Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

This post is sponsored by milkadamia. All views are honest and are my own.

When I started this blog many moons ago, I asked my readers which dairy ingredient they struggled with replacing the most as a new vegan.

Coffee creamer was one of the top answers.

I even remember some of my readers saying they missed coffee creamer more than cow’s cheese.

It was hard to find quality creamer back in the day!

I was vegan for several years before I even saw plant-based creamer on grocery store shelves.

These days, it’s much easier to enjoy thick and delicious creamer like milkadamia.

milkadamia creamers are made from macadamia nuts and other simple ingredients, has no weird aftertaste, and their flavor is neutral in recipes because macadamia nuts have a milder flavor and texture compared to other nut-based creamers.

When milkadamia reached out to me to show y’all their new flavored creamers, I didn’t want to just mix it in coffee or tea (my favorite).

Instead, I wanted to make a creamy drink recipe that even non-coffee drinkers can enjoy.

I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate. The creamy texture and warm chocolate taste are guaranteed to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Creamy Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 cups plant-based milk (I used unsweetened milkadamia)

• 1 cup milkadamia creamer

• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1/4 cup granulated cane sugar

• 1/2 cup semisweet vegan chocolate chips (I used the Wegmans brand)

• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• Toppings (optional): vegan whipped cream, vegan marshmallows, or dark chocolate pieces

Makes 4 cups

Instructions:

• In a medium saucepan, whisk in plant-based milk, creamer, cocoa powder, and sugar on medium-low heat.

• Whisk frequently until warm (not boiling).

• Once warm, add in chocolate chips and continue to whisk until they melt.

• Stir in vanilla extract and serve the hot chocolate immediately.

Recipe inspired by Celebrating Sweets

What’s your favorite hot chocolate topping?

I love vegan whipped cream and chopped chocolate pieces.

Enjoy!

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Black Beans, Corn & Avocado

This vegan quinoa recipe has great flavor and is a perfect lunch or side dish for you to try with dinner tonight.

I didn't grow up eating quinoa, but starting a vegan journey will open your world up to a lot of amazing seeds, grains, vegetables, and fruit.

I promise there's so much variety! Be open to experimenting and having some fun in the kitchen.

You can find quinoa in most grocery stores these days. It's usually in the same aisle as rice.

Remember to rinse it before cooking to remove the bitter saponin coating.

Check out the video and full recipe below…

Quinoa Salad with Black Beans, Corn & Avocado

by Brown Vegan

Keywords: steam entree side vegan vegetarian gluten-free sugar-free soy-free

Ingredients (4 as a meal & 6 as a side)

• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 2 cups water or vegetable broth
• 15 oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn, frozen or fresh
• 3/4 cup red onion, chopped
• 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
• 2 avocados, pitted and diced
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped

Instructions

Combine quinoa and water in a small pot and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat (to low), cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed.

Use a fork to fluff your quinoa, then transfer to a large bowl.

Mix in cumin, chili powder, cayenne, and salt.

Allow quinoa to cool, then add in all the remaining ingredients and mix until well combined.

Adjust seasoning to taste (I usually add in all the spices again to make sure the vegetables have flavor).

Cover and chill in the fridge or eat it at room temperature.

I usually store this quinoa salad in a glass dish, place a paper towel on top, then cover.

Consume this dish within 3 days.

Enjoy!

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Let me know what you think once you try this recipe. :-)

Flatbread Sandwich with Hummus & Sprouts | 5-Minute Lunch

When you’re extra with the toppings, so you have to eat your flatbread sandwich with a fork instead of folding it over.

This is my life! 😂

Hummus is much more than a dip for your carrot sticks & pretzels!

It’s delicious on flatbread (get that protein!) with fresh vegetables for an easy lunch.⁣⁣⁣⁣

Here’s what I put on my lightly toasted pita bread:⁣⁣⁣⁣

• 2 tbsp hummus

• A little red onion

• Roma tomato

• A few slices of cucumber, sliced thinly

• 1/2 avocado, sliced

• Sprouts

• Butter lettuce

• A little sprinkle of red pepper flakes for heat & flavor

While on the go the other day, I made an even easier version with just hummus, lettuce & sprouts. I had to plan ahead because I didn’t want to stop off at Chick-fil-A for fries.

What are your favorite flatbread toppings?

Easy Vegan Meal Planning Tips for Dinner

I know how overwhelming it can be to plan all your vegan meals for the week.

In this video, I share some tips on how to save time (and hopefully some coins) in the kitchen.

Recap of the tips:

• Veganize your favorite meals — Love spaghetti? Use vegan crumbles instead of ground beef.

• Save time on grocery shopping and cooking by using services like Instacart (someone else can shop for you) and Purple Carrot (use discount code “brownvegan” to save $30) will eliminate some of your overwhelm.

• Be open to experimenting in the kitchen and expect to fail a bit too!

• Use Pinterest, YouTube and cookbooks from the library for recipe inspiration.

• Keep a list of all the recipes that worked well, so you can refer back to them when you get too busy to look at Pinterest or YouTube for inspiration.

• Theme your dinners — Taco Tuesdays, leftovers on Saturdays, pasta on Wednesdays, etc.

• Plan for leftovers, so you don’t have to cook daily.

• Establish 3-5 go-to meals that take less than 30 minutes to cook.

Resources mentioned in the video:

• Brands that have vegan crumbles (to replace ground beef): Beyond Meat & Gardein

• My t-shirt is from https://www.healthywholealive.com/hwa... 20% of the price will be sent to the Evangelical Church of Liberia who is committed to feeding hundreds of children in need. Support this dope cause!

• Evernote is the free software I mentioned to clip and save recipes

Roasted Mushroom Ragu with Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans

I love a nice comfort meal...especially since the snow is back. Sigh

This roasted mushroom ragu recipe hit the spot and I wish I tripled (instead of doubled) this recipe.  It features accessible and inexpensive ingredients and the family really enjoyed this dish. It took me over an hour to put it together. Not to complain though because it was well worth the wait. Save this dish for the weekend and let me know if your fam loves it as much as mine.

Be sure to double (or triple) this recipe for your family, since the original recipe serves only 2 people.

Get the full recipe from Leafy Greens & Me

Currently Reading: The Four Agreements & The Creative Habit