-
Coconut Mango Chia Seed Pudding
How is it Friday already? Where has this week gone? Busy weeks mean the time is just flying by. Among the usual weekly things, teaching yoga, events in LA and all that good stuff, Wednesday night I taught another free cooking demo at Whole Foods here in Long Beach. I shared 4 delicious seasonally-inspired recipes that were of course, gluten-free as well as all being plant-based and grain-free, too! It was another full room and everyone left with full bellies and I hope lots of fun tips and recipes. Thanks to all that came, it’s so fun to be able to share the message that real food heals and I love being able to cook simple, seasonal food that anyone can make in their own kitchen.
Being that mangoes are in-season right now, the final dish I created at the Whole Foods cooking demo, the sweet of the bunch, was this super simple Coconut Mango Chia Seed Pudding.
Perfect as a breakfast ready to eat when you wake up in the morning, a naturally-sweetened dessert or a quick snack, this creamy, sweet pudding is also the perfect energy boost. Chia seeds have a high density of omega-3 fatty acids (more than a serving of salmon or flaxseeds), they are high in fiber, protein, they are full of antioxidants and minerals, like calcium (surprisingly up to 3 times more than a serving of milk), and they are naturally anti-inflammatory. Chia seeds can absorb up to 10x their own weight in water, which means they are known to prolong hydration and improve our absorption of electrolyte nutrients. The best part is this also slows digestion and keeps you fuller longer, which makes these parfaits great fuel in the morning before a busy day. Talk about a superfood. Read the rest of this entry »
-
No-Bake Smore’s Energy Bites (Gluten Free and Vegan)
I seriously could write an entire post about my love for today’s guest blogger. Meg from Beard and Bonnet is not only one of my favorite gluten-free bloggers, but I am so incredibly lucky to have Meg as a neighbor and a close friend. My love for this lady cannot be explained in a simple intro to a blog post. I have to say, besides being away from my husband and my pets so much this month during yoga teacher training, it is almost as hard being away from Meg. We talk soo much throughout the day, through texts, on the phone or on a walk through the neighborhood. If you haven’t checked out Meg’s amazing site Beard and Bonnet before, I can tell you, it is chock full of creative gluten-free and vegetarian recipes and some of the most beautiful photography you have ever laid your eyes on, so after you check out this amazing treat, get on over there and check it out.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hello again Tasty Yummies friends, it’s Meg here from Beard and Bonnet. I am so happy to be here with you again today while Beth is finishing up her yoga training.
I am the type of person that will schedule so many things into each day that I have little to no wiggle room for when life actually happens. You know, the inevitable last minute errand that pops up, or when your kid comes down with a cold and you’re suddenly tied to your house until they are no longer a walking petri dish. Yep, I am one of THOSE people. I am almost always in a full on dash to the next thing, and it’s not that I don’t want to enjoy every moment it’s that I want to enjoy all of the moments and then some. You know, I want to seize the day with a vengeance and never look back and say ‘I wish I had just made time to…’ please, tell me I am not the only person that lives like this! Read the rest of this entry »
-
Banana Almond Butter Smoothie
You all know by now that I am on a two-week cleanse and have become obsessed with smoothies in this time. I have been having so much fun experimenting with different flavor combinations and new ingredients. This past week, the first week of my cleanse, I discovered the magic of dates!! Now I know why they call them “nature’s candy”. Sweet enough to pop in your mouth whole to conquer any cravings, but all natural, fresh and cleanse friendly. My new-found love of dates came by accident, I happened across a container of something called “organic date coconut rolls” in the bulk section at Lexington Coop and became intrigued when I noticed they looked like little cookies and had only two ingredients: organic dates and organic coconut flakes. That’s it. Both ingredients are cleanse-friendly, so I bought them. They are incredible and so delicious, so much flavor and perfectly sweet. I have enjoyed maybe one a day or one every other day and they have been the perfect way to handle any sweet cravings I may have. Yesterday, when I went to the Coop to stock up on some things I needed for this week, I grabbed a pound of fresh organic Medjool dates to use in smoothies, eat on their own and to possibly experiment making my own date coconut rolls with. I thought tossing one date in a smoothie would be a nice natural and whole way to add a bit of sweetness. I was right. It was the perfect bit of sweet in this delicious smoothie. If you don’t like dates or can’t find them, you could certainly substitute a tablespoon of maple syrup, honey or agave syrup to your smoothie.
I also bought a jar of unsweetened almond butter for a recipe I am excited to try after my cleanse is over, but while in the shower this morning (yes, I think about food in the shower) I thought it would be great in a banana almond butter smoothie. So, I decided to experiment a bit this morning and wow, I am glad I did. This smoothie is the best one I have made yet, it has the perfect amount of sweetness and it is so wonderfully creamy that you actually feel like you are having a milkshake. I had meant to freeze a banana last night but forgot, so I just added a handful of ice cubes, if you use a frozen banana you can leave the ice cubes out. Frozen bananas are amazing in smoothies, such a brilliant way to get the chilly frostiness!
Do yourself a favor and make this smoothie, you will be amazed that something so good for you can taste so sinfully delightful.
Banana Almond Butter Smoothie
serves 11 cup organic unsweetened almond milk
1 organic banana (preferably frozen)
2 tablespoons unsalted, unsweetened organic almond butter
1 fresh Medjool date, pit removed and cut in half
1 teaspoon organic vanilla
Whole nutmeg, grate a small amount into the blender just before blending
A small handfull of ice cubes (if your banana wasn’t frozen)Add all the ingredients to your blender and process until smooth!
