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Friday, December 16, 2011

Mint Chocolate Parfait and My Top Five Christmas Wish List

































Once again, avocados come to the rescue providing a delicious and healthy mid day snack.  I whipped up a parfait this afternoon when I needed a quick pick me up.  The recipe is quick and simple and just requires the use of an everyday blender.  While you chew on that, I decided to share my top ten list of Christmas gifts for 2012.  Hopefully, Santa is reading this because I have been a very good girl this year.  Don't worry, Santa, I promise to leave some cookies for you this year that are so good, you won't even know that they are vegan and fairly good for you.

My Top Ten Christmas Wish List:

1. Excalibur Dehydrator - For the past couple of years I have been using a nesco dehydrator to make delicious granola, crackers, cookies, etc.  However, this summer my dehydrator finally gave out on me and I had to get rid of it.  I did like the nesco because it was very affordable (around $30 for a used one), and it dried food evenly.  One of the reasons I didn't like it was because it had a big hole in the middle and each time I used it I had to cut a donut shape from parchment paper for each tray.  This year I am hoping Santa brings me a 4 tray Excalibur dehydrator with Teflon sheets.  I know a number of people who have had their Excalibur for years now and recommend it highly.  I wanted the 4 tray version because I just want something small that will fit well in the kitchen.  It would also be nice to start making raw treats again!
2. Pacifica Perfume - I first discovered this brand of body products at whole foods.   Pacifica products are made without: Animal testing, animal bi-products, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, benzene, GMOs, mineral oil, peanut oil and triclosan. All Pacifica products are cruelty-free and vegan. My personal favorite scent is the Brazilian Mango Grapefruit.  I really like the perfume bottle and it smells wonderful!
3.  Kiss My Face -  I love their lip glosses and lip tints.  Right now they have a Holiday sale offering 25 % off of their products with the code Holiday25 at checkout.  Their body products will make great stocking stuffers.
4. Vegan Cook Books - My top three vegan books that I would like are: Color Me Vegan, Baby Cakes, and the Flying Apron.  I have checked all of these books out at the library and fell in love with them.  Baby Cakes and the Flying Apron are great vegan baking books that use a lot of healthy ingredients in the recipes.  
5. Organic Clothing - I like to wear organic clothing.  It feels better on my skin and is supports a healthy environment.  I really like this store on etsy that sells organic lingerie.  


Chocolate Mint Pudding:
3 avocados
1 bunch of mint
1 cup of honey
1/2 cup of water
1/4 cup of chocolate powder


Directions: In a blender add 1/4 cup of water, bunch of mint, 1 avocado, 1/2 cup of honey, and blend until creamy and smooth.  Take it out and put it into a bowl.  Next, in the blender add 1/4 cup of water, 1/4 cup of chocolate powder, 1 avocado, 1/2 cup of honey, and blend until creamy and smooth.  Make fun layers with the two flavors.  Dig in and enjoy!  What is on your wish list this Christmas?



7 comments:

  1. Yum yum yum yum! That looks amazing! I may have to make it as a holiday treat for my beau!

    I have several vegan or raw cookbooks on my list, as well as a Vitamix and an Exacliber dehydrator. I've tried using other ones, but I have broken two blenders and no other dehydrator gives me the right texture of kale chips. I hope I get both!

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  2. It is really delicious so I hope you try it! I love my vita-mixer! I use it everyday and have had it for about 4 years now. I think Santa is bringing my the excalibur this year too! I can't wait to make new fun snacks with it.

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  3. I hope you get the excaliber! I had the 4 tray for awhile but it is tricky because the trays are so small I got it very very dirty. I ended up getting the 9 tray which is big but easier to keep clean due to more surface area on the trays. But if I had it to do again I'd make do with the 5 tray because it's small but wider than the 4 tray.

    I love the pudding idea! I have some raw cacao and some avocado calling my name. :-) I have those books on my list too. I've been to babycakes and flying apron and they have great stuff.

    I don't have much on my list this year...just being happy and healthy and hoping more of my loved ones eat vegetarian for more of their meals.

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  4. Thank you Bitt! It would be great to start making more of my raw crackers, breads, granola, etc. I miss them! I hope you try out the pudding. I really enjoyed it and it made great use of all the mint we have in the backyard! Wishing you a happy and healthy year!

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  5. That pudding looks wonderful! And I do have a couple avocados wasting away in my fridge right now.

    I hope you got your dehydrator. I got super-lucky and got that same 4-tray model you were thinking of as a Christmas gift!

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  6. Hope you got everything on your wish list. Never heard of Pacifica Prefume. I'll have to check out the link.

    Mmmm ... I can't resist avocado-based puddings :-)

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  7. Shannon, thanks I did get a dehydrator for Christmas! Yes, I love pacifica perfume. Whole foods seem to carry them if you want to check out their scents.

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