Vegan Chocolate Avocado Cake

As you are probably aware, Joy the Baker's website is one of my absolute favorite go-to places for A-mazing recipes.  I have been wanting to make this cake for quite a while, especially since both my husband and I are simultaneously motivated to eat more Vegan meals (even if we aren't fully committing to the lifestyle...)

It's hard to believe that a cake recipe with avocado could taste like cake, or even good at all.  This cake rocked my world.  I absolutely loved it and didn't feel bad eating an extra piece (or two) either!

No eggs.  No butter.  A little vegetable oil, and that's just good for you.  This cake turned out super moist and if I didn't tell you, you would have no idea it was made with avocado.  I think next time I will throw in some (vegan) chocolate chips to make the cake extra chocolaty & try making the avocado frosting to go with it as well (I used my recent coconut whipped cream to top off the cake this time).

Vegan Coconut Whipped Cream

Ok, so cutting out meat, no problem.  Cutting out dairy, that's a different story.  But recipes like this make it much easier...  Did you know you could make vegan whipped cream???

I personally L-O-V-E coconut, and if you do too, this whipped cream is something you will want to make even if you aren't trying to swap out dairy.  And it seriously couldn't get any easier (or more fun - it's like a science experiment!)

Step 1: Refrigerate a can of full fat coconut milk overnight

Step 2: Open can and scrape off the thick cream layer that has risen to the top into a bowl & drain out the clear liquid that has separated away from the creamy part

Step 3: Beat with a mixer (just like real whipped cream!) until fluffy

Step 4: Add sugar and vanilla to taste (you can add a little cornstarch too to help thicken the cream)

Feel free to add anything else into the mix to add flavor - I personally like the coconut flavor on its own.
This works best after refrigerated for an hour or two and served immediately.

Prove it like a Theorem...

I don't usually feature anything tied to my work life here - this is my creative escape from that world! But when the two worlds collide, I have to say, it's kind of magical to me... 

Hope you also enjoy some of these nerdy (& super creative!) Valentine-worthy ideas from Elisabeth Fosslien.  These are just a few of my favorites :-)

Have a very Happy Valentine's Day!

Chain & Rhinestone Wrapped Lanyard Bracelet

This is an updated take on the plastic lanyard bracelets you used to make as a kid...  (Design Sponge has a good tutorial here in case you need a quick refresher).

Once you've braided a piece that is long enough to make a bracelet, you will be ready to begin embellishing: use a jump ring to attach chain to the braided lanyard where you'd like to begin wrapping the chain.  I wrapped the chain around a strand of rhinestones, using the chain to secure the rhinestones in place on the outside of the lanyard.  Secure the chain to the bracelet where you'd like to finish wrapping it using another jump ring.  

Attach closures to the ends, and you're done!  

Make a few in different neon colors to wear together..

File Folder Valentine Card

This idea was imparted to me by the ensemble cast movie Valentine's Day (the ensembles just keep growing, right???) - anyway, the best (and only?) positive thing that came out of watching that movie was being inspired to make this card!

All you will need are:

     * A red file folder
     * Patterned and plain colored paper
     * A few photos
     * Scissors
     * Double-sided tape or a glue stick

Decorate the front with hearts (you could cut out letters to make this look like a conversation heart) - I chose to keep mine simple:

Then, go as crazy as you want on the inside - I first lined the inside with tiny polka-dotted printed paper, then layered with my pictures and heart & letter cut-outs...

Such an easy and expressive way to show someone you care :-)

Bead Looming

I just ordered a bead loom and am already so addicted...
Here are a few pieces I've got going so far, how-to and more to follow!

Soon-to-be bracelet...

Trim for a belt?

Ring...

Crochet for Spring

I am loving the modern and fashionable take on crochet for Spring, and Victoria's Secret has a wide range of gorgeous and affordable pieces right now - here are some of my favorites:

Sweaterdress

Maxi

Scoopback

Lace Tank

Lace Tee

Jumbo Polka Dot Felted Sweater

When I saw this DIY on needle felting (on the always inspiring blog Honestly ...WTF), it was the answer to how I was going to recreate this sweater I've been wanting to make.  Confession: I saw it on Kourtney Kardashian on their show, and had to have one myself!  BUT, I didn't want to pay $280 for it!

SO, with a $15 sweater from H&M and $3 worth of wool roving, I made something very similar myself.  Of course, if you don't already have the felting supplies (I didn't) you will need a felting needle and a needle mat - these cost me about $30 total.  Of course, I will be using them again and again!

I used a roll of painter's tape as my polka dot stencil...

Place the needle mat under fabric where you'd like to position a polka dot, then lay stencil on top and fill evenly with wool roving fibers... Next, repeatedly stab with the felting needle to secure the wool fibers to your sweater until they are flat and smooth (making sure to hold the needle perpendicular to your fabric, never at an angle). 

Repeat throughout sweater until you are done with the polka dots (I did not apply spots to the back of my sweater).  Once they are all satisfactorily needle-felted in, spray lightly with water and press with an iron on wool setting.

Now you have your own jumbo polka-dotted sweater!

Cookies & Ice Cream

After a weekend of indulgences, a delicious dessert was in order to top it all off before returning to a life of healthy moderation...  Vanilla ice cream in the freezer was calling my name, but that alone was not enough to satiate this urge.  

Taking stock of my pantry, I fell back on the classic and trusted Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe (which is also found on the package of chocolate chips) - I cut the recipe by 1/4, since I just needed enough cookie for a quick dessert for two.  

Inspired by BJ's restaurants' famous "pizookie" dessert, I went about under-cooking the dough a bit to top with vanilla ice cream while still warm and gooey...

Veggie BLAT

My favorite sandwiches are more often than not, the simplest - and BLAT sandwiches are probably one of the simplest sandwiches around.  Here is a Vegan version that is seriously as good as having the real thing.  This recipe from GOOP is super simple, extra delicious, healthy, and on your table in 15 min (or less)!

Heat olive oil in a pan and fry the tempeh bacon for one minute on each side until golden.  

I used Lightlife's Organic Smoky Tempeh Strips ("Fakin' Bacon") - so yummy...

I used reduced-fat Vegenaise, spreading it on one slice of organic sprouted whole grain bread, and topping with freshly ground salt and pepper:

Then, complete assembling sandwiches with the "bacon", lettuce, tomato slice, and avocado:

Enjoy!

Sock Bun

I had my hair up in a bun the other day at work, and my co-worker asked me if I'd ever heard of "Sock Buns" - you roll up a sock and use it as a base for your bun, making it fuller, thicker and, well,  just more perfect.  Think of it as sort of a "Bump-It" for buns...  And the answer was, No, I hadn't!!

Sock Bun

high bun

LC

So, I poked around, found some great tutorials & also summarized the basic steps here:

1.)  First, cut the toe portion off of a sock and roll it into a donut shape 

      (It's helpful to use a sock similar to your natural hair color)

 

2.)  Pull hair back into a ponytail 

      (Have the base of the ponytail be wherever you'd like the bun to be positioned)

3.)  Insert ponytail through the hole in your sock donut.  

4.)  Next, there seem to be two methods of approaching this

      (The pink links below are to video demos) 

Method 1: Hold the sock bun at the very end of the ponytail (bottom tips of hair), then wrap hair all around the sock, and roll hair (with the sock) towards the base of your ponytail - this method seems a bit trickier, but with better results (you may not even need pins to keep this bun in place)

Step by Step in pictures...

Method 2: Slide the sock donut to the base of your ponytail, then begin wrapping your hair around the sock bun in a clockwise manner, tucking and pinning under the sock as you go around

Either way you choose to try this, good luck - I can't wait to try this myself!

Chickpea Cauliflower Curry

Keeping on with the Vegan meals, I thought this recipe was amazing.  To make it even healthier, I substituted cauliflower for most of the potatoes (I threw in one potato I had laying around - in fact, I thought the cauliflower was MUCH more delicious than the potatoes).  I made this after a long day at work, and it couldn't have been easier to throw together; it will definitely be going into the regular meal rotation!

You will need:

     2 cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) 

     1 can of roasted tomatoes with chiles

     Vegetable broth

     1 head of cauliflower

     1 onion

     Ginger 

     Olive oil

     Salt

     Ground Cumin

     Ground Coriander

     Cayenne Pepper

Saute the onions & ginger in the olive oil until golden (about 5 min).  Then add in all the spices and continue to cook for 2 minutes.

Next, add in all the other ingredients and simmer for about 35 min, or until the cauliflower/potatoes are tender

I made some wild rice to serve alongside the curry & topped it with plain yogurt (so that part wasn't Vegan... but at least it wasn't cheese, ok?!).  This curry is so hearty/filling, you really don't even need the rice.

Spirograph Cards

Growing up, my sister and I had so much fun with our Spirograph, that in a moment of nostalgia, I recently ordered myself a new one.  It is just as much fun as I remember (possibly more) and has yet again managed to captivate my attention!

After some practice rounds on scratch paper, I decided to make some pretty note cards using a few of my favorite designs:

I think these cards are simple and beautiful with the designs alone, but in the spirit of Valentine's Day coming up, I wanted to embellish them a bit for the occasion.  So I grabbed some glitter and glue and got to work:

Here are the final results: