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Today the 7th Annual Authors in Bloom Blog Hop begins! Oh, how I LOVE spring. Not only do April showers bring out the best in my flowers, my vegetable garden is brimming with beautiful bounty!! Woohoo! authors in bloom giveaway But I digress. You’re here for wonderful gardening tips and fabulous recipes and you’ve come to the right place. I’m about to share you THE most decadent healthy dessert you’ve ever unleashed on your taste buds. I’m not kidding. Have you heard of the “raw” eating health craze? It’s basically where you consume all your food in its purest, raw form. Nothing cooked that could kill the nutritional value. Nothing artificial or unhealthy. This recipe is the bomb.

An adaptation of a recipe created by Debbie Waddell, Vegan Brownie Bites, I’ve added a twist. A non-vegan twist, (unless you use non-dairy whipped cream), this dish will fool even the most discriminating chocolate lovers. 

vegan brownieHEALTHY BROWNIE PARFAIT

1/2 Cup Walnuts (or Pecans)

2 TBSP Unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2 Cup Medjool Dates pitted

2 TBSP Raw Cacao Powder

1/4 tsp Pure Vanilla extract

1/4 tsp Cinnamon

2 tsp Honey

1 TBSP Crushed raspberries

Dollop of whip cream

PREPARATION

Place the nuts in a food processor and blend until almost a flour consistency.  Add the remaining ingredients and process until the mixture forms a dough like consistency. Using your hands, take a small amount and roll into a ball. Wedge into the bottom of a small glass. Spoon raspberries over brownie and top with whipped dream. Delicious!

The recipe will make approximately 8-1 inch balls of dough. I actually used 2 balls of dough for this dessert glass (size of a shot glass).

Can be stored in the refrigerator for several days–though it won’t last!!

Prefer to remain vegan and eliminate the cream? No worries! It’s just as decadent without it.

vegan brownie recipeNow for my giveaway. For my stop on the Authors in Bloom Blog Hop, you have a chance to win a Bloem Box rose and lavender scented organic sachet, petit butterfly note pad, and a box of floral-themed note cards and envelopes.

authors in bloom giveaway dianne venetta

Enter for your chance to win via the Rafflecopter below. Thanks for taking part in our blog hop!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You are also eligible to win the grand prize eReader (value $200). To win the grand prize, you MUST visit each and every author/blogger on the hop. Each site will post the links of participating authors but please feel free to reference my site to find the author link list at any point in time. Some authors might offer more than one entry to win, ie. a “follow” on Twitter or a “tweet,” maybe even a visit to their Facebook or Pinterest page, however only one entry is required to enter.

Don’t want to enter a particular giveaway on the hop? No worries. Simply enter grand prize giveaway here, then leave a comment in the author’s comment section of their Authors in Bloom post and you’ll remain eligible to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Giveaway ends April 27th at 11:59 PM EST. Open to Legal Residents (18 years of age or older) of the US only. Prizes cannot be shipped to PO Boxes. Winner will be selected by Rafflecotper.com and be notified by email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Please note that Dianne Venetta, host of the Authors in Bloom Blog Hop, is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you in obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor, please notify the blog you won a prize from within 30 days for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you. The product provided for the review was free of charge from the company. The product offered for the giveaway is free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any form of compensation. Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are in no way associated with this giveaway. By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to me and me alone. I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.” VOID where prohibited by law.

Now get hopping, you have a bunch more chances to win!

Welcome to the 5th Annual Authors in Bloom Blog Hop and Facebook Party where you’ll discover amazing gardening tips and fabulous fresh new recipes! AND, you’ll have the opportunity to win a TON of wonderful prizes and giveaways.

Dianne Venetta_AIB Logo_2015

Today I’m sharing an interesting gardening tip I discovered via Home Guides. Now, garlic is a great aphid repellent and used a lot when it comes to companion planting–a basic tenet of organic gardening–and planting it near roses will do wonders to keep your bushes healthy and happy by repelling aphids. But did you know that orange peels work to repel aphids, too?

orange peel and aphids

Organic Authority says that placing orange peels around affected plants will deter the pests. Better yet, tear the peels–not all the way through–and attach them to the stems near the infected area using the tear. In a matter of hours, it will be problem solved. Seems orange peels contain d-Limonene, a natural chemical that destroys the waxy coating on aphids (and ants!) causing them to suffocate and die. Sounds harsh, but so is the discovery of a dead rose bush.

DS AIB hop giveaway

Hope that helps! For my giveaway today, I’m offering a collection of adorable cupcake-themed kitchen towels and a colorful DIY Tote-N-Go bag. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You are also eligible to win the grand prize ereader (value $200). To win the grand prize, you MUST visit each and every author/blogger on the hop.  Each site will post the links of participating authors but please feel free to reference my site to find the author link list at any point in time. Some authors might offer more than one entry to win, ie. a “follow” on Twitter or a “tweet,” maybe even a visit to their facebook or pinterest page, however only one entry is required to enter.

Don’t want to enter a particular giveaway? No worries. Simply enter grand prize giveaway here, then leave a comment in the author’s comment section of their Authors in Bloom post and you’ll remain eligible to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Giveaway ends April 16th at 11:59 PM EST. Open to Legal Residents (18 years of age or older) of the US only. Prizes cannot be shipped to PO Boxes. Winner will be selected by Rafflecotper.com and be notified by email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Please note that Dianne Venetta, host of the Authors in Bloom Blog Hop, is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you in obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor, please notify the blog you won a prize from within 30 days for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you. The product provided for the review was free of charge from the company. The product offered for the giveaway is free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any form of compensation. Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are in no way associated with this giveaway. By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to me and me alone. I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.” VOID where prohibited by law.

Now get hopping, you have a bunch more chances to win!

Not only am I a “fool for books” but I’m a fool for romance and today, I’m giving away copies of the romance novel that started it all for me. Jennifer’s Garden is book #1 in the Gables Trilogy and an endearing story about a woman who is caught between her mother’s dying wish and taking the risk of a lifetime with Jackson Montgomery.

Jennifer's Garden (The Gables Series) by Dianne Venetta

He’s the man hired to complete the landscaping for her new home—the venue for her upcoming wedding. Jackson’s everything she never wanted in a man, but as the job progresses, his lure pulls strong. It’s an attraction she cannot deny.

And one that puts her career on the line. This is one story that will have you cheering for love to conquer fear.

“IndieReader.com declares it a pretty great read…a smoldering romance filled with tension, twists and blooms perfectly.” — Happy Ever After, USA Today books

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Next, mark your calendar for my 5th Annual Authors in Bloom Blog Hop. The ten day extravaganza starts April 7th and runs through the 16th where almost 50 authors and bloggers offer fabulous gardening tips and fresh recipes, just in time for spring! Plus, each site will host a giveaway in addition to the grand prize erader and $25 gift card. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this giveaway hop…

Dianne Venetta_AIB Logo_2015

Now, remember…