All posts filed under: Snacks

High Protein Black Bean Brownies! You won’t believe how good they taste.

After reading a friends post about delicious black bean brownies, I knew I wanted to try them for myself. When I read the recipe, however, I realized it contained a lot of butter and eggs. I figured if I was making “healthy” brownies, I wanted them to be dairy-free and suitable for plant-based diets, so I would have to make some adjustments. I tried to adapt the original recipe and it turned out to be a dry, crumbly baking fail. I looked at other vegan black bean brownie recipes online, but to be honest, I didn’t like the looks of them. They didn’t look like real brownies in the pictures, so I didn’t bother trying them. It was back to the drawing board. After a few more attempts (OK, 6) I finally came up with a recipe for these gorgeous things. They have the perfect balance of ingredients to satisfy your sweet tooth, while still being packed with nutrients. When I finally got the recipe right I must admit I was feeling pretty sassy. One of the …

Quick & Delicious Superfood Chocolate Mole

Published by Jacqueline King

Mole is one of the most delicious and exciting sauces in the world in my humble opinion. It has such complexity of flavor and is surround by lore. It evokes images of old mexican ladies grinding spices and simmering chiles for days. Now, the chef in me loves the idea of cooking up an old traditional family recipe for hours on end, but the busy real-life working girl was looking for a simpler process. What I came up with is this raw version that (unbelievably!) can me made completely in a blender without missing out on all the savory flavor and spice. When I say this is a “quick” mole, keep in mind that it’s a relative term . You still have to measure out quite a few ingredients, but that shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes and I promise it’s well worth it! I tried to make a recipe with fewer components, but there is really no way to get an authentic flavor without the diversity of spices and other ingredients. Hopefully you’ll have …

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 …

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 …

QUICK SNACK- Better than Snickers Medjool Dates

Published by Jacqueline King

When trying to consistently eat healthy, it’s important to have quick snacks in your arsenal for when you’re on the go or having a serious sweet-tooth craving. These creamy chocolatey little guys, I swear, taste better than a snickers bar! You won’t believe something so simple can be so delicious. I used 1/2 cup of hazelnuts and 1/2 cup macadamia nuts blended with 3/4 cups water and a sprinkle of salt in my Vitamix to make the nut butter, but you can use any kind as long as it’s unsweetened. The ideal way to make homemade nut butters is to soak and dehydrate the nuts first, there is a great tutorial here. If you are using store-bought look for labels that have only nuts and optionally salt in the ingredient list. These also make great party appetizers or mini desserts. I hope you love this quick and healthy treat! xJacq Ingredients: per person 2 Medjool Dates 2 tsp your favorite Nut Butter 1 tsp Raw Cacao Nibs Split the dates with your thumb and remove the pits. Stuff a teaspoon …

REAL FOOD FAST- Ezekiel Hummus Wrap

Published by Jacqueline King

REAL FOOD FAST is a new series consisting of super fast, healthy, plant-based recipe ideas that take around 5 minutes to make. People often make excuses about being too busy to eat right, but there are lots of healthy meals and snacks you can make in less time than it would take to hit a drive through. These are my go-tos for a quick meal on the run. Ezekiel Bread Hummus Wrap– What you’ll need: 1. Ezekiel Bread or other whole grain or gluten free tortillas – I love Ezekiel sprouted whole grain tortillas because they are preservative free, organic, and since they are made with a variety of grains and legumes they are actually a complete protein! You can find them at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. 2. Hummus- today I used lemon, but any flavor you like will work. Since hummus is so rich in protein and fiber, it fights off hunger and can balance blood sugar levels. Try my Artichoke Hummus or my Canellini Bean Hummus recipes. 3. Veggies- I like to start with a leafy …

Roasted Spiced Cacao Beans

Published by Jacqueline King

I only recently found out chocolate grows on trees. I guess I sort of knew beforehand, but it wasn’t until I tasted whole raw cacao beans that I really got it. It’s pretty miraculous. If you haven’t tried them before, think of chocolate at its purest with nothing fluffy, like milk or sugar, to get in the way of some serious chocolate flavor. Roasting brings out the flavor even more, mostly because the aroma created by roasting is to die for. These beans are energizing thanks to caffeine’s milder cousin theobromine, which has been used to treat high blood pressure and which some believe can treat depression. This makes them a great mid-morning or afternoon snack but avoid eating too many before bed or they can keep you up, as I found out the hard way. WARNING: These are for dark chocolate lovers only and can be totally addictive. Luckily they just so happen to be full of antioxidants and essential fatty acids so you can enjoy a guilt free fix. 🙂 Ingredients: 1 cup Raw …

Foodie Heaven Cashew Cheese Spread

Published by Jacqueline King

I love cheese, but like many people, have decided to avoid dairy for both health and ethical reasons. I’ve tried several different versions of cashew cheese and they have all been…okay, just okay. And sorry, but if you are trying to replace something as delicious as cheese, then you better be freaking delicious, so I decided it was time to head to the kitchen to make up my own recipe, and holy moly, wait till you try this! Serve it on veggies, in wraps, as a sandwich spread, on crackers, stir it into creamy risottos or pastas, or pretty much anywhere you would use a soft cheese. This recipe is packed with protein, good fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals including B12, Vitamin C and Calcium, but most importantly it’s lick-the-spoon delicious. Ingredients: 1 cup raw cashews soaked in warm water for an hour then drained 1/4 cup Water 1/4 cup Nutritional Yeast* 2-3 Garlic Cloves 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Bragg Liquid Amino* or Tamari 1 Tbsp fresh Lemon Juice 1 Tbsp Raw Apple Cider Vinegar 1 Tbsp …

Easy Homemade Corn Tortillas

Published by Jacqueline King

Homemade tortillas taste infinitely better than store-bought. The dough is super simple to make and takes all of 5 minutes to come together. When I first started making them I shaped them by hand, but since I invested in a tortilla press I haven’t looked back. That was $15 well spent! I bought mine at a great restaurant supply store called Surfas in Los Angeles but they are widely available at Mexican markets and online. Corn tortillas are made with a special corn flour called Masa Harina which is made with corn that is dried and then treated in a solution of lime (calcium hydroxide) and water to loosens the hulls from the kernels, soften the corn and make it more easily digestible. My favorite brand is Bob’s Red Mill because of its fresh corn taste. They also make a certified gluten-free version. Masa Harina is naturally gluten free but using a certified version is best for those with celiac disease as it ensures it has been processed in a gluten-free facility. As with all Bob’s Red Mill products …

Sweet & Savory Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Published by Jacqueline King

We’ve had a warm fall so far so the tomatoes just keep coming. This is an easy and delicious way to preserve fresh tomatoes. Sun-dried tomatoes make a great addition to salads, pastas and wraps but these are so good you’ll want to eat them like raisins as a snack. I like using cherry tomatoes because they dry relatively quickly and since you can dry them skin side down, they don’t get sticky. You can use Roma tomatoes cut in half, they will just take much longer. If you dry slices of larger tomatoes, you will want to lay them on foil so they don’t stick to your baking sheet. When temperatures are hot enough you can dry them outside in the sun on a wire rack. Use cheese cloth raised on bricks so it doesn’t stick to the tomatoes to keep the bugs and birds off and bring them in at night. I did this when temperatures were hovering around 100*F and it took 2 days for my cherry tomatoes to dry. Larger tomatoes …