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"Oh, I just want what we all want: a comfortable couch, a nice beverage, a weekend of no distractions and a book that will stop time, lift me out of my quotidian existence and alter my thinking forever. " Elizabeth Gilbert

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Beverages

Pineapple-Orange Slush
(gluten free, raw option)

Strawberry Smoothie (gluten free, raw)

Purple Smoothie

(gluten free, raw)

Green Smoothie
(gluten free, raw)

Cappuccino

(gluten free)

Cinnamon Latte
(gluten free)

Best Cold Coffee

(gluten free)

Peppermint Mocha Tea

(gluten free)
Sweet Tea Latte
(gluten free)

Root Beer Float
(gluten free, comfort drink)

Water w/Fruit Flavor
(gluten free)

Wild Berry Tea

(gluten free)

Pineapple-Orange Juice Slush
Gluten Free, Raw Option
Makes 1 glass

Delicious!!

When I think of breakfast, I think of orange juice, but my favorite juice is orange-pineapple.

For Raw: Squeeze 2 oranges into a 6 oz. glass. Squeeze about 1/4 of a pineapple for the remaining juice. Freeze about 4 juice ice cubes in an ice cube tray. Add juice ice cubes to remaining juice and blend to a slush.

For Easy: Combine the juice of a small can of crushed pineapples in their own juice plus 2 tablespoons of the crushed pineapples (not sweetened) or an equal amount of pineapple juice with about 2/3 cup of orange juice. Freeze about 4 juice ice cubes in an ice cube tray. Add juice ice cubes to remaining juice and blend to a slush.

Strawberry Smoothie

Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Raw option

Serves 1

Ripe, organic bananas (with spots and no green) are much sweeter than regular bananas according to my taste buds.

NOTE: Smoothies will be thicker is using frozen fruit.

8 oz. nondairy milk

4-5 strawberries, fresh or frozen

1 banana, fresh or frozen slices
Blend: 1 cup nondairy milk*, 1 ripe, organic banana, 1/2 cup strawberries

*To make nondairy milk raw grind 1/4 cup raw almonds; blend with 1 cup water and 1/8 teaspoon vanilla. Sift out any solid pieces.

Purple Smoothie

Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Raw

Serves 1

Ripe, organic bananas (with spots and no green) are much sweeter than regular bananas according to my taste buds.

NOTE: Smoothies will be thicker is using frozen fruit.

1 leaf of kale or several of spinach, torn

1 large, organic, ripe banana, fresh or frozen slices

1/2 cup frozen blackberries

1 tablespoon raw agave or maple syrup (optional)

Blend all ingredients with enough water to make a smoothie as thick as you like it.

Green Smoothie

Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Raw option
Serves 1

Ripe, organic bananas (with spots and no green) are much sweeter than regular bananas according to my taste buds.

NOTE: Smoothies will be thicker is using frozen fruit.

1 leaf of kale or several of spinach, torn

1 large, organic, ripe banana, fresh or frozen slices

6-8 oz. nondairy milk*

sweeten to taste as desired

Add all ingredients into a blender and blend.

*To make nondairy milk raw grind 1/4 cup raw almonds; blend with 1 cup water and 1/8 teaspoon vanilla. Sift out any solid pieces.

Even your coffee is surprised

you woke up early!!

Cappuccino
Gluten Free
Makes 1 cup

1/2 c. nondairy milk or coffee cream
1/2 c. dark roast coffee
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon maple syrup
cinnamon

Mix maple syrup and vanilla into the cup of hot coffee. Warm milk in microwave for 1 minute. Place in a tight container and shake to create foam. Pour the shaken milk into the coffee. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Cinnamon Latte
Gluten Free
Serves 1

A latte is simply putting a small amount of concentrated coffee with warm milk.

1/4-1/3 cup hot coffee, extra strong

3/4-2/3 cup non-dairy milk

Dash of cinnamon

sweetener of choice (optional)

Your coffee should be the strength of a full cup of coffee...but with only 1/4 or 1/3 cup of water when making it. The non-dairy milk can be warmed in the microwave, about 30-40 seconds. Then, mix the milk with a fork to make it frothy. Pour it into your coffee.

NOTE: I like my latte with coconut milk, unsweetened, but you may want to try sweetening or different flavors. Stir sweetener into the coffee before adding the milk.

"Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods." Christopher Hitchens

Best Cold Coffee

Gluten Free

Serves 1

Instead of regular ice watering down your coffee, the frozen non-dairy cubes will make it richer, less watery.

non-dairy coffee cream or non-dairy milk

1/2 cup strong coffee, warm--not hot

sweetener of choice

Freeze the non-dairy milk/cream in ice cube trays. Put these ice cubes into your glass/cup. Pour your strong coffee into the cup. Sweeten as needed. NOTE: Instead of regular ice watering down your coffee, the frozen non-dairy cubes will make it richer, less watery.

Peppermint Mocha Tea
Gluten Free
Makes 1 cups

Unlike most people, I'm not a chocolate lover, but this combination is so good that it has become my favorite hot drink!

1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 cup water

1 peppermint tea bag
1/4 cup non-dairy cream or non-dairy milk

sweeten to taste

vegan marshmallows (opt)

Heat enough water for 1 cup of tea. Add the tea bag and allow to darken (steep) before removing. Stir in cocoa powder, nondairy beverage and sweetener. Top with marshmallows.

Sweet Tea Latte

Gluten Free
Makes 1 cups

1 bags black tea

1/4 cup non-dairy milk

1/4 t. vanilla

2 t. maple syrup (or to taste)

sprinkle of cinnamon

Add 3/4 cup of boiling water to cup or microwave tea in the water for about 1 minute. Wait about 5 minutes for tea to brew. Remove bag and add vanilla and syrup. Shake the non-dairy milk to create foam before adding to the tea. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

"Very few people possess true artistic ability. It is therefore both unseemly and unproductive to irritate the situation by making an effort. If you have a burning urge to write or paint, simply eat something sweet and the feeling will pass." Fran Lebowitz

Root Beer Float

Gluten Free, Comfort Drink
Serves 1

This simple to make refreshing drink that tastes like dessert. It's delicious and brings back childhood memories.

Choose a healthier root beer, like Virgil's and a vegan vanilla ice cream, like Nada Moo!

Pour room temperature root beer over a serving of ice cream in a glass and watch it fizz.

(In this photo I used cold root beer and the foam was less than it could have been.)

Water with Fruit Flavor

Gluten Free
Makes 8 glasses

Why spent $2 a bottle for an artificial fruit flavor in bottled water---then, throwing the bottle into a landfill? What a waste of money, plastic, and your taste buds for fruit infused water!

1/2 gallon water (8 glasses or 64 oz.)

Fruit of choice

Soak your favorite fruit in a pitcher of water in your refrigerator. Squeeze a little of the fruit into the water and stir.

Wild Berry Herb Tea
Gluten Free
Makes 8 glasses

Great antioxidant benefits! Recipe from Dr. Michael Greger.

1/2 gallon water (8 glasses or 64 oz.)
4 bags Wild Berry Zinger tea
1 lemon, juiced
3 tablespoons date sugar (or dates, ground)

Cold Brew: Mix water, lemon juice and sugar. Add tea bags and chill in the refrigerator 4-10 hours (depending on desired strength). Refrigerate.
Hot Brew: Boil water and add tea bags. Remove bags and stir-in sugar. Add lime wedge (optional) and pour over ice. Refrigerate when cool.