Amy's Giveaway!

I've said it before.  I'll say it again.  The folks at Amy's are great - in fact they're Amy-zing!

When they heard about my giveaway fun leading up to the launch of Let Them Eat Vegan, they offered another giveaway (third time)!

One of you will receive these prizes:

a t-shirt!, and...

 this adorable magnet set... and

a lunch bag with...

cutlery set!  and...

a pedometer! PLUS...

PRODUCT COUPONS!  Wow!

Contest is open to residents of the US and Canada.  To enter...

1) "Like"my fb page (if you haven't already).

2)  Then comment on my fb page post reading "Amy's Giveaway".

3) For a SECOND entry, follow me on twitter (if you haven't already) and then retweet this post.  Then, you can comment on fb a second time with the word "tweet".  

Thank you Amy's Kitchen!  Good luck guys!

Recipe: Sesame Lime Soba Noodles with Snow Peas and Shiitake Mushrooms

After a day indulging in chocolate and other Valentine's treats, perhaps you're looking for a dinner that is bright, lively, energizing, and 'clean'.

These Sesame Lime Soba Noodles are just what this vegan mama ordered!

Sesame Lime Soba Noodles with Shiitake Mushrooms and Snow Peas (photo credit: alive magazine)

 (Well, I wish I could order them - today of all days... I'll spare you the mama details.)

Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour, but are sometimes combined with other flours like kamut, or wheat.  The noodles are tender and not gummy, and usually very digestible.  Here, they are tossed with a quick saute of shiitake mushrooms and fresh snow peas in a light, Asian-inspired sauce with a good dose of sprightly, fresh lime juice.

It is an easy meal to prepare, will liven up your palate, and give you a boost - at a time of the year when we really need it.

This recipe is from eat, drink & be vegan, but I have just posted it for you.  Enjoy!

Are YOU cooking anything special today to reinvigorate your body and senses?

I ♥ You: Valentine's Snack Plate

Before I talk Valentines, this is the last time I ask for your votes in the Circle of Moms contest.  Thank heavens says you - and me! Too bad this vegan mama of three didn't pull up, but I would have needed some 'divine interellenvention' to do so. For those of you that were sharing and retweeting and trying to bring in more votes, you know I'm appreciative, and just sorry I couldn't do more.  
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Now on to Valentine's...

Valentine's isn't just a day for romantic love.  And for me, it's the personal days between couples that are most significant - anniversaries, birthdays, and for mothers - mother's day. Those are the days to show your darling that they are treasured.

For me, Valentine's is more playful.  It's about showing love to anyone we want.  And I wanted to show our girls how much I love them with this.

It's a Valentine's Snack Plate.  This would be so much fun for a children's party.  Healthy finger-food snacking that is as delicious as it is pretty - and just so easy!  Popcorn surrounding Cocoa Cookie Dough Balls, with goji berries in the centre.  I wanted something red or pink for the middle, and because I had no fresh berries (and organic strawberries and raspberries are either hard to find or prohibitively expensive), I opted for goji berries.  But, you could use cranberries, or dried strawberries, or fresh grapes, or even clementines.  

These Cocoa Cookie Dough Balls are quickly catching on with my family and friends.  They take minutes to make, and have no added sweeteners - AND they can be made for school lunches with a nut-free option.

They can be found in my new book, Let Them Eat Vegan.  If you are planning to purchase LTEV, please do so on March 13th - details to follow.

For another Valentine's dessert, try my recipe for "Three's Company Pie".  What are YOU doing or making for Valentine's?

Recipe Post: 3-Bean Curry Tomato Soup

This is a soup I have loved for a long time, since I first created it for Vive le Vegan!  3-Bean Curry Tomato Soup.

Why the love?  Well, it's full o' beans.  Just like me.  :)  With all those beans and veggies and spices, you know it is good for you!  And, you feel good after eating it.  Plus, it comes together in a snap, and you'll have enough to freeze for dinner another night.

As much as I love this soup, it's not always a 'first-choice' soup in our house.  Why?  My picky-poo's love to pluck out every visible piece of onion and mustard seed and tomato.  I mean, they are good eaters, but they despise onions and whole spices, and find a way to eat the soup and leave the tomato behind.  :-(

Are your kiddos the same?  I know change will come, but by that time they'll have been through teenage years and I'll be too knackered for cooking!!

Just 2 more days to vote!  Thank you for supporting me.  And, if I don't make it to the tippy-top, that's cool.  Cool with me, not gram and poppy.  They'll be PISSED! ;)
But seriously, thank you... and *also* thanks for those of you that threw in some votes for WholeFoodsVeganMomma, she's jumped up a couple of spots... keep her in the 25!  Link.

Happy Sunday!  Go make some soup, the recipe is now posted!

Silver Hills Winner IS... (+please vote!)

veganmomma, comment "Their bread is THE best!"

E-mail me at dreenaburton@gmail.com to get your coupons, congrats!

Vegveeta Dip, photo by Hannah Kaminsky

A little birdy told me that some of you haven't been voting in the Circle of Moms contest.  *gasp!* That chapter on hummus in ed&bv must be worth a few clicks!  And, Vegveeta Dip?!  Even my editor is hooked on the stuff!  I know you can show a little more love.

All joking aside, if you like my recipes and books, and 'get' what I'm trying to do as a mom of three wee vegans... please VOTE, there are only a few days left.

And, if you're voting for others, you can still vote for my blog too (you can vote for more than one, I've been trying to keep Whole Foods Vegan Momma in the Top 25 - help her along too, she's hovering around the 25th spot)!
((thank you!))

Silver Hills Bakery Giveaway and "Fantastic French Toast"

Hello my friends!  Once upon a time we did a giveaway with Silver Hills Bakery.

We reconnected recently when they asked to use my "Fantastic French Toast" recipe in an article reprint.  Silver Hills has a new line of gluten-free breads, and they paired their gf-breads with my french toast recipe in this article.  Nice coupling!  And, you can get the recipe in this Impact Magazine article!

Fantastic French Toast (photo credit: www.fourgreensteps.com)

But, you can't make Fantastic French Toast without the bread!  To celebrate the launch of Let Them Eat Vegan, Silver Hills has agreed to give one of my readers coupons for 5 loaves of bread!  Many of you already know and love this bread as I do.  It's our staple bread, as it's healthier than most breads on the market and made with sprouted grains.

Wanna' win?  I'm making it really easy this time.  Mostly because I'm a bit zonked myself (too much going on to even explain).  So, comment on this post to enter!  One comment per person, contest open to residents of US and Canada.  To find whether Silver Hills is sold in your area, check their store locator here.

And, I can't leave without reminding you of the Circle of Moms contest.  There are only 4 days left to vote.  4!  You DON'T need to register, just click for a vote.  So...

Please do your thing, show me some voting bling!  Once a day, everyday.  Then, I promise to save the corny jokes and nagging for my kiddos.  Deal?!  Please, click and vote!

Valentine's Recipe: Three's Company Pie!

You just knew I would post something chocolatey for Valentine's, didn't you?!  :D

I ran a poll on my fb page for what NEW recipe from LTEV to post.  It was a bit of a tight race, but this Three's Company Pie (aka chocolate, peanut butter, 'n banana pie) had the edge.

When I created this pie, I wanted to give you something that didn't use silken tofu or another soy product for a creamy, silky texture.  Not hating on soy (at all - it's part of our diet).  Rather, I wanted the recipe to be accessible for those with soy allergies.  And, for those with peanut allergies, you can make this pie with a nut butter like cashew or almond.

I made this again today, just for you (ohhh my sacrifices), just to get a better photo (Hannah, come back to me!).  Because it is such a glorious tasting and looking pie for not much effort (don't tell anyone that, do the whole bit of dusting cocoa powder on your face and shirt).

So, for your sweetie, for yourself, for a friend... this Valentine's Day recipe is now posted.  And, for those of you that entered the Everyday Gourmet Vegan Bakery contest, the winner was posted on my fb page yesterday.

For my voting crew, the Circle of Moms contest wraps up on Feb. 14th.  Just a handful of days left to vote (one vote every 24 hrs): link.  What say I trade you a slice of pie for a vote?  That would be bribery.  Hey, works for my kids!  (kiiiidding... that was for you, anonymous)  ;)