Summer Party Ideas & Recipes

Hello everyone,

Are you busy preparing for the long holiday weekend? If you’re like me, that means three trips to the grocery store to pick up all the items you keep forgetting and hours in the kitchen obsessing over which side salad to make for your guests. Well I’ve got a helping of 4th of July Party Ideas & Recipes ready to go. And the one thing I know I don’t have to worry about is which faux meat to grill.

My hands down, favorite veggie dog is the LightLife Jumbo Smart Dog. This slightly larger dog actually fits the length of traditional hot dog buns, and it has the perfect texture + taste combo. Try it topped with a little mustard, ketchup, red onion and vegan cheese.

It’s so good and without the guilt—it’sonly 100 calories with 3.5g of fat and 4g carbs, plus it has 13g of protein! Even better, they are vegan and non-GMO. Healthy and hot dogs don’t exactly go together like pb&j, but this veggie dog seems to do the trick!

These veggie dogs are especially good if you lightly char them on the grill. And I do mean lightly. If you let them go too long, they’ll blacken and get a little “rubbery.” However, if you cook them just long enough, it makes for the perfect summer snack! If it’s a rainy day youcan also use a griddle. As you head to the store this weekend, remember to pick some of these up. Right now you can save $2.00 off any two LightLife products through Mambo Sprouts.

Okay. So now you know which veggie dog to cook. What else? Well for me, I’ll probably whip up a creamy, vegan old-fashioned coleslaw or maybe opt for an asian-inspired slaw. Of course, I have to make my signature macaroni salad, and maybe a summer bean salad, too. Plus, you can’t forget dessert! Perhaps I’ll go with vegan Rice Krispie Treats or maybe some melty, satisfying s’mores if the weather is just right for a fire.

Tell me, what are you planning for your holiday weekend?

Cheers!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Additionally, I received Light Life coupons for free products in return for my honest review. As always, all opinions are my own!

Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream

Hello everyone,

Looking for a place to grab an iced soy latte, vegan-friendly lunch, or perhaps a sweet treat? Check out my updated list of my favorite vegan-friendly places around Northeast Ohio under Vegan Cleveland. Just added—Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream.

Ah, summer. A time to relax, spend time with friends, and enjoy ice cream on a hot day. Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream serves up summer treats using only the best locally sourced organic ingredients. Plus, they generally have two vegan flavors, currently vegan salted caramel pecan and chocolate. Looking for a fruiter option? Mitchell’s also makes sorbet (lemon, mango, and raspberry) without dairy and it’s fat free!

I highly recommend getting a single scoop of the vegan salted caramel pecan on a sugar cone! The rich coconut milk flavored with homemade toasted pecan butter, caramelized brown sugar and sea salt is delicious! You’ll fool all your dairy loving friends with this sweet treat! Next time you’re in Northeast Ohio be sure to give this local ice cream parlor a try!

Cheers,

Jocelyn

*Disclaimer – I received these products free for testing. All opinions are my own. I only work with companies and brands I personally support.

Recipe: Vegan Zucchini Roll Ups

Hello everyone,

If you know me, you know that I love pasta, but sometimes I want something a little lighter with drastically less carbs. Spiralized carrot or zucchini is certainly on trend, but for whatever reason I simply want my noodles to taste like noodles. I can’t help it! Not to worry – there are many other healthy pasta alternatives, and my new favorite is a hearty helping of vegan zucchini roll ups.

This recipe includes all the flavor you seek in an Italian dinner, but no heavy pasta. You simply use finely sliced zucchini, sort of like a lasagna strip. The dish also includes my new favorite nut cheese which uses a mixture of pepitas, tofu, and Daiya mozzerella. It’s so, so good, and it’s much better for you than traditional ricotta cheese. Aside from the rich flavor, the best part of this recipe is that it has a quick cook time, and the “rolling” is actually quite fun.

I think this would be the perfect dish to make with your loved ones help! Please give it a try and let me know what you think!

Cheers and happy cooking!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own!

Continue reading “Recipe: Vegan Zucchini Roll Ups” →

Recipe: Vegan Basil Rhubarb Crisp

Hello everyone,

It’s summer and that means one thing—it’ time to make crisps and crumbles full of unique flavors! I recently visited my local farmers market and was so happy to find rhubarb! Most people mix rhubarb with strawberry, but I like to let the rhubarb flavor shine on its own. I updated my old recipe and perfected a new and improved vegan basil rhubarb crisp.

The basil adds a savory twist which helps tone down the natural acidity from the rhubarb. The result is a sugary, but not too sweet, dessert that pairs perfectly with vegan whipped cream or ice cream. This crisp is sure to please everyone at your next summer potluck, plus it’s so easy to make! It requires only eight ingredients and takes under an hour to complete. Head to your local farmers market and pick up some beautiful red-green stalks today!

Cheers!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own! Continue reading “Recipe: Vegan Basil Rhubarb Crisp” →

Recipe: Vegan Vanilla “Birthday” Cupcakes

Hello everyone,

I recently blew out the candles for my 30th birthday. Where did the time go?! The weekend was filled with family, friends, lots of laughter, and of course, plenty of good food! When it comes to baking for my loved ones, I go all out with flavor and style. But for me, I like to keep my own birthday treats simple.

I love a perfectly done vegan vanilla cupcake. The light airy cake, topped with a sweet icing and sprinkles – it can’t be beat! There is something so comforting and special about it. I’ve been making these cupcakes for years, but I recently doubled the amount of time I let the soy milk and apple cider vinegar curdle. I have to say, it made a huge difference! I’ve never had cupcakes so fluffy!

Give this updated recipe a try and let me know how it works for you!

Cheers & happy eating!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own!

Continue reading “Recipe: Vegan Vanilla “Birthday” Cupcakes” →