Woman in Real Life

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you get a chance to treat yourself or someone else on this day dedicated to love. These vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes With Salted Buttercream Frosting should do the trick. I created the recipe in partnership with the Reducetarian Foundation and you can head over to their blog to get the recipe and all the instructions for making these easy yet delicious cupcakes.

We enjoyed one particularly lovely warm day this week and then it was back to snow (eek!) and cold on Tuesday. Needless to say, warming foods are still very much a part of the menu in this house. On Sunday afternoon, I was browsing through magazines when I spotted an easy, 30-minute Chickpea Tikka Masala recipe in Vegetarian Times magazine.

I decided to make it for lunch (above). It was so easy to make and quite tasty. I happened to have fresh cilantro in the fridge to pretty it up a bit. I can't wait for summer when we once again have a pot of herbs growing outside the back door!

I went with a chocolate cupcake base...because you really can't go wrong with chocolate. I threw in some peppermint flavour for a little twist. Of course, cupcakes must be topped with thick, creamy icing. I added a hint of peppermint flavour to the icing as well.

This is the second post in my "Products We Love" series. I reserve this feature for earth- and people-friendly products that my family uses and loves. And we love Sweets from the Earth! This Toronto-based bakery makes delicious desserts that just about anybody can eat.

The list of benefits to Sweets from the Earth's yummy baked goods is long - they are all natural, 100% vegan, trans fat free, non-hydrogenated, GMO free, made without artificial colours or flavours, preservative free AND free from refined sugars. But still amazingly delicious!