Aug 22, 2014 | Blog, Breakfast, Gluten-Free, Recipes, Snacks & Appetizers, Vegan, Vegan & Gluten-Free, Vegetarian |
I’m not the biggest breakfast person. I know that it is the most important meal of the day, and I realize that as a health food professional I should be more diligent. But tell this to my appetite. I am a yogi and you are not supposed to eat 2+ hours before practicing yoga and I don’t like to eat before my 1 precious cup of coffee in the am (organic with fresh cashew milk mind you). So I go with such things as a simple slice of Ezekiel bread with homemade nut butter or something fun and unique like this awesome avocado recipe below. Fast and healthy and pretty darn good if I do say so myself!
Avocado Miso Toast
INGREDIENTS:
2 slices sprouted whole grain or gluten free bread
2+ teaspoons mellow white miso paste
1 medium ripe avocado
Lime to taste
1 Tablespoon seasoned dried seaweed flakes (I like Sea’s Gift Korean Nori)
Makes 1-2 servings
DIRECTIONS:
Toast the bread. While it is toasting roll the avocado with your hand on a cutting board to soften. Cut in half and scrape out the inside into a bowl. Mash with a fork and add a squeeze of lime and set aside.
When toast is done, spread 1 teaspoon of miso evenly over the bread. Top with the avocado and sprinkle with the seaweed and eat!
Tips & Notes~
Add some sliced red onion, ripe tomato or your favorite hot sauce on top.
An egg fried in virgin coconut oil is amazing.
For a BLT type of effect~ slice some tempeh thinly and pan fry in coconut oil until crispy and serve on top of the toast.
Jul 26, 2014 | Blender, Blog, Desserts & Baked Goods, Dietary Restrictions, Gluten-Free, Recipes, Vegan, Vegan & Gluten-Free, Vegetarian |
Light, refreshing and perfect for summer, this quick sorbet is simple and delicious. It also doesn’t have any of the weird ingredients or stabilizers that many of the store-bought brands have. Its also a great project to do with your kids and keep them busy for a an hour or so (much needed this time of year I bet). So drag out that ice cream machine that has been collecting dust and get going. Please not that you may have the type of machine that requires that the container be frozen is advance (typically at least 12 hours- plan ahead).
There are many variations that you can do like changing out the fruit for something else that is ripe and fantastically in season. You can event get a little wild and use basil instead of mint or even exchange a bit of the puree for some coconut milk to make a vegan sherbet. I would recommend increasing the simple syrup by 1/4 so it stays smooth as it freezes. The sweet content is partially what keeps the consistency for being too icy so don’t try and substitute the simple syrup for stevia- it will fail. You can perhaps try some maple syrup but you will have to tinker with the ratio as it is a strong flavor. The other component that makes the consistency smooth is the rate at which the minute freezes- but the fast machines have freon built in and cost hundreds to thousand of bucks. Unless you are a serious ice cream or sorbet maker- the simple ones will probably do!
Strawberry Mint Sorbet
INGREDIENTS:
2 pints fresh strawberries (1-1/2 pounds), tops removed
1-1/4 cup simple syrup (recipe follows)
1/2 packed cup fresh mint leaves
1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Makes 1 quart
DIRECTIONS:
Purée the strawberries in a blender with the simple syrup until very smooth. Add the mint and lemon juice and pulse until the mint is broken down into tiny flecks. Transfer to an ice-cream machine and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Simple Syrup
1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons organic cane sugar
1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons filtered water
Makes 1-1/4 cup
Combine in a sauce pan and gently warm until all the sugar has been dissolved.
Tips & Notes~
If you would like to remove the strawberry seeds you can strain the mixture before blending in the mint.
This recipe works well with raspberries or blackberries also but you will certainly want to strain!
Jul 21, 2014 | Blender, Blog, Dietary Restrictions, Entrees, Gluten-Free, Paleo, Recipes, Snacks & Appetizers, Vegan, Vegan & Gluten-Free, Vegetarian |
SUPER easy, vegan, gluten & grain free and YUMMY, what could be better? Get creative and change it up a bit with some other shredded veggies, the sky’s the limit!
Zucchini Cakes with Spicy Lemon Coconut Sauce
INGREDIENTS:
3 medium Zucchini, grated
About 1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Chickpea Flour
1 Tablespoon Za’atar (optional)*
1 teaspoon Chili Powder
2-3 large green onions, sliced
Freshly cracked pepper
Coconut oil or olive oil for the pan
Makes 10 medium cakes
DIRECTIONS:
Place the grated zucchini in a bowl and toss with a good pinch of salt. Allow to sit for 15-20 minutes to let the moisture of the zucchini release. Add the remaining ingredients except the oil and mix well. The moisture that comes from the zucchini should be enough to turn this into a batter. If not, add a few tablespoons of water but be sure it is not runny, the mixture should be thick like pancake batter.
Heat a large sauté pan on medium heat and add about a couple teaspoons of oil. Using an ice cream scoop or a large spoon, scoop the mixture to the pan forming 5 small pancakes, spreading them with the back of the scoop. Brown on one side for about 5-6 minutes, flip and cook until golden brown on the other side, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter, tenting the cooked cakes with foil to keep warm. Serve immediately with the spicy coconut sauce (recipe follows).
Tips & Notes~
*Za’atar is generally prepared using ground dried thyme, oregano, marjoram, mixed with toasted sesame seeds, salt and ground sumac. Available in middle eastern markets. If you cannot find you can add a few pinches of dries herbs and a squeeze of lemon.
Grated carrot or sweet potato also makes a nice substitution for some of the zucchini but you will need to add a touch of water to make up for the liquid in the zucchini.
Spicy Lemon Coconut Sauce
INGREDIENTS:
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup raw almonds, soaked in water for 4+ hours and drained
1/2-1 medium jalapeño or serrano chile, cut in half (amount depends on level of spice desired)
2 medium green onions, bottoms removed and rough chopped
1/4-1/3 cup coconut milk (full fat)
1-2 Tablespoons lemon juice
A good pinch of salt
About 2 Tablespoons+ fresh dill or cilantro
Makes about 3/4 cup
DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients except for the dill into the blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Add the dill and pulse a few times to break it up. Taste and adjust salt and lemon if necessary. If you want a thinner sauce use 3/4 cup of coconut milk.
Jul 2, 2014 | Beverages, Blender, Blog, Recipes, Vegan, Vegan & Gluten-Free, Vegetarian |
This is the perfect summer drink, especially with a little “kick” added to it. It is versatile and can be done with many different kinds of fruit. Accidentally add some silver tequila or vodka and voila, you’ve got a party in a glass!
Minted Watermelon Cooler
3 cups cubed watermelon
1 cup water or coconut water, chilled
3-4 Tablespoons honey or maple syrup or stevia to taste
Zest of 1/2 a lime
Juice of 2 limes
6-8 large mint leaves
Makes 4 servings
Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth but still slushy. If you have a vitamin you will want to use the tamper to help it along, not then stop the machine once or twice to give the slush a stir. Taste and adjust lime or sweetener if desired.
Tips & Notes~
You can use unfrozen fruit and add ice but the consistency will not be as slushy.
Add some chilled vodka or silver tequila in place of some of the liquid.
Swap out some or all of the watermelon for some frozen mango or berries.
Jul 2, 2014 | Dietary Restrictions, Gluten-Free, Recipes, Salads, Vegan, Vegan & Gluten-Free, Vegetarian |
I used to always order a seaweed salad at a Japanese restaurant. That is until I realized that the bright green ones are artificially colored…ewww! Do not fret, you can always ask if the salad is “made in house”, if the answer is yes then likely to be the real deal. Or, you can just make it yourself…here’s how!
Marinated Cucumber Seaweed Salad
Ingredients:
2 ounces dried wakame seaweed*
1 large seedless cucumber, peeled in alternate strips and sliced into ¼ inch half moons**
1/8 of a medium red onion, very thinly sliced
Thinly sliced chili such as Thai or serrano, optional
Toasted sesame seeds for garnish
Dressing~
4 Tablespoons rice vinegar
2 Tablespoons neutral oil such as grapeseed or rice bran oil
1 Tablespoon white miso paste
1+ Tablespoons nama shoyu or soy sauce
1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 teaspoons honey
2 Tablespoons finely grated ginger
A pinch of salt
Makes 4 large servings
Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Add wakame and remove the saucepan from the heat; let stand until softened, 20 minutes. Drain and squeeze the seaweed out gently. If you have purchased the large leaves; slice thinly removing any very large tough ribs from the center. If you have purchased the “prepared”variety no need to cut.
Whisk all ingredients for the dressing in a large bowl. Add the wakame, cucumbers, onions and chili and toss well. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and serve.
Tips & Notes~
Add some very thinly sliced red bell pepper or carrot for some nice crunch and color.
*Wakame is a type of dried seaweed. It comes in packages of long strips or pre-cut, the pre-cut variety will save time. Typically it comes in 1.75oz – 2oz packages, either weight is fine for this recipe.
**If using a regular cucumber, use 2 large- and be sure to remove seeds.
Jun 24, 2014 | Blender, Blog, Gluten-Free, Recipes, Snacks & Appetizers, Vegan, Vegan & Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Video Recipe, Videos |
Pesto is one of the easiest things to make and it is such a versatile condiment. I use it for sandwiches, over eggs, as a source for grilled veggies or fish or as a dip. I like to change up the classic version by using different herbs and nuts, sometimes I make it vegan by using nutritional yeast instead of parmesan cheese. This formula will work using the classic basil/pine nut combo or you can experiment a bit!
(more…)
