How to Make a Jerk Tofu Wrap

Here’s a delicious recipe for vegan jerk tofu wraps that combines bold Caribbean flavors with tofu instead of meat. You can either grill or pan fry the tofu, and then wrap it up with other tasty ingredients. 

The jerk sauce uses pimentos berries and Scotch Bonnets. Did you know Scotch Bonnets are 12 to 140 times hotter than jalapeños? Adjust to your spice level and feel free to use the substitutes mentioned. Let’s get cooking! 

Ingredients:

• 1 wholegrain spinach wrap (can use any tortilla) 
• 1 block of extra firm tofu, pressed and sliced into strips
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1/2 cup jerk sauce (see below for details)
• 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped 
• 1/4 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cucumber, sliced 
• 1 mango, slice
• 1/2 fresh lime

For the jerk sauce: 

• 1 tablespoon pimentos berries (can use 1 teaspoon allspice to substitute) 
• 1-2 Scotch bonnet peppers (adjust to your preferred spice level, can use a few dashes of Tabasco sauce or 2-3 tablespoons chili powder to substitute) 
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme 
• 1 teaspoon curry powder 
• 1 teaspoon salt 

Instructions:

1. Prepare the jerk sauce by blending all the ingredients for the jerk sauce in a 

   blender or food processor. Adjust to your spice level. 
2. Marinate the tofu strips into the jerk sauce mixture. 
3. Heat the olive oil in a medium high heat on a frying pan. Add the tofu strips and cook on each side until golden brown, about 10-15 minutes. 
4. To make the wraps, just layer a spinach or wholegrain tortilla with black beans, jerk tofu, cucumber, mango, fresh parsley and a squeeze of fresh lime. Add additional toppings, such as avocado or shredded lettuce, if desired. 
5. Fold the tortilla into a burrito shape. Serve your flavorful jerk tofu wraps warm. 

If you try this out or want to see more recipes, feel free to post in the comments. 

Want to Be Reviewed?

 

Do you have a company with a product you want me to review? I am doing product reviews on this blog. Some examples of products I will review include:

• Handmade products from Etsy
• Vegan companies and products
• Art and art journaling supplies
• Business tools
• Digital products

I also do interviews and accept guest posts. Contact me for more details.

How to Make a Veggie Dog for Fourth of July

Grilling veggie dogs is a great way to celebrate Fourth of July. If is a fun way to enjoy an alternative to traditional hot dogs. Here’s a quick guide on how to barbecue them to perfection:

Choose the Best Veggie Dogs

Start by choosing a vegan veggie dog. Look for veggie dogs specifically designed for grilling so they hold up better on the grill and provide a realistic texture. My favorite brand right now is Lightlife Smart Dogs. Field Roast is another good choice for veggie dogs. Try their Signature Stadium Dog Plant Based Hot Dog. Beyond Meat has a hot dog form of their Beyond Sausage that is perfect for grilling. You can also make your own veggie hot dogs like this recipe from Fat Free Vegan that use pinto beans and vital wheat gluten. to give them texture. 

Grill the Veggie Dogs

Place the veggie dogs on the preheated grill using tongs. Rotate them occasionally for even cooking. Watch for grill marks which will add visual appeal and enhance the flavor of your veggie dogs. Cooking time varies, usually 5–10 minutes. 

Serve with Toppings

Once done, serve on a whole grain bun and top with your favorite toppings. Veggie dogs can be customized with a variety of fun toppings! Here are some ideas:

1. Classic Mustard and Ketchup: A timeless combination that works well with any hot dog, including veggie dogs.

2. Relish: S

   weet or dill relish complements the veggie dog nicely. You can also use dill or sweet pickles that are chopped. 
3. Hot Sauce or Sriracha: If you like a spicy kick, add hot sauce instead of ketchup.

4. Grilled Veggies: have you tried grilled vegetables? Use your favorite veggies like peppers or mushrooms for variety. Also try caramelized which will bring sweetness and depth of flavor.

5. Chopped Tomatoes: This is a great way to replace ketchup. They also add a burst of color. Try using fresh tomatoes. 

6. Vegan Cheese: Melted vegan cheese (such as Daiya cheddar) will take your veggie dog to the next level.

7. Sprouts or Microgreens: Add greens to your veggie dog. Use sprouts or microgreens. You can also add avocado slices which will pair well giving a creamy texture. 

Remember, the best toppings are the ones you enjoy the most! Feel free to mix and match to create your perfect veggie dog. 

Have you ever made a veggie dog? Let me know in the comments what you like on your veggie dog. 

How to Make Fourth of July S’Mores

Here’s a delightful twist on traditional s’mores for your Fourth of July celebration: red, white and blue S’mores. These patriotic treats are easy to make and perfect for your Fourth of July party or barbecue. I found the original recipe from Sheri Silver. Let’s get started! 

Ingredients:

• Graham crackers 
• 1 cup red candy melts
• 1 cup blue candy melts 
• Decorative sprinkles
• Vegan marshmallows (I use Dandies to make them vegan, but you can use any brand)
• Chocolate squares (I use vegan dark chocolate)

Instructions:

1. Melt the red candy melts in the top half of a double boiler set over simmering water. 

2. Dip a graham cracker into the bowl of red candy melts and gently tap on the rim to remove any excess. Place on a lined sheet pan to cool. Repeat with as many graham crackers as you want.

3. Top with patriotic sprinkles if using.

4. Repeat the above process with the blue candy melts (do not top with sprinkles, if using). Let set.

5. To roast your marshmallows, you can do using a campfire or stovetop. Just find a stick in the woods or use a long metal skewer and toast the marshmallow over the flame until toasty. You can also use an oven or microwave as another method to toast s’mores (do this after placing them on a graham cracker).

6. To assemble the s’mores, start with a blue graham cracker. Add 2-3 squares of chocolate. Add 1-2 marshmallows on top of the chocolate. Gently press a red graham cracker with decorative sprinkles on top.

7. Serve warm and enjoy! 

20 Friluftsliv Activites You Can Do Outside

Have you heard of friluftsliv? This concept is all about appreciating the beauty of the nature world.

Here are 20 creative and original friluftsliv activities that allow you to embrace the outdoors and connect with nature:

Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku): Try spending at least 15 minutes in nature. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest such as by lying on the ground or placing your hands on a tree trunk. The act of spending time in the forest is what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku, a term originating in the 1980s that means "bathing in the forest atmosphere," says Qing Li, a researcher on this topic and a professor at Nippon Medical 

The ideal place to forest bathe is well, in a forest. But if you live far away from one or don't have the means to get there, any place that has a lot of trees and quiet spaces will do. Or city park 

Sunrise Yoga: Try doing yoga outside instead of inside. Practice yoga outdoors during sunrise for a gentle start to the day.

Cloud Watching: I love taking photos of clouds. Try lying on your back in your backyard or outdoors and observing the cloud formations. Try in different weathers. I love when it is cloudy just before a storm.

Natural Dyeing: Collect plants, berries or flowers to create your own natural dyes that you can use to dye fabric or other items. 

Outdoor Poetry Writing: Have you tried writing poetry outdoors? Let nature inspire your creativity by writing poems outdoors.

Night Sky Stargazing: Identify constellations and planets without any electronic devices. 

Outdoor Photography: Capture the beauty of landscapes, wildlife, or macro details.

Geocaching: Use GPS coordinates to find hidden treasures in natural settings.

Nature Mandala: Create your own fun intricate mandalas using leaves, flowers and natural materials.

Outdoor Sketching: Bring your art supplies and sketch the landscape or wildlife. 

Have a Picnic: Enjoy a meal outdoors during magical golden hours.

Sound Mapping: Record natural soundscapes (birdsong, rustling leaves) and create a sound map.

Have a Campfire: Gather around a campfire and share stories with friends or family. Prepare meals over a campfire or portable stove. I love making s’mores outdoors.

Enjoy these activities and let nature rejuvenate your spirit! Let me know how you celebrate nature in the comments. 

8 Instagram Tips

 

Instagram is a mobile sharing social media application. Instagram is photography based and good for uploading photos you take on your phone or with another camera. 

Instagram is one social media network that took me a while to get in to, but now I really like it. I have the accounts. My first is mythreadofthought and I use it to upload blog photos and photos from my shop. My second account annaleeheybusiness. It is more personal, but I am trying to promote my second Etsy shop on it more. 

These are some Instagram tips for your small business:

1. If you have an Etsy shop, show off studio photos  and product photos. Also, add a couple of personal photos. I like to keep a schedule of what I post each day. For example, on one day I will upload studio photos and another art journaling photos. 
2. Instagram is meant for adding photos you take with your phone. If you have photos you have taken with another camera or older photos, you can add these by saving them to your phone and uploading them. I will sometimes repost photos I have posted on Flickr on Instagram, but will add a filter to give them a different look.
3. Do not feel you only need to use the Instagram filters. You can edit photos first with apps such as A Color Story or Canva. A Color Story is good for making photos brighter and give them a colorful style. Canva allows you to add text to photos.
4. Use the maximum number of hashtags in your post. You can use up to 30. Check which hashtags are popular and find ones that relate to your photo.
5. Make your Instagram look cohesive. Think of how the photo grid looks overall and think about what photos will look good together. For example, you might use a certain filter for your all of your photos or choose to focus on a certain color. You can also try to form a bigger photo out of smaller photos which will give your grid a unique look.
6. Choose to upload a certain number of photos a day. You can upload one photo or do a group of photos. I like to upload either 3 or 6 photos at s time to make my grid look cohesive.
7. Fill in your bio. Wrote a short couple of sentences about yourself. Include a link to your website, blog or mailing list. 
8. Follow people related to your niche. Leave comments and like people's photos to gain followers. Respond to comments you get.

Do you use Instagram? 

10 Companies You Didn’t Know were Vegan

Vegans avoid all animal products when possible. Part of being a vegan is avoiding non vegan brands in other products besides food. It can be easy to shop vegan. Though it may not be possible to use vegan products 100% of the time, people who are vegan may come up with personal items they avoid (e.g. they avoid leather, but still buy beauty products with beeswax). Here are some vegan alternatives to products other than food.

1. Did you know glue sometimes isn’t vegan? EcoGlue is a completely vegan glue you can use for daily use or any of your craft projects. Animal glue is traditionally used in paper and wood processing, bookbinding, painting, conservation/restoration and for making musical instruments and furniture. Making your own items or buying handmade or vegan brands is one way to make sure the glue used is vegan.
2. Do you use beeswax? Beeswax is used in bookbinding and some beauty products. I found a vegan beeswax called
3. Poppy’s Cleaners
4. Faux leather, sometimes caused pleather, is not too hard to find. Did you know that products that qualify as vegan or faux leather can be made from materials as varied as cork, barkcloth, glazed cotton, waxed cotton, paper, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyurethane.
5. Photos, both printed commercially and at-home, use paper that contains gelatin. Non-photo quality paper avoids gelatin.
6. Bone fine china tableware can contain animal bones. Earthenware or porcelain that’s creamy white is usually vegan. Find china that’s origin is mineral.
7. Many makeup brands are vegan if you check the labels. Urban Decay came out with a Vegan Palette that’s both vegan and uses vegan inspired colors. I have seen seen popular brands, like Bobbi Brown, carry vegan products. Looking for natural brands or handmade beauty products is always a good idea.
8. Lush often has vegan bath products that use natural ingredients. I also love being soap on Etsy. Just search for “vegan” in the search bar and tag your items vegan if you carry vegan products in your shop.
9. Vegan clothing is not hard to find. High end brands often carry vegan products. For example, Nine West carries some high end vegan products.
10. Kat Mendenhall sells the first 100% vegan true Texas style cowboy boots on the market.
11. Love shoes? Just type in the word vegan when searching for products on Zappos. vegan http://ift.tt/2fmGgol Mendenhall sells the first 100% vegan true Texas style cowboy boots on the market.

Want to find more vegan brands. Get my free printable with a list of vegan brands.