Healthy Coconut Cream Pie In 10 Steps - Sugar Free, Gluten Free, Vegan

You better believe me when I tell you that this pie is delicious. Otherwise you'll just have to make it and see for yourself. Don't be thrown off by the list of ingredients. They're all healthy and wholesome - one ingredient just happens to be tofu. Hehe.

You will not taste the tofu. Only goodness.

Make, eat, enjoy.

Healthy Coconut Cream Pie

Ingredients:

~ Tofu - 1 cup

~ Coconut shreds - 1 cup plus 3/4 cup

~ Maple syrup - 1/4 cup

~ Vanilla - 1 1/2 tbsp

~ Coconut oil - 2 tbsp plus 1 tbsp

~ Nuts (Walnuts, almonds, cashews or a combination) - 3/4 cup

~ Dates - 1/2 cup

~ Cinnamon - 1 pinch (optional)

Instructions:

1. First thing's first. Preheat the oven to 350F.

2. Now you are going to make the pie crust. The pie crust is made from the nuts, 1 tbsp of the coconut oil, the optional cinnamon and 3/4 cup of the coconut shreds. Put these 3 (or if you're using cinnamon, 4) ingredients into your food processor and blend until well combined.

3. Spread the crust evenly into the bottom of the pie tin. The crust should come up the sides a tid bit, like any normal pie crust would.

4. Place the crust in the freezer for 30 minutes to let harden.

5. While you are waiting on the crust, make the pie filling. Take the tofu, 1 cup of coconut shreds, maple syrup, vanilla and 2 tbsp of coconut oil and place all of these ingredients into the food processor.

6. Blend until well combined. The mixture should be very creamy.

7. Pour the mixture evenly into the pie crust and place all of this into the oven for 30 minutes.

8. Take the pie out of the oven, sprinkle a little coconut on top and place the pie back into the oven for another 7-10 minutes.

9. Place the pie in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes before eating. The center of the pie needs time to set and the crust needs time to harden again.

10. You have just made coconut cream pie in 10 easy steps! Woo!

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Avocado Sauce - Easy Peasy, Thick And Creamy

You like avocados? I like you. You like avocado sauce? I like you even more.

Today I whipped up a quick avocado sauce to put on some zucchini noodles (that I also whipped up quite quickly, so expect a recipe coming soon. *wink*). The process was so fast, it was over before I even realized it began. IT WAS THAT FAST.

Since the last recipe I posted, the Next Level Tacos With Nopales Cactus Paddle, took a whopping 11 steps before it was completed and ready to eat (I believe that holds the record of the most amount of steps I have ever written in a single blog post), here's a particularly easy recipe that can be made in a whopping 2 steps. It's all about balance, eh?

This recipe makes enough for one person - because there is only one person I need to worry about feeding in my life right now (me). If you want to make enough for 2 people, I would suggest doubling it. Or if you really like the recipe you might as well triple it because avocados really are just. that. good.

Avocado Sauce

Ingredients:

~ Avocado - 1

~ Garlic - 1 clove

~ Cilantro - 1 small bundle, about 1/4 cup before it's chopped

~ Lime juice - 3 to 4 tbsp

~ Salt - 2 pinches

~ Pepper - 2 pinches

~ Cumin - 1/2 tbsp

Instructions:

1. Chop the garlic and the cilantro into small pieces. Mincing isn't completely necessary.

2. Place all of the ingredients in the food processor and blend until smooth.

Voila!

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6 Reasons To Wake Up Early

'Each morning we are born again, what we do today is what matters most.' ~Buddha

1. Watch the sunrise.

The sunrise is such a beautiful part of this world. It happens every morning and every morning you have the chance to watch it happen. So many of us choose to never witness this miraculous part of life because we would rather sleep for just a little longer.

Brahma Muhurta is known as 'the special time,' between 4:24 AM to 5:11 AM. I won't go into a lot of details but Brahma Muhurta is part of Ayurveda, which is a traditional system of Hindu medicine. Basically, waking up during this time sets your body clock in sync with the sun's clock, providing you with many benefits. This video can give you a better idea of Brahama Muhurta.

2. You time.

Wake up early and have time for yourself. Everybody around you is asleep so there are no interruptions. Take some time to read a book, explore your creativity, meditate, take a walk, learn some song lyrics, the possibilities are endless. This is time to help yourself become a better version of you without distractions from the outside world.

3. Exercise.

You don't have time to go to the gym, huh? You would have time if you woke up an hour or two earlier. No guilt trip intended.

The air is fresh, the streets are still, the birds are chirping - why not go for a run, jog or even a walk?

Exercise will get your endorphins going, which helps you to feel happier. Imagine starting your day bright and early, all while feeling happy and very much alive.

4. Remove the stress from your life.

Waking up earlier means getting things done in a timely manner. Complete that extra work in the morning, make yourself a beautiful breakfast to keep yourself going all day, pick out an outfit you actually feel good about (instead of throwing on the first thing you see), leave for work at a reasonable time.

With this time you have all for yourself in the morning, you can get much more accomplished and feel like you have more control over your life.

5. Take control of your life.

Waking up early requires going to bed early. So what do you need to do in order to go to bed early? Stop procrastinating. You will stop holding things off and letting them linger in the back of your mind until the last possible minute. This, in turn, will help you take control of your life.

6. You are alive.

Why would you choose to sleep when you could be up and living your amazing life? We are so lucky to be alive and healthy, though I think it is safe to say that there are times when we are all guilty of taking that for granted. Notice the beauty in the world. Watch the sky change from one beautiful color to the next. Watch the world wake up around you.

Let's live. :)

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Fig Nation

Figs are delicious so let's discuss.

Aside from their beautiful colors, sweet taste and adorable shape, figs are great to add to a meal or to snack on by themselves. They contain a good amount of nutrients too...so what's not to love?! (Rhetorical question but the simple answer would be nothing.)

~ When should you eat them?
They're best during the summer and autumn seasons.

~ Lower your blood pressure!
Figs help to naturally increase potassium in the body, which in turn helps lower blood pressure. Score.

~ Watching your weight?
Due to the high fibre content, figs help you feel fuller faster. Your food cravings will subside and they'll help with digestive wellness. Double score!

~ Get rid of acne!
If you have acne, try mashing a fig and applying it to your skin. The high water content makes figs a perfect cleanser.

~ Increase your bone density!
You can thank all of the Calcium and Potassium found in figs for this one.

~ Beast mode kidney function!
Have some fig leaf extract to help lower fat levels in your kidneys...therefore helping them to function better.

*Enjoy in moderation because too many tend to have a laxative effect on the body due to all of the oxalates. ;)

How I like them:

I like to cut these little guys in half and broil them with some agave or maple syrup (if you aren't feeling the agave and you aren't vegan, honey will do) on top for 8-10 minutes, or until the tops start to bubble. Serve warm by themselves or if you're a cheese eater, try some goat cheese. They're also great on vanilla ice cream (or banana ice cream), in a fresh salad (kale, anyone?), with baked sweet potato, pomegranate, or anything else you think up. Figs rock.

(As you can see, I was running extremely low on tinfoil.)

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Little Inspirations - Yogi Feels

Yoga is a growing interest of mine. I love the idea of mind body wellness. Caring for yourself from the inside out. Yoga helps to connect you with the earth, your body and your mind. Yoga is not about how 'good' you are at doing different positions. It's about channeling an inner strength that helps to push yourself beyond your expectations and become more aware of your mind and body.

Let's take a moment.

Namaste :)

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Healthy Vegan Crunch Bars

Or more properly titled: Healthy Vegan Crunch Bars of Doom

Fair warning: These bars will turn you into a monster and you will devour them all within the hour.

Everybody loves the classic Nestle Crunch Bar. Not everybody loves the ingredients. With a list including Soy Lecithin, Vanillin and Sugar, I decided to make my own version of the tasty bar. Now you can munch and crunch all day long without a care in the world. *Happy sigh of relief*

Ingredients:

~ Cacao powder - 1/2 cup

~ Coconut oil - 1/2 cup (melted)

~ Coconut sugar - 1/4 cup OR Maple syrup - 1/4 cup

~ Brown rice cereal - 1 cup

~ Vanilla extract - 1 tbsp

~ Himalayan pink salt - 1 pinch


Instructions:

1. Mix the melted coconut oil, cacao powder, coconut sugar (or maple syrup), vanilla extract and himalayan pink salt in a medium sized bowl. Mix until well combined. Side note: this is your basic recipe for healthy chocolate!

2. Pour your brown rice cereal into the bowl and stir until all of the cereal has been covered in a tasty coat of chocolate.

3. Evenly pour the mixture into either a pan, glassware container, or whatever else floats your boat. I used a 4X6 inch glassware container to create a thicker bar.

4. Place the container in the freezer for 1 hour, or until hardened. Slice and devour.

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Little Inspirations: Old Ways vs New Days

I have started taking a hot yoga class that begins at 6:30AM - while some people probably think I'm crazy, I leave class feeling so energized and ready for my day that I really think it is worth it. The hardest part about this class is waking up at 5:40AM. Yes, you read correctly.

That being said, I could use some motivation. Whether you are doing a yoga class before the sun rises or you are doing something else that you may or may not really feel like doing (but you know you should), I am sure you could use a little motivation as well. So here you go.

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