Category: Eco Eats

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Eco Eats

5 Healthy Smoothies That Are Quick And Delicious

healthy-smoothies-fruit-diet

Thinking about shaking up your diet? C’mon, we’re all desperate now that summertime is right around the corner! And the many nights we’ve spent binge eating while watching Netflix finally caught up to us. So something needs to give! That’s why smoothies are a quick and easy way to get all the nutrients you need in one delicious glass. These recipes are perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. They will give you an energy boost and keep you healthy while doing some real damage control to your body.

1. Spicy green tea – For a fantastic afternoon pick-me-up try this energizing spicy green tea smoothie. Brew a strong cup of green tea and chill it. Ad just a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper, three tablespoons of lemon juice, two teaspoons of agave nectar, two tablespoons of plain yogurt (fat free is better) and one small pear, with the skin, cut into pieces. Blend everything until smooth (you can add some ice cubes) and drink it cold. One cup will get you 3 grams of fiber, it will boost your metabolism and it will keep your appetite in check.

2. Banana and maple – This is the ultimate breakfast smoothie. Slice half a banana, add half a cup of low-fat yogurt (maple works best), add one tablespoon of natural maple syrup and two tablespoons of pecans and a dash of grated nutmeg. Blend it all with one quarter cup of ice until it reaches a uniform texture and enjoy. This treat will energize your morning and will provide 250 mg of potassium, 3 grams of fiber and a good chunk of proteins. Not to mention it’s sweet and delicious so it will help you start your day in a great mood.

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3. Beet, apple and ginger – This naturally sweet treat packs more nutrients than you can count. Blend one large beet, one cucumber, one apple and as much grated ginger as you like and serve cold. One glass of this brightly pink beverage is rich in potassium, iron, folic acid, vitamin C and beta carotene. Besides, it includes a good amount of fiber too help your body work regularly.

4. Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie – For those times when your sweet tooth demands a sugary treat, try this smoothie instead. Mix one cup of sliced banana, one cup of 1% chocolate low-fat milk, half a cup of vanilla low-fat frozen yogurt, 8 ounces of vanilla low-fat yogurt and two tablespoons of natural peanut butter. Blend everything together and serve very cold. This recipe yields around 3 cups, so you can either share or save some for later. It is low-cholesterol, low sodium and 201 calories per cup. It tastes just like a candy bar, but it will give you protein, calcium, potassium and fiber that you need to keep yourself healthy.

5. Vitamin punch – Combine one medium apple, two medium soft pears and half a cup of pit-less cherries. Blend until smooth and add ice if you want for a quick and healthy drink. One cup of this delicious smoothie contains vitamin A, B, C and E, to benefit your whole body. Besides, Lutein and vitamins A and C increase collagen production, which will keep your skin look younger for longer.

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Eco Eats

Up Your Summer Fruit Game, Like, Right Now

fruit-salad-summer-slices

Fruit salads are so last summer. Simply putting some fruit in a bowl and eating it with a fork is not enough anymore. If you want to jazz up your fruity summer treats, here are some great recipes to up your summer fruit game.

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Bomb fruit popsicles

All the refreshing taste of popsicles without all that added sugar, this easy treat is a must for any freezer. The best part is that you can make them any flavor you want, all you need is fruit and fresh fruit juice. Slice up your fruit and mix some berries in for good measure. Arrange the mix inside popsicle molds and pour your favorite juice until you fill them up. Now stick them in the freezer and wait around six hours until they are frozen solid. These are perfect to make once and keep in your freezer for those moments when you are screaming for ice cream but still want to avoid extra sugar.

Banana blueberry vegan ice cream

Speaking of ice cream, you can make it yourself using only two ingredients. Slice up two bananas and stick them in the freezer overnight. Put the banana slices in a blender, add half a cup of blueberries and blend away until you get a smooth, uniform consistency. Keep it in the freezer and munch away while watching Netflix. You can make other flavors by replacing the blueberries with other fruits and even adding cocoa powder to make chocolate ice cream that is way healthier than Ben & Jerry’s.

Leftover fruit smoothie

Whenever you go overboard and buy way more fruit than you are able to eat, you can save some to make leftover fruit smoothie. Before your fruit goes bad, grab those you know you won’t eat, slice them up and freeze them. Next time you are craving fruit, take your frozen slices out, mix them with some fresh fruit and add a tablespoon of honey if you want to sweeten the deal. Now blend them with some fruit juice until you reach perfect smoothie consistency. You can mix up the ratio of fresh and frozen fruit to get the texture you want, remember that the more frozen fruit you add, the thicker the smoothie will be.

Two ingredient berry jam

This is the easiest jam recipe ever. It only takes an hour to make and it will result in delicious homemade jam you can keep to eat on breakfast toast or give as a gift to impress people. You need two cups of fresh raspberries, blueberries, cranberries or any kind of berry you want. You can even mix and match. Put them in a pot on medium heat and mash them a bit so the juice come out. Depending on the texture you like, you can turn them into complete mulch or not. Cook them until they have a uniform consistency, then add one cup of sugar without taking the pot from the fire. Try to add the sugar slowly while sprinkling it over all the berries, but trying to avoid the sides of the pot. Stir and cook the mixture together until it has reduced by ¼ of the original volume.

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Eco Eats

10 Reasons To Go Organic

organic-food-produce-vegetables

Organic food is all the rage and it just sounds like a good idea. However, it can be more expensive and difficult to get, so many people question if it’s worth it. Spoilers: it totally is. Here are the ten best reasons to go organic.

1. They are more nutritious – Several independent studies have concluded that organic food is richer in nutrients than more traditional options. Organic produce has a higher content of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, chromium and magnesium.

2. They are better for children – Growing children need a healthy diet to help their brains and body develop correctly. This is why they need all the nutrients they can get. Besides, their growing bodies are more susceptible to toxins and other contaminants that come from pesticides and GMO crops.

3. They just taste better – Organic food is more flavorful than regular produce and the most important thing for a cook is to choose the right ingredients. All your dishes will taste better and you might even get your kids to eat broccoli without a fight.

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4. It supports local businesses and families – Buying organic food from your local producers will help them create a livelihood and support their families. Your hard-earned money will go to someone working in their own farm and not to some big company’s pockets.

5. It reduces water pollution – Pesticides are one of the primary contaminants that pollute drinking water sources. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, pesticides in produce contaminate the water source for half the American population. By buying organic, you reduce demand for pesticide-ridden food and, by extension, of pesticides.

6. It’s better for the earth – Locally grown organic food is the sustainable way to produce our food. Modern mass-agricultural practices are destructive on the soil and damage the environment in many parts of the world. Local farmers don’t need to raze the Amazon forest to get enough room to plant their produce.

7. It’s antibiotic and hormone-free – Organic meat does not contain the insane amounts of synthetic hormones, drugs and antibiotics that are common in traditionally produced meat. As a bonus, the animals are usually treated better and live in humane conditions.

8. It reduces your cancer risk – According to the US EPA, 90% of fungicides, 60% of herbicides and 30% of insecticides are carcinogenic. This means that most traditionally sourced food is potentially cancer-inducing or might increase the chance of developing abnormal cell growth.

9. It’s safer for farm workers – Research has shown that people regularly exposed to pesticides have a 70% higher chance of developing Parkinson’s disease. Local farmers that choose not to use pesticides do not carry this risk and are able to work in their farm without exposing themselves to unsafe conditions.

10. It protects local wildlife – Pesticides are designed to kill organisms. And even if they are “relatively safe” for animals and people, the truth is that contamination through pesticides is harming wildlife and destroying habitats around the world.

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Eco Eats

Things You Should Know Before Going Vegan

vegan-diet-vegetables-basket

Love them or hate them, the world is anything but indifferent to vegans. Admiration, contempt, snide comments, jokes, moral outrage and, above all, misinformation start flaring up every time the world “vegan” is mentioned. If you are thinking about cutting off all meat products off your diet, here are some things you should know.

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1. It’s not for everyone

There’s no shame in trying it out for a while and deciding it’s not for you. There’s no shame in going back months or years later and try it out again. Becoming a vegan is a pretty big lifestyle change, especially in a society that is still so “meat-centric”. And it doesn’t matter how you choose to eat, your choice is not the “right” one for everybody else. Vegan or not, you should still respect other people’s choices (and make sure they respect yours).

2. There are exactly three jokes about vegans, and you will hear them all the time

Everybody is going to think they are being super clever when they tell you that your food is what their food eats. And they are going to expect you to laugh when you hear the “how to find a vegan in a dinner party, don’t worry, they’ll tell you” joke for the millionth time. And every time food of any kind is mentioned, you will hear some variation of “steak is better than your food”. So get used to it. The jokes can get annoying, but most people are genuinely trying to get a laugh and not judge you. Laugh it off, change the subject and expect to do it again at the next dinner party.

3. You will feel an odd sense of responsibility

Whether you like it or not, as a vegan you will be sort of an ambassador for all veganhood. And you will probably not realize it at first but as time goes on you will start to notice that your actions affect how the people around you perceive not only you, but all vegans. And as much as you try to avoid it, you will find yourself trying to act a certain way to “prove” that you are not the stereotypical vegan, or that not all vegans are the same. You will probably hold yourself to a higher standard than before, which is fine. As long as it doesn’t get out of hand, of course. Remind yourself that you are still human, you are still your own person and you are allowed to be less than perfect all the time.

4. You will feel lonely sometimes

When you are trying to find one single dish on that menu that does not contain meat or cheese, when you are munching on the side salad at that dinner party, when you are debating whether to accept an invitation to eat out because you don’t want to make a scene… Sometimes you will feel very alone in the way you eat. And in those moments you will probably feel more tempted to cheat than any other time. But you are not alone. The Internet is a wonderful place and it will help you connect with other vegans to keep you strong in those moments.

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Articles Eco Eats

Use 3 Ingredients Already In Your Kitchen To Detox And Energize Your Day

apple-ginger-lemon-healthy-smoothie

We all know the importance of a good, healthy breakfast to start the day right, but who has the time to make elaborated breakfast every day? Not me. And probably, not you either. Luckily, there’s a very easy, extremely effective recipe you can try. All you need is a blender and a few ingredients you already have in your kitchen to make the perfect breakfast smoothie.

 What you’ll need:

  • 4 Apples

  • 1 Lemon, peeled

  • 1 Tablespoon grated ginger

 Instructions:

  1. Cut the apples and the lemon into medium-small pieces
  2. Put them in a blender or a juicer with the grated ginger and mix them until you have a smooth consistency.
  3. That’s it.

 I told you it was easy. If you want, you can add a few fresh mint leaves or a spoonful of honey for a little extra flavor, but that’s up to you. You can drink one cup of this delicious smoothie over breakfast every day to improve your digestion, flush toxins, increase your energy levels and even help you with weight loss.

apple-ginger-lemon-health-drink

 How does it work?

 The three main ingredients of this power-smoothie have been proving time and time again to provide a lot of health benefits when consumed regularly. Lemons, for example, is a natural antiseptic that can be used to treat throat infections and respiratory disorders. It has also been linked to a lower blood pressure and a better blood vessel function, and it is thought to even help with weight loss. But that’s not all, because lemon, like all citric fruits, is filled to the brim with delicious Vitamin C. This means that lemon will help you boost your immune system like no other. And on top of all this, lemon is deliciously refreshing, not a bad way to start the day, huh?

 An apple a day keeps the doctor away, as my grandma used to say. Apples are delicious and provide natural sweetness to this drink, but that’s not all they do. They are easy to digest, high in fiber and low on calories, which makes them great if you are trying to lose weight or decrease the bad cholesterol in your bloodstream. Besides, they are packed with antioxidants, which will really improve your cardiovascular health and reduce risk of stroke and respiratory diseases. If that’s not good enough for you, apples are linked to reduced risk of cancer. How do you like them apples?

 Finally, ginger is widely known to soothe digestive problems. It’s not a coincidence that your mom made you drink Ginger Ale whenever you had an upset stomach. This delicious root reduces nausea, dizziness and regulates your digestive tract. But that’s not all, because there is some research that shows taking ginger regularly can reduce joint pain caused by arthritis and improve mobility. On the other hand, there are some studies that link regular ginger consumption with reduced menstrual pains for more than 60% of women, that’s about the same as ibuprofen, but completely natural.

 So there you have it. A three-ingredient smoothie that can supercharge you for the rest of the day and keep you healthy in the long run.

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Articles Eco Eats Eco Tips

I Bet You Had No Clue These Celebrities Are Vegans And Vegetarians

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Being a celebrity is often confused with being a spoiled, selfish brat, who’s leading a life of excess, money, fame, and parties. But not all celebrities decide to take on their fame and use it to party 24/7 like Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton do. Some celebrities are praised for their acting or singing skills, but also, because they publicly speak out on matters that are important to the world. These are the most outspoken celebrities who lead the vegan and vegetarian life and we cannot help but praise them. For the right reasons.

Alicia Silverstone. Was one of the first celebs to publicly screamed to the world back in the 90’s, that she was a vegetarian. Author of the book ‘The kind diet’, is an outspoken mom who’s been a vegan for over 16 years now. Back it wasn’t so ‘common’ to hear celebrities speak about animal abuse and these sorts of diets. “I couldn’t reconcile being an advocate for animals and at the same time eating them — it made no sense,” she stated in her new book, The Kind Mama. And boy, do we agree!
Alicia-Silverstone-smile-vegan

Alan Cumming. Who plays Eli Gold on TV’s hit show The Good Wife knows a thing or two about strategy and the power those political candidates carry under their sleeves. And being in the spotlight himself, Alan stands for animal rights and is completely against the hormones that dead carcasses carry in their bodies. He’s also a big fan of hummus. Who can blame him?!

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Lovely Anne Hathaway, who plaid an innocent intern in the movie Devil Wears Prada dropped 60 pounds for a movie role. She went from a slim girl to an unbelievably tiny shred of her old self. She chopped her hair off as well, but that wasn’t the only change in her life. She ditched her old eating habits and turned to veganism. She seemed to be in the right track, according to PETA and other vegan crusaders, when suddenly in 2014, she decided to switch to the Paleo diet which is packed with a different kind of protein. Hey! Whatever works for her! She just might come back to being a vegan, right?
Anne-Hathaway-Not-Vegan

Emily Deschanel. Also known as ‘Dr. Brennan’ on Fox’s show Bones, got pregnant and maintained her vegan diet. Twenty years ago she started the green life and has never looked back. When she was pregnant, she stated “I don’t think it’s any more challenging for me than it is for anyone else: You have to make sure you get all those essential nutrients.” And we all know she’s talking about getting enough vitamin B12 and omega-3s, which is something most vegans lack.

Emily-Deschanel-Genesis-vegan

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Eco Eats

How Veganism Doesn’t Necessarily Help The Planet

vegan-food-delicious-nice

Well, I was a meat eater. I simply felt fed up one day and upon watching the acclaimed documentary ‘Food Inc’, I decided to slowly cut down on my meat intake. The first reason is because I felt disgusted at what mass production is doing to animals. But also, because I noticed how slowly, my vegan and vegetarian menus were making me healthier and more energetic. They also made me lose weight and I needed that, because of health reasons. I was proud of helping out the chain by being a week vegetarian. But then I started to flirt with the idea of becoming a full blown vegan.

vegan-food-delicious-nice

I did the research and there is no good source of information. One party claims is the best thing you can do for the earth, while another says “this is bull, you need to eat different foods, because you are also helping to destroy the earth”, then someone else claims “well, then become a fruitarian, I’m healthy and I only eat fruits”. But then a doctor claims that those fruitarian’s insulin receptors go insane after years of eating just ONE group of food. Many have released videos online claiming that veganism made them put on weight, made them depressed, anxious and as time went by, their blood tests spoke for themselves: veganism and fruit based diets DO not help your diet. And you end up with bad colon issues because you’re digesting huge amounts of veggies or fruits.

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I tried to avoid preachy vegans telling me that my diet HAD to be vegan, how else would we restore the equilibrium of animals living with humans…but that got me thinking. We never had that equilibrium. Hunting is what we did when we were not civilized and organized and food wasn’t mass produced. While I do agree with the fact that animals cannot be tortured and confined to those unhealthy living conditions just to murder them mercilessly, I do not agree that veganism is the ONE way to go. Particularly Raw veganism. And in a farmer’s words, here’s why:

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The point I’m trying to make is that sometimes, diets and lifestyles change and it’s OK. Do what works for you, and your values. Do what works for your body. If raw veganism doesn’t do the trick for you, then don’t force feed your body with huge amounts of raw food. Eat cooked veggies! Eat fruits! Eat meat! Eat what makes your blood test results shine, and your energy boost! Whatever you do, keep reading and try to filter so many preachy messages online that seem to confuse us all. Be happy and healthy and enjoy life!

 

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Eco Eats

3 Delicious Heart Melting Eco-Recipes To Gift On V-Day

heart-shaped-foods-Valentines-Day-egg-toast

heart-shapped-food-love-panckaesEveryone knows that to get to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Tell that to Lisa who just went straight to the heart and is now single in a mental ward. Gosh! Some people take everything really literal. Enough about that, especially when Valentine’s Day is almost here. What better way to show your love then by baking something sweet and tasty to share with your significant other. No baby, you are not baking yourself. The special part of the gift is that they are all eco-friendly. So they are eating something healthy and lovely.

Here are three delicious heart melting eco-recipes to gift on Valentine’s Day.

1. Finger Licking Good Hors d’oeuvres – Get all of their favorite organic snacks (fruits, chips, nuts).  Set them aside. Now get the blender out. Blend all of the following ingredients together.

  • One heaping tablespoon of organic Fair Trade cacao powder
  • Flesh of one young coconut
  • Organic agave nectar
  • Fresh coconut water
  • ½ cup raw cashews
  • One capful of organic, Fair Trade Vanilla extract
  • Couple pinches of sea salt

Pour it into a serving bowl and let the dipping begin. Plus chocolate is an aphrodisiac. You are welcome.

fruit-dipped-chocolate-pretzel-snacks

2. Aphrodisiac Salad – This one is simple and flavorful. It has six ingredients that are aphrodisiacs. All you need is:

  • One bag of organic baby arugula
  • One large red bell pepper (diced)
  • Two medium or one large avocado (cubed)
  • Half a cup of toasted pine nuts

Put those all into a bowl. The dressing is so delicious. All you need to do is mix: extra virgin olive oil, honey, and one organic lemon, 1 clove of garlic, sea salt, and fresh ground pepper. Pour it over the salad and eat. It is so damn good that even a carnivore would fight for it.

3. Bread Cuddle Heart Breakfast – You need organic bread, organic butter, organic egg, and organic cookie cutter (just kidding). The cookie cutter needs to be in the shape of a heart. Cut out the heart shape from the center of each bread slice. Butter both side. Butter the baking sheet. Put the bread slices evenly on the baking sheet. Crack the eggs in the heart shape. Put in the oven to bake for 12-15 minutes at 350F. They are so cute. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Serve with organic fruit on the side.

heart-shaped-foods-Valentines-Day-egg-toast

Now you have three wonderful eco-friendly Valentine’s Day recipes they will surely love.

Feed your love something sweet on Valentine’s Day. They will surely be saying yum and will come back for more. Now if you cannot bake, then you are sift out of luck. Seriously though, all you need to do is go to Godiva and buy some chocolate covered strawberries and some wine from ABC Liquor. It is that simple. Plus throw the box away and say you made them yourself. They will never know. Love can have its white lies sometimes. I guarantee that your significant other will adore all three recipes as much as he adores you. Just don’t go asking Lisa, and Kelly for advice.

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Eco Eats Eco Tips Lawn & Garden

Food Gone Wild: Super Usefull Foraging Tips

foraging-plants-lavender-weeds-hands

forage-food-edible-guy-picking-plantsThere will come a day when you are lost in the forest, or even worst, the wild, and you have nothing to eat. Well you have your fingertips, but that is just disgusting, and also a bad habit. Anyway, if you are afraid of finding yourself truly lost and starving then you need to learn about foraging for food. I mean if squirrels can do it…so can you. Let Mother Nature feed you her essence. Why start foraging? Well…food costs are rising, edible plants in nature are free, they give you nutrients, and some are used for medicinal purposes.

Here are some beginner tips on foraging.

  • Tip 1: Do not eat everything that you see. Curiosity killed the dumb brat for a reason. Some plants can be poisonous.
  • Tip 2: Know what environment you are going to end up hiking. Suit up properly too. Gloves are your friends.
  • Tip 3: Bring a bag. Use it to keep your foraging finds.
  • Tip 4: Before you eat the plants, test them out to see if they do not upset your stomach and make you plant one in the toilet.
  • Tip 5: No seconds, my dear. Let the area you picked plants from have a chance to grow back.
  • Tip 6: Stay away from highway, nuclear, and landfill plants.
  • Tip 7: Read twice, pick once. That is the foraging motto…for me. Some plants can fool you, so read the books twice and cross-reference it with other plants to make sure you are eating the right one.
  • Tip 8: Make sure you are not allergic to specific plants. Rub a bit of it on a small area of your arm and then some on your lips. If you are not dead, then go ahead.
  • Tip 9: Be thoughtful. There are some endangered species of plants. Read up and find out which ones they are. The last thing you want is to eat the last one of its kind.
  • Tip 10: Do not make a mess. Littering is frowned upon.
  • Tip 11: Mushrooms are great to eat, but some can kill you on the spot. Always have a picture book of edible plants or food.
  • Tip 12: If you do not know if something is edible then do not collect it.
  • Tip 13: Make it a daily routine. Explore different areas to forage for new items.
  • Tip 14: Bring a camera to take pictures of plants, fruits, herds, weed, etc. that you find to keep track of what is in your environment.
  • Tip 15: Say thank you to Earth for giving you great natural nutrients.

So when you are out and foraging for your food, make sure to follow these tips. Remember that just because Mother Nature is giving you free food; it does not mean that you cannot repay her back. Plant some new seeds or throw some seeds in the wind and let nature take its course.

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Eco Eats

Holiday Choco Cookies Even Santa Will Want To Steal

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http://ow.ly/FtZLV
chocolate-chip-cookies-treats-yummy
http://ow.ly/FtZLV

With the winter season here there are many treats that you can imagine making. Sweet or savory; my taste buds do not mind. One thing different this holiday season is that I have gotten on the eco-friendly trend. A better planet means a better holiday season for not only me but for you too. Look for some new eco-friendly treats to make this Christmas. They are so easy to make and great to enjoy with everyone. Just because it has eco-friendly in the recipe name it does not mean that it will not be as delicious as the original. The treat will only be made using products that are safe for the earth.

Try this delicious cookie. You will surely love it.

Eco-Friendly Choco Cookie

Here is how you make them. Get two separate bowls; one for the dry ingredients and another one for the wet ingredients. Sift the almond flour, sea salt, and baking soda together. Add in the chocolate chips (you can use chunks if you prefer). Stir well. Now add in the grape seed oil, agave nectar, and vanilla extract all together. Mix well until you get a cookie dough texture. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Preheat their sauna to 350 degree Fahrenheit.

Roll 1 inch balls and place them on the parchment paper. Place them 2 inches apart from one another. Using the bottom of the 1/4 cup measurer, flatten the cookie balls a bit.

Bake for 8 minutes, and then take them out to cool off for 20 minutes. Eat and let your mouth have an orgasm.

These cookies are one of many eco-friendly holiday treats that I have enjoyed recently. I have eaten Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Banana Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies, and Vegan Fudge.

Yesterday I had Peanut Bites. I used whole grain bread and cut eat slice into four pieces. Then I spread homemade peanut butter. I then finished each decadent piece with fresh fruit slices like kiwis; grapes; strawberries; and bananas. They were delicious and it kept me from using that sugar packed jam.  I cannot to wait to indulge my taste buds with healthier yet delicious treats that are earth-friendly.

Hopefully you too can try these yummy eco-friendly choco cookies. They are easy to make, and they are easy to make disappear. Everyone will fall in love with the flavorful bite of chocolate in each cookie. You can easily give these away as a gift too. Recycle one of your aluminum foil boxes. Cover the box with newspaper and put parchment paper in it. Line the cookies in and close the box up with twine. A perfect homemade eco-friendly gift for anyone. Just keep it away from the pets who love to sneak under the tree.