Feature Friday: Cupcakes and Kale

It's time again for FEATURE FRIDAY!!!!

This week, I'm featuring CUPCAKES AND KALE! It's an adorable little website run by Jessica from Ontario, Canada. 

I thought this blog was ADORABLE from the moment I first saw it. Two of her favorite things are, clearly, cupcakes and kale! Hence the name. Jessica also says on her blog that "there is the potential to make the world and infinitely better place everytime we sit down to eat.  embrace that here." She is a vegan who shares delicious looking recipes and healthy lifestyle advice for everyone. She also has a nice little pantry page, where she lists all the things she likes to keep within hands reach. 

Not gonna lie; I really want to make her Raw Chocolate Raspberry Mini Pies. Not only are they super cute and tiny, but they look delicious! And I've really been into the raw thing recently. Not that I've been eating a lot of raw foods (kind of hard when I'm so involved with RA training these couple weeks!), but that I WANT to be eating a lot more raw foods. Things that are better for me. Maybe once training is over, that can happen. 

Also, let's talk about her Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes. They look amazing! Thick, fluffy, chewy... these gluten-free beauties look wonderful.

And, Blueberry Lemonade Cupcakes!!! You all know I LOVE a good cupcake. Not GF, but it could totes be made GF. 

Basically, I love this girl. She is adorable, and so is her website. Check her out when you get the chance!!! 


Much love, 

Feature Friday: Barefoot and Frolicking

First of all...I want to apologize for this posting on...well... a Saturday. NOT a Friday. I've been scrambling to pack and finish some last minute things for college tonight, seeing as I move back into the dorms tomorrow! As usual, I have WAY over-packed. Blame my enormous amounts of food and cooking supplies. And the fact that this year I have to bring a fridge, TV, and microwave. I always feels CRAZY when I move in because I have to much stuff!!! It's kind of ridiculous. Does anyone else seem to have a problem with over-packing?

This week, I'd like to feature Barefoot and Frolicking, a vegan/raw/gluten-free blog!

I know; it's a been a while since Marlie last updated. Not since July 19, to be exact. Still! This blog features a lot of great recipes, information on health related topics, and raw foods. I especially like this website BECAUSE of the amount of info on raw foods, which is something I really want to work towards more and more. I feel my best when I eat raw and healthfully, and one day, I hope I can eat *mostly* raw!

Take a look at her raw cake pops:

Don't those look FANTASTIC?! Here are some more photos of this girl's raw cacao creations:

For those of you familiar with the Raw Cake Pop Challenge, Marlie's Mulberry Maven Cake Pop won first place in this year's competition! Click here to see the post about her cake pop and see pictures of the top three entries!

Basically, this girl is an EXPERT at make raw chocolates. And I am very envious of her. 

Her blog features many recipes that are NOT just sweets. She features breads, main courses, appetizers, salads, soups, sides, dressings, smoothies, and more - even restaurant reviews and pictures from her cooking classes! 

This site is great. Check it out for yourself. You'll love it! 

Much love,

Feature Friday: One Sweet Vegan

It's that time again: Feature Friday!

This week, I've chosen Emily over at One Sweet Vegan. Emily is a mother of 3 children and is the only vegan in her household. What a challenge! I can really relate to Emily because my boyfriend is an omnivore, and it can be hard to eat meals together when he wants a steak and I want vegetables! Although I am willing to cook meat for him if he buys it, Emily never cooks meat, which I think is a great stance to have.


"When I first switched to the vegan lifestyle, I didn't realize the huge possibility of truly great meals that are possible if you just get into the kitchen and cook," Emily says on her blog. So true! Becoming a vegan made her get in the kitchen and start experimenting with her own, fresh recipes instead of relying on fake meat substitutes. And the recipes that she shares look delicious, that's for sure! 


Recipes like...

Copycat Cheddar Bay Biscuits. I want to make these!!!


Breakfast Sandwich

Yam and Avacado Panini with Garlic Mayo

Don't those look amazing?! Yum. 

Go check this girl out. Emily definitely knows what she's talking about. 

Much love, 

Feature Friday: Almost Vegan Chef

Hello friends! It's time again for Feature Friday! That means it's time to feature another fabulous blogger!

This week... it's Chef Amber Shea, the Almost Vegan Chef!

Dang. This girl is B-U-S-Y. She was named Hot Raw Chef of 2011 by Living Light International and is writing her first raw foods cookbook, scheduled to be published in 2012 by Vegan Heritage Press. That's CRAZY!


She graduated with a degree in Linguistics from the University of Kansas in 2006, then went on to study raw foods at the Matthew Kennedy Academy and later became certified as a nutrition educator by the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute.


Talk about knowing your stuff!


She eats a mostly vegan and raw diet, although on occasion she does eat a bit of honey or baked goods containing eggs/dairy. She says she hopes her blog will be "enjoyed by a range of people: “true” vegans looking for food without politics, vegetarians leaning more towards veganism, or anyone who finds a vegan or raw diet alluring but has the preconception that it’s too difficult, complicated, time-consuming, limiting, or expensive. "


True that! Her food looks absolutely amazing, especially the things she made in culinary school. Like...

Pesto Beet Ravioli!

Almond butter/banana/honey gelato. Substitute agave nectar, anyone?

Raw cheeses!

Oh my goodness. I'm so FREAKING JEALOUS of her. Why can't I be a chef? I want to go to culinary school... 

So, yeah. Check out her website: Almost Vegan Chef!!! You won't be disappointed!

Much love, 

Feature Friday

Hello everyone! :) How has your week been?

It's that time again...Feature Friday! Who is it this week, you may ask?

Why, it's none other than Chocolate Covered Katie! 

Her Single Lady Cupcakes. YUM! And individual serving sized recipes too!

Katie is a vegan who strives to make all unhealthy snacks healthy and delicious. One of my favorite things about her site is her individual portions of things - one serving cupcakes and bowls of ice cream. She is also known for her fudge babies - little raw balls of joy made from dates, cocoa powder, vanilla and walnuts. Yummy!

Of course, her Cookie Dough Dip looks phenomenal to me. And it uses chickpeas as its base!

Plus, anyone who can make these little doohinkers (aka...Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes!) must be amazing.

Doesn't that look absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!!!????

I've been inspired to start making just individual cupcakes and brownies and anything sweet. I overindulge ALL THE TIME. Like today for instance. I ate too much sugar and am feeling ridiculously sick at the moment.

So, basically, you should head over to this girl's website and check it out. She is sweet, and her food looks amazing. Plus, it's super healthy and much better for you than anything you can buy in the store! And her food photography is amazing.

Much love,

Feature Friday

Welcome to the new Feature Friday!

That's right. Starting now, I will feature another blogger on my website EVERY friday.  But this award (The Daisy Award!) is not just given away to ANY blogger. 

Oh no. 

"This award is given to fabulous vegan bloggers who make their readers smile with personal stories, delicious recipes, and fabulous tips. You appreciate the beauty in life while in the moment, and that’s an important part of living! Compassion comes from the inside out; as a vegan blogger, your compassion shines through your heart and is apparent in the words and memories you share everyday with your readers. You change the world, and for that, you’re truly a daisy: something that captivates and brightens people’s day. Congratulations!" 

The above is what I will be sending in an email to each person I choose to feature, along with a list of questions for them to answer on their blog. They will also be asked to link to 5 other bloggers who make them smile. Sound good?

I'm excited!

For my first Feature Friday EVER, I've chosen Chef Katelyn!

Wowza. Can I just say, this girl INSPIRES me on a daily basis. 

Katelyn is a runner, health food enthusiast, recent high school graduate, and fabulously down to earth girl who makes me smile. 

Why, do you ask?

Well, she writes like she speaks (or at least, that's what it seems like to me!). Her vocabulary cracks me up, and she calls her readers her "bloggy boos," as well as makes up other random words to describe things. 

She also stays away from sugar, so for those of you who love sweets but hate sugar, check this girl out! Her recipes use Stevia (a natural, plant-based sweetener) and seem sinfully delicious. I would love to make her Sinless Chocolate Fudge Cake sometime! 

She also really shares herself through her blogging. She shares memories, stories, and heartfelt thoughts to her readers on a daily basis, which I think is great. As you all know, I have a passion for seeing the beauty in life and remembering all the great times I've had. It's all about being compassionate, making people smile, and loving the life you life. Katelyn totally does that!

So, head on over to Chef Katelyn right now and check her out! Post your thoughts below and let me know what you think, or if you have any nominations!

Much love,