Vegan | Dessert Darling

Archive for Vegan

Healthy Super Bowl Dessert to Cheer the Niners to Victory!

By Dessert Darling · February 1st, 2013

YEA!!!! Today I’m flying to New Orleans to watch the 49ers go the distance at the Super Bowl- How exciting! Good thing this isn’t the early 2000s, or else I’d be bummed I was missing the Britney Spears commercials (ha). While I won’t be attending any home parties this year, I still recommend these darling Chocolate Covered Strawberries. These treats are festive, delicious, and practically a health food compared to the other items that abound at Super Bowl parties.

GO 49ers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers!

Vegan Baked Pumpkin French Toast by Edible Perspective: My Sweet Pick of the Week

By Dessert Darling · November 9th, 2012

Yummers, this Pumpkin French Toast by Edible Perspective looks amazing. That said, I would so be using real eggs and milk instead of that flax-water vegan shiz (though I’m happy for all the spared chickdees in Edible’s version).

To see the recipe for this titillating fall dessert (breakfast?), click here.

Best Vegan Carrot Cake by Jamaica’s Cakes in Los Angeles

By Dessert Darling · October 26th, 2012

I’m not vegan, or even vegetarian for that matter, so I was pretty skeptical when I found out the Carrot Cake at my friend’s birthday was vegan. I mean, really!? (I thought)… Vegan Cream Cheese frosting?! Cheese isn’t cheese if it’s not made with cheese, ya know?! Alas, the Cream “Cheese” frosting and the whole cake in general, for that matter, tasted amazing.

Color me impressed.

An easy Golden Cherry win for this Vegan Carrot Cake by Jamaica’s Cakes in Los Angeles!

For more info on Jamiaca’s Cakes, click here.

Pumpkin Pie at Hugo’s Restaurant with Lynn Chen of The Actor’s Diet

By Dessert Darling · October 8th, 2012

Just two weeks after brain surgery my dear friend Lynn Chen treated me to lunch at Hugo’s Restaurant (her post here). It was my first time at this awesome establishment and I was giddy as a tumor-free DD to see such a massive selection fresh foods. Whether you’re gluten free or vegan, Hugo’s has your dietary needs covered – Nice!!!! My favorite item was the incredibly decadent Quinoa & Cheese (versus Mac & Cheese) dish. YUM.YUM. But (Sigh)- this all said, it makes me sad to report that the Pumpkin Pie was kind of terrible. It tasted too strong of molasses and lemon and had a weird tofu-like consistency, even though tofu was not an ingredient in the dish. Hmmmm. Sorry Hugos, but only 1.5 cherries for your Pumpkin Pie. Worry you not though, I will surely be back for more Cheesy dishes!!! I am growing bone back on to my skull, so a girl needs her Calcium! ; )

For more info on Hugo’s Restaurants in S.California, click here.

Organic Cashewtopia: Raw, Vegan, Dairy, Soy and Sugar Free Gelato

By Dessert Darling · August 12th, 2012

((sigh)) As much as I appreciate an all natural attempt at traditional desserts, Cashewtopia fails to deliver on something amazing. This organic, raw, vegan, low glycemic, dairy, soy, and sugar free gelato uses way too much agave nectar, which makes it too sweet and drowns out the natural flavors that they offer (pistachio & chocolate being my favorites).

That said, the consistency and quality of this raw, agave “gelato” is pretty well done, so I think the saccharine sweetness of the flavors could be an easy fix.

And- am I wrong to want the branding on the tub to be a little cuter? Maybe that sunshine logo needs to be smiling.. I dunno. Again, I want to support brands like Organic Nectars, but they have to meet half way.

For more info on Organic Nectar’s Cashewtopia, click here.

Mint Chocolate Milkshake from Cafe Gratitude

By Dessert Darling · July 5th, 2012

What does a Dessert Darling eat the day before her wedding? Why, a healthy milkshake, of course! Thankfully there was a Cafe Gratitude in the adorable town of Healdsburg where I could take all of my bridesmaids for a special, pre-wedding lunch. While the girls ordered fabulous, savory dishes, I happily settled for this Chocolate Mint Milkshake that I could justify thanks to the Vitamineral Green that they sneak in there. The shake was incredibly yummy and I think I’ve officially become obsessed with Cafe Gratitude!

To learn more about Cafe Gratitude, a California organic, vegan restaurant chain that features amazing Raw desserts, click here.

Thank you Autumn Reeser for snapping this photo!

XOXO

Thinny Thursday: Eat Chocolate- Stay Thin with Hail Merry Macaroons

By Dessert Darling · March 29th, 2012

Well Glory Hallelujah! Yet another scientific study that touts the merits of Chocolate! This study essentially states that those who eat chocolate on a regular basis are thinner than those who don’t, even though they do not eat fewer calories or exercise more. WOW! So THAT’s how I do it! Seriously, I eat chocolate every morning after breakfast since I’m not a coffee drinker.

In honor of this outstanding Thinny Thursday news, I’m sharing with you these raw, vegan, gluten-free Hail Merry Chocolate Macaroons to feed your fix in an even healthier way. Made without refined sugar, these delicious treats still boast dark cocoa for all your chocolate needs. They’re Sooooo delicious I ate the whole bag in one sitting. Oops.

For more information on Hail Merry, click here! (I found my bag in Whole Foods).

Organic Rice Divine Carrot Cake Frozen Dessert- YUM

By Dessert Darling · March 19th, 2012

Love Ice Cream but avoiding dairy? Love Carrot Cake? Are you Vegan or Gluten Free? Well this glorious pint of Organic Rice Divine, Carrot Cake is just the treat for you then. I discovered this Good Karma treat in the frozen aisle of Whole Foods and it sat in my freezer for days before I finally caved in and tried it. The extremely flavorful and sweet dessert totally surprised and delighted me. Not only did the “ice cream” part sing of carrot cake, but also it contained actual chunks of carrot cake bites in there for fun texture. YUM. While dairy substitutes are never quite as creamy as the real deal, Rice Divine is still fantastic, thus earning itself a solid 4 cherries!

ps: I bet their Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge is amazing too!

For more info on Good Karma Foods, click here.

Dairy Free Gelato at Akasha Restaurant in Culver City

By Dessert Darling · March 2nd, 2012

I adore Akasha Restaurant in Culver City for serving delicious, sustainable, and organic food for carnivores and herbivores alike. Their desserts have always delighted me, so it was no surprise that I inhaled these scoops of Dairy Free Gelato that you see here. I had two scoops of the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip made with soy milk (YUM!) and one scoop of the Chocolate made with hemp (decent). This gelato was a little on the sweet side since it lacked dairy fat to temper the sugar. However, if you can handle sweet desserts, the Peanut Butter Chocolate chip was a delicious dairy-free alternative to real gelato.

For more info on Akasha Restaurant in the newly happening and hip Culver City, click here.

The BEST Chocolate Bar for your Dark Chocolate Fix

By Dessert Darling · February 23rd, 2012

If you didn’t already know it, dark Chocolate is GOOD for you. And if you want some solid reasons why, here are nine of them from Everyday Health. Even before I had substantial proof of this glorious fact, I’ve been a firm believer in keeping the kitchen supplied with a token bar of chocolate- If not for everyday health, then at least for emergency’s sake. I’ve played around with my chocolate bar choices over the years, selecting whichever bar seemed to jump out or intrigue me the most on the Whole Foods shelves. There’ve been hits and misses and it’s high time that I share with you the absolute best bar that there is.

The #1 Chocolate Bar is……….(those dots are a drum roll)…… Dark Chocolate Quinoa- Midnight Crunch by Alter Eco Fair Trade!!!!

Sure there’re fancy little icons at the bottom of the bar signaling that they have a Zero Carbon Objective, it’s certified Fair Trade, and USDA organic- Also, on the back you learn its Free of GMOs (wohoo!), Gluten Free, No artificial Flavors, Vegan, Swiss Made etc! All feel good markers indeed, but really? This bar just tastes the best. :-9

For more info on Alter Eco Chocolate, click here.