The prices of groceries have increased dramatically during the pandemic. It’s not a matter of hoarding your coins, it’s a matter of price gouging. Everything from gas to greens has skyrocketed with no end in sight! It’s exhausting. So how can we circumvent the problem on our end? Well, I don’t have all of the answers, but I can tell you what I do.  

When coins get tight or when I’m simply tired of spending money, I re-evaluate where my money is actually going. Am I buying unnecessary items?
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You’re probably thinking that food is a very necessary item and you’re right! However, do I NEED to buy the $9 Beyond Meat Sausages when my coins are tight? The answer is no! The truth is, I need meals that will stretch. Here are some grocery items that will get you through a tight week! 

1. A Good Ol Pot of Beans

I grew up eating beans! Sure, they were laced with hammocks, but luckily I have learned how to season my food over the 9 years of my vegan journey. Flavor is everything and one pot meals are even better. These black eyed peas are mixed with kale and rotel. Greens, protein, and vitamins? What else do you need? Rice, maybe?? Well, no matter what you need, this meal will cost no more than $11 and you will get about 5 to 6 servings from it. You do the math! 

2. Grocery Staples

• Whole Wheat Bread
• Peanut Butter & Jelly
• Spinach
• Plant Butter
• Tofu
• Potato Chips

Do you know how many meals/snacks you can get out of this?? Use your imagination and get to work!

3. Proof

Here's a receipt from my grocery excursion. It was under $20. If you are on a tight budget for the week, these items will get you through! 

4. Lentils

In this tweet I break down the wonder of lentils. I'm a big fan of beans, but especially of lentils. Amazing stuff. 

5 - 8. More Grocery Staples

These staples from Trader Joe's were about $15 and once again, they can get you through a frugal couple of days. The linguine was only 99 cents! As you can see, I pulled together a bomb meal! My roommate gave me the squash, but the rest of the items came from that particular grocery haul.

In conclusion, a pan of well seasoned potatoes, a pot of beans, and pasta will not only keep your belly full, but it will also keep your bank account full. Be careful of price gouging, and remember that operating with a low budget does not mean you can't go vegan or STAY vegan. Eat hearty this winter and conserve your coins! 

​When I stumbled upon a vegan recipe for stuffed crescent rolls on Twitter three things happened:

1. My mouth watered. (Obvious)
2. I couldn’t believe how easy they were to make. (Surprise)
3. I couldn’t believe that no one told me crescent rolls are vegan! (Unbelievable)

This recipe is for anyone who is short on time, anyone who hates recipes, and anyone who is leaning into comfort food season! Admittedly, I love comfort food season (or bread season as I would call it), but I know that some people have anxieties around food and calories in the winter months because they do in fact pack a substantial punch. Everything seems to be heavier, full of sauces and creams, and definitely lots of added fat!

Honestly, this recipe is no different! It involves processed vegan foods and it’s super heavy, but the good news is that you can portion these out because they are literally designed that way. You can have one of these with a salad, freeze the rest, and go on about your day…or you can eat them three at a time! It’s really up to you!

Here are the details!

You will need:

1. One can of crescent rolls. The brand at Trader Joe’s is vegan. The Pillsbury crescent rolls are vegan too. The Pillsbury Grands are not!
2. Vegan cheese – I used Field Roast Mexican Shreds for this recipe.
3. Spinach (this is just for show, color…and fiber)
4. Impossible or Beyond beef crumbles. You can buy the block of faux meat at the grocery store and use that too.
5. An assortment of your desired spices (garlic powder, salt, pepper, etc).
6. An onion (optional)

 
Directions:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 350/375 degrees
2. Brown the faux meat in a skillet and add in the spices and diced onion. Season to your liking.
3. Mix in the spinach and wait for it to wilt into the faux meat and onion mixture.
4. Open the can of crescents. This is always challenging for me because I hate the popping! I’m so Scary Sherri.
5. Unroll the crescents and lay them flat on a baking sheet. I usually line my baking sheets with foil. You should have 6 crescents from one can.
6. Sprinkle the cheese on the widest part of the crescent roll, then spoon in the beef/spinach/onion mixture on top.
7. Roll the dough closed. It doesn’t have to be fancy because rest assured it will be delicious!
8. Bake until they are golden brown (see pictures).

Your family will be so excited to try these for Thanksgiving and if not, you will have a delicious, cruelty-free nibble that can easily be a side dish or a main course all to yourself! Feel free to pair the rolls with a green salad or other amazing Thanksgiving sides! 

Hellllllllo Fall!

I’ve been waiting (sometimes impatiently) for this season to arrive. It’s my season of power and blessings ALWAYS show up for me during this time of the year. I love everything that fall symbolizes:

1. The trees lose their leaves and go through a dark season, but they are coming back stronger and better! That’s a metaphor for life right there in nature; can’t beat that. 

2. The air has a crispness to it and staying warm under a blanket is the way to go. 

3. Meals are hearty and comforting. This is a great time to try out new recipes. The snacks in the grocery aisles have themes. I love the marketing during this time of the year. I FALL for it every time! 

4. It’s a season of true reflection. The year is coming to a close and we have a wonderful “excuse” to be grateful for a harvest of blessings! 

5. While it can be a busy time of the year, its also a festive time. There’s always something to celebrate! 
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Let’s go back to number three for a moment. The meals. THEE MEALS! There’s nothing better than a good hearty meal. I’ve been preparing my pantry to test new fall recipes and I can’t wait to report back about them. Also, I’ve been stashing fall snacks and I am so excited to finally share them with you! 

1. Chai Spice Tea

Where do I begin? I love this stuff! I’m not really a coffee drinker and I’m not obsessed with tea either, but once fall hits, I MUST have chai tea! The aroma and the robust flavor gets me excited and the added caffeine provides a much needed pep to my step (especially once we roll the clocks back).
 
2. Cinnamon Apple Sauce

I’m really just a 37-year-old child at this point! Applesauce is SOOOO nap time and show-and-tell, but I love those things too, so it makes perfect sense. Cold applesauce is a great treat that I’ll never turn down. It’s a good snack and when I’m attempting to stay away from baked goods, it satisfies my sweet tooth.
 
3. Seasonal Beverages

What a great “creamer” for my chai tea?? I love variety, so adding special seasonal items to my chai keeps things interesting. I’m excited to try this one! Oats are having their time in the sun right now, aren’t they?
 
4. Seasonal Novelty Foods

Ummmm, first of all, I’ve never met a tortilla chip that I didn’t like! Secondly, these are so cuuuute! Thirdly, please pass the salsa and guac!
 
5. Maple Leaf Cookies

At 110 calories per cookie, these are NOT for people who are watching their fall figure, but my gawd they are delicious! The maple cream on the inside of this sandwich cookie is so thick and satisfying. Maybe I shouldn’t have had 4 last night, but I did! Please do not cookie shame me because I am not ashamed.
 
6. Michele’s Cinnamon Granola

​Michele can do NO wrong in my book and I LOVE when fall rolls around because I really enjoy this flavor of granola. It reminds me of cinnamon raisin bread which belongs on this list too, but I haven’t purchased it yet.
 
What’s on your vegan fall favorite snack foods list?? Did I miss anything? Tell me! 

I’m so proud of how this 20-minute curry came together, but I must admit that I didn’t plan it at all! Last night’s dinner was made primarily with odds and ends from my fridge. The best thing about leftovers is that you can always repurpose them and since I don’t believe in throwing a lot of USEFUL things away (especially food), this was the perfect dish for me! When I say about 90% of this dish was made from leftovers, I mean it!

I had lentils, baked potatoes, a green pepper that was about to go bad, random frozen corn and the like simply sitting around and waiting to be used. You never know what deliciousness you can fashion with random ingredients from your fridge. Before you throw anything away, stop and think about it first! You may discover a love to curry you through!

Here’s what I used:

• 4 pre-baked potatoes
• 1 ½ cups of frozen corn from the freezer
• 1 bruised green pepper
• 1 cup of pre-cooked leftover lentils
• 3 cups of fresh spinach
• ½ of a white onion

Spices for the sauce:

• Cumin
• Garlic Powder
• Dried Basil
• Turmeric
• Paprika
• Curry Powder
• Salt
• 1 cup of vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons of vegan butter (This came with a to-go order that I purchased last week. I told you everything was from leftovers.)

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Directions:

1. In a medium heat skillet, add your vegan butter, diced onion, diced green pepper and frozen corn.
2. Add in your spices and mix. Once the contents begin to stick to the bottom of the skillet, add in half of the veggie broth to loosen everything up.
3. Now throw in your potatoes, onions, lentils and the remainder of the veggie broth.
4. Finally, mix in your spinach and let everything simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. EAT UP!

Ayeeee, ya girl is back at The Trader! I stepped away from shopping at Trader Joe’s because the lines were wrapped around the store to observe California’s social distancing protocols. I completely understood (and supported) the reasoning behind the lines and the wait, but I just couldn’t hang! So, I have been shopping at other grocery stores in my neighborhood since the pandemic began.

I’m so thankful to have about 4 grocery stores within walking distance to my house. I remember a time not too long ago when I lived in food deserts. It was a stressful time for me. I am such a food girl, so the thought of living in a desolate area is not appealing to me, but it was what it was at the time! I made it through by planning ahead for shopping trips and bulk buying. God has changed my living situation and I'm grateful. He's certainly good and so is Trader Joe’s!

Did you know that TJ's has a premade vegan salad kit which includes vegan ranch dressing, crispy fried onions and sunflower seeds? It’s called Vegan Ranch Crunch and it is DIVINE. I like to combine it with the Herb Salad Mix and throw a TJ’s Hi-Protein Veggie Burger on top! Ya’ll…it’s outstanding!!

For dessert, I can’t forget the Just Mango slices! These mango slices are frequently out of stock because they are so good. I only buy them 2 at a time. This summer, I plan on buying them 4 at a time because they really satisfy my raging sweet tooth.

As you can probably tell, I’m eating a bit lighter (finally)! Most of the panny restrictions are getting lifted for California and it’s time to enter the world again (safely and within reason), so I’m feeling less of an urge to emotionally eat and more of a push to eat lighter. I’ll be outdoors a lot more and the summer has always prompted me to adjust my eating habits.

This season makes me want to give my body a fighting chance at adjusting to the elevated temperatures. What better way to do that than by adding more raw fruits and veggies into my diet? It’s a no-brainer! *insert shrug emoji*

What’s your favorite lightweight and refreshing summer meal?
 

I know what I said just one post ago about eating lighter, but I lied!

Vegan Mob should REALLY be ashamed of itself!

Let’s break it down!

1. This is not a “healthy” vegan spot.
2. This is not the place to go if you’re only “a little” hungry.
3. This is not a drill!

THE FOOD HERE IS AMAZING! It’s so good that I ordered from here twice in one week just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming!

The Mob Burger Cheese Rolls are magnificent! Picture your favorite cheeseburger rolled up and deep fried. My gawd!!!

The Not Yo Cheesesteak is incredible and it’s STUFFED to capacity. The sandwich is full of flavor and actually very heavy because the restaurant does not skimp on portion sizes!

The Shrimp Po Boy is my favorite item on the menu because of the sweet and tangy coleslaw (and I don’t even like coleslaw as a rule), the crispiness of the shrimp and the crunchiness of the bread!

The Smackaronni makes you want to do just that; smack ya mamma!!!!!! It’s the best vegan macaroni and cheese that I’ve ever had!

This place is black owned and bomb!! Run there, eat, take a nap and then get on the treadmill and run again! Honestly, I still can’t believe how good it is and I can’t wait to place my next order. Vegan Mob and Oakland has it all!

It’s time to eat lighter, right?

Spring is in full swing and I want to eat lighter. I go through this each year when the seasons change. It’s like clockwork. Give me all of the salads, smoothies and *coughs* ice cream! Hey, I didn’t say I wanted to eat perfectly, I just want to eat things that are satisfying.

It’s a Darilyn Fact: When it’s hot, I want something cold. When it’s cold, I want something hot. This is how I am wired. That’s why anytime I tried to go raw vegan during the winter, it was short lived.

Presently, I’m feeling smoothies! My fridge and freezer are packed with fresh spinach, frozen bananas, peaches, blackberries, strawberries, cherries, mangoes…

I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk as a base along with filtered water. I’ve also started using protein powders which I’ve never been a fan of, but I must admit that they have kept me fuller for a longer period of time.  So far, I am enjoying Thrive Market’s vanilla and chocolate protein powder, Vega’s vanilla protein powder and PB2.

What are your favorite smoothie combinations? This one is unsweetened almond milk, spinach, frozen bananas and frozen cherries. Some kind of sweet deliciousness…

March was my birthday month, so on this last day, I’m letting the secret out! I’m ready to unveil my new product AND new jars! That’s right, it’s spring-cleaning time! It’s out with the old and in with the RENEWAL!
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The new product is a Pink Himalayan Sea Salt scrub called Renewal. I gave it that name because it truly renews the skin and I’m launching it in the springtime. If there was ever a season that screams renewal, it’s the spring!

This scrub is amazing ya’ll! During my IG Live, I applied the product to my nose while paying special attention to the creases of it and I’m not ashamed to admit that I cannot stop caressing my pug nose! It feels like I got a facial. It feels like a baby’s butt. Basically, it’s soft, ya’ll!

Also, the lids of my jars are now white instead of gold. I want all gold lids OUTTA here, so I have a 50% off sale going right now on all products with gold lids. Don’t miss your opportunity to try DTC at year one prices during year three! Now THAT’S an offer you can’t beat!

Okay, let’s get back to this scrub!

Renewal means to restore and replenish and that’s exactly what this scrub does for my skin and I know it will for yours too! Here are the ingredients:

• Pink Himalayan Sea Salt is the base of this scrub. It is known to reduce signs of aging. Salt is a preservative and it holds moisture. It reduces inflammation and adds magnesium, iron, potassium to your skin. It also calms irritations and breakouts.

 
 

• Macadamia Nut Oil is rich in Vitamin E, softens the skin and it won’t clog your pores because it is so light.

 
 

• Grapefruit Oil is extremely refreshing. The citrus scent is uplifting, full of Vitamin C and helps to even out the skin tone as well.

 
 

• Tea Tree Oil is a powerhouse essential oil that is great for acne and inflammatory conditions on the skin.

 
 

• Rosemary helps to reduce scaring and lighten dark spots.

 
I’m celebrating spring with gusto this year and I hope you are too! Let's find things to celebrate because life is precious! I’ve put together two combos to help facilitate this effort.

Salty & Sweet – Renewal & Sweet Coco Scrub ($35)
Neapolitan – Simplicity, Renewal & Sweet Coco Scrub ($57.00)

Happy Shopping! 

Eat the rainbow, but make it delicious! Listen, I don't have time for dull, bland, or boring foods! It's a pandemic. We're trying to stay alive AND entertained and what better way to entertain yourself than to try out some new recipes or tweak your old ones?

Ya'll know I hate following recipes, so I won't pretend to be some sort of chef, but I will say that I'm eating well (duh)! Now that we've cleared that up, let's take a look at what I've been scarfing down lately!

String Beans:
I've been snapping string beans since I was a kid. It was practically a weekly tradition with my Nana. She would wash a mound of string beans and we would snap them together. I love string beans with sundried tomatoes, onions and mushrooms. You can add your favorite seasonings, water sauté them (or sauté with oil). You can eat them solo-dolo or pair with rice...you can't go wrong with a good string bean!

Cucumbers & Tomatoes:
What a pair! This can serve as the base for a delicious salad or a side garnish. Eat these with hummus or just with salt and pepper. They always work and they are always refreshing.

Cheeseburger Sliders:
These are as yummy as they look. Sometimes, only a meat substitute will do! When I'm craving a heavier and fattier meal, I'm reaching for Beyond Meat Ground Faux Meat! I love to form my own patties with assorted seasonings and fresh chopped garlic and onions. Throw some plant based cheese on top and a soft bun and you have a party in your mouth! These are perfect for the cold months when you are craving something heavier.

Veggie Quesadillas:
Chile bye! These are SO easy! Plant based cheese, spinach, tortillas and plant based butter! That's it! That's all! No excuses, make it happen today! You're welcome!

Roasted Veggies:
Full disclosure: I put everything in the broiler! I can be impatient. When I'm hungry, I don't want to wait and I love grilled/charred food! This veggie medley contains everything but the kitchen sink. Literally anything goes with this one - eggplant, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms...whatever you want! Season liberally and enjoy throughout the entire week. 

Herb-Crusted Polenta:
This is a picture of the dish before I put it in the oven. I didn't get a picture afterwards because I was too busy stuffing my face! As you can probably tell, I am a fan of seasoning (and lots of it)! Spices take otherwise dull meals to the next level. Polenta is bland as all outdoors until you throw on the spices, add diced onions and green peppers to the mix and now the fun can begin!

Toasted Pita Bread with Avocado and Grapes:
For breakfast, for lunch, whenever...you absolutely cannot go wrong with this. Avocado AND grapes AND bread???? What's NOT to love, yo!?!?!?

More Roasted Veggies:
Again, this is a picture of the dish before I put it in the oven, and again, I was too busy stuffing my face to take an after shot! I love roasted veggies! They are quick and the oven does all of the work for you! 

More Sliders:
This time, without the bun! Throw these babies on top of your salads or pair them with the roasted veggies. 

Now THAT'S good eatin'!