Month: December 2013

Breakfast, Lunch, Raw, Recipes, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

Simple Green Smoothie

So this smoothie has been my absolute obsession recently. I’ve been drinking this every morning to give me energy and strengthen my immune system during cold season. The best part is that it’s sooooo easy to make and fastest great with just about any tropical fruit or citrus added in!

I’ve been posting it all over my Instagram and Facebook page and it;s gotten great reader feedback. It’s a must try!

Other reader suggestions:
Blueberries
Pomegranate
Cocoa Powder

Let me know what your fav combo is in the comments!

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Simple Easy Green Smoothie

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Simple Green Smoothie
Serves 1

2 small oranges (or 1 large), peeled
1 frozen banana
1 huge handful of spinach
1/2 cup of ice

Blend blend blend until creamy and smooth.

Don’t like bananas?
Try 1 cup of frozen peaches, pineapple, or mango!

Don’t have a high powered blender?
Try adding some almond milk for a creamsicle flavor, or try pineapple or apple juice for an all alkaline smoothie.

| 21 Comments
Desserts, Raw, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Raw Gingerbread Men

Congratulations to the winner of my #ChotallyAwesome Chobani Giveaway: Kaitlin!
Don’t forget to check your email to claim your prize! xo

Giveaway Winner 12:13:13
Merry Christmas Eve Eve little bunnies!

Is it just me or has this holiday season been crazy? I’ve been working on a lot of graphic design projects and I’ve barely had time to create new recipes, which makes me bummed. But today, that changed! It’s been a way-too-warm 70 degrees here in southern California, and as awesome as it sounds to have beach weather and sunshine, it makes it feel less like Christmas. I literally don’t even want to turn on my oven to bake anything because it’s too hot in my house, haha.

Instead of traditional gingerbread cookies, I created a no bake, raw, vegan, paleo, gluten-free, gingerbread cookie recipe with no grains or refined sugars! How do you like them apples?! I don’t want to toot my own horn, but toot toot, this is probably the healthiest gingerbread recipe you will find! Minimal dishes required. What whatttttt!

Grab your almond milk, turn on Elf, and prepare to be a man-eater. ha. ha .ha.
But seriously, these Medjool men are so scrumptious!

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Raw Gingerbread Men

1 cup + 1/4 cup Natural Delights Medjool dates, pitted
1 cup almonds
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp cloves

Before you begin, REMOVE PITS FROM DATES! Combine all spices and almonds in a food processor and blend until finely chopped. Next add the dates and vanilla extract and blend until well combined. Even if it doesn’t resemble dough, it should stick together when pressing it into a ball. Transfer the ball of dough onto a picee or parchment or wax paper, cover with another sheet of parchment paper, and flatten to 1/4 inch thickness with a rolling pin. Remove the top layer of parchment paper and cut into gingerbread men or various shapes using a cookie cutter. Continue balling up the dough, rolling it out, and cutting into gingerbread men until there is no dough left. Eat right off of the plate, or store in refrigerator until serving!

Note: If you don’t have a cookie cutter, you can also roll them into 1 Tbsp sized balls as Gingerbread bites!

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Have a Merry Merry Christmas my loves!
xo Catherine

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Contests & Giveaways

#ChotallyAwesome Giveaway (CLOSED)

You guys know that my blog is very light hearted and most of all real. As a blogger for Chobani, I think it’s important to address what’s going on in the world of yogurt!

As you may have heard in the news, Whole Foods will no longer be carrying Chobani Greek yogurt. Whole Foods said it will no longer sell Chobani because they are phasing out items that contain genetically modified ingredients. The decision was also influenced by Whole Foods’ plans to sell more exclusive products, and Chobani is available in most supermarkets. Funny that Whole Foods sells Dannon’s Oikos – which isn’t GMO-free, and Fage – which is available at tons of other grocery chains… makes their statement a little odd!

Of course, like everything else in this day and age, there’s now tons of controversy surrounding Chobani and GMOs (Chobani’s dairy cows are fed food that contains GMOs). This is a subject that comes up a lot on my Facebook and Instagram.

I often get asked “Why do you support brands that contain GMOs?” Well I don’t actually support GMOs, but I support healthy eating! I believe in promoting healthier options whether they be organic or not. While I do think organic is great for our bodies and should be consumed as often as possible, I also think that when it comes down to it…  the important thing is to eat fruits and vegetables and make healthy choices. If you can afford organic produce and dairy, that is great, but if you can’t, you’re still going to be better off than eating other foods (i.e. fried and junk foods). Fruits, veggies, and protein packed Greek yogurt for the win!

Something I truly love about Chobani, besides the fact that their yogurt is loaded with protein, preservative-free, and free of artificial flavors, is that they are an official sponsor for Team USA for the Winter Olympics Sochi 2014! I was beyond excited to see Chobani as an official sponsor for the London Summer 2012 Olympics because for the first time, Team USA was sponsored by a brand that athletes actually eat. Since the olympics are all about athletics and performance, it drives me crazy seeing sponsors like McDonalds and Coca Cola, because we all know that’s not what these incredible athletes are eating. I’m so pumped to see Chobani powering Team USA once again with their all natural yogurt!

To some people, consuming a 100% organic non-GMO diet is very important, but my main focus for myself and my blog is to choose the freshest and most natural foods that I can! Now that I’ve shared my take on the GMO/organic topic, it’s time for the fun stuff!

This past Sunday, the Chobani Yogurt Truck made a stop by my house as a way to say thank you. They’re HUGE truck had an awesome quote on the side of it that read “Every cup is preservative-free and artificial flavor-free. And we’re giving every cup in this truck away totally-free.” I invited tons of friends and neighbors to come over and enjoy some free Chobani Greek yogurt with me and the CHO team.
Chotally Awesome Chobani Yogurt Truck
Chotally Awesome Chobani Yogurt Truck 1

Chotally Awesome Chobani Yogurt Truck 2The recycle bin aftermath! Can you tell Key Lime was a fav?

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Chotally-Awesome-Chobani-Yogurt-Truck-6  The team asked “where the corgi was” so of course my famous, handsome, beautiful, precious little Teddy made an appearance along with his labrador sister Elin! They got to enjoy a nice cup o’ Cho with us : ) Teddy was a huge hit, he’s such a ham. #chopuppies

As a way to say thank you to my readers this holiday season, I am hosting a Chobani giveaway.
One lucky RFFMBT reader will win a case of 12 assorted 5.3oz Chobani yogurt cups!

For your chance to win:
1. Comment on this post telling me your favorite Chobani flavor.

2. Tweet ” I entered this #chotallyawesome #giveaway to #win a case of 12 assorted @Chobani yogurt cups from @EatRabbitFood http://bit.ly/19BhvwJ ”
– To complete your Twitter entry, leave a separate comment with the url to your tweet!

2. Post a photo on Instagram of your Chobani Greek yogurt along with the handle @RabbitFoodForMyBunnyTeeth and hashtags #RFFMBTcho and #chotallyawesome
– To complete your Instagram entry, leave a separate comment with the url to your Instagram photo!

This means you can earn up to 3 entries!
Contest ends Sunday, December 22nd at 11:59pm PST.
Winner will be announced Monday, December 23rd.
Must use a valid email address when entering. Open to U.S. residents only.

| 72 Comments
Recipes, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

‘Cheesy’ Kale Chips

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So how do you make vegan ‘Cheesy’ Kale Chips without the cheese?
Nutritional Yeast!
Don’t let the name scare you, it might sound funky, but it’s really good, and really good for you! Nutritional yeast is popular with vegans & vegetarians and those who are health-conscious. As a reliable source of vitamin B12 (important for brain and immune system functions), nutritional yeast is often used as a dairy-free substitute for cheese because of its similarities in taste.

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Health Benefits of Nutrtional Yeast Include:

  • Kosher & gluten free
  • Dairy free
  • 18 different amino acids, making it a complete protein, with 8 grams of protein per serving (2 tbsp)
  • Only natural animal-free source of the all-important B vitamins
  • Helps maintain ideal intestinal ecology
  • Helps improves blood production
  • Helps in maintaining optimum cholesterol levels
  • Helps improve liver health and function

Including Nutritional Yeast in Your Diet:
Besides the awesome health benefits of nutritional yeast, it has a nutty and cheesy taste, making it a popular diary cheese replacement for vegans.  Here are some creative ways in which nutritional yeast can be included in your everyday diet:

  • Topping for popcorn, instead of butter and salt
  • In on your scrambled eggs
  • Nutritional yeast “cheese” can be made to adorn a vegan pizza or lasagna
  • Add to soup to give it a creamy texture without adding milk
  • On baked or in mashed potatoes
  • Can be used as a cheesy pasta sauce
  • Mix with vinegar and oil for a salad dressing

nutritional-yeast-brands

KAL Nutritional Yeast Flakes 22oz & Bragg Premium Nutritional yeast Seasoning
(Both purchased at Whole Foods)^

Buying Nutritional Yeast:
Most health stores (I buy mine at Whole Foods and Sprouts) and some grocery stores carry nutritional yeast. At times it can be labeled as ‘savoury yeast flakes.’ It’s sold in canisters, packages, shakers, and sometimes bulk bins.

* Nutritional yeast is not brewers yeast – it’s a deactivated yeast with texture similar to cornmeal that is often used by vegans as a good source of B vitamins and as a complete protein. (Complete proteins have all essential amino acids – this is hard to get for those who don’t eat animal proteins.) It gives a “cheesy” feel in this recipe. Find it in the supplements section of most health food stores.

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Cheesy-Vegan-Kale-Chips-4‘Cheesy’ Kale Chips
Serves 4

1 bunch of curly kale
1 cup cashews + water to soak
1/2 Red Pepper, seeds removed
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup nutritional yeast*
1 tsp agave nectar
Salt + Pepper (to taste)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place cashews in a bowl and cover with room temperature water for at least 2 hours. After cashews have soaked, strain the water and discard. Rinse and dry the kale. Remove the kale leaves from stems and tear into chip sized pieces. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. Pour the sauce mixture over kale and massage into kale and toss with your bare hands, coating each leaf. Place kale a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil (sprayed with nonstick or olive oil cooking spray). Bake for 20 minutes. Check chips after 15 minutes of baking to ensure they’re not burning.
Note: The chips may need to bake for a shorter or longer period of time depending on how much “cheese” sauce is on them. Timing is crucial for these chips: If they are undercooked they will be soggy, but if overcooked they can easily burn, so be sure to check on them frequently.

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DIY

Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ornament DIY

Congratulations to the winner of my Natural Delights Medjool Dates Giveaway: Victoria F!
Be sure to check your email so your prize can be shipped!

winner
So this post has nothing to do with healthy recipes, but hopefully you will get a laugh out of it!

For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you probably saw my epic Miley Cyrus Christmas tree ornament that I wrecked Brett & Michael’s tree with!
When they weren’t paying attention, I snuck it on their tree and they noticed a few hours later that Miley was swinging around in their living room!
“I came in like a wrecking ornamentttttttttttt.”

Miley-Cyrus-Wrecking-Ball-Christmas-Ornament-DIY-Printable
For anyone who is interested in making their own Miley ornament to wreck their Christmas tree with, all you need is an ornament, printer/paper, glue gun, scissors, and some string!

1. Printout the miley cutout to about 4 inches
2. Cut along dotted line
3. Hang ornament with string
4. Glue gun Miley to the string

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This would make an EPIC surprise for an ornament exchange or white elephant party!
Happy crafting & Happy Mileydays! xo

Don’t forget, you still have until Thursday night to enter for your chance to win some Natural Delights Medjool dates!

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