Author: Jacqueline King

Watermelon Radish with Avocado Cream, Snap Pea and Baked Tofu

For those of you that follow me on social media, you know that I had a canapé assignment for my plant-based cooking program at Rouxbe Cooking School. My last assignment was to have a party and make five small-bite appetizers to serve. That’s my kind of final! I was really pleased with how each one turned out, but if I had to pick a favorite, this would be it. It’s spicy, creamy, citrusy and meaty (from the tofu) all in one bite. It’s super flavorful, light and nutritious. I also love how beautiful it looks on a serving platter. It’s completely raw, so you can make this recipe quickly and still totally impress your guests. Baked tofu is denser and more savory than traditional tofu and you can find it at stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Black sesame seeds look cool, but can be a little hard to find. You can stick with plain white sesame seeds or use a sprinkle of black lava salt in their place. I like to use Organicville Sriracha …

Chocolate-Orange Blossom Mousse with Toasted Coconut Chips and Pomegranate Seeds

Published by Jacqueline King

These sophisticated, sweet and creamy mini-mousse cups pack a superfood punch. Avocado, spirulina and cacao are some of the most nutrient-dense ingredients on the planet, but they come together in a treat that tastes of pure chocolate decadence. Orange blossom water adds a delicate floral note and can be found next to rose-water in that baking section or Middle Eastern aisles of supermarket. Spirulina is a blue-green algae that is very high in amino acids and balances the sweetness of this dessert with its earthy flavor. It can be found in the herbal supplement aisle of natural markets and health food stores. My favorite toasted coconut chips to go along with this recipe are the crunchy, spicy Made in Nature Ginger-Masala Toasted Coconut Chips. This the perfect recipe to make for a cocktail party since it takes only a few minutes to throw together in the blender. It’s so nice to serve something sweet and delicious without it being too rich and heavy. Your guests will love it! I use little glass espresso cups for serving, but shot …

Carrot Lox and Beluga Lentil Caviar on Buckwheat Blinis with Lemon Cashew Creme Fraiche

Published by Jacqueline King

The holidays will be here in no time, so I wanted to start writing some special small-bite recipes for you. Forget the fried or frozen hors d’ oeuvres. We’re talking party food you can feel good about! Here we have a plant-based version of a traditional canapé. It’s fun to use these ingredients in an unexpected and playful way. The carrots and lentils taste like the ocean thanks to the nori sheets and sea salt. The blini are made with nutty brown rice and earthy buckwheat flours, and you get creaminess and a bright citrus flavor in the lemon cashew crème fraîche. Together these flavors add up to an irresistible little package both you and your guests will love! Enjoy! xJacq Ingredients: Makes approximately 16 For Lox: Preheat oven to 400* 2 large carrots 2 Tbsp Miso Paste 1 Nori Sheet 3 cups water 1 tsp Liquid Smoke For Caviar: 1/2 cup Beluga Lentils 1 1/2 cup Water 1 Nori Sheet 1 tsp Sea Salt For Lemon Creme Fraiche: 1 cup Raw Cashews, soaked 2-4hrs …

Real Food Fast- Spinach, Mushroom & Egg Breakfast Burrito with Avocado

Published by Jacqueline King

Want to spice things up in the morning? Breakfasts burritos are a great change of pace from your regular smoothie or granola. Especially as the weather starts to cool, it’s nice to get a warm meal in first thing. You can throw this together in under 10, minutes. It’s filling, nutritious, super flavorful and just an all-around feel good way to start the day. This is the basic recipe, you can add in any of your favorite veggies. As long as they’re thinly sliced or diced, they’ll cook up quickly. Also feel free to sub other greens like kale or swiss chard. They’ll just take an extra couple of minutes to cook down. If you are cooking for one, you can refrigerate half of the beans and eggs once they’re cooked and reheat them quickly another day. If you are cooking for 3 you can stretch this recipe by cooking the whole can of beans and adding 1 more tortilla. Also, I call this a breakfast burrito, but it’s pretty darn great any time of day. Enjoy! xJacq …

10 Things Everyone Should Know About GMOs

Published by Jacqueline King

We’ve all heard rumblings about genetically modified organisms or GMOs but there is so much information out there on both sides that it’s easy to tune out. Being a food blogger, I come into contact with information on food issues more often than most so I thought I would share, in a nutshell, what I’ve learned about GMO ingredients and why I try to avoid them at home and in my recipes. Now I know this is not a fun or sexy topic but it’s GMO awareness month so let’s bite the bullet and take a look. First a quick intro- GMOs are living organisms whose genetic material has been manipulated in a lab to create combinations of plant, animal, bacteria and/or viral genes that don’t occur in nature. Almost all commercial GMO crops are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. The companies that sell these genetically modified seeds also sell the herbicide that can be sprayed on them in large amounts without killing them. The most common of these herbicides is …

Carrot Cake Chia Pudding

Published by Jacqueline King

This is a delicious fall treat to serve for breakfast or dessert. It has all the sweet and spicy flavor of carrot cake but is made with wholesome superfood ingredients. Chia are packed with omega-3 oils, fiber and protein, the spices are anti-inflammatory and aid digestion, and the carrot is high in beta-carotene so it’s the perfect way to start your day or finish your meal. I use a julienne peeler to make the carrot toppings which makes it really easy. It’s the perfect thing to throw together before bed so you wake up and have breakfast sorted, just add your toppings and go. My favorite chia seeds to use are the organic white chia from Nutiva. The white seeds just look a little nicer in this pudding, but black ones work too. If serving it for dessert candied walnuts are great on top for a little extra sweetness. Another nice touch for dessert is to top it off with a dollop of cashew sour cream mixed with maple syrup which gives it that cream-cheese frosting flavor. The …

The Best Natural Cleaners to Keep Your Home Spic and Span and Save You Money!

Published by Jacqueline King

If you are the type of person who is careful with what you put in your body, then you would probably like to avoid using harsh chemicals around the house too. Here are some great recipes for DIY natural cleaners to try out at home. Some countertops and wood surfaces are delicate, so it’s a good idea to test it out any new cleaner in a hidden area first to be safe. Using natural cleaners is a great way to create a healthier environment in your home and can also save you quite a bit of money, so it’s a win-win! xJacq Glass: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray on glass and wipe clean with old newspaper or a lint-free cloth. Countertops and bathroom tile: Mix 2 parts vinegar and 1 part baking soda with 4 parts water. Apply with a sponge, scrub, and wipe away. Floors: Mix 4 cups of white distilled vinegar with about a gallon of hot water. You can add a few drops of …

Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Yoga- Part 1

Published by Jacqueline King

Yoga is such a big part of my daily life, but I’ve never written about it beyond the odd Instagram post. I’m currently in Vancouver on business away from my kitchen so it’s given me time to sit and reflect on the incredible breadth of the lessons I’ve learned since I started my practice 15 years ago. Since it seems like too much to cover in one post, I thought I’d share one lesson to begin with. After all, one is always the best place to start… 1.When in Doubt- Just Breathe. As a beginner when things get challenging in yoga class one of the first things to go is calm, steadying breathing. That can lead to a racing heart, a shaky, unsteady feeling and a face the color of an almost ripe strawberry. With practice you learn to notice when you’re holding your breath, or when it tightens up and gets jagged. With that awareness you gain the ability to bring your breath under your control again, to deepen it and slow it down. Sometimes, …

REAL FOOD FAST- The Go-To Super Smoothie Bowl (Only 3 ingredients!)

Published by Jacqueline King

I am, by nature, more of a night owl than a morning person, so in the early hours I’m not often in the mood to cook up an elaborate breakfast. Smoothies have been one of my breakfast go-tos for quite a while now. I love that you can whip one up, pour it in a cup, and head out the door. Lately though, I have been making my morning smoothie a sit down experience with this easy smoothie bowl. There is something a little more satisfying in taking the time to sit down and eat your breakfast with a spoon enjoying different tastes and textures, rather than simply sipping it through a straw. It’s also really nice to take a few minutes to be present and arrange all the toppings and make something really beautiful for yourself in the morning. Even with the artful arranging it takes less than 5 minutes to put together. Once blended you can add a limitless variety of toppings so each bowl is deliciously different. The basic recipe consists of only 3 …

Feel Good Travel – Portland

Published by Jacqueline King

This is the first in a new series of posts under the category “Feel Good Travel”. I hope they will acts as mini travel guides for healthy food and fitness lovers. Enjoy! Though I spend most of my time cooking up a storm I also do some acting and recently had the opportunity to visit Portland to work on a movie. The city has a vibrant culinary scene and I was only there for a couple of days, so I did my research ahead of time and decided to check out several of Portland’s wonderful plant-focused offerings. Here are my recommendations for places to eat as well as a few great spots to help you work up an appetite. Vita Cafe– This is the place to go for the best in vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free comfort food. They serve everything from scrambles to burgers but my favorite menu item was the Mexican Corn Cakes ($7). It’s basically as if a fresh homemade corn tortilla and a fluffy pancake had a baby, which is to say, it’s amazing! …