vegan Archives - Bake & Be Well

Easy Vegan Chocolate Pudding Oats

May 26, 2023May 26, 2023RecipesLeave a Comment

READY IN 5 MINUTES!

These Easy Vegan Chocolate Pudding Oats are your quick and easy answer to a dessert-y and plant-based breakfast! The inclusion of the hot cocoa packet makes them sweet and chocolatey and the coconut yogurt adds a bit of creaminess and coconut flavor. The strawberries on top round them out with fruity freshness.

Of course you don’t have to use a pre-made cocoa mix if you’d rather make your own, or if it’s more convenient. You can simply combine cocoa powder, sugar, and salt to taste!

The shredded coconut is optional, but it does add a fun boost of coconut flavor! I love this one.

If you want to try a similar non-vegan oatmeal bowl, these Chocolate Strawberry Protein Oats have a similar flavor profile, but feature greek yogurt instead of coconut, and skip the chia. (In this version, the chia seeds act as a thickener, as plant-based yogurts tend to have a different texture than dairy yogurts.)

This breakfast only takes 5 minutes to throw together, and is a great pick on busy mornings!

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Quick Oats
1 Tbsp Chia Seeds
1 Packet NibMor Hot Cocoa** (or equivalent)
4.5 oz. Plain Coconut Yogurt (or to taste)
Fresh Strawberries
[Optional Topping: A Sprinkle Of Shredded Coconut]

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Directions:

Cook the oats with water (I used the microwave), making sure they aren’t too dry so that there is enough liquid for the chia and hot cocoa add-ins

Mix in the chia seeds

Then, stir in the hot cocoa packet

Mix in the coconut yogurt

Top with fresh chopped strawberries (and shredded coconut if you wish)

Enjoy!

Want more easy chocolate oats? Try my Chocolate Chip Banana Protein Oats!

Looking for oats of a different flavor? These Sunbutter Berry Overnight Oats are a favorite!

Crispy Potato Wedges

January 5, 2023Recipes, Sides1 Comment

These Crispy Potato Wedges are such a quick and easy side to have on hand and always a crowd pleaser. They pair wonderfully with meaty meals such as steak, chicken, or battered fish, but also happen to be vegan and taste great alongside veggie burgers, veggie sandwiches, or chili too. You only need 4 ingredients!

Servings: Approx. 1 Potato Per Person, Or Quantity Of Choice!

Ingredients:

Potatoes

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Black Pepper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400°

After cleaning, chop each potato into about 8 wedges

Lightly coat the wedges with olive oil

Add sea salt and black pepper to taste

Bake for 30-40 minutes depending on how crispy you like them

[Optional – You can raise the oven temperature slightly or broil in the last couple minutes for extra crispness if you like!]

Enjoy!

Coconut Lime Ice Pops

September 9, 2022Recipes, SnacksLeave a Comment

On hot summer days, nothing hits the spot like a delicious lineup of icy drinks and snacks to keep yourself cool. These refreshing and creamy Coconut Lime Ice Pops by my husband are the perfect treat to beat the heat! The ingredients take only moments to whisk together.

(These pops are not overly sweet as a personal preference, but could be very easily adjusted to have more sweetness if desired!)

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

13.5 oz Coconut Milk

1/3 Cup Shredded Coconut

1/2 Cup Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice (approx. 4 medium limes)

Zest of 2 Limes

2 1/2 Tbsp Agave Syrup

1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Directions:

Whisk all the ingredients together and pour into ice pop molds

(Whisk between each mold pour to prevent settling)

Freeze until solid (about 8 hours)

Enjoy!

Ingredient recommendations linked!

Easy Vegan Fruit & Seed Smoothie

May 10, 2022Recipes, Sides, SnacksLeave a Comment

This 4-ingredient snack couldn’t be easier to make! Keeping a stash of a variety of frozen fruit in the freezer is so helpful when creating smoothies on a whim. I love combining handfuls of it with some sunflower seed butter and water which beautifully blends into a sweet, creamy, and refreshing snack that just so happens to be vegan and gluten free!

This is a snack-size portion, but if you were looking for more of a meal you could easily double the measurements. I love drinking this as a side with a sandwich at lunch, or as a mid-afternoon bite. It’s one of my favorite ways to add a couple extra servings of fruit into my day!

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

1 Large Frozen Banana (sliced before freezing to ease blending)

12 Frozen Dark Cherries

2 Large Frozen Strawberries

2 Tbsp Sunbutter

2/3 Cup Water

Directions:

Blend and enjoy!

Ingredient recommendations linked!

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts

November 3, 2021March 6, 2023Recipes, SidesLeave a Comment

If you’ve never been a Brussels sprouts fan, these will convert you! When they’re crispy, crunchy, and salty it’s very hard not to eat the whole batch at once. They’re such a versatile side dish, and so easy to whip up when you’re short on time. They’re also always a crowd pleaser at holiday gatherings, and taste best when they’re fresh from the oven!

Ingredients:

Brussels Sprouts

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (roughly 2 tablespoons per 16 ounces of whole sprouts)

Sea Salt

Black Pepper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400°

Cut the bottoms/tips off of the sprouts and peel off the outer layer

Cut each sprout in half (smaller ones can be left whole)

Toss in a bowl with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper

Spread evenly on a baking sheet (lined with foil if you prefer for easier cleanup)

Cook for about 35 minutes (stirring/flipping halfway) or until the outside is brown and crispy

Add additional sea salt and black pepper if needed after taste testing

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cherry Protein Oats

October 30, 2021July 27, 2022RecipesLeave a Comment

It tastes like a PB&J sandwich turned oatmeal bowl! It’s not overly sweet, and the textures of the oats, cherries, and creamy peanut butter topping make for a super satisfying yet ridiculously easy breakfast on hectic mornings. Bonus – They’re vegan and gluten free!

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Quick Oats with Water (I love Bob’s Red Mill – Gluten Free)

4 – 6 Tablespoons Betty Lou’s Inc. Powdered Peanut Butter (Depending on preference)

Optional: Dash of Sweetener of Choice

1 Cup Dark Sweet Cherries

Drizzle of Traditional Peanut Butter

Directions:

Cook up the oats with water

Stir in the powdered peanut butter (and optional sweetener if desired)

Add the cherries

Drizzle the traditional peanut butter on top

Enjoy!

Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Circles

October 24, 2021Recipes, SidesLeave a Comment

They’re so basic, so easy, and the perfect nutritious and delicious side to have on hand. This is a Thanksgiving classic at our house!

Ingredients:

Sweet Potatoes

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Black Pepper

Directions:

Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into medium-thin slices | You can leave the peel on if you prefer!

Toss with extra virgin olive oil | I do this in a ziplock bag – 1 tablespoon per potato

Bake at 425° for 45-50 minutes | Or until they’re crispy on the outside and soft on the inside – flipping at the halfway point

You can include your sea salt and black pepper either before or after baking

Enjoy!

Sunflower Pumpkin Spice Oats

October 23, 2021October 24, 2021RecipesLeave a Comment

It’s the perfect breakfast on chilly autumn mornings! They’re creamy, vegan, and gluten free. They’re also nutrient dense with lots of Iron, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E.

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Quick Oats with Water

1/4 Cup Canned Pumpkin Purée

Dashes of Saigon Cinnamon, Allspice, and Nutmeg to taste

Sweetener of Choice (like maple syrup)

2 Tbsp Sunbutter

Directions:

Cook up the oats with water

Stir in the pumpkin, then spices, then sweetener, then Sunbutter

Enjoy!

Ratatouille Italiana

July 1, 2021March 4, 2022RecipesLeave a Comment

An Italian twist on the French classic, this dish is extremely versatile. It can be enjoyed on its own, over pasta, as a side, however you like! Plus it’s vegan, dairy free, and gluten free.

We personally loved it over pasta with sausage.

Ingredients:

1 white onion

4 cloves garlic

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 eggplants

3 medium zucchini

1 jar Mezzetta Artisan Ingredients Italian Plum Tomato Marinara

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

cayenne pepper

black pepper

sea salt

Directions:

Dice the onion

Finally chop the garlic or use a garlic press

Peel & chop the eggplant into small cubes

Chop the zucchini into small cubes

Add the onion, garlic, and first 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a pan and sauté over medium heat until the onions are translucent

Add in the eggplant and the third tablespoon of olive oil, then continue cooking until eggplant is soft

Add in the zucchini

Once the zucchini is thoroughly cooked as well, turn down your heat to low and stir in the marinara

Stir in the parsley as well as small dashes of cayenne pepper and black pepper, plus a pinch of sea salt to taste

Enjoy!

Why I’m Not Currently Vegan

April 30, 2020January 7, 2023HealthLeave a Comment

Like many, over the years I have made the attempt to go fully vegan for the sake of the planet and the animals. Many of my vegan readers have asked me why I personally did not stick with it. There are two major reasons why a vegan diet has never been sustainable for me:

Food Allergies

I’ve had food allergies for all of my life. Many of these foods are unfortunately big vegan staples. A couple of main examples:
-Soy
-Tree Nuts (Almonds, Cashews, Pecans, Walnuts, Pine Nuts, Etc.)

In real world scenarios, 9 times out of 10 vegan food includes one of those ingredients. Even when cooking at home, the diet is quite limiting without these foods.

Supplement Intolerances

When you go vegan, there are supplements that are recommended, such as B12, that can only be found in animal foods. I’m very sensitive when it comes to supplements. 99% of the time they give me nausea, stomach cramps, or headaches. I’ve also experienced side effects such as loss of appetite, rashes, and insomnia. Therefore, I personally try to get my vitamins from food sources alone. For me, this means a variety that includes animal products.

I often feel guilty that I am not a vegan. With the environment in need of our assistance and the inhumane ways that so many animals are treated, I have tried to do my part in this way. I still try my best to purchase more humane animal products, such as eggs from the pasture, when possible.

I think it’s wonderful that veganism works for so many, because it can have great impacts on this planet and for certain people’s health. I know that there are many vegans who follow me, and to all of you I say: amazing. I hope you can understand the other side of the coin.