ALMOND YOGURT with FRUIT & CINNAMON {DO SOMETHING MORE}

This post is a bit different than my other ones. I've got an actual point.

In today's world, corporations and private organizations intentionally make it very easy for one to follow instructions and advertisements blindly, without critically analyzing their choices or the consequences of such. "Buy this, eat that, wear this, listen to that, watch this..." we are told what to do and who to be every minute we are in the public space, and even in the privacy of our homes. Naturally we choose the path that requires the least effort (human nature, wassup) and in our contemporary Westernized environment, that equates to sticking to the status quo (eating fast food, buying clothes from the GAP, throwing away plastic bags) and not asking questions (Where did the food come from? Who made the clothes? What impact does plastic have on the environment?)

The point I am trying to get at is that many of us have a tendency to do the minimum required in our lifestyles, because it is the easiest way to get by. I am not laying down any blame or judgement on you; but I am calling out a pattern I see. The following words might seem a little harsh, but I mean absolutely no offense, I am simply stating my opinions and the reasons behind the lifestyle I choose to lead. Also: my main issues are with factory farming and mega corporations that choose cheapness over responsibility, not unknowing consumers who aren't aware of the effects of their choices.

My message is: eff the minimum!

Let's be excellent! Let's bring up any repressed questions, guilt or concerns we have about the impacts we have on the planet and other beings, find real answers and change our actions accordingly. I am vegan because I do not believe someone innocent whom I love should have to die so I can eat a beef burger for lunch.  I am vegan because I respect all beings and believe we all have the right to happiness and freedom. I am vegan because factory farming and agribusiness is worse for the environment - they produce more carbon dioxide - than ALL transportation combined.

I do not buy clothes from stores that outsource manufacturing to developing countries because I want the people who make my clothes to be fairly paid and in control of their job; not separated from their families for weeks at a time, paid mere cents an hour, or suffering from back problems from sitting at a sewing machine for 15 hours at a time while the heads of the corporations make millions because they have cut so many moral corners and are doing the minimum. I buy mostly used clothing because there is more than enough new clothing to go around and recycling is more important than ever, as we are just now experiencing the first effects of human-caused climate change.

My family buys natural, eco-friendly cleaning products and I buy organic, not-tested-on-animals beauty products because I don't think the planet or any innocent creatures should have to suffer just so I can have pink lips, smell pretty and have a clean sink.

Go beyond the minimum. Let's do something more. 

I believe we all have the right to live freely, and have the opportunity for happiness, love and growth. I am proud of my values, choices and beliefs. I think they are right and responsible. I appreciate each day for the gift it is and understand that although serious inequalities of all kinds are still prevalent in our world, we can change that. I am doing my part by voting with my dollars for what I think is sustainable, compassionate, fair and just. I am doing something more because I am choosing to feel something more. More than the minimum. I will not allow myself to go the easy route and ignorantly believe baseless advertisements and claims by opportunistic corporations, or support what I know is wrong. I want you to join me. It is as simple as choosing organic almond yogurt (recipe below!) instead of pasteurized dairy yogurt, thrift jeans instead of new Levi's, and non-toxic house products instead of animal-tested chemicals. Let's do something more. Let's be the change we wish to see in the world.

ALMOND YOGURT with FRUIT & CINNAMON

Yogurt: 
1 1/2 cups almonds, soaked overnight then rinsed (remove the skins if you want smoother yogurt) 
2 cups water 
1 tablespoon coconut nectar or raw cane sugar

Add-ons:
1 mango, cubed
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 
1/4 cup raisins 

To make the yogurt: blend all the ingredients together until very smooth, adding more sweetener or other ingredients as you desire. Leave in a bowl at room temperature for about 9 hours. Keep in the fridge after that, or eat right away. 

To serve: layer a bowl with the fruit, cinnamon, raisins and yogurt. Mmm... tasting something more! 

triple cinnamon rolls

these are a baked food worth eating. 

my friend amanda was at my house the other day and suggested we bake something. we decided on cinnamon rolls. i put cinnamon in every layer - the dough, filling and icing - and they turned out divine. literally, these guys are holy saints. angels sing when you eat them.

i love tons of stuff in everything (really trying to work on appreciating simple recipes... failing) so i put walnuts and raisins in the filling. the dough is totally whole grain and the icing has coconut yogurt and ginger in it!

they don't need too long to bake, and the dough is gonna be a little tough to roll out just because of the whole wheat flour. but be patient and you will be rewarded! cinnamon rolls bring back all kinds of memories for me - special birthday breakfasts, christmas morning after opening presents, holidays, etc. so with all the delicious flavour and texture comes nostalgia. it makes for an amazing experience.

having said that - i've eaten way more cooked food than normal this weekend (it was all totally worth it though) and now my system is in a mess. back to raw! =)

okay... maybe after one more cinnamon roll....

triple cinnamon rolls: makes 14 or so
(adapted from smitten kitchen)

Dough:
1 cup coconut milk
3 tablespoons earth balance
3 1/2 cups whole grain flour
1/2 cup raw sugar
1 tb flax seed mixed with 2 tb water (egg!)
2 tb yeast
1 teaspoon salt
Nonstick vegetable oil spray

Filling:
3/4 cup raw sugar
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup raisins
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup melted earth balance

Glaze:
2 ounces coconut yogurt, at room temperature
1/4 raw sugar
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tb cinnamon
1/2 t ginger power
1/4 cup honey/maple syrup/agave syrup 
1/4 cashew butter

For dough: Combine coconut milk and earth balance and melt together. Pour into bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add 1 cup flour, sugar, "egg", yeast, and salt. Beat on low speed 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Add additional 2 1/2 cups flour. Beat on low until flour is absorbed and dough is sticky, scraping down sides of bowl. If dough is very sticky, add more flour by tablespoonfuls until dough begins to form ball and pulls away from sides of bowl. Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if sticky, about 8 minutes. (You may also use a KitchenAid’s dough hook for this process.) Form into ball.
Lightly oil large bowl with nonstick spray. Transfer dough to bowl, turning to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.

For filling: mix dry ingredients together, set aside.
Press down dough. Transfer to floured work surface. Roll out to 15×11-inch rectangle. Spread melted earth balance over dough, leaving 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle dry mixture evenly over earth balance. Starting at the longer side, roll dough into log, pinching gently to keep it rolled up. With seam side down, slice with floss into into equal slices (each about 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide).
Divide rolls between baking dishes lined with paper, arranging cut side up. Cover baking dishes with plastic wrap, then kitchen towel. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until almost doubled in volume, 45 minutes or so. Don’t skimp on the double-rising time!
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Bake rolls until tops are golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and flip onto rack. Cool 10 minutes.

For glaze: blend all ingredients until smooth, it should be a little more liquid than desired because the coconut oil will harden up again in a few moments. yumm!!!