Spring into Detox Salad

spring-detox-salad

Spring into Detox Salad is CRUNCHY, SWEET and SAVORY, and is the perfect easy vegan recipe to make when your body is craving nutrients, and you need a nice and hearty salad to fill you up!

I have read that cabbage has many health benefits since it is packed with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients; cabbage is said to be helpful with weight loss, skin care / premature aging, purifying the blood, removing toxins, and the list goes on and on and on… with all that being said, I’ll have more cabbage… PRONTO! The veggies in this healthful, satisfying salad are tossed in a delicious creamy peanut sauce with a ton of ginger which is soothing to the stomach, reduces inflammation in the body, and may even help relieve muscle soreness. This special dish is topped off with sesame seeds, a great source of a variety of minerals, vitamins, and fiber. Colorful, nutrient rich, and easy to make… give this delightful recipe a try to welcome in the spring time!spring detox salad

Spring Into Detox Salad

The Veggies:

  • 1 heaping cup chopped red cabbage
  • 1 heaping cup chopped green cabbage
  • 1 heaping cup chopped kale
  • 3-4 sliced radishes
  • 2-3 ribs of celery, diced

The Dressing:

  • A hearty 2-3 inch chunk of ginger, minced
  • 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons fresh peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seed oil
  • 2 tablespoons tamari
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • Toasted sesame seeds (topping)

Blend together all of the ingredients for the dressing. Toss the veggies in the dressing and top with toasted sesame seeds. Eat it all up and reap the benefits!

Hope you love it as much as I do!

-Danielle

Mint Chip Banana Nice Cream

mint-vegan-ice-cream

Mint Chip Banana Nice Cream… Say Goodbye to Dairy and Guilt!

For all you ice cream lovers out there, its time to jump on the banana nice cream train. Simple, smooth and creamy, this healthy vegan, low fat dessert can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Using bananas as the base, other fruits, super foods and essential oils can be blended in for a completely different flavor and texture. This is the ultimate “guilt-free” treat that everyone must try…Finally it’s ok to have ice cream for breakfast. 

Yield: 2 cups, 2 servings
Time: 15 minutes
Prepare ahead: freeze bananas
Equipment: high-power juicer or blender

Optional: Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil (YLEO): PeppermintMintChip NanaCream

Ingredients:

  • 4 ripe bananas, peeled and frozen  
  • 1 tablespoon cacao nibs
  • 1 teaspoon spirulina powder 
  • 1 drops Peppermint YLEO

Directions:

Push frozen bananas through a high-power juicer fitted with the blank plate to homogenize the fruit. It will be the consistency of soft serve ice cream. 

Stir in the remaining ingredients and serve immediately.

Alternatively, use a high-power blender with the tamper, or a food processor, adding liquid as needed for blending. 

Serve with toppings such as chopped nuts, fruit, shredded coconut, cacao nibs, or chocolate sauce. 

Using bananas as the base, other frozen fruits can be added in such as mangoes or berries.

Recipe Gratitude to Amy Bacheller.
For more of Amy’s amazing raw recipes check out www.scentfromheaven-sb.com
Instagram: @amybbacheller

Omega 3 Triple Power Pudding

breakfast-chia-pudding

 Chia pudding packs a powerful omega 3 punch and is a great way to start your day off right!

Known for increasing strength and stamina, chia seeds are an easy source of the all important omega 3 essential fats. Boost it even more by
adding flax and hemp seeds, well-documented plant sources of omega 3, beneficial for the health of our joints, heart, brain and hormonal balance. Who knew eating healthy could taste so good?!
 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup liquid (coconut water, nut milk, or water)
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds, ground
  • 1 tablespoon flax seeds, ground
  • 1 tablespoon hemp seeds

 Directions:
  1. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
  2. Allow the pudding to sit for ten minutes.
  3. Add berries, nuts, superfoods, sweetener and essential oils of choice.
 

 Comments:copyright amy bacheller
 
 The pudding in this photo has raspberries, pine nuts, and kelp powder, with Fennel and Spruce essential oils from Young Living (the best, purest and safest for culinary use).
 Sweetened with a few drops of Stevia extract from Young Living.
 
Recipe Gratitude to Amy Bacheller.
For more of Amy’s amazing raw recipes check out www.scentfromheaven-sb.com
Instagram: @amybbacheller

Grilled Chickpea Salad Sandwich

chickpea-salad-sandwich

Healthy vegan comfort food anyone?  

Yes please!  This grilled chickpea sandwich is protein packed and reminiscent of the grilled cheese sandwiches I loved in my youth. Chickpeas are also extremely high in fiber.. two cups of them contain the total recommended daily value. Conveniently, canned beans seem to have about the same nutritional benefits as dried beans you soak and cook yourself (HERE is a video by Dr. Michael Greger explaining.)

Grilled Chickpea Salad Sandwichchickpea salad sandwich

Ingredients:

  • 1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed
  • 1 Tbsp sriracha
  • 3 Tbsp vegan mayo ( I used Vegenaise)
  • 3 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 stalk of celery diced
  • 2-3 green onions chopped
  • Ezekial bread or whole grain bread of choice
  • Vegan margarine ( I used Earth Balance)

Instructions:

Mash chickpeas with sriracha and then add the vegan mayo, nutritional yeast and salt.  Mix and then stir in celery and green oezekialnions. Make sandwiches, grill and enjoy!

I used Ezekial bread to up the protein content.  Two slices contains 8 grams of protein.

 

If you haven’t tried it, I would definitely recommend it!

Copyright FullyRaw Kristina 

Ever thought you couldn’t adopt a raw vegan diet because you couldn’t give up pizza?

Happy Friday everyone. Today I want to share with you a recipe that is guilt free, vegan, low lat, oil-free and even salt free! Yes, I’m talking about Guilt Free FullyRaw Pizza from FullyRaw by Kristina. These mini pizza’s are so delicious and are the perfect finger food for a fun time with friends. Pizza Night Anyone?
 
This recipe calls for local organic ingredients, if available. 

Guilt Free FullyRaw Pizza

Recipe for the Sundried Tomato Crust:

  • 2 medium sized zucchinis
  • 1 cup sundried tomatoes
  • 1 cup raw mushrooms
  • 2 scallions
  • 1 cup fresh basil
  • 1 cup fresh sage
  • 1 tablespoon thyme
  • handful fresh spinach or kale

Recipe for the Cauliflower Zucchini Thyme Crust:

  • 2-3 small zucchinis
  • Half of 1 large cauliflower
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • After blending, sprinkle in some freshly picked thyme or rosemary

Pick which crust you would like to make and put all ingredients in a high powered blender. Once blended into a creamy consistency, place on your teflon sheet and tray, in the shape of a pizza crust. Smooth out and place in the dehydrator.  Dehydrate these crusts at 112 degrees for 10 hours.

Don’t own a dehydrator? No problem! Turn your oven on to the lowest setting until desired consistency. Time may vary. 

Recipe for the FullyRaw Marinara:

  • 1 cup soaked and rinsed sundried tomatoes
  • 1 cup red cherry tomatoes
  • handful fresh basil
  • sprinkle of fresh rosemary, thyme, or other herb of choice
  • Optional: slice of jalapeño

Blend all ingredients in high power blender until desired consistency.

Recipe for the FullyRaw Pesto:

  • 2 medium sized zucchinis
  • 4 tablespoons of raw pine nuts
  • Juice of one lemon or lime
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
  • 1 large handful of basil
  • 1 large handful of fresh spinach

Blend all ingredients in high power blender until nice and creamy

Spread your FullyRaw Pesto and Marinara on your pizza crust. Add any toppings you desire like tomatoes, spinach, bell peppers, jalapeño, red onion, green onion, and more! Enjoy.

Posted with permission by FullyRaw by Kristina. Check out FullyRaw by Kristina for more  tips, trick and recipes https://www.fullyraw.com/

5 Quick Power Packed Breakfasts

Carrot-Cake-Baked-Oatmeal

We’ve all heard it hundreds of times….breakfast is important!  

I think the reason a lot of us skip it is because we are pressed for time, bored with the usual options or have failed to plan ahead.  Here are five recipes that will hopefully not only have you eating breakfast everyday, but loving it too. It’s my favourite meal of the day!

You will notice that these are all of the sweet/fruity category, as I tend to gravitate to towards fruit in the morning and generally I have found savoury breakfasts to be more time consuming.  The first three are quick and easy to make in the morning, and the last two you need to make the night before.  Also I would strongly encourage investing in a high speed blender…I use mine multiple times daily and it really makes getting all those fruits and vegetable into your diet a breeze.

Nice-Cream

Mixed Berry Nice Cream

The simplest of them all!  Nice Cream is literally frozen bananas (they must be ripe!) blended with a splash or two of non-dairy milk and the add ins of your choosing.  Here I  have used 1 banana with 1/2 C of frozen mixed berries and topped with sliced almonds. But you can add whatever you want….cocoa powder, peanut butter, different mixed fruit…the possibilities are endless. Just throw it in the blender and you have breakfast in seconds.

Pumpkin-Spice-Breakfast-Bowl

Pumpkin Spice Protein Smoothie Bowl

A variation on nice cream is the smoothie bowl.  Same concept, different texture, and you can get a bit fancier 🙂  Again you can play around with it but this is one of my favourite versions:

  • 1 1/2 ripe frozen bananas
  • 1/2 C canned pumpkin
  • 3/4 C non dairy milk ( I used unsweetened almond milk)
  • 1 scoop of vanilla or unflavoured vegan protein powder
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp allspice

Add all ingredients to a high speed blender and blend until smooth. Top with raw pumpkin seeds. granola and unsweetened coconut.  Recipe adapted from Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Bowl.

Protein-Pudding

Chocolate Protein Pudding

  • 1 package of soft tofu
  • 2 ripe bananas (not frozen)
  • 1 Tbsp almond butter
  • 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2 Tbsp chia seeds
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup
  • Fresh fruit

Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender and voila… chocolate, high protein deliciousness. Top with fresh fruit. This makes a couple of  servings and the pudding keeps well in the fridge.

Chia-Pudding

Chia Pudding

The basic ratio for chia pudding is 3 Tbsp of chia seeds to 1 C of non dairy milk.  After that you can add what you want.  Here I have combined the chia seeds with 2 tsp of maple syrup and a 1/2 tsp of vanilla.  Whisk all ingredients together and refrigerate over night.  I find that if you can whisk again a couple of hours into the cooling process it helps to get the consistency really smooth and lump free.  In the morning layer with whatever fruits and nuts you like.  Here I have added raspberries and granola.

Carrot-Cake-Baked-Oatmeal

Heavenly Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

I love oatmeal and baked oatmeal was a revelation for me.  I can now make a big batch and just throw a serving in the microwave in the morning. This recipe is from Oh She Glows and is amazing…I could eat in for breakfast, lunch and dinner with this meal on hand!  It does contain maple syrup but I have made it both with and without it and it tastes good both ways so if you are looking to reduce sugar in your diet try it without.

ENJOY!

Kirsten

This vegan lasagna is so delicious you won’t miss the cheese at all!

There are so many really great vegan lasagnas out there, but sometimes its nice to give the body a break from cheese substitutes and tofu! This lasagna is full of whole foods, is packed with nutrients, and is easy to assemble. Using raw veggies further adds to the simplicity of this dish. This is the perfect Sunday dinner because it is so comforting, but also gives the body what it needs to start the week off right!  Also, lasagna left overs make the perfect lunch, especially this one!

Too Good for Cheese Lasagna

Pesto:

  • 1 cup parsley leaves
  • 1 cup basil leaves
  • 1 smashed garlic clove
  • 1/2 cup dry roasted papitas
  • juice from half a lemon
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup olive oil

Marinara:

  • 2 24 oz jars strained tomatoes (I did have some marinara left over after the lasagna was complete)
  • 1 diced yellow inion
  • 4 cloves minced garlic
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • olive oil to cover bottom of pan

The rest:

  • 12oz package of whole wheat or whole grain lasagna noodles of choice
  • 5-10 oz pre washed baby kale, spinach or power greens
  • 1 8oz package of baby portobellos
  • 2 cups diced bell peppers

Start by bringing water to a boil and cook your pasta by following the instructions on the box.

Coat the bottom of your pan with olive oil and over medium low heat, saute the onion. Once the onion softens, after about 7 minutes, add the garlic. After two minutes add the two jars of strained tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and turn the heat to low and let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.

To prepare the pesto simply add all of the ingredients, except the olive oil, to your food processor or vitamin. Add the olive oil while processing. Process until you reach your desired consistency.

For the fun part! to assemble your lasagna, first coat the inside of your pan with olive oil or vegan butter, and some sauce. Lay down a layer of cooked noodles (I used 5 noodles per layer) followed by sauce and sliced portobellos and bell peppers. You can eyeball the amounts here, using an even amount for each layer. Add some dollops of the pesto on top of and in between the veggies. Then add the raw greens (don’t be too shy here because they will cook down) followed by another layer of noodles. Carry on until you reach the top layer. Add a generous amount of sauce to the top layer of noodles (so they don’t dry out) and any mushrooms, peppers and pesto you have left over. I did not have much left over and I arranged them all in the middle of the top layer, rather than spreading them evenly around. Finally, generously drizzle olive oil over the top layer of your lasagna. Bake at 415 for 30 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Enjoy!

Danielle

Too good for cheese lasagna

Spicy Thai Curry Noodle Soup

Spicy-Thai-Curry-Noodle-Soup

Simmer Your Way to a Fusion of Flavors with our 7 ingredient-10 minute “Spicy Thai Curry Noodle Soup.”

This soup has it all… it’s flavorful and satisfying, it’s quick and simple to make, AND it’s made with a line-up of health-promoting ingredients. Just to name a few… Curry has been shown to help with digestion and contains disease-fighting antioxidants. Garlic is known to strengthen our immune systems and regulate blood sugar. And ginger can soothe our stomachs, aid in digestion, and reduce inflammation in the body. Enjoy this easy addition to your plant-based diet plan!

Spicy Thai Curry Noodle Soup

Ingredients

  • 3½ cloves minced garlic
  • 1¾ tbsp minced ginger
  • 2 tbsp red curry paste
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 c vegetable stock
  • 3 c unsweetened coconut milk
  • 7 ounces dried rice noodles
  • For garnish: scallion, Thai basil, red chilies, chopped cilantro

Directions

In a small bowl combine garlic, ginger and curry paste and mix well. Drizzle in olive oil and continue to mix well. Add curry paste mixture to a large soup pot and heat over low to medium heat for 2 minutes. (Add a drop of vegetable stock if paste is too dry.)

Then add vegetable stock and coconut milk and bring to a boil. Place the dry noodles in the soup and cook until all dente. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and garnish with cilantro, red chilies, Thai basil and chopped scallion. Serve immediately … enjoy!

Serves 4

Tips

  • Do not let curry paste dry out… you can add a little stock to keep it from sticking.
  • Substitute any variety of rice noodle
  • Be sure to use “unsweetened ” coconut milk.

Spicy Thai Curry Noodle Soup

Classic White Bean and Escarole Soup

White-Bean-and-Escarole-Soup

Simplicity never tasted so good. This Callicoon Kitchen recipe blends tender, velvety escarole with hearty white beans and adds a dash of heat to perfectly balance this White Bean and Escarole Soup … an old time classic that never goes out of style.

Classic White Bean and Escarole Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 head fresh escarole
  • 3 organic Roma tomatoes
  • ½ minced Serrano pepper
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 3 organic carrots
  • 32 ounce vegetable stock
  • 1½ tbsp fresh thyme (leave a few sprigs to garnish)
  • 1½ c Great Northern Beans or Cannellini (If dried beans soak overnight and cook al dente . Substituting high quality canned is OK)
  • 1 tsp tomato paste
  • ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Directionswhite bean and escarole soup

Rough chop fresh escarole then soak in a cold water bath and drain a few times until water is clear then set aside.

Dice garlic, carrots and tomatoes then seed and fine chop Serrano pepper. Take ½ c of beans and mash with back of a fork … remaining beans can be left whole.

Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a pot over a medium heat. Add garlic and sauté 2 minutes. Then add carrots, serrano pepper and ½ c vegetable stock and cook for 5 minutes. Then add escarole and cook down, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes. Finally add tomatoes, thyme, tomato paste, chili flakes, whole and mashed beans and remaining stock and allow to simmer 15 minutes. Check for seasoning then salt and pepper to taste.

Serve up immediately with grilled sourdough or ciabatta and garnish with a few sprigs of fresh thyme and drizzle with high quality olive oil, Enjoy!

Tips
Keep the soup at a simmer (do not boil!)
For a milder soup omit Serrano pepper.

Make this delicious, easy vegan recipe with me as I demo the process HERE! Enjoy!

-Ron Badach

Top 8 Healthy Holiday Recipes

vegan-healthy-holiday-recipe-apple-gingerbread-cake

Do you, like most of us, use the holidays as an excuse to gorge on unhealthy foods?

Are you, like most of us, also making the resolution to get in better shape and see your sexy abs in the New Year?

I’m writing this especially for you!

Let me start by saying that I am a realist and agree that we shouldn’t give ourselves a hard time for splurging sometimes. The holidays are a time of overwhelming temptations. I get it! However, if your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight and get in better shape, then over-doing it too much is really setting yourself up for failure. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but I am saying that, quite simply, the less weight you gain before January 1st, the less weight you have to lose.

Being moderate over the holidays is easy to say, more challenging to do. That’s why I wanted to come up with a list of healthy holiday recipes that will make everyone happy, especially yourself in the new year! Filling yourself up with yummy yet healthy dishes will make less room on your plate for those dishes that will contribute to packing on the pounds. So many traditional holiday dishes (vegetarian and some vegan ones included) are stuffed with bad fats/oils, highly processed grains, and refined sugars. The good news is they don’t have to be in order for dishes to be satisfying and delicious! Take a look at my list of top healthy holiday recipes to either follow or get ideas to create your own special recipe. Adding new traditions to the holiday table is a great thing, and you will convince your family and friends to agree when they give your dish a try!

  1. Crustless Mushroom and Chive Quiche from Kirsten Mitchell @veganfueledfitnesscrustless mushroom and chive quiche
  2. Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Avocado Garlic Aioli from Oh She Glows!smashed potatoes with avocado garlic avioli
  3. Glazed Lentil Walnut Apple Loaf from Oh She Glows!Glazed lentil walnut apple loaf
  4. Ridiculously Delish Roasted Brussels Sprouts  (from my new book, The Six Weeks to Sexy Abs Meal Plan!)Brussels-Sprouts-Thanksgiving
  5. Vegan Cornbread from The Pretty Beevegan cornbread
  6. Vegan Green Bean Casserole from Oh She Glows!vegan green bean casserole
  7. 1 Bowl Apple Gingerbread Cake from The Minimalist Baker-Apple-Gingerbread-Cake-with-Vegan-Cream-Cheese-Frosting-1-bowl-easy-and-SO-tasty-vegan-gingerbread-cake-christmas
  8. Silk Chocolate Pie from Making Thyme for Health Silk-Chocolate-Pie-vegan-and-gluten-free
    Feel free to share your favorite vegan, healthy holiday recipes as well! Happy Holidays!!!