Happy HALLOWEEN Belly at Lululemon Part 2: The Recipes

Let's get right to it, shall we???  Without further ado...the recipes.

Vegan Caramel Corn
(recipe courtesy of www.chooseveg.com)

The following recipe is SO good but don't be fooled…it is not good for you. It's a have-a-little-popcorn-with-your-sugar recipe.  However, here is me looking the other way because it's the holidays and this is a de-li-cious, fun way to fancy up your popcorn with very little effort.  It would be a great snack to make for holiday parties…or a cozy night in watching movies…or a thursday…

Ingredients:

-1/2 to 3/4 cup vegan brown sugar
-3 tablespoon water
-1 tablespoon Soy-Free Earth Balance Vegan Butter
-1 bag (3.5 oz) popcorn

1. Combine brown sugar, water, and butter in saucepan; bring to a boil. 
2. Cover and boil (over med-low to low heat) for 2-3 minutes. 
3. Remove from heat. Meanwhile, pop popcorn.
4. Let caramel sauce cool just slightly, stirring constantly with spoon. 
5. Poor over popped popcorn in a BIG bowl, and toss/fold with wooden spoon until well combined and glazed. 
6. Let cool (it helps to put it in fridge), and it gets nice and crunchy.
7. Eat and enjoy!!!

Vegan Peanut Butter Cups
(recipe inspired by this one from The Vegan Stoner)

Nope.  This one is not healthy either.  It is vegan, but "vegan" doesn't always mean that it is good for you.  Vegan means that it is good for the cows and the chickens. I thank you on their behalf.  This recipe is definitely candy and therefore all the negative ramifications that come with candy consumption will follow…i.e. greedily eating all the leftovers before one's husband has a chance to get any.  (Sorry, John.)  There are two ways to make it…the "easy" way and the "take-that-Martha-Stewart!!" way.  Both are equally delicious it's just a matter of how much effort you are wanting to exert.  You can find the easy way (complete with adorable illustrations) HERE.  The "TTMS" way is not that much harder, but you will need a few extra accessories.

Ingredients:

-1bag vegan chocolate chips

-handful of organic powdered sugar
-1/2 cup organic unsweetened peanut butter
-a splash of vanilla coconut milk

TTMS Accessories:
-2 decorating bags
-mini muffin tin
-mini muffin liners

1. In a sauce pan, melt 1 bag of chocolate chips.  Stir in a splash of coconut milk to thin out the chocolate.  When fully melted, set pan aside to cool slightly.
2. In a separate bowl, mix 1half cup of peanut butter with a handful of powdered sugar.  Stir until smooth.
3. Scoop melted chocolate into one decorating bag and peanut butter into another.  Be careful that your chocolate is not too hot when you do this so as not to melt the bag.
4. Fill mini muffin tin with paper mini muffin liners
5. Fill the bottom of liners with a layer of chocolate.  Put in the freezer for 10 minutes.
6. Next fill a layer of peanut butter on top of the layer of chocolate.  Freeze for another 10 minutes.
7. Fill in one more layer of chocolate on top of the peanut butter.  This doesn't have to be a full layer.  Just a swirl of chocolate will do.
8. Freeze 1 hour to overnight.  
9. Eat and enjoy!!!

Pumpkin Smoothie

(Makes 2 servings.)

I happened upon this smoothie recipe while browsing the Engine 2 Diet Facebook page.  Correction…I misread the recipe on the Engine 2 page and then created this recipe.  The Engine 2 recipe was for pumpkin ice cream.  That would explain why Charli's response to my first test batch was, "tastes like pudding."  Adjust the amount of pumpkin and almond milk to your own taste.  Keep in mind that a little pumpkin goes a long way.  Also, this smoothie is infinitely better when you freeze the pumpkin the night before and then let it thaw a tad before you use it.  I used canned organic pumpkin, which is readily available everywhere.  At Trader Joe's today, I saw that they had a whole wall of it.  Oh, and guess what…This recipe is actually good for you!!!  Make as many smoothies as your little tummy desires!!

Ingredients:
-1 cup frozen organic pumpkin puree
-2 cups almond milk
-2 dates
-cinnamon, nutmeg and maple syrup to taste.

1. Put all the ingredients into blender.
2. Blend
3. Drink and enjoy!!!

Once again, a big thanks to Nina and the Lululemon team for having me over.  Can't wait to do it again soon!!!

-♥ J :)

Happy HALLOWEEN Belly at Lululemon Part 1

This past Sunday the lovely folks over at Lululemon Athletica Beverly Hills were kind enough to have me back for another after yoga snack session.  Since it was the day before Halloween, I decided to make the yogis some of my favorite vegan Halloween treats. 

I made Vegan Peanut Butter Cups and Vegan Caramel Corn. 

  We drank Pumpkin Smoothies and raffled off the cookbook that inspired the recipe. I also raffled off this festive Happy Halloween Belly T-shirt. 

Congrats Tilita and Cheryl!!!

I've said it before, but I'll say it again (and again) hanging out at Lululemon is one of the coolest ways to spend a Sunday morning.  Lululemon's in store events focus on nurturing strong ties to the local community.  Whether it's Run Club or FREE yoga or nutrition lessons, these events foster a sense of communal wellness that stretches far beyond the store's perimeter.  And they have the most adorable clothes.  I mean, have you seen this top???  Ridiculous.  Be sure to like the Lululemon Beverly Hills Facebook page to stay up to date on their latest events.  And...umm...while you are on Facebook...maybe give the Happy Healthy Belly Facebook page a "like", too.

-♥ J :)

*Next up:  The recipes!!!
**A VERY special thanks to Charli, Steve and John.  You get up early, carry heavy things, taste peanut butter when you don't want to, agree to do crafts on the same night as game seven of the World Series and I love you for it. 

Happy Healthy Belly at Lululemon Part 2

I love yoga.  I love food.  When Nina suggested an event at Lululemon that had yoga AND food, I was there like flax on seed.  Nina wanted the Lululemon yogis to have wholesome, real food snacks that wouldn't undo all the good that the morning yoga class had done for their bodies.  Here's what I made:

This smoothie recipe is a staple of mine.  I have pretty much made it for everyone who has ever come to my house...ever.  It's light, refreshing, cheap and easy.  (I, also, do a pineapple mint version of this smoothie...but with vodka mixed in...and topped off with champagne.  But that is a post for another day, Veggies...)


Pineapple Berry Lemonade Smoothie

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup frozen organic berries

-1/2 cup frozen organic pineapple

-1 and 1/4 cup water

-Juice of one whole lemon

-Half a packet of Nu Naturals Stevia*

1. Put all the ingredients into blender.

2. Blend and enjoy!!!

*Agave or (a touch of) maple syrup can be substituted for Stevia.

This was my first time making these protein bars.  The recipe I used is from Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Cookbook.  The bars tasted great, but they were a little crumblier than I would have liked.  Next time I would add more almond butter or use less oats to see if I could get them to keep their bar shape better.  I was also thinking that if I added more oats to the recipe it would make a great no-bake granola.  Either way the flavor was delicious!  Experiment with the recipe yourself and let me know if you have any tips!

No-Bake Nut Butter Energy Bars
Makes 16 servings
Ingredients:
-1/2 cup agave nectar
-2 tbsp coconut butter
-1 1/2 cup nut butter
-3 cups oatmeal
-2 scoops vanilla protein powder
-1/2 cup raisins, dried cranberries or coarsely chopped dried apple
-1/2 cup slivered almonds
-1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1. Warm agave, coconut butter and nut butter in a saucepan until ingredients are soft enough to combine easily when mixed.  Remove from heat.
2. Add oatmeal and protein powder and mix well.  Then, add dried fruits, almonds and seeds.  Mix well.
3. Spread into 9-inch square pan. Let cool in the fridge and cut into squares. 

Once again, a big thanks to Nina and Lululemon for hosting such a fun event!!!  I had the best time!!

-♥ J :)

*To read more about Lululemon and their very cool philosophy click HERE.
**To get your butt kicked in Nina's spin class click HERE.

Happy Healthy Belly at Lululemon Part 1

I am in love with Lululemon.  Not only is their sportswear as chic as it is functional, but they are a company that strongly believes in "creating components for people to live longer, healthier, more fun lives."  As part of their manifesto to "elevate the world from mediocrity to greatness," they routinely offer free fitness events to the surrounding community.  From Run Club to FREE yoga, Lululemon has tons of fun events to help people find their way to wellness.  This past Sunday Nina invited me to the Beverly Hills branch to serve up some healthy snacks and talk about all things "protein bar" after the store's FREE(!) yoga class.  Here are some of the highlights...

The beautiful store.  Clothing racks are cleared out for Fay's 9:30am yoga class.

Snacks are ready to go.  Just need some hungry yogis…

Hungry yogis!!!

We drank smoothies...

Ate homemade protein bars...

Raffled off this book...

Congrats, Dorit!!!

Fay (left), Nina (center) and I about to have some more smoothie.

It was such a fun Sunday at Lululemon!!  Thank you Nina for setting up the event!!  

Can't wait to do it again!!  

You can drool over Lululemon's ridiculously cute workout gear HERE.  

Coming up tomorrow: Part 2 of the Lululemon fun...the recipes.

-♥ J :)

*For more pictures and event info be sure to like the Happy Healthy Belly Facebook page or follow me on twitter @hhbelly.

**Very special thanks to Charli, Julia and John who selflessly got up REALLY early on a Sunday to help me cut bars, haul blenders and pass out napkins.  You guys are the best!!! xoxo :)