Last night I was craving a chocolate peanut butter cup, but am sticking to a very low sugar lifestyle. So with that in mind, I set out to create something that I could consume quickly, that would taste amazing, but still be low in sugar. Enter, the peanut butter hot chocolate idea.

Peanut Butter Cup Hot Chocolate – No Sugar Added

Ingredients:

* 10 oz Almond Milk (I used my Quick & Easy Almond Milk)

* 3 tblsp dutch Cocoa

* 2 tblsp Peanut Butter

Instructions:

Add almond milk and cocoa to a small sauce pan. Heat through and add peanut butter. The PB I used had a small amount of sugar added to it when made, so it lightly sweetened my cocoa. You could add some liquid stevia or another type of natural sweetener to this instead, to give it a small amount of sweetness. Enjoy!

Apparently being vegan does NOT prevent me from getting sick. Darn.

I know that’s a ridiculous thought, but I suppose I had this idea that eating well – mostly veggies and fruits and lots of whole grains – would somehow better support my immune system. I entered into this experiment trying to keep an open mind, knowing I would encounter foods and situations outside of my comfort zone and that there would be, shall we say, unintended consequences of this dietary choice.

But open mind or not, i managed to retain a few preconceived notions about how all of this would turn out, including the belief that it would create an invisible, plate-glass, 3-inch-thick barrier around me to ward off illnesses.

This weekend convinced me otherwise.

As I sit here, breathing through my mouth, one ear completely closed and only barely making a sad protest when I swallow, a pile…

Let’s face it, bacon is just one of those things that recovering omnivore’s will never get over. It’s like the girl that got away, the one drink that leads to 5 and crack after rehab, it’s always on your mind. It smells great and because of it’s sweet, but salty, crunchy and greasy goodness that seems to make every dish better. UNLESS you are vegan.

Well pals, I think I’ve got it. Yes, I have the answer, a vegan bacon that isn’t a complete disappointment. The best way to make this is with a dehydrator, but an oven works too, but not as well. Either way, you are probably getting as close as you can, to real bacon taste and texture. Juuuust try it!

2 eggplants
4 tbsp tamari or coconut aminos
1/2 tsp liquid smoke
4 Tbsp maple syrup
1-2 chipotles (dried or with adobo)
3-4 Tbsp olive oil