Cheesiest Vegan Mac + Cheese Recipe (Cheap + Vegan + Quick) | The Frugal...

Simple Green Smoothie Recipe (Yummy + Vegan + Quick)

I drink a green smoothie almost every morning - almost being the key word. So maybe I should say: I drink a green smoothie a lot of mornings. Regardless, whenever I drink them, I make this recipe. This recipe is so yummy that I'm not even curious to try fruit smoothie recipes all that often. Trust me, there is no bitter veggie taste in this smoothie.

Healthy...

This recipe is incredibly easy to make and amazingly healthy. The amount of fiber, alone, in this recipe, is unbelievable.  Expressive juicing is great but the downside is that all the fiber is lost. Not so with smoothies!  All the natural fiber in the produce is retained. In addition, take a look at the nutritional breakdown below!  This green smoothie is chock full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and immune-boosting ingredients.

Adjustable...

I have found that strawberries are a great pick to use as a second fruit in this recipe but honestly, you can sub whatever fruit is your favorite or whatever fruit you have on hand in their place.

Easy...

This is literally a  wash-chop-dump recipe. You can even have your apples and strawberries pre-chopped and then this would be a dump and blend recipe. Also, you can prepare batches of this recipe by layering the chopped fruit and spinach in several mason jars so that in the morning you can just dump, pour a splash of almond milk, blend and go!! The possibilities are excitingly endless :)

Note on Texture:

This green smoothie has a smooth and creamy texture when just prepared but it will thicken up if left to sit for a while due to the high pectin content in the apple. So, if you like thinner smoothies try to drink it right away, and if you like thicker smoothies, you can let this rest for awhile and it will thicken up!

Ingredients
Yield: 1 single-serve Green Smoothie

• 1 Apple
• 4 Strawberries
• 2 cups Spinach, loosely packed
• 1/4 cup Almond Milk

Note: You can add more or less almond milk if you wish to alter the consistency according to your preference.

Directions

1. Gently wash the apple and Strawberries. 
2. Core and roughly chop the apples and strawberries
3. Add all ingredients to the blender and blend on high for 1-2 minutes. I literally mean that. I like my green smoothies smooth and creamy. I find that the flavors soften and meld together in a magical way, so blending them adequately is an important step. If you prefer chunkier green smoothies, then ignore this step. 
4. Pour into a glass. drink with your mouth or with a straw. 

Enjoy!

- Nutritional Analysis -

Look at that whopping 9 grams of fiber. Annnnddd, you get all your Vitamin A and Vitamin C for the day all before 10 am!!

- Cost Breakdown -

Did you try this recipe?

If you try this recipe, please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with my hashtag #frugalcurlytop!

VIDEO | HOW TO MAKE VEGAN THREE-CHEESE LASAGNA (Vegan + Quick + Yummy) | Recipe | The Frugal Curlytop

Hey Guys!

I just uploaded my Vegan Three-Cheese Lasagna Recipe Video!! I show every step in complete detail that I followed to make this vegan lasagna recipe. You can follow the video along with the complete recipe that I blogged about here:  Three-Cheese Vegan Lasagna Recipe

Buon Appetitio!

Three-Cheese Lasagna Recipe - Vegan, Quick + Easy

Yep, you read correctly! This is a recipe for three cheese lasagna and it is all VEGAN!! This recipe uses Tofu Ricotta, an almond based Parmesan, and a Cashew Mozzarella. This is a recipe for a one of the most classic dishes and its great to make for a potluck, Italian-themed dinner party, or as your main dish for your week of meal prep. This is a good dish to prepare when you have a bit of extra time. it is not complicated to make and it pretty straight forward but it does have several steps to it. If the Tofu Ricotta and Vegan Parmesan are made ahead of time, then it will make the process much quicker.

Ingredients
Yield: one 9" x 13" Baking Pan


For the Lasagna: 

• 2 Recipes Tofu Ricotta Cheese (5 cups)
• 1/2 Cup Vegan Parmesan
• 1 package LightLife GimmeLean Veggie Sausage
• 1 box Lasagne (16 noodles)

For the Cashew Mozzarella:

• 1/4 cup Cashews
• 1/3 cup Nutritional Yeast Flakes
• 3 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour or Rolled Oats
• 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder
• 2 teaspoons Onion Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider  Vinegar OR 1/4 cup Lemon Juice
• 1 cup Water

Note:
- You probably will not need all the noodles in the box, but preparing all of them will save your lasagne just in case some of the noodles break while you are preparing the dish. Also, you can make as many or as few layers that you like so you may even want to use more noodles. It's completely up to your liking :)


Assembly

1. Have the Tofu Ricotta and Vegan Parmesan already made.
2. Preheat oven to 350F and oil a 9" x13" baking pan.
3. Make the Cashew mozzarella by combining all the ingredients for it and blending on high for 1-2 minutes. That may seem like a long time but this is truly the secret to creating a smooth, creamy vegan cheese sauce. Also, the cheese will taste much better since the flavors are more thoroughly combined.
4. Boil the Lasagna according to the package directions. 
5. Open the GimmeLean Sausage, Break it into large pieces, and brown in a non-stick pan with a small amount of oil. As the GimmieLean Sauage begins to heat through, continue breaking it into smaller pieces according to how you desire it. When the Sauage is browned as you wish,  turn off the burner and remove from the heat.
6. When the noodles are finished, pour into a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent them from sticking together.
7. To keep to noodles separated, spray a baking pan with non-stick spray and place the noodles parallel to each other. This step is literally a lifesaver!
8. Spread some tomato sauce over the bottom of the oiled baking pan. and layer in any order you wish. I have provided an example layering pattern, but honestly, you can make this your work of art and layer it according to however you want :)
• Tomato Sauce
• Lasagna noodles
• Tomato Sauce
• 1/2 GimmeLean Sausages
• 1/2 of Tofu Ricotta
• 1/3 of Cashew Mozzarella
• Vegan Parmesan
• Lasagna noodles
• Tomato Sauce
• Rest of GimmeLean Sausage
• Rest of Tofu Ricotta
• Vegan Parmesan
• 1/3 Cashew Mozzarella
• Lasage Noodles
• Tomato Sauce
• Rest of Cashew Mozzarella
• Sprinkle of Vegan Parmesan

1. Bake at 350F for 30-45 minutes. If you want a moister lasagna, cover the lasagna with foil. If you are preparing this lasagna for another time, bake for 30 minutes then reheat when you are ready.  If you choose to serve right away, let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Buon appetito!

- Cost Breakdown -

As you can see, the total cost for this recipe was $22.50 and the price per slice is $1.88. This is a complete meal so if you combined this with a simple salad, this meal would cost you less than $5.00! This is perfect for weekly meal prep and eating on a budget!

Did you try this recipe?

If you try this recipe, please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with my hashtag #frugalcurlytop!

A Christian's Response to Donald Trump

To all those who are still trying to process/come-to-terms-with/understand/ and to those who are triumphant that Donald Trump is now the 45th president of the United States of America consider the following...

Recently, I have become fed up with mediocrity and came to the realization that whatever I am going to do I am going to do with intention and meaning.  If I am truly a Christian, then all other allegiances fall subject to that and should fall in line with principles outlined in the Bible - that includes my political beliefs and feelings. 

Oftentimes, I've realized that people (hint, hint: me!) attach their emotions and personal feelings to political, social, and cultural issues. While it is totally natural for us to do so, attaching the wrong kind or too much of any emotion can skew our judgment, cause us to say regretful things, and even demolish relationships. I was reminded of a sermon I heard earlier this year that had some great principles on a Christians overall relationship to politics.

Biblical  Principles on Political Change

These principles were extrapolated from Daniel 5,6 & 9

1. Don't get caught up in political Parties - Daniel 5:6 NIV

(1) "King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them... (5) Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace... (11) There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods... (12) Call for Daniel."

During the political festivities and events, where were Daniel and his three Hebrew friends? Not there. Why? Because they understood that their citizenship was in the kingdom of heaven and not the whatever earthly kingdom they happened to be living in. There are faults with all political affliations, none are fautless. A Christian's identity and sense of allegience must first be to the Kingdom of God before heralding the beleifs of any political party.

2.  Don't compromise - Daniel 6

I know this quote is used quite often but it is so pertinant. (Have you observed that oftentime the most used quotes are practiced the least?) 

"The greatest want of the world is the want of men - men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall."  -   Ellen White

No comment necessary

3. Study the Word - Daniel 9:2 NIV

"In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures..."

Basically, if you're a Christian be a Christian. With whatever party you ascribe to, clearly, define the tenants that you agree with and those that you don't. The Bible should be the litmus test for all your beliefs including your political ones.

4. Pray - Daniel 6:10 NIV

"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. " 

Talk to God in a frank and genuine way. Talk to Him about what is frustrating you in the political sector. Ask Him for guidance concerning the side that you should take on current issues. Most of all, ask Him to impart His spirit to you so that you will react in the manner that Jesus would were he in your shoes. 

5. Trust God's Hand - Daniel 5:5,18 NIV

"Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. (18) Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor."

God is control, fullstop. In case that statement was not explicit enough, let me have Brother Martin break it down:

"The God whom we worship is not a weak and incompetent God. God is able to beat back gigantic waves of opposition and to bring low prodigious mountains of evil. This ringing testimony of the Christian faith is that God is able... God's control is never usurped. If at times we despair because of the relatively slow progress being made in ending racial discrimination, let us gain new heart in the fact that God is able."                                                                 -   God Is Able, A Sermon by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

So, no, do not hope that President Trump is impeached, assassinated,  or anything that you wouldn't wish on say... President Obama. Do I agree with many of his policies, absolutely not. Do I like him as a president (or even as a person)? Not even remotely closely! But because I believe that God sets up kings and because I am exhorted to pray for the kings that God has ordained, I will pray for him and give him the respect that he deserves.

Yes, Donald trump is the president and I will refer to him as such.

Ultimately, despite my personal political inclinations or preferences, I must remember that my eternal citizenship belongs in the Kingdom of Heaven and my inferior temporal citizenship must align with my eternal interests.

And regardless of President Tump's ever increasing aggravating antics, I will not demote to his level. I will be the bigger person. 

Here's a cute meme to lighten the mood:

What are your thoughts? Let me know, I'm open for discussion!

HOW TO Apply Mascara on Super Curly Eyelashes Tutorial // Lengthen + Define Curly Lashes

If you have short, super curly lashes, you will understand what a hassle they can be at times? I certainly do! Applying mascara has always been a huge struggle and for so long I couldn't understand why. But here I share the reason for that and a secret tip for dealing with curly lashes so that they can be transformed into long, beautiful lashes.

WARBY PARKER // GIRL + GLASSES // Morris Frame - Glasses Review!

So I finally received my Warby Parker Glasses!! I'm so excited!! I selected the Morris frame style and it came in the color medium. Watch my review below:

To Watch my video about my Warby Parker's Home Try-on Experience click here: WARBY PARKER Home Try-on Unboxing + Review

WARBY PARKER Home Try-on Unboxing + Review

Here is a video of my review of Warby Parker's Home try on experience.  The Home try-on is this amazingly cool option that  Warby Parker offers. You select 5 pairs of lenses and they send them to you for free to try on and see which one you like best. After you've tried them, you can choose the one you want and send the samples back all for free! Check out my experience here:

WARBY PARKER Home Try-on Unboxing + Review


WARBY PARKER Home Try-on Unboxing + Review

Warby Parker Unboxing & Home Try-on

Massaged Kale Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Cranberries

I love kale salad. But I realize that not everyone feels the same way. But this kale salad recipe has the magical power of persuasion to convert anyone into a kale-loving freak!  Guaranteed. Earlier this year, I participated in the Partners-in-the-Parks study tour with the National Honors Society which was absolutely awesome! On the trip, our chaperones gave us the freedom to choose and cook our meals. Not only did we have an insane amount of fun cooking together but everyone chose their favorite recipes so every meal was incredibly delicious!! Guess what one of the items on my menu was? 

Gosh, how'd you know? 

This recipe was the star of the show. Literally, every person hailed praises to this simple green salad. Even the most hesitant skeptics savory every crunch with delight. The Chaperone said "I have never, in my 62 years, ever tasted kale prepared in such a delicious way"! So, you ready to join the party? I figured so. Let's do this!

Choosing the right quality ingredients are important. The ultimate trick, however, to creating is an awesome kale salad is about two techniques: 1) Finely chopping the kale and 2) Massaging the salted kale.  Read on and learn...

INGREDIENTS

Salad

• 2 bunches of Kale
• 1/2 cup Walnuts
• !/4 - 1/3 cup dried Cranberries

Dressing

• 1/4 cup Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup Lemon Juice
• 1/4 cup Honey

DirecTIONS

1.  Heat a cast iron skillet on medium heat. Toast the walnuts for 10-15 minutes or even longer. The toastiness is up to you. Once the walnuts are done. Remove the walnuts from the pan and set aside to cool.
2. Remove the middle ribs (stalks) from the kale. Then chop the kale finely. I chop the kale horizontally then rotate it 90 degrees and chop in that direction again. 
3. Add all the chopped kale to a large bowl, sprinkle with salt, and begin the massage the kale. The massaging is a gentle rubbing, not a pounding motion because you don't want to beat out the juices. The color of the kale will change from an average green to a deep vibrant green hue. 
4. By this time the toasted walnuts should have cooled down. Roughly chop them into smaller pieces. Add the walnuts along with the cranberries to the kale in the bowl.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, and honey to make a dressing and pour all over the salad. Toss the salad thoroughly to ensure that every shred is coated with the dressing. Refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Serve and enjoy!

Did you try this recipe?

If you try this recipe, please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with my hashtag #frugalcurlytop!