What's Shaking?

I have tried a lot of the shakes out there in my quest for a vegan superfood beverage. Some have been your run of the mill typical protein powder shakes which are nice for the average person wanting to supplement their diet. However, my needs have been somewhat unique when hunting for that ideal shake. First and foremost it has to be vegan and with the majority of shake powders out there containing whey that criteria quickly narrowed my choices. Secondly it had to provide a decent amount of protein, preferably from more than one source.
Next, I lead a very active life. I instruct fitness classes, I'm a mom of 3 busy kids 5 and under. In fact I'm a soccer mom in the real sense because I even coach my boy's soccer team. I'm also a Certified Personal Trainer and am always on the run.
As a result I need a shake that is high quality, good value, and by value I don't just mean price but also content. So many shakes on the market are full of fillers and other junk your body certainly doesn't need.
Since I'm always on the go it had to be easy to use. Something I could scoop into my shaker cup and run with. I shake that has to be blended is no good to me, and often if it has to be blended it is the kind that gets clumpy or gritty which brings me to taste. The shake has to taste good because chances are I'm having this once or twice a day.
Of course a good list of amino acids and superfoods was also critical in my final decision.
At this point my shake profile was quickly narrowed down to less than 6. Can you believe it? Out of the hundreds of shakes out there those that have real value and are truly good for your body were less than half a dozen!
Ready for the ones that topped the charts for quality, acting as a shake or meal replacement, packing a protein and superfood punch?
One that is easily attainable at most health food stores and sport supplements chains is Vega.
Vega has a sports performance line which the athletic side of me loves as it is geared towards athletes and the serious fitness buff. The performance line has shakes for before your workout (to enhance your performance), shakes for during to sustain you and even shakes for after your work out to feed your muscles and help with recovery. As well it has the regular shakes which I can use at home and share with my family.
So Vega is great because I want my shake to support muscle growth and to keep me full and satisfied. I also want it to be something I can use in recipes from smoothies for my kids to protein bars for myself.
I have been using Vega for almost a decade and for those who know me its the one I was quick to recommend.
However, there is a new kid on the block and this player packs a punch! I was recently introduced to Shakeology when Beachbody hit Canada for the first time in October last year and let me tell you this shake is the bomb!
The taste is almost addictive and if you want to talk super foods look at this line up to name only a few: Camu-Camu, moringa, maca, Sacha inchi, flax, chia, conjac root and so much more!
I am in love! The taste is out of this world and not only is it vegan it's fair trade. It supports the things I believe in and I'm proud to now have this as a staple in my home.
You can look at the line up of other shakes (see the chart at the end of this article). They just don't compare.
Shakeology also has an Empty Bag Guarantee that allows you to try Shakeology for 30 days and if you don't feel healthier, you simply call their customer service within 30 days for a refund. Yes, even if the bag is totally empty!
Now you won't find Shakeology in the health food stores or at the supplement retail stores. It's available only from Beachbody but it comes delivered straight to your home. How is that for service?
I'm a proud supporter of this amazing shake and if you want to learn more just click on the link at the end of this article for more information. Give it a try, you'll be glad you did!

http://bit.ly/coachsonia

Vegan Shakes!

As a vegan I couldn't be more excited!
Healthy nutritious vegan shakes that you can order and have delivered straight to your home! Available in either chocolate or strawberry and the shipping is free on the 'home direct ' option!

You can have it as a snack or because of its amazing ingredients, to replace a meal! You can even use it before or after a workout which is great for me with my new body makeover I'm starting this month.

These shakes contain all the super foods you could want in a health drink like chia, flax, quinoa, sacha inchi, brown rice, pea, chlorella, spirulina, maca, spinach....and the list goes on! So you can see why I'm so excited!

With more than 20 different antioxidants and phytonutrients help reduce free radical damage that can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and stroke. plus fibre, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes help your body gently eliminate toxins more efficiently and promote better absorption of nutrients. This will now be a staple in my pantry. I'm planning on making some fun recipes with the shakes too for the kids to enjoy. Maybe strawberry Popsicles or a chocolate mousse!

You can use it to increase your energy, reduce cravings, lose weight, and feel great.

I am super pumped about my health and fitness this Fall! As a very busy mom of 3 I'm planning on being in the best shape of my life! Come with me on this journey to the best you this fall won't you?

:-)

                                                   

Bum-Bum!

Just because the leaves are falling doesn't mean your butt should fall too! 
With the return of skinny jeans and leggings a lifted tight 'bum-bum' is what you want! 
What better way to get it than with Brazil Butt Lift!  
No, its not a cosmetic procedure, instead it's my new Fall workout!
Created by Leandro Carvalho trainer to world-famous supermodels, Leandro combines Brazilian dance, cardio, and his own signature lower-body sculpting moves to lift, firm, and shape your butt for a rear view you've only dreamed about. 
Reduce, lift, and shape your booty Leandro style! His proven TriAngle Training method works all three major muscles of your butt from multiple angles to reduce your hips and saddlebag area, slim your thighs, and lift your butt without bulking up your thighs. 
I'll be doing all 5 Booty-blasting  'BUM BUM' workouts (Brazilian slang for "butt" and pronounced "boom-boom") on the DVD and will be sure to let you know how it goes!
Interested in giving it a try click on the link and order yours today, and don't forget to let me know how it works for you!

Popping in to Say Hello!

Hello!
It's been some time since I've posted.
A lot of factors playing into it, like summer, gardening, mucho family time and the launch of Vegan News Magazine. If you haven't yet picked up a copy or heard of it, I suggest you go to the website http://www.vegannewsmagazine.com/ for more information about this great publication. It's not only vegan (that's right not vegetarian, 'veg' in hopes of appealing to both vegans and vegetarians or not offending one or the other, but VEGAN) it's both Canadian and free!
Working on the magazine has taken up a big chunk of my time as the response to it has been bigger and faster than every anticipated. Hence the reason I've been away from blogging for so long.
How has your summer been going?
I've been enjoying the heat!
I've also been enjoying cooling off with ice cream. I think that my ice cream maker has been one of my best investments. Maple walnut crunch, blueberry, strawberry, cherry and chocolate peanut butter have been some of my favourite ice creams so far. I think my thighs would agree. For the first time (being pregnant not included) in my adult life I'm looking at either going up a pant size or working out a little harder (No I am not cutting back on the ice cream! :-))
The Garden of Vegan (http://www.thegardenofvegan.ca/) has also made it's return.
I'm finishing up a few fitness classes and Weight Loss Challenges for groups.
All of the things things have really been eating up time and though I love doing them all I realize I can't do everything I love to do 100%.  So, that being said I'm in the middle of juggling all these hats and seeing which ones are going to be shelved for a bit and which ones must go on.
Next month is September and I'll also be busy teaching a few cooking classes! I hope you can come out and join me for these they are bound to be tons of fun. You can register at 237-8130 or 667-6193. The classes are taking place at different parts of the city so register for the one closest to you. They will run for 5 weeks and include a shopping trip. Also, this hands on class will take you from appetizer, soups, entrees and desserts!
So it's been a busy life and now it's time to figure out if I have time to run out the door and join everyone at the vegan meet up taking place in less than a half hour.
Have a great day and a great summer and I hope to be back sooner rather than later!

Vegan Peace & Love,

Sonia

Finally! Introductory Vegan Cooking Classes!

Learn how to make delicious meat-free dishes.


If you are new to vegan cooking, want to learn new recipes, or how to turn your favourite meat dish into an amazing animal free one, the please join us for one of our introductory vegan cooking classes this summer.

A hands-on educational class including a grocery shopping field trip*, you will learn how to make appetizer, soups, entrees and desserts. This class will run for 5 evenings. By the end of the series you will be able to entertain throwing a great vegan dinner party from appetizer to dessert with everything in between.

Take home heart healthy, cruelty-free recipes your family will love!

*The field trip outing gives you an opportunity to navigate the aisles with new eyes. Finding healthy alternatives to meat, dairy and eggs. Students will have to opportunity to purchase products that night if they so desire. The grocery shopping field trip date and location will be announced at the first class.
Call 237-8130 to register today as space is limited and filling up fast!

Forks Over Knives

As many of you may know Forks Over Knives hits Winnipeg this Friday, June 10th.
I think this is probably the most important movie you could watch this year!
As the Ambassador and Team Leader for the film in Winnipeg I encourage you to check out the following trailer for the movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ijukNzlUg

I would also like to give you the opportunity to win free double passes to the film. All you need to do is head over to Vegan News Magazine's Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vegan-News/190243747677799?ref=ts
 
Finally if you'd like to join us opening night at the Globe Cinema we have a group going which gives you a group discount on the movie. You are also invited to join us for dinner before the film at Affinity Vegetarain Restaurant. To join either or both group outings simply leave me a message on my Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vegan-News/190243747677799?ref=ts#!/profile.php?id=539430597
or leave us a note at the Forks Over Knives Winnipeg Meet Up Group webpage at: http://www.meetup.com/Forks-Over-Knives/Winnipeg-CA/150701/#initialized
 
Another great part about coming to the film on opening night is Sequel Naturals and Vega will be handing out free samples and information! So this is a night not to be missed! Remember this film could save your life or that of some one you love!
 
See you on Friday!
 
Vegan Peace & Love

Whole Foods To Thrive!

If there is one book you should read this year, this is it!


“Whole Foods to Thrive” is one of the few books that I can say will appeal to all readers as it addresses concerns that affect us all.

In a world where so many people have health issues or dietary related diseases, where animals are being abused and slaughtered and where our environment is rapidly deteriorating this book brings solutions and hope!

An easy and informative read “Whole Foods To Thrive” is the latest book by best-selling author Brendan Brazier, the formulator of Vega.

As a vegan, fitness professional and cook, I didn’t think there would be much for me to gleam and take away from this book. I was pleasantly surprised to find I was wrong. This book kept me captive and I devoured it in one afternoon!

Now most books out there that touch on diet, health and our planet’s depleted resources are depressing and leave readers feeling hopeless and depressed. This book is quite the opposite! “Whole Foods to Thrive” is life changing and restores a feeling of empowerment! It puts the power back in your hands to improve your health, save animals, and help the environment! It encourages you that as one person you can make a difference and a big one!

Canada’s Professional Ironman Triathlete Brendan Brazier teaches us in this book how we can reduce stress by good plant-based nutrition. As a vegan who tries to eat as close to the earth as possible I found out from this book that this is not enough. Just because I was eating whole foods didn’t mean I was getting the nutrients I thought I was. Why? As Brendan delves into we have destroyed our planet so much that even the soil our food is grown in can be devoid of nutrients! So if our soil has little nutrients so does the food growing from it! To some that may seem like no big deal, but if our soil lacks minerals and our food is deficient, then we tend to eat more as our body craves more food, as it hasn’t been satisfied nutritionally. For the first time the lights went on for me to start consuming more organic food for the reason of consuming more nutrient rich foods.

Aside from talking about the importance of “Nutrient-to-Resource Ratio” (a term coined by Brendan himself) and alkaline forming foods this book is chalk full of recipes! Not just any recipes either! This book features top chefs of some of the best restaurants in North America. These recipes will take you from appetizers to desserts leaving out nothing in between so that you can create your own 5 course meals for you and your family or for entertaining.

Dishes like Pumpkin Gnocchi with a Jerusalem Artichoke Puree or West African Yam and Bean Patties show this is no boring plant-based menu. In fact the recipes in the book reflect foods from around the world! …And with desserts like Key Lime Pie or White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake with Chocolate-Almond Crust no guest is going home disappointed!

As a cook myself I can’t wait to try every recipe in this book and I’m sure some of them will make appearances in my vegan cooking classes.

There is so much more I could share with you about this book, but the best is the advice to go out and get yours, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Congratulations Brendan Brazier you have just released a book that will change the world!

Thank you!

Vegan Peace & Love
Sonia Lemoine

Hemp Week May 2-8

Have you been doing anything exciting for Hemp Week?
I have!
I've been wearing hemp clothing, using my hemp body lotion, I made hemp milk ice cream for the family (yes from scratch and yes I'd be happy to share my recipes with you just ask) and of course drinking my favourite hemp milk by Manitoba Harvest!
Did you know that hemp could be used for so many things?
I use hemp protein powder on a weekly basis after my workouts and was just given a lip balm made out of hemp and even received a hemp journal for my birthday in March.
Today I did a corporate display with chocolate hemp milk. The response was amazing! People fell in love with it! Many never knew such a thing existed and it was their first time tasting it. For some it was decided it would be an acquired taste and  the majority planned to run out and buy some this week-end!
A lot of  taste testers were lactose intolerant were thrilled to know they had another option out there.
..and can I just add that hemp milk has as much or more calcium than dairy milk and is so much better for you!
It also contains protein, omega 3 & 6 and did I mention  Manitoba Harvest hemp milk is organic!?
So great was the response I was asked to return next week and make chocolate hemp smoothies for everyone! I can't wait!
So may I suggest you go out and try something hemp this week and let me know just how much you enjoyed it too!

Vegan Peace & Love

Sonia

Fork Over Knives

If you have a dietary related disease, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure or high cholesterol this film could be life changing!
Check out the trailer below

http://www.forksoverknives.com/media/videos/

Vegan Peace & Love

"Better Than Shamrock Shakes"

St. Patrick’s Day might be over but ever since posting on Facebook my “Better than Shamrock Shake” drink yesterday I’ve had a lot of people asking me for the recipe. I was out of town yesterday afternoon so this has been my first opportunity to post it for you.


So here it is for you to enjoy, not just on St. Patrick’s Day but any day you choose!

It’s healthy and tastes great!



A handful of shelled pistachios (with the pistachios there is no need for green food colouring!)


2 cups of almond milk

2 scoops of vanilla vegan ice cream

1/2 teaspoon pure mint extract

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


Blend and enjoy!

For another healthy alternative either substitute an avocado for the pistachios or add one in to the recipe above.

Vegan Peace & Love

Zumba

Zumba! Zumba!
Who doesn't like to shake their stuff and have some fun?
Zumba class is a great way to do both.

It's fun, it feels great and it's perfect for all ages and stages.

I love to dance and love international beats and those are just some of the reasons I became a Certified Zumba Instructor years back.

My latest class has us taking our passports around the globe for stops in Columbia, Greece, Jamaica, India, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with our great music and dance styles.

You truly forget you are getting a workout as we dance the time away with fitness incorporated moves to build muscle strength and  flexibility. The cardio is a no brainer, but speaking of the brain it gives your mind a workout to as you learn new dance steps and fitness moves to tempo.

Don't think you have to be a dancer to groove along or gym rat to keep up with the fitness component. You just need to like music and love to have fun.

If you can't make it out to one of my classes you can do Zumba at home. Today's giveaway contest is giving you the chance to win your own Zumba book and DVD!

This book and DVD combo normally sells in most bookstores for $29.99 CAD.
Now a copy can be yours. All you have to do to win yours is  3 things. 1)"follow" our blog (http://www.sonialemoine.blogspot.com/) 2) correctly tell me who the author is of the book ("Zumba  Ditch the workout, Join the Party! The Zumba Weight Loss Program") I'll give you a hint, he's also the founder of Zumba and 3) tell me why you love Zumba.

You can email, text, tweet or post your answer. The contest closes Monday at noon and our winner will be announced by Wednesday morning at the latest.

Till then keep dancing!

Vegan Fitness Workout

Hello Friends!
I have a wonderful fitness program for you!
My dear friend Barry Lovelace has created some amazing workout DVDs for a total body home workout!
Are you looking for a workout that really works!?
Barry Lovelace is an internationally recognized fitness professional. Known for working with Athletes in America, and for his many books on fitness and vegan lifestyle.
No matter how busy your schedule, this workout promises to deliver results and requires less than 30 minutes a day! This is a workout I approve of. It doesn't require a gym or a bunch of equipment you might not own. This really is a workout for everybody! Male, female, beginner or advanced, vegan or omnivore.
If this isn't enough, when you purchase this 2 part series 10% of the funds go to the animal Farm Sanctuary.
Can I mention another bonus? There is no waiting for your DVD to arrive in the mail! Once you purchase this workout you can download it immediately and start your workout today!
...and I forgot to mention! ...by clicking on the link below you will not only get this amazing two part work out series but you will also receive over a $130.00 worth of amazing bonuses that you will get to see when you click the link. So what does this work out cost you? Are you ready for this? Only $29.99!!! When was the last time you got over $160.00 worth of health and fitness videos and books  for just $29.99? !
This is a great gift for yourself and anyone you know who enjoys a good workout and great value! Whether you give this as a gift or keep it for yourself you'll feel good know you are getting expert advice from such a well know fitness professional and in supporting the Farm Sanctuary.
So click on the link below and purchase yours today because I don't know how long this amazing special will last.
For more information on Barry, his workout series and the Farm Sanctuary please click the link below.

http://tinyurl.com/5ue763n

Black History Month

February is Black History Month, a remembrance of events that took place in the history of Black people. It's a great time to read some wonderful novels by Black authors or to read the history of Blacks in Canada or America. I've attached a link for a Black History learning tool.
http://blackhistorycanada.ca/education/LearningTools.pdf

Black history month is also a great time to eat some African, Southern or Caribbean cooking. So to help celebrate I've got a recipe for collard greens!

Vegan Collard Greens:


4 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 carrots, peeled and thinly diced

1 scotch bonnet pepper

1 cup vegetable stock

6-8 cups chopped collard greens

A few drops of Liquid smoke

Sea salt, to taste

Directions:

1.Heat the oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Add the onions, cooking until they are translucent, and soft about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly as not to burn the garlic.

2.Add carrots and pepper and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Turn the heat down to low and add vegetable stock and collard greens. Cover pot and allow to cook just until the greens are cooked and tender. Salt to taste. Serve as a hot side dish.
 
So celebrate this Black History by throwing on some Bob Marley and dance around your living room, maybe watch a Sidney Poitier movie, and have some good eats!


Vegan Peace & Love

Sonia

Happy New Year

It's the end of January.
For those of you who made New Year's Resolutions how are you doing? Still making those positive life changes?
How many of you celebrated Vegan Pizza Day on January 29th by making a delicious vegan pie?
So much seems to be going on in the vegan world and we are still in the first month of the year!
Next month proves to be keeping up the momentum as Oprah and her staff of 378 plan on going vegan for a week. It all begins tomorrow, and how great that someone with such a huge following is bringing this healthy lifestyle mainstream to  millions of viewers.
Seems the world is slowly going vegan or at least providing more services to it's vegan customers!
I was in Jamaica just a few weeks ago and was amazed at how much veganism has exploded on the island. Already known for a strong vegan and vegetarian culture, especially amongst the Rastafarians, and a new health conscience generation. I was thrilled to see that all restaurants from the local fast food (and surprisingly healthy) to the most upscale restaurants were all offering a wide variety of vegan options.
We have a lot of exciting things we'll be sharing with you this year too!
So stay tuned!
Vegan Peace & Love!

Sonia

Better Than Oreos

In a large mixing bowl combine  3/4 cup vegan shortening, 1 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/2 cup almond milk.

In a separate bowl combine 11/2 cups of flour, 3/4 cocoa (dark is best like the very alkalized black cocoa but Dutch will do they just won't be as dark),  2 teaspoons of cornstarch, 1/4 baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Sift the dry mixture into the wet mixture and mix until you have a nice dough.

Chill in the fridge for an hour or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350. On parchment paper (not a floured surface or your oreos will no longer be dark but dusted with white flour) roll out the dough and using a round cookie cutter cut out your circles for the cookies.

Drop the circles on parchment papered cookie sheets make sure you have enough to pair up in the end.. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes.

No I haven't forgotten the white filling.

While your cookies are baking combine the following to make the cookie filling:

I start by melting a handful of vegan marshmallows in a double broiler and then adding 2 teaspoons of vanilla. While this is cooling mix together:

1/4 vegan margarine

1/4 vegan shortening

21/2 cups of icing sugar

Combine all the filling ingredients together until pretty thick. (You may need to refrigerate it or add more powdered sugar.)

Now you are ready to drop the filling on top of a cookie and then lid it with another. Do this until you've created all your little sandwiches.

Better Than Oreos!

Sonia's Snickerdoodles - Winnipeg Free Press

Sonia's Snickerdoodles - Winnipeg Free Press

Macaroon Cookies

If you like macaroons you'll like these macaroon cookies.

Start by toasting in a pan 2 cups of shredded coconut on a low heat so you don't burn them. This will take about five minutes before they brown nicely. Set it off to the side to cool and then preheat your oven to 350.
Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl combine 1/4 cup of coconut oil, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup coconut milk, 1 tablespoon ground flax, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Once you've blended this together get a second bowl for your dry ingredients. In this bowl you will combine the following, 1 cup unbleached flour, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the cooled toasted coconut.
Then combine the dry ingredients with the wet.
Form the dough into balls and place on cookie sheets.
Bake these for about 10 minutes.
They will fall flat while baking.
While they cool start on the chocolate drizzle to decorate the cookies with (what I've been doing lately though with this recipe is dipping the bottoms of the cookies in the chocolate coating instead of designing with a drizzle).
For the chocolate drizzle or coating you will need to melt a cup of chocolate chips in a double broiler with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Once it has melted set it off to the side to start to cool. This will allow the chocolate dip to start to solidify somewhat and makes it easier (and safer) to dip the cookies in.
Another suggestion if I may is to put the cookies in the fridge right after you do this so that the chocolate really adheres to the cookies if you are dipping the. If you are simply drizzling the chocolate on top then this is not necessary.
I'd love to see your pictures of these cookies, and it will enter you in the draw for the goodies from The Garden of Vegan!
Enjoy!

Sonia's Chocolate Snickerdoodles

So true ladies!
I did promise on the Facebook site to give you BOTH Snickerdoodle recipes!
Thanks for your gentle email reminders and here is the recipe!
This recipe will also qualify for the contest going on at The Garden of Vegan Facebook page!

In a large mixing bowl cream 1/2 cup canola oil with 1 cup of sugar or other sweetener until creamy. Then add in 1/4 cup maple syrup, 2 Tablespoons of almond milk,2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.


In a separate bowl sift 1 2/3 cups unbleached flour, 1/2 cup of cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Mix your dry mixture into the large bowl.

When you've created a soft dough chill it for an hour or overnight in the fridge.

Preheat oven to 350

Line your baking sheets with parchment paper and then start rolling the dough into little balls.

Then sprinkle each cookie with the cinnamon coating (recipe to follow) and bake for 10 minutes.



Cinnamon Coating:

1/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Easy, Vegan and Delicious!

Chai Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sipping I warm cup of chai and eating chai cookies. Yum!

Want the recipe?
Sure you do!

Preheat the oven to 350 and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper (you know I love this stuff for great cookies!)

In a large bowl mixe1/2 cup of vegan shortening and 1/2 cup of vegan margarine along with 3/4 cups of powder sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
In a second bowl mix together 1 cup of unbleached flour, 1 cup pastry flour, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of cardamom, 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves, 1/4 teaspoon of ground coriander, 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger, a pinch of all spice and a pinch of ground peppercorns.

Now before you continue here is something I used to do when making this recipe for an extra kick. I used to soak a chai teabag in 1/4 cup of almond milk and mix it in. The extra flavour was great. Then one day the bag burst in the milk and it gave me an idea. What if I just tore open a bag of chai tea and threw it in the mix with all the spices. I did and it was divine! So at this point if you'd like empty the contents of a chai tea leaf bag into the dry mix bowl now. If that idea turns you off don't, but trust me. I always make the recipe with the contents of the tea bag now and it's so much better!  If you find the recipe is getting crumbly and needs more moisture please add the almond milk  just remember to remove the tea bag! Now back to the recipe.

Mix the dry and wet ingredients together to create your dough. Once you have this dough start to mix in 2/3 cups of chocolate chips.
I then roll the dough out into a log and start slicing off my cookies and transferring them to a cookie sheet.

I then bake them for a little longer than my other cookies because of the tea bag contents so bake for about 15 minutes or until golden.

This is another yummy recipe that you can send in a picture for the draw to win an assortment of vegan bars from the Garden of Vegan.
http://www.thegardenofvegan.ca/

Cafe Cocoas

Like Chocolate?
Like Coffee?
You'll LOVE the Cafe Cocoas!

Cookie Mix:

1/2 cup Canola Oil
3/4 Cup Sugar or other sweetener
1/4 Cup  Almond Milk
1 Ttablespoon flax seed powder
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 teaspoons coffee extract
1 1/2 cups unbleachedd flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cookie Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons almond milk
1/2 teaspoon coffee extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl combine the first 5 ingredients.
Then add your extracts.
Finally sift in all your dry ingredients.
Chill for an hour in the fridge (or overnight).
Preheat the oven to 350

Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Roll the dough into balls and place on your cookie sheets.
Once you have all the balls aligned on your sheets gentle press them down slightly with the palm of your had or bottom of a cup.
Bake for 10 minutes.
While they are cooling combine the ingredients for your icing.
Now you can decorate your Cafe Cocoas with happy faces, letters, or zigzag designs across the top.
The first person to make this recipe and send in your picture of your Cafe Cocoa's will have their photo posted on the website with credits of course! Better yet! Send in a picture of you AND your Cafe Cocoa's!

Enjoy!