heartyspoonful

"Just for the record darling, not all positive change feels positive in the beginning."

- S. C. Lourie

• 1 large sweet potato or 3 small-medium, roasted until soft
• 1 cup gluten-free oat flour
• 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 10-12 large dates, pits removed and soaked in hot water
• 2-4 tbsp maple syrup, at room temperature
• 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Dark chocolate
• Frozen raspberries

• 1 1/4 cups raw buckwheat groats (not kasha)
• 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
• 3 tbsp hemp seeds
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 cup hazelnuts (raw or roasted, your choice)
• 1/2 cup flaked almonds
• 3 tbsp melted coconut oil
• 3 tbsp maple syrup at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla 
• 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
• As much cinnamon as you like
• Pinch of cardamom
• 1/2 cup dried fruit of choice (I used a quarter each of raisins and dried cranberries)

"We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far."

- Swami Vivekananda

At this point, five paragraphs deep, you might be asking yourself when does the darn recipe start? I'm getting to it, okay? We might as well get to it because... let's be honest, sometimes even just typing is exhausting. (FYI, this recipe is pretty much a mash up of my vegan carmelitas (for the crust) and my gluten-free apple blondies because, ya know, I like to recycle.)

I could you all day, every day this autumn!

Vegan Gluten-Free Apple Crisp Squares
Makes 9-12 squares

Crust Ingredients:

• 1 cup gluten-free oat flour
• 1 1/4 cups gluten-free oats
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 3/4 cup coconut oil, melted

Apple Topping Ingredients:

• 4 apples of choice, peeled and chopped into chunks
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 tbsp coconut sugar
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp tapioca powder
• 2 tsp lemon juice or apple cider vinegar

 

"So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring your flowers."

- Jorge Luis Borges

• 1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained & rinsed
• 1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax + 6 tbsp warm water)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup jam (recipe below)

• 2 1/4 cups frozen fruits (blueberries, blackberries, cherries)
• 4 tbsp maple syrup
• 3 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

"I'm starved for connection, not attention."

- Anonymous

To tell you the truth, I've been stalling to post for a few weeks now. It's the longest writer's block I've ever had to go through. I mean, if there isn't a grade to earn, I suppose my brain just shut down and didn't even bother. So, the recipe sits here and because I just want it printed out, I should just go for it, no gimmicks or sarcastic commentaries.

When I transitioned to veganism, brownies were the first mountain I had to climb. Avocado brownies were such a foreign concept even back then. But I tried and it all worked out for the better. Guess who makes brownies almost every week now? Obviously, since variety is the spice of life, sometimes you just have to change it up once in a while. Basically, Minimalist Baker helped me keep it spicy. Dana is such a creative soul that sometimes, I find myself adding so many of her recipes in my favourites folder. Not a bad thing, really. Because I was on a chocolate kick, I decided to try out her recipe for vegan peanut butter swirl brownies. I mean, come on, PB and chocolate? When have I ever turned down this combo? (Way, way back when, I used to fight my brother for Reese's PB Cups on Halloween... Although, I don't think there was much need for that because he hated them.)

YESSSS

Vegan Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Brownies
Makes 9-12 squares
Adapted from Minimalist Baker

Ingredients:

• 1 15-ounce can black beans, well rinsed
• 2 flax eggs
• 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup dark chocolate chip + more for topping

 

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."

- John Burroughs

• 2-3 ripe bananas, depending on size
• 1/4 cup tahini (or nut butter of choice)
• 1-2 tbsp brown rice syrup (or maple syrup), depending on sweetness desired
• 6 tbsp aquafaba
• 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp coconut flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• Cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• Add ins: Chocolate, medjool dates

"What horrifies me most is the idea of being useless: well-educated, brilliantly promising, and fading out into an indifferent middle age."

- Sylvia Plath

• 1/3 cup tahini/smooth almond butter
• 1/4 cup softened coconut oil
• 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp coconut sugar
• 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax + 6 tbsp warm water)
• 1/3 cup coconut flour (plus a few tbsp, depending on consistency)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• Pinch of salt

• Dark chocolate
• Dried cranberries
• Vegan white chocolate
• Crushed Oreo cookies