Monday, we headed to Melissa + Matt’s for dinner. I made the vegan chocolate brownies again. These are seriously so so so good!
The only thing I changed was adding 1/2t cinnamon, which you could actually taste! These take about 10min from start to finish [max] and then take 20min to bake. LOVE this recipe!
I decided to jazz them up a bit with a peanut butter vegan ganache. It was creamy + delish.
I don’t normally use powdered sugar, but when I do I use organic and make sure it’s sugar + tapioca starch instead of corn starch. I try to keep out highly processed corn products as much as possible! I also just wanted a super quick + easy frosting and this was it!
Vegan Peanut Butter Ganache
- ~3/4c peanut butter
- ~2/3c powdered sugar
- ~1-2T non-dairy milk
- Combine + whisk with fork until creamy.
- Adjust powdered sugar and/or milk to get it to the consistency you want.
Mine was a nice + creamy frosting. It was gooey, a little sweet and super peanut buttery 
The view from Melissa’s house is awesome!
I’ve missed Jake! He’s getting so big…and even cuter…if that was possible!
On the menu: Grilled Quesadillas
Matt grilled up chicken + steak.
He also grilled veggies in this awesome cast iron grill pan.
Jake ate hotel room key cards, while he waited for dinner. He’s such a good little eater and eats everything mom + dad do. Love him!
Melissa + Matt were too kind and got me flowers and a year subscription to Vegetarian magazine, on top of an amazing dinner!!
They were also super accommodating to my veggie diet. Thanks Melis!!! It was delicious.
Matt made homemade guac. YUM.
My 2 quesadillas pre-grilled. I don’t know why I’ve never thought to grill quesadillas. It was a brilliant idea.
Love the grill marks!!!
Melissa + me
Chris + Matt
For the past 2 days, I’ve made rolled oats and really haven’t been too excited about them. Not because it’s summer but because Scottish + Steel Cut are just so much better! Granted I didn’t have fresh banana either day. One day I left it out and today I used frozen sliced banana. I’m sure that was some of the problem but they just don’t fluff up or get nearly as creamy as my Scottish Oats!!
I used 1/3c rolled oats and with Scottish I use 1/4c but they expand SO much more! It’s pretty crazy. Once I get fresh bananas I’ll test it again. Besides the fact that the texture wasn’t my favorite, the flavors rocked. I used my salt kissed cashew butter, jelly, raspberries and cacao nibs for toppers. A little bit of cream, a little bit of crunch and a little bit of sweet.
Workin’ it out:
- .75 mile walk to the gym
- 100m kickboard warm up
- 25m breaststroke
- 25m backstroke
- 175m freestyle
- 25m freestyle sprint
- 50m kickboard cool down
- .75 mile walk home
- light stretching
I repeated what is highlighted in orange 5 times total and it took about 32min. It was a great workout!
Yoga for the day:
- after the swim I did part of Polly’s Yoga for Runners
- yogadownload 8min Abs, plus a few more moves
- midnight yoga session – yoga download Yoga for Cyclists [20min]
Running to bed……
xo
Ashley
PDF 
Colorado has some serious views!! *jealous!*
OK – I’m confused…do you think you could do a post on all the different kinds of oats!? I don’t get why steel cut is so good, plus I’ve NEVER seen them over here..but if they’re that good, I need some before winter :p
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Ashley Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
I’ve been preparing a post and it will be up soon!!
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I’ve been making the vegan chocolate brownies, too – they are so good. I made them twice this past weekend!
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That is a great idea to grill quesadillas! Heck, anything on the grill in the summer is just great!
Sounds like a great night and sounds like you have some fantastic friends.
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Hi Ashley!
I’ve discovered your blog only last week but I’m already addicted! My sister sent me the link to your post about not knowing exactly if you were in the right work field because I’m struggling with the exact same thing right now. It was nice to realize that I am not the only one.
I love your recipes too! I did the vegan walnuts pesto last week and it’s amazing! I switch to a vegan diet a little bit more than a month ago and I was missing pesto so much! Store bought ones always have parmesan… I can’t wait to try the brownies recipe! I’ll wait until I have people coming over though because, otherwise, I’ll probably eat it all by myself in one day!
By the way, sorry if my english isn’t perfect, I’m french canadian.
Have a nice day!
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Ashley Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Aw, no worries about your English! You’re totally fine! Thanks for writing + saying hi. I’m so glad you found me and can relate to my situation. It’s always nice finding people that are going through the same thing. I do a lot of vegan cooking but don’t think I’ll ever go full out vegan…but who knows! I hope you like the brownies…let me know!! Glad you liked the pesto too
TAke care!
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You have the best eats! Mmmmm….those quesadillas looks divine!
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So you liked their grilling pan, eh? Hmmmmmm…..
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you always make me want oats ^.^
those brownies…must make them. and once i do make them, must try to not eat them all. what has your luck been with this?
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Ashley Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Not that great, lol…the first time I made them I ate at least 4. However, they are honestly healthy…1.5tsp of sugar per brownie, all whole wheat flour, no butter, no oil…can’t get much healthier! But if you eat the whole pan…..
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Hmm. Never knew that powdered sugar was mixed with a starch. Always figured that it was simply pulverized sugar! Now I know!
That peanut butter ganache looks aaaaamazing!
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Ashley Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
When I first realized the ingredients, I was pissed…lol
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what a nice birthday!
those quesa DILLAS look so delicious, I’ve never grilled either… I think we may be doing this very soon!
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Wow brownies with peanut butter ganache? Yum! I think I have all the ingredients except chocolate chips. I’m sure it would be better with them, but are they absolutely necessary?
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Ashley Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Nope they’re not!! They just give the brownies a nice little chocolatey crunch
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What a gorgeous view! Colorado always makes me catch my breath.
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That boy has the most beautiful eyes!
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Awwww JAAAKE!!! I’ve missed seeing photos of him on here
More Jakey please!
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Ashley Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Hahaha…I would have more but we live an hour away!
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I still need to make the brownies…look sooo good and the way you described them before…pretty much means I will love them. So we definitely have the same adoration of scottish oats. I like my steel cut ones recently but the rolled oats just don’t really do it for me anymore…
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Ashley Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
You will love them!
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thats it! I need to get myself some steel cut oatmeal! 1/4 C sounds like so little but I can imagne they plump up nice and big! i love a voluminous bowl of oats!!! the brownies, on my list of things to make!!!
ill take a dilla
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Ashley Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Scottish Oats are my #1, then steel cut! I’m going to do an Oat 101 soon!
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Just wanted to say I have been enjoying your blog so much! You have the most delicious,creative and heathful recipes, keep it up!!
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Ashley Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Thanks so much Lauren!!
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i want to bathe in that homemade guac, then rinse off in the vegan PB ganache…is that weird?
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Ashley Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
That is not weird at all
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oh gosh, that quesadillas and that avocado look out of this world!
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I’m so baking those brownies this week. I’ve been looking for treats to bring home when I visit and they are perfect. I can’t see them one more time without tasting them for myself! haha Those quesas look sooo good grilled. Great idea!
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Those brownies look absolutely scrumptious!! I definitely have to bookmark taht recipe for future reference. And the quesadillas look really good too, especially with some of that homemade guac. YUM!!!
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I know, right?! Those brownies are crraaazy. I’m making a second batch today, and I’m going to freeze the pieces to add to protein ice cream. MMmmm!
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I love that PB icing! What a great idea
Must make some soon!
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Jakie looks so much like his mama =)
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You should be very proud of yourself for making me want to try those brownies because I usually don’t like them! I know, what’s wrong with me?
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Wow, that view is amazing. And chocolate+PB=Heaven!!
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