The easiest and most enjoyable Fika food you may ever try.

Take a trip to Sweden, and seas of Chokladbollar (chocolate balls) will likely surround you. They fill the glass cases of bakeries, ine the shelves of shops, speckle department store cafes as a welcome Fika break from shoe shopping and even sit in grocery store aisles. It’s next to sinful and downright outlandish to visit this regal land without gobbling up a chocolate ball (or two, or six). But, like most fare in Sweden, chocolate balls fall far from being vegan.

But, make them yourself at home (in 30 minutes or less!), and you’ll discover it’s the easiest vegan dessert you’ve ever made—and gluten-free to boot. All it takes is a simple butter switch. As I whipped these up in Stockholm last week (not kidding), I played around with different proportions of ingredients until it tasted just right—mixing coconut butter with a Swedish vegan butter that the grocery store clerk warned was not made for baking. Yet it worked all the same. So much so that a Swedish friend declared them among the best he’d ever had.

And, while chocolate balls can be made in an endless variety of ways—kid friendly with just chocolate; adult friendly with liqueur or rich espresso—I love the blend of unsweetened cocoa powder, mixed with a couple squares of dark (70%) chocolate and a shot or two of espresso. Plus, espresso (in smaller doses, as in these chocolate balls), has been reported to help protect against type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver cancer, and liver cirrhosis, and dark chocolate boasts a host of phyto antixoidants for heart health and overall happiness.

So whip up some chocolate balls for a feel good Fika that makes every day a celebration.

The Original – Swedish Chocolate Balls
from All Recipes

Ingredients

• 4 cups rolled oats
• 1 ¼ cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 tablespoon strong coffee
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2, 1 oz squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted
• 1/3 cup coconut flakes

The Vegan & Gluten-Free Version – Swedish Chocolate Balls
Makes 24-48 balls, depending upon the size

Ingredients

• 4 cups rolled oats
• 1 ¼ cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup coconut butter and ½ cup vegan butter (may need to add about ½ cup more, as I did, to ensure a sticky dough)
• 1 tablespoon espresso
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2, 1 oz squares dark or unsweetened baking chocolate, melted
• 1/3 cup coconut flakes (or more as needed)

Directions

1. Mix the oats, sugar and cocoa powder together in a bowl. Add the “butter” and use your hands to mix the ingredients together until a thick dough is formed.

2. In a separate, stove top pan, mix together the espresso, vanilla and dark chocolate. Mix together over low heat until the chocolate is melted. Pour over the chocolate dough mixture and combine until thoroughly blended.

3. Place the coconut flakes in a bowl or on a plate. Roll small pieces of dough between your hands to make small balls (or make any size that you wish). Roll the balls in the coconut flakes and eat immediately. For a firmer texture, refrigerate for 2 hours, and enjoy!

Note: This recipe is just the beginning. Create other varieties by adding in a tablespoon (or two) of arrak extract, a Swedish liqueur. Or, roll the chocolate balls in toasted almonds, sugar or another topping of your choice.

Images: Jennifer Barckley

The post Vegan This: Make Your Own Swedish Chocolate Balls appeared first on EcoSalon.

An exclusive EcoSalon playlist to be played while wearing your hippest set of shades.

The eighth edition in our series of feel good music that keeps you moving and just might make you want to dance, Ray-Ban Exclusive Volume 8 is a tribute to the final days of summer, when the travel days are over but you’re still itching to dance. As always the playlist starts chill and ends strong, perfect for creative brainstorming or infusing a party with an extra dose of cool.

If you’re new to the series, be sure to check out 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Ray-Ban Exclusive Volume 8 from EcoSalon on 8tracks Radio.

Tracklist:

1. Up and Down – Anna Lunoe
2. blah blah blah. – Denitia and Sene
3. I Kill Her (Hannes Fischer Remix) – Soko
4. Idea Of Happiness (Robotaki Remix) – Van She
5. Peanut Butter (Moon Boots Remix) – Alison Valentine
6. 9:09PM At The Ghost Beach – Ghost Beach vs. Fred Falke
7. C2C – Delta
8. The Feeling (The FatRat Remix) – The Knocks
9. Disclosure – Latch Featuring Sam Smith
10. Walk On By (Sound Remedy Remix) – Noosa
11. Heartbeat (Ashworth Remix) – Childish Gambino
12. Feel the Love –  Hoodie Allen
13. Take this Up – Star Slinger
14. Music Sounds Better With You (Eat More Cake Remix) – Stardust
15. Blue Skies (Ray Mang Remix) – Cadillac
16. Thrift Shop Feat. Wanz – Macklemore X Ryan Lewis
17. Houdini (featuring Foster the People) – Skizzy Mars
18. Flute (Sasha Remix) – Hot Chip
19. Intro – Alan Braxe & Fred Falke
20. Feeling For You (Les Rythmes Digitales Remix) – Cassius
21. Chained (Panic City Remix) – The xx
22. Sweet Nothing (Extended Mix) – Calvin Harris Feat. Florence Welch
23. The City – Madeon

The post Playlist: Ray-Ban Exclusive Volume 8 appeared first on EcoSalon.

Every day is better with a new track. 

How can you not love a song about thrifting? Just make sure not to play too loud at the office; there are a few “this is f***ing awesome  lines.

Every day we bring you one track for a little musical inspiration. Have a track you want to submit? Email us at contact@ecosalon.com.

The post Daily Track: Thrift Shop (Featuring Wanz) – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis appeared first on EcoSalon.

 Partying (sustainably) for New York City’s Fashion Week.

Put a handful of amazing designers, a community of savvy and conscious-minded individuals, good wine and eco-friendly shopping all in a cool space and what do you get? An EcoSalon fête of course.

To kick off Fashion Week we partnered with the Textile Arts Center to throw a party celebrating conscious fashion and designers. Elizabeth Cline, author of Overdressed, The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, was on hand signing copies of her new book, and Francisca Pineda told many about her ethical fashion abroad program working with indigenous artisans from the Talamanca region near Puerto Viejo.

We talked shop with over a dozen designers and got to connect with some of our readers from around the world.

Thanks to all of the amazing brands that kept our party goers hydrated and energized, Conway Family Winery, The Naked Grape, Zhena’s Gypsy Tea and Equal Exchange chocolate, and our eco-beauty gifts from La Bella Figura, Kahina Giving Beauty and Olie Biologique.

(Did we happen to mention there were live rabbits there too?)

Missed out? That’s alright, we took some fun party pictures so you could see what fun we had and why YOU should be there next time!

EcoSalon writer Jennifer Barckley with goodie bag products from Kahina Giving Beauty, La Bella Figura and Olie Biologique

(Left)Designer Eliza Starbuck and (Right) EcoSalon food writer Johanna Kindvall and friend

Designer Eliza Starbuck

Artists Michael Linton Simpson and Derek Weisberg

Treehugger’s Chris Tackett and EcoSalon Marketing Manager and Foodie Underground columnist Anna Brones

Eco-Chick founder/author Starre Vartan and designer Ambika Conroy

Australian fashion writer and proud EcoSalon reader Yatu Hunt (in NYC for her honeymoon!)

Textile Arts Center co-founder Owyn Ruck, designer Nimet Deg of Soham Dave and Becky Bavinger of the New York City Fair Trade Coalition

Meghan Sebold, founder/designer of Afia clothing

Celeste Lilore, Anthony Lilore, Carmen Artigas, Owyn Ruck and friends

UK fashion student, writer and our most beloved wine pourer of the evening, Kathryn Bell

EcoSalon Editor-in-Chief Amy DuFault, Jam Media Collective founder Julie Atherton and EcoSalon Marketing Manager and Foodie Underground Columnist Anna Brones

Handbag designer and InStyle Magazine/Handbag Designer 101 finalist, Jess Rizzuti

Overdressed, The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, author Elizabeth Cline and Organic Spa magazine editor, Rona Berg

Brooklyn artists Michael Linton Simpson, Derek Weisberg and EcoSalon EIC, Amy DuFault

Conscious Living TV’s Bianca and Michael Alexander

Author Elizabeth Cline

EcoSalon’s Anna Brones, Eileen Fisher social media maven Casey Jones, EcoSalon fashion and food writer Jennifer Barckley and Eileen Fisher consultant/superstar, Chris Oh

Designer Carrie Parry

Fashion professor and sustainable fashion multi-tasker Carmen Artigas and Eko-Lab designers Xing-Zhen and Melissa Kirgan

Ambika designer, Ambika Conroy and her two fluffy angora rabbits

Thanks to Naked Grape for wine and Equal Exchange for delicious dark chocolate!

The post EcoSalon Throws a Fashion Week Bash (And We’ve Got Pictures to Prove It) appeared first on EcoSalon.

No shame with this figure-friendly vegan cheese dip.

Dips and sauces are dangerous territory. Sure, they seem harmless in that they are technically only condiments, but they often contain too many fats and calories to warrant another tablespoon. One of the biggest party-time offenders is cheese dip. You know what I’m talking about. It’s the kind you squeeze, pump, or ladle onto popcorn, burgers and nachos. It has a tacky light orange color that you know can’t be natural, but despite it all, you’re addicted.

This recipe is a great way to enjoy a classic cheese dip without the hard-to-digest dairy and the overload of calories and fat concentrated in a small serving.  And with the simplicity and lightness of this recipe, you don’t have to feel guilty about being a cheese dip hog. Cauliflower is a great source of vitamin C and manganese, which help protect from free radical damage and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Cauliflower is also a rich source of the anti-inflammatory vitamin K as well as omega-3 fatty acids. It promotes brain and heart health, is packed with fiber, and is also a good source of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folic acid, proteins, phosphorus and potassium.

Feel free to garnish the dip with chopped scallions, herbs, or spices. It’s a basic recipe that is open to experimentation. Have fun with it!

Vegan White Cheese Party Dip

Servings vary

Ingredients:

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter (Earth Balance)
• 2 teaspoons mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

Directions:

Remove the florets and their stems from the cauliflower. Over medium heat, simmer them in water for about 15 minutes. Drain the cooked cauliflower and rinse under cold water. Combine it in a food processor with the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.

Serve this dip aside tortilla chips or crudités or dollop a few tablespoons into a burrito or on top of nachos.

Bon Appetit!

Aylin Erman currently resides in Istanbul and is creator of plant-based recipe website GlowKitchen.

The post Recipe: Vegan White Cheese Party Dip appeared first on EcoSalon.

An exclusive EcoSalon playlist that will help you get ready in under and hour. 

There are some things in life we just have to do fast, and getting ready to go out is NOT one of them. Does it take you an hour to get ready after a shower? No need to worry… we’ve got you covered with this latest mix. This playlist will help you look your best for a night out on the dance floor. It won’t stop until YOU are ready!

BLOW DRY by BehindTheWalk-In

10 Songs to Guide You Through Your Post-Shower Pre-Club Transition from EcoSalon on 8tracks.

Catch this and all of our playlists on 8tracks.

Body Work – Hot Streak

Lemonsweet – Bagarre

Time To Move (Extended Version) – Carmen

Happy Station – Fun Fun

Hypnotic Tango (Extended Version) – My Mine

Love Me Tonight – Attitude

She’s A Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) – Carl Carlton

Make That Move – Shalamar

Here I am – Dynasty

I’m ready – Kano

Like what you hear? Check out our entire 10 Songs series. 

Image: Diamond Farah

The post 10 Songs to Guide You Through Your Post-Shower Pre-Club Transition appeared first on EcoSalon.

The team at CasaSugar helps us celebrate outdoors.

If you’re planning on hosting a party for Fourth of July festivities, you’ll want to make sure that your backyard is up for the challenge. Choosing decorative elements that are multifunctional is key, but it takes a bit of preparation. To ensure that your Fourth of July bash is a beautiful success, get organized with this list of backyard entertaining essentials.

• Shop for extra seating that can be easily stashed once the party is over. Folding wooden chairs, benches, and garden stools can be stored or repurposed in other parts of the house after the party is over.
• Add a pretty and protective service to outdoor tabletops with tablecloths. Oilcloths are offered in a variety of patterns and colors and are ideal for easy cleanup.
• Set down the bug spray and keep mosquitoes at bay with beautifully packaged citronella candles. We especially love the classic, subdued elegance of glass votive citronella candles.
• Make sure your yard has ample lighting by adding temporary options that can be taken down at the end of the season. If you have trees, arbors, or other tall structures, use string lights. If not, look for tiki torches or stake lanterns.
• Avoid having guests make multiple trips in and out of the house for a cold drink by shopping for stylish tubs to fill with ice and beverages.

• Instead of washing dishes throughout the night or dumping plastic and paper dinnerware, consider using biodegradable versions that can be composted.
• If you’re expecting warm weather, be sure to provide shading so that your guests don’t overheat. Umbrellas, tents, and DIY canopies go a long way.
• Let guests know it’s a party by decorating with festive touches like flag bunting, tissue pom-poms, or balloons.
• Trays are a fantastic way to transfer and organize items, but they can also provide extra table surface. Look for trays that can rest on stands or be removed when you have to haul something.
• To avoid confusing beverages, provide a way for guests to mark their drinks. For a hassle-free but stylish way to identify drinks, set out a roll of cute washi tape and a sharpie pen and let guests mark their own drinks. Or set out tags with ribbons for wine glasses and bottles.
• For double-duty centerpieces, assemble shiny red apples in glass vessels or pot pretty blooms to set at tables.

More from CasaSugar:

30 Beach House Views from Around the World

65 DIY Wedding Tips

Tour a Tiny Scandinavian Summer Cottage

100 Awe-Inspiring Green Home Photos

Images: CasaSugar

The post Outdoor Entertaining: 11 Essentials for a Backyard July 4th Bash appeared first on EcoSalon.

EcoSalon’s weekly playlist pick from 8tracks.

Restless Summer might just be our summer soundtrack. A mix of indie tracks and remixes, it’s everything you could ever want from a summer playlist. Just as fitting for an afternoon driving with the windows down as for an outdoor party on a balmy evening. And if you’re stuck inside on a sunny day, it’s good for that too.

Restless Summer from santiagosbg on 8tracks.

Image: 8tracks

The post Music Monday: Restless Summer appeared first on EcoSalon.

An exclusive EcoSalon playlist to kick off summer. 

The heat has finally arrived. Don’t forget to pack these songs for your next overnight boating adventure. Your vessel may not be a yacht, but you rock it like one. As you float away, allow this mix to remind you of the softer side of life and love out there on the sea.

Boat Shoes by BehindTheWalk-In

Catch this and all of our playlists on 8tracks.

10 Songs to Accompany Your Boat Shoes & Non-Toxic Sunscreen from EcoSalon on 8tracks.

Sailing The Wind – Loggins & Messina

Never Be The Same – Christopher Cross

Sentimental Lady – Bob Welch

I Won’t Hold You Back – Toto

Time Passages – Al Stewart

You’re the Only Woman – Ambrosia

I Just Wanna Stop – Gino Vannelli

Don’t Answer Me – Alan Parsons Project

You Can Do Magic – America

Thunder Island – Jay Ferguson

Like what you hear? Check out our entire 10 Songs series. 

Image: marc.cappelletti

The post 10 Songs to Accompany Your Boat Shoes & Non-Toxic Sunscreen appeared first on EcoSalon.

An exclusive EcoSalon playlist to be played while wearing your hippest set of shades.

Volume 6 means that we have officially been rocking Ray-Ban Exclusive mixes for six months now. We’ve been told they’re just as good for hitting a work deadline as they are for dance parties. But we’ll leave that ultimate judgement up to you.

If you’re new to the series, check out 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 for what we’re going for. A mixture of upbeat songs, beats and remixes, Ray-Ban Exclusive starts chill and ends strong, and volume 6 is made with summer in mind, with just a little extra funk than usual.

You will be dancing by the end of it, no matter where you are. Bring it warm weather, we’re ready.

Ray-Ban Exclusive Volume 6 from ecosalon on 8tracks.

1. Had You – Modual
2. Sun (Pyramid Remix) – Caribou
3. Can’t Get Better Than This – Parachute Youth
4. YAST  (DÖDEN Remix) – Strangelife
5. Lover’s Carving (Chateaubriand Remix) – Bibio
6. Rad Racer (Summer Heart Remix) – Work Drugs
7. Ghost Beach (Viceroy Remix) – Miracle
8. With You feat Grovesnor – Flight Facilities
9. Settle Down (Polaris At Noon Remix) – Kimbra
10. Time To Realize – Lemaitre
11. Teeth (Russ Chimes Vocal Mix) – Flowers
12. Gracias (Lenno Remix) – 40k Volts
13. Dance With Me – Le Youth
14. How Deep Is Your Love (A-Trak Remix) – The Rapture
15. Little Talks (Jumpsox Bootleg) – Of Monsters And Men
16. So Beautiful (Sex Ray Vision Remix) – Mia Moretti & Caitlin Moe
17. Hot Like Sauce Rustified Remix – Pretty Lights
18. Sing to ‘Em (Wale & Jazmine Sullivan x Penguin Prison) – DJ Topsider
19. Live Your Life (Dj Carnage & Jakob Liedholm Remix) – Yuna
20. I Love It – Icona Pop
21. Spectrum (Calvin Harris Mix) – Florence + The Machine
22. Do Harder Be Faster (Skinny Dip Mashup) – TheFatRat vs Daft Punk
23. Beautiful Like Nobody Else (One Direction x Chris Brown x 30 Seconds To Mars x Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman) – Nammo & DiBella

The post Music Monday: Ray-Ban Exclusive Volume 6 appeared first on EcoSalon.