READ: 8 Simple Healthy and Green Travel Tips by Carolyn Scott Hamilton

This is the year your going to do it, right? You’ve saved, you picked the place and you’ve even set a date. But you want to travel as healthy and green as possible as it will save you money while also being nice to mother nature. Well, here are a few easy tips to help you get to your exotic destination, the healthy and eco way!

1) Carbon offset credits – Flying is one of the biggest fuel guzzling acts anyone can partake in. And unless you have unlimited time and funds, chances are you won’t be sailing across the globe to see it. Flying is a necessary evil but by purchasing carbon offset credits, you can rest easy knowing that the money will be put to good green use!

2) Bring your own bottle -Always, always, always bring your own water bottle. For health and hydration but also to keep plastic bottles out of the landfills. I don’t leave home without my reusable glass bottle!

3) Eco lodging -Do your best to stay at green friendly hotels. More and more, hotels and motels are going green by providing everything from hypoallergenic, organic rooms and bedding, to dual flushing toilets, etc. Many exotic resorts are super green so relax in green luxury, worry free!

4) Drink your veggies – When traveling, being sure to keep your health and immune system in proper working order is key. Sometimes it’s tough to get in a great salad or big plate of veggies so opt to bring a vitamin packed veggie powder that you can mix in water and drink up. My fave is Go Greens by ToGo Brands as each packet, mixed with 8ounces of water, is the equivalent to 6 servings of veggies!

5) When in room – Instead of having housekeeping change your sheets and towels every day, skip a day or 2 to save on the water and electricity it takes them to wash your not-so-dirty goods. Also, make use of your room and prep meals there by keeping left overs on ice and using your coffee pot to heat up food and soups!

6) Eat veg -Depending where you are in the world, eating vegetarian is easier then other spots. But you can always load up on local produce and fruit for snacks instead of opting for packed junk food like chips and cookies! Get to know local foods and cultures by checking out nearby markets and taste testing their goods!

7) Take walking or bike tours – When traveling, it’s fun to do some touristy stuff and take guided tours. Look for walking or biking tours so that you get some exercise in and steer clear of gas guzzling buses. Good for you and good for the planet!

Don’t break from your routine – Ok, so you might not be able to hit the gym every day or eat as healthy as you like but letting yourself go completely while away makes it much more difficult to return to normalcy upon your return home. If you can squeeze in some stretching, a brisk walk and most importantly, being mindful of what you eat, you will thank yourself later!

Wherever you go on your next trip, make it healthy and green!

Technorati Tags: Green travel, healthy travel, travel tips, vegan travel, vegetarian travel

READ: Healing ~ Name it, Move it, Mind it, Soul it! by Em Claire

And did you get what you

wanted from this life, even so?

I did.

And what did you want?

To call myself Beloved, to feel myself

beloved on the earth.

 (Raymond Carver, Late Fragment)

It was a springlike day, my close girlfriend and I sitting with hot mugs of tea, watching the hail and the sun alternate outside the window. We were sharing comfy galpal time together on a spacious Sunday afternoon, but with the intention of “keeping it real” – a shared intention not to simply get together and engage in our stories about ourselves, or our stories about others – but to do The Work with our beliefs, a process discovered and shared by the beloved Byron Katie, author of Loving What Is.

Sometimes I’ll ask my friends how I can best support them when they come to me with stuff roiling and boiling, churning and turning. Would it be most helpful if I just listen and say nothing, allowing them to get it all out?  Would they like my feedback afterward, or would they like me to simply bear witness and listen with compassion?

In this case, my friend wanted both – to get it all out, and then to have me reflect back to her what I heard or observed, and any insights I might have. “I got it,” I said. “Go for it!”

So she began to tell me about something that had recently happened between herself and her mother. At one point, when she was really rolling, she said, “You know I just hate my mother sometimes,” her face darkening, her lip shaking with a mixture of deep anger and sadness. “Okay,” she said, “I don’t really hate my mother – I don’t hate anything – but she makes me so angry.” At this point I felt drawn to interrupt her flow, not wanting to miss what I felt like was an important moment.

“Hon?” I said. “You know how I shared with you about a friend of mine who keeps having these ongoing dreams at night  where he is hollering and yelling at the top of his lungs at his parents?” Her eyes lit up and she said, “Yes!” already sensing where I was going. I said, “Well, what I’m picking up on is that in those seemingly unsolicited dreams he must be speaking from a very real, very young place that needs to say those things.”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t any longer try to be “spiritual” or lofty about what feels like hatred or rage but I would name it – and then find a way to express that stuck energy in a way that’s not harmful to myself or anyone else. Then the log jam is finally moving and we are more free and in the flow and coming from a more balanced place from which to address the Mind, and to work with the core beliefs we took on as an infant, or a toddler, or young child or teen, and have carried with us for often many decades.”

My friend said, “That’s exactly right, Em. It reminds me of a process I use where I allow my body to “tone” sounds but don’t allow them to become words or anything intelligible. I drop into that feeling of anger or sadness and then just let it rip, allowing whatever sounds to come, and allowing my body to move in whatever way it does during that time – being kind to my body in the process, of course. I used to wait until I was alone in my house for a few hours and knew no one would be coming and going, and then do this practice. Even more healing was to have a close friend watch and witness it, feeding back to me what they saw that might provide even more insight later. I realize that this part is for those of us who are a little less self-conscious, but it’s profoundly helpful.”

“This is really timely,” she went on to say, setting her writing journal and pen aside. “This is exactly what’s needed before I next look at the beliefs I have around my relationship with my mom. I’m glad I’m reminding myself about this in the form of our conversation today!”

*

A day or so later I was recounting this experience to my husband in the dawning hours of the morning, triangles and rectangles of light playing across the ceiling above our bed. He said, “Yes. I agree wholeheartedly. In fact, if I may, I would add a another piece to that process. – I would say that once you have approached it from the Body, and the Mind, you want to definitely come back around and include the Soul. I’m not surprised that you are right on top of this, because in the book I’m writing right now I’m addressing the identical topic, and our explorations always seem to be right in sync.”

“Yes, Honey! – “I said, replumping my pillow emphatically. “But what I notice about myself and many of us who have been on “the spiritual path” is that we have learned to bypass what we actually feel, and we edit ourselves – even to ourselves – in order to try to fit the saintly, or enlightened ideal we have conceptualized. We try to “be” farther along the path than we actually are in that particular moment. And I think this serves no one, but only serves to increase our resentment that will come to the fore later. That’s why I no longer want to skip over what has been true for me in my body for years or decades or perhaps many generations – I want to move and release that stuck energy. Expression is our birthright and our natural state, and I think when we weren’t allowed to express in those moments our individuality or what was true for us, that energy stayed “stuck” somewhere and now is a time when we can lovingly bring our adult, aware attention to it, and allow it to move on. Let’s hear it for Recycling!”

“Agreed,” he said, apparently missing my awesome Recycling reference. “You don’t try to leap to the Soul’s perspective first – but without that larger perspective, I believe that it would be hard for any of us to make any “logical” sense of the seemingly complex relationships we have in our lives, and why they are appearing in our reality to be experienced. And my belief is that they will – keep appearing in our experience – until we understand what it is they are trying to show us.”

These are the kinds of things my Beloved and I awaken at five in the morning and lie in bed talking about. Then, we bound out of bed and onto our laptops, warmed by socks and robes and by having been met, and having felt heard.

And for me, the crucial part about having someone in my life who can truly hear me is that it has given me a cellular experience of feeling expressed and heard, which can then help me to listen to myself more of the time and yes – “to call myself Beloved; to feel myself beloved on the earth.”

As I wrote this article, I came up with a mantra to help bring consciousness to any moment in time when I feel suddenly as if something young, or deep in me has been triggered:

Name it, Move it, Mind it, Soul it

Naming it is simply telling the truth to yourself about yourself. It’s a momentary truth, but if you’re feeling it, you’re feeling it. Too late to pretend it didn’t come up and rationalize it away. So be gentle with yourself. You are really BE-ing with You, for perhaps the first time in your life!

Moving it can be done in a number of ways, too many to count here. I’ve used 1) Exercise: running, biking, or even walking straight up a steep hill to really get the energy moving out of my solar plexus 2) Yoga 3) Breathing Techniques 4) Singing 5) Chanting 6) Dancing 7) Laughing Toning/Moaning/Crying

Specific techniques focused on clearing the emotional body might be found on the following website, as it begins by introducing the idea that we each have a “signature sound” we came in with, and that once we discover this, it can be used to heal and balance our own mind/body whenever we choose to. As you read on, you will come to the section on releasing trauma, etc. if that is a particular section that is calling out to you.  http://www.juliarogershamrick.com/articles.html?article=vocal_toning&title=Vocal%20Toning:%20Discover%20One%20of%20Your%20Power%20Tools

Minding it is turning our attention toward our longstanding thoughts, beliefs, and concepts that make up one’s constant inner dialogue and I’ve yet to find anything more helpful than Byron Katie’s process called The Work. If you are new to it, you can watch every video on her site, or on Youtube, and then download the worksheet (lovingly called the “Judge Your Neighbor” worksheet) having become more familiar with the 4 Questions and what are called “Turnarounds”.  There is also a 24-hour free helpline where facilitators will take you through The Work. To find this number click on Resources, after visiting the homepage at:  www.thework.com

I have also found great value in a book by Richard Moss that was recently published called Inside-Out Healing. I give it Five Stars!

Souling it can of course be achieved in countless ways as well, and although Neale is my husband, I try mightily not to frequently bring his material into my own website or into blogs so that no one feels as if they are being “upsold” once there. However, his books had a tremendous impact on my life back when I was 23, and this many years later, I continue to see incredible value in what he brings through for each of us to contemplate. Although the SouLogic Process is found in the When Everything Changes, Change Everything addendum workbook by Neale, and will appear as a deeper exploration and explanation in The Only Thing That Matters (his next book due out this fall), I wanted to give you a link here to his website where he has posted the process as well as a transcript of him taking someone through it, creating the possibility for someone to acquire a much broader understanding of what has transpired in their lives, and to find a place of true peace with what has happened.   Click here:  http://www.nealedonaldwalsch.com/index.php?p=doc&c=soulogicprocess

(To read the transcript section first, scroll down to The SouLogic Process in Action, once there.)

My wish is that in the sharing of what is working for me, others may also benefit. Please always trust your own inner guidance as to whether any of these tools are timely for you.

All My Love and Deep Blessings, as we end this Chapter & Verse blog entry with, as always, a poem…

 

A Mind Full of Joy

 

Whereas the Heart is used to being

the only place where Love is found

a Mind full of joy

draws the Heart like a moth,

into a surprisingly different flame.

A flame where nothing burns -

no wings are forfeited.

As if God stretches the length of The Home

to abide in every room at once,

 simply

because

We

can

*

“A Mind Full of Joy” – Em Claire ©2008 – All Rights Reserved

Technorati Tags: Em Claire, Neale Donald Walsch, Poet, Poetry, staying spiritual, When Everything Changes Change Everything

READ: Healthy and Vegan Food Trucks Sweeping The Nation by Carolyn Scott Hamilton

Well, what was once a few trucks with crazy long lines popping up here and there has now become a nationwide phenomenon. With major metropolitan cities everywhere joining in the mobile food movement, the varieties have become as unique as the cities they are found in. And with variety, comes options for special diet diners.

So with no further a due, here is The Healthy Voyager’s Round Up of food trucks all across America that feed the hungry, veggie and health conscious masses!

Los Angeles ( and surrounding areas)

• The Kogi Truck – The truck that started it all has a number of great vegggie korean bbq options
• Sea Birds – 100% vegan and organic all the time
• FrankenStand -  100% vegan hot dogs in a horror themed cart
• Dosa Truck – Lots of vegan Indian food options
• The Nacho Truck – Great Mexican vegan options
• Organic Oasis – Eco and organic truck with a ton of raw vegan options
• Sweet E’s Bake Shop – Dessert truck with lots of vegan options and some gluten free
• The Green Truck – Eco friendly truck with all natural options and tons of veggie goodies
• Mandoline Grill – Vietnamese food with great vegan options
• Smokin’ Willie’s – BBQ with vegan options
• Frysmith – French Fry truck with vegan options

San Francisco, CA

• Sunny Vibrations -Eco-vegan awesomeness
• The Pie Truck – Has veggie pies

Portland, OR

• Homegrown Smoker – Vegan BBQ and Comfort Food
• Unicart – Vegan mythical beast food
• D.C. Vegetarian - Veggie truck with lots of vegan options
• Native Bowl – Vegan bowls
• Sneaky Kitty – Vegan Thai
• Off The Griddle – Veggie and vegan burgers
• The Biscuit Bike – Vegan biscuits and gravy
• The Pedal Kettle – Eco-vegan kettle corn

New York , NY & New Jersey

• The Cinnamon Snail – 100% vegan and organic breakfast, lunch and dessert truck
• The Desi Truck – Indian food with veggie options (Manhattan)

Miami, FL

• The Mac N’ Food Truck – 100% vegan comfort food, specializing in awesome mac n’ cheese and other yummies

Chicago, IL

• Soul Vegetarian – run by the makers of Ste. Martaen vegan cheese and Soul vegetarian East, this food truck serves up 100% vegan food

Providence, RI

• Like No Udder – 100% soft serve vegan ice cream truck

Durham, CT

• GMonkey – Eco and vegetarian, local and seasonal truck

Dallas, TX

• Good Karma Kitchen  – Organic vegetarian truck

Austin, TX

• CCV - Vegan food trailer

Washington, D.C.

• The Fojol Bros. Truck – A traveling culinary carnival with veggie options

Boston, MA

• Clover Truck – Veggie and vegan organic options

And there’s more and more popping up every day! Be sure to leave a comment if you know of one we should add to the list!

Technorati Tags: Carolyn Scott Hamilton, Food Trucks, Healthy Diet, healthy food trucks, inspiration, nationwide food trucks, travel, vegan dining, Vegan Food, vegan food trucks, vivid life, wellness

READ: Vernal Equinox – The Day of Light ritual by Tony Samara

The first day of the ancient calendars falls on the March equinox, the first day of spring, the day of light. At the time of the equinox, the sun is observed to be directly over the equator, and the north and south poles of the Earth lie along the solar terminator; sunlight is evenly divided between the north and south hemispheres.

It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical, vernal equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. The moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year.

In association with the “rebirth of nature,” extensive spring-cleaning is a wonderful ritual to honor as the birth of a new year. This is also extended to the personal aspect with ones intention of this day as it is especially powerful for the rest of the year and often will affect the outcome of the rest of the year. So, if a person is warm and kind to their relatives, friends and neighbors on the day of light then the new year will be a good one.

It is wise to begin with cleaning homes, known as ‘spring cleaning.’ This is observed days before the day of light. Clean every part of your house, dust furniture and wash carpets. This is practiced to welcome the new spring season with freshness.

On the day of light the fire ritual, where a silver urn with a small fire nourished by sandalwood and 7 haoma seeds and the silent contemplation of light, allows for the fire symbolically to purify the inner fire of Divine Love.

Everyone present to the fire ceremony can toss a sandalwood twig into the fire, intending the offering to represent the relinquishing of some attachment or psychological limitation that one wishes to be consumed by the fire. The ritual thus symbolizes the physical representations of surrendering and giving up desires and limitations to the light of Divine love.

 

Tony Samara, author of ‘Shaman’s Wisdom,’ ‘From the Heart,’ ‘Different Yet the Same,’ and ‘Deeper than Words’ was born in England, grew up in Egypt and also in Norway where he discovered the “Zen Buddhist philosophy”. This discovery eventually led him to the “Mount Baldy Zen Center in California, USA” where he learned the spiritual teachings of “Kyozan Joshu Sasaki.” He had curiosity to explore further the essence of spirituality and thus went to live and learn with shamanic communities around the globe including a period of time spent with some highly influential shamans in the Amazon River region and the Andes Mountains. Now people from all over the world visit Tony Samara to take spiritual guidance and experience being in his presence. http://www.tonysamara.org/

Read more from VividLife.me bloggers:

READ: How can I be closer to my dream today? by Tony Samara

2012 is here and with its approach there are many interesting ideas, theories and reactions to the numerous changes we find ourselves in.
We are at the beginning of a New Era and many are reflecting on what has been and what they would like now to be a more fundamental part of their inner and outer experience and what their intentions are for this exciting era. Others find themselves reflecting as to how yet another year has slipped by without fulfilling all their goals and dreams…

READ: What You Want Already Exists by Hemal Radia

What you want is ready for you. What you want is outside of your door ready to come in. The moment you had the desire, it was ready…the Universe had what you want all ready for you, starting with it in vibration. Your job is to get into alignment with it via your vibration so as to let it in.

Technorati Tags: Buddhism, equinox, First Day of Spring, inspiration, Meditation, mindfulness, self actualization, Spiritual Guidance, Spirituality, Tony Samara, vivid life

RECIPES: Gourmet Gridiron ~ Healthy, Vegan and Gluten Free Super Bowl Menu and Recipes

The holidays are behind us but an all American tradition is coming up quick, Super Bowl Sunday! No matter if you actually watch the game or are just there for the commercials, the best part (at least for me) is the food!  It’s the centerpiece of the party and a bottomless pit of mindless eating for about 4 hours. So why not make the food awesome and on the healthier side? Vegans or not, check out this year’s menu so whether you’re a sports fan or not, you’ll be looking forward to the food!

Game Day Guac

• 3 avocados, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped
• 2 ears corn, grilled and kernels removed
• 1 jalapeno, finely chopped
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1-2 clove(s) garlic, finely crushed and minced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Combine the avocados, corn, jalapeno, onions, cilantro, lime juice and garlic in a bowl and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with organic tortilla chips or crudite.

Kick Off Popcorn

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup popping corn kernels
• 2 tablespoons melted vegan butter
• 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspooncayenne pepper

Heat oil in deep pot over medium high heat. Add corn. Cover pot and pop the corn, shaking pan often. Remove from heat. Drizzle with melted butter. Combine spices in a small dish and sprinkle the blend over hot corn. Serve.

Field Goal Green Salad

For the dressing:

• 1/2 cup Champagne vinegar
• 1 tablespoonDijon mustard
• 1 shallot, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup almond oil
• Salt and pepper

For the salad:

• 12 ounces mixed field greens
• 1 bunch green asparagus, grilled then diced into 1-inch long pieces
• 1 sweet white onion, sliced thin
• 1 cup slivered almonds

For the dressing:

Whisk all ingredients except almond oil together. While whisking, slowly drizzle in hazelnut oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside until ready to serve salad.

For the salad:

When ready to serve toss greens, asparagus and vinaigrette together, seasoning with salt and pepper. Place a generous handful on each salad plate, top greens with onions and sprinkle with slivered almonds.

Winter Tailgate Chili

For the Roasted Garlic:

• 12 cloves garlic, unpeeled
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the Chili:

• 12 shallots, chopped
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 chile peppers (chipotles a re great)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons all purpose flour (gluten free if desired)
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 7 cups vegan chicken broth made from vegan chicken bullion
• 4 cups shredded cooked vegan chicken (like Gardein) or cubed pan seared tofu
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 15-ounce can navy beans, undrained
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/3 cupvegan heavy cream ( 1 block of silken tofu (12-ounces) and 1/2 cup of plain soy milk. Blend in blender until thick and creamy and there are no more lumps )
• 1 cup grated vegan mozzarella or Monterrey Jack cheese

Make the roasted garlic: Toss the 12 cloves garlic with the olive oil and 1 teaspoon water in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover, leaving a vent, and microwave until soft, about 90 seconds. Let cool, covered.

Prepare the chili: Preheat the broiler. Cook the shallots in the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat until caramelized, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, place the chiles on a foil-lined broiler pan and broil until charred on all sides, turning, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let cool. Peel the peppers with your fingers or a paring knife. Stem, seed and chop.

Add the minced garlic to the shallots and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until toasted, about 3 minutes. Increase the heat to high and add the wine; simmer 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Add the roasted chiles, 6 cups broth, the chicken, chili powder, cayenne, beans, and salt and black pepper to taste. Return to a simmer.

Meanwhile, squeeze the soft pulp from the roasted garlic into a blender or food processor. Add the remaining 1 cup broth and process until smooth. Add to the chili and simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes, adding the spinach during the last 5 minutes. Add the paprika and cream and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with the cheese.

Punter’s Vegan Chicken Pizza

• 3/4 pound vegan chicken breast cutlets (1 package and a half of vegan chicken cutlets)
• Olive oil
• 2 teaspoons grill seasoning
• 1 pizza dough, store bought or from your favorite pizzeria (gluten free if desired)
• Cornmeal or flour, to handle dough
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter
• 1 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce
• 2 to 3 tablespoons hot sauce, spice level per your taste
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1 cup shredded vegan mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/2 cup sliced olives
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Preheat grill pan to high.

Place chicken on a plate and drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the chicken then season with grill seasoning. When grill is hot, add chicken and cook about 3 minutes on each side.

Stretch dough to form pizza using cornmeal or flour to help you handle it. If you let it rest and warm up a few minutes it will handle even easier. Set pizza on pizza pan to the side and clean board.

In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt butter and stir in Worcestershire, hot sauce, and tomato sauce.

Remove the chicken from grill and thinly slice it. Add chicken to sauce and coat. Cover the pizza dough with the saucy chicken, cheese, olives and scallions. Bake 18 minutes or until crisp.

Football Cake Pies

• 1 cupsugar
• 1 /2 cup vegan shortening
• 2 egg replacers
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1 1/2 teaspoonsbaking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup vegan buttermilk ( 1 cup plain soy milk with 1 teaspoon of apple cider or coconut water vinegar, set aside to curdle for at least 15 minutes )
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Filling

• 1 pound vegan cream cheese, softened
• 2 sticks vegan butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 baking sheets and set aside.

To make the cake pies, in a large bowl using an electric mixer, cream together the sugar and 1/2 cup of the shortening. Add 2 egg replacers and mix well.

Onto a sheet of waxed paper, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk. Add 1 teaspoon of the vanilla and mix well. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake until tester comes out clean, about 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and cool on wire racks.

Lay half of the cookies flat on a work surface. Divide the filling among the cookies, spreading out to the edges. Top with the remaining cookies to form sandwich pies. Cover tightly and refrigerate before serving. Pipe remaining icing over top of the pies in the design of football threads.

White Chocolate Maple Brownies

• 10 tablespoons unsalted vegan butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pan
• 1 cup walnut pieces
• 2 cupsall purpose flour (gluten free if desired)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 3 egg replacers, mixed (EnerG is best)
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 6 ounces vegan white chocolate

For the Topping:

• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 6 tablespoons vegan unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup vegan heavy cream( 1 block of silken tofu (12-ounces) and 1/2 cup of plain soy milk. Blend in blender until thick and creamy and there are no more lumps )
• Vegan vanilla ice cream, for serving
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces

Brownies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang on two sides; butter the foil. Pulse 1/2 cup walnuts in a food processor until almost fine (do not overprocess). Whisk the ground nuts, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

Beat 10 tablespoons butter and thebrown sugar with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg replacers, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in the vanilla. Gradually beat in the dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in the white chocolate and the remaining 1/2 cup walnuts.

Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake until the brownies are light brown around the edges and spring back when pressed, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly on a rack.

Meanwhile, make the topping: Place the maple syrup and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until the mixture bubbles and thickens, swirling the pan, about 6 minutes. Add the cream and continue to cook until the mixture is the consistency of caramel.

Use the foil to lift the blondies out of the pan, then cut into large bars. Serve warm topped with ice cream, the maple sauce and the walnuts.

Technorati Tags: cooking, food, gluten free, healthy, party food, Recipes, Super Bowl, vegan, Vegetarian

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