Peanut Butter, Banana, & Chocolate Chip Hemp Protein Shake

WOW!

That is the one word I have to describe this delicious smoothie/shake. I say "shake" because that's exactly what it resembles. My hubby was pleasantly surprised when he tasted it and said, "Babe, this is so good. It tastes just like a shake!" And yes, it does.

Let me just say that going gluten-free and vegan doesn't mean you have to sacrifice taste! You can have delicious food just like you're used to! Not only is this recipe extremely good, it's also super easy to make. All you're doing is throwing some ingredients into a blender.

What you need:

1 c. Almond milk (or other dairy-free milk)

4 tbs. organic hemp protein powder (I used Manitoba Harvest brand) 

1 tbs. PB2 powdered peanut butter (or regular peanut butter)

1-2 tbs. cocoa powder

1 banana

handful crushed ice

1-2 tbs. chocolate chips

What to do:

Add all of the ingredients into the blender, making sure you add the chocolate chips last, so they don't sink in. Blend immediately and enjoy. :)

See?! Super easy, right? I'm positive you're going to love this smoothie for breakfast, lunch, or maybe a late night "sweet tooth" snack attack. *wink, wink*

Thanks for reading!

D.

Linked to:

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Hemp Starter Pack Review!

*Disclaimer: I was not in any way compensated by the company for giving my opinion of this product. These are just my honest views and opinions and should be taken as such.


Hemp Foods. Heard of them? Maybe you haven't yet. 

If not, here is what you need to know.

A Little About Hemp

 

The hemp plant is a very versatile plant that can be used for food, fibers, plastics, paper, etc...

 In my opinion, the most important fact about the hemp plant is that it is a true superfood. 

Hemp foods are packed full of protein, omega fatty acids, fiber, and other essential nutrients like chlorophyll, folic acid, and important B vitamins. A few great things about hemp foods is that they are GMO-free, gluten-free, and vegan friendly. Also, compared to other health foods on the market, hemp foods are very affordable. 

A Little about the Company 

source

Manitoba Harvest is the world's largest hemp manufacturer to grow, harvest, make, and sell their very own unique line of hemp foods. The company is dedicated to the quality of it's hemp foods "from seed to shelf" and that's all they make and sell. 

 Click here to check out Manitoba Harvest's mission statement. Click here to check out the story of it's co-founder, Mike Fata, and how he was able to lose weight and live healthy largely due to hemp foods and they're great health benefits.

A Little About My Order 

 

I've been reading about hemp foods for awhile now and finally decided to purchase an Organic Hemp Starter Pack from Manitoba Harvest. Included in my starter pack was organic Hemp Hearts, organic Hemp Protein Powder, and organic Hemp Oil. 

I must say the package arrived a lot quicker than I had expected it to. I ordered on Monday and received on Friday. Of course, as you can see, the packaging is beautiful and endearing. I was happy to find the sweet little welcome letter enclosed in the box, too. It just added to my excitement in trying these new-to-me hemp products.

 I immediately started taking the organic Hemp Oil and took the 30 Day Hemp Oil Challenge. In my opinion, the oil had a pretty pleasant taste, compared of flax seed oil. I wouldn't mind taking it every day, for sure.

I also made a delicious Hemp Protein Chocolate Chip Shake (recipe coming soon!). The taste of the protein powder was very subtle. I was a little apprehensive after seeing that the powder was green (as was the oil). Since I take a lot of green supplements, I was expecting a distinct "greens" taste, but to my surprise, it wasn't there! It blended perfectly into my smoothie and I'm excited to keep adding it in every day. 

 I tasted the hemp hearts and was delighted to find that they're taste was very nutty, almost like almonds. Adding them to my salad was effortless and extremely tasty. I can't wait to try these delicious little babies in some other recipes, too. 

If you're thinking about trying hemp foods, but are a little hesitant, I would encourage you to give them a try. They're delicious and packed with great nutrition benefits. 

The Organic Starter Pack I purchased is only $37.99. Considering what you get, I think it's an excellent deal. Also, in celebration of this month being Non-GMO month (created by the NON-GMO project), Manitoba Harvest is offering this special 20% off discount on their online store products! All you need to do is simply enter the code: nongmo2013 in the checkout to automatically receive your discount!  This offer expires at midnight on October 31st, so be sure to take advantage of it ASAP! 

If you would like to learn more about Manitoba Harvest or hemp foods, check out there website or their Facebook page.

Thanks for reading!

D.

{DIY} Dryer Sheets

I’m super excited to share a quick little tutorial with you today!

Let me just give a little back story with this…

When I found out I was expecting my second child, I started looking for healthier home solutions that would save me money, too. Once I started doing a little research, I found a TON of great homemade recipes for cleaners, baby products, and personal care products.

I slowly started to implement homemade cleaning products and personal care products into our lifestyle. It’s still a work in progress, but very rewarding, as well!

Here’s a little tutorial for Homemade Dryer Sheets.

If you are contemplating living a more “green” lifestyle, then I would encourage you to try these out!
I realize that dryer sheets aren’t that expensive, but why not use up some things that you probably already have on hand? And one of the best parts is, my daughter is able to help me make these!

So, here’s what you need:

Directions:
Place flannel squares into wipes box. Whisk ¾ c. warm water with ¼ c. natural fabric softener in bowl.

Pour mixture over flannel squares evenly.

Close lid and gently shake box to combine.

Then, voila! You have your Homemade Dryer Sheets!

Just be sure to gently shake the box before each use, that way all sheets will be completely covered in fabric softener.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Let me know how these work out for you! :)

*Linked to Make Your Own Monday's 

 

{Vegan} No-Bake Muffins

Today, I'm sharing with you my FIRST EVER vegan recipe on the blog! (I'm a little too excited, can you tell??) ;)

It's nothing complicated and you probably have most, if not all, of these ingredients already in your pantry. I'm sharing my version of No-Bake Muffins. These little cuties never last too long in my household. My kids and I gobble them up, usually within 24 hours....they're just delish! But the best part about these muffins is that they are Vegan and Gluten-free.

I don't know about you, but sometimes, as a mom, I find it very hard to find lunch and snack ideas for my kids that are super healthy, yet still taste yummy and appeal to them. I think we would probably all agree that it can be challenging. I ,personally, don't want my kids loaded up on foods with refined sugars, so I steer clear of store-bought granola bars and treats.

That's why I love this recipe! It doesn't contain any white sugar, hydrogenated oils, or artificial dyes and preservatives. It's totally fresh and healthy for the kiddos AND gluten-free for Mom!

No-Bake Muffins (Vegan & Gluten-free)

Yield: 6 muffins

All you need is:

1 banana, mashed

2 Tbs. Sunflower Butter (I used Once Again brand)

1 c. gluten-free oats (I used Bob's Red Mill brand) or regular oats

Handful of each:

Shredded coconut or sliced almonds (or both!)

Raisins or Craisins

(optional) Splash of Coconut or Almond milk*

(optional) fresh fruit for topping, such as berries

What to do:

Grease muffin pan with Coconut oil. Mash banana in bowl. Add in oats, sunflower butter, coconut (or almonds), craisins, and splash of milk. Mix ingredients together until well-incorporated. Using large ice cream scoop, spoon filling into muffin cups. Lightly press down filling to take on the muffin mold. Cover muffin pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate over night. In the morning, carefully remove muffins from pan and store in refrigerator. Top with fresh fruit when served.

Don't worry if the muffins turn a brown color, it's just what the banana does when it's refrigerated. They're still perfectly fine! :)

*I add a splash of milk just to make them a little more moist.

I hope you enjoy these super easy muffins! Let me know in the comments below if you tried them and how they worked for you! Have a splendid day!

*Linked to Make Your Own Monday's
 &
 Healthy Vegan Friday's #66
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Fitness Friday's
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Mindful Mommy Monday's