Vegan Mofo 2019 Day #3: Sweet Cocoa Tea (Hot & Cold)

For my third Vegan Mofo post, I remember visiting Grenada last year, drinking continuous cups of cocoa tea (also known as cacao tea) at the House of Chocolate-- a museum, cafe, and shop. Cocoa tea is a beverage of choice for several Caribbean countries including Grenada and St. Lucia. It is usually pure cacao husk blended with bay leaf and spices and formed into a ball or stick form. Like traditional tea, it is meant to be activated in hot water and sweetened however way one wants it.

At the House of Chocolate in Grenada last May with cocoa tea and cane sugar.

You can purchase cocoa tea/cacao tea from various places online. The Grenada Market in Brooklyn sells Spice Caribbean Cocoa Balls and kkao (currently sold out of their teas) features cacao teas from all over the world.
The taste is an amazingly delicious hot cocoa meets tea, rich and flavorful.

Cocoa Tea Ingredients and Preparation

2 cup water
1 cocoa tea ball or cocoa stick
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 cup almond milk (or any dairy free alternative)
1/4 cup cane sugar (or maple syrup)

Place cocoa tea ball or stick into the water with cinnamon sticks, stirring until the ball dissolves.
Add almond milk and cane sugar.

*To have cold, follow all instructions, then pour cocoa tea into pitcher, and keep refrigerated for four hours. Add ice cubes for additional chill.

Hot Mulled Cider

Simple flavors bring out the best in seasonal apple cider served hot. 

Who knew that a Crock-Pot could save the hot cider for the opening? I thought a boiling pot might be ideal, but the Crock-Pot keeps mulled cider warm and perfect during a four hour event. Plus, the presentation is much better-- slotted spoon and all.
This is the All That We Had on Hand Version of hot mulled cider. My grocery shopping failed to provide kitchen twine, satchets/cheesecloth, and star anise. With the satchets, cheesecloth, and string, I planned whole black peppercorns, cloves, and nutmeg.
Alas, we were provided adequate enough ingredients for a successful hot beverage. A huge thank you to Trader Joe's for having pure apple cider-- this last minute woman is gracious and humbled.  I definitely aim to make more delicious cider regardless if we find star anise and company or not.

Hot Mulled Cider Ingredients and Preparation

1 1/2 gallon apple cider
8 cinnamon sticks
1/2 small ginger root
4 Mandarin oranges, thinly sliced

In a Crock-Pot set on low temperature, pour apple cider. Add cinnamon sticks, ginger root, and orange slices. Let simmer for hours (four at the most). It should smell so good, your kitchen feels blessed.

Vegan Mofo 2018 Post 17: Swahili Ginger and Milk Tea

Give a hoot for sweet and spice and everything is a little nice.

Mozambique--the world's 36th largest country at over 300,000 square miles-- is in the Southeastern part of Africa with the Mozambique River separating it from Madagascar. The official language is Portuguese, but Swahili, Sena, and Makhuwa are also spoken.  In their tropical climate, they have 740 bird species, 200 mammals, and several endangered. Fortunately, there are protected rainforests, national parks, and frontier conservations. Since Portugal's 500 year rule, Mozambique's cuisine has been compromised. Ncima (a maize/corn porridge), rice, cassava are primary foods among cashew nuts, paprika, bay leaves, and coriander.
Sweet Swahili ginger milk tea is the beverage of choice-- the grownups having the caffeinated version while the children settled for decaf. The ginger is strong and aggressive, but the sugar and milk counteract the spice. It can be served hot or cold. The warmth, however, is as comforting as a classic old sweater and a good putdownable book. I found this recipe at Global Table Adventure.


Swahili Ginger Milk Tea Ingredients and Preparation

1 1/2 cup water
1/3 cup black tea
1/3 cup grated ginger (or 2 tablespoon ground)
1 cup almond milk
3 tablespoon sugar

Bring water to a boil. Add tea and ginger. While simmering, pour in the dairy free milk and sugar.

Vegan Mofo Post #19: Cherry, Banana, & Peanut Butter Breakfast Smoothie

At the work desk, purple posing with much needed breakfast beverage.

My schedule changed. Temporarily, my duties have gone from gallery girl to front desk lady who arises Monday through Friday at 5:30AM to reach my 7AM post. Although it's been my first week at this new (but not permanent) duty, I haven't always penciled in breakfast. It's not smart, yes, I know.
As I prepared my smoothie, I remembered my three months living in Denver, drinking a smoothie and power walking often. My friend, whose place I was house sitting, had hooked me on to flaxseed oil aka the vegan's way to getting Omega 3. It has no flavor, but seemed to make the drink so smooth and creamy. I returned back to Ohio putting it in everything.
Now I have resumed, after not using it for years. Not sure what made me think about the flaxseed. It just came back like that Celine Dion song.
Cherries and bananas with crunchy peanut butter goodness brings joy to almond milk and flaxseed in a simple smoothie-- great for those hasty mornings when time is running out and you have to be the smiling face that greets everyone.

Cherry, Banana, & Peanut Butter Breakfast Smoothie Ingredients and Preparation

2 bananas, ripened
10 dark sweet cherries, frozen
3 tablespoon cacao powder
2 tablespoon peanut butter
1 tablespoon flaxseed oil
1 1/2 cup almond milk (or any other dairy free milk alternative)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Blend all ingredients together.

Ingredients.

Bubbly blend that keeps one fulfilled until the wonderful lunch time.

Vegan Mofo Post #16: Pumpkin Spice Golden Milk

A hot mug of golden milk with pumpkin spice makes everything so sweet.

I haven't had a Califia Farms Ginger AlmondMilk in forever. While some stores just aren't carrying it around, the price for a small bottle went for around $3 or more. I still remember the first taste. It was a pretty yellow and brown speckled drink with a spicy kick. For me, I realize that I was paying for the experience of eating out at Whole Foods Market, getting a drink to have alongside my hot bar food. Plus, I have to save as much as possible for the upcoming overseas trip.
Why not make golden milk on the cheap?
Now this is a simple beverage to concoct. Everything needed is in the fridge and cabinet.
If you need a break from pumpkin lattes and apple cider, golden milk is a treat perfect at any time of the year-- hot or cold.

Pumpkin Spice Golden Milk Ingredients and Preparation

1 1/2 cup almond or coconut milk
2 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of ginger

In a small pot, bring milk, maple syrup, turmeric, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, and pinch of ginger to a boil, stirring continuously along the way.
Serve hot.

A delicious easy drink.

Also good with a warmed pumpkin bagel with Field Roast Chao.

Vegan Mofo Post # 12: Chocolaty Pumpkin & Cherry Smoothie

An in studio beverage before

The pumpkin love continue on with a cherry twist.

I wasn't sure how this would come out. Pumpkin and cherries aren't as well known a combination as pumpkin and cranberries-- that tight fit due mostly to their positions on holiday plates. I found a lovely recipe by Nonstop Awesomeness Nathan. I fought back tumultuous jealousy at his catchy blog name whilst imagining him picking fresh cherries from his front cherry tree or the gorgeous orange color that his efforts created....

Just kidding.

I love my smoothie too. I didn't have much pumpkin puree left and used an ample amount of frozen dark sweet cherries. 

One day, I'll have a cherry tree and a large garden and everything.  

Until then. I'm a stickler for frozen fruits and celebrating my birthday with pumpkin goodies.

Chocolaty Pumpkin & Cherry Smoothie Ingredients and Preparation

1 cup almond milk

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1 1/2 cup frozen dark cherries

3 tablespoon cacao powder

2 tablespoon maple syrup

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Blend all ingredients together. Drink merrily.

Circle of love.

The perfect reprieve is a good book and a tantalizing smoothie.

Vegan Mofo Post #4: Pumpkin Hot Chocolate With Pumpkin Marshmallows

A pumpkin on pumpkin flavor explosion.

Happy day four of fun!
I'm a huge hot chocolate lover, especially welcoming during autumn and winter. A giant heaping warm mug of chocolaty bliss brings upon most blissful thoughts. To include my love for pumpkin things, a lot more authentic and truer than anything Starbucks can create.
On the grocery shelves, Almond Dream, So Delicious, and Trader Joe's have put out vegan pumpkin drinks, these setting perfect basis for simple hot chocolate recipes. I blended Trader Joe's new beverage with NibMor's amazing drinking chocolate powder.
This drink is a bit sweet, but a pinch of pink salt will that tame down or even a bit of plain almond (or any other dairy alternative) milk will do.

Pumpkin Hot Chocolate With Pumpkin Marshmallows

1 1/2 cup Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk Beverage
1 1.05 oz pouch NibMor Organic Drinking Chocolate
a handful of Dandie's Pumpkin Marshmallows
pinch of pink salt

Bring pumpkin drink and drinking chocolate to a boil.
Add in marshmallows.
Pour into a mug and drink well.

A delicious peek at a sweet, comforting ode to autumn.

Close up number one.

Gorgeous marshmallows. 

The "In Solidarity Purple Rain" Smoothie

Lilac colored smoothie honor. Purple is that non-conforming color that seems to resonate with all genders.

I never meant to cause you any sorrows,
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only wanted one time to see you laughing
I only want to see you
Laughing in the purple rain

Purple rain, purple rain.....

        - Prince Roger Nelson

Pride Day is in full swing in Philadelphia today. Celebrations included a parade, a festival, and other activities. 
Yet news of last night's senseless Orlando nightclub massacre spread like a shocking wildfire, blowing treacherous smoke up in cyber sphere, causing gut-wrenching reactions  worldwide. Vitriolic attack on the LGBT community-- inside of their safe place, their refuge-- was downright horrific, unnecessary kind of unspeakable evil. Those who perished will not ever grace their loved ones with joy, happiness, candor, and freedom. They were robbed. Stolen. Taken away.
Now we've formed a united front, at least online. Here are a few Go Fund Me links to support:

Pulse Victims Fund
Pulse Tragedy Community
#PrayForOrlando

If you're present in Orlando now, give blood, volunteer at the hospital, make cards for the victims' families, help in any way possible.
When there are no words left to convey, make a drink, raise glass to endless heavens and think about all of the wonderful, beautiful, special people lost this year-- even the ones you've never ever met.

Four ingredients only.

Purple Rain Smoothie Ingredients and Preparation

1/2 cup frozen dark sweet cherries
5- 6 strawberries
1 Daiya Greek Style Blueberry Yogurt
1 cup almond milk

Blend cherries, strawberries, Daiya Blueberry Yogurt, and almond milk together.

Pecan Caramel Hot Chocolate

Yummy hot chocolate. If only Lupita were around to share in this splendid treat.

Past Vegan Mofo prompt- on the 24th- imagine what a well known person would eat if they were vegan. I would pick Lupita N'yongo. She would have organic napkins over her expensive attire to protect from maple syrup slathered pancakes and cinnamon sprinkled hot chocolate. I would be in her company. We would sip sweet confection, rummaging thrift shops and mixing bohemian flare with prestigious upscale. Naturally, she would be happy to sit for me while I paint her holding an oversized mug! Yes!
By the way, have you all seen Lupita's Vogue yet? Talk about best use of the October month for a fashion magazine. I don't buy or subscribe to fashion magazines in general, but the Lupita spread made me so happy, especially alongside the article. Smart, talented, sweet, and beautiful, Lupita is certainly a woman of our time. I adore her immensely. I was so crushed to not be able to score a ticket to the sold out Eclipsed- the off Broadway show she co-stars in written by Danai Gurira (yes Michonne!). It features the brilliant Zainab Jah (who played a brilliant female Hamlet this year) who also starred in Gurira's The Convert. Oh well. I'm sure someone will tell me how wonderful the performance was by Lupita and Zainah....

Lupita in Vogue.

Woman painter palette of the moment is Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. She is a painter, writer, and poet born in London 1977. Yiadom-Boakye has adopted a French Impressionistic style that is all her own vernacular. On large to small scale canvases, she sweeps the history of thick, lush brushstrokes loosely across the composition plane with contemporary outlined burnt umber skinned figures playing against the browns family, a competition both opponents win. Psychological depth invites viewers to lure into neutral tones, become seduced by subject matter and the beguiling rendering. Often Yiadom-Boakye inserts a pinch of surprising color, a pinch of sophisticated light that garners intriguing focal point.

Half of a Dozen Dead, 100 x 180, oil on canvas, 2010.

Hot chocolate comes to mind- a special kind. Thanks to Califia Farms for concocting a new line of sweet, addictive almond milk creamers. The pecan caramel is simply divine. I have added it in my hot tea, a chocolate sauce, a milkshake. Just that little note of sugared nutty flavor gives dessert beverages and sauces pizazz. I love melting chocolate chips into milk for a satisfactory instant hot chocolate. By including a bit of Pecan Caramel Creamer, things turn wickedly delicious real fast.   

Pecan Caramel Hot Chocolate Ingredients and Preparation

Three ingredients equal one good hot drink.

1 1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 cup Califia Farms Almond Milk Pecan Creamer
1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips
pinch of cinnamon (optional)

In a small saucepan, combine almond milk, pecan creamer, and chocolate chips, slowly gradually until all of the chocolate chips have dissolved into melted bliss.

Top with cinnamon. Best to drink beside a fireplace with a scandalous romance novel in tow. Sip slowly and daydream.

Chocosol Hot Drinking Chocolat

Chocoholic's delight from a treasured Toronto friend.

I'm beyond grateful for this gift. Beyond. Never expected anything like this. 
I just got hooked on a different hot chocolate. Or shall I say drinking chocolate or chocolatyl? It's definitely a rapturous, more grown up version of he popular winter aphrodisiac beverage. The notes are exquisite, flavorful, rich.
Chocosol Traders based in Toronto, Canada have a line of rich, impressive sweets that are ethically packaged,  Mexican derived (Oaxaca to be exact), fair trade, and vegan. They are set in the divine practice of stone grounding high quality cacao beans by using methods that date back to ancient time.
Here Chocosol states grand foundation:
"Our artisanal chocolate is a symbol that embodies our values of socially just, ecological chocolate made, not only, with a ‘cradle to cradle’ approach, but also, charged with the use of solar energy..."
The decadent taste alone is highly superb. This has to be one of the yummiest hot chocolaty concoctions there is! My favorite way of making traditional hot chocolate is simmering almond milk and melt in vegan chocolate chips or parts of a whole flavored bar. Chocosol calls for different set of directions.

100% whole roasted cacao beans are in every bar. Next to simple, organic design, the big bold brown words are an inviting read, a narrative that summarizes sophisticated heritage of this tantalizing chocolate. Aromatic smells of squared wedges mimic how it will winningly taste on the tongue- sweet and fragrant.

This is not hot cocoa. Not the hot cocoa from olden days. This is something superior, something above satisfactory.

Looks like a candy bar, but in a hot mug tastes like a sensually fogged dream.

To make. Bring 1 1/2 cup of water to a boil. Then set aside for a few minutes. Break off four wedges and toss into a blender. Pour hot water over wedges. Add 1/4 cup of cane sugar (or maple syrup/agave sweeteners) and mix. Once liquid starts frothing at the top it's ready to drink! Using the blender gives the drinking chocolate its airiness and brings apart glorious chocolate fragrance when removing the lid.

For great variations add cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, cayenne, or even some melted vegan marshmallows. Right now, I prefer plain hot chocolat. Tastes perfect.

Vegan Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

The best hot chocolate ever!

Usually, I make hot chocolate with either boiled water or dairy free milk with cocoa powder- the traditional method started way back in the old childhood days.  Then of course, Megan over at Opinioness of The World had an incredible suggestion of melting dairy free chocolate chips into the milk for a creamier, richer, even more chocolaty enhanced flavor inside her version of Vegan Hot Chocolate. I took the idea and ran with it, adding Peanut Butter and Company's Dark Chocolate Dreams (best peanut butter ever!) to the mixture- a nutty chocolate addicted heaven that is oh so wickedly charming for my last day in Ohio. I savored it at a deliberate pace for breakfast and couldn't help feeling refined and sophisticated, sipping out of the big mug, relaxing over chocolate and peanut butter notes syncing together. This relaxing, sweet hot chocolate is definitely worth savoring and taking slow- especially if you've got a full day ahead!

Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Ingredients and Preparation

Three sweet ingredients make for the best hot chocolate ever!

2 cup Vanilla Almond Milk (use sweetened variety if desired)
1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips
2 generous tablespoon Peanut Butter & Company's Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter
pinch of cinnamon

Bring almond milk to an almost boil & stir in chocolate chips & peanut butter. These will melt quickly & beautifully.

Add a touch of cinnamon if desired.

Rich, creamy, chocolaty peanut butter goodness.

Blueberry Lemonade

Jack the Coaster smiles so big whenever something good rests on his eyeballs.

Happy August!
Oh my! Summer is passing by quicker than expected and school starts in just 28 more days. My little Ohio life will soon become largely Pennsylvanian with dreams of romantic train rides to New York City. I'm very certain that not a lot of sleep will be happening between moving and taking in the culture of Philadelphia- one of the top ten places for a vegan to eat. Hopefully there will be a lo of art making and less pigging out, but I can't truly promise anything....
Well, the heat is still balanced- not too scorching and not too mild, but a splash of lemonade never hurt anyone, especially with the added addition of plump tiny blueberries- one of nature's most adorable treats. I have been eating them pint by pint like an addict and love making small rainbow salads with strawberries, grapes, and melon or creating yummiest of smoothies. Sorry Skittles, but they do say eat candy like fruit for a reason.
Blueberry Lemonade is an interesting twist to lemonade, lighter than a smoothie or milkshake. Instead of sugar, Medjool dates are soaked and used for their sweetened capabilities, turning this delicious drink into quite a refreshing afternoon tonic.
For extra kicking flare add a 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper!

Blueberry Lemonade

3 dates, soaked in 2 cup filtered water (save water)
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup blueberries

Combine dates, date water, lemon juice, and blueberries inside a blender and puree.
Pour into a cup, add ice cubes, and that's it!

The foaminess on top gives you a date mustache! It's kind of cute. But when no one's around...

If you despise little pieces of floating blueberry- puree blueberries separately, strain them, & mix with date water & lemon juice. I personally love my blueberry specks of goodness!

Raw Banana, Avocado, Strawberry, Blueberry & Cherry Juice Blend

There's nothing happier than a blender filled with good treats!

Why hello there July!
For weeks now, I've been incorporating fresh, raw recipes into my delicious animal free lifestyle (not a diet!); most importantly creating raw blends to drink up each morning. As much as I immensely enjoy downing summer smoothies and milkshakes; making raw juice blends without aide of additional sugars and dairy free milks has proven to be quite beneficial. Drinking a lot of water does have my skin looking radiant as well as eating plant based nutrition and using homemade products made from beautiful Mother Nature, but these juices add that certain enhanced glow that I just can't stop smiling about.
This first shared raw juice features ripened, almost blackened bananas (usually my drinks foundation for "sugar"), tangy strawberries, dark sweet cherries (also another "sugar" factor), blueberries, and my fave yummy ingredient that I will someday marry- avocado.
Others will add more vegetables like carrots, kale, spinach, and beets and taste so much better than the heavily concentrated V8! So drink up raw and feel greatly energized!

Raw Banana, Avocado, Strawberry, Blueberry & Cherry Juice

2 ripened bananas
1/3 cup blueberries
10 strawberries
10 pitted cherries
1 avocado
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup water

Just whip all ingredients together in a blender.

It blends into such a pretty pink color of bliss.

Drink me.