Meatless Monday: Vegan Garden Fresh Breakfast Potatoes

Hello Darlings!

I am not the biggest breakfast fan. Brunch, sure, but breakfast? Functioning that early in the morning is not exactly my thing. However, when you have a box of CSA goodies hanging out on the counter calling to you and leftover potatoes just about to sprout, you get to cooking.

These potatoes turn out crispy, the perfect accompaniment to normal, super soft breakfast foods, without losing their fresh-from-the-garden taste. Plus, leftovers mixed with a scoop of vegan yogurt turns into a delicious potato salad!

Meatless Mondays: Candied Kumquats (Two Ways)

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I always say that I should never be allowed in Whole Foods when I’m hungry. I go in for a few things on a list and walk out with a basket full of goodies I technically didn’t need. However, this time it worked out in my favor!

I spotted the cute little kumquats and knew I needed to have them; they’re in season now, so I know that they’d be perfectly tart and sweet. I always forget that kumquats are so sour, so when I popped one into my mouth and thought ‘this needs sugar’ I knew I had the idea for my recipe this week. I candy oranges and lemons often so why not kumquats? I am SO glad I did because this recipe (totally tooting my own horn) made candied kumquats one of my all-time favorite foods!

Meatless Monday: Tropical Chia Seed Pudding (Vegan)

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Winter in Colorado is strange. It will be 70 degrees and sunny one week and the next it will be 16 and snowing. Maybe the crazy weather is just a Denver phenomenon, but when I had the chance to jet off to Florida to visit a friend I jumped at the chance. Salt water, sand, and warm sun? Yes please!

Meatless Monday: Every Beet of My Heart Arugula Salad (Vegan)

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Okay, I admit it- this is the cheesiest recipe (and name) that exists on this blog and I ADORE it. With Valentine’s Day coming up red, pink, and white have everywhere and I knew I wanted to do something fun and festive as a side dish for the day set aside to celebrate our love (whether that is another person, or yourself it doesn’t matter!).  I spotted these gorgeous beets while perusing the produce section and my cheesy self turned on, “aww, every BEET of my heart.” Yep, that’s me- weirdo extraordinaire.

Meatless Monday: Vegan Double Onion Chip Dip

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Now, I’m a hockey girl through and through. However, I do happen to enjoy some delicious Monday night football-watching probably not-so-good-for-you snacks. Since coming to Denver I have noticed that I have made quite a few friends who are equally as enthused about sports as I am, but have vegan eating habits. So I decided to do a bit of a recipe makeover to make one of my favorite dips vegan!

I have been enjoying Vegenaise for a quite a while- I actually like the taste (milder) better than regular Mayonnaise! So when Vegenaise decided to send over a box of my favorite vegan mayo I was super pleased!

Meatless Monday: Vegan Pumpkin Pie Chia Seed Pudding

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So, I’ve said a few times that I am very much so a summer baby, sunshine and hot weather all day everyday, thank you! But I do enjoy autumn as well, even if it is paving the way for winter (brrrr..). One of my favorite things to embrace during autumn is the array of delicious belly-warming flavors, especially pumpkin and the spices that go along with it!

My Pumpkin Pie Chia Seed Pudding is a decadent breakfast (or dessert!) that is full of nutritious ingredients (read: good for you) and incredibly easy to make, whether you’re concocting two jars or ten! I love being able to pop open the fridge, have breakfast ready to go, and getting to savor the spicy flavors of fall each morning!

Meatless Monday: Sautéed Tomato and Herb Summer Salad

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I am clinging to summer with two (very tight) fists. While hiking this weekend I noticed the leaves starting to fade into autumn’s very beautiful colors yet I kept telling the colors to “go away.” Seriously, my hiking companions must have thought I was crazy, but alas, I’m a summer girl. So with that being said I absolutely love the tastes of summer, the gorgeous colors of ripening tomatoes, the fresh tastes of herbs, and the deep greens of kale and spinach. So I’ve added them all together and created a Sautéed Tomato and Herb Summer Salad, which is tasty now and is sure to keep your belly happy in the upcoming fall months.

Summer Drink Series: Lavender-Peach Spritzer

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Now, I know I’m not in Georgia but I still think that the smell of peaches is summer’s perfume. Fresh, sweet, not too overpowering, it blends well with an incredible amount of things and yet is still perfect on its own. Its well documented here on Chickadee Says that lavender is one of my favorite flowers and my favorite flavors (if you follow me on Instagram you might notice I have a slight obsession with lavender kombucha) so, the combination of peaches and lavender, to me, is heaven. Add a bit of vodka, and you’ve got a party I most definitely want to attend.

Meatless Monday: Sautéed Vegetable Quinoa

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This summer has been crazy, and this upcoming week even more so! I am really bad about eating when I get super busy because I tend to graze- eating whatever is close by and easy rather than eating more nutritiously. So I decided to help myself out a bit and make big batches of delicious food so I have something quick to grab when I’m hungry that will both fill me and fuel me!

Summer Drink Series: Homemade Vegan Iced Chai Latte

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So I know usually the summer drink series recipes involve alcohol, but I had a hankering for a chai latte and instead of spending the four dollars to grab one down the street I whipped up one of my own at home! The flavor of chai is all about the freshness of the spices, and I love mine extra spicy- so I used super fresh spices from fresh ginger to whole cardamom pods from Jiva Organics.

Summer Drink Series: Lavender Whiskey Sour (& CamelBak Relay Pitcher Giveaway!)

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If you’ve been reading Chickadee Says for a while you might have noticed that I am rather obsessed with lavender. So when I was at the Blend Retreat in the beginning of June and spotted a lavender-whiskey cocktail on the menu at one of the distilleries in downtown Park City, I immediately ordered it. However, silly me didn’t think to ask about the ingredients until, well, when I decided to try to make it myself. So, while this isn’t a copy cat recipe, I most definitely was inspired by the lavender-whiskey combo!

Meatless Monday: Vegan Superfood Pesto

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In my mind summer food should be (and taste) fresh. From farmers markets to the produce aisles in health foods stores, the abundance of fresh fruits and veggies that summer has to offer is incredible. I bring that ‘fresh’ feeling to when I cook (think with heat) as well! I have a very large soft spot for pasta and when there is a profusion of basil on shelves or in stalls I can’t help but grab a bunch to make pesto!

This pesto recipe, however, is a bit different. At the beginning of June I was lucky enough to head to Utah for the Blend Retreat and spend time with lots of my fellow bloggers including Heather (take a peek at her re-branded website- it’s amazing!) who was sponsored by Nutrex Hawaii, and was giving out samples of their spirulina and BioAstin. I am officially hooked on their spirulina- I went out and bought a bottle of the powder.

Meatless Monday: Vegan Avocado Soup Plus Protein in Almond Milk

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser #SilkAlmondBlends.

Hello Darlings!

I have never been a cow’s milk drinker- even when I was a child I really disliked it (sometimes I attribute the fact that I am the shortest one in my family to my lack of milk intake versus my siblings’). However when it comes to the taste and benefits of almond milk I can drink it all day every day- from cooking with almond milk to downing a glass! So when I was offered the opportunity through #CollectiveBias to check out my favorite almond milk brand, Silk, and their new Almond Coconut Blend and the Almond Milk Protein and Fiber I used in my Vegan Avocado Soup Recipe!

Summer Drink Series: Limoncello Martini

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Last year I started my Summer Drink Series on the Summer Solstice. This year in my new apartment (tour to come!) I may have gotten a bit over zealous when it came to the ‘summer’ portion of the series and I’m starting a month early. Whoops- who can blame me? Delicious cocktails on a roof deck are just fabulous!

I’m kicking things off with a very simple, very tasty, and VERY potent Limoncello Martini!

Meatless Monday: Savory Sweet Potato Hash

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I’ve mentioned a few times on here that I am not particularly a breakfast person. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE breakfast foods, but more often than not this night owl doesn’t feel like being bothered with actually cooking anything more than throwing spinach and eggs in a pan. However, now that I teach a few morning yoga classes I need something to fuel me up in the morning that will be quick, delicious and in this case, vegan!

Enter: a giant (for one person) batch of Savory Sweet Potato Hash that I can portion out over the week and eat with my eggs or on its own!

Meatless Monday: Vegan Rosemary-Olive French Bread

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I am incredibly fortunate to have wonderful friends who are just as passionate as health and wellness as I am. One of those friends (who really should have a blog but doesn’t- you know who you are!) met the Olea Estates folks at a Slow Food conference and said that we should get in touch, and I am so excited that we did!

What I Ate Wednesday: Skinny Limits Juice Cleanse

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So, ‘ate’ might be a bit of a stretch here in terms of What I Ate Wednesday, but I was fortunate enough to receive a Three Day Skinny Limits Juice Cleanse for review, which in my mind is SO much better! The 18 juice cleanse (six 16-ounce juices a day for three days) is an incredible way to jumpstart your spring detox, ridding your body of toxins built up over the rather lethargic winter season.

Meatless Monday Bloggers on Board: 12 Favorite Meatless Recipes

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Now normally my Monday post would be a fun vegan or vegetarian recipe but today I have exciting news! I am now an official Meatless Monday Blogger on Board- I have a cool button and everything!

Meatless Monday: Rhubarb-Pear Compote

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I love breakfast but I am often really lazy about making it. Usually I chuck ingredients together for a smoothie, scramble some eggs, or if I am feeling particularly meal-preppy (yep, I made that a word) I whip up a batch of my Savory Baked Egg Cups. But when I was walking down the aisles of the health food store I saw some gorgeous rhubarb stalks and just knew I needed them for breakfast over barley (or for dessert over ice cream!).

Sea Salt and Vinegar Beet Chips

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It is a rather ridiculous story, but I have been craving salt and vinegar chips for a good week. Potato chips are my downfall; I can (and have) eat an entire bag at once. So when cleaning the windows at one of the yoga studios last week with vinegar and water all I could think of, and smell, was salt and vinegar chips. So, to save myself from devouring a bag of (very unhealthy) potato chips, I decided to whip up a batch of beet chips with the same flavors. Tasty and guilt-free? Yes, please!