Vegan MoFo Week Two Round Up!
I can’t believe we are already 20 days into Vegan MoFo!
I finished out the second week of MoFo with more picnic snacks and sides and moved into week three, where I made drinks to carry along to your next picnic.
The Maple Hickory Roasted Almonds were by far one of the best snacks I have made! The maple syrup caramelized in the oven while Bragg’s Liquid Aminos and hickory liquid smoke gave them a deep and smoky flavor. The became better each day. Sadly they didn’t last very long!
For this recipe, I let 1 cup of raw almonds soak (overnight) in a mixture of 1/3 -1/2 cup of maple syrup, 2 tbsp hickory liquid smoke, 3 tbsp of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (you can also use tamari), and about 1 tbsp of neutral-flavored oil. I then used a slotted spoon to transfer the almonds to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. I baked the marinated almonds for 15-16 minutes on 350 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring halfway through the cooking time. Let them cool (if you can!) and then transfer to an airtight container. They won’t last long!

Maple Hickory Roasted Almonds
A simple cracker with avocado also makes a great picnic snack (or a great snack anytime!). I paired an Everything Seasoned cracker with sliced and mashed avocado, a squeeze of lemon juice, and then a sprinkle of Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning on top. The seasoning goes so well with a perfectly ripe and buttery avocado.

Everything Seasoned Cracker with Sliced Avocado and additional Everything Seasoning
Moving on from picnic snacks and side to drinks! I love herbal tea and love taking ice tea for picnics. This is a black cherry herbal tea that I let steep in hot water and then placed in the fridge overnight. I also threw in a handful of fresh pitted cherries!

Iced Black Cherry Tea
I have a small French press that I use for cold brew coffee and hot tea. I tend to brew this coffee a little stronger because I add nondairy milk to make a latte. For this I added a few tablespoons of decaf coffee grounds (always decaf for me, you can make it with regular coffee) and a little over 1 cup of water to the French press. I stirred everything to combine and then let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. I pressed it in the morning and then added about 1 cup of nondairy milk and 1 tbsp of sugar-free vanilla coffee syrup. The glass is an old jam jar that had a lid, which is perfect for transporting it!

Cold Brew Latte
Another picnic drink idea that is perfect for today’s theme of Summer Cooler is a Watermelon Lime juice! I love watermelon on a warm summer day. This watermelon was a little too mushy for my liking, so I blended it up with the juice from one lime. Delicious and refreshing!

Watermelon Lime Juice
A friend of mine introduced me to horchata over 20 years ago and I have loved it ever since. I still remember the first time I tried it at a small taqueria in Arlington, Texas. I was hooked from the first sip. I know you can buy a vegan horchata in a box, but nothing compares to homemade! I used a Minimalist Baker recipe for a date sweetened version. Absolutely delicious and perfect for a Vegan MoFo picnic! I also used a large Mason jar that has a lid, which makes for easier transportation.

Homemade Horchata!
I am going to continue drink this week and then move into dessert ideas next week. I will also be posting about the not-at-all fancy equipment and bags that I use for picnicking!
Have you been following along with #veganmofo19? What have been some of the highlights that you have seen this month from all of us MoFo-ing?

Hi! I’m Kristy. I am a conscious living lifestyle expert, a mom to many furry companions, a wife of a marathoner, an avid vegan cook, and a photography enthusiast. My family and I live in Vancouver, Washington. Find out more >>