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For a Balanced Life

Christy Morgan’s Blissful Bites Cookbook Review and Giveaway!

By 76 Comments

And Christy’s recipe for Coconut Bliss Granola with Key-Lime Soy Yogurt Parfaits – just in time for your Mother’s Day Brunch.

blissful

Let me first introduce you to Christy Morgan – The Blissful Chef – Vegan Macrobiotic Chef , Author,  Educator, Recipe Creator and Speaker. She will show you how to access your bliss with tasty recipes that are free of processed foods, totally plant-based and good for you.

Blissful Bites: Vegan Meals That Nourish Mind, Body, and Planet (BenBella) is Christy’s  first full-length cookbook and I had the pleasure of getting a copy to try out and offer to one lucky reader for a giveaway. You are not going to want to miss entering for your chance to win a copy; it’s an incredible cookbook.

There is something for everyone in this cookbook. Almost all of the recipes are gluten-free and she uses very limited amounts of oil, if any. The recipes are easy to follow, take less than 45 minutes to prepare, and contain ingredients that you can find in your local supermarket and/or health food store. The recipes are categorized by seasons, which will help you plan and eat accordingly. There’s also a great section detailing items that you should have in your pantry and cooking tools, so you can be well on your way to eating the blissful way. =)

I tried out several of Christy’s recipes in her cookbook and all were effortless to make, as well as incredibly fresh tasting and delicious. I chose to share her recipes for Coconut Bliss Granola and Key-Lime Soy Yogurt. Combined this makes a beautiful breakfast parfait to enjoy any day, but is also perfect for brunch with friends or family. For us, it will be on our menu for our Mother’s Day Brunch this Sunday.

Beautiful, isn’t it? And oh, so delicious…

granola

Coconut Bliss Granola
 
Print
Store-bought Granola is usually full of oil and sugar. Yet it's so easy to make yourself for half the cost - and half the guilt. You'll fall in love with this granola recipe, which you can serve with nondairy milk or with key-lime soy yogurt.
Author:
Recipe type: Spring Recipe
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup raw sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup shredded dried coconut, unsweetened
  • 1 cup brown rice crispy cereal
  • ¾ cup sliced almonds
  • ½ cup walnuts, chopped if whole
  • ¼ cup sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • Dash nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
  • Pinch sea salt
  • 1 cup raisins (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
  2. Mix all dry ingredients, except raisins, in a large bowl.
  3. In a smaller bowl, whisk together wet ingredients.
  4. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and combine thoroughly.
  5. Transfer to a 9x13 glass casserole dish and evenly smooth across the top.
  6. Bake for 45 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven and stir in raisins.
  8. Bake for another 10 minutes.
  9. Remove from oven and cool.
Notes
Store in an airtight container and it will last for weeks.

Key-Lime Soy Yogurt
 
Print
This is tastier than store-bought vegan yogurt, but it's missing the acidophilus. No worries - you won't miss it, because it's still healthy and actually has no refined sugar like store brands.
Author:
Recipe type: Spring
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
  • 2 packages Mori-Nu silken tofu
  • ½ cup maple syrup or brown rice syrup
  • 2 limes, zested and juiced
  • 1 small lemon, juiced
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
Instructions
  1. Blend all ingredients in a food processor. Be sure to scrape the edges of the bowl a few times to incorporate all the tofu. Blend until smooth.
  2. Layer with Coconut Bliss Granola and fresh berries for a parfait.

This Giveaway is now closed..thanks to all who entered! 

Now for the Giveaway…

To enter the contest, leave a comment telling me what’s your favorite vegan brunch recipe. Don’t forget to leave your contact information so I can let you know if you win. =)

BONUS ENTRIES

You MUST leave each entry as a separate comment or only one comment will count.

All entries must be completed no later than Saturday, May 18th 2013,  at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Winner will be announced on Sunday, May 19th 2013, on my blog, and the winner will also be notified via the email address they provided in the comments section.

Giveaway open to U.S. and Canada residents only. =)

Good Luck!

xoxo,

Jen

Comments

  12. bastdazbog says

    For almost 20 years now, our favorite vegan brunch food is french toast with fruit or maple syrup from Lindsay Wagner’s cookbook “High Road to Health”. Absolutely delicious! 🙂

    Reply

  14. Shannon says

    My favorite vegan brunch item is a gluten free fruit pizza! It is always a hit with family & friends!

    Reply

  19. Terri Cole says

    I know it’s predictable, but my favorite brunch dish is scrambled tofu with mushrooms, greens & home fries.

    Reply

  29. Jody Haller says

    My favorite brunch recipe is gluten free biscuits with grapefruit vanilla bean jam (made locally by my friend!). Or any combination of bread and fruit, really. Thanks!

    Reply

  43. Susan says

    My favorite thing to eat for brunch is simply a cocoa-maca-banana-oatmeal-almond milk smoothie. Simple and simply delicious!!

    Reply

  56. Nadia Janson says

    My favorite vegan food (I should say the whole family’s) is PEAR BREAD — yummy yummy yummy I got luv in my tummy

    Reply

  60. Myriam R. says

    My favorite vegan brunch recipe is buckwheat pancakes with maple syrup and berries. Yum! 🙂

    Reply

  64. Lindsay says

    My favorite vegan brunch recipe is currently oatmeal with fresh apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and almond milk. <3

    Reply

  74. Kerri says

    we are just now starting to ear vegan. i don’t have a brunch recipe to share, but would love to get this cookbook to help me on my way!

    Reply

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