REVIEW: November Favorites

I can’t believe it’s DECEMBER?!?! Last month flew by, but I did manage to find some new favorites to share with you. Before I get into that, I have to say how grateful I am for my family. If you follow me on Instagram, you know all about the amazing Thanksgiving we had, but for those who do not, my mom announced this year we would have a 100% vegan holiday! No one complained, no one questioned where the turkey was and everyone ate until they couldn’t eat anymore. My heart was so happy and at peace for the first time in several years. So, thank you, Mom, for hosting such a wonderful dinner and family gathering.

Our 2014 Vegan Thanksgiving Menu:

• Creamy Artichoke Spinach Dip (Dreena Burton’s Plant Powered Kitchen)
• Hummus
• Chips and Salsa
• Lentil Walnut Loaf (The Oh She Glows cookbook)
• Fluffy Buttermilk Vegan Mashed Potatoes (The Vegan 8)
• Mom’s homemade gravy
• Magic Skillet Cornbread (The Vegan 8)
• Peas with Scallions and Dill (Veggies Don’t Bite)
• Stuffing
• Cranberry Sauce
• Dave’s Killer Bread Rolls (the only thing that wasn’t gluten-free)
• Pearl Onions in a Cashew Cream Sauce
• Caramel Crusted Pumpkin Loaf (The Vegan 8)
• Cinnamon Apple Pecan Crisp (The Vegan 8)

Last month, we also donated to the Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt-a-Turkey program. If you’re interested in learning more about that, please click HERE

Ok….moving on to what I intended to write about!

NOVEMBER FAVORITES:

Oh She Glows Cookbook:

I have wanted this cookbook for so long and a friend sent it to me this as a gift last month…it has quickly become my favorite book. If I had to recommend one vegan cookbook to anyone, this would be it. Packed with amazing recipes, using wholesome every day ingredients, Angela Liddon has created a cookbook that everyone could love.

Some of the recipes we’ve tried so far….

Life-Affirming Warm Nacho Dip, Gym Rat Smoothie, Velvety Pumpkin Pie Smoothie, Lentil-Walnut Loaf, Out-the-Door Power Chia Doughnuts, Apple Pie Oatmeal. All have been FANTASTIC! We’re trying one of her soup recipes this week for dinner.

Suja Elements: Call Me Pumpkin (Holiday Edition)

I love all things pumpkin and it makes me sad that there aren’t more vegan, gluten-free and soy-free options among the hundreds of holiday items that come out in stores. If you’ve been following my blog, you already know how much I LOVE Suja! Whole Foods seems to always have their juices/smoothies on sale, so when I saw this I had to try it. Pumpkin pie in a bottle! Not overly sweet with just the right amount of cinnamon, clove and ginger. Oh, and did you notice it has blackstrap molasses?!

The next two products I’m sharing with you are both from Portland, Oregon…

Pacifica Enlightened Gloss (Nourishing Mineral Lip Shine) – Ravish:

I was a bit hesitant about buying this color (I tend to stick to really light/nude colors), but it was perfect. It has a very subtle tint and lasts a long time. It’s 100% vegan, cruelty-free and DOES NOT contain: carmine, talc, FD&C color, parabens or petroleum. Portions of proceeds also help support clean water….what’s not to love?!

I picked this up at Target for $11.99

Camamu Black Beauty Soap:

I’ve been wanting to try a facial soap that contained charcoal and/or clay because those ingredients are so beneficial for your skin. I was so excited to find this at Natural Grocers (for just under $6) and even happier to see that it was an Oregon product. I’ve been using it now for a little over a month and really enjoy it – I’m not a fan of strong scented facial soaps, so this was perfect and I love how soft and smooth my skin feels after each use. I normally try to avoid products that contain palm oil, but seeing that it is RSPO-certified, I felt better about buying it.

De Casa Organic White Corn Tortillas:

Another Oregon company, these are hands down the best tortillas I’ve had. Since having to go gluten-free seven years ago, I miss having a tortilla that really holds together – one that doesn’t break the second you take a bite out of your taco/wrap. I was amazed at how soft and sturdy these were; they actually reminded me of a flour tortilla….if only they were a little bigger! They offer both white and yellow corn tortillas, but my family preferred the white ones as they were softer.

We found them at Natural Grocers in the refrigerated area for $1.89

Zimtal Nut Milk Bag:

I meant to include this in my Summer Favorites post and forgot again the last couple months….this is literally the best nut milk bag I’ve ever used. Since making our own nut/seed milks, I’ve gone through four bags. The one before this ripped after just one use. This current one has a super fine mesh – leaving your milk free of pulp. It’s also insanely easy to clean! Another great way to use this bag is to rinse your quinoa 🙂

You can find this nut milk bag on Amazon for $9.99

Happy December!

Thanks for stopping by! ❤