Vegan baked goods often have a bad rap—turn out one “off” batch and no one will want to touch your “crumbly and dry” dairy-free desserts again. When it comes to cornbread—which can bake up dry even with dairy in the mix—making a moist, cake-like confection is tricky. I played around with a basic recipe to find the perfect blend of ingredients, which includes homemade flax “eggs,” rich coconut oil and your choice of maple syrup or agave.
Fresh figs are one of the world’s oldest known fruits, yet they’re often overlooked in today’s daily diets. This recipe offers an easy way to enjoy them—and the fiber, calcium and antioxidants they offer—as an unexpected breakfast treat or elegant party appetizer. Simply slice open, stuff with creamy bleu cheese, then top with a drizzle of agave and some pine nuts.
Enjoy fries with your veggie burger—but try these colorful, nutritious sweet potato wedges instead of the classic white-potato “straws.” Filling and full of flavor, they’re made with a light olive oil and agave nectar glaze and baked—not deep fried—for a crispy, healthy side.
You can layer on sweaters, bundle up under blankets or huddle beside a heater—but nothing stops the shivers better than drinking a mug of your favorite hot beverage. Sipping on something warm increases body temperature temporarily. So if you’ve been outside playing in the snow, try one of these steaming drinks to warm up quickly:
Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa
Get the added benefits of antioxidants along with warmth when you make hot cocoa with dark, instead of milk, chocolate. Many brands now make instant dark varieties, but you can easily make your own with dark chocolate cocoa powder and ingredients you have on hand. In a saucepan, heat a cup of milk with a cinnamon stick. In a mug, combine 2 tsp each of dark cocoa powder, sugar and water; mix well. Remove cinnamon stick from milk and pour into mug; stir.
Creamy Cinnamon Vanilla Soy Milk
Heat vanilla soy milk on the stovetop or in the microwave. Place a cinnamon stick, or a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, in a mug. Pour soy milk into mug; mix well. Sweeten with honey or agave nectar.
Hot Spiced Cider
Combine two quarts of apple cider, two cinnamon sticks, ½ cup of brown sugar, a dash of salt and one TBSP each of cloves and allspice in a large pot. Bring to a boil; remove cinnamon and strain. Serve hot.
Hot Almond Milk
In a saucepan, mix one cup of almond milk, a ¼ tsp each of cinnamon and vanilla, and a dash of nutmeg; heat on medium-low until warm.
Warm Cranberry Orange Drink
Combine ¼ cup of orange juice with a two cups of unsweetened cranberry juice; heat on medium-low until warm.
