Holidays

Vegan Artichoke Spinach Dip Recipe (Gluten-Free)

by Livvy

Discover the delicious secret of our Vegan Artichoke Spinach Dip: a creamy, healthy, gluten-free treat that’s easy to make and packed with flavor.

DIY Gold Leaf Wreath

by Livvy

I was in a crafty mood recently and decided to whip up a wreath. I’m so into GOLD. For the longest time, gold was not in fashion. Well, it’s back and I love it. I love gold jewelry, gold dishes, gold decor, gold shoes, you name it. So, why not a gold wreath? One that can be used for both fall and winter. Just swap the ribbon for a festive red one or add a few sprigs of holly…and bam! it’s a Christmas wreath. Kind of like that other wreath I made.

This isn’t complicated, folks. Pretty simple stuff.

You’ll need:

14″ straw wreath
2.5″ wide gold ribbon
scissors
glue gun and glue sticks
small plate or piece of cardboard (for the hot glue gun)
gold leaf floral stems (I got mine at Hobby Lobby in the floral department and used 3 of them.)
(optional) wide ribbon for hanging

I waited for a floral sale at Hobby Lobby and got them for 50% off (originally about $10 each). Used my 40% off coupon for the ribbon. The straw wreath was only about $4. And I already had scissors, glue gun, glue sticks. So I spent about $25 on materials.

Vegan Kale Salad with Blackberries and Toasted Coconut-Pecan Clusters (Gluten-free)

by Livvy

I used to think kale was only used for garnish. I mean, really, who eats that stuff?! I don’t know about you, but I am not a fan of plain ol’ raw kale. It’s bitter and tough and has a terrible aftertaste. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to transform this super nutritious leafy green.

A little lemon, a little olive oil, some salt/pepper, and of course, TLC in the form of massage (yes, that’s right—massage) and suddenly kale is not only tolerable, it’s delicious. Especially when you toss in fresh blackberries and toasted coconut-pecan clusters. Now we’re talkin’.

Vegan Kale Salad with Blackberries and Toasted Coconut-Pecan Clusters Gluten-free

Honestly, you can sneak kale into just about anything. If I have extra kale, I wash it, spin dry it, de-stem it, tear it into bite-sized pieces it and freeze it. Then I can toss a handful in a smoothie. Or toss the whole bag in a pot of soup. It’s great for juicing, too—stem and all.

For those of you who are totally anti-kale, try spinach instead. And if blackberries aren’t readily available, try raspberries, strawberries or blueberries—or all of the above. Dried cherries would be great as well. No pecans on hand? Walnuts will work, too.

These toasted coconut-pecan clusters are amazeballs. In fact, it’s kind of hard not to eat ’em all right off the pan. Sweet, salty, nutty, and perfectly crunchy. More, please. They would make a great hostess gift during the holidays. Fill up a small canning jar, tie on some festive ribbon and you’re good to go.

Oh, and your house will smell heavenly while they are baking.

If you have trouble finding unsweetened coconut flakes, try your local health food store or order online.

Vegan Coconut Lemon Tart (Gluten-free)

by Livvy

I wonder if other countries get carried away with national flag-themed food the way we do in the U.S. Do a search for “Fourth of July desserts” on Pinterest and you’ll get a smorgasbord of inventive red, white and blue creations. I’m gonna take a wild guess and assume we do this better than anyone else.

Because we are obnoxious Americans. We are loud and proud. We love our flag. And we love food. So what’s better than food that resembles our flag? (The answer is a lot of things are better than that, but let’s go with it for today.)

The raspberries and blueberries on this Coconut Lemon Tart are a subtle nod to Old Glory. A simple, understated reflection of our national colors that doesn’t require layering vanilla ice cream, raspberry sorbet and blue cake. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Vegan Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies (Gluten-Free)

by Livvy

A moist, chewy Pumpkin Oatmeal cookie that is both vegan and gluten-free. Excellent recipe!

Vegan Apple Tart (Gluten-free)

by Livvy

This Apple Tart is SO GOOD! It has a 5-ingredient crust with a buttery, shortbread-like flavor and texture. The filling and glaze are equally simple and impressive. The end result is a beautiful, healthy dessert with a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors. A crowd-pleaser that will quickly disappear long before you’ve had a chance to mention it’s vegan and gluten-free.