Showing posts with label Valetine's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valetine's Day. Show all posts

Thursday, 13 February 2014

23 Romantic Vegan Breakfast in Bed Ideas for Valentine’s Day

What’s better than waking up from a good night’s sleep to the smell of freshly made pancakes? To have a loved one bring up a tray of them for you, of course! This Valentine’s Day, surprise a loved one with some homemade breakfast in bed. Make a mouth-watering stack of vegan pancakes topped with fresh fruit and nuts. Or make this lovely heart-shaped pancake cookie, drizzled with chocolate. How about dessert for breakfast? A Raw Blackberry Breakfast Cake sure sounds good.
Make a little bit of everything to your heart’s content. Pair these breakfast ideas with a cup of orange juice or nut milk and the morning paper or a vase of lovely flowers for a unforgettable breakfast surprise, made with love.

1. Bloody Mary Green Smoothie



Here's a "Bloody Mary" that doesn't require alcohol. It's a green, healthy, and super good for you smoothie that's perfect for unwinding after a long day. 

2. Valentine’s Day Vegan Pancake Cookies


Valentine’s Day is almost upon us. Here is a recipe to whip up on V-Day morning for whoever you have a sweet tooth for in your life. And if you ride solo, whip it up for yourself – you are just as sweet!

3. Raw Blackberry Breakfast Chocolate Cake


A raw and decadent blackberry chocolate cake that is so healthy, you could eat it for breakfast.

4. Chocolate Mint Cream Cheese Muffins


Christmas and mint. How did they become an item? The red-and-white-swirled candy canes dangling from stuffed stockings. The tiny pastel-colored, melt-away candies piled in bowls that appear only in December. The Santa and snowman-shaped chocolate candies filled with a gooey mint center. Or maybe the cool of mint recalls drifts of snow and icy winds. It can’t be helped. Mint reminds me of Christmas. This is the classic chocolate cream cheese muffin but without the dairy and a little bit less of the guilt. I’ll take one of these over a candy cane any day.

5. Vegan Pineapple and Strawberry Bread / Cake


This pineapple bread is indulgence personified and, if the soft whipped sweetened coconut cream doesn't send you into spirals, I’ll eat my hat.

6. Red Velvet Vegan Waffles with Cream Cheese Sauce


Groggy morning? Start your day off right with some delicious red velvet waffles drizzled with cream cheese sauce. It's a perfect excuse to stay in your pajamas a little longer and soak up the morning sun.

7. Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting


I've used rice flour in a few recipes now but I must say this has been my most successful endeavor to date. Although I've been striving for that perfect cupcake texture for a long while now, none have come remotely close to these – I almost jumped up and down with pleasure when I bit into one; moist, fluffy, crumbly, lush. Nothing beats the feeling of triumphing in the kitchen especially when it comes to baking.

8. Gluten-free Rose Water Cupcakes [Vegan]


If there ever was a perfect afternoon tea cupcake, these are them. Can you imagine a girly tea party complete with cucumber sandwiches, petit fours, and these little darlings? Bliss, I tell you, sheer unadulterated bliss.

9. How to Make a Vegan Omelet


They say you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs. Wrong!

10. Apple-Almond Butter Pancakes


Apple slices with nut butter are a great healthy snack. Now, this delicious flavor combo can be enjoyed in these luscious pancakes. For gluten-free, use gluten-free flour. This recipe makes...

11. Green Mojito Juice


The combination of cucumber, mint, and lemon in this smoothie makes you feel like your sipping on a fancy cocktail.

12. Vegan Cinnamon Rolls


A healthy vegan version of cinnamon rolls!

13. Chickpea Flour Omelette With Spinach, Onion and Bell Peppers



Eggs used to be somewhat of a default long back for breakfast. Though we did have a good number of Indian breakfast options, eggs would still feature on most week...

14. Strawberry Vanilla Lemonade Cupcakes [Vegan]


The problem with summer is that three months is really not a very long time. By the time I have finally settled into my summer job along with the glorious...

15. Chocolate Marshmallow Muffins


Yield: 10 muffins Ingredients: 1 cup unbleached AP flour 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1/4 cup Sucanat 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking...

16. Strawberry Pecan Stuffed French Toast [Vegan]


Blended bananas are the perfect substitute for the traditional egg in this decadent Strawberry Pecan Stuffed French Toast recipe. A regular loaf of bread works great, or you can try...

17. Chocolate Caramel Doughnuts


This month we celebrated National Doughnut Day with these Caramel-Glazed Baked Donuts adorned with melted dark chocolate. The good news is this recipe doesn’t require a national holiday to be enjoyed. It’s easy for...

18. Raspberry White Wine Glazed Donuts


Making raised donuts is not as difficult as one would imagine. This is a great recipe to use up the last of a bottle of wine, or a great alternative...

19. Tofu Scramble (with Spinach and Nutritional Yeast)


I have tried plenty of tofu scramble recipes, both at home and at restaurants, and honestly, most leave something to be desired. Tofu is a great base, but it’s just...

20. Love Potion (Red Beet, Pear, Orange, Apple Smoothie)


Prev Slide1 of 21Next Slide Fruit and veggie Smoothies are a prefect way to start the day or even use as mid day snack. Unfortunately, my stomach doesn’t take kindly...

21. Hazelnut Chocolate Cupcakes


Before I adopted a vegan diet, I loved eating Nutella by the spoonful. I’d fill crêpes with the sweet spread, add a dollop to a bowl of fruit and stir...

22. Vegan Benny & Flo


My all-time favorite breakfast used to be Eggs Benedict. Unfortunately, a vegan Eggs Benedict is almost impossible to come by. This is precisely why I decided to come up with my own recipe! This is sorta like an Eggs Benedict meets Eggs Florentine... sorta.

23. Swedish Pancakes


So now, what is the difference between Swedish Pankcakes and normal ones? I've been asking myself the same question. Growing up in Sweden, this is the normal way -- thin tasty pancakes with crispy edges. Traditional Swedish pancakes are served with berry jam and light whipped cream or vanilla ice cream that will melt on the hot pancake.

 Written by OneGreenPlanet.Org at http://bit.ly/1dlh3o5

Thursday, 6 February 2014

Tips for a Healthy Valentine's Day

From intimate meals to decadent desserts, couples across the globe will be celebrating romance this February 14th. Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day remains one of the biggest restaurant nights of the year - one that often involves heavy dinners. But with a few tips and some planning, you can get through the big night without adding inches to your waistline.

Step away from the bread basket. If you'd like a roll, grab one then move it outside of your reaching distance. The same goes for chips, should you be at a Mexican restaurant. Grab a small handful and then stay away from them the rest of the night.

Meal modifications are key. Feel free to make special requests. Ask the waiter if they can put the sauce on the side - or to substitute veggies for the french fries. Find out if your meal can be made without butter, oil or salt...anything that could help cut down on calories. And remember: in terms of calories, grilled is usually better than fried and baked is better than braised.

Start out healthy. Consider ordering a light salad or soup to kick things off. This will help to fill you up before you dive into the big meal. You also might want to split an entrée with your significant other.

Practice portion control. Remember that restaurant sizes are often larger than normal. Consider eating half of your meal and putting the rest in a doggie bag.

Avoid all the bells and whistles. Don't add a bunch of extras to your meal. When it comes to a salad, avoid topping it off with buttery croutons, grated cheese, bacon and dollops of high-fat dressing. The same goes with a burger, baked potato and other entrees.

Think red. Red bell peppers, radicchio, cherries, strawberries, red beans, red onions and tomatoes, for example, are all packed with vitamins, cancer-fighting antioxidants or cholesterol-busting fiber and protein. In addition, a daily glass of red wine is believed to help reduce the risk of blood clots and keep the cardiovascular system in shape. So forgo that cocktail, which can be loaded with sugar, and have a glass of red wine instead (and ask if they serve a light version).

Don't always give the gift of chocolate. If you and your significant other are trying to lose or maintain weight, consider purchasing a fruit basket instead of a box of chocolate, or baking a low-calorie dessert. It's also important to remember that a number of sugar-free candies and chocolate brands are available and can be found at your local grocery store or the candy section of an area pharmacy. A bouquet of flowers, healthy cookbook, personal training sessions or a day spa gift certificate could also prove worthy gift substitutes.

Do not completely deprive yourself. Valentine's Day is a time for laughter, fun and food. Having a small slice of cake or a couple truffles will not lead to weight gain. Moderation is key. And if you do pop the lid off that box of chocolates this Valentine's Day, don't feel guilty. Research indicates chocolate is chock-full of healthy compounds and may actually help prevent heart disease, enhance immune systems and give us a feeling of well-being.

Consider dining in this year. A great way to save calories, money and avoid crowds. Find an easy reduced calorie meal that you can cook with or for your significant other at home. Rent some romantic movies and make a healthy dessert, like strawberry shortcake sprinkled with your favorite low-calorie sweetener, and enjoy!

Written at http://www.caloriecontrol.org/articles-and-video/feature-articles/a-heart-healthy-valentines-day