Vegan Chocolate for your Valentine

If you're looking for something sweet for your Valentine this year, Sjaak's organic chocolates is the go-to shop. Sjaak's products are 100% certified organic and they have a full line of vegan options including peanut butter bites, almond butter bites, mint, hazelnut, cherry, and more.

♥ And to sweeten the deal they are offering 25% off with this coupon code:  Val2512 ♥
 

"Whatever the question, love is the answer.
This applies to yourself as well."

- Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Sjaak's Vegan Chocolate

If you've been reading our blog for awhile, then I think it's pretty clear by now that we're obsessed with chocolate. When we first went vegan it was hard to come by, but now we are flat-out spoiled. We have a new favorite made by a company called Sjaak's that just happens to be made locally in Petaluma, CA. 

We think every vegan out there needs to experience Sjaak's, especially the chocolate lovers.

They carry these chocolate bars in most Whole Foods stores throughout the Bay Area.

For other areas you can order directly from their website.
I bought a heart shaped box of truffles for V-day and they were really good too.

Check out all of Sjaak's vegan chocolate options here. 

You can thank me later. ;)

Q.bel Vegan Chocolate

A few weeks ago we were contacted to see if we'd like to receive some samples of vegan chocolate bars from a company called Q.bel. They make "healthier" chocolate candy bars and recently released one (double dark chocolate) that is vegan and made with cacao.

Now, truth be told, we are trying to cut back on our chocolate, dessert and general sugar intake, but who can resist free chocolate, especially when it's vegan? Not us! Plus, we're impressed by the commitment of this company to "take the garbage" out of candy bars. 

Q. Bel is committed to making "the best tasting, all natural candy bars in the world."

• No Artificial Colors •
• No Artificial Flavors •
• No Preservatives •
• No High Fructose Corn Syrup •
• No Hydrogenated Oils •

We liked the fact that this candy bar wasn't too sweet. Just perfect to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea. If you're looking for a healthier candy bar or cookie alternative then give Q. Bel a try. It will fill your chocolate cravings minus all the artificial junk found in other candy bars. If you have kids they'll love them too! 

Q. Bel can be found at a Whole Foods near you. Check their website for more locations.

Vegan Chocolate Macadamia Nuts

With all the rain pouring down on California this week, I find myself dreaming of vacationing in a warmer climate. If I could I'd hop on a plane tomorrow to Australia, or Mexico or anywhere that would guarantee me just one day of sunshine. 

As it turns out, my in-laws just returned from a wonderful trip to Hawaii, and while they might not have been able to bring the sunshine back with them, they brought us a delicious alternative. Macadamia nuts! 

Knowing we were vegan, they didn't give us chocolate covered macadamia nuts, but seeing those plain macadamia nuts still had me dreaming of chocolate and I quickly entered into Do-It-Yourself mode.  I never like to feel like being vegan is a limitation, so I created a veganized version and let me tell you, they were soooo good.

Here's my DIY vegan chocolate-covered macadamia nuts: Get out a cookie sheet, randomly place macadamia nuts across cookie sheet, melt vegan chocolate chips in a double boiler, pour melted chocolate over nuts and spread evenly. Place cookie sheet in fridge until chocolate hardens. Break into pieces and indulge in a Hawaiian favorite, vegan style. 

If you'd like a more refined version, just buy candy foil tins at Michael's or Joann's, add 1 macadamia nut to each cup and pour chocolate over the top. Delicious and super addictive. Don't blame us if you can't stop eating them, you've been warned. :)

* We recommend Enjoy Life mini vegan chocolate chips !
They taste better than any other vegan choc. chips we've found. You can find them in the gluten free section of most natural food stores. 

Chocolate Pecan Pudding Pie

This recipe post is a Christmas gift to the chocolate lovers.

Bring this dessert to your next holiday soiree and it's sure to be devoured. We were going to wait and make it on Christmas Day, but last night we were craving chocolate, so we couldn't resist. It looks especially nice topped with some finely chopped coconut and served with Coconut Bliss ice cream on the side. Heavenly...

Jamie Clear Photography

 Chocolate Pecan Pudding Pie
(via Vegetarian Times)

Crust Ingredients:

1 cup roasted almonds

1 cup pecans

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/2 cup dry unsweetened coconut (finely chopped)

8 Large dates, pitted and chopped

2 T coconut oil

Filling Ingredients:

3/4 cup rice milk

1/4 cup arrowroot powder

1/2 banana

1 1/4 cups chopped pecans

1 cup vegan chocolate chips

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup dry unsweetened coconut (finely chopped)

1/4 c coconut oil

1 t vanilla extract

 Jamie Clear Photography

Instructions for Crust:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Grind almonds, pecans, flour, and salt in a food processor to fine meal. 
3. Transfer to bowl; stir in coconut
4. Add dates and coconut oil to food processor: blend until sticky mass forms.
5. add nut mixture to dates, and process until dough forms.
6. Knead 1 minutes.
7. Press into 9-inch pie pan.
8. Prick holes in bottom of crust.

Instructions for Filling:

1. Blend rice milk and arrowroot 30 second in food processor.
2. Add banana, and blend 15 seconds.
3. Add remaining ingredients and pulse until combined.
4. Spread in crust.
5. Bake 20 minutes. Cover edges with foil as needed.
6. Cool then chill for 2 hrs before serving.

Additional Comments:

Since this was our first time making this recipe, we stuck pretty close to the original. We did add some extra chocolate chips. When we make it next time we may try adding mini choc. chips to the filling and leave the nuts a little chunkier. Another option, using an oreo cookie type crust instead of the crust in this recipe.

Have fun, play around and make the recipe yours. Be sure to tell us if you come up with something good!