Coconut for Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone!  It's the time of year for family, friends, and tons of holiday treats.  I have recently been on a coconut kick, baking bread pudding and vegan chocolate cake.  The recipes were so awesome, I'm going to share them with you.

Vegan Chocolate Banana Cake (with Coconut)
Adapted from The Novice Chef

1/2 c. coconut milk
1/2 c. ripe bananas (I used 1 large banana)
1/3 canola or vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. sugar
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/3 c. cocoa powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Dash of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Mash together banana and coconut milk in a large bowl, followed by sugar, oil, and vanilla extract.  Stir or whisk until well mixed.  Add the remaining dry ingredients, and combine until smooth with no dry lumps.  Pour batter into bundt pan lightly coated with cooking spray.  Mixture will fill pan less than halfway.  Bake 24 minutes.  If toothpick does not come out clean, bake an additional 2 minutes until complete.  Let cool before transferring to a serving plate.

White Chocolate Glaze (optional)

*Note:  This cake is very moist on its own, but I made mine as a birthday surprise and used this glaze to write a message on the cake*

1 handful of white chocolate chips (about 1/2 c.)
2 tbsp. coconut milk

Combine ingredients in microwave safe bowl and melt for 30 seconds.  Stir until glossy.  If chips are not completely melt, heat an additional 20 seconds.  Pour glaze into baggie and cut the corner of the bag.  Apply pressure to the frosting and slowly pipe glaze on cake.  If you want extra coconut flavor, sprinkle fresh or toasted coconut on glaze.

*** ~ ***

Almond Joy Bread Pudding

1 3/4 c. granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 c. milk or half n half
3/4 c. Coconut Silk or coconut milk
2 tsp. almond extract
2 1/2 c. dense, sweet bread, torn into pieces and left in fridge for a week or oven overnight
1/2 c. milk or dark chocolate chips
1/2 c. shredded coconut
1/4 c. chopped almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Lightly grease 8x8 or 9x13 pan, set aside.  Whisk together eggs, sugar, milk, coconut milk, and almond extract.  Place bread chunks into pan, and sprinkle with chocolate chips and almonds.  Pour egg mixture over bread, and push down on bread until all pieces have soaked up the custard.  Bake for 35 minutes, remove, and evenly distribute coconut over the top.  Bake for an additional 5 minutes until custard is set and top is slightly golden brown.  Devour hot or cold.  For a glaze, I recommend simply placing a good spoonful of Haagen Daaz vanilla ice cream over the top of the hot bread pudding.

*Note:  I used Panera raisin bread in the pudding.  The raisins worked well with the chocolate and coconut, but it's really about your personal taste.*

*** ~ ***

Relax, be merry, and spread some of this holiday cheer to animals in need.  Now, off to spend some time with my furry baby.

~The Vegetarian Cat

Shopping ---> Baking

Christmas shopping is kind of crazy.  I've been stressed out trying to determine which gift would be right for each person on my list.  Then, after looking at tons of delicious holiday goodies I wanted to make next week, I realized I should go back to the best method of Christmas gift giving, homemade gifts that actually mean something.  Yes, I could drop $50 on a pair of jeans or $70 for those shoes, but I would much rather use my time and skills in the kitchen to spread the love, quite gingerly if we are talking about frosting ;)  Not only will I save money, but my recipients will be able to lavish themselves in freshly baked gingerbread and Buche de Noel, knowing my hours at the stove were all for those moments on their taste buds.  So, the menu?  I'm thinking these:

- Classic chocolate Buche de Noel w/ hand-drawn chocolate forest friends and mushrooms
- Gingerbread critters
- Frosted sugar cookies
- English toffee
- Red and green swirled chocolate fudge
- Soft and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies
- Peppermint bark

I've pretty much prepared everything else before, except the Buche de Noel.  May Saint Nick be with me to bake a delicious, moist genoise with amazingly creamy buttercream! 

*Coupon Deals of the Week*

Walgreens
Simply Orange or Tropicana Orange Juice $2.99
- use $.50/1 mfc from Walgreens Dec. coupon booklet
Ice Mountain 24-pack bottled water 2/$7, receive 1RR
- use $1/2 mfc peelie on package
- pay $6, get 1RR, $2.50 per 24-pack
Snickers Holiday Nutcrackers $.39
- buy 6, use (2) $1/2 Christmas Mars chocolates
- pay $.34 for all 6!

HyVee
Midwest Country Fare Light Brown or Powdered Sugar $.99 w/ in-ad coupon
Keebler Zesta Saltines $.99 w/ in-ad coupon
Russet Potatoes $.99/5 lb. w/ in-ad coupon
HyVee Cream Cheese $.79 w/ in-ad coupon
HyVee Eggs $.88 w/ in-ad coupon
Imperial Margarine $.49/ 1 lb. w/ in-ad coupon
Ritz Crackers 2/$4
- use $1/1 Nabisco crackers mfc
HyVee frozen veggies $.68
Del Monte Gold pineapple $2.48
Dole Premium Salads 2/$3
Eggplant $.99
Green peppers and cucumbers 2/$1

Here's to more snow!

~The Vegetarian Cat

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving, filled with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and tofurky :D  Now try to keep Fluffy out of the leftovers ;)

~ The Vegetarian Cat

Black Friday Deals!

Last week didn't have the greatest deals, but with Thanksgiving fast approaching, stores love nothing more than to drain your wallets, making you so thankful that pay day is around the corner. I'm not a huge believer in spending just because the holidays are coming up, but I will shell a few bells when I know a deal is good and there are items to stash in my stockpile. Here are the best deals this week for all those veggie lovers out there!

Walgreens  

Welch’s Sparkling Grape Juice 2/$5  
- use $1/2 from Dec. Wags Booklet, $2/2 MF from Facebook
- pay $1 per bottle   
Bic Soleil Bella 3-pack 2/$6, 4RR  
- use (2) $2/1 MF
- pay $2, get 4RR  
*Revlon Lipstick $4.99, 4RR 
- use $1/1 MF from Walmart insert 10/9 
- pay $3.99, get 4RR  
*Axe Deodorant $3.79, 1RR 
- use $1/1 MF  
- pay $2.79, get 1RR 
Advil PM Pain Relief $.99, .99RR 
Oral-B Indicator Toothbrush $1.50, 1.50RR 
Thermacare $2.49, 2.49RR 
Cortaid $2.99, 2.99RR 
GUM Toothbrush $2, 2RR 
Renew Life Ultimate Chialife Seeds $10, 10RR 
Colgate $3, 3RR 
- use $1/1 Colgate from Walgreens Diabetes & You magazine 
- pay $2, get 3RR 
Crest 3D Vivid Toothpaste $2.50, 2.50RR 
- use $.75/1 MF from P&G 10/16, pay $1.75, get 2.50RR 
Scunci Hair Ties 2/$3, 3RR 
Dentek Floss Picks $2, 2RR 
- use $.75/1 from SS 10/23, pay 1.25, get 2RR 
Preparation H Wipes $2.75, 2.75RR 
- use $2/1 MF, pay .75, get 2.75RR

(* - not sure if these contain animal ingredients, need to double check)
CVS

Breathe Right Nasal Strips Bonus Size 10 + 2 ct., $5.99, get 5.99 ECB
- use $1.50/1 MF from RP 10/16
- and use $1.50/1 CVS coupon 
Finish Quantum, 10 ct., $2.99, get 2.99 ECB
- use $1/1 from SS 10/23 or 11/20
Colgate Toothpaste, $2.87, get $2.87 ECB
Fiber One Brownies, $3.99, get 3.99 ECB
- use $.40/1 General Mills Fiber One brownies from SS 10/02
Carmex, .15-.35 oz $1, get 1 ECB
- use $.30/1 Carmex lip balm from RP 10/30 
GUM Super or Micro Tip Soft Toothbrush, 2 ct. $2.99, get 2.99 ECB
Balance Bar $1.69, get 1.69 ECB
Starbucks Double Shot, 6.5 oz $1.69, get 1.69 ECB
Hershey’s King Size Bar, 2.1-2.86 oz 99¢, get .99 ECB
Mars Chocolate Singles Candy, 1.08-2.15 oz $.75, .75 ECB
Advil PM, 4 ct. $.99, .99 ECB
Advil 10 ct. $2.99, 2.99 ECB
CVS Dental Flossers, 90 ct. $1.99, 1.99 ECB
Pepto Bismol, 4 oz $2.99, 2.99 ECB
Kleenex Cool Touch Tissues, 50 ct. $1.50, 1.50 ECB 

Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee Green Beans or Corn .$39 

Dole Celery $.49

Hy-Vee Brown & Serve Rolls 2/$3

Vlasic Pickles $2/4

- use $.75/1 Vlasic from SS 9/11

Kraft Marshmallow Crème $1.18

Cool Whip $.99

Target

Kraft cheese $2.29

-use $.75/2 Kraft cheeses

Birds Eye Steamfresh Veggies $1.00

- use $1/3 Birds Eye veggies 


Eggs $1.29

-use $.55/2 from Incredible Eggs Facebook page

Campbell's Cream of Mushroom $.59

- use $.40/4 Campbell's condensed soups from SS 10/9

Swanson Chicken Broth $.59

- use $.50/3 Swanson canned broth from SS 11/6

French Fried Onions $2.79

-use $.40/1 from campbellskitchen.com

Good luck shopping this week!  Remember to arrive at all of your stores early, especially the biggest Black Friday deals that you are going after.  Limited quantities really do mean limited!  Make sure to wear running shoes and have a nice cup of hot coffee for your pick-me-up.  If you are stopping by Petsmart or Petco for their Black Friday sales, please donate some of that savings to local humane societies :)

~The Vegetarian Cat

I'm a New Mommy!

I'm the proud, new mommy of a hyperactive, black baby chinchilla named Fujin.  He is only 10 weeks old, but has the chewing capacity of a crocodile.  Aside from fussing and worrying about him every moment I'm awake (and sometimes in my dreams) I love this little guy and his predictable escape tactics leading him behind the refrigerator or into the bevels of the piano.  I bought him this adorable loofah burger that he rolls around his cage, chewing on the fake tomato slice with a twitch in his whiskers.  After taking him to the vet, I'm relieved to know I have an extremely healthy (and incredibly cute) little fuzz ball in my care.  Now I just need to chinchilla-proof the entire house.  Yeah right.  In 3 bites he can demolish pretty much any electrical cord while still having enough energy to dig up the carpet and scratch down the door.  But I love him :3

* Coupon Steals & Deals *
Not much is going on this week in terms of couponing, mainly because stores are prepping for Black Friday.  Here are the main highlights:

Walgreens
- Estroven Maximum Strength, 28 ct $9.99, buy 1 receive $9.99 in RR
- Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice, $3 each wyb 2
     > Use $75./1 Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice
     > And use $1/2 Welch's Sparkling from Walgreens Nov. Booklet
     > Pay only $1.75 per bottle (This juice is my favorite!)
- 1 Gallon of Milk $2.99 (price is regional)
- Nice! Tomato Sauce, 8 oz., $.39 with in-ad coupon, limit 3
- Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce, $.99 with in-ad coupon
     > Use $1/2 Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce
     > Pay only $.49 per can 
CVS
- Wet n’ Wild Eye Liner Pencil, Silk Finish Lip or Shine Nail Color $0.69
     > Use $1.00/1 Wet n’ Wild product from RP 11/6 exp. 12/31
     > FREE plus possible overage!
Target 
- Glade Holiday Collection, buy 5 participating products & receive a $5.00 Target gift card
     > Buy 5 Glade items at $2.50, including 1 room spray
     > Use 2 $1.50/2 Glade Winter Collection item
     > And use $.55/1 Glade Winter room spray
     > Pay $8.95 oop and receive $5 gift card, thus $.79 per item
- Del Monte Canned Vegetables, 15.25 oz., $0.49
- Method cleaning spray, 28 oz. or dish soap, 18 oz., $2.49
     > Use $0.50/1 Method Product from SS 9/18 exp. 11/30
     > And use $1.00/1 Method Cleaning Target Coupon
     > Pay $.99 (Method has awesome, enviro-friendly products!)
- Campbell’s Tomato Soup $0.55
     > Use $1.00/5 Campbell’s Condensed Soup
     > Pay $.35 per can

=^. .^= Critter Watch <(*_*)>
Chinchillas!!!  From the Genus Chinchilla (clever, right?), these clouds of fluff are technically rodents, hailing from the South American country of Chile.  Although they can't speak Spanish, chinchillas have other abilities more impressive then bilingualism.  Their strong legs have evolved for jumping, up to 6 feet if they so desire, and bounding with Sonic speed across rocky ledges (and human torsos).  Chinchillas in the wild exhibit crepuscular behavior, waking during dawn and dusk to forage and find water.  Due to their soft, silky fur, chinchillas have been targets for the fur trade since the 16th century (TOTALLY NOT OK!!!).  In response to a massive decline in population, it is now illegal to hunt chinchillas.  I'm glad my little Fujikins is in safe and loving hands.

With the holiday season coming up, consider adopting a pet from a local shelter; they all need good homes and what better gift than a loving family?

~The Vegetarian Cat

Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Hope you had a fun and animal-friendly celebration of all things ghoulish and creepy >:D

~The Vegetarian Cat

Make-up & Costumes >:)

When dressing up for Halloween, I really want to commit to whatever character I'm portraying (usually a black cat).  The hair, makeup, and costume must work together to create a believable image, haunting or enticing onlookers.  Maybe both.  Here are some budget-friendly tips for many different looks:

- Create everything from smoky, seductive vampire eyes to zombie freak shows with just a few simple eye shadow colors in your repertoire.  Black and white can be used to create depth, while the primary palette allows you to mix and blend to achieve desired colors.
- Basic black eye liner is awesome for drawing attention to eyes, but can also be used for whiskers, black noses, stripes, or scars.
- Need a hair color fix?  For light-haired people, try using Kool-Aid to change your locks.  Simply submerge hair in water for about 15 minutes with two packets of powder.  It will wash out easily with the next shower.  I recommend lemon-lime for Medusa-goers.
- For intense lip colors, mix lip gloss with eye shadow and apply liberally.  For scarier looks, the lips can even be outlined in eye liner.

 With the right coupons, these makeup purchases are very cost effective, more so than costume make-up packs Halloween stores sell.  The same can be said for costumes.  Creating your own look from clothes in your wardrobe or fabric around the house can typically make a more realistic outfit than what you see online.  Great examples are:

- The classic Grecian look.  Know anyone with even a hint of design/sewing talent?  Then that white bed sheet is your new toga.  Cotton is easy to cut and drape while being affordable.  Project Runway contestants are always draping clothes, and YouTube is full of videos about how to get the perfect toga look.  Pair the toga with some strap sandals and a wreath of leaves from a craft store to tie the costume together.
- Mermaids.  Yeah, it can be cold during October, but some girls (and guys) just need to get their fish/human duo on for Halloween.  Again, craft stores are your friend.  Using an old swimsuit top, sew or glue (depending on what type of shells you buy) store-bought shells onto the fabric.  Shimmery, fish scale fabric can be used to create the tail or simply draped as a flowy skirt.
- 80's.  Everybody knows someone who grew up in that era.  They can't hide from the clothing choices they made, from the side-high ponytails to neon colored pants and shirts.  Some are probably still closet junkies, desperately clinging to paint splattered stirrup pants while popping their collars in a million directions.  The point is, ask these people if they have their old clothes.  Once you've got the outfit, just match the hair, makeup, and shoes to the look.  I'm thinking crazy mohawk, electric blue eye shadows, and untied black Chucks.

Looking for tasty recipes so far this season?  My favorite fall foods/drinks are hot chocolate, apple cider, cranberry bread, and lightly pumpkin spiced drinks/breads.  Pepperidge Farm just released a new (vegetarian) pumpkin swirl bread that looks tasty.  Apple sales are popping up at every store, so now is the time to prep butters, jams, and sauces for storage.  Here's a quick and yummy recipe for apple cider that I love to drink hot with a cinnamon stick.

Hot Wassail
1 quart apple juice (freshly juiced or Simply apple brand)
1/2 c. each of lemon and orange juice
Cinnamon, sugar, and clove to taste

Mix ingredients in pot on stove and heat thoroughly.  Serve with cinnamon sticks for serving.

 And by the way, be on the lookout for this new Halloween flavor of Kool-Aid.  I can't find it anywhere :(

 ~The Vegetarian Cat

Let October Commence!

OCTOBER! <3 ! <3 !

October is my favorite month of the year (with December being a very close second).  Orange, red, and yellow explode from the trees while squirrels race around backyards, nibbling acorns and squandering away their winter stash.  Although, to be honest, what really makes this month puuurfect is Halloween.  Costumes, make-up, candy.  Horror stories.  Who doesn't love black cats and pumpkins?  Well, in honor of my favorite month, I will post awesome treats, recipes, and upcoming coupon deals every single day.

*Product of the Day* 

Fall and Halloween Lip Smackers!  Every year, Lip Smackers releases limited edition flavors to tantalize your lips with ghostly pleasure.  From Cobweb Cookie to Caramel Apple, each concoction tastes very similar to the name.  Witches' Brew is my weakness, resembling a retired summer flavor called Calypso Punch.  These Fall and Halloween sets can be found on the Lip Smackers outlet site for about $1.50.  I great deal, even without a coupon!

  

~Vegetarian Coupon Deals~

HyVee 9/28 - 10/4

- Dole Natural Salad Blends $.99

- HyVee Green Beans or Corn $.39

- 50% Kellogg's Cereal

- HyVee Peanut Butter $.99

- HyVee Pasta 3/$2

- Midwest Country Fare frozen veggies $.88

Walgreens 10/2 - 10/8

- Nature Valley Granola Bars 6-pack, $2 wyb 2

     * $1/2 Nature Valley Granola Bars 6-pack

     * Combine with $1/2 Q from Wags Oct. Booklet

     * Final cost: $1 per box

[Note: I recommend doing most of your shopping at Target, because I find the best selection and prices to combine with my coupons.  Also, if you apply for their REDcard you save an additional 5%.  Target also takes off $.05 from the transaction total for every reusable bag.] 

+++Harvest Gifts+++

For vegetarians and thrifty consumers, shopping with the season allows for affordable meals with nutritious and tasty fruits and vegetables.  Apples, pumpkins, potatoes, yams, broccoli, spinach, and winter squash are available in abundance at most grocery stores.  Apples and pumpkins are healthy vehicles for autumn desserts and pastries, as well as soups, salads, and sauces.  If buying produce sold by item (like $2.99 per pineapple), make sure to weigh what you intend to buy.  Sometimes you can find heavier bags for the same price, which equals savings for you.

Start planning those Halloween costumes!

AND HAPPY WORLD VEGETARIAN DAY :D

~The Vegetarian Cat

Banana Bonanza!

 

Bananas are awesome!  Not only are they high in potassium and vitamin A, but they also have an abundance of natural sugars for energy.  As a pre-exercise food, bananas are a great choice.  Monkeys know what they are doing when they chow down on these yellow fruits.  Here are some tasty vegetarian recipes easily adapted for vegans as well.

Banana Bread (adapted from Food Network)

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter or margarine
• 2 large eggs or egg replacer
• 3 ripe bananas
• 1 tablespoon coconut, rice, almond, soy, or dairy milk
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I like a little extra)
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease 9x5x3 loaf pan with butter or cooking spray.  Cream together sugar and butter, then add eggs.  In a separate bowl, mash bananas with milk and cinnamon.  Add to sugar mixture and blend on medium speed just until blended.  Add dry ingredients and blend or stir until flour disappears.  Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for about 1 hour.  Insert a toothpick; if it does not come out clean, bake an extra 5 - 10 minutes.  Cool for about 15 minutes, then remove loaf from pan and continue to cool before slicing.  

Extra notes: Adding walnuts would be a great idea for this recipe, since they are rich in omega-3.  I warm my slices in the microwave for about 20 seconds and spread with butter or honey.  Even though the bread is dense and somewhat cake-like, I bet it would make delicious french toast as well.

Mix 'n Match Smoothies

(2 servings)

1 cup of coconut milk

1 ripe banana

1 cup ice cream, soy cream, or frozen yogurt

A few tablespoons peanut butter

Handful of dark chocolate chips

5 or 10 strawberries, depending on size

Squirt of honey

These smoothies can really be made to suit any palate.  Just add whatever ingredients sound good at the time, but make sure to always have a liquid and thickener such as the banana or ice cream.  Depending on how thick or thin you want the smoothie, change the amount of liquid.  Simply add the chosen ingredients to the blender, whirl away, and drink your delicious creation, hopefully including a banana :D

Grilled Bananas

Prep the grill.  Once hot, place a few bananas on the grate until the skin starts to split.  Pull back the peel and enjoy caramelized banana nirvana.  The bananas can also be slice open before grilling, cut lengthwise and slathered with a mixture of honey and cinnamon on the exposed flesh.  Grill until the skin splits away from the flesh and serve as is or with cold ice cream.

Coupon Cat's Veggie Deals of the Week 5/22 - 5/28

Target 

Morningstar Products $3.00 each

Use 1 $1/2 Morningstar Burgers or Patties Coupon (Target Coupon) and

2 $1/1 Morningstar Products (Morningstar Coupon)

Total Cost: $1.50 each when you buy 2 boxes of burgers or patties

Hy-Vee (through 5/24)

Dole All Natural Premium Classic Salads $.99

Barilla Pasta $.99

Exotic Mangoes 2/$1

Stemilt Fuji Apples $.99/lb

Green Bell Peppers $.59 each

Green Giant Russet Potatoes $1.88/lb

Simply Juice $3.29

Green Giant Canned Vegetables $.88

Hy-Vee Dried Fruit or Trail Mix 2/$3

Sunkist Organic Lemons 2/$1

Cal-Organic Farms Organic Yellow Carrots $1.69/16 oz. bag

Jumbo Zeal Navel Oranges $.99/lb

Sweet Artisan Red Onions $.59/lb

Rice or Soy Dream Drinks 32 oz. 2/$5

(Yes, I know it's a lot of produce, but these are good deals for fresh fruits and vegetables which rarely have coupons attached to them)

While it would be difficult to explain all of the details of couponing in one go, I can at least describe the basics for any newbie.  I coupon at Target, Hy-Vee, Walgreens, and CVS.  Whatever store you choose, make sure you print and understand their coupon policy.  Depending on the store, you can either use only one coupon per item or multiple coupons as long as they are different types like a manufacturer's coupon or Target coupon.  Invest in the Sunday paper, at least one every Sunday until you really get the hand of everything.  The idea is to match up the sale prices of different stores to the coupons in the paper or online to get the best deals.  Great online websites for coupons include Target, Smartsource, RedPlum, and Coupons.com.  But remember, you can only print two of the same coupon per computer.  

I see couponing as a way to save money for other things I want in life.  Even if you only save $5 a week, small amounts really add up to big savings.  Some of my savings go toward buying items that I normally don't have coupons, such as produce.  I will gladly clip 10 coupons to buy cereal and pay less than $1 a box if that means I can afford to buy apples, oranges, strawberries, and raspberries in a single trip (this Vegetarian Cat loves her fresh fruits and veggies after all).  On most of my trips, especially to Walgreens, I save over 50%.

We are all just bananas, waiting to be peeled.  I just hope I make it to that classy glass dish aside scoops of chocolate ice cream, adorned with whipped cream, nuts, and a few cherries.  Not on the grimy alley asphalt, causing some dolt to slip and hit his bald head.  Just saying.

~The Vegetarian Cat