No-Bake Vegan Chia Cheesecake. Crumble Crust.

This No Bake Chia Cheesecake vegan dessert is cool and creamy with a thick, rich, "cream cheese" flavor. Each chia-studded slice has a mellow, cozy sweetness from the agave syrup - a hint of tart too. I like to call this a soft serve cheesecake because it has a silky texture that melts in your mouth - yet it still stands up to being sliced like a traditional cheesecake. The nutty oat crust is cheerfully healthy and rustic - with walnuts and oats. Comfort cheesecake.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia. Sorry, I had to. Those healthy chia seeds not only add a boost of healthy omega fatty acids and fiber - but they help create a perfectly creamy-gelled texture that is slice-able yet pudding-like (in a good way.) Learn more about the magical thickening properties of chia here. And FYI, since chia seeds are pretty flavorless and become soft when hydrated - you barely notice them in the cheesecake.

Dreaming of an easy, unique vegan cheesecake recipe? Here is mine..

Gracias Madre Restaurant: San Francisco Vegan Treat!

This past weekend I took a whirlwind jaunt up to San Francisco with my husband for my birthday weekend adventure. I'm no stranger to San Fran - growing up in the Bay Area I have visited many times - but never to blog about it! So the first thing I did when planning what few meals I had for the trip was to ask you guys - via Twitter.

I received a slew of responses all telling me I simply had to go to an organic, vegan restaurant in the Mission District called Gracias Madre. Funny enough, I had never really heard of Gracias Madre - even though Mexican for is my fave - and Gracias Madre did earn the title of 2010 VegNews Editor's Pick for Restaurant of the Year!

I scanned the menu online and decided that I had to try and pop in for a lunchtime bite. And oh my goodness I am so glad I did! Thanks Twitter friends for the advice!!

I am splitting my San Francisco Vegan Eats review into two posts. And this is part one. I'm devoting it to what may be my new favorite Mexican restaurant ever: Gracias Madre..

Citrus Carrot Tofu Scramble. Cafe Eats at Home.

This Rustic Citrus Tofu Scramble is studded with gold and yellow carrots -roughly chopped. Citrus accents throughout. A hint of pepper. Nutritional yeast. A splash of sassy tamari. The sweetness of the cooked carrots (oozing with vitamin A) compliments the savory flavors perfectly. Crispy tater tots on the side. Fresh orange slices. Spicy salsa. Avocado slices. This would be quite a lovely plate of food served up at home.Cafe style.

Sometimes I wish I had my own restaurant. Or a food truck. I'd love my very own tiny beachside cafe. Probably not actually my next career move, but who knows, maybe someday. And it is at least a fun daydream to have. What would your perfect little cafe look like?

Quickie Vegan Cookie Dough Ice Cream at Home.

Creamy vanilla coconut ice cream swirls and twists with tender cubes of vegan cookie dough. Sweet, melty and creamy, just like you remember it.

It is easy to whip up vegan cookie dough ice cream using a few products from the store. Really, this recipe couldn't get any easier. But I had to make it to satisfy a craving. The kind of craving where I saw something and said "I have to have that!" A photo, a smell, a story - all these things can set off a craving. Here's how I easily satisfied mine..

Get my quickie recipe for Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream (and FYI, this is not a 'from scratch' recipe. This is a quickie!)..