Around Easter all the shelves in every supermarket get filled with chocolate bunnies and chocolate eggs. Since I have at home my own fluffy bunny with a character as sweet as chocolate, I don’t need an edible chocolate bunny. And that’s why this year for Easter I prepared chocolate eggs. But not the traditional ones that are full of sugar, butter etc. Instead I created delicious fruit-filled vegan chocolate Easter eggs that require only 3 ingredients!
To prepare these fruit-filled vegan chocolate Easter eggs you will need dark vegan chocolate, dried apricots and pomegranate seeds. Since the ingredients are so few, the preparation of these chocolate fruit candies is very quick and easy. Actually, it requires more time to patiently wait until the chocolate hardens than the preparation process itself. And by the way – if you like this combination of fruit and chocolate, try also my vegan coconut and blueberry donuts!
Why choose dark chocolate for the fruit-filled vegan chocolate Easter eggs
We all have heard that dark chocolate, eaten with moderation, is good for our body and mind. Be aware that I’m talking about dark chocolate with high percentage of cacao – at least 70%. It is considered to be one of the best sources of antioxidants. Isn’t it great when something so delicious as dark chocolate turns out to be good for your health? I personally love this type of discoveries! Even if you are skeptical about this, I’m sure you’ll agree that a piece of delicious high-quality dark chocolate can really lift up your mood. And that’s because dark chocolate increases the levels of endorphins, or the so called “happiness hormones”, in our brain. And that’s why after eating a piece of chocolate you feel calmer and happier.
Health benefits from dried apricots and pomegranate
Dried apricots can produce hemoglobin, help with stomach burn and nausea, and in general contain great amount of vitamin A and others – B3, B6 and E. They also contain potassium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. Equally loaded with valuable nutrients is pomegranate. There are several ways how to reach the seeds that this fruit hides inside. You can easily find tutorial videos on Internet to decide which method is the most suitable for you. I personally prefer to use the underwater method to separate the seeds from the skin and membrane. It’s quick, easy and without making any mess! Pomegranate contains great amount of vitamins K and C, as well as other vitamins – B1, B2, B5, B6, B9. It contains also such minerals as copper, potassium, manganese and phosphorus. Basically these fruit-filled vegan chocolate eggs are a valuable nutrient bomb for your body!
The versions of the origins of the word “pomegranate” are many. But at the end they all have the same meaning, which is “the apple of seeds”. My fluffy Easter bunny Specky definitely is a fan of apples. But not that much of this strange “apple of seeds”. That’s why he sticks to the fruit that he knows well – an apple. But you shouldn’t follow Specky’s example and let him stop you from trying this recipe. Because it really has the potential to become your new favorite recipe for vegan chocolate candies!
Vegan chocolate candies made of only 3 ingredients
It will require you less than 30 minutes of work and only 3 ingredients to prepare these delicious fruit-filled vegan chocolate candies. During the Easter period they can be used as vegan chocolate eggs. This delicious bite-size snack is a real explosion of different flavors in your mouth. For Easter or not, simply try these vegan chocolate candies that are:
- juicy
- chewy
- soft
- bite-size
- fruit-filled
- sweet & sour at the same time
- refreshing
- quick and easy to make
- chocolaty
- flavorful
- and simply yummy!
Let me know, if you try this recipe! Leave a comment or even more – make Specky happy! Snap a picture of your masterpiece and post it on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @bunnymommycooks. And feel free to let your animal family members join in the picture!
Vegan Coconut and Blueberry Donuts
This recipe was posted on: 06/04/2019
What is similar in form to an engagement ring, but much better than that on your finger? Ha ha, easy – a donut in your tummy! Probably you think that I’m crazy by saying that. Especially if you are a person who really wants to get married but your life partner is taking things slow… toooo slow. Well, if your significant other is a person who loves sweets, I think I might have a solution for you how to speed things up a bit. Because, I mean, what kind of person would not want to marry someone who makes super delicious vegan coconut and blueberry donuts, right?
These donuts are not fried in oil. To avoid unnecessary consumption of fried oil, I bake these donuts in the oven, just like muffins. And speaking of muffins – in case you don’t have a special donut pan, use this recipe to make muffins instead of donuts. The flavor won’t change, just the form. But you will still be able to decorate them as you want or enjoy without any decoration. These donuts are so delicious that there’s actually no need to cover them with chocolate or berries, like I did. Except if you are a crazy chocoholic like me. Then you simply must dip these babies in some dark melted vegan chocolate! Anyway, the final decoration with chocolate, fresh berries, shredded coconut or anything else is completely up to your choice, imagination and ability to be patient while the chocolate hardens!
Blueberries and coconut – a perfect combination
Maybe you’re wondering why I chose a combination of blueberries and coconut. First, everything that includes coconut is like a piece of heaven for my partner. If also for you is the same, check out my chocolate – coconut cookie recipe. So, to make him happy I simply needed to come up with something coconuty. And second, I must admit that I really miss berries here in Italy. Latvia is very rich in different type of berries, but Italy is different. Here berries are something almost exclusive and the price of them is just crazily high. But sometimes during the peak of the berry season also in Italy they are on discount. And that is the best moment to make these vegan coconut and blueberry donuts! But if you have some frozen blueberries, feel free to use them to prepare these donuts throughout the year.
Blueberries are great for our health and wellbeing. They are rich in vitamins C and K and contain a good amount of manganese. They are low in calories and contain fiber, which is good for our digestive system. Apart from that, blueberries are considered to contain the biggest amount of antioxidants compared to other fruits and berries. Antioxidants help our body fight against the cell damage and keep our immune system strong. So, include these berries in your daily menu whenever you can. For sure Specky would love to do that every day… But he still doesn’t understand why all the yummy things are given to him only in small quantities. Especially when he sees that his daddy can have even five donuts in a row!
Also you want to eat five vegan coconut and blueberry donuts in a row? With this recipe you will be able to bake even more than five donuts that are:
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slightly juicy
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sweet
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full of berries
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deliciously aromatic
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fluffy (almost like Specky)
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easy to make
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and simply yummy!
Let me know, if you try this recipe! Leave a comment or even more – make Specky happy! Snap a picture of your masterpiece and post it on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @bunnymommycooks. And feel free to let your animal family members join in the picture!
Avocado toast with fresh radishes
This recipe was posted on: 29/03/2019
Breakfast food and starters have one thing in common – both of them must be quick and easy to prepare. And at the same time both of them should be tasty. Maybe exactly in this moment you are searching for a simple and healthy breakfast idea. Or maybe you want to surprise your guests with some deliciously colorful starter, I have an easy spring inspired recipe for you – avocado toast with fresh radishes.
You can use this recipe to make a toast for your breakfast that is loaded with vitamins. Or instead you can create small finger food type bread snacks. For the second option the French baguette type of bread will suit you perfectly. The main ingredients of this recipe are three: avocado, lime juice and radishes. Avocado gives the creamy texture. Lime juice adds some freshness. While the fresh radishes are the crunchy element of this recipe. If you want, feel free to toast the bread slices before you cover them with avocado and radishes. That will add an extra crunchiness to every bite.
Why include avocado in your daily menu
As you most probably know, avocado is quite fat fruit. But it’s good to know that it contains the, so called, good fats. The ones that most people include very minimally in their menu. In this case, my recipe can be a great help for you to start your day with a healthy meal. It will not only give you energy, but also keep you full until lunch time. Avocados contain good amount of vitamins K, B5, B9 and minerals – copper and potassium.
Lime and radishes – great for your immune system
The best thing about lime is its high concentration of vitamin C. It is considered that one lime can provide up to 32% of the required daily dose of vitamin C. So let’s add some of it into our daily menu, right? A good source of vitamin C are also the small red jewels – radishes. The best thing is that radishes are easy to grow, low in calories and super delicious. At least, in my opinion they are, since I ate them a lot in Latvia. I’ll always remember how my granny sent me to her garden to pull out from the ground a bunch of the red beauties. And then we added these savoury treats of nature to our lunch or dinner. Grandmas always know what’s good for their grandchildren’s tummies! If instead you’re searching for something sweet and full of vitamins for breakfast, try my flax seed pudding.
Specky instead is not that smart when it comes about nutrition… My picky baby, if we let him, would live his life just by eating fruit. Mostly bananas. We, of course, always try to choose good and nutritious vegetables for him. But there are moments when his sassy side of character comes out… And then, no matter how healthy, tasty and nutritious the food is that we are offering him, he still refuses it by turning to us his fluffy butt! But we love that chubby hairball no matter what!
If you instead try to take care of your health, include this avocado toast with fresh radishes in your menu. And spread the healthy eating also among your friends and family! Trust me, they will definitely appreciate the finger food breads with avocado and radishes that are:
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deliciously colorful
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full of vitamins
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refreshing
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healthy
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perfect for breakfast and parties
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creamy and crunchy at the same time
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easy to make
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and simply yummy!
Let me know, if you try this recipe! Leave a comment or even more – make Specky happy! Snap a picture of your masterpiece and post it on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @bunnymommycooks. And feel free to let your animal family members join in the picture!
Healthy Vegan No-Bake Protein bars
This recipe was posted on: 20/03/2019
“Where do you get your protein?” Probably this is a question that every vegan has heard at least once in their life. Of course, the reason why this question pops in the minds of omnivores is quite clear. Our brain has always been filled with such information as “meat is the best source of protein”. “Cow’s milk is the best source of calcium” etc. And for such reason most of the time we don’t pay attention to obvious things. Like that there are so many food products, apart from meat, that contain protein. Anyway, if you are worried about your protein intake or you simply want to increase it without harming animals, try these healthy vegan no-bake protein bars!
Necessary ingredients for healthy vegan no-bake protein bars
All of us know that seeds are very healthy for our body for many different reasons. But sometimes we just don’t know how to incorporate them in our daily menu. Of course, you can always add some seeds to your salad, smoothies, vegan yoghurt or creamy soups. But the quantity of seeds used in the aforementioned way will be quite limited. If you are willing to change that and consume more seeds to benefit your health, I really recommend you to try this recipe. Because guess what’s the main ingredient of these protein bars? You are right! – Seeds! In this recipe I used five different type of seeds. But you can always substitute some of them with others to adjust the bars to your taste.
The other ingredients, like dates and dried apricots, are mainly used to create a sticky mass that holds all the seeds together. Both dates and apricots have their own health benefits. But this time I would like to concentrate more on the benefits of seeds. Just one thing – I decided to use also dried apricots instead of only dates to reduce the sweetness. But if you prefer them very sweet, feel free to use just dates, obviously by increasing their quantity.
Nutritional value of the seeds
To make these healthy vegan no-bake protein bars you’ll need: chia seeds, flaxseeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. In the last years chia seeds have become very popular. They are rich in fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. They contain A, B, D and E vitamins and minerals – manganese, phosphorus, iron, calcium and zinc. Chia seeds are known for helping you lose weight and keep your teeth and bones strong and healthy.
Very similar health benefits to those of chia seeds have also flaxseeds. Flaxseeds are rich in fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids. They contain vitamins B1 and B6 and such minerals as magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron and potassium. Regular consumption of flaxseeds can make your skin and hair healthier and decrease hormonal imbalance symptoms.
Visually similar to flaxseeds and equally good for our health are sesame seeds. Sesame seeds contain copper, manganese, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium, vitamins B1 and B6, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and protein. Sesame seeds can improve your digestion and your skin and hair health. Decent amount of copper can be found also in the fourth type of seeds used in this recipe – sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds contain significant amount of vitamin E, other vitamins like B1, B3, B6, and other minerals like selenium, phosphorus, manganese and magnesium. Also some dietary fiber and protein. The most known health benefit of sunflower seeds is their help in reducing the risk of heart diseases.
Last but not least are pumpkin seeds, which are great source of manganese, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin K and protein. Pumpkin seeds can be used to fight insomnia, to strengthen your immune system and they are known to be beneficial for men’s health.
Don’t forget to add rolled oats
Probably after reading all these great benefits that seeds can give you, your hands are already reaching for the necessary ingredients to prepare these healthy vegan no-bake protein bars. Don’t forget to add also rolled oats, which apart from protein contain also manganese, iron, phosphorus, zinc and vitamins B1 and B5. At the end cover your bars with some finely chopped hazelnuts and melted dark chocolate. Why? To make them even more delicious. More delicious for humans, of course, not for bunnies. During the preparation of these protein bars Specky decided that it’s wiser to spend some time in the garden to eat some yummy fresh grass. Since this recipe doesn’t include anything that could become his snack.
Important thing – be aware that the quantity of the ingredients that I used is quite big. I mean, at the end you get a mixture that weighs around 1 kg… Ok, ok, my bad! But I must admit that I made my bars that big also so that they would fill my tummy in the moments when I’m pushed to skip a meal. In any case you can always reduce the quantity of ingredients or simply cut the mixture in smaller pieces to get more small-sized bars. In any case these healthy vegan no-bake protein bars will be:
- rich in protein
- full of minerals
- full of vitamins
- healthy
- filling
- easy to make
- and simply yummy!
Let me know, if you try this recipe! Leave a comment or even more – make Specky happy! Snap a picture of your masterpiece and post it on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @bunnymommycooks. And feel free to let your animal family members join in the picture!
Crunchy vegan pasta with walnuts
This recipe was posted on: 11/03/2019
While still living in Latvia, I ate pasta quite often. But mostly my pasta dishes were pretty boring. Like, fusilli with tomato sauce, spaghetti with… tomato sauce again etc. Of course, I knew the fancy pasta dishes like lasagna or stuffed cannelloni. But before moving to Italy I never made them by myself. If I had guests who deserved something fancier than pasta with tomato sauce, I simply prepared other things than pasta. But then I decided to put an end to this. I understood that I need to create an easy pasta dish recipe that gives you that restaurant-type-of-food sensation. And that’s how crunchy vegan pasta with walnuts became a reality.
The secret weapon – walnuts
Have you ever noticed how in restaurants many simple dishes contain different types of nuts? Believe it or not, but nuts somehow can give you the impression that the food you’re eating is something exquisite. Even though it’s a simple dish with added nuts! I decided to try this strategy on my partner. What was the reaction? – “Wow, what an interesting flavor with the walnuts…” BINGO! So next time when you have guests, don’t torture yourself in kitchen to prepare something extraordinary. Simply add some nuts!
Probably in this recipe you could use also different type of nuts. But the flavor is quite mild with some sweet notes thanks to bell peppers. So, I would avoid sweet nuts like cashews or almonds. For me walnuts are the perfect nuts for this recipe. First of all, because of their flavor. And second – they have a very nice form that looks great on the plate together with all the other ingredients.
If you’re vegan or vegetarian, probably you have already come across the nutritional values of walnuts. And especially how good they are for people who don’t consume animal products. Walnuts contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They also contain different vitamins, like B1, B6, C and E. And minerals, like manganese, copper, magnesium and phosphorus. And, of course, protein. Even though it might be hard to get rid of the shell, the walnut inside is worth the struggle. I mean, struggle to some certain limit, of course. As a child I used to open walnuts by putting them where the door jamb meets the sill. And then by slamming the door with all my (child’s) strength… But this is not a suggestion! So, please, don’t repeat this at home. Or anywhere else! Just buy a nutcracker or walnuts already without shell.
Why it’s “crunchy” vegan pasta with walnuts
You might be wondering why I used the word “crunchy” in the title of this recipe. Well, that’s because I don’t cook bell peppers, white button mushrooms and zucchini until they are completely soft. In this case the mildly soft vegetables together with pasta al dente and walnuts give a slight sensation of crunchiness. Of course, do not expect that the outcome will be crunchy as a fresh carrot. But for sure it won’t be soft as a vegetable stew.
When it comes about bell peppers, of course, you can choose whichever color you like. But I would really suggest you to choose the red ones. Not only because together with the green zucchini and white mushrooms they resemble the Italian flag. But also because it is really a pleasure for the eyes at the end to see so many colors on your plate. Grey from mushrooms, red from bell peppers, green from zucchini, yellow from pasta and brown from walnuts. Besides that, by cooking the vegetables and mushrooms for just a few minutes you preserve more of the valuable nutrients. More than you would if you cooked them until they’re completely soft.
Which type of pasta to choose
Maybe you are interested to know more about the benefits of white button mushrooms and bell peppers. If so, I advise you to check my couscous filled and rice filled bell pepper recipes. Or if you are interested in some other fresh dish with pasta, check out the pasta salad recipe. Otherwise, if we talk about pasta, feel free to choose whichever type you like. Even though I would suggest to use the farfalle type. In my opinion, they are one of the prettiest and they also look very good together with walnuts. But maybe it’s simply the butterfly form that looks good on everything and everyone. Including my elegant bunny!
So, now you have a recipe that can help you prove that eating vegan is not only tasty, but also very easy and not time consuming at all. I hope that the walnut trick will work also on your friends. But, if not, they in any case will enjoy a dish of crunchy vegan pasta with walnuts that is:
- packed with vitamins and minerals
- easy and quick to make
- healthy
- nutritious
- visually appealing
- and simply yummy!
Let me know, if you try this recipe! Leave a comment or even more – make Specky happy! Snap a picture of your masterpiece and post it on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @bunnymommycooks. And feel free to let your animal family members join in the picture!
Healthy homemade vegan Nutella: traditional, with passion fruit or banana flavor
This recipe was posted on: 03/03/2019
Say “NO” to palm oil! Say “NO” to crazy amounts of sugar! And say “YES” to chocolate – hazelnut spread that contains healthy nutrients and can be modified according to your taste. Healthy homemade vegan Nutella time it is!
Let’s be honest – how many of you really check the ingredients of processed food in the supermarket? I must admit that before becoming vegan I didn’t. It’s not that I didn’t care about my health. I was simply too lazy to check and then to search for healthier alternatives or prepare them by myself. Why? First, because I thought that the final result of something self-made would not be as tasty as the original product. WRONG! And that it would be very time consuming to make it. WRONG AGAIN! I never actually thought how many bad things we put in our body without even realizing that! But it’s never too late to change things for good, so let’s start doing that by preparing a healthy alternative to Nutella!
I doubt that I need to tell you what Nutella is. It’s so popular that most of the people have tried it or even consume it on a daily basis. For sure it’s very popular here in Italy. And why shouldn’t it be, since the place of origin of Nutella is Italy! That’s right, I live in the Nutella-land! Even though I’m not sure that I should be happy about it… Since the original Nutella’s ingredients are not good for our health. So, instead of having a slice of bread covered with palm oil and crazy amount of sugar, try something better. Homemade chocolate and hazelnut spread that is full of fiber, vitamins and contains unsaturated or, so called, good fats.
Healthy homemade vegan Nutella in 3 ways
Most of the benefits that this healthy homemade vegan Nutella have come from its base, which is avocado. In the mix of avocado, roasted hazelnuts and chocolate/cacao powder you actually don’t feel the typical flavor of avocado. It just gives the silky smooth and creamy texture and nutrients. While the flavor is given by the roasted hazelnuts and chocolate/cacao powder. By the way, I definitely suggest you to buy fresh hazelnuts and roast them on your own. Freshly roasted hazelnuts give more intense flavor. But, of course, to save time feel free to use the ones that are already roasted. You can store this sweet spread in fridge for up to 5 days. In case you’re searching for a salty spread, check my creamy breakfast spread recipe.
In case you want to experiment, try to add some fruit to your chocolate – hazelnut spread. If you like the flavor of bitter dark chocolate, add some passion fruit to your healthy homemade vegan Nutella. The outcome will be a spread that is kinda sour, kinda bitter and kinda sweet at the same time.
On the opposite, if you have a sweet tooth for everything, add some banana to your healthy homemade vegan Nutella. You will get a naturally sweet chocolate – hazelnut spread that has a slight banana flavor.
I like all three types of this healthy homemade vegan Nutella. My baby bunny instead thinks differently. The only thing he would be willing to try of all these ingredients is banana. Unfortunately during the preparation process no one gave it to him. Poor bunny… at least he got a new friend that was ready to give him some avoc-cuddles!
If you care about your health and wellbeing, wait no longer and treat yourself with this healthy homemade vegan Nutella that is:
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silky smooth
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creamy
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nutritious
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easy to make
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full of vitamins
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and simply yummy!
Let me know, if you try this recipe! Leave a comment or even more – make Specky happy! Snap a picture of your masterpiece and post it on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @bunnymommycooks. And feel free to let your animal family members join in the picture!
Creamy vegan potato leek soup
This recipe was posted on: 23/02/2019
There’s nothing better than a tasty and warming soup during the winter season. Especially when you have caught some cold or when you just want to warm up your body from the inside. Even better, if the soup is very easy to make and doesn’t require a lot of time. And also if it has few ingredients that can be found almost in every food store. Exactly like this creamy vegan potato leek soup.
Potato leek soup is quite popular and known for the fact that it has a rich and pleasant flavor. Some people prefer to make the potato leek soup as a blended soup. Some others instead prefer to be able to chew on pieces of the ingredients. In my family blended soups have never been a thing. That’s why I definitely prefer soups where you can literally see the ingredients that it contains. So, in short – my version of a vegan potato leek soup is not blended. And, I must admit, I haven’t even tried to blend it. So I can’t tell you what would be the outcome. But, if you’re willing to experiment, let me know how did it go!
What’s so special about this creamy vegan potato leek soup
While working on this recipe, I wanted first to have a soup that is simple yet yummy. But then I also wanted to create a soup that has that extra unusual touch. That’s why I decided to add ginger, which above all is very healthy. But it also works great to give that warming sensation. And together with coconut milk it creates a bit of an exotic flavor. The full fat coconut milk is definitely not on top of the low-fat product list. But the spiciness of ginger in this case creates a perfect equilibrium between all the flavors.
None of the products used in this creamy vegan potato leek soup are Specky’s favorite. Not to mention leek that Specky would turn down even if it would mean to say bye-bye to bananas forever. Luckily for him this is not the case! Specky’s favorite snack – banana – is always within his reach. Especially when mommy wants to make some cute pictures of the chubby-cheeked banana lover.
Leek often is forgotten since it has a similar taste to onion. The difference is that leek has a bit milder flavor than onion. For example, most likely you wouldn’t take raw onion and eat it just like an apple. But with leek maybe you would be willing to try. Well, actually, my partner really does that. When I cook something with leek, I need to be really quick with cutting. Otherwise my leek slices tend to disappear every time he passes by! But I don’t get angry, because leek, especially uncooked, can really benefit your health. Leeks have antibacterial and antifungal features. They contain several vitamins like A, C and K, and minerals like iron, manganese, copper and zinc. And in general, from the nutritional point of view, leeks are considered better than onions.
Why you should not say “no” to potatoes
When it comes about potatoes, you can usually hear different opinions. Most of the people will say that potatoes are not that good for our health. Well, as a woman that comes from a potato-eating-nation aka Latvia, I’d like to oppose! First and foremost, nothing in exaggeration is healthy. So, of course, too many potatoes are not good. Just like too much pasta, too many tomatoes, too much chocolate etc. is not good for us. You should always find a balance in everything, so don’t be afraid to include also some potatoes in your menu. Moreover because of the fact that potatoes contain some valuable nutrients. For example, vitamins C and B6 and minerals like iron and potassium. The water, in which you boil the potatoes and leek, remains as the liquid base of the soup. So the amount of nutrients lost is quite small.
There’s nothing better than taking care of our body by giving it good, fresh and nutritious food. That’s why go and look inside your kitchen cabinet. Because maybe you already have the few ingredients that are necessary to prepare this vegan potato leek soup that is:
- flavorful
- nutritious
- healthy
- creamy
- filling
- warming
- slightly exotic
- quick and easy to prepare
- deliciously aromatic
- and simply yummy!
Let me know, if you try this recipe! Leave a comment or even more – make Specky happy! Snap a picture of your masterpiece and post it on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @bunnymommycooks. And feel free to let your animal family members join in the picture!
Vegan savoy cabbage rolls
This recipe was posted on: 15/02/2019
Winter time is oven time, right? At least for me it is, because using the oven during Italian summer is not the smartest thing to do. That’s why during the winter months I tend to cook in the oven as much as possible. Sometimes it requires some creativity to come up with new tasty vegan dishes. But from time to time it happens that I become the inspiration for myself. Just like it happened this time for these vegan savoy cabbage rolls. Seems confusing? Well, let me explain…
To explain how I came up with this recipe I need to give a quick insight on me. You see, I’m a person who can’t stand too hot summers and too cold winters. I like something in the middle, like autumn, for example. But, of course, it’s not up to me to change the weather. So during the cold winter months I need to find a solution for me to get warm. And I have found it! The best way, at least for me, to get warm is not just to cover myself with a warm blanket. But literally to wrap myself in it. So, in short, during winter months I turn into a human-blanket roll! And this is how one day an idea of creating vegan savoy cabbage rolls came in my mind.
Why choose savoy cabbage instead of white cabbage
In Latvia typically cabbage rolls are filled with meat and rice. For a vegan that’s definitely not an option. So I decided first to make a recipe that includes stuffing that is suitable for vegans. And second – to use a cabbage that I had never used before. The savoy cabbage. To be honest, once I tried to make this recipe also with the white cabbage. But I must say that I definitely prefer it with the savoy cabbage. Why? Because in comparison to savoy cabbage the white cabbage has a slightly sweet flavor. And I find it a bit disturbing with the stuffing that contains garlic. The savoy cabbage instead doesn’t have a sweet note. And that’s why it combines perfectly with the versatile flavor of the stuffing. But, of course, feel free to experiment with both types of cabbage, if the savoy cabbage is hard to find.
Savoy cabbage is perfect to be used in recipes where you need that the cabbage leaves maintain their form. Besides that, savoy cabbage leaves are much easier to be separated one from another and from the stalk. That’s because they are more flexible and don’t tend to break easily like it happens with the white cabbage. From the nutritional point of view, savoy cabbage is definitely a dietary product. It also contains a decent amount of vitamin C. The vitamin that we all definitely need during cold winter months! Also Specky thinks that savoy cabbage is useful… Useful for resting his fluffy paws on it!
Stuffing ingredients for the vegan savoy cabbage rolls
For the stuffing I chose very simple ingredients that can be easily found in any food store. Those are carrots, tomatoes, leek, garlic, chickpeas and lemon. The amount of garlic, as always, is up to you. I’d definitely suggest you to use it. Because it gives a mouth-watering aroma to the vegan savoy cabbage rolls. But if you’re not a big fan of garlic, simply reduce a bit the amount. Just don’t cut it out completely. What regards the lemon juice – it is completely optional. I like the rolls in both ways – with and without the lemon juice. If you want extra freshness and extra aroma, add a few drops on your just-out-of-the oven vegan savoy cabbage rolls.
Also you feel the need for some tasty oven-cooked food that warms you up during the cold winter months? Then I really suggest you to try these vegan savoy cabbage rolls that are:
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easy to make
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easy to digest
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deliciously aromatic
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juicy
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low-fat
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flavorful
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and simply yummy!
Let me know, if you try this recipe! Leave a comment or even more – make Specky happy! Snap a picture of your masterpiece and post it on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @bunnymommycooks. And feel free to let your animal family members join in the picture!
Vegan No-Bake Chocolate Salami
This recipe was posted on: 10/02/2019
Valentine’s Day… People always have different opinions about it. Some people hate it, some others love it. I say – stop thinking if it’s correct or not to celebrate it! And simply use the Valentine’s Day as a reason to prepare this vegan no-bake chocolate salami! Because even if you don’t have any significant other to love, there’s always someone who needs to be loved dearly. And that would be you!
This dessert is something that my mother prepared for me and my brother quite often when we were small. I still remember my dissatisfaction with the fact that I needed to wait until the chocolate salami solidifies in fridge. Oh well, I guess, I was born to be impatient… But sometimes the impatience is understandable. And trust me – this is one of those cases! This vegan no-bake chocolate salami is so delicious that once it’s in your mouth, you’ll forget all the unpleasant waiting. My partner is a real proof of that. While I was taking pictures of this dessert, I asked for his help. But the only thing I constantly heard from him was “Can I eat it now?” “What about now?” “Are you done? Can I eat it?”. But it’s fine, I’m already familiar with the fact that he has a big sweet tooth.
How to prepare the vegan no-bake chocolate salami
This dessert requires only 5 ingredients that can be easily found in any supermarket. And it will take you less than 30 minutes to prepare it. Then, of course, comes the waiting time until the chocolate salami gets solid. But for your pleasure I can reveal that it’s not necessary to keep the chocolate salami overnight in the fridge. You can enjoy its flavor already after 4 hours.
As far as I know, usually people make the chocolate salami without marmalade candies. But my mother always made it with them, so I decided to maintain my childhood’s flavor also in my recipe. The flavor and texture of the added marmalade candies are perfect for this recipe. They create equilibrium between the bitterness of the dark chocolate and crunchiness of the digestive biscuits. As well as they harmonize the flavor of peanut butter and hazelnuts, which in general are products that contain fat. The choice of marmalade candies’ flavor is up to you. I used marmalade candies that were made of cherry, strawberry, orange and lemon juice. But feel free to use the one that you prefer. Just make sure that it doesn’t contain animal products, for example, gelatin. Because why should you add to your dessert something that comes from boiled animal skin, tendons, ligaments and bones, right?
How long the vegan no-bake chocolate salami can be stored
The best part of this dessert is that it’s very easy to be made. So that also people who are not familiar with desserts can easily create a sweet surprise for their loved ones. Or simply treat themselves with it. Besides that, you should always store this chocolate salami in fridge. It means that by using this recipe you can create a dessert that lasts for several days. Feel free to store the chocolate salami in fridge for up to one week. Even though I really doubt that it will remain uneaten for so long…
Even though I created this recipe when the Valentine’s Day was approaching, you can make it whenever you want. Because spreading love with something sweet that is made with your hands doesn’t require a specific date on the calendar. It’s important that you spread love every single day of your life. No matter if you love someone special, life in general or your furry family members, like I love my baby Specky. That fluffy hairball gets a lot of love from his mommy and daddy all the time. So for him every day is Valentine’s Day!
If I inspired you to create this chocolate salami, do not hesitate and get to work! Collect the necessary 5 ingredients and prepare this vegan no-bake chocolate salami that is:
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quick and easy to make
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extra chocolaty
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slightly crispy
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nourishing
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with a perfectly balanced sweetness
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and simply yummy!
Let me know, if you try this recipe! Leave a comment or even more – make Specky happy! Snap a picture of your masterpiece and post it on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @bunnymommycooks. And feel free to let your animal family members join in the picture!
Vegan Chocolate – Coconut Cookies
This recipe was posted on: 31/01/2019
What to do if you live together with someone who loves coconut and chocolate? And goes absolutely crazy when these two flavors are mixed together? Easy! Give him/her a reason to smile by preparing these easy vegan chocolate – coconut cookies!
Specky is my little helper in kitchen by choosing the best ingredients for my recipes. While my partner instead is my big helper in… eating! Especially, if the ingredients include something that starts with “coco-” and ends with “-nut”.
Before becoming vegan, from time to time I used to spoil my partner with chocolate-coconut treats that included milk products. But now that part of my life is over! So, it was the right moment to think of a veganized option for sweet snacks that include chocolate and coconut. But that’s not all, Folks! I went even further. My goal was to create something that doesn’t create a mess even consumed on the go. And something that can serve as a healthy snack to boost up your energy level.
Of course, it’s obvious that these cookies are a yummy snack for humans not bunnies. That’s why Specky was not very interested to help me in the preparation process. First of all, because he knew that he wouldn’t get to try them since they are made for his daddy. Second – while I was making the cookies, the dishwasher finished its cycle. And there is nothing more important for Specky than warming up his fluffy belly on dishwasher’s door.
How to bake vegan chocolate – coconut cookies
But let’s get back to the cookies! I know that there are many things that you can use as an egg substitute. But, to be honest, in my opinion the need for an egg in so many recipes is very overrated. I mean, when I make these or other vegan cookies, pancakes, waffles etc. I don’t use flax seeds, apple puree or mashed banana as an egg substitute. For me everything simply sticks together in any case and the result is great. Besides that, for example, a banana as an egg substitute has a very particular flavor. In recipes, where you don’t need banana flavor, it may suppress other flavors and damage the final result. So, to avoid using products that can substitute an egg, I simply make the dough not too liquid. And trust me – thicker dough does not equal cookies hard as stone!
Apart from being tasty, these cookies also have a cute visual appearance. In this recipe I use two doughs that are not only visually diverse, but also have different flavors. The base of both doughs is the same. But the flavor is changed with shredded coconut in one case and cacao powder in the other. Besides that, instead of making the cookie dough just from plain flour, I add rolled oats. Oats contain many vitamins and minerals that are essential for our body. And in general, rolled oats keep you full for a longer time. Eat these cookies for breakfast and be sure that until lunch time your tummy won’t make walrus sounds.
Why you will love these vegan chocolate – coconut cookies
If I still didn’t convince you to make these cookies, let me share with you another important characteristic of them. They are pufffffy just like Specky! During the baking the outer part gets crunchy, but the inside remains soft and airy. If that’s still not enough, follow my lead and cover every cookie with melted dark chocolate. Just make sure that it’s vegan! And sprinkle some shredded coconut over it… yummm!
Now make a cup of hot chocolate, coffee or your favorite tea and treat yourself with these cookies that are:
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vegan
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semi-sweet
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chocolaty
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coconuty
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crunchy and soft at the same time
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nourishing
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comforting
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and simply yummy!
Let me know, if you try this recipe! Leave a comment or even more – make Specky happy! Snap a picture of your masterpiece and post it on Instagram or Facebook by tagging @bunnymommycooks. And feel free to let your animal family members join in the picture!