Easy Vegan Dark Chocolate Fudge Recipe

     I love Fudge! Our family makes some every holiday season, starting around Thanksgiving and on until after the New Years. We love chocolate, and fudge is just another great way to get our chocolate fix!
     When I deicided to go vegan, I thought I would never had fudge again, and I have to admitt, I was a little sad about that! Last year, I made these delicious Chocolate Holiday Truffles instead of fudge, and while they are amazing and chocolatey, they aren't fudge. This year I was determined to have some fudge, so I made some and it turned out amazing!



     Most vegan fudge recipes call for things like cocoa butter, canned coconut, or vegan butters. I'm sure those recipes are delicious, but when I went to make fudge, I didn't have any of these things, so I had to get creative! This recipe just has a few ingredients and uses coconut oil as the binder. Its totally customizeable and is super easy to whip up for a holiday party or chocolate craving!

 
 
Ingredients:
 
3 1/2  cups Powdered Sugar
1 cup Cocoa Powder
1 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Coconut Oil
1/3 cup Coconut Milk (or any non-dairy milk)
1 tsp Vanilla
 
Optional Add-Ins
 
1 tsp Cinnamon or Instant Coffee Granules
1 tsp Peppermint or Orange Extracts
1/4 cup finely chopped Pecans, Walnuts or Almonds
1/4 cup Dried Fruit ( Cranberries, Mango...)
1/3 cup crushed Candy Canes
 
 
     Okay, lets get started! First, grease or line a baking pan. I used 8x8 pan, but use whatever you have. The smaller the pan, the thicker the fudge and the longer it will take to harden, so just keep that in mind!
 


      Then, in a large bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, cocoa powder and salt( if you are adding in cinnamon, coffee granules or any other dry spices, add them in now). Mix well to combine.


Now, add in the coconut oil (room temp.) and coconut milk.




     Give it a quick stir and then pop it in the microwave,( or over a double-boiler) for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until it is completely melted and everything is combined well. It should resemble 'normal' fudge.


     Add in the vanilla( or whatever extras you are using) and any add-ins you want. Give it one final mix and then pour it into your prepared pan and flatten it out.


    Now is when you can add crushed candy canes or nuts to the top if you choose. Allow to cool for at least a hour before slicing into squares and enjoying!


     This fudge is amazing! Its has the same melt-in-your mouth texture as 'normal' fudge does and it is so rich, dark and chocolatey- everything fudge should be! I chose to keep this batch simple with just some vanilla for flavoring, but I am excited to try out a peppermint batch, coffee, or even some cayenne pepper for a kick!



     I really hope you try this recipe out and that you love it as much as I do! I am so happy to be able to have fudge this year, even  though I am vegan! Just because this is a vegan, dairy-free recipe doesn't mean that everyone won't love it, regardless of their diet/lifestyle!


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Happy New Year!

Hannah

Vegan Apple Pie

     Christmas is just a few days away and that probably means alot of baking, cooking or traveling for most of you! I love cooking and baking for the holidays and sharing what I make with my friends and family! Pies are just one of the many desserts we have around the holidays and Applie pie has to be one of my favorites!


     This Apple Pie is super easy to make, just has a few ingredients, and is really delicious! I love how the kitchen smells when this pie is in the oven!

Ingredients:

Crust

2 cups Flour ( I like to use half whole wheat and half all purpose)

1/2 cup chilled Coconut Oil

4 TBS Sugar or Maple Syrup

1 tsp Salt

1/2 cup ice cold Water ( or enough to bind the dough together )

Pie Filling

7-8 large Apples

1 cup Sugar

1/2 cup Flour

4 tbs Corn Starch

2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

1 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Salt

4 tbs Lemon Juice

1/2 cup Water or Apple Juice


     Start by washing, peeling and slicing your apples and soaking them in the lemon juice for around 30 minutes. While they are soaking, make your pie crust.

      Mix together the dry ingredients- flour, salt, and sugar. Then, add in the chilled coconut oil and use a fork or your fingers to rub it into the flour mix. Once you have crumbly mixture, start add the cold water bit by bit until you have a smooth dough. Wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.



     Okay, back to the apple pie filling! Add in the water to the apples and lemon juice. Then add in all the dry ingredients- flour, starch, spices, sugar and salt. Mix to coat and then set aside.



      Flour a surface and place half of the chilled dough on it. Roll it out big enough to fit in your pie pan with some 'extra' around the edges.


Pour in the pie mix and as much of the liquid as you can. Set aside.

     Roll out the remaining crust dough and slice it into strips. Alternate laying the strips across the pie to make a woven pattern. Or you can use cookies cutters to make fun shapes for the tops! Brush some water over the crust and spinkle on some extra sugar.

     Line a baking sheet (one with a lip around the edges) with tin foil and place the pie on the sheet. Heat the oven to 375. Bake the pie for 50-60 minutes, or until the crust is browned and the filling has cooked through. Allow to cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.


     I love to eat this pie with coconut or almond vanilla ice cream or some coconut whipped cream! Its best served warm right out of the oven, or warmed up for breakfast the next day! How ever you choose to eat this pie, I just know you are going to love it!



    You can use this pie crust for just about any pie or even homemade pop-tart crusts! I love how simple it is to make! It would also be a great idea to make several batches and freeze them for later use!


I hope you have enjoyed this recipe post and that you make this recipe and see why I love this recipe so much! Its a great dessert for the holidays or anytime of the year!

Please share this post and my blog with your friends and family to spread the love of a healthy livestyle!

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Happy Holidays!
Hannah

Gift Guide for the Health Conscience

     Its Christmas time! Its the time for giving, being with friend and family, and enjoying all the season has to offer! We all love to give gifts to our  friends and family members and see their face light up when they open the gift, and of course we like receive gifts too!




      Knowing what to get someone as a gift can be pretty tricky, especially if they have some interests or hobbies you don't know alot about! In that case, it can be helpful to do some research or talk to someone who does know something and get some gift ideas from them! I love running, fitness and nutrition. Taking care of my body and helping others do the same is one of my hobbies. You might need to get a gift for someone who has the same or similar interests and if so, you've come to the right place!

Gift Guide for Your Health Conscience Friends
 
 
 
Fitness Accessories
 
      For someone who is really in to fitness, staying active and working, there is nothing better to receive than some cool new gear to use! Whether its a pretty water bottle, a cute headband, gym bag, ear buds, or even some new kettle bells, who ever you give them to, will love them! You can even customize it to whatever activity he/she is interested in!
     For runners, ear buds, arm belt for their phone, running ID or even a new running watch are great ideas!
     For those into weight lifting, some new weight gloves, fun workout shirts or a bluetooth speaker to blast their tunes might just be perfect!
    And for those who are just getting in to fitness, some kettle bells, light weights, yoga mat, or resistance bands are great! Whatever your fitness-buff friend or family member is in to, getting them a gift that fits their activity is always a good idea!
 
 
Reading Material
 
     If you are a health conscience person, or you know some one who is, you probably know that we are always reading up on the lastest health craze, workout trend or lifestyle. Even if we don't agree with them 100%, we still love to learn about them! Getting someone a magazine subscription to a health or fitness magazine is a great gift that they get to keep getting all year long! I am subscribed to VegNews and I love it!
     Also, books make wonderful gifts during the winter because there is nothing better than curling up next to the fire with a good book! There are hundreds of health, wellness and fitness books out there, so you are sure to find the perfect one to gift!

 
 
 
Classes
 
     Like I said, health conscience people love to learn how to be healthier, and while reading about it is great, taking a class can be alot of fun too! Taking a fitness class in somthing they've never tried, or something they already love is a great way to give your friend/family member a day to remember!
     Cooking classes are also another fun gift to give to someone who is careful about what they eat. Learning to cook healthier, better or in a differnt way can really help to inspire them to continue living their healthy lives!
     There are tons of differnt kinds of classes out there to choose from, so you will have no problem finding the perfect one! Even offering to taking the class with your friend or family member can make the experience even more special!

FOOD!

     You might be laughing now, but get in between a runner/cyclist/yogi... and their food and you won't be! :) We all love food, especially fitness and health conscience people, so giving it as a gift is never a bad idea!
    If a person has a specific diet or allergy, then getting them food that is suited to them is very thoughtful. Maybe they are gluten free but love a certain type of dessert, so you could make or buy them that dessert in a way that they could enjoy it. Or, like me, they are vegan, so you could gift them some delicious vegan food goodies!
     Food subscription boxes are another fun way to give food this season! They are offered in various catagories, such as vegan, gluten free or whole-foods, and usually can be customized. Having a box of food to look forward to every month is pretty exciting and I don't know one person who wouldn't love it!



Pamper Time

     If food, books or new fitness gear don't seem to fit your friend or family member, maybe they just need a little pamper time. Time just for themselves, to relax and chill. Giving someone a day of relaxations is always welcome, whether they are into health and fitness or not.
      A day at the spa, a nice massage or a trip to the nail salon might be just what a person needs. For those who are busy staying active, pampering themselves like this is probably something they do once every blue moon. Giving them a massage or spa session is a great way to make sure they get the pampering they deserve!
    If going to the spa doesn't sound right, having a relaxing day in might be better! Putting together a 'at home' pamper session might even be more fun! Fill a box or basket with lotions, bath bombs, teas, a cozy rob or pair of PJs or whatever would make your friend or family member feel pampered!



     Gift giving can be hard, but if you take time to learn about what a person likes, then you can give them a gift that they will not only love, but remember! Gving them a gift that is personal or specifc to their lifestyle is thoughtful and always well received!


     I hope this gift guide has been helpful to you and that you feel more confident in your gift giving this year! Please share this post and my blog with your friends and family members to spread more love for a healthy lifestyle this holiday season!

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Stay healthy, happy and laughing!
Happy Holidays!

-Hannah


5 Tips for Running Outside in Cold Weather

     December is here and with it comes colder and colder days. Those cold days are wonderful for curling up beside the fire and drinking coffee, tea or hot cocoa with a good book, project or phone call! What those colds days aren't good for is exercise.




    As the weather gets colder, the days get shorter and the holidays get closer, it can be harder and harder to find time or the desire to get outside and get moving! Not only is exercise important, but spending time outside everyday is wonderful for your physical and mental health! Ever since our treadmill broke ( after 7 years running strong) I have taken my running outside. During the fall it was glorious, with perfect weather and the colors changing every day! But, now that winter is very much here, it is harder to enjoy my runs! The temps. are sometimes in the 20's and often it is drizzling rain! So, what do I do? Did I quit running? Never! I simply learned to run in whatever conditions the day presented me with!


Tips for Running Outside in Winter Weather

#1 Wear Layers
     My very first cold run wasn't super fun, but I did learn a few things from it! It is very important to wear thin layers on your run instead of one or two thick layers. That way, as you warm up, you can slowly peel away the layers and not get too cold too soon. If you are wearing two thick layers and you become warm, you have two options-either be too warm or too cold. With multiple thin layers, its easier to stay comfortable!
     Depending on the weather, I usually wear a pair of running pants with some leggings underneath and some knee length socks. I wear a long-sleeved running shirt, a pullover and a light jacket and, if the weather is cold enough, a neck warmer, gloves and an ear warmer. I get cold easily, so this is just perfect for me, but you might not need as much or you might need more! The only way to find out is to experiment and find what works for you!


#2 Moisturize!
     I cannot stress this enough! Being outside in the cold weather is very drying to your skin, and it can become very painful if you don't protect against it! On my first really cold runs this year, I had very chapped cheeks and cracked lips, which were both very painful! Now, I use a moisturizer on my face before and after my run and I apply chap stick several times before, during and after my run. If I am not wearing gloves, I apply the same lotion as my face to my hands to ensure they don't become chapped. We all want to have nice skin, lips and hands all year round, so taking care of them during the winter is a must-do!

#3 Plan Your Run
    Running in the winter months(or anytime) takes a bit of planning. You have to take in account the temperatures, weather conditions and daylight hours. I am a morning runner, so I have to be aware of when the sun will rise, so that I am not running in complete darkness. If you run in the evenings, you need to know when the sun is going to set. You also need to know the weather conditions so that you aren't caught by rain, snow, ice or fog. Running in these conditions can be dangerous and its best to avoid them. Check the weather the day before you plan to run and at least can hour before you head out to run to make sure you are prepared! Knowing what the temperature will be for you run is important as well. It helps you know how to dress. Being aware of all these things helps you have a safer and more enjoyable run every time, all year long!

#4 Hydrate!
     You might not realize it, but even if you are freezing, you can still be sweating. A lot of people tend to become dehydrated during exercises in the winter because they don't feel thirsty or warm. When you workout in the winter, whether you are running outside or working out inside, you are still loosing water through sweat and you still need to drink lots of water, even if you don't feel like it! Being dehydrated can lead to fatigue, dry skin, weight gain and headaches as well as a long list of other symptoms. Stay feeling great all winter long by making sure to drink plenty of water all day long, especially on days that you exercise!

#5 Stay Motivated!
     When its cold and dreary outside, the last thing you probably want to do is go out for a run. I understand, I feel that way sometimes too, but it is so important that you just do it! Running, or any form of exercise is so beneficial for beating the winter blues and putting you in a good mood! No one feels like being festive when your gloomy or lethargic because of the weather. Getting outside and going for a run is the best way to cure that!
    Make your runs fun! Challenge a friend, find a running buddy, or find a really great podcast to listen to on your run. There are so many ways to motivate yourself to get out there and run, you just have to find what works best for you! For me, I have several podcast that I only listen to when I run, so I have something to look forward to every time!

 
     I hope this post encourages and helps you get out the door and on a run this winter! Anyone who runs knows that going on a run is one of the best things in the world, and no one wants to give that up just because its cold outside! I hope these tips are just as useful to you as they have been to me! Happy Running!

Please share this post and my blog with your friends and family to help everyone live a healthy life!

You can follow this blog via email, Google and social media!

Instagram- That_Vegan_Runner
Twitter- SpinachisGood
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I post every Friday!

Stay healthy, happy and laughing!
Happy Holidays!
-Hannah

Vegan Puppy Chow

Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies is the Perfect Holiday Treat!

     I don't know anything two things that go together as well as peanut butter and chocolate! Its a perfect blend of nuttiness, sweetness, and richness! Puppy Chow (or Muddy Buddies) pairs these two amazing ingredients together to make a delicious snack, treat or simple dessert for the holidays or anytime of the year!



     Who knew that 4 simple and easy-to-find items could come together to make such a delicious and addictive treat! I made these to take with us to our cousin's house and it was gone in a day! Thanksgiving weekend I made it for some different cousins and it was a huge hit! Needless to say, no matter where you bring it, who you serve it to, or how much you make, you probably won't have any leftover!


     This recipe is vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and super easy to make! Just make sure the chocolate chips and cereal you buy is dairy/egg/gluten free if you are worried about that!

Ingredients

12 cups Chex Mix Cereal (I have used both the corn and rice and both work well)

2 cups Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips

2 cups Peanut Butter

3-4 cups Powdered Sugar


     For this recipe I used Trader Joe's Semi-Sweet chocolate chips (they are dairy-free) and I have also used a brand from Kroger's Grocery Store. Just read the labels and you should be able to find a brand that works for you! Usually semi-sweet and darker are dairy-free!

    Start by pouring your cereal into a large bowl. I was lucky enough to have a huge bowl, but if you don't, just split the cereal between as many bowls as you need!


     Next, mix together the chocolate chips and peanut butter. If you are having trouble getting the peanut butter out of the container, try warming it in the microwave for a few seconds first!


     Melt it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until it melts completely and mixes together.


     Just give me a spoon and I could eat this whole bowl! I would probably have a huge stomach ache afterwards, but oh well! You only live once, right? :)

     Pour the melted chocolate/peanut butter mix over your cereal and use a spatula for large spoon to mix it until all of the cereal is coated.


     Then, add one cup of powdered sugar at a time, stirring in between, until all the cereal is fully coated by the sugar.


     And we are done! See how easy and simple that was? No heating up the kitchen with the oven, or slaving away for hours to have a delicious treat! Just writing this post makes me want to make more!


     Store it in an air-tight container for a few days.......if it really lasts that long! I know at our house it never lasts more than 24 hours!


     I really hope you try this recipe out and see how delicious and addictive it is! I know that you and your family will love it as much as my family and I do! Its the perfect thing to make for a holiday party, potluck, or snack! Pair it with some dairy-free ice cream, hot cocoa, or coffee and you have yourself a perfect dessert!



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I post every Friday! Check back every week for a new post on all things healthy living!

Stay healthy, happy and laughing!

Happy Holidays!

Hannah