Lean Mean Green Machine

T3- 


Who likes vegetables? 


Not me!


 In fact, for the first several years of my vegetarianism (I started when I was seven), I was known as the vegetarian that doesn't eat vegetables. Vegetables are just not as sweet as fruit, as savory as nuts, beans, and legumes, or as filling as grains. Still, vegetables contain lots of important vitamins and minerals, making them an intrinsic part of a balanced diet, vegan, vegetarian, or otherwise. 


Thus, I've found ways to sneak them into my diet. Usually this includes drenching them in tomato sauce and nutrional yeast.


The other way I've found is to put it in a protein shake. The protein powder really mellows the taste, plus it provides protein, which is very important for active vegans.  So, without further, I give you my Lean, Mean, Green, Machine.

Before Blending

After Blending: So, it's not the most photogenic shake, but I swear it's tasty!

RECIPE

• 1 scoop protein powder (I get mine from the website, True Protein. It is a combination of rice, pea, and hemp proteins plus essential amino acids)
• 5-6 Strawberries
• 2 packed Cups Spinach
• 1 cup Almond Milk

Put ingredients in Blender

Blend. That's it!

It's about 200 calories and 26 g protein (depending on your protein powder)

Plus, it's a breeze to clean up. Fill your blender half full with water and add a little soap. Let it run for a second, then wash it out. No scrubbing needed!

Theoretical Redheads

T3-

Question

Okay, so, in the beginning, there were brownies. Then came blondies and “blackies” (brownies made with black beans). Aren’t we forgetting someone here?

Background Research

Did a Google search, and found only two recipes for “redheads.” One included red food coloring, which I believe is cheating. The other had carrots and didn’t seem very red at all to me.

Hypothesis

A healthy, vegan "redhead" can be created through use of natural ingredients

Experiment

Using this amazing recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie (link) as a foundation, I mixed things up to make it a natural red. This included 1 cup frozen cherries and kidney beans instead of chickpeas.

Analyze Your Data

Uh, I think the picture speaks for itself.

Conclusion

There is in fact a reason for the lack of “redheads” in the baking world. Both kidney beans, which look very red on the can, and cherries have a distinct bluish element that push them into purple range when pureed. However, this does not affect their taste, and they still turned out as scrumptious cherry-chocolate bars.

Without further ado,

Theoretical Redheads

1 can Kidney Beans (~1 and ¼ cups)

1 cup Cherries (I would recommend upping this to 1 and 1/2 or even 2 cups for more distinct cherry taste)

1/3 cup Flaxseed

3/4 cup Stevia

1 tsp Almond Extract (1 and 1/2 or 2 tsp of almond extract would give a greater cherry taste as well)

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 Dark Chocolate Bar, chopped or 1/4 cup Chocolate Chips (Optional)

Microwave cherries in 1 minute segments until soft and juice extrudes. (Watch it carefully so it doesn't boil over...)

Note: Spoon was not in the cup while microwaving...

Puree kidney beans and cherries until smooth (or until your blender refuses to work anymore)

Mix puree with flaxseed, almond extract, baking powder, cinnamon, stevia, and chocolate.

Pour into an 8” by 8” pan (or pie tin if you are an inadequately prepared college student.

Bake at 350^oF for 30 minutes and let cool

Enjoy!

(Calorie count for the whole thing is about 1000 calories (healthy calories!). Without the chocolate, it reduces to 700 calories.)

Chocolate. Blueberries. Cereal.

CHOCOLATE.

Chocolate is the cure for everything.

Cure for boredom = Chocolate.

Cure for anxiety = Chocolate.

Cure for getting a horrible test score = Chocolate.

As you can see, chocolate is amazing stuff.

Why do most people classify chocolate as only a DESSERT?

That just doesn't seem fair.

Chocolate SHOULD be considered a key part of any balanced breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack.

Okay, maybe not.

But it CAN be a delicious part of any meal.

Especially BREAKFAST!

I present to you....

CHOCOLATE BLUEBERRY CEREAL

Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Cereal (Personal preference... I used Special K)

1 Cup Blueberries (Yes. A full cup)

1/4 - 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips (Or more...)

Milk (As much or as little as you wish)

Directions

Add all ingredients to a bowl. Yes. That simple.

Delicious. Easy. Yummy. 

CHOCOLATEY.

- T2

Microwave Brownie Cake

T3-


I've created a personal-sized brownie/cupcake that is a sweet, easy, healthy treat, created entirely in one's microwave.  It's vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, oil free, and all over pretty darn healthy. And, for those weight-watchers out there, it's only 60 calories.


Bon Appetit!

~

Recipe

1 Tbsp Chickpea Flour

1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder

1 Tbsp Applesauce

1 Tbsp Milk (Almond, Soy, Dairy, etc.)

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Lemon Juice

1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

3 Packets Stevia (or other sweeteners) can adjust to taste

Mix together in a microwave-safe mug (it should have the consistency of approximately pancake batter, so adjust milk quantity accordingly). The batter has a very strong taste of chickpea flour, but the chickpea mellows out during cooking, so don't worry!

Microwave for 1 min. Check to make sure it's doing alright.

Microwave for 30-45 sec. more, depending on how gooey you want your treat!

It's best served hot, so don't wait to dig in!