Since I am trying to be careful with my sugar intake I decided to use the coupon for a free bottle that Tropicana sent to me and I finally tried Trop50 Orange Juice which has 1/2 the sugar and calories of other orange juices.  Currently I am really enjoying being able to indulge my craving without overdoing the sugar.

(Source)

One of the other cravings I plan on indulging in the upcoming month is a prenatal massage, a much needed massage. The best part is Trop50 is offering one of you a chance to win a $50 Spa & Wellness Gift Cards by Spa Week® to get the spa treatment of your choice. You can also enter for a chance to win a $1000 gift card when you share your New Year’s Resolution on Trop50’s Facebook page!

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment telling me what your favorite treatment is to get at the spa! This giveaway will be open until Tuesday, January 31 @ 8pm EST. A winner will be announced Tuesday.

The Winner is: #4

Jessica says:

I don’t have a favorite since going to the spa is definitely a splurge, but I would love to get a pedicure! Or a facial with the dry weather right now 

Post 3Miler- Choco-Banana Vega Smoothie

After trying the WFHO I then compared my everyday breakfast  to only one single serving of  WFHO using Vega’s online Breakfast Nutrition Calculator. I honestly had a hard time using the the Breakfast Nutrition Calculator because I couldn’t accurately find what I normally eat each morning which is on run days is a super cacao energy bite and then most days oatmeal with banana, nut butter, chia seeds and flax.  Simply finding rolled oats on the calculator was a challenge and then when I found an item labeled “oats”, I was unable to choose the correct quantity. Additionally, when adding the chia seeds and flax to the list it did not accurately compare the two items because both include omega-3′s and they did not show up on the nutrition calculator.  Overall I thought the Breakfast Nutrition Calculator was a bit flawed and did not accurately compare the WFHO with my everyday breakfast.

Moving on to really discuss how I felt the mornings that I ate the WFHO- I felt great.  The WFHO is 100% plant-based, it’s gluten-free, soy-free and dairy free and it’s super low in calories. According to Vega only one single serving guarantees:
·         100% of you daily vitamins and minerals
·         60% daily intake of fiber
·         Healthy weight loss
·         Maintaining optimal health

I did felt more energized, full and ready to take on the day after having a smoothie or the pancakes with the WFHO.  I love that it adds the edition of:

• A Full Serving of ChlorEssence (High CGF Chlorella)
• Rich in protein, chlorophyll and nucleic acids DNA & RNA
• Cleanse, nourish, rejuvenate cells and activate, support immune system
• Special cell wall fiber binds to and removes heavy metals and other toxins from the body
• A Full Serving of MacaSure (Organic Gelatinized Maca)
• Rich in alkaloids, glucosinolates, minerals and sterols
• Increase energy, reduce stress, balance hormones, improve libido
• Gelatinization enhances potency and ease of digestion/absorption

Overall I felt that the challenge was a success because I felt a difference in my energy levels throughout the day.  I am, and have been, a fan of the product for years and will continue to use it.  The only downfall in this challenge really was the Breakfast Nutrition Calculator, however there is no debate that the added nutrients in WFHO is a great addition to any breakfast.  Additionally the recipes that Vega offers on the Breakfast Challenge Page are really great and include smoothie, pancake and cereal recipes all using WFHO.

Q: What is your favorite flavor of WFHO? Mine is the chocolate!

*Giveaway*

I am giving away one single serving size of WFHO to one lucky CVL reader- all you have to do is tweet “I want to win @cookveganlover @VegaTeam Whole Food Health Optimizer giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-2yl #vegabreakfastchallenge” and then come back here and leave a comment letting me know you did so BY September 10, 2011. 

Thoughts:

• Not enough time spent working out. Over a 7 day period I only averaged 23 minutes a day. That is way less than I should be doing.
• No yoga this week. One of my goals is to do yoga at least once a week. I find that it improves my running, my mind and keeps me balanced.
• Poor fueling before runs=not so great runs. This is one thing that is going to be fixed starting now, yes right this minute. In the last week I fell off my normal workout routine because our gym was closed, hurricane Irene came for a visit and because I chose not to put as much dedication into my workouts as I should have.

Moving on…

Since I started running I have been on the lookout for running gear that fits well, is comfortable to run in and of course it needs to look cute. I have been slowly accumulating new items, some that work really well and some that are not so great and have resulted in chaffing or just don’t fit correctly.  One of the newest tops I have tired out is from Be Seen the creators of active gear for those who enjoy outdoor activities such as running, biking and walking.

Be Seen is the vision of Eric and Lisa Fenstermacher. As dedicated age-group triathletes living in Dallas. TX, they appreciate the need to be safe and aware on the roads. Unfortunately it seems everyone involved in an outdoor lifestyle knows someone that knows someone with a tragic story. Eric and Lisa want to help these stories change to tales of accomplishment. The most effective mechanism to achieve this is through education and awareness. They firmly believe that awareness is the precursor to change. Be Seen out there and stay safe.[1]

Eric and Lisa have created a fashionable and effective way to improve the safety for outdoor activity lovers with their Been Seen athletic tops. The large designs on all sides of the garment brightly reflect vehicle headlights and other ambient light. They are made from sweat wicking fabric, moisture moves quickly to the surface where it evaporates.

Reminder: Don't take photos at 5am.

My thoughts: 
As soon as I received this top I tried it right on and headed out on a early evening run on the bike path.  The things I love about this top:

- The Length. I have found that my biggest issue with woman’s running tops is that they are many times too short or way too long.  I was happy to find that this shirt was just the right length, hitting at the hips and it was perfect because it didn’t ride up while I ran (my other huge issue).

- Safety First. I really love that the large design that is both on the front and back is not an eyesore.  I am all about safety first but I cringe at the though of florescent orange and neon green tops. This top is great because it’s cute and promotes safety.

- Overall fit.  I know I mentioned above that I like the length but the overall fit is also worth noting.  I was told in advanced that the shirts tend to run a little big so when ordering one you probably want to go a size smaller, I had to. I also loved that it was fitted but not tight or hugging and the sleeve length was perfect.

-The fabric.  I thought the fabric was perfect. I went on a hot run in the top and I felt great.  The fabric breathes and doesn’t chaff. I did find that fabric to be a bit heavy though especially for 75F+ and 50%+ humidity (welcome to VT summer), however I do think that it will be perfect now that it is cooler in the mornings and evenings but not cold enough for long sleeves (although Be Seen has those too).

Overall. Overall I love the top.  I would recommend it to anyone especially those who are avid bikers, outdoor runners and walkers.  It is comfortable, cute and of course promotes safety first.

{Giveaway Time} Closed

Winner:

Guidelines:  Giveaway for your own Be Seen top is open to US residents only. Giveaway will close at 8pm on 9/6/2011.  You must do the mandatory question, for additional entries you MUST leave a separate comment for each entry.

Mandatory:

1. Visit the Be Seen site here  and complete this sentence: Been Seen is ______

Additional Entries: 

• “Like” Be Seen on Facebook.
• Follow Be Seen on Twitter
• Tweet: “I want to win @cookveganlover @beseenforlife giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-2xo”
• Follow my new running blog on twitter @LindzNeilRun
• Subscribe to my new running blog in a reader.

[1]: Been Seen|About

Over a twitter discussion over my absolute favorite tea- Mighty Leaf’s Orange Dulce I came into contact with Mighty Leaf about doing a review of their new iced teas. They sent me their four new iced tea flavors to try and let me tell you they don’t disappoint. These teas are just like Mighty Leaf’s small tea bags in giant form; so not only do they make delicious tea but what isn’t fun about a giant tea bag?

The  Mighty Leaf Iced Teas flavors:

o   Ginger Peach Iced Tea:  A blissful and lightly sweet black iced tea infused with sun-swelled peaches and delicate ginger.

o   Calypso Mango Iced Tea:  A sweet and cooling black iced tea with an indulging blend of South Indian black tea leaves, luscious mango, and tropical fruit.

o   Organic Black Iced Tea:  A flavorful black iced tea made of refreshingly rich and smooth South Indian organic black tea leaves hand-picked on the dewy slopes of the Nilgiri Mountains.

o   Sunburst Green Iced Tea:  A cool and vibrant iced green tea that delivers mountain-grown Chinese green tea leaves  brightened with the crisp taste of ripe oranges and sweet citrus. The lowest in caffeine among all four flavors.

Iced tea is my favorite summer beverage  however I don’t often make it at home because unless I have loose tea it is no fun to try to make tea from a handful of tiny tea bags.  Well Mighty Leaf makes things so much easier by having their giant iced tea bags.  All you have to do is steep the tea bag and then add ice. It’s never been easier to make iced tea at home.

I really enjoyed all of these flavors and once we started making them we haven’t been able to stop. My favorite is the Sunburst Green Iced Tea because it is fresh and crisp and perfect on a hot day.  Neil’s favorite is the Organic Black Iced Tea it is wonderfully dark and refreshing.

Summer might be coming to an end but it’s never too late to enjoy a nice cold crisp glass of iced tea.  

*CLOSED* GIVEAWAYS:  Mighty Leaf is offering a giveaway of their Summer Brewing Kit.  One person can receive a box of each of their new teas, as well as the Bodum Iced Tea Pitcher which makes fresh iced tea in minutes.  The kit’s total value is approximately $60.  US Residents only. Giveaway open until August 25th at 4pm EST

Mandatory: What is your favorite summer drink?

*Additional Entries* Leave a separate  comment for each

• Follow Mighty Leaf on Twitter
• Tweet “I want to win @cookveganlover @MightyLeaf giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-2vj”
• Like my NEW Cook.Vegan.Lover. Facebook page
• Like Mighty Leaf on Facebook

DISCOUNT:  Mighty Leaf is offering CVL readers a 15 percent site-wide discount on www.mightyleaf.com.   The unique discount code is: coupon code: summertea15

Beauty Without Cruelty, a British based company, has spent over 40 years dedicating itself to creating natural, color cosmetics that are NOT tested on animals and do NOT contain any animal ingredients. In 1989, Beauty Without Cruelty was introduced in the United States and later that year natural skin care line was developed to compliment the color line from England. Today, Beauty Without Cruelty has a full line of cruelty-free, vegetarian skin, body, and hair care products made with the finest natural ingredients and aroma-therapeutic essential oils, and a full line of colour cosmetics to meet the needs of every woman.

My first experience with Beauty Without Cruelty was with their hair care products, which I absolutely love, so I was delighted when I was given the opportunity to try out one of their nail polishes from their Attitude collection.  I chose tangerine because it was not my normal colour and I thought it would be fun for summer.  As soon as the package arrived I  opened it up and tried it out right away.  I was impressed that I didn’t need to do a million layers to get the right shade and how quickly it actually dried. I have had so many “quick dry” nail polishes that always took forever to dry, but the BWC nail polish dried super fast.

The nail colour lasted, without chipping, for about five days.  For me this is impressive; most nail polishes that I use last me for about an hour before I chip them.  Overall I was impressed by the colour and quality of the nail polish and have already asked my husband for three more colours for my birthday.

Giveaway Details:
Winner receives 1 Attitude Nail Colour, in a shade of their choosing.

- 2 Winners total

- US residents only

Giveaway is open until August 6th at 8pm EST. CLOSED.

Giveaway requirements:

• Visit the BWC website and tell me which colour of nail polish you would pick. (Mandatory)
• Become friends/follow BWC on facebook. (Mandatory)

Additional Entries:

• Tweet “I want to win @cookveganlover Beauty Without Cruelty Giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-2rd”
• follow internatural.com on facebook  
• follow internatural.com on twitter

I was a little skeptical when I first took it out of the package because it looks like a few of the other active headbands I have but I was surprised by how well it worked.  I first tried it out during my last training run and it worked well but the real test was going to be my 5k race.  Since it’s been so hot out I have been wearing a bandana to help keep the sweat from dripping down my face but it’s bulky and tends to shift a lot during my run so I was hoping that the Sweaty Band would help with both keeping my hair out of my face and catch a bit of my sweat.

To my delight the Sweaty Band did indeed keep my hair out of my face and most of the sweat off too.  The band did not shift at all during my run and I barely even noticed it was on my head.  In addition to keeping my hair back and the sweat off my face it is super cute and comes in a number of styles; I want the 13.1 Sweaty Band when I finish my first half.

Well now that I’ve told you how great it is (and it really is) I am going to give you a chance to win one yourself.

To Enter: 

Giveaway closes at 8pm EST on July 31, 2011. 

Winner: Sabrina!

Mandatory:  What activity do you get most sweaty at?

Additional Entries (YOU MUST LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY FOR IT TO COUNT):

• Like Health & Wellness With Lindsay on Facebook
• Sign up for my Health & Wellness Newsletter 
• Tweet about this “I want to win @cookveganlover @sweatybands giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-2pJ”

I have been lucky enough to get away this weekend and do hours and hours of yoga.  For those times when I want to get away (for a non-yoga retreat) or don’t have time to go to a yoga studio I like to do a home practice and YogaDownload.com has been a great way to do this.

Why YogaDownload? (their reasons in black, my responses in red)

Yoga Download empowers you to practice yoga your way, on your time, wherever you see fit. Check out some of the best reasons to choose classes from YogaDownload.com:

• Superior Quality – every yoga download class is professionally recorded and mastered to give you the highest quality experience. I agree with this- I find that the recordings are really well done and are really easy to follow on your own.

• Unparalleled Selection – and Growing! – with hundreds of classes in dozens of styles, you can practice your favorite form of yoga or experiment with new styles. This is one thing I love about the site- they have so many different types of yoga from Hatha to Power to Kundalini to Yoga for Runners- it makes it fun and exciting to try new types of yoga at home to decide whether you like them enough to spend the $15-20/class to do them at a studio.

• Yoga Your Way – whether you’re looking to relax for five minutes or sweat for an hour and a half, Yoga Download offers classes to fit your schedule and needs. Another great feature about yoga download – you don’t have to schedule your time around the class that you want to go to you can schedule your practice around your time.  I love being able to do a quick 20 minute practice after work or 60 minute practice on the weekends when studios in Burlington are all closed.  Additionally, there are times when studios don’t have the type of class I want to attend during the hours I am available but with yogadownload.com I am able to take any class (that they have) whenever I want.

• Options Galore – choose audio classes, video classes, slideshows or build your own custom class from your favorite poses, then choose to stream it once or download it and keep it forever. See above.

• Affordability – stream, save to your computer or become an unlimited monthly or annual subscriber. Yoga Download makes a high-end yoga practice attainable for all. This is the biggest plus- you can get a number of free 20 minute downloads and if you like it go back for the 30, 60 or 90minute downloads for only a few dollars! Way less than studio practice and all those expensive DVD’s that you can’t take with you everywhere.*

• For the Teacher, By the Teacher – Yoga Download is designed to be an outlet for a wide range of deeply talented yoga teachers to share their gifts and practice with a global audience.

*Note: I don’t think YogaDownload.com is a replacement for studio classes- it is not the same by any means but it does provide you quality podcasts for your at home practices or for the times when going to the studio just doesn’t fit your budget.  Additionally, I love my yoga DVD’s but with one TV in the house it makes it difficult to do them at times as well as I can’t always bring them with me when I travel.

Overall I loved my experience with Yoga Download an I plan to continue using their services and podcasts for those days I don’t make it to class or just want a quick practice at home. My favorite YogaDownload classes are the gentle Hatha Yoga and the Yoga for Runners

Yoga Download has generously donated a free one month membership to one reader.

To Enter: You must leave a separate comment for each entry and YOU MUST do the mandatory entry for your additional to count.  This giveaway closes on June 30, 2011 at 6pm EST.

The Winner is:

1. Like YogaDownload on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/YogaDownload (MANDATORY)

Additional Entries:

• Visit the YogaDownload site and tell me which class you would like to try.
• Follow me on twitter.
• Follow YogaDownload on twitter.
• Tweet about this giveaway: “I want to win @cookveganlover giveaway for a free month of @YogaDownload http://wp.me/pFVWo-2dX”
• Tell me what your favorite yoga pose is

• Wed-June 1: C25K Week 6 Day 1
• Thurs-June 2: 30 min cross training
• Fri-June 3: 20 min AM yoga; C25K Week 6 Day 2

MPG  REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!

Savvy Top and Stance Bottom

Mondetta Performance Gear (MPG), a Winnipeg based active wear company, contacted me a few months back about doing a review and giveaway. I decided that they would be a perfect fit for the blog and a great review/giveaway for a Fitness Friday post.  MPG allowed me to choose two items to review and provided me with the link to their Fit Guide to help me decide which size would be best. I decided to go with:

Top: Savvy

Sparkle jersey workout tank with contrast laser cut details.

Bottom: Stance

Performance capri legging for all types of exercise.

• Polyester-spandex blended jersey
• Four-way stretch, moisture wicking, quick dry
• Breathable mesh leg panels
• Zippered storage pocket
• Built in gusset
• Adjustable draw cord in waistband
• Semi-low rise, fitted throughout, 21″ inseam
• High visibility reflective logo

RECOMMENDED FOR: Low or high impact workouts, yoga, dance, running

The Stance capri leggings are now easily one of my favorite bottoms to run and do yoga in.  I love them so much that I am planning on getting another pair after I finish writing this post.  They fit perfectly just below the waist (on me) and have a nice adjustable draw cord which is really beneficial for runs.  I also love the breathable mesh leg panels.  I am not a short wearer so the breathable mesh leg panels allow my legs to be covered but not over heated when I run.  The other thing I love is the zippered storage pocket on the back; it is perfect for keeping a single key and ID.

The Savvy top was nice but not a favorite top of mine.  I love the color and the material but although it is described as having full support I didn’t find that it provided full sport when I was running.  However this may be a case that I require a large top and my bust requires a medium.  However, I found that it did provide good support for yoga.

Overall I was impressed by the items I tried from MPG.  They are high quality items at a reasonable price. I have washed and worn the items a number of times since I received them in April and they still look brand new!  In addition to making impressive active wear MPG is also involved in charitable activities, the Mondetta Charity Foundation (MCF).  Our founders were all born in the East African countries of Kenya and Uganda and have decided to support an an orphanage in the former and a school in the latter.  Most of the children directly benefiting from the MCF’s efforts have either lost their parents to AIDS or are themselves living with the disease that has ravaged most of the African continent.  One percent of total MPG sales are contributed to the MCF, which is a completely separate entity from the parent company, Mondetta, meaning all operating and administration costs are covered by the company and all donated funds received go directly where they should: to help those in need.

To learn more about the foundation and its initiatives, please check out the link below.

• Charity foundation: http://www.mpgsport.com/about-the-mcf
• Blogging site: http://www.mpgcliq.com/

Also, 1% of every MPG garment sold goes to the foundation. For more info on the charity please check out Mondetta Gives Back.

So the best part about this review is that MPG has agreed to giveaway one of their products to a Cook.Vegan.Lover. reader. For the giveaway, MPG would like to offer one reader anything from the website in both active and lifestyle tops and bottoms.  Additionally, I would like to mention that MPG makes both active and lifestyle tops and bottoms for men and women so guys don’t forget to enter!

To Enter Giveaway: Open to US and Canadian Residents. Winner is Ashley! Congrats!

You must head over to Facebook and “Like” MPG Mondetta Performance Gear and then come back here and leave a comment letting me know you did so by June 8th, 2011 at 8pm EST.

Lastly, MPG is providing Cook.Vegan.Lover. readers with the following discount code to receive 25% off a one-time purchase that expires 6.30.11: veganloverlovesmpg

Want to read more? Head over to Brittany’s MPG review at her blog Eating Bird Food.

• Friday OFF
• Saturday 1.5 mile walk and power yoga 1hr 35min
• Sunday 2 miles hike – 1 hour
• Monday 20 minute Yoga/Abs/Legs workout
• Tuesday OFF
• Wednesday C25K Day 2 Week 1 plus walking- total 4 miles in 58 minutes
• Thursday- 20 minute Ab workout

Totals: 22/24 days and 14hrs 23minutes/15hours

Friday- TBD

Saturday- TBD

Nathan REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Now that we have discussed the updates lets get down to the good stuff- the giveaway.  I think that this giveaway is perfect for this post and in honor of my first 5k. Nathan Sports just sent me one of their Speed 2 Hydration Belts and Zebra steel 700 mL to try out. The details about the Speed 2 Hydration Belt :

I have been wearing it for running and on our first hike of the season.  I have used other hydration belts before for hiking specifically and they have been uncomfortable and floppy but this one fit perfectly.  It fit snug on the hips to prevent any flopping and it was great because the storage pocket allowed me to carry my ID, car keys and digital camera.  I loved the water bottles; they were easy to access and drink from.  For our short day hike it held the perfect amount of water for one person.  I really am looking forward to using this more on afternoon hikes.  In addition to using it for hiking I also used it yesterday on my run because it was nearly 80F here and water was necessary for my 3 mile run/walk. Again I loved how it fit and didn’t shift while I was running.  I was able to carry my keys, ID and my iPhone which I use for C25K and music.  My only complaint is that I have to place my iPhone in the back pocket which makes it hard to use my headphones because the cord isn’t long enough.  Since  I don’t have another place to hold my iPhone unless I carry it in my hand or wear my SPIbelt (which seams silly)  I guess I will have to get a headphone cord extender.

The second item that I have been trying out is the Zebra steel 700 mL to try out. The details about the Zebra steel 700 mL :

I have tried my fair share of reusable water bottles including Nalgene, Sigg, Clean Canteen, and EarthLust however none of the models of these that I have tried compare to this style of water bottle.  This bottle is perfect for the elliptical because a) it fits in my water bottle holder (my other ones don’t) b) it has a great stray feature which means I don’t pour water all over myself or fall of the elliptical trying to drink oh and c) it looks pretty and has a fun design.  The mouth piece is different too it is very soft and flexible and perfect for to sip through.  I also love that it comes with 2 extra straws so you can switch them out while you are cleaning them or if you need to replace one. The other feature I love is the clip on the top; I haven’t used it yet but I imagine it will be great for hooking on things when traveling or even hiking.

Now that you have fallen in love with both of these items (you have right?) Nathan Sports is going to give one lucky reader both of these items.   Now here is how you enter, oh and this is open to US and Canadian residence and you can enter until May 2nd 10th at 8pm EST.

THE WINNER IS LAUREN!

Saturday Morning Cupcakes

Mighty Cereal Breakfast

Lunch of hummus, sauteed shiitake mushrooms, with falafel, veggies and crispy bread

Hiking Mt. Philo

Views From Mt. Philo

The Happy Hiker

Trail Mix

Sweet & Spicy Kale Chips - Recipe of the Week

Afternoon Beerz

KITTYYYYYYY

Afternoon Naps

P.S. Don’t forget about my Earth Day Giveaway!

Comment on this post...

Caress Voile featuring Repreve® Recycled Fibers! Saving an average of 7 plastic bottles from a landfill per panel, the new Caress Voile curtains are made with fabric created from recycled plastic bottles to provide an eco-friendly and fashion forward option for window treatments.

Around the Home:

1. Choose linens and curtains made from eco-friendly materials whenever possible. Over the past few years the Hubz and I have been working to make our home a greener place.  Part of that process is being mindful of the products that we purchase and use in our home.  We have a few sets of sheets made of organic cotton and just changed out our curtains for these Caress Voile which are made from recycled fibers and are super inexpensive (only $10 per pack).

2. Swap out your chemical cleaners for natural cleaners. I am all over the place with natural cleaners right now.  I am testing out a number of different brands to find my favorite.  Currently we have Simple Green Naturals, Seventh Generation and Ecover products.  Currently my overall favorite is Seventh Gen however the other brands are also good.

3. Clean yourself without the chemicals. Choose natural body products including toothpaste, body wash, lotions, shampoo and conditioner. Just like what you put in your body you should be mindful of what you put on your body.  I have had my ups and downs with natural products and there are some that I love and think work really well and others that are just awful.  Here is a peak at a few of my favorite products.

Kiss My Face Toothpaste- this is my absolute favorite natural toothpaste it is made with aloe and works so well. Also Kiss my Face body wash, shampoo and deodorant- I really love all these but I do purchase other products such as Jason and even the natural Whole Foods and Trader Joes brands are pretty good. Lastly is a new deodorant for the Hubz it's a manly scented Tom's which he actually hasn't tried yet.

4. Choose recycled paper and plastic products. There are a number of options out there for toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags and food storage products (sandwich bags, aluminum foil, parchment paper,ect).  My favorite for toilet paper, paper towels and garbage bags are Seventh Generation.  I have tried out a number of other brands and there aren’t any (that I have tried) that really hold up as well as Seventh Generation.  My absolute favorite environmentally friendly products that I use in the kitchen are If You Care. They make a number of products including coffee filters, parchment paper, sandwiches bags, and aluminum foil.  I use the coffee filters daily and they are wonderful.  The parchment paper is my favorite to use when I am baking it helps reduce the amount of oil I use in my cooking and it also means less dishes to wash. If You Care also makes household gloves, fire starters, cheesecloth, baking cups and twine; I have not tried any of these products yet but hope to soon.  (p.s. keep reading to win your own box of If You Care goodies).

Travel

1. Drive less. I know that driving is a necessity for some people, myself included, however being mindful of how often you drive is important. When you do drive places pick the most direct route to your destination and make sure to plan well so you only have to make one trip. When possible take advantage of public transportation. The Hubz works downtown and has a bus stop right outside of his work; when he can he takes the bus to work and in the summer he bikes a few days per week.

2. Walk or Bike. Whenever possible walk or bike to your destination.  Not only will you be reducing your carbon footprint but you will be improving your health.

Food

1. Dining out. Choose locally owned restaurants and/or restaurants that focus on local and organic products.  When you travel do your research and find places that fit these standards.  You’ll find that food that is produced locally and/or organically taste better and provides more energy.

2. Shop locally. Whenever possible purchase your food at local co-ops, health food stores and farmers markets before visiting larger stores.  Not only will you be purchasing higher quality food, food that you know where it came from but you will be helping local companies and the local economy.

3. Grow your own food. Take the time to grow your own food; this does not mean you have to create a garden or get alocal garden plot (although both great ideas). you could simple have a pot on your steps or balcony with herbs, greens or tomatoes.  Knowing where you food comes from and the accomplishment of growing your own food really makes your food taste better.

4. Eat more plants. Studies show that eating a plant based diet is better for the environment and the world around us.A plant based diet can lead to extra years of healthy living than one that is focused on meats and dairy. Additionally, it also reduces environmental damage and farm animal suffering

Giveaway Time!!

If You Care recently sent me a variety of products to try and to giveaway. For the giveaway I am giving one lucky winner a t-shirt, household gloves, 2 sizes of coffee filters, jumbo baking cups and wax paper.  In addition two people will win an If You Care t-shirt. This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only.

The giveaway is open until April 25, 2011 at 8pm EST. You must leave a separate comment for each entry for it to qualify.

Required Entry:
1. Visit the If You Care website and tell me something new that you learned.

Additional Entries:

1. Follow me on twitter: @cookveganlover
2. Tweet “I want to win If You Care eco-friendly products @cookveganlover http://wp.me/pFVWo-1ZA”
3. Subscribe to my newsletter (in the side bar).
4. Blog about this giveaway, remember to link back to this post.
5. “Like” Cook.Vegan.Lover. on Facebook.

The Winner of the If You Care gift package is:

The Winners of the T-shirts are:

- Friday Community Class at Evolution Yoga 1 hr 15 min

- Saturday 30 minute walk around Middlebury

-Sunday C25K Day 1 Week 1 plus walking – total 3 miles in 40 minutes

- Monday Rodney Yee AM Yoga and Yoga for Abs 40 minutes

- Tuesday walked on the bike path with the Hubz 1.5 miles 30 minutes

-Wednesday C25K Day 2 Week 1 plus walking- total 2.9 miles in 35 minutes

-Thursday- OFF

Totals: 6/24 days and 4hrs 10minutes/15hours

OISELLE REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Now that we have discussed the updates lets get down to the good stuff- the giveaway.  I think that this giveaway is perfect for this post, my new love like of running and because I know that many of you are runners or are active in other ways.  Oiselle just sent me one of their Recycled Poly Tech Tops to try. The Recycled Poly Tech Top was designed to be so light, “you might forget you have it on. The wing motion graphic across the chest mimics the lightness of your feet’s flight. And because it’s made of 50% recycled polyester it’s light impact on the planet too. A running top so light it’s practically gravity defying.”

- Light, silky fabric
- Flattering fit
- Silk screen graphic
- 50% recycled polyester/50% polyester
- machine washable

I have been wearing it for running and other activities.  I honestly thought the shirt wasn’t too cute in the photo and was like oh well I don’t need to look cute to run I just need to have something that is light and is great for running.  To my surprise (and delight) the shirt came and it was actually super cute on and it fit perfectly.  I immediately put it on and went for a run and fell in love.  The shirt is really great because not only is the fabric light on your skin it breathes really well and even though I got sweaty I didn’t feel drenched and weighed down.

Now that I have this top the stripey tank has caught my eye and would be perfect for summer. Oh and if you are a bride-to-be and a runner you will love this.

Now that you have fallen in love with this top (you have right?) I should mention that they sent me two and since it isn’t in my size one lucky person will have the chance to win this top.  Now the top is the one you see to the left (same color) and is in a size medium, however depending on how you like your clothes to fit it could easily fit someone who wears a small.  Now here is how you enter, oh and this is open to US and Canadian residence and you can enter until April 10th at midnight.

The Winner is:

Mandatory:

1. Visit the Oiselle website and tell me something you learned. (leave a comment below)

Additional Chances to Win (you must leave a separate comment for each)

• Follow Oiselle on Twitter
• Follow me on Twitter
• Follow my health counseling on Twitter
• Tweet “I want to win the @Oiselle giveaway on @cookveganlover http://wp.me/pFVWo-1Lw”
• “Like” Oiselle Running on Facebook
• “Like” Cook.Vegan.Lover on Facebook
• Leave a Facebook Comment on Oiselle saying that you want to win and include http://wp.me/pFVWo-1Lw

When I read about Bee-Free Honee I jumped at the opportunity to review and it and of course to do a giveaway. I am even more excited to do the giveaway now because I really love this product and can’t wait to have you try it as well.
The website describes the product best “Bee Free Honee is a unique sweetener with a slightly tart flavor. It is “apple honey” in that it is made from apples rather than by bees! We use only three all natural ingredients, apple, pure cane sugar, and lemon juice. There is nothing artificial, no added color and no corn syrup.”

Although it doesn’t taste exactly like honey, it has more of an apple flavor- because well yeah it is made with apples. But it really is the closest in flavor and consistency to honey and it taste delicious. I have used it in my tea and oatmeal and on apples with cinnamon and almond butter. I haven’t tried it in baked goods or granola yet but that will be my next challenge.

Now that you know more about this wonderful product I am going to give two lucky people to win a bottle of their own. All you have to do is enter- oh and for an additional chance to win head over to Keri’s blog I Eat Tree’s because she is also giving away a bottle.

To Enter: (leave a comment for each entry) The giveaway is open to U.S. residence only. The winner will be randomly selected on Monday, March 21th, 2011 at 11 PM EST.

• Leave a comment telling me why you’d love to try Bee-Free Honee
• Visit the Bee-Free Honee website and leave a comment telling me something new that you learned
• Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment below telling me you did.
• Tweet, “Enter to win #vegan Bee-Free Honee @cookveganlover http://wp.me/pFVWo-1H2” and leave a comment to tell me you tweeted.
• “Like” Cook.Vegan.Lover on Facebook and leave a comment below telling me you did.
• Sign up for the Cook.Vegan.Lover. newsletter, and leave a comment to let me know you did

http://www.beefreehonee.com/

1. with hummus- YUM

2. with chickpea dip- YUM (totally different than hummus)

3. My favorite way however was like a bruschetta (see below)

Overall I really enjoyed these little flatbreads; they are great on their own or with a dip or topper.  I have to say that I love the Crispbread more but the flatbreads are way better for entertaining and less mess.  The flatbreads are light an airy and have a great crispy to them.  My favorite flavor was the rosemary it was wonderful as a bruschetta, the sesame was great with peanut butter and the plan with hummus; overall a very versatile snack. So now that I have told you what I think and how much I enjoy these Wasa is providing you with an insane prize pack.  All you have to do is……

All entries must be submitted by November 26th at 8pm. For each entry you MUST leave a SEPARATE comment for the entry to qualify.

TO ENTER:

1. Check out the flatbread flavors and tell me how you would enjoy them. (REQUIRED ENTRY)

Additional Chances to win (PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY; also if you already do any of these ie. follow me on twitter/facebook, ect it counts so leave a comment).

1. Visit the Wasa site and let me know something interesting you learned.
2. Follow me on Twitter.
3. Tweet about this giveaway “I want to win @cookveganlover #wasa Giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-1g4″
4. Become a fan of Cook.Vegan.Lover. on Facebook.
5. Add me to your blog roll
6. Follow me an RSS reader

The giveaway we have is a Wasa prize pack including:

• Wasa Original Thin & Crispy Flatbread
• Wasa Sesame Thin & Crispy Flatbread
• Wasa Rosemary Thin & Crispy Flatbread
• Art Smith’s “Cooking with Crispbread, 32 Delicious Was To Get Whole Grains”
• 100% Eco-Friendly Wasa Tote Bag
• Wasa Recipe Cards
• Wasa Tin – Perfect for keeping your Wasa fresh or holding recipe cards
• Wasa pen and flash drive

U.S. ENTRANTS ONLY!

I don’t know Wassa matter with me, sorry this took so long to post!

Noelle is our lucky winner!

Random.org Winner Selection

They are a good balance of the two as they are chewy and crispy and pack a lot of flavor!  I ate the Granookies on their own and broke them up and put them in my vegan yogurt.  They are delicious, sweet but not too sweet and the chocolate chip Granookies went great with my vanilla soygurt parfait.

These are great alternatives to mainstream granola bars and cookies as they are fun, healthy and convenient.  They are a great source for fiber, complete proteins, amino acids and more!  To top it all off, they are dairy free, soy free and nut free as well which is great for those with food allergies or sensitivities.

Now it is your chance to win your own sample of Grassroot Granookies!  Entries will be accepted until October 12th at 8pm.  To enter you can do any (or all) of these: Please leave individual comments for each entry.

1. Tell me what inventive way you will enjoy your sample of Granookies.
2. Become a fan of Granookies on Facebook
3. Become a fan of Cook.Vegan.Lover. on Facebook
4. Follow Cook.Vegan.Lover. on twitter
5. Subscribe to my newsletter

The Winner is JENNA

Now it is your chance to win your own Easy Lunch Boxes container set and lunch box.  The winner of this giveaway can choose from black, dark red, olive, aqua, or purple for their lunch box.  This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian Residence ONLY. Please keep reading to see how you can enter to win.

The Winner is Bianca:

To enter:  All entries must be submitted by May 16, 2010 at 5pm. For each entry you MUST leave a SEPARATE comment for the entry to qualify. This giveaway is CLOSED.

1. Visit the Easy Lunch Boxes website and let me know why you want to win this giveaway.
2. Follow Easy Lunch Boxes on Twitter
3. Become a fan of Easy Lunch Boxes on Facebook.
4. Follow me on Twitter.
5. Tweet about this giveaway “I want to win @cookveganlover @EasyLunchBoxes Giveaway http://wp.me/pFVWo-K2″
6. Become a fan of Cook.Vegan.Lover. on Facebook.
7. Add me to your blog roll
8. Follow me an RSS reader

Aren’t all of these desserts beautiful? I wish that they had been vegan but at least they were nice to look at.  Among the beautiful desserts and other savory dishes we found one we could eat, a mushroom bruschetta- it was amazing!

After the reception it was time to get ready for the tasting which you could view live on UStream. We sipped some water and waited around at the nicely decorated tasting tables.

Wasn’t Hubz looking pretty sharp in his new(ish) shirt?

Hubby and I both really enjoyed this coffee and the Hubz isn’t event a coffee drinker! Here is the UStream Video and you can hear my muffled comments which were kindly repeated by our hosts.

We were sent home with a few goodie bags that included a sample of the Spring Revival Coffee to try at home.  I also received one bag that had K-Cups for the office.  Inside the bags there was this awesome fair trade coffee sticker as well as information about the coffee and World Fair Trade Day (May 8, 2010).

Also included were step by step cards on how to do your own tasting at home as well as information on everyday brewing.

Since Green Mountain Coffee was kind enough to send me home with an extra bag of goodies I thought who better than to give it to but one of my readers? So if you would like a chance to win a Green Mountain Coffee bag of goodies which includes a bag of ground Limited Edition Spring Revival, a fair trade coffee sticker, coffee tasting cards and a few informational pieces keep on reading to see how you can enter.

To enter: (Please enter by noon onMay 8th, 2010 – World Fair Trade Day)- GIVEAWAY CLOSED! – THE WINNER IS ENTRY #11: ANGIE BISHOP

There are a number of ways to enter however for each to qualify you MUST leave a SEPARATE comment for each individual entry.

1. Visit the Green Mountain Coffee Site and let me know of something new you learned or a coffee that interest you.

2. Follow Green Mountain Coffee on twitter

3. Become a fan of Green Mountain Coffee on Facebook

4. Follow me on Twitter.

5. Become a fan of Cook.Vegan.Lover. on Facebook.

6. Tweet about this giveaway “I want to win Fair Trade Ltd. Ed. Spring Revival @GreenMntCoffee on @cookveganlover  http://wp.me/pFVWo-J0″

7. Blog about this giveaway.

Hubby and I are headed to Costco and then we’re off to a concert.  So I will leave you with this great giveaway from Maggie’s Organics. Maggie’s Organics is a great company here is a little blurb about them:

“Maggie’s Organics was founded in 1992 on the premise that workers should be treated ethically and that clothing should be durable, affordable and constructed of environmentally sustainable materials. Today our line of organic and fair trade socks, legwarmers, tights, scarves, loungewear, tees, baby clothesand fashionable tops feel as good to buy as they do to wear!” Source

They recently sent me a great pack of their sport socks which come in fun colors and are super comfy.  I love these socks and wear them all the time now.  Maggie’s is giving TWO of you the opportunity to win a three pack of their sport socks.

To Enter by April 30th, 2010: (Open to US Residence Only)

Please leave separate comments for each entry.

1. Visit Maggie’s Organics website and tell me what product interest you the most. (Leave a comment)

2. Follow Maggie’s Organics on Facebook.

3. Follow Maggie’s Organics on Twitter.

4. Follow Maggie’s Organics blog in a reader.

5. Tweet about this giveaway @cookveganlover.

Now onto the giveaway: Earthlust sent me one of their stainless steel water bottles and guess what the sent me an extra one just for one of you lucky readers. EarthLust bottles are hand made from high quality #304 (18/8) food grade stainless steel, which is naturally safe unlined. They use non-toxic paints and BPA-free safe polypropylene #5 caps. I received one of the 13oz bottles and it is the perfect size to take every where with me.  I am thinking about investing in a 1L bottle for trips and such but the smaller bottle is great for everyday use.  I also love that they are unlined, unlike Sigg bottles which have a weird lining and make your water taste funny. Additionally, their bottles have some really great designs. So now it’s your chance to win this bottle (see below) isn’t it so cute?

How to Enter: Please leave individual comments for each entry. Entries will be accepted until April 17th at 8am.

1. Visit the Earthlust website and tell which bottle is your favorite. (Leave me a comment)
2. Follow me on Twitter (Leave me a comment)
3. Tweet about this giveaway (Leave me a comment)
4. Become a fan on Facebook (Leave me a comment)
5. Follow my blog in a reader (Leave me a comment)
6. Blog about this giveaway (Leave me a comment)

Chickpea Salad

• 1-15oz can of chickpea, drained and chopped into small pieces (a food processor works well for this
• 1/4 of a medium red onion, minced
• 2T chopped dill pickle
• 1-2T vegenaise (I like to use the reduced fat kind)
• 1t triple blend flakes or kelp flakes
• 1t lemon juice
• 2T finely chopped parsley

Mix this all together and serve it on a sandwich, salad or with crackers

This is a blend of dulse, laver & sea lettuce- you could always use crumbled nori or kelp flakes - you also could change the flavor a bit and use dill

We had a successful trip to Lake George and came home with a new tent, a few new camping plates and bowls and a camping mattress (I know, I know but hubby is old and his back hurts haha).  We also picked up a few new spring duds at the J.Crew outlet which we both love.  Dinner was a quick and easy meal to put together.  It was hubby’s favorite Garlic Lovers Pasta and a small side salad.

Garlic Lovers Pasta

• 3 servings of pasta of your choice- I used spinach spaghetti tonight
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2T olive oil
• 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
• 3T nutritional yeast
• salt and pepper to taste

While the pasta is cooking place the garlic and olive oil in a large saute pan and heat over medium low until the pasta is finished.  DO NOT DRAIN PASTA, rather using a spaghetti spoon or tongs take the pasta out of the boiling water and place into the sauce (the starch in the water helps to create a sauce).  The sprinkle in the parsley and nutritional yeast and salt and pepper and toss together to coat evenly.  ENJOY!

So I’m off for the day to a committee meeting a few hours away and I’m anxious since it’s only my second day of work and I have to take the minutes, eek!  However you should stop on over to my Spring Giveaway post and enter to win this great giveaway.  If you already have entered remember you can tweet once per day BUT make sure you go back and post a comment letting me know you did.

Jenna- “My absolute fav.. pumpkin oats with banana, pb, flax seeds, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla. I could eat it every day and not get sick of it!”

And

Regina “I like mine with vanilla soy milk chocolate PB, banana’s, and flaxseeds.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

As many of you know I am a huge fan of oatmeal and eat it most mornings with banana, cinnamon and stevia.  So you can imagine that I was delighted to have a chance to try a new kind of oats.  Coach’s Oats sent me a few packages of their oats to try.  Their oats are prepared a different way than steel cut and rolled oats.  ”The groats are toasted to bring natural sugars to the surface of the oat then cracked into small pieces.”  (source)

The oatmeal cooks up in only 5 minutes so it is a quick nutritious breakfast when you are short on time.  Unlike other oats these get so creamy and delicious, I loved them.  These were also super filling along with my traditional fixings. Since Coach’s Oats sent a long a number of packets for me to sample I would love to get 2 readers a chance to win 2 packets to try themselves.  If you would like a chance to win enter By March 24nd, 2010 at 8am leaving a comment letting me know what your favorite oatmeal creation is.

Disclaimer: Coach’s Oats provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Namaste Foods small manufacturer of fine foods that contain no wheat, gluten, corn, soy, potato, dairy, casein or nuts. Most gluten free products can be pretty expensive however Namaste Foods has created a number of meals and mixes that are GF and inexpensive.  Their products include mixes for muffins, waffles & pancakes, flour mixes, cookies, cakes & desserts, pastas, bread & pizzas.  As you can see there are a number of great products for anyone who is looking for GF products.

Namaste Foods sent me a sample package of their Pasta Pisavera Pasta Meal to try. This product is easy to make in ready in about 15 minutes. Just boil this veggie brown rice pasta, drain, and add the delicious Italian Seasoning packet to make 4 side portions.  I decided that I wanted to make 4 entree portions from this so that we could have dinner and leftovers for lunch the next day.  I added steamed cauliflower, black beans, onions, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts to make it a hearty meal.

Namaste Foods has decided to give you all a chance to try their products.  You can enter to win a “Namaste Tote with perhaps a pasta mix and a Pizza crust which may be better for the vegan diet, along with a Living Without magazine, recipe cards, coupons and assorted goodies!”  If you would like to enter please visit the Namaste Foods Website and let me know which product you are interested in trying. Please enter by March 22nd at 8am.  (Sorry this is open to US residence only.)

For Additional Chances to win:

1. Follow me on twitter @cookveganlover (come back and leave a separate comment)

2. Tweet “I want to win the Namaste Foods Giveaway @cookveganlover http://wp.me/pFVWo-zk” (come back and leave a separate comment)

Disclaimer: Namaste Foods provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Jessie: “Yum, the Cajun flavor sounds awesome!”

Gina- “YUM! The Sweet BBQ sounds so good “

________________________________________________________________________

"Perfected Foods strives not only to improve the quality of food, but improve the quality of life. Our Soy Jerky is all natural, cholesterol free, vegan, packed with protein and made right here in the United States." Source

Perfected Foods sent me a few samples of their vegan jerky to try. They sent me one of each of their flavors Mesquite, Hot Wing, Cajun, or Sweet Barbecue flavors. Although these products are all natural, cholesterol free and vegan I didn’t find them to be my favorite vegan jerky. They were really dry and tough to chew. I have to say I really like the creative flavors that they have. Now I am not a huge fan of jerky myself so others might like these more than I did. I am going to give 2 of you a chance to try Perfected Foods vegan jerky out for yourself.  This giveaway will end March 9, 2010 at 8am.

To Enter:

1. Visit the Perfected Foods website and let me know which flavor you’d like to try.

Additional Entries:

1. Follow Cooking For A Vegan Lover on Facebook (leave a comment)
2. Follow cookveganlover on twitter (leave a comment)
3. Tweet “I want to win @cookveganlover Perfected Foods Vegan Jerky http://wp.me/ppaTI-ug” (leave a comment)

You can also send a photo of yourself with a pack of Perfected Foods to info@perfectedfoods.com and they will post it on our site. ONE LUCKY PERSON A MONTH WILL WIN A FREE CASE OF SOY JERKY!!!!!

Disclaimer: Perfected Foods provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

French Press Winner Announced:

AnAppleADay // February 26, 2010 at 4:50 PM | Reply (edit)

i definitely need this because my bf is COFFEE-lover and i would love to make him smile by giving this to him!!!
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Bodum Brazil 8 Cup French Press

I have an exciting giveaway for you!

CSN Stores has contacted me about doing a giveaway on my blog!

Don’t worry I am not going to offer a giveaway for an item that I don’t already use and love myself. I absolutely love my Bodum Brazil French Press and I think that any coffee lover should invest in their own french press.  Not only is a french press the best way to make a delicious cup of coffee it also works great for making loose tea.

Who wants to go out – pay for overpriced coffee when you can make a delicious cup at home?

I sure don’t!

Enjoy it at home!

Coffee. A Good Book. And Someone to Share It All With.

who could ask for more?

CSN has over 200 stores

where you can find everything you need,

including cookware and maybe even barstools

To enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me why you need this french press in your life. {1 entry}
   
2. You can earn an additional entry by tweeting about this giveaway & mentioning @cookveganlover {1 additional entry}
3. You can earn a third entry by posting it on your blog & linking back to me {1 additional entry}

Good luck!

I’ll use Random.org to choose a winner on Friday March 5, 2010 at 6am!!

(CSN will only ship to the U.S. & Canada)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup firm tofu, diced
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 5 cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 1.5 cups frozen edamame
• 1T coconut oil
• 1T coconut peanut butter (can substitute half coconut butter/half peanut butter or just use peanut butter)- win your own Coconut PB below
• 1T red curry paste
• 2T soy sauce, tamari or shoyu
• 1/2T vegetarian oyster sauce
• 1T arrowroot powder mixed with 1/4 cup of water
• 1t garlic powder
• 1/4 cup of dry roasted peanuts

Directions:

1. In a wok over medium high heat melt the coconut oil and coconut peanut butter together.
2. Add in the red curry paste and stir fry together for about a minute.
3. Add in all the remaining ingredients EXCEPT the peanuts and cook for 7-10minutes until the vegetables are soft.
4. Add in the peanuts at the end.  Serve with your favorite rice or noodles.

To make this recipe I used Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil and Coconut Peanut Butter.  The coconut peanut butter is rich and creamy tasting and works really well in this dish.  The peanut butter flavor is not overwhelming but is rather great combined with the coconut.  I found that this is not an easily spreadable butter but is great on warmed foods such as oatmeal, stir fries, noodles, and sweet potatoes.

“Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Peanut Butter is made from organic peanuts and organic coconut. Two ingredients: nothing else! No fillers, no binders, no sweeteners, and no preservatives. The peanuts are 100% organic Valencia peanuts grown organically by family farmers in New Mexico and Texas. Grown in the dry climate of the southwestern United States, these peanuts are certified organic and free from aflatoxins. The dried coconut is certified organic coconut meat from the Philippines from coconuts that are grown with no fertilizers or pesticides. This premium dried coconut contains no additives or preservatives, and is not sweetened. Unlike most dried coconut on the market, our dried coconut products are not treated with sulfites to keep them white. Together, these premium organic roasted peanuts and the premium organic dried coconut are ground together to make a delicious and nutritious spread!” soucre

Tropical Traditions Giveaway- Please Enter by 8am on February 26, 2010

To win your own jar of Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter visit the Tropical Traditions website and take a look around- leave a comment on my blog telling me something you’ve learned or about a product that interest you.

Additional Chances to Enter

1. Subscribe to Tropical Traditions email Sales Newsletter here:http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/subscribe_for_special_sales.cfm(Leave me a comment saying you did)
2. Tweet about this giveaway – “I want to win @Troptraditions Coconut Oil from @cookveganlover http://wp.me/ppaTI-vQ
   (Leave me a comment saying you did)
3. Follow me @cookveganlover on twitter (Leave a comment saying you did)
4. Visit Tropical Traditions Free Coconut Recipe websitehttp://www.freecoconutrecipes.com/ and leave a comment telling me what your favorite recipe is.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Giveaway Winner is:

hihorosie // February 24, 2010 at 6:32 PM | Reply (edit)

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My first impression of Skinny Bitch was that the name was just really not appealing as my husband and I are not ones to use the term “bitch” and I find it has just a negative feeling.  I decided to over look this and give the book a chance since everyone has been reading it.  I must say that the book has a lot of great information.  It is just as it says on the cover “a no-nonsense, tough-love guide” and that is exactly what it is.  The book is filled with important information about the foods people eat from animal products, sweeteners and coffee.  However if you are easily offended this may not be the book for you. 

View on Amazon

Following the release of Skinny Bitch a new book came out Skinny Bitch In the Kitch . This book is filled with a variety of recipes for the girl (or guy) who wants to be a skinny bitch (or bastard). The recipes are all vegan and are easy yummy recipes for anyone- you can check out some of the sample recipes on the Skinny Bitch website.

Rory and Kim came up with some kick-ass recipes for every craving there is:

Lastly, my favorite SB book is Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven a “no-nonsense guide for pregnant gals”.  This book is great for any pregnant mom to be and especially those who are vegan or vegetarian.  For many vegan and vegetarian women there is a concern about eating properly during pregnancy and this book can help get you on the right track and give you great ideas. The book starts out much like the first SB book and then adds in things that are important for pregnant gals to know.  

I received a copy of this book for review however I already own it myself so I am giving you a chance to win a copy of Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven.  If you would like to win a copy of this book you can:

1. Leave me a comment letting me know why you’d like to win this book.

2. Tweet “I want to win SB Bun in the Oven @cookveganlover http://wp.me/ppaTI-vx”

Please enter to win by February 23, 2009 @ 8am

Blogger Disclaimer: Running Press provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.

A great alternative to mashed potatoes is mashed white beans they are creamy and delicious and you can put your own spin on them.  Last night I had leftover Tofutti so I added it to my recipe.

• 2 cans Cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
• 8-10 oil packed sundried tomatoes, chopped small
• 5 scallions, chopped small 
• 3T vegan cream cheese 
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1t garlic powder

Add all ingredients to a pan over medium heat and mash with a potato masher.  Mix everything together and then heat until warmed. Enjoy!

If you want to check out  our yummy dining at A Single Pebble and Coffee Corner as well as what else we ate the past few days visit Eat. Live. Be Healthy. 

Don’t forget you have until 1/31/10 at 8am to enter to win Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil.

 The winner is Averie from Love Veggies and Yoga!  

Congrats! 

Tropical Traditions sent me a jar of their Virgin Coconut Oil to sample- it is also organic.  What is great about the gold label brand is that it is made by hand unlike other coconut oils. I love coconut oil and this stuff is great.  I use coconut oil to make a number of raw dishes – my favorite way to use it is in raw macaroons.  I also love to use it in stir fries instead of peanut or canola oil because it gives the stir fry a really great flavor.  Yesterday I actually heated it up and sprinkled it on my kabocha squash before I roasted it and it was delicious.  

Tropical Traditions Giveaway- Please Enter by 8am on January 31, 2010

To win your own jar of Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil visit the Tropical Traditions website and take a look around- leave a comment on my blog telling me something you’ve learned or about a product that interest you. 

Additional Chances to Enter

1. Subscribe to Tropical Traditions email Sales Newsletter here: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/subscribe_for_special_sales.cfm (Leave me a comment saying you did)
2. Tweet about this giveaway – “I want to win @Troptraditions Coconut Oil from @cookveganlover http://wp.me/ppaTI-sA” (Leave me a comment saying you did)
3. Follow me @cookveganlover on twitter (Leave a comment saying you did)
4. Visit Tropical Traditions Free Coconut Recipe website http://www.freecoconutrecipes.com/ and leave a comment telling me what your favorite recipe is.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h6eycjf29M&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Referral Program:

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

p.s. i used random.org to pick my winner

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 I know I have been M.I.A. for the past few days with my blogging and I apologize. I spent all yesterday afternoon working on soup recipes for my upcoming interview at the Cafe at my husbands work. I am lucky that my husband has the weekly menus for the cafe so I can see what sorts of things they make- mostly soups, salads, sandwiches and then “entree” sort of dish. Anyways I have been super busy with that- but now back to what this post is all about and that is CHOCOLATE!

Theo Chocolate sent me some of their bars a little while back and I have slowly been trying all of them (except one). They make really great dark chocolate bars and my hubby and I like treating ourselves once and awhile with a small piece (or 2) of dark chocolate and this hits the spot. Theo’s entire “Classic Combination Bars” (with the exception of one) are all VEGAN/DAIRY-FREE (except for the milk chocolate bar) AND SOY-FREE.

Click to View Theo Chocolate Website

Now I know how much you all like chocolate and so I saved my last bar to share with you. If you would like a chance to win this bar then please leave a comment by January 25th at 8am. 

For a second chance to win tweet about this giveaway directing it @cookveganlover AND remember to post another comment letting me know you tweeted.

Blogger Disclosure:  Cooking For A Vegan Lover received these products at no cost from the company for review.

busymomto5- “our house eats sooo much hummus!”
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I know that in my last update I had said that I had given up on the challenge due to a lack of pantry items however after some consideration I decided that I could do at least another week however I would need to pick up a few pantry items (4 cans of beans and 2 cans of tomatoes).   Yesterday breakfast was leftover quinoa chili I just couldn’t wait until lunch to eat it.  For lunch I had noodles with chickpeas, earth balance and curry powder, simple but yummy.

For dinner I used my sample of Wildwood Organics Sprout Baked Tofu – savory flavored.  I threw 3 shallots, 2 cloves of garlic and the tofu into the food processor and pulsed to break it up.  I threw it in a pan with some vegetable broth and toasted in some nooch, paprika and chili powder.  I added a frozen mix of corn, onions, peppers and black beans and 2 handfuls of spinach.  I had some Ezekiel bread left in the freezer and toasted it up to have with our scramble- unfortunately I didn’t photograph any of this.

I’m going to do a mini giveaway- I have a bunch of coupons for free Cedar’s products including hummus, salsa and their new creamy hummus- If you would like a chance to win, leave me a comment by 8pm on January 21st.  

I recently was sent a few bars of delicious NibMor chocolates to try.  These chocolates are organic, vegan, raw, dairy & gluten free, all natural, diabetic friendly, no refined sugars and non GMO.  With all this said there is a ton of goodness going for these chocolates.  

Click To View Website

I received the original, almond and crispy bars- all of which were great.  My husband and my favorite was the crispy bar because it reminded us of a Crunch bar, which we haven’t had in years.  This chocolate is great because it is raw and you would have no idea that it was had it not said on the package.  

I love this chocolate and it’s a great treat so I am giving you the opportunity to try it yourself.  For a chance to win one Original NibMor bar please leave me a comment by 12pm EST on January 15, 2009.  Sorry US residence only please.

For an extra chance to win tweet @cookveganlover about this giveaway and leave another comment.

Blogger Disclosure:  Cooking For A Vegan Lover received this product at no cost from the company for review.

Min: Max:

Result: 8 – The winner is Emma!

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Jello is one of those things that is so hard to find as a vegan since traditional jello is made with gelatin.  For those of you who are not aware gelatin is “ is a translucent, colorless, odorless, brittle, nearly tasteless solid substance, derived from the collagen inside animals’ skin and bones.”  Gross right? Well Natural Desserts has created an all vegan jel dessert that is available in Orange, Cherry, Raspberry and Strawberry. I also believe they have a flavorless kind as well.  Well now it is your chance to take advantage of this bonus giveaway and try some vegan jello for yourself!  You have until 7:30pm tonight- December 8,2009 to enter.

Blogger Disclosure: Cooking For a Vegan Lover purchased these items for this giveaway.

Here are your random numbers:

48- Molly 
19- Shannon
24- sara 

Timestamp: 2009-12-04 12:59:32 UTC

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Day 2 of “12 Days of Giveaways” is Newman’s Own Organics Chocolates.   There will be three lucky winners of these yummy chocolate bars.  So leave a comment by 8am December 4, 2009 for your chance to win.  I will choose 3 random winners.

Blogger Disclosure: Cooking For a Vegan Lover received this product free from Newman’s Own Organics

Vegan Brunch features savory recipes such as tofu scramble, frittatas, polenta ranchers, Tofu Benny and perogies.  Of the savory dishes I tried the tofu scramble which was delicious, the texture was almost creamy which I loved and really had the texture of scrambled eggs (or at least what I remember-it’s been awhile).  I also made the Cornbread Waffles which I loved because some days you just don’t want to have a sweet waffle and this was a great savory waffle. Lastly I made the Tofu Benny which I loved! The hollandaise was delicious and the Diner Homefries were nice and crispy. 

To be honest I have yet to try any of the sweet brunch options and am actually much more of a savory breakfast person. I actually did have plans to make the Banana Rabanada (Brazilian French Toast) this morning but my husband forgot the baguette on his desk at work. I guess I’ll make it another day!

Some other dishes I have made and loved where the Samosa Mashed Potato Pancakes, Chesapeake Tempeh Cakes and the Mushroom Gravy.  I made the Cheaspeake Tempeh Cakes for some of my omni friends and they couldn’t get enough of them.  I ate the mushroom gravy this morning with my scramble and am using the leftovers in my greenbean casserole.  

Over all this is a great book that I would recommend to anyone who loves breakfast.  This book is great because although many cookbooks have breakfast sections none have the focus and devotion to breakfast items like Vegan Brunch.

You can pick up your copy of Vegan Brunch on Amazon.

Now that you have read what I have to say about this book I am going to give you a chance to win a copy yourself. If you would like to win please leave a comment letting me know what your favorite brunch dish is by November 24th, 2009.

For extra chances to win:

1. RT @cookveganlover (leave me a comment)
2. Follow me on Twitter  (leave me a comment)
3. Become a fan on Facebook (leave me a comment)

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Winner: Christina- “blueberry pancakes with a side of homefries and vegan sausage. yums!”

leslie // 16/11/2009 at 10:21 AM | Reply (edit)

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tsp spices are a great addition to anyones busy kitchen.  These individually package teaspoon portions of organic spices make cooking easier and allows your spices to last longer.  How many times have you bought a spice for a recipe and only used one teaspoon of it and then it goes bad by the time you need it again.  Well with tsp spices you’ll never have this problem as they are packaged for your convenience and freshness.  Another great feature is how easily you can take them on the go with you.  Heading away for the holidays and need to bring along some spices for your holiday dinner then just grab your tsp spices and go no more lugging bottles around with you.  

Now it’s your chance to win one of tsp spices 6 tins from their holiday collection.  To do so please do the following:

1. Visit tsp spices site here and leave me a comment letting me know which holiday tin you would like. 
2. Visit tsp spices website and sign up for their newsletter (You MUST do this to be able to win the giveaway so leave a comment letting me know you have done this.)

Once you have done BOTH of the entries above you can then do any of the following extra entries however you MUST do both of the entries above and comment about them to have an extra entries qualify. 

1. Become a fan of tsp spices on facebook  (leave a comment)
2. Become a fan of Cooking For a Vegan Lover on facebook (leave a comment)
3. Follow me on Twitter
4. Follow my blog 

The giveaway will end at 9AM on November 19th, 2009.

Min: Max: 

Result:4

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Grand Prize Winner is Melissa! Melissa won 1 box of Pacific Naturals Almond Milk, 1 Pacific Naturals Tea and 1 Coupon for a free Pacific Naturals product

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• All Soy Beverages
  All Nut & Grain Beverages
  All Iced Teas

Creamy Soups

• • Organic Creamy Butternut Squash
  • Organic Light Sodium Creamy Butternut Squash

Broths

•   Organic Vegetable Broth
• Organic Light Sodium Vegetable Broth
• Organic Mushroom Broth

I currently am in the process of trying the various products out and have currently tired the Almond Milks and Creamy Butternut Squash Soup.  I have really enjoyed both and used the Almond Milk in Peanut Butter, Date and Banana smoothies as well as in granola.  The soup my husband and I had with a sandwich and it was very good – slightly under seasoned for our taste so we added a touch of salt and pepper but it was creamy and delicious otherw

ise.  I will update this more when I have the chance to try the other products.

So now for the giveaway: There will be one chance to win  Nut or Grain Beverage- you will have a choice between Almond or Oat milk, an Ice Tea, and a coupon for 1 Free Pacific Natural Foods item.  There will also be 2 additional chances to win a coupon for 1 Free Pacific Natural Foods item.

To enter:

1. Leave a comment – let me know if you would prefer Almond or Oat milk

Extra chances (if you already do any of these let me know):

1. Twitter about this giveaway @cookveganlover (leave me a comment)  
2. Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment)
3. Blog about this giveaway (leave a comment)
4. Become a fan on Facebook (leave a comment)

So lets see up to 5 entries and 3 chances to win……so start entering!

A winner will be announced Monday November 2, 2009.

If this is your first time commenting on my blog I have to approve it so don’t worry if it doesn’t show up right away!

For dinner I made a Thanksgiving Tart, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Japanese Yam and Roasted Noochie Purple Cauliflower. The best part of this meal (besides eating it) was how easy it was to make.  I turned my oven on to preheat to 400F and put everything together. 

For the Thanksgiving Tart:

(I adapted from this recipe)

Serves 4

What You Need:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup onion, diced

3/4 cup celery, diced

5 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 14-ounce can white kidney beans, rinsed (reserving 1/4 cup)

3/4 cup walnuts

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons shoyu

1-1/4 cups frozen chopped spinach

3-1/2 tablespoons apple juice sweetened dried cranberries

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 9-inch prepared spelt pie shell, thawed

1/2 tablespoon olive oil (for brushing)

1 teaspoon shoyu (for brushing)

What You Do:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, garlic, salt, and pepper, and cook for 7 to 9 minutes until onions soften and begin to caramelize. Set aside.
2. In a food processor, add white beans (except 1/4 reserved cup), walnuts, lemon juice, and shoyu, and pulse to lightly chop (do not purée). Remove half of chopped mixture from food processor and transfer to a large bowl.
3. Transfer sautéed onions to the remaining mixture in food processor. Purée until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
4. Transfer purée to bowl with lightly chopped beans and walnut mixture. Add spinach, cranberries, thyme, and cup of reserved beans. Stir to combine and transfer to prepared pie shell, spreading evenly.
5. Combine oil and tamari, and brush on top of pie and crust.  Bake for 35 minutes until lightly browned. 

This weekend I also made Happy Herbivore’s Low Fat Chocolate Glazed Doughnuts.

Don’t forget to sign up to participate in the Vegan Care Package Swap Here

Also there is a great Wild Garden Hummus Giveaway going on as well- Find out how you can win HERE

One of my favourite snacks is hummus and to end Vegan Mofo I am doing a Wild Garden Hummus Giveaway.  Also since Halloween is around the corner it only seems appropriate to have a Halloween based question for all of you competitors to answer. 

For the chance to 2 chances to win one (1) jar of Wild Garden Hummus please post a comment that answers this question:  If you could veganize any halloween candy which would it be?   This post will close on October 23rd at midnight and 2 people will be winners!

Once you have answered the question above you can add to your odds by doing the following:

1. Become a fan of my Facebook Page (leave me a comment)
2. Follow me on Twitter (leave me a comment)
3. Re-tweet @cookveganlover on Twitter
4. Add me to your blog roll (leave me a comment)

Since I was lucky enough to be chosen by Crofters Organics as the winner of their 4 Superfruit Spreads to review I decided that I would give one of my readers a chance to review the North America Spread.  

To win this giveaway leave a comment stating your favorite jam or jam recipe.

For extra chances to win you can link back to this post on your blog, tweet it @cookveganlover and/or add me to your blog roll (if you do any of these extra chances make sure to let me know by posting in a comment)- so lets see 4 chances to win? why not try?  

The winner will be announced on October 16th.

The Winner is………..

True Random Number Generator Min:   Max:   Result:  4 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

• Amy Lynn // 13/10/2009 at 12:24 PM | Reply (edit)

I make a mean loaded oatmeal – flaxseeds, berries, nuts, soy or almond milk, etc – and top it off with a scoop of jam. It’s the morning equivalent of a bowl of ice cream.

The winner of the Vegan Mofo Myster GIveaway is Andrea. 

To start things off for  VeganMofo lets do a mystery giveaway.  This giveaway will be a box filled with a variety of vegan products about $25 worth.  Whoever wins the mystery box will be asked to post a photo and list of the contents on their blog.

To enter this contest there are 3 ways to win: 1. Become a fan on my Facebook Page – make a comment 2. Add me to your blogroll – make a comment here to let me know 3. leave a comment here.  If you do all three you will get 3 chances to win, do two and you get 2 chances and do 1 …..well you get the picture. This will run until October 7th.

THE WINNERS ARE: Carrie with her yummy sounding Green Pineapple Juice AND Beth with her creative way to use the pulp!

Thanks for participating and look foward to many more giveways to enter!

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After months and months of debating on whether we should get a juicer or not I finally decided it was time. After checking reviews I decided to go with the Breville BJE200XL 700-Watt Compact Juice Fountain . I am so excited.  It comes on Friday and I can’t wait to start using it. 

Now I really need some good juice recipes so I think this calls for a giveaway contest!  If you would like to win a Gnu Bar, a bag of Sharkies and  a bag Funky Monkey then please comment below with your favourite juice recipe  and for a second chance at winning enter a recipe that uses the juice pulp!  The contest will close on October 2nd by Noon (I moved it up because I have another one ending around the same time- sorry!).   Also there will be two winners!

I also plan to have a few giveaways to come so if you are interested in Gnu bars then keep your eyes peeled as there will be a giveaway soon!

Comment on this post...

and the winner of the Colossal Chocolate Chip Cookie is Sara with her veganizing chocolate chip cookie story: My favorite baking memory is a recent one. I am a new vegan and a single mother of two; a 9 year old boy and a 15 year old girl. Thankfully both of my kids are food adventurous otherwise this past year of vegan transformation would not have happened. The kids and I have missed regular old just like mom used to make chocolate chip cookies. We had the family recipe and had tried, not less than 10 times to convert the recipe into a yummy vegan version. It just wasn’t that simple! We ended up with bitter hockey pucks, small hard balls, dry hallow-ish puffs. All of them were awful and most of them ended up in the trash. Along with our hopes of ever making a vegan version as good as my moms.
I was not to be defeated. My kids and I deserved chocolate chip cookies, right? We were trying again and the three of us talked about what we thought was wrong in the past. We discussed small changes to the recipe again. No milk. No eggs. All of the basics. We then decided the cookies were too dry and we made modifications for that. We took turns mixing. My son in his petit chef apron. It looked good and smelled great. We made a pan for the oven and watched like hawks as they baked. The house was full of the yummy aroma, that I remember from my own childhood. They were ready. Excitement and our hopes were on the line. All three of us could hardly wait. I bite into the puffy roundish vegan choclate chip cookie and I am transported to another era in my life. I look at the kids and everyone is all smiles.
Triumph!”

Who doesn’t love cookies? Especially when they are vegan, I know I do.  I was sent a few samples of ABC cookies which I love but decided that hubby and I really shouldn’t eat all three of them so we kept the oatmeal raisin for ourselves and it was delicious!  Nice and fresh and hearty how can you not love it?  My husband is also a big fan of the Snickerdoodle which is another great flavor, I love the sweet and cinnamon flavor of it.

So anyways I am doing a giveaway for an ABC Cookies and there will be 2 lucky winners of this price.  To enter to win one of these cookies leave a comment answering: What is your favorite baking memory? Winner will be picked on 8/30/09