocked with salad greens, green grapes, celery, kiwi, etc.; you get the idea. I even had some fun the other day with this warm green beverage and popcorn (the kids love hot chocolate and popcorn as a winter snack, so I put this green spin on it).

After an afternoon of sledding, I warmed up some almond milk for our usual hot chocolate, but instead of adding cocoa, I blended in some Philosophie Green Dream Vegan Protein and Superfood Powder, Green Dream Coconut Butter, Cacao Bee Honey and some peppermint extract. Yum!

I also jazzed up the popcorn with some coconut oil and a sprinkling of more of the Green Dream powder, much like when we make Pink Berry Popcorn (you should try making Pink Berry Popcorn with both the Cacao Magic and Berry Bliss powders, as it tastes like chocolate-covered strawberry popcorn; I love making recipes that taste like chocolate-covered strawberries).

If you're looking for some more St. Patrick's Day food ideas, check out my rainbow post from the other day, or start your morning off with this Crocodile Crunch recipe from Alicia Silverstone's "The Kind Diet" book.

Don't forget the green orange juice. My mom used to serve it to me as a child. Remember when Hayden and I did that blender battle with the clementines and spinach?

You could make some chocolate "coins" (my Magical Minty Cacao Cookies, which taste like Thin Mints), but substitute the Philosophie Cacao Magic powder with Green Dream powder to make the center of the cookie green. These go well with hot chocolate, too.

Sticking with the chocolate theme, a chocolate unbaked cupcake with a real shamrock garnish will get you in the spirit.

If chocolate is not really your thing (I don't no why?), try this Green Tea Topped Vanilla Unbaked Cupcake.

And if you're looking for something lighter, don't forget kiwi "lollipops" or frozen kiwi coconut water umbrella pops. I even found dried kiwi at the local grocery store.

 Will you be eating anything green for St. Patrick's Day?

What I do to fade a bruise faster

This is just a quick post to share what I do to help speed up the healing of a bruise. Since I'm a bit accident prone, I definitely have some experience in this department (but I'M NOT AN EXPERT), especially after all the sledding I've done lately with the kiddos.

Anyway, the best remedies I have found for bruise healing include applying an ice pack as soon as possible to the bruise, gently brushing the area periodically, and applying products with vitamin C and caffeine to lighten the bruise and reduce any swelling. I usually grab whatever is available in my skincare stash to do the trick, so this time I used 100 Percent Pure's Vitamin C Serum (the Vitamin C Serum is currently free with a purchase of $130) and Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream (I love it when products can be used for more than one thing).

My latest bruise is a bit too high on my thigh to go posting any pics, so you'll have to take my word for it. When I banged into a sharp corner last Friday, it appeared to be a bruise that would require weeks to disappear (it was a deep, dark purple, doughnut-sized bruise with a lump and scrape in the center); however, I'm happy to report that it's almost gone, despite the fact that the scrape in the center still has a way to go.

Now you may think my method is crazy, but it works for me. Even my hubby has tried it with good results (yes, I let him take one of my Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream sample packets, which I hoard whenever possible).

What do you do to help your bruises heal faster?

*I'm not an expert, so please consult a physician when necessary.
*100 Percent Pure did not compensate me for this post. I'm just a fan of the brand.

Apricot "gold coins" & other rainbow snacks

"Don't say it," Hayden said to me. "Don't say the word that starts with "L."

"What word?," I asked, having no clue what she meant.

Whispering softly, so only I could hear, she said the word, "leprechaun."

Apparently, all the kids at school were warning each other not to say the word, for fear of one coming after them. Hayden was extra concerned after eating her after-school snack of dried apricot "gold coins," which she believed came from his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

To be on the safe side, she opted to leave out some dried apricot "gold coins" for the L-word to eat. Magically they were gone this morning. I wonder where they could have gone ;-)

Today would be perfect to continue the rainbow food theme, as it will be raining all day. Maybe we'll build a fruit "cake" out of sliced fruit and a banana-based chocolate frosting for our afternoon snack.

Or, perhaps we'll make an unbaked rainbow cupcake. Hayden had a blast looking back at this old post and video.

She's grown a lot since we used to finger paint rainbows with pureed fruit (blueberries for blue/purple, strawberries for red/pink, mango for yellow and kiwi for green), thickened with chia, but she'd probably still enjoy it ...

... especially if she gets to see a real rainbow :-)