Thursday, May 10, 2012

Blueberry Scones

A healthy version of one of my fathers favorite breakfast foods! This one's for you dad.





Blueberry Scones: (Makes Two Servings)
1 Cup Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Cup Nutritional Yeast
1/4 Cup Ground Flax Seeds
1/2 Cup plus 2 Tbsp Almond Milk
1Tbsp Cinnamon
1Tbsp Honey
Blueberries for topping

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. With the oven preheated to 350 degrees, bake for about 25 minutes. Before they cool, top with honey (These aren't the most sugary scones, so if you like your scones super sweet, add more honey to the recipe and up the flour by a little bit to compensate.)

Enjoy! 



Tempeh Tacos!

This vegetarian dish is really simple. Just heat and eat! :)





Tempeh Tacos: (serves 3ish)
1 package of Tempeh
1/2 Red Bell Pepper, cut 'fajita style'
1 Large White Onion
1 Can Black Beans (Seasoned with garlic, cumin, salt and pepper)
1 Roma Tomato, chopped
Avocado Kale Hummus (click here for recipe!)
100% Whole Wheat Tortillas
Nutritional Yeast for topping (gives a cheese-like flavor)

Sautee the Tempeh, Red Bell Pepper, Onion and Tomato in a skillet with Cumin, Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder (all to taste). 
Heat the canned Black Beans in a pot with the roma tomato and season.
Spread Avocado Kale Hummus on a 100% whole wheat tortilla and top with your ingredients. I like beans on my taco, Kevin preferred his without beans.

*Brown Rice makes a great side dish for this meal! :)*


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Homemade Crackers!

These are delicious!! They contain some ingredients that the average person might not have in their pantry, but I swear once you try them you'll keep these ingredients all the time to make these :)


Homemade Basil and Garlic Crackers:
1tsp Fresh Basil
1Tbsp Garlic (fresh or 1/2 Tbsp powder)
1 Cup Spelt Flour
1/2tsp Salt
1/2 Cup Nutritional Yeast
1/2 Tbsp Nut Butter (of your choice)
1/4 Cup Flax Seeds (ground)
1/2 Cup Almond Milk

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and spread thinly over a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.


Why not serve with Avocado Kale Hummus :)


Summer Juice!

This is a wonderfully refreshing summer juice, give it a try. (plus, I absolutely love watermelon!)


Makes One Serving:
4 Celery stalks
1 Granny Smith Apple
2 Kale Stalks
1 Large Carrot
about 3 cups of Watermelon

*Don't forget to juice the kale first!! 


Also, watermelon juices amazingly, it yields so much juice and very little pulp (no big surprise) try it on its own or in combination with other juices for a sweet flavor.

Green Meal Challenge!

Green veggies are packed with nutrition! Let's see how many we can cram into one meal. I think it's important to eat any and all fruits and vegetables you can get your hands on, but I find that people are scared of green vegetables for some reason? I'll admit, I wasn't always a believer...but after you find the appropriate ways to cook them, they can be really delicious.

This is just one example, let me know what other things you come up with!!

Yummm. :)


Lunch for one:
Baby Bok Choy (4)
Mushrooms (3)
Garlic powder
1/2Tbsp Nutritional Yeast (for a 'cheesy' flavor)
Black Pepper
Crushed Red Pepper

Add the white portions of the bok choy and the mushrooms and seasonings to the pan with about 1/4 cup of water (no oil, mushrooms produce their own oil!) let sautee until soft, remove from heat and add the bok choy leaves and stir.

Serve warm (makes one serving!)



Avocado Kale Butter Bean Hummus:
1 large avocado
1 Can Butter Beans, drained
1 Kale Leaf, chopped
1/4 Cup Water (or more if you like smoother hummus)
Garlic Powder (to taste)
Black Pepper (to taste)
Crushed Red Pepper (to taste)
Celery, or other vegetables for dipping

Blend everything in a food processor, serve with veggies.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Garbanzo Guacamole

No seriously, It's good.

I suppose I should call it Avocado Hummus? Either way, it's delicious and I highly recommend it!



Ingredients:
Two Avocados (large)
One Can Garbanzo Beans (drained and rinsed)
3tsp Garlic Powder
2tsp Crushed Red Pepper
1tsp Lemon Juice
1/8 Cup Water
Black Pepper to taste

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth
Eat with veggies!!



Also, I realize EVERYTHING I make is made with a food processor! So I figured I'd show you the one I use. I seriously recommend investing in one of these. I use it at least 3 times a day and it is the single appliance I can't live without. 



Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth The Right Way!

I have created a few concoctions worth sharing (or at least I thought so). Forgive my awful photography skills and just trust me when I tell you how these deserts are delicious and incredibly healthy!! Indulge away. :)
  


2 Minute Muffin:
1 Cup Shredded Wheat Cereal (I use unfrosted shredded wheat cereal)
1Tbsp Egg Whites
1tsp Vanilla Extract
4 Dates (pitted)
1/2tsp Baking Powder
1/4 Cup Vanilla Unsweetened Almond Milk
1Tbsp Spelt Flour

In a food processor/blender/ninja/etc. blend all ingredients together until smooth. Put the mixture into a coffee mug and microwave (yes, microwave) for 2 minutes on high. Pop out of cup and eat on plate, or just eat it straight out of the coffee mug!


Chocolate "Milkshake":
One Frozen banana (the greener the better when you freeze it! It gives it less of a 'banana' taste, but if you like that flavor go for it at any ripeness)
1/4 Cup Oats 
1Tbsp Cocoa Powder
1tsp Vanilla Extract
2Tbsp Unsweetened Almond Milk (more or less depending on how thick you like your milkshakes)
1/2 Tbsp Honey (more if you like things really really sweet)
Crushed Pure Dark Chocolate for  topping

Blend all ingredients together in a food processor/blender/what-have-you, top with crushed dark chocolate and enjoy!



No-Bake Fig Cookies: (Makes 5 Cookies)
About 8 Dried Figs
1/2 Cup Oats
1tsp Cinnamon
1/2tsp Vanilla Extract
(optional) 1/4 Cup Blueberries, Dried or Fresh

Mix everything in the food processor or something similar and form into balls, let sit for a firmer texture or enjoy right away!




Chocolate Chunk Cookies: (Makes 5 Cookies)
1/4 Cup Spelt Flour
1/4 Cup Oats
4 Dried Figs
1tsp Cinnamon
3 Tbsp Egg Whites
1tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
1tsp Baking Powder
Dark Chocolate for topping

Mix all ingredients together in a food processor, place on cookie sheet and top with the dark chocolate.
Bake at 350 for about 7-8 minutes or until desired 'doneness' is achieved.




Let me know how these things work for you, and please please let me know if you find a better way of making any of these items. I'm always up for new ideas!