Big Savings at VeganEssentials!

Save 10% This Tuesday through Thursday at VeganEssentials!

"It's always a great time for a discount - these days, every bit of savings is always a big help, so Tuesday through Thursday (October 8th - 10th), you can save 10% on all items with coupon code "oct2013" while this special offer lasts!   
This coupon is good on all of the 2000+ unique vegan products in stock, only two exceptions are cold shipper bags/boxes for mailing refrigerated/frozen foods and cat/dog food over 9 lbs. in total weight.
Be sure to act fast and save before this special ends, and look for email updates soon on new Halloween treats coming in next week!"
- The VeganEssentials.com Staff

The Right Kind of Ivory

Happy National White Chocolate Day!
Once you've had this velvet-smooth ivory-hued confection you'll want to try it in everything...oatmeal, cookies, as a dip for your pretzels or as a frosting on your cupcakes!

You can buy it...Dairy-Free "White Chocolate" Chips by Lieber's are available at grocery stores, health food stores and online at VeganEssentials.
Or you can make your own...

White Chocolate from peta2

and nibble on it all day, or make some mighty ivory-studded muffins!

Blueberry Muffins with White Chocolate

from Mihl at seitan is my motor

Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins

from Zoe at VeganEasy

Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins

from Kari at Bite-sized Thoughts

Red White and Blue Muffins

from Michele Borboa at SheKnows

Triple Chocolate Chunk Muffins

from christina's kitchen

Banana White Chocolate Muffins

from Deb at maple•spice

White Chocolate Orange Corn Muffins

from joniceline at Fatfree Vegan Recipes

Mike N's Quadruple Chocolate Muffins

from Caroline at Tea and Sympatico

How would you celebrate National White Chocolate Day?

Butterscotch Bliss

Happy National Butterscotch Pudding Day!
Another yumful all-day treat!  :)

Butterscotch bliss in a bowl, clockwise from top left...

Butterscotch Pudding (almond milk base)

from Ashley Adams at About.com

Butterscotch Pudding (cashew base)

from Mary at Well on Wheels

Butterscotch Pudding (tofu base)

from Bex at how to feed a vegan

Butterscotch Pudding (coconut milk base)

from Katie at The Veg Mom

Now bump up your butterscotch...

Butterscotch Pumpkin Overnight Dessert Oats

from Jessica at Desserts with Benefits

Ricotta-Stuffed French Toast with Salted Butterscotch Sauce

from Erin at Olives for Dinner

Butterscotched Pumpkin Apple Cake

from Janet at Vegan Feast Catering

Butterscotch Pudding Bread

from Hannah at BitterSweet

No-Bake Butterscotch Cornflake Cookies

from Stacey at Southern Bite

Butterscotch Pecan Cookies

from Mel at veglicious!

Butterscotch Brownies

from Annie and Dan at Meet The Shannons

Butterscotch Finger Cakes

from Nikki at The Tolerant Vegan

Peanut Butterscotch Fudge Bites

from Chef Tina Jo

Peanut Butter Butterscotch Granola Squares

from Jessica at Desserts with Benefits

Vegan Coconut Butterscotch Bars

from Dana at My Little Celebration

Mary's Chocolate Chip-Butterscotch Scotcheroos

from Michelle at Earning Your Apron

Butterscotch Brownies

from Trina at Your Vegan Mom

Butterscotch Bliss Balls

from Tera at The Body Enlightenment Blog

FYI...Vegan Butterscotch Baking Chips by Lieber's and Dairy-Free "White Chocolate" Chips by Lieber's are available at VeganEssentials!  :)

I want to mix some buttery rich pudding in with my oatmeal and my smoothie and my cashew butter sandwich.  ;)
What would you do with butterscotch pudding?

Happy Happy Joy Joy...It's Happy Happy Pi Day!

The mathematical value of Pi is 3.14...Today is 3/14...Got that figured out?  ;)
Actually it's just a slightly geeky excuse to eat pie all day which is fine by me. I found this fabulous recipe by superkitchenwhiz Hannah that is oh so sweet and sophisticated, in slices or on a stick!
A frozen pie treat while there's still snow on the ground? Well heckyeah! Because it's easy and elegant and also happens to be perfect for a certain green-themed holiday on the horizon.  ;)
Cheers!

Frozen Grasshopper Pie

from Hannah at Bittersweet

*Dandies marshmallows are vegan masterpieces! They taste authentically marshmallowy right out of the bag, and they do get all melty just like a fine upstanding marshmallow should, even on a stick over a campfire. :)
You can buy them online at VeganEssentials or Pangea, and locally at Outpost!
(Capitol Dr. has them for sure...call the other locations to check availability.)

Pie Infinitum...

Blueberry Banana Pie Vegan Overnight Oats 

from Angela at Oh She Glows

Raw Apple Pie Pudding (Vegan, GF) 

from Jenn and Jac at Sketch-Free Eating

Fresh Fava Pot Pie 

from Hannah at Bittersweet

French Lentil and Mushroom Tourtière Pie 

from Maggie at The Vegan Cookbook Aficionado

Peach-Blueberry Pie with Lavender and Coconut Scented Crust 

from Lauren at The Jolly Fox

Big Vanilla Bourbon Apple Pie 

from Amy at Fragrant Vanilla Cake

No Bake Mango Beet Cream Pie 

from Vegan Richa

Gluten Free Vegan Banana Cream Pie 

from Paula & Chlo

Incredible crusts...

Flaky Pie Crust 

from Mattie at VeganBaking

Classic Buttery Pie Crust 

from Arielle at Your Vegan Girlfriend

And one more green one...

Vegan Grasshopper Pie 

from Debbie at Maple ♥ Spice

I'm definitely a fruity pie lover...Blueberry, banana cream, spicy apple, peach and strawberry are my top 5.  :)
What are your top 5 pies?

S'mores and Stuffables

Goodgolly not only is it Girl Scouts Day, but it's also Chocolate Chip Cookie Week!
Every Girl Scout worth her merit badges can make deliciously squishiously marshmallow S'mores...now combine those with classic Chocolate Chip Cookies and you have THE perfect dunkable!
These will be double batchers...one for my friends and one to fill my giant cookie jar.  :)

S'mores Stuffed Cookies 

from Shannon at leaves and flours

S'mores Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies 

from The Chubby Vegan

Chocolatey S'mores Galore...

Gluten-Free Vegan Graham Crackers + S’mores Bites 

from Allyson at Manifest Vegan

Frozen Smores! Smores Ice Cream Sandwiches 

from Kathy at Healthy. Happy. Life.

Side-by-side Chips and S'mores...

S’mores Shots in Chocolate Glasses 

from Kristina at spabettie

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies 

from Dreena via Novel Eats

Are all dark chocolate chips vegan? Nope.
Find Vegan Chocolate Chips at VeganEssentials...yay!

Given a choice, would you rather have a jar full of S'mores or Chocolate Chip Cookies?  ;)

Happy Hamantaschen :)

Hamantaschen are traditional triangular-shaped Jewish pastries, typically filled with fruit, seeds, chocolate or cheese. Back when I worked in a bakery those deliciously tasty triangles always sold out superquickly!
Last night I helped a friend find vegan recipes for them so here's what we found!

Vegan Hamantaschen

from Nava Atlas

Mom's Hamantaschen, using EnerG Egg Replacer
from In My Vegan Life
Vegan Hamantaschen, using EnerG Egg Replacer
from Deborah at VegSource
Vegan Hamantaschen, using bananas
from Raquelita via Food52
Vegan Hamantaschen, using silken tofu
from Elana at The Inventive Vegetarian
Vegan Hamentashen, using applesauce
from The Vegetarian Resource Group
Vegan Hamantaschen
from ShalomVeg (use vegan margarine)
Gluten Free Vegan Fruit Hamantaschen
from Rhea at The "V" Word
Gluten Free Dairy Free Vegan Chocolate Raspberry Hamantaschen
from Elana's Pantry
Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Hamantaschen
from Erin at Style It Kosher
How to Make Perfect Hamantaschen: A Baking Tutorial
from The Shiksa in the Kitchen
(not vegan but an excellent photo-filled step-by-step guide!)

On Sale!
At Outpost...Crofter's Organic Fruit Spread, through 2/26/13
At Sendik's Food Market...Saturday's Deal of the Day is Strawberries 3/$5
At VeganEssentials...Organic Sustainably Grown Coconut Palm Sugar by Navitas Naturals, 16 oz bag is $5.49 (reg.price)

What are your favorite Hamantaschen fillings? I love fig and blueberry!  :)

Swirlalicious!

It's Cream Cheese Brownie Day!
Brownie Nirvana, yumfully perfectly swirled! 

Vegan Cream Cheese Cherry Swirl Brownies 

from Amy at Fragrant Vanilla Cake

More cream cheese brownie heaven...
Cream Cheese Brownies
from Zombie Cook
Spiced Apricot Cream Cheese Brownies
from Cat at The Verdant Life
Cheesecake Brownie
from Adriana at Vegan Magic
Brownie & Cheese Cake - All in One
 from Sonal at Vegan Mantra
Wheat-free, Vegan Pumpkin-Cream Cheese Brownies
 from Marla at Vegan Feminist Agitator
Peanut Butter Brownie Cheesecake
from Rebecca at Vegan Dreamer

You can find agave nectar at most healthier food stores and online at VeganEssentials!

What’s another favorite brownie swirl-in for you? I’m all for vegan caramel!

Gummy Yummy Vegan Goodness!

As the last day of National Candy Month, let’s sweeten things up with vegan gummy candies!

 

All Fruit Gummy Bears

from Kristy at The Naked Kitchen

Raspberry Jelly Candy

from Rachel at Coconut & Lime

More gummy goodness…
Apple Cider Jelly Candy
from Lisa at The Frugal Vegan
Vegan Gummy Worms
from Lady Make
Pumpkin Pâte de Fruits
from Hannah at BitterSweet

Notes:
Most of these gummy candy recipes turn out best if left to set overnight.
A note about agar and gelatin alternatives from PETA:
"Keep in mind that highly acidic ingredients, such as lemons, strawberries, oranges, and other citrus fruits, may require more agar-agar than the recipe calls for. Also, enzymes in fresh mangoes, papaya, and pineapple break down the gelling ability of the agar-agar so that it will not set. Cooking these fruits before adding them to a recipe, however, neutralizes the enzymes so that the agar-agar can set."

Can’t wait? Hit these links!

Natural Candy Store…everything from hard nut brittles to melt-in-your-mouth vegan candies
Candy Favorites Shop…traditional brand candies that happen to be vegan such as Air Heads Taffy, Brach’s Cinnamon Disks, Charms Blow Pops, Cracker Jack, Dots, Jolly Ranchers, Jujyfruits, Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish, SweeTarts and Twizzlers
Karmavore Vegan Shop…Gummies, Licorice and Lollipops
VeganEssentials Shop…huge selection of Vegan Butterscotch Candies, Caramel Corn, Caramels, Gum, Gummies, Hard Candies, Licorice, Lollipops, Marshmallows, Mints, Nougat Bars and Peanut Brittle in addition to a gazillion temptful treats in their Chocolate section.
(VeganEssentials is featuring 50% off shipping on orders of $50 or more today only…put together an order with friends or just stock up on your favorites!)

Stack up the Blueberries!

It's National Blueberry Pancake Day!!
My lifelong fave breakfast! Whenever I visit a new place for eats, I hunt for these on the menu like a hungry bear hunts for honey. I've been known to order 2 breakfasts...one new thing to try and one order of blueberry pancakes, just to taste, then take the rest home to snack on all day long. Just plain, wrapped around cut up fruit and granola, topped with cashew butter or vegan cream cheese or yogurt or almond milk "ice cream". Gimme one food to eat on a deserted island and blueberry pancakes top the list!  ;)

Blueberry Vanilla Bean Stacked Pancakes with Blueberry Glaze

from Angela of Oh She Glows

Blueberry Pancakes
from peta2 (supereasy classic recipe!)
Vegan Blueberry Corn Pancakes
from Adventures of a Vegan Foodie
Blueberry Lemon Cornmeal Pancakes
from Emmy Cooks
Whole Grain Pancakes with Dried Blueberries, Ginger & Sunflower Seeds
from Annie at An Unrefined Vegan
Blueberry (and Chocolate Chip) Pancakes
from Jenna at Living A Vegan Life

Want a faster stack?
Drop some blueberries, non-dairy milk and veg oil into Cherrybrook Kitchen's Original Pancake Mix or Mom's Vegan Kitchen Pancake & Waffle Mix and hit the skillet!
Both are available nationwide and at VeganEsssentials.

And organic blueberries are on sale at Outpost!  :)

Do you have a favorite blueberry stack? Tell us where, when and why, or share a recipe! Cheers!

Parmesan du Jour...a today-only special!

Vegan Essentials is one of my favorite online full-of-vegan-goodies stores. They're based in wild and wacky Waukesha, WI, and while they don't have a regular storefront, they welcome you to pick up your order if you're in the area, in addition to their quick and excellent delivery nationwide. Huge, huge, I'm talking megaliciously huge selection of vegan foods (including chocolates, doughnuts, kringles and vegan Millionaire's Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Cookies!), body care goodies, nutritionals, clothing and footwear, etc. They always have a well-stocked sales and clearance page and I'm spinningly in love with the boots on special now. Yep, vegan boots. Crazycool!
Anyway, today only, along with their regular sale items and monthly specials, they're running a great deal on Parmela. Highly praised as the best vegan alternative to parmesan cheese, it's favored by critics and bloggers and cheese-craving vegans everywhere. Here's the deal...

Free Parmela Vegan Parmesan Giveaway

Today only on Friday, December 7th, we're giving away a FREE container of Parmela Vegan Parmesan Cheese with orders of $15 or more in other items!

All you need to do is make sure you have $15 or more in items in your cart excluding the Parmela (or, at least $17.99 in items if you have the Parmela included prior to coupon application), use coupon code "parmela" and you'll get a container absolutely free with your order!

Also, Parmela is on temporary special for $1 off the normal price for a very limited time - instead of the normal $3.99 retail price, it's only $2.99 for the next week on special promotion, so if you're a fan, you'll definitely want to stock up with this great deal!
Our Price: Free with $15 or more in other items!

Sign up for their email newsletter and you'll get thrift-loving notices like this, as well their monthly special discount code!

Now what to do with the Parmela you ask?

Mediterranean Orzo Stuffed Red Peppers

from Melissa of Vegenista, adapted from Cake, Batter & Bowl