Fit Villains: Selfish, Shameless, Sassy, Fitness.

Vegan Dinner Party Dishes That Everyone Will Love

Spicy BBQ Chickpea Burgers and Baked Crispy Fries via Oh She Glows

Roasted Butternut Squash with Kale and Almond Pecan Parmesan

via Oh She Glows

Black Bean, Sweet Potato, and Red Quinoa Soup via Oh She Glows

Warm/Cold Zucchini Noodles With Pesto

Ingredients

Pesto

• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1 tbsp hemp seeds *optional (sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and chia seeds are also good options).
• 2 cups fresh basil
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp sea salt

“Pasta”

• 4 medium-sized zucchini or yellow summer squash
• 3/4 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half
• 3/4 cup olives, pitted
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil), shredded

Directions

1. For the pesto, add walnuts, seeds*, basil, garlic, olive oil and salt to a food processor or blender. Process until well combined.
2. Cut ends off zucchini. You can use a spiralizer (like this one) to make the noodles, or a mandolin to slice the zucchini lengthwise and/or a knife. Try to keep slices thin.
3. If cold: Toss zucchini pasta with remaining ingredients and pesto, to taste.
4. If warm: Toss noodles very gently in a medium saucepan with 1 tbsp of olive oil for 2-4 minutes over medium heat. Add in pesto, and toss until heated. Serve.

Recipe via CBC

GEFU Spirelli Spiral Cutter (a.k.a my new BFF)

Veggie noodles are the BOMB. Cooked or raw, they’re awesome in “pasta” recipes and salads.

I have a feeling this just made the top of my wish list, lol. WANT. HARD.

Cutter deets here.

How to spiralize veggies without a cutter via Oh She Glows

Salt & Vinegar Roasted Chickpeas

THESE ARE THE BOMB! Tried the recipe last night and it was a game changer.

Amazeballs.

Chocolate Coconut Butter Banana Bites

Ingredients:

• 2 & 2/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (yield: 1 cup coconut butter)
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1-2 tsp pure extract (I used 2 tsp peppermint extract)
• 2/3 cup sifted icing sugar (see note below)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips + 1/2 tsp oil (I used coconut), melted
• Bananas, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces

Directions here.

No Bake Peppermint Patty Bars

yield: 12 small bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup packed, pitted Medjool dates (approx 12)
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup unflavoured protein powder (I use Garden of Life Raw)
• 1/4 tsp fine grain sea salt, or to taste
• 2 tbsp almond milk
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract, or to taste
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup almonds
• 1 tbsp raw millet (optional)
• 4 tbsp mini dark chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life) or chopped chocolate
• 1-2 tbsp large flake unsweetened coconut, for garnish

 Directions here.

You’re welcome. Nom, nom, nom.

RAW CHERRY BROWNIE HEARTS

DELISH bake-free, vegan brownies (bake free also means FAST)! These are an awesome way to satisfy your sweet tooth without tons of added sugar and they can be kept frozen for a long time. (they’re REALLY good. I love them pre-workout or late at night when my inner candy monster is screaming ‘FEED ME’).

I’ve used other nuts when I don’t have almonds: cashews work well, so do walnuts. I personally don’t use a food processor, but rather crush the nuts with a mortar and mush it all with my hands like dough. (honestly, too lazy to clean the processor. Plus I like the mush mush). I also don’t have time to make heart shapes. Balls are how I roll. :)

(these freeze well, and taste amazing frozen. Highly recommend!).

Directions here: http://www.ahouseinthehills.com/ahouseinthehills/2013/2/13/raw-cherry-brownie-hearts-by-oh-ladycakes.html

Ingredients:

2 cups raw almonds
6 tbsp cup cacao powder, plus more for dusting
Small pinch Himalayan sea salt
8 medjool dates
1/2 cup dried cherries
2-3 tbsp filtered water

New discovery today! MimicCreme Almond and Cashew cream alternative for coffee.

I like to try new things: my relationship with the ‘unknown’ has improved significantly and it helps me find new favorites. Went bananas and picked up a ton of ‘new-to-me’ goodies at the health food store, and can’t wait to try them this weekend!

When it comes to dietary things, everyone’s different and people get skeptical of the ‘why’. I’m sure at least some of you are wondering if I’m trying to go vegan. Or, if I’m doing this to lose weight. Or if I’m trying to be trendy. Nope. Just trying something new, that’s healthy & not pumped with chemicals, and seeing if I likes it. Verdict? Win.

This cream alternative is organic, vegan, GMO free, sugar free, soy & dairy free and all those other things that may or may not be important to you.  What matters most to ME at this particular moment? It’s DELICIOUS. The nutty flavor is to DIE. Seriously. It tastes like a fancy blend from a fancy place. Also was just slightly cheaper than the regular cream I used to buy, though not as cheap as, well, no cream at all (once you go black….).

ps - this is also proof that I wear heels on occasion. See? I can be fancypants too. :)

Steph’s Sweet Beet Apple Salad!

Wonderfully crafted by my friend Steph, this dinner was incredible and totally random! Delish & thrown together with flair. :)

Beets, onions, chopped cabbage, apples, cashews, corn, cucumber and more I’m probably forgetting (honestly, just beets & loads of veggies is fine). It was gorgeous and yummy: apples were perfect.

Sweet salad idea! (and no, no red poops).