Jamocha Almond Vegan Scones

I'm delighted to be having some guests from Whole Foods for a tour of the factory today so I'm making them some extra special treats for getting up early and trekking to downtown Phoenix on their time off. Jamocha-Almond Scones! 

Dry ingredients:

3 cups whole wheat pastry flour

2Tbsp baking powder

1/4 cup turbinado sugar (+extra to sprinkle on top)

2 tsp chai spice (cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg cloves) 

1 tsp chocolate extract

Sprinkle of pink salt

Wet ingredients:

1/3 cup peanut oil

1/2 cup plain soy yogurt

3/4 cup almond milk w a dash of apple cider vinegar

1 packet instant coffee crystals

Extra funsies: 

1/2 cup dairy free dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup almond slices

Get a pan greased or papered and set oven to 400 degrees.  

Get your almond milk with vinegar started and let it sit while you work on the dry stuff. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  In a small mixing bowl add the soy yogurt to your vinegar milk, oil and stir in your coffee crystals until mixed. Add wet ingredients to the dry, folding them in gently not to over mix. Once combined (it will look crumbly but you shouldn't see flour) fold in chocolate chips and almonds. 

Scoop and drop quarter cups of your dough onto your cookie sheet, sprinkle with a pinch of sugar and give them a gentle squish. ​Bake for 12-15 minutes. Let these cool a bit before devouring. My quality control taste test was with a cup of cardamom black tea and it was divine! 

Cyber Monday

If you missed us at the Soap Shop & Vegan Boutique, Phoenix Flea or Alternative Black Friday at Cityscape this weekend, fear not! Our site is discounted 15% or more, today only! Use coupon code FREESHIPPING on orders $150+ -- US customers only. Thanks for your support year round and thanks for sharing our super natural handcrafted with love products with your friends and family! 💖💚💖 

Alternative Black Friday at CityScape and the Soap Shop & Vegan Boutique

Come by the Soap Shop & Vegan Boutique on Friday, Nov 25 between 11am-7pm for great deals and amazing products at 1501 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, or come find us at Cityscape in downtown Phoenix from 10-5pm.  

This Black Friday, avoid the madness and sleep in but still get cool stuff when you shop at Alternative Black Friday Vintage Market brought to you by Valley Vintage at CityScape Phoenix.

Over 30 local, vintage and handmade vendors will be set up in the heart of downtown Phoenix for this one-of-a-kind event that drew over 4,000 shoppers last year.

In addition to these vendors, CityScape tenants, including Urban Outfitters, Charming Charlie, Jos. A Bank and more, will also be offering Black Friday deals.

Shoppers are also encouraged to dine at a number CityScape’s amazing restaurant options including brunch at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails, The Corner, Fractured Prune Doughnuts, Grabbagreen and The Breakfast Club.

For more information, call 602-772-3901 or visit, http://www.phxicerink.com/abf/.

Small Business Saturday find us at the Soap Shop & Vegan Boutique and at Phoenix Flea

"Phoenix Flea is a Modern Market for Handcrafted, Vintage, Fine Art, Fashion, Artisan Food, & More!

The next Phoenix Flea is on Small Business Saturday, November 26th from 10am-5pm at Heritage Square Park in downtown Phoenix! This fall will be our biggest market yet! We will have over 100 local craftsman, artists, designers, & curators + food trucks! Plus Heritage Square is home to the Rosson House Museum (additional charge for tour) and Pizzeria Bianco, Bar Bianco, The Rose & Crown Pub, Nobuo House, & Royal Coffee. Buy tickets in advance to skip the long line and get into the market quicker or purchase tickets at the gate for $5 cash. A portion of proceeds are donated to a local nonprofit. Go to www.phx-flea.com for tickets and additional information"

Simple Chocolate Chai Spiced Banana Bread

Banana bread is a no-brainer for veganizing as eggs are easily substituted with mashed bananas. This is an easy recipe that can be tweaked by changing up the spices, it is dense and moist, lovely on its own, and delightful with black tea in the AM or as a snack! 

INGREDIENTS

• 4  ripe bananas
• 1/2-2/3 cup raw sugar with a Tbsp reserved to sprinkle on top
• 4  Tbsp water or brewed chai 
• 1  tsp chocolate extract 
• 2  cups whole wheat flour
• 1  tsp baking powder 
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp each cardamom, ginger and cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp each ground cloves, nutmeg, anise
• handful each of vegan dark chocolate chunks and walnut pieces  

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Prepare your loaf pan by greasing or lining with parchment paper (I greased with a light layer of veganaise out of desperation -- out of oil and earth balance, the shame! -- it was undetectable and the bread came right out). Mash your bananas in a medium bowl, add your sugar and liquids. In a small bowl whisk together your dry ingredients then pour them into your wet, stirring until combined then fold in your walnuts and chocolate. Pour into your loaf pan, sprinkle with sugar and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. Allow to cool for a bit then devour! 

Super easy on the go breakfast!  

Shiny new Soap Shop & Vegan Boutique Now Open Fri, Sat, Sun 11AM-7PM

We are so thrilled with our new space and hope you will stop by to see us at 1501 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, 85015, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11AM-7PM. Thanks!! 

In person Soap Shop Closed for the Summer - relocating to Encanto

We will reopen at our beautiful new location in mid-August. We are getting set up just down the street at 1501 W Thomas Rd, Phx, across from Phoenix College and Encanto. Please hit up Summerwinds on Bethany Home, all AZ Whole Foods and Phoenix Public Market Shop for your soapy fix until then. Thanks so much for your support!

Final Saturday Soap Shop

Get more:save more!

$200 product for $100: 50%$100 product for $70: 30%$75 product for $56: 25%<$75 all 20% off

Today is our last day at the Saturday Soap Shop! Come stock up, save big, and say bye between 11am-7pm (or while supplies last!) at 1415 W Indian School Rd, Phoenix, enter/park in back.

Smoothies are such a fantastic way to get the vitamins, minerals, and fiber from lots of fruit without eating it straight up. Even pure fruit juice on its own can be a massive straight shot of sugar to your system, have you ever felt a crazy rush after some really good juice? I remember the first fresh carrot-apple juice I had, years ago. I grabbed it as a healthy breakfast before running to class. It was like a cup of delicious candy and I immediately felt like I'd had a cup of the best coffee ever.. so alert! so energized! OMG what is this magical liquid that has given me super human strength?!.... Unfortunately for me, it was followed by a terrible crash. I was shocked! Yes, it is packed with great things for you like you've just had an entire bunch of carrots and a couple apples but all that sugar in your system is hard on your liver and without the fiber from the plant it is a jolt that is harder to process and can cause spikes and crashes in blood sugar and mood swings. The fiber from your smoothies helps soften that delicious sugary blow. What's even better than a smoothie? A smoothie popsicle! I found some really affordable popsicle molds at IKEA and decided high summer temperatures call for some popsicles on hand. They are tasty and nutritious and make a great snack.

smoothie pops

• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 ripe banana
• 3 large fresh strawberries
• Optional: a handful of fresh spinach, greens powder, vegan protein powder (my favorite is PaleoMeal-DF -- make sure it is marked DF, otherwise it is not vegan), chia seeds

* You could use any fruit you like, fresh or frozen, but the bananas really lend the sweetness you're looking for from a popsicle, ripe is best. Frozen mangos in place of strawberries will give you a creamier bar or add a drop of vanilla and omit strawberries for an orange-julius bar. Sub a strong batch of your favorite herbal tea for some of the OJ or almond milk for added herbal goodness.

Blend all ingredients together then pour into your popsicle molds. Allow to freeze solid, gently remove from mold (running the outer plastic part under warm water helps release it), and enjoy!

Cauliflower made tasty

My Mom loves to bring me veggies when she visits lately, a super treat for me as I am a chronic eater-outer and have a Bachelor's fridge, most days. On her latest visit, among the variety she brought cauliflower, my least favorite veg. It has been 20+ years of living the veg-life so I do adore most veggies, and when done right cauliflower is on that list, I just rarely give it a shot. There is a tahini cauliflower dish at Pita Jungle that I adore though so that was the inspiration today. 

** BONUS: a head of cauliflower has 11g of protein (The same amount as half a can of chickpeas) , loads of vitamin C, a good amount of vitamin B-6, along with some good iron, calcium, magnesium, only 145 calories and 12g fiber! PLUS cauliflower is rich in DIM, a phytonutrient that has been show to help fight cancer and balance hormones. 

Easy Garlic Tahini Grilled Cauliflower  

• 1 head cauliflower, chopped into bite sized pieces
• juice of 1 lime
•  2tsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp tahini  
• pinch paprika
• salt to taste

heat up your indoor grill (go get one, seriously, your tofu and veggies will be off the charts) for a few minutes then place the cauliflower pieces on the grill, squeeze half of your lime juice on the florets, close 'er up and wait. I grilled mine for about 10 minutes, you want the texture to be soft and a bit of charring.

While waiting for the grill, whip up your sauce in a medium sized bowl.  Just stir together the tahini, remaining lime juice, paprika, garlic, and salt to taste. Spoon the cooked cauliflower into the bowl and toss in sauce, eat it up, yum!