All posts filed under: Feel Good Food

Easy Elegant Holiday Sides

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 …

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 …

Feel Good Green Smoothie

Published by Jacqueline King

This is my favorite green smoothie! It’s the perfect drink any morning, especially if you’re feeling run down. It’s also a great pick me up in the afternoon. You might be afraid to drink something this green, but I promise it’s super delicious, sweet and creamy. Best of all it’s packed with nutrients that make you feel great. The fruit and veggies are filled with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. You also get a good dose of healthy fats from the avocado and protein from the nuts. Leafy greens are some of the most nutritious foods on the planet. They are believed to do everything from lower the risk of certain cancers to help prevent signs of aging. It’s pretty much a good deed in a cup, so I guess you can check that off your list today. 😉 I like to sprinkle my smoothies with a little of the superfoods maca powder and chia seeds before serving for extra nutrients and a little crunch, but it’s completely optional. Enjoy! xJacq Ingredients: 2 servings 1/4 cup raw almonds, …

Baked Sweet Potato with Broccolini and Gooey Vegan Cheddar Cheese Sauce

Published by Jacqueline King

This recipe is such a treat! It tastes so rich it almost seems like it must be bad for you, but it’s actually packed with nutrients. The secret ingredient is tapioca flour, sometimes called tapioca starch, which is made from the cassava plant and naturally gluten-free. This is what gives your cheese sauce a thick, creamy, too good to be good for you texture! I use Bob’s Red Mill brand available at Whole foods and Trader Joe’s. Sweet potatoes are high in fiber, vitamins A, B5, B6, thiamine, niacin and riboflavin. They get their pretty orange color from the plant pigments carotenoids which are powerful antioxidants. The broccolini has vitamin C and calcium and you get some protein and healthy fats from the nuts so you’ll feel full and satisfied for hours. Best of all you get to enjoy the sweet, spicy, cheesy, yummy flavor! Enjoy xJacq Pre-heat oven to 400* Ingredients: 2-3 servings Sweet Potatoes: 2 Sweet Potatoes 1 tsp Coconut Oil 3 tsp Cashew Sour Cream Fresh Parsley or Chives, chopped, for garnish Broccolini: 1 tbsp …

Feel Good Jicama Nachos

Published by Jacqueline King

This is an awesome, healthy, plant-based alternative to traditional fat and calorie laden nachos. The best part is you get all of the delicious flavors of regular nachos without that heavy, greasy feeling. Since they are made with vegetables, nuts and legumes, you’ll be getting tons of fiber, vitamins minerals and healthy fats instead. These happen to be vegan, but everyone loves them. I put them out as a snack during football and my meat-loving husband gobbled them all up before I could even have two bites! Enjoy! xJacq Ingredients: 1 small Jicama 1/2 Onion, thinly sliced 2 Tbs Coconut or Olive Oil 1 can Black Beans, rinsed Pinch Salt, Pepper, Cumin and Cayenne 1/2 lime 3/4 cup Pico de Gallo 3/4 cup Guacamole 3/4 cup Cashew Cheese 1/4 tsp Taco Seasoning 1/2 lime 1/4 cup each chopped Olives, Jalapeño, Bell Pepper and Cilantro 2 Radish, thinly sliced Sauté the onion in oil over medium heat until it starts to brown add the black beans, a pinch cumin, salt & pepper, and cayenne and lower …

REAL FOOD FAST- Clean Veggie Curry Bowl

Published by Jacqueline King

Next time you’re feeling peckish try this quick and clean curry bowl. So many delicious flavors come together in this recipe- sweet, savory, spicy, nutty – all in just 10 minutes. Here I’ve laid out traditional measurements for everything, but also more casual measurement so you can just eyeball it when you’re in a hurry. I promise it will turn out perfectly either way. This is real food fast at its best. Ingredients: 1-2 servings 1/4 Onion 2 tsp coconut oil 1/2 Zucchini, 3/4 cup Mushrooms, (about 2 handfuls) 3/4 cup Cauliflower, broken into small florets (about 2 handfuls) 1 Garlic Clove, chopped 1/2 cup Vegetable Broth 1/4 tsp EACH Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, Curry Powder (2 big pinches each) 1 can Garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained Fresh Cilantro and Italian Parsley leaves (1 small handful each) 1/4 cup Walnuts, chopped (1 small handful) 1 Tbs Mango Chutney 1 Tbsp Coconut Yogurt or Cashew Sour Cream Sriracha (optional) Sauté the onion in coconut oil over medium heat. Meanwhile thinly slice the zucchini, and mushrooms. Add them to …

Feel Good Chocolate Mousse made with Avocado

Published by Jacqueline King

This chocolate mousse takes only minutes to prepare and tastes deliciously rich and creamy. It’s the perfect recipe for a quick afternoon chocolate fix or a crowd pleasing end to a dinner party. Best of all, it’s a sweet treat you can feel good about. The cocoa powder is full of antioxidants, the avocado gives you healthy fats and the almond milk has a good amount of protein. If you’re feeding picky eaters, try not telling them what’s in it until they’ve gobbled it all up, then enjoy the look on their face when you reveal your secret ingredients. 😉 Enjoy! xJacq INGREDIENTS: 1-2 servings 1 ripe Avocado 1/2 cup unsweetened Almond Milk 1/4 cup unsweetened Cocoa or Cacao Powder* 1/4 cup raw Agave syrup** 1 tsp Vanilla Extract Kosher Salt, pinch Cinnamon, pinch 3 ice cubes Blend everything in a high-speed blender until it turns into a thick, creamy mousse. You may need to scrape down the sides. If it gets too thick for the blades to turn add another splash of almond milk. Serve plain …