Coconut cream is one of the easiest (and healthiest) dessert or snack toppings you can make. When you hear coconut cream, it essentially is the solid version of coconut milk
When making this, aim for a regular, or full-fat coconut milk. Do not use a low-fat version or coconut cream. I recommend getting a can that has 60% or more coconut in the ingredient listing. Avoid coconut milk that has preservatives. For sweet desserts I recommend adding vanilla and maple syrup to your liking. If not, the cream works perfect as is especially on top of fresh fruit. 
How to Make Coconut Cream
1. Place a can of coconut milk in the refrigerator for 6 to 8 hours or overnight. 2. Remove the lid and DO NOT shake the can. 3. With a spoon, scrape out the thick portion that is on top. Once you get low enough you'll notice the coconut water in the bottom of the can. You can use the coconut water for a smoothie or anything you'd like. 4. Mix or blend the coconut with a spoon or egg beater (food processor can work but I recommend the other two options first) until its a creamy-like substance. 5. Add in maple syrup and vanilla to your liking and mix until blended. 6. Serve immediately or keep in a jar. The cream is best eating within 7 days. 
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Chocolate and raspberries have been on my mind a lot lately. In fact, I’ve been thinking about it so much that I had to experiment with a new kind of energy bite. Traditional bites I’ve created use dates as the primary “bonding” and sweetening agent. I figured, why not try fruit and make it entirely gluten free.
I arose the day after my birthday (February 7th) on February 8th with the sun shining through my Queen Anne apartment. I sat with a cup of chai and thought about Charles Dickens while gazing at the Puget Sound. The weather felt warmer and spring blossoms are in bloom. 
Since Mr. Dickens and I share the same birthdate, I’ve had this obsession with him. While living in Germany, I expanded my spirituality in different ways. I became more balanced and at this time the clean European eating changed my palate. Since Dickens was a notable literary writer, I feel compelled to continue our astrological gift through writing.
And well, since this is one of my areas of focus (health and writing), I walked into the kitchen and began throwing stuff in a blender. Some food bloggers try each recipe 10 times, and trust me I’ve been there, but there are sometimes you just hit the nail on the head. This morning, I did exactly that. Some force from the sun and bout of inspiration enthused this recipe. The recipe is easy and budget friendly. While I think this is a lovely recipe, my hope is to spread the “LOVE” for healthy eating and to find love within you. I kept thinking about this interconnected web between love and energy. Loving yourself is something that most people are lacking in this crazy, hectic world. Lack of confidence, body image issues, not being good enough or smart enough – we somehow find ways to hate ourselves – a lot! 
So ask yourself, what do you love about yourself this Valentine’s Day?
The more love you have, the more energy you’ll obtain. The more energy you have the more love you have to share. You see, it’s all interconnected. So what’s the point of this recipe? Get energy from nature, love yourself and share your positive energy with the world. Energy, love and light – these are tools to building your creations. 
Vegan Chocolate Raspberry Love Bites
Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes Total Time: 10 Minutes Makes 12 Energy Bites Ingredients: 1/4 cup cashews, almonds and pumpkin seeds (can substitute your favorite nuts) 1/3 cup fresh raspberries 1/4 cup dates (approximately 4) 3 tbsp coco powder (I used unsweetened) 2 tbsp flax meal 2 tbsp desiccated coconut 1 tbsp maple syrup 1/2 tsp vanilla Directions: Place all ingredients into a food processor except the dates, raspberries and maple syrup. Pulse four to five times. Add the dates, raspberries and maple syrup into the food processor and blend until thick and the "S" blade can no longer blend. Scoop a chunk out of the blender and use your palms to roll the mixture into a ball. You may need to rinse your hands off once or twice as the balls best form with a clean palm. Want to connect with the author, Elizabeth? Sign up on our monthly newsletter and to connect via Facebook! Twitter: @Brainbodykovar Instagram: erkovar Hi Friends, I am celebrating the month of February (and Charles Dickens birthday) with a literary giveaway! On goodreads.com you can enter to win one of three free autographed print copies of Finding Om! You can find more at this link below!  
Love is in the air - can you feel it? Well, if your anything like me you know that love is not dictated by the givings of a Hallmark card, but it is fun to think and create special treats based on a holiday.
Whether you are celebrating Valentine's Day with a friend or a loved one, this cranberry apple spritzer for deux is my way of showing my love this February 14th. Why is that? Because it's the one way I can express my love for Germany. Although I am back in Seattle and at times, go through moments of reverse culture shock and deep thought, I LOVE Hannover, Germany (Ich Liebe Hannover!) deep down to the bottom of my heart. Germany refreshed my sense of life, vigor and well-being and gave me an entirely new outlook on life after getting beaten down and drained by trying to live the American Dream as a writer and "info-preneur." So, there is no better way to celebrate the day of love (in my book) than with a German-inspired apfel (apple) schorle hinted with love (cranberry). If you've ever been to Germany, you know that the Apfel Schorle is amazing and is one of Germany's signature drinks. It's simple and easy - apple juice mixed with sparkling mineral water. For this recipe, I used Trader Joe's 100% cranberry juice, unfiltered organic apple juice and sparkling mineral water. You can certainly use fresh squeezed apple juice to enhance the freshness. There are many ways to play around with making a spritzer. One way is to make it taste like a flavored water. The other is to make it taste like a carbonated juice. Either way, its simple and easy. I prefer more apple flavor than cranberry, but you can adjust accordingly. And to kiss my pictures with a bit of German love, I shipped home these flowers I dried in Hannover, except the berries that came from a tree in Coventry in Cleveland. Somehow even the small roses made a heart, which I to you, send you all the love in the world this holiday! Enjoy! 
Cranberry Apfel Shorle for Two (Cranberry Apple Spritzer)
Prep Time: 3 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes Total Time: 3 Minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: 1 1/4 + 1 tbsp cup apple juice* 1/3 cup 100% cranberry juice* 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp sparkling mineral water Directions: Place ingredients into a pitcher and stir with a spoon. Adjust the flavor by adding an additional teaspoon of each flavor. Serve chilled. *Note: Best to use organic and 100% juices that do not add sugar or water. Want to connect with the author, Elizabeth? Sign up on our monthly newsletter and to connect via Facebook! 
 A couple years ago, a friend from London introduced me to this powerful phone psychic in Los Angeles. Curious, I knew I needed to consult her as at the time I was grieving my Uncle’s tragic suicide and wondered if I would move to Germany in 2015. Since I would send my friend distance Reiki, he purchased me a 30-minute session as a token of thanks.
At this time, I became interested in my past lives. Toward the end of our session, I asked her if she could pick up on any of my past lives. She took a moment to channel the energy and began to pick up the time period when people lived in castles and soldiers roamed the land. She couldn’t define what area specifically, but she knew it was Europe and during that medieval era. In this life, I was a female and a noble daughter of a family with higher status. I was wed to a man of similar status, and he was a soldier. My true soul mate and the man I really loved was of lower status. In my heart, I did not want to marry or be married to my husband. I had an affair with the man of a lower status. It went on for sometime and eventually I was caught. My punishment included taking away sight. My eyes were removed and the psychic ended, “So you spent part of your past life blind and you have vision issues in this life. Do you have eye problems? I feel like you have bad eye sight, do you?” Somewhat choked up I replied, “Yes. I’ve had to wear glasses since the second grade. I am almost legally blind. I can’t read anything more than 6-10 inches away from my face.” She continued, “Yes. I feel this is a physical manifestation from this life. So that means a part of that life was reincarnated into this one. Your goal in this life is to work on how you see things and improve your vision.“ Many logical people would claim it is a coincidence or “foo foo” the notion. But even as a younger child I questioned how I got such bad vision. My sister had perfect vision and my parent’s vision was really good, they needed “cheaters” but can still see and function without them. For me, I couldn’t do anything without glasses or contacts. What she said about this life’s lesson made sense as I began to understand the world (and human creation) differently from studying different spiritual notions and traveling. The more I traveled the world, the more I began to pick up pieces of myself knowing my "old soul" has spent time in certain regions once before. Looking back this life that popped up made sense. At the time, I, like many married people go through periods of highs and lows. This "inspired" me to critically think about my marriage instead of just fleeing or say, "I want to be single. Or there's more soul mate fish in the sea." These lives serve their purpose and (I feel) come into our present life at the right time. But like this life taught me, you have to be open "to see" the lesson. Have you ever had a past life revealed a present life manifestation? If so, please share as I find these stories fascinating and intriguing. Want to connect with the author? Sign up on our monthly newsletter and to connect via Facebook! |
AuthorElizabeth Rae Kovar M.A. is Author of her memoir, Finding Om and is a Fitness Trainer, Yogi, Reiki Master, Presenter and Lover of Life. To view her portfolio please visit www.elizabethkovar.com 
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