All posts filed under: Drinks

Tropical Sunrise Smoothie

I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Lara Lyn Carter at an event hosted by Melissa’s Produce. She does lighter versions of southern classics and is a gluten-free baking genius. She made the most delicious smoothie from her cookbook Skinny Southern and was kind enough to let me share the recipe with you. It’s super creamy thanks to the coconut milk and has a refreshing tropical flavor that will remind you of a beach vacation. It’s a favorite with kids too! Enjoy! 🌞 Sunrise Smoothie Serves 4 Ingredients: 2 frozen bananas 1/2 cup frozen pineapple 1/2 cup orange juice 1/2 cup light coconut milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions: Blend the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Note: You can also add a handful of spinach for extra iron. Feel Good Ingredient: Banana Bananas are a good source of fiber and resistant starch. They can promote healthy digestion and a balanced gut biome which is one of the keys to good physical and mental health .

Calcium-rich Chocolate Energy Smoothie

Published by Jacqueline King

I created this chocolate energy smoothie when I was pregnant and attending culinary school in New York. I was also simultaneously interning at a busy restaurant near Union Square in order to fulfill my program requirements before I was too far along to fly back home to Los Angeles to deliver my baby. This meant I was at school everyday by 9 AM until late afternoon when I would head to the restaurant and work through piles of vegetables—peeling, chopping, pickling, and all other manners of readying them for cooking. If you’ve ever seen the inside of a Michelin starred New York City kitchen you’ll know that despite the efficient calm of the dining room, the activity behind the swinging doors most closely resembles a beehive. Numerous worker bees attend to their designated tasks in the hopes of keeping the queen bee (in this case the managing chef) happy while the customers outside enjoy the honey. All in all it meant that I was on my feet from about 8 AM until midnight, without the …

Minty Feel Good Shamrock Smoothie

Published by Jacqueline King

With St. Patty’s Day coming up I was hit with a touch of nostalgia today. I was remembering my days as a kid when March was a particularly exciting month because it meant I got to get a Shamrock Shake at my weekly trip to Mc Donald’s. I haven’t had fast food in years, but the memory left me craving a cold minty-vanilla beverage with a preternatural hue. So, of course, I decided to create a version using all natural feel good ingredients. It turned out to be so delicious, it was hard to stop myself from drinking it all before I took pictures! Below you’ll find the recipe for this sweet, creamy, Shamrock Smoothie. It’s vibrant color looks all the more beautiful when you know it’s not made with a bunch of artificial food colors. Instead we use a touch of blue-green algae called Spirulina that is quite possibly the most nutritious food on the planet. You can find it in the supplement or superfood section of natural food markets and health food stores. …

Better than Eggnog- Dairy-Free White Russian Cocktail

Published by Jacqueline King

Let’s face it, no one really LOVES eggnog. It’s like fruitcake, one of those things we serve this time of year because it’s a tradition, not because it’s the most delicious option. Well, why not start a new tradition with this scrumptious take on a White Russian. It’s creamy, nutty, and lightly spiced. ( I call it a Nutty Russian 😉 ) It’s also completely dairy-free so it has a rich holiday flavor without being heavy. Put it in a big punch bowl and you’ve got yourself a party. The Nutty Russian Cocktail Ingredients: Approx. 14 servings 1 cup Raw Cashews 1/2 cup Raw Macadamia Nuts 1/2 cup Raw Pecans 2 Tbsp Maple syrup 2 tsp Vanilla Extract 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon, plus more for dusting 1/4 tsp Ground Cardamom 1/8 tsp Ground Clove pinch of Salt 1 can light Coconut Milk 1.5 cups Vodka 3/4 cups Kahlua 4 cinnamon sticks 4 Star Anise Place nuts in a bowl and soak 2-4 hours*, drain and rinse. Add …

Merry Mulled Wine – It’s a Holiday Party in a Glass!

Published by Jacqueline King

Mulled wine is my favorite drink to serve around the holidays. I love the way the smell hits you right when you walk in the door. It reminds me of a winter I spent in England where at every household I was greeted with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie throughout the whole of December. This is perfect… for parties. You can make a few batches and let people serve themselves. When you want the whole house to smell like the holidays. when you want a warm and delicious drink on a cold winters night. to drink while tree trimming, decorating or baking cookies with friends. Merry Mulled Wine Ingredients: 12 Glasses 3 tangerines 1 medium Lemon 3/4 cup Agave Syrup 1 Cinnamon stick + more for garnish 1 tsp ground Cinnamon 3 fresh Bay Leaves 1 whole Nutmeg 6 whole Cloves 1 whole Vanilla Bean, halved 2 bottles of Chianti, or other medium bodied red wine 2 star anise 1. Peel the tangerines and lemon using a vegetable peeler and add …

Iron Rich Red Velvet Smoothie

Published by Jacqueline King

I don’t know about you, but I think Red Velvet is one of the best sweet treat flavors around. Unfortunately cupcakes don’t make the best breakfast food, so here’s a delicious, iron-rich, energizing smoothie that is great in the morning or anytime you need a red velvety boost. This Recipe is Perfect… to satisfy your chocolate or sweet tooth cravings in a nutritious way as an energizing and filling breakfast smoothie as a way to refuel post workout when you need an antioxidant filled energy boost mid-afternoon as a way to sneak veggies in for a picky eater For people with diet related anemia Nutrition Highlights: Cacao powder, Spinach, Beets, Gogi Berries, Chia and Dates are good sources of Iron which is important for your exercise and work performance and immune function. The fats in avocado will help your body absorb the fat soluble vitamins in this smoothie like vitamins A and E and keep you feeling full and satisfied longer. Dried fruits and avocados are full of fiber which can help slow your body’s breakdown of …

Orange-Ginger Creamsicle Dream Smoothie

Published by Jacqueline King

This smoothie is so simple to make and ridiculously delicious! It tastes so good, you’ll think it must be bad for you, but actually it’s filled with fiber, vitamin C and a dose of healthy fats. Ginger is known to stimulate the metabolism, boost the immune system, and soothe the tummy, so it’s a wonderful thing to drink in first thing in the morning. The creamy orange flavor always brings me back to childhood and puts a smile on my face, which is a very nice way to start the day. Enjoy! Ingredients: 1-2 Servings 2 Navel Oranges, peeled and broken into segments 1 heaping tsp Ginger, chopped 1/4 cup Cashews, preferably soaked 2-4 hours 1 Medjool Date, pitted 6 Ice Cubes (about 2/3 cup) Blend everything except the ice until smooth in a high-speed blender*. Add ice and blend again. *If you don’t have a high-speed blender you can add 1/4 cup water to get the blades to turn, omit the fresh ginger and use a pinch of powdered ginger instead. The texture will …

Sweet Salted Caramel Cashew Milk

Published by Jacqueline King

The simplest salted-caramel drink is just too delicious to be true. Try it next time you’re craving something sweet and you’ll be shocked that two little dates can add so much caramel goodness to your milk. A little pinch of sea salt just gives it that finishing touch to balance the flavor. All of the ingredients are high in minerals plus you get filling fiber from the dates and heart healthy fats from the nuts. It’s an energizing refined sugar free treat which makes it a great afternoon pick-me-up or post-workout choice. Kids love the sweet taste of this one too. It’s so much better than those drinks made with artificial flavors. Enjoy! xJacq Ingredients: 1 serving 2 medjool dates, pitted 1/4 cup cashews, soaked 2-4 hours and rinsed 3/4 cups filtered water pinch of sea salt If your blender is on the weaker side, chop the dates. Blend all of the ingredients until smooth in a blender, serve over ice.

The Big Sur Spritz- Perfect for the Holidays!

Published by Jacqueline King

Ease your way into a long fall evening with this festive cocktail that is just right for the season. It’s an evolved version typical mimosa made with fresh persimmon juice instead of the traditional orange. It was inspired by a trip to Big Sur, California where I first tried persimmon (right off the tree) and where the hillsides are covered with lavender leaving a trace of its’ distinct herbal/floral scent hanging in the air. It’s lovely before a meal as an aperitif. Since it’s only lightly alcoholic it will whet rather than dampen your appetite. Cheers! xJacq Directions: Make fresh fuyu persimmon juice using a juicer. Add a splash to a glass of Champagne or sparkling wine. Float pomegranate seeds on top and garnish with a sprig of fresh lavender or thyme. Add each ingredient slowly to avoid bubbling over.

The Best Vanilla Coffee Creamer Ever!

Published by Jacqueline King

This really is the best vanilla coffee creamer ever! I know that’s a bold claim but it’s true. Waking up is a little sweeter with a splash of this rich & creamy goodness in your morning joe. It’s all natural and packed with antioxidants and minerals. Cashews are an excellent source of copper, and a good source of phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and zinc. The vanilla gives it an incredible fragrance and flavor. What it doesn’t have are any of the weird additives, preservatives or ingredients like palm oil that you find in the store-bought non-dairy creamers. This is one of the basics that I always have in my fridge. Hopefully it will be one of your favorites too. Enjoy! Ingredients: makes 2 cups 1/2 cup cashews soaked in water 2-4 hrs 1 1/2 cups filtered water 1 vanilla bean, split down the middle* 1 tsp maple syrup sea salt Drain and rinse the cashews in a strainer. Add to a blender along with the water and blend starting on low then bringing up to high speed until …