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Do you realize how easy it is to make your own homemade pizza? A pizza may cost you $25, but if you make it at home it will cost you around $2-$3. That's a huge savings. Okay, it does take time to make your own pizza dough and cut up all the toppings, but when you do it right, it's worth all that effort. Getting the right pizza sauce is one of the most important parts of making good pizza. This will help you succeed in that area.It's a simple recipe that takes little time and prep to make, but it's full of freshness. Pizza Sauce Recipe: 1 14oz. can Italian tomatoes (Cento San Marzano) 3/4 teaspoon sat salt 3 tablespoons quality olive oil 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 3 leaves of basil, fresh Directions: Add the can of tomatoes to a medium size pot, and squish them with your hands until it is a fairly smooth texture. Put in the rest of the ingredients and turn onto a medium-low heat for 30 minutes or longer. If longer than 30 minutes put on a low heat. You just want to simmer it. Place in an air tight container and it will stay good for around 5 days in the fridge. #pizza #sauce #plantbased #vegan #vegetarian Typically I will use the Cento San Marzano peeled tomatoes. They come whole and then I squish them with my hands. To me this has the best flavor when I use this brand. Click here to watch the short video showing how to make this recipe.

Recently I uploaded a video to my Youtube channel about tips for lower blood sugars. Iv'e given 9 tips on how to help lower blood sugars and return to a normal level. These tips have worked for many other people for helping to lower blood sugars, and if you give them a try they can help you as well. Check out the video for more in depth detail on how these tips work and why. My book is available for purchase to help give more insight into healthy living and recipes. Facts about diabetes: 9.7 million adults have undiagnosed diabetes 29.3 million adults have diagnosed diabetes 115.9 million adults have pre-diabetes (about 55%) Complications related to diabetes: Heart disease Stroke Nerve damage Diabetic retinopathy (damage to the blood vessels of the retina), which could lead to blindness. Diabetic neuropathy (kidney damage or kidney failure) Cataract Feet problems that are caused but nerve damage (neuropathy) or poor blood flow, which can lead to serious infections, and in some cases amputation Bone and joint problems Teeth and gum infections Skin problems, which can include bacterial infections, fungal infections, and non-healing wounds More ways to reverse diabetes: Increase the total amount of fiber to 30-40 grams per day. A great way to increase fiber is to add ½ a cup of beans to your largest meal. Research has shown beans help to keep the blood sugars more stable for several hours. Say you eat a ½ cup of beans with your lunch today, your blood sugars could be lower after your dinner because of the beans you ate at lunch time. Increase your fruits and vegetables intake. Make sure to get 5 plus cups of fruits and vegetables a day. Whole food fats are the way to go. These would include nuts, seeds, olives, avocados and coconut. Taking a leisurely walk after a meal can help lower your blood sugars from 1-3 points per minute spent walking. Say you walk for 15 minutes after your meal, this can help lower your blood sugars 15-45 points. This can add up quickly and intensely decrease the damage that can occur from after-meal blood sugar spikes. Cut down or out on the soft drinks and other calorie liquids. These tend to be high in calories and sugar, which will make the blood sugars spike up quickly. Choose water in place of these drinks, or try a sparkling naturally flavored water when craving a soft drink. Tips from the video: Increase your bean/legume intake Increase vegetables Eat whole grains Increase fruit intake Increase B vitamins Decrease sugar and refined foods Cut out saturated fat Eat a plant-based diet Eliminate alcohol

Anyone a Thai food fan? I totally am! Curry is one of the dishes I always love to get when I go for to Thai food. When I first made this curry recipe, I realized I wouldn't have to go out to eat at a Thai restaurant as often, because this curry was devine. It's so simple to make and impressive with the bold delicious flavors. Give it a try. Recipe: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 onion, sliced 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 potato, cubed 1 can garbanzo beans, drained 1 can coconut milk 2 tablespoons red curry paste 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1/2 cup water salt to taste ( about 1/2-1 teaspoon) 1 cup spinach Directions: Sauté onion and garlic with olive oil on a medium heat. Add potatoes, garbanzo beans, coconut milk, red curry paste, sugar, soy sauce, and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add the spinach. Cover for 15 minutes while simmering on low. Remove from heat and salt as needed. Eat over brown or white rice.

There's not much better than cake, and this chocolate cake takes...the cake. Okay, too much? Seriously, it is such a moist and creamy cake bursting with chocolate sweetness. When I was younger my Nanny (grandma, but not biologically my grandma, but more like a best friend) used to make this chocolate cake (only the non-vegan version). She would make it for her kids, grandkids, my family, or just herself, and everyone LOVED IT! I have made this vegan version of her cake for her grandkids, and they couldn't even tell it was vegan. Win! This is a very special cake. Every time I take a bite I'm reminded of all the times I would sit in her living room just talking or watching Nancy Grace on CNN. She was my favorite. She was the type of grandma that one wants to have. She was full of wisdom but so funny. She wasn't afraid to show her true colors. Sometimes when we would drive up to her house she would flash us. Lol. She had this ping pong paddle that she had turned into a sign that would flip different words or phrases, and she would use it while driving to let other drivers to let them know what she was thinking. "Move over." "Hello." "Get off the road." "Have a nice day." "$%&@ you." So one day she saw my mom driving her way so she stuck her sign out the window to say "hello" only the wind blew it and it ended up with the "$%&@ you" sign, but she didn't realize it. So she just drove by waving with a smile. That was Nanny. Full of life and laughter. Life is short, so eat the cake and share it with your loved ones. Chocolate Cake Recipe: Ingredients: 2 cups sugar 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup cocoa powder 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed 6 tablespoons water 1 cup dairy-free milk 1/2 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup boiling water Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Place a piece of cut out parchment paper to fit two 9-inch round baking pans 3. Add dry ingredients in a large bowl, and stir. 4. Add the ground flaxseed to the 6 tablespoons of water, and let it sit for 3-5 minutes. 5. Add the non-dairy milk, flax mixture, oil and vanilla, and mix well. 6. Stir in the boiling water. It may seem thin, but that's what we're looking for. 7. Pour patter into pans evening. 8. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Test the cake with a wooden pick by inserting it into the center. If it comes out clean it is finish, if not continue baking a couple more minutes. 9. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove cake from the pans onto a wire wrack. Cool completely. 10. Frost with the chocolate frosting recipe below. Chocolate Frosting: Ingredients: 3 cups powdered sugar 1/2 cup dairy-free butter, melted 2/3 cup cocoa powder 1/3 cup dairy-free milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Instructions: In a mixing bowl add the powdered sugar and cocoa and stir until combined. Add dairy-free butter and dairy-free milk. Beat with standing mixer or hand mixer. Stir in vanilla. Layer cake and frosting, and top with a thin layer of frosting on the sides and top of cake, to make a crumb coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Add a thick layer of frosting all over the cake and smooth with a cake spatula. Add chocolate sprinkles all around the sides of the cake, then pipe on frosting on the top edges of the cake. I used a star shape 32 piping tip. For the cake that I made I doubled the recipe to make a 3 layer cake, then I used the extra layer as a separate cake. I could have made a 4 layer cake, but it would have been a bit much.

Mexican food is one of my favorite foods. There is just so much flavor and variety to it all. Plus, as a vegan, there are many options for us. It's so simple to make Hispanic dishes vegan. We've all probably tasted a few salsas in our lifetimes, but have you tried tomatillo salsa? Mmm mmm good! The way I make my tomatillo sauce is a mix between salsa and guacamole. Because let's be honest, salsa and guacamole are pretty amazing. Tomatillo is a Spanish word, that simply means little tomato. Tomatillo Sauce Recipe: 4 tomatillos, quartered 1 ripe avocado juice of 1 lemon, about 2 Tbsp salt to taste 1 jalapeño, remove seeds Take the tomatillos and peel the skin off and rinse them off. Quarter them and sauté them for about 5 minutes on a medium heat. Place all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pulse until it is completely smooth and creamy. Tostada Assembly Corn tostadas Refried beans Lettuce, shredded Tomatoes, diced Cilantro, chopped Tomatillo sauce Tostadas are so quick and simple to make. If you have leftover beans, just blend them up until they are smooth, then heat them up for your tostadas. It's a great way to use those leftover beans. If there are other veggies you want to add to your tostada then feel free to add! Benefits of Tomatillos: These are bursting with nutrition! They're a great source of: fiber, niacin, potassium, and manganese. Also, they contain vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. They contain more fiber, protein, minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins than tomatoes.

Ain't nobody got time for that! Pulling out multiple pots and pans and spoons, and then having to wash all of them. That's why this recipe is a one-pot recipe. Wahoo! It's a healthy way to have lunch or dinner and not skip out on the flavor. Recipe: 1/2 onion, diced 6-8 cloves of garlic, minced 1 1/2 cups quinoa 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth (or 1 1/2 cup water with 2 teaspoons Vegetarian Better Than Bouillon) 1 can diced tomatoes 1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained 2 cups corn (frozen or canned) 1 tablespoon cumin salt to taste 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 avocado, to top Directions: On a medium-high heat add a little olive oil, or water, to sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and quinoa sauté for another 2-3 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the lime juice and avocado. Cover pan and cook for 20 minutes on a low heat. Remove from heat and stir in the lime juice. Serve with avocado.

Have you ever been to Brazil? If you have then you know how delicious the food is there. If not, you need to GO! One of my favorite Brazilian dishes is Stroganoff. It's different than our American stroganoff. Usually ours has pasta and a cream sauce. The Brazilian one is a tomato cream sauce with meat. Instead of chicken or beef, which is typically used in this recipe, i use the Gardein Chick'n Strips. I have used other vegan meat products, but this one is one of my favorites. It holds its texture and tastes amazing. Another good veggie meat to use is soy curls. These are a great alternative because they are not highly processed. Plus, in Brazil they carry a lot of these in stores. So if you're in Brazil and looking for a good veggie meat to use, use carne de soja. If you prefer not using any type of veggie meat, you can always substitute it for 1 cup of mushrooms, and slice them. Recipe: 1 onion, diced 5 cloves garlic, minced 1 large tomato, diced 10 green olives, sliced 1/2 cup tomato sauce 1 cup UNSWEETENED soy milk, or other unsweetened milk alternative 1 cup veggie meat, I used Gardein Chick'n Strips (can use mushrooms instead) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon flour 2 green onions Directions: Bring a pan to a medium heat and add olive oil. Add diced onion and sauté for 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for another 3 minutes. Add your veggie meat or mushrooms and continue to sauté. Add your tomatoes and tomato sauce. For a thicker stroganoff add 1 tablespoon flour, and mix in well. Add your unsweetened milk alternative and stir it in well. Add green olives and salt, and allow to simmer on a low heat for 5 minutes. Top with green onions or parsley, and serve with rice. My time in Manaus, Brazil: In the summer of 2012 I spent 6 weeks in Manaus, Brazil. I went to be a missionary who helps sell Chritian books and health books to the community, it's called colporteuring. Years earlier I had done this type of work in Northern California, but I felt compelled to try it in more places. Before I arrived in Brazil I could only say, "meu nome e Kylee," or my name is Kylee. I did not speak the language at all, but I was wanting to pick it up and learn it. Whats better than full immerse yourself and learning in the country itself? When I arrived I was put with a group of Brazilian students who were colporteuring in Manaus. No one spoke English. When I signed up I knew no one would speak English, but I figured this was the best way to learn to speak Portuguese. I can't begin to tell you how warm and friendly the people of Manaus are. I've traveled to several countries for misionary work, and the people have always been so kind. But the people in Brazil went the extra mile to make me feel loved and cared for. The friends I met and the experiences I had while in Manaus will always be in my heart. If you have the opportunity to serve as a missionary to share God's love, do it! It's a blessing to the people you are helping, but it's a bigger blessing to you. Yes, I did pick up the language quickly. It was learn it or go hungry. Some friends I made while I was in Brazil.

We all know that we should be eating more vegetables, but sometimes it's hard to find new ways to eat them. Salad is always an easy way to get in those vegetables, but it can become boring after a while. That's why I like to mix up my salads and come up with something new. Let me be honest: spinach is not on my list of favorite veggies. However, when it is chopped up like it is in this salad, I have no problem with it, and actually enjoy it. Instead of a new years resolution that I know I will not keep, this year I am trying to eat more fruits and vegetables. It's a simple one, but one that will have great effects. So if you are wanting recipes that incorporate more veggies and fruits, be sure to subscribe so you know when the next recipes will be out. Recipe: 1 cup brown rice, cooked 2 cups spinach, chopped 1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered 1 small cucumber, diced 1/4 cup red onions, diced 1/4 cup kalamata olives, chopped Dressing: 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon salt Instructions: In a large bowl, add the rice, spinach, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and olives, and toss until it is well combined. Sprinkle on the oregano, salt and lemon juice, and stir until the salad is well coated. Serve cold. Instructions for making rice: Place burner on a medium heat, and add 1 cup of uncooked rice into a medium saucepan. Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and stir until rice is coated with the olive oil. Continue stirring for about 3-4 minutes, or until rice is slightly browning. Add 2 cups of water and salt, and bring to a boil. Cover and turn the heat down to low, and let it simmer for about 30-35 minutes, or until you notice the water has been well absorbed. Remove from heat, and let the rice cool before adding it to the salad.

Ever wonder what to do with those brown bananas? I have a solution! In this video I show you want to do with growing bananas, and I also make one of my favorite smoothies. Have you ever tried the Peanut Butter Mood smoothie from Jamba Juice? Well, this is it vegan style. Recipe: 2 frozen bananas 1 cup soy milk (or other milk alternatives) 2 Tbsp peanut butter (or other nut butters) 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed Benefits of Bananas: They are high in potassium, which makes it excellent for fighting heart disease. A diet high in potassium and low in sodium helps prevent arterial hypertension, arrhythmia, stroke and even cancer. Bananas are effective in relieving diarrhea in children and also adults. Nuts/Nut Butters Some people are worried that nuts or nut butter will make them gain weight since they tend to be high in calories. When comparing calorie for calorie, nuts are less fattening than meat, sausage, milk fats or refined sweets. It's true nuts have a high caloric content, but their oil is composed of mono or polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are easily metabolized and don't tend to be deposited in the body. So eat nuts in place of other calorie-rich foods and not in addition to them.

It's like Ginger Ale soda! Okay, so it's not soda. But that's a good thing because it's not chalk full of chemicals and non-food ingredients! This has only 4 ingredients to this recipe. Not only is it only delicious, but it is packed full of health benefits. Recipe: 3-4 inches of fresh ginger, with skin removed 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice 32 oz sparkling water 100% maple syrup to sweeten, or other natural sweetener Remove the outside skin of the ginger, and place it in the blender with the lemon juice. Blend until it is smooth, which takes about 2-3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the sparkingling water, and blend for another minute or two. Strain the juice, with a fine strainer, into a pitcher and add the rest of the sparking water. To sweeten it add maple syrup or another natural sweetener. Sweeten to taste. Benefits of Ginger: There are many reasons you should be drinking this Gingerade! Here are just a few things that ginger can help with: Nausea Cancer protection Heartburn/acid reflux/GERD Boosting the immune system Pain Cough Stuffy Nose or Nasal Congestion Upset stomach Toothache Headaches Inflammation Swelling Sore throat Diseases caused by or fueled by inflammation such as arthritis, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, numerous cancer types, cardiovascular disease, and more If those aren’t enough reasons to start increase your ginger intake, here are some more detailed reasons: Anti-viral:Feeling sick? Drink this juice! Or increase your intake of ginger. Ginger contains anti-viral properties that can help to improve the immune system. So if you’re feeling a sore throat coming on, just make this juice, or boil a piece of ginger in water, and drink up! Anti-inflammatory: Ginger contains gingerols, shocking! These help to significantly reduce inflammation. If you have a disease ending in –it is (inflammation), go ahead and try increase your intake of ginger. Arthr-ITIS is a painful disease, and could improve with foods that are anti-inflammatory like ginger. In studies it has been shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis were found that 75% of them had experienced relief of swelling and/or pain, when increasing their intake of ginger. Also, those who have diseases such as diabetes, obesity, many cancer types, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and obesity. Anti-nausea:Most people have heard to drink Ginger Ale when they are feeling nauseous, and that’s because it contains ginger. Ginger is great for helping relieve nausea from motion sickness to even cancer chemotherapy. There are so many reasons that we should be increasing our intake of ginger, and this juice recipe is just one of those reasons. It is not only bursting with nutrition for us, but it is delightfully delicious as well.

If you're looking for a simple dessert recipe, this one couldn't be more simple. This recipe has 3 ingredients. 3! Okay, only if you don't include the crust. A great thing about this recipe is it calls for maple syrup, a natural sweetener. Make sure that you are buying 100% pure maple syrup, otherwise there is a ton of extra added sugar, that you don't want or need. By adding tofu to this recipe it gives the pie a smooth and creamy texture. Plus, it adds protein to a pie recipe. Try making this recipe for friends or family without telling them what it's made out of, and I guarantee people won't realize there is tofu in it. I made this pie and brought it to my work for my co-workers. Before they ate it they were asking what it was made out of, but I said I wouldn't tell them until after they tried it. I didn't want anyone to have any preconceived ideas of how it would taste. They were all saying how delicious it was, and were very interested to know how I made it. No one could hardly believe that it was made with only 3 ingredients, one of which included tofu! Now a lot of them are planning on making this recipe for their family and friends. Once you give it a try I'm sure you'll feel the same. Recipe: 1 pound silken tofu 1/3-1/2 cup 100% maple syrup 1 bag of vegan dark chocolate chips (24 ounce bag) 1 pie crust Drain the water from the tofu. Place the tofu and maple syrup in a blender and blend for about 3-4 minutes, or until it is completely smooth. In a small sauce pan, turn the burner on a low-medium heat and add the chocolate chips. Stir the chocolate chips until they are completely melted. Add the melted chocolate chips to the blender and blend for another 2 minutes. Then simply pour the pie mixture into your prepared pie crust. Put in the refrigerator for 2 or more hours, or until the pie is cooled down and set. If you want you can add soy or coconut whipped cream to the top of your pie to make it even more delicious.

Red Lentil Soup Being vegan is expensive? Think again. Here is one recipe that is super easy on the wallet. Lentils are one of the most inexpensive foods, and yet so delicious and healthy. Who doesn't want to save some money? Not only is this recipe easy on your budget, but it's bursting with flavor. Honestly, the soup is what you make it. These are just some of my favorite flavors to add to my soup, but you can add or take away whatever you want to. It's just that easy. Health Benefits of Lentils Lentils may be small, but they're full of nutrients and health benefits. They're a great way to help lower cholesterol since they are an excellent source of fiber. Since they're rich in fiber they also help to manage blood-sugar levels. They're a great source of protein as well. B vitamins are also readily found in lentils, which is great since a lot of people, both vegetarians and meat-eaters, have low B vitamin levels. Low in iron? Eat some lentils since they are a good source iron. Here's is a quick healthy recipe, that is also easy on the wallet. This recipe takes about 15-20 minutes to make, total. It's absolutely delicious and so healthy. Recipe: 2 cups red lentils 4 cups water (more if needed) 2 Tbsp minced garlic 1/4 C. diced onion 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 1/2 tsp salt 2 Tbsp McKay's Chik'n Seasoning 2 Bay leaves Dash of Cayenne 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast flakes Directions: Turn burner on a medium-high heat. In a pot add the olive oil, onion, and garlic. Sauté until onions are transparent. Add lentils and water into pot. After cooking for about 3 minutes add the rest of the ingredients, salt, McKay's Chik'n seasoning, bay leaves, cayenne, and yeast flakes. Let lentils cook for about 15 minutes, or until lentils are soft. More water may be needed. Remove from heat and serve.