I am excited to share that I am going to be a part of the First Annual SoCal Vegfest on November 1, 2015, which also happens to be World Vegan Day & Dia De Los Muertos, bringing in more fun!
SoCal Vegfest is a Free-Admission Festival "designed to engage curiosity and inspire consciousness in people of all ages". Their goal, as well as mine, is to inspire and support anyone who is interested in a shift to living a healthier, more environmentally friendly, and compassionate life.
The festival is kid-friendly with a kids village!, includes inspiring celebrity speakers, free plant-based food samples, musical entertainment, cooking demos, a yoga tent, interactive booths, food vendors, humane organizations, oh, and
Sweet Simple Vegan Merchandise!
Quick, flavorful and easy, what more could you want?
I must say that I am biased to anything with roasted red peppers in it, especially when made fresh, but trust me when I say that this hummus is the real deal, and just so happens to be good for ya.
Last Wednesday was my last day of my short summer vacation, and what better way to spend it than laying lazy in bed all day and vegging out before all of that stress that was to come with school. I am now in my very last year at my university, and come June of next year, I will be graduated with a degree in Nutritional Science, woot woot, FINALLY!
Last week, when I decided to make a homemade oil-free roasted red pepper hummus, I realized that I could easily roast my own red peppers at home for the recipe in under 30 minutes! Not only did I avoid the extra salt and preservatives they are often packaged with, but I also made available a new ingredient in my kitchen that I can use for so many future recipes.
Not only were these peppers awesome for the hummus (coming soon, btw!), but they also could be used in soups, sauces, sandwiches, wraps, diced into a grain dish or salad, added atop a pizza or simply tossed with herbs and spices for a delicious side dish! 
There's always a sense of comfort that comes along with enjoying thick a slice of banana bread and a tall glass of {non-dairy} milk. It's to me like sitting in front of a warm fire on a cold winter's night (if you would even consider there to be a 'winter' here in LA).
The problem with most other banana bread recipes is that they contain dairy, eggs, refined sugar, and oil -- things that I do not consume or include in what I consider a healthy diet. So, I decided not only to veganize this nostalgic recipe, but to also be sure it is a healthy version that I could guiltlessly consume and enjoy.
So here it is, a healthy banana bread that is vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, oil-free and yet still comforting & delicious. The ingredient list on this recipe is also relatively simple, I promise! 
For the first time ever last week, I was out with food poisoning! I always knew it was an unpleasant experience from the looks of others, but I never knew it would be this taxing on me, mentally and physically. I unfortunately had to spend a short while in the hospital, and they deemed the illness to be food poisoning coupled with a bacterial infection and from these, fever. What was weird is that I felt ill Wednesday, recovered with a small headache on Thursday, and when Friday rolled around, I could not even get myself to open my eyes! It took a 360 real quick and I had to head to the hospital because of it. We had no clue what had caused my illness, and at this point I really don't have the urge to try and figure that out, I am just glad that I am passed that terrible, terrible, did I say TERRIBLE experience.
The first thing I do right when I was well the following Monday? Get into the damn kitchen again and make myself some food that's what!