Author: Jacqueline King

Feel Good Tacos with Avocado-Lime Mousse and Coconut Sour Cream

These healthy, hearty lettuce tacos are totally crave-worthy. Being both of mexican descent and from Los Angeles (where we take our tacos seriously!), I don’t say that lightly. The filling is flavorful, smokey and meaty thanks to all of its savory and umami packed ingredients. The smoked salt is pretty key, you can find it at many supermarkets or gourmet markets or try my favorite from Hepp’s Salt Co. You’ll absolutely love how it tastes paired with the cool and creamy avocado mousse and tangy coconut sour cream. You can find coconut cream in cans in some supermarkets or asian markets, if yours doesn’t carry it, just get a can of coconut milk instead and place it in the freezer until it’s cold, about 30 minutes. The thick cream will rise to the top of the can. You can carefully scoop out the cream and use the remaining coconut water later in a smoothie or curry. You can read more about this and see pics here. As for the veggies on top, I listed some suggestions that …

Cleansing Carrot Soup

Published by Jacqueline King

This is the time of year for spring cleaning which not only means dusting the top of the fridge, (when was the last time?) but now that Easter/Passover holidays are over, it’s also a good time to do a little cleaning from the inside out. I usually do a juice cleanse this time of year but since I’ve been eating healthfully and exercising regularly I decided to takes less Draconian measures this time around. So for about a week I will forgo my beloved chocolate, but in addition to juices, I will have all-fruit smoothies and vegetable soups. Still no oils, dairy, soy, animal protein or added sweeteners. Fruits and Veggies, that’s it! Ok, and herbs and spices. And tea. And I’ll admit I had a cup of coffee today. But it was ORGANIC. OK, so this might not be the strictest cleanse but It’s been 4 days and so far Im feeling not just great physically, but also happy! And in the end isn’t that what it’s all about? Here is a soup I made for dinner, …

Strawberry Rose Cashew Milk

Published by Jacqueline King

I found fresh local strawberries at the market for the first time this year and was inspired to come up with this gorgeous, grown up version of strawberry milk. This is nothing like the powdered, bunny labeled version of your youth. The flavors are beautifully delicate and so satisfying. It reminds me of an English garden in springtime, and what could be better than that? Cashews are a good source of protein, fiber and antioxidants and rosewater is anti-inflammatory and a mood enhancer, so this delicious drink makes you feel both full and happy! Though lavender became a popular flavor with chefs in the US a few years back, rose is still a little less common. Rosewater is available, however, at many supermarkets, usually in the baking section near the vanilla extract or in the middle eastern food section. You can also find it online at Thrive Market. I absolutely love the scent and flavor, but it is very concentrated so be careful to only add 1 drop at a time! If you don’t finish up the bottle …

Easy Elegant Holiday Sides

Published by Jacqueline King

Cooking from scratch for a holiday can feel overwhelming so I figured it would be fun to show you a salad and veggies sides that can all roast in the oven together at the same time. They are so easy to make you can hardly call these recipes, but they are so beautiful and delectable everyone will be asking for seconds so make sure to make extra! Try to find the best looking organic produce you can find for fabulous flavor. If you are new to cooking just remember its much easier to add seasoning than to take away, so you can always taste and adjust the seasoning as you go. Ive left off measurements because this works whether you are cooking for 2 or for 8. What you’ll need: Vegetables: Carrots Small Red, White and/or Purple Potatoes Brussels Sprouts Tomatoes Seasonings: Olive Oil Kosher Salt Medium Ground Black Pepper Cumin Paprika Chili Powder Seasoning salt Course Mustard Onion Shallot Garlic Rosemary Cilantro, Basil Italian Parsley Honey Preheat oven to 400* Prep Veggies: Carrots: Trim …

Decadent Mushroom Lasagna with Pesto and Cashew Béchamel

Published by Jacqueline King

I am hosting Easter brunch this year so I wanted to come up with a main dish that would not only be meat and dairy-free, but special enough for a holiday and enticing to vegetarians and meat eaters alike. What I came up with is this sumptuous lasagna that is sure to please. You can use a mixture of any mushrooms you like, I used mostly portabello and white button mushrooms because they were the most reasonably priced at the market as well a a few oysters. I used orange thyme which worked beautifully but can be hard to find so use lemon thyme or regular thyme instead. The cashews are used to make both a delicate béchamel and a gooey plant-based mozzarella. Both are incredibly creamy and delicious with none of the strange flavor or ingredients of most store-bought vegan cheeses. You can use your favorite pesto recipe or buy store-bought. I find the refrigerated pestos in the deli case are usually much better than jarred varieties. You can find dairy free versions …

Spice Cabinet Redo

Published by Jacqueline King

If you’re like me you may have a few days off for the Easter/Passover holiday and you have a spice cabinet that looks like this. (my before pic) Then it might be a good time to get a little crafty like I did the other day. With only printable labels from the craft store (Michael’s), 4oz. Ball Jam Jars and some wrapping paper, that mess turned into this beauty… Add a little dish and some cute measuring spoons and cooking just got a whole lot easier! xJacq

Zucchini Noodles with Quick Marinara and Creamy Cashew Parmesan Sauce

Published by Jacqueline King

This is such a delicious and healthy plant-based and gluten-free alternative to pasta! Everything comes together really quickly and the gooey cheese sauce tastes rich and decadent even though it contains only 2 tablespoons of cashews per serving. The secret to its texture is tapioca flour which comes from the starchy cassava plant. You get the nutty parmesan flavor from nutritional yeast which is one of the only vegan sources of vitamin B12. Using simple zucchini noodles means that even though this dish is really satisfying, it never feels too heavy like traditional creamy pasta dishes. Zucchini noodles also give you a lot more vitamins and have about 1/5th the calories of regular pasta. It’s one of my favorite recipes to make for lunch or weeknight dinners, I’m sure you’ll love it too. Enjoy! xJacq Ingredients: 2 Serving Marinara: 1 14oz. can fire-roasted tomatoes 2 Garlic cloves 1/4 Yellow Onion 1/8 tsp Agave Syrup 1/4 tsp each Kosher Salt, Black Pepper and Dried Oregano Cheese: 1/4 cup Raw Cashews, soaked and rinsed* 1 cup Warm …

The Perfect Spring Salad

Published by Jacqueline King

I had this salad the other day at a luncheon catered by one of LA’s best catering companies Schaffer’s Genuine Foods. As you can see, it was beautiful and, more importantly, it was delicious, so I wanted to share it with you. It’s the perfect healthy springtime salad. If you’re not familiar with the gorgeous pink vegetable, allow me to introduce you to the watermelon radish. It’s a large mild radish that is a bit sweeter and less peppery than its more common cousin. Like the red radish it’s high in vitamins including C, B-6, riboflavin and thiamine, low in calories and has a fresh and flavorful taste. You can usually find them this time of year at markets like Whole Foods or at the farmer’s market. This was served with a creamy dressing at the party, but I really love it with just a squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. Simplicity at its best! Enjoy! xJacq Ingredients: Serves 4 1 cup English Peas,fresh shelled or frozen 1 …

Spring Clean Bowl with Wilted Greens, Cannelini Beans and Walnut Aioli

Published by Jacqueline King

I love this hearty bowl filled with delicious springtime flavors. It is perfect as a main dish because it has a good balance of healthy protein, fats, fiber and complex carbs. I spotted these gorgeous pea shoots at whole foods which are baby pea plants packed with vitamins A, C and folic acid. If you can’t find pea shoots, try substituting with spinach leaves, arugula or baby romaine leaves. The celery in the beans not only adds crunch and lots of flavor, but also contains antioxidants and is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. What really makes this dish special, however, is the walnut aioli, which is pretty much to die for. You can also try making it with blanched almonds. Enjoy! xJacq Spring Clean Bowl with Wilted Greens, Cannelini Beans and Walnut Aioli Ingredients: Serves 2 Rice: 1 cup Brown Rice 1 cup Vegetable Broth 1 Tbsp Tamari Walnut Aioli: 1 cup Raw Walnuts 3-4 Cloves Garlic Juice of 1 medium Lemon 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt 1/4 cup + 2Tbs Water 1/2 cup Olive Oil Beans: 1 …

How to Murder Slugs and Other Organic Gardening Tips

Published by Jacqueline King

The website Organicgardentips.com has so many organic gardening tips its almost overwhelming but its fun to read a few at a time. Here are my 25 favorites: #16. There is no need to work the soil deeply when adding compost or soil amendments. Eighty five percent of a plant’s roots are found in the top 6″ of soil. #22. Bare soil should not be visible around a new planting. Always cover with a layer of mulch, any coarse-textured, loose organic material. #25. Weeds? Spot-spray with common full-strength household vinegar, on a sunny day. It’s an organic weed killer that’s safe for you and the environment. #42. Use the least-disruptive and least-polluting protections against a pest. Try the following methods as applicable: first physical removal, barriers, and traps; next, biological controls; then, appropriate botanical and mineral pesticides. #47. Less than 2 percent of the insects in the world are harmful. Beneficial insects such as ground beetles, ladybugs, fireflies, green lacewings, praying mantids, spiders, and wasps keep harmful insects from devouring your plants. They also pollinate your plants and decompose organic matter. …