CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES FOR VALENTINE'S DAY [VIDEO]

For all the lovebirds out there, here's a simple chocolate truffle recipe for you! It's quick, easy, AND healthy too so you can spoil your significant other without, well, spoiling them. These truffles make a really cute DIY present for any occasion too, so feel free to gift them to someone 'just because' :)

Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel. I'm trying this thing where I'm all consistent with my videos, ya know? So show some love and I will continue to keep you posted! :)

Scroll down for the video!

Ingredients
- 1 cup dates
- 3 heap tbsps cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp dessicated coconut
- 1 tbsp coconut flour

Blend all the ingredients until the mixture comes together.
Form into round truffle shapes.
Done!

NATIVE UNEARTHED NATURAL CRYSTAL DEODORANT

There's almost something magical about the way this deodorant works.

Unlike traditional deodorants, this particular one by Native Unearthed is unique in that it is made from volcanic crystal minerals, which means that it is all natural, leaves no marks or sticky residue, and prevents odour by leaving an invincible layer of minerals on the underarms to prevent the build up of bacteria. 

The directions for use simply indicate: 'moisten the tip and apply or alternatively apply to wet underarms'. It was this simplicity that initially made me sceptical. After applying it for the first time and letting it dry (this only takes seconds), the feeling was as though I hadn't used any deodorant at all. It was fragrance-free and it left absolutely zero residue. Unused to this, I wondered if it was wise to step out of the house in that state. Still, I was determined to give it a fair trial and so off I went about with my day's business. 

Over a week later of using this deodorant, I can confidently say that it works like a charm and that I am going to have a hard time going back to regular roll-on deodorants. If you don't know already, I work as a chef and that sort of working environment can get hectic at times. Now, if this deodorant by Native Unearthed can see me through a typical working day and provide round the clock freshness, then I'd say there's definitely something magical about it.

Out of their four deodorant products, I was sent the aloe vera infused version, which has a soothing and hydrating quality on top of the effectiveness of the natural deodorant. They have a sale on at the moment, so if you want to take advantage of that, visit their website here. Equally worth checking out are the other types in the range: Crystal Deodorant with Mangosteen, Crystal Deodorant with Raw Curcuma Longa Root, and the plain version: Natural Crystal Deodorant. 

For anyone who's moving towards a more natural, vegan and eco-friendly lifestyle, not only in terms of food, but also in terms of beauty and healthcare, this would be a worthy staple to include. I cannot rave about this product enough - I am just so impressed - and I would urge you to give it a try for yourself! 

Polite note: Thanks to the VEGAN lifestyle ASSOCIATION for making this review possible. It has not been paid for and the products were sent free of charge. This is my genuine and unbiased review of the product. Native Unearthed is listed with the VLA and offers Associates a 10% discount and you can take advantage of this here. 

BITTER LEAF SOUP [VIDEO]

Hello wonderful people, it's a brand new week, a brand new month, and I hope you've had a great start. With January behind us, it's all too easy to give up on whatever goals/resolutions we set for ourselves this year. Here's a friendly reminder to KEEP GOING! :)

February is a pretty special month for me. My blog turns 3 on the 15th; I get a year older at the end of the month. It's also the month where I plan to launch another 7 day vegan challenge. Remember the one from last year? That was a lot of fun, and a whole bunch of people took part and saw just how easy and beneficial it is to adopt a plant-based diet. More info on this year's challenge coming soon!

My latest YouTube video (Wait! Have you subscribed to my channel yet? No? Go! Now!) is a simple recipe for bitter leaf soup. Enjoy :)

COOKING FOR A CLIENT! [VIDEO]

Visit my Services page to find out how you can possibly get your hands on some healthy Nigerian vegan meals.

Earlier this week, I had fun cooking a bunch of Nigerian meals for a client. Watch the video below to find out a bit more about it! Pictures of the food below.

COCONUT YOGHURT [VIDEO]

Check out my short tutorial video on how to make this easy, 3-ingredient, raw vegan coconut yoghurt! Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss my videos - I'm really sticking with this whole YouTube thing! ;)

BANANA, MANGO AND VANILLA SMOOTHIE [VIDEO]

You'll need:
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 ripe mango
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 250ml (approx.) coconut water

MIGHTYBEE REVIEW (COCONUT WATER & COCONUT MEAT)

Hi, my name is Tomi and I am a coconut addict. Whether it's coconut water, coconut milk, coconut oil, coconut flour, or pure coconut cracked out of its shell, I'm all about this versatile superfood. If you carry out a quick search on my website, you will see that I have used coconut and its products in various recipes including, but not limited to: Coconut and Turmeric Roast Potatoes; Coconut Vanilla Cake; Coconut Cupcakes; Chilli Coconut Salad Dressing and Creamy Coconut Spaghetti Sauce.

So I'm sure it must come as no surprise that I instantly took to the stash of coconut products sent to me by the company MightyBee. Included in their branded, reusable bag was their Virgin Coconut Meat in a resealable pouch, along with two sizes each (235ml and 473ml) of their Raw Coconut Water and Virgin Coconut Water. I was impressed with the clean, beautiful branding and packaging, which, in my opinion, do well to reflect the stated values of the company.

Here are a few reasons why these newcomers in the coconut product market deserve your attention:

- Their products are 100% organic 

- They are all natural and unpasteurised, so nothing added or taken away

- Their products are made from Nam Hom coconuts, grown in Ratchaburi, Thailand

- The coconuts are obtained from sustainable farming practices and fair trade

- Both the coconut water and coconut meat make it from tree to package in 24 hours

What to do? What to make?

The coconut water and coconut meat can certainly be enjoyed as they are. The water has a pleasant, sweet taste which makes it the ideal substitute for processed, sugar-laden soft drinks and juices. The coconut meat, once defrosted, makes a great snack on its own - the flesh is tender and has an intense coconut flavour. If you want to get creative, however, here are a couple of ways you can use these products to enhance or create yummy foods/drinks/snacks.

Coconut water: add it to your smoothies for extra sweetness and for a hydration boost. I made a banana, mango and vanilla smoothie, adding one 235ml bottle of Virgin Coconut Water. Utter deliciousness! 

Coconut meat: blend it with coconut water and lemon juice until smooth and you have coconut yoghurt! Garnish it with your favourite toppings to make a quick and healthy breakfast or snack. I threw on some chopped bananas, dates and mixed nuts. Filling and tasty!

If you love coconuts as much as I do and would like to find out more about what  MightyBee have to offer, visit their official website here! They are currently stocked at Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic, Selfridges, and As Nature Intended, to name a few places. For a full list of stockists or to buy directly from their website, visit their shop page.

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Note: This review has been organised by the Vegan Lifestyle Association It has not been paid for and the products were sent free of charge. This is my genuine and unbiased review of the product.

KALE, APPLE AND PEAR SMOOTHIE

Smoothies are a fast, efficient way of delivering much needed nutrients to the body. They never get boring because you can mix and match the combinations depending on what you're in the mood for. These days I am all about having them for breakfast. Five minutes of prep time with very little fuss, and I can get on with the business of enjoying the rest of my day. 

Kale is a leafy green vegetable that is a great source of calcium, potassium, iron, vitamin E, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and dietary fibre. The list goes on but you get the idea of just how beneficial this superfood can be. By chucking a few leaves of kale into your morning smoothie, you're already seeing to it that you're getting a lot of the nutrients that you could easily miss out on during the course of the day. What a start!

Don't let the colour put you off (although who doesn't like green!) - the addition of apple and pear to this smoothie sweetens the whole deal and the earthy flavour of kale is practically eclipsed. 

Let me know what your favourite smoothie combinations are - I'm always looking to try something new!

Ingredients

- handful of kale leaves

- 1-2 red apples

- 1 large pear

- 1 tbsp ginger

- juice of half a lemon

- 2 cups water

Throw all the ingredients into a blender, starting with the water (to make blending easier) and whiz for a couple of minutes until the smoothie is liquidised and lump-free. Enjoy!