Happy New Year!

Bulk Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix II

Bulk Vegan Hot Chocolate Mix II
Yields: 1 quart Mason Jar
dairy-free, oil-free, soy-free, gluten-free

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Powdered Sugar
• 1 cup Cacao Powder
• 2 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

Directions:

1. Dump all ingredients into a 1 quart Mason Jar & shake to combine
2. That's it!

Preparation:

1. Microwave a mug of water for about 1-2 minutes, leaving about 1 1/2" of room
2. Stir in 2 heaping spoonfuls of mix until completely dissolved
3. Top off with a dash of Coconut Vanilla/Hazelnut Creamer (optional) or Vanilla Almond Milk

Merry Christmas From The Healthy Hoff!

Merry Christmas Eve Kiddies Young & Old...

2016 Party Platter

If you invite me to a Christmas party, you know I am coming armed with my own party platter!  I've been making them for years and they make party navigation huge a relief.

This year's platter consists of vegan "Ritz" crackers (store brand), lightly salted whole cashews, a can of black olives and baby gherkins.  All of which can be easily found in your local grocery store.

The next few things might be require a little research - depending on where you live.

First up, Kite Hill plant-based, artisanal cheese.  I've been dying to try their cheese for years and they do not disappoint!  This almond-based delicacy is so rich and creamy it had all the non-vegan partygoers scarfing it down.  From crackers to chips this spread is delightful!

Next up, Daiya blocked cheese, cut into cute little bite-size pieces.  I opted for the cheddar and people were popping them down like popcorn!  But, just like the real deal, this cheese doesn't taste so great when warm, so dig in early. 

Last on the plate, a little vegan chocolate.  Just in case, I get a sweet tooth and well let's be honest, there will be nothing there for me to satisfy it; I come armed with my own vegan goodies.  Luckily, there is a local candy shop that offers vegan delights in my backyard of Lakewood, OH, Sweet Designs Chocolatier!  Their truffles are to die for!  If Ohio is not in your neck of the woods, check out my Sweet Treats page for online sites catering to anything you need to make your Christmas sweet!

If you're looking for me, I'll be over by my platter.

Keep it "healthier" this holiday season!

FINALLY! A Longwear Vegan Lipstick

Since going vegan in the food category, I have also been overhauling my make-up to be vegan as well.  I achieved this primarily with the help of 100% Pure, which uses 100% food grade quality ingredients, which are both vegan and organic (except for one bar soap that contains goat milk - WTH Pure?).

The last great hold out was my coveted longwearing lipstick.  I had been addicted to Revlon's ColorStay and Cover Girl's Outlast collections for years!  They really do last all day, through meal after meal and sometimes through to the next morning (can be a little hard to remove).  Needless to say, I was having a hard time finding a suitable vegan replacement.  Until now...

I am head over heels in love with Lime Crime's Velvetine's longwearing lipstick collection!

 

"Lime Crime products are PETA verified vegan and Leaping Bunny certified cruelty free. Our products do not contain any animal-derived ingredients. As part of the Leaping Bunny pledge, our suppliers also certify that no animal testing is ever performed at any point in our supply chain."

The colors are super rich & super saturated! These luscious liquid lipsticks dry to a matte finish, which can feel a little drying, but I found applying a gloss or lip balm over/under lessened the longwearing affects, so I just got used to it.

There are a tone of non-traditional, fun colors (black, green, gold, grey etc.), but I kept it tame with their Cashmere a grey beige and Teddy Bear a lilac brown.  Still, these colors standout and make your lips get noticed (in a good way).

Once you open the bottle, you instantly know that these are not your typical lipstick - the aroma of vanilla cookies hits you immediately and you can't help but giggle.

Now do they work - YES THEY DO!

You do need to avoid oily foods (no problem for this WFPBOF chick) and it's better to blot your lips rather than wipe after a meal, but other than that - expect your lip color to stay put with minimal, if any touch-ups (I think it depends on what you put your lips through...).  Check your teeth after applying, but beyond that, you won't get any transfer.

I make sure to apply a lip balm before going to bed, so that my lips are ready to go in the morning.  If my lips are dry and flaking, I use a warm, wet wash cloth to smooth them out.  At the end of the day,  I use coconut oil to remove.  I little bit of maintenance, but I say it's worth it!

Check it out!

Hoff's Super Quick Pancakes

Hoff's Super Quick Pancakes
Yields: 10-15 pancakes
dairy-free, egg-free, oil-free, soy-free, gluten-free

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups Rolled Oats
• 1 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
• 1 ripe Banana
• 1/2 cup Vegan Chocolate Chips
• 3 pitted Dates
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
• Pinch of Cinnamon
• Pinch Sea Salt

Directions:

1. Throw all ingredients (except Chocolate Chips) in a high speed blender, like a Vitamix
2. Blend until smooth, about 30 seconds
3. Turn to lowest setting and dump in Chocolate Chips until mixed in, about 5 seconds
4. Cook like any other Pancake, but on a non-stick pan, using no oil

 Hoff Thoughts: I made these little babies on my Cuisinart Griddler - love that thing!  Check your batter while mixing, if it's too thick, add a touch more Milk.  Try subbing Blueberries for the C Chips!

Best Meditation Music 2015 by SoundScapes 20 Minutes