All posts tagged: easy recipes

Creamy Asian Pear, Ginger and Citrus Smoothie

This is one of those happy accident recipes, where I just threw together what I had in the fridge and it turned out to be too delicious to not share. It’s creamy and sweet with the perfect little tang and spice. If Asian Pears are unavailable, try using another type of pear or sweet apple. This is a great morning smoothie with a nourishing dose or protein, healthy fats, vitamins and anti-oxidants. Apple cider vinegar, ginger and lemon are all energizing and give your digestive system a nice little kickstart. It’s an especially satisfying smoothie for those who, for whatever reason, are avoiding bananas or want something a little out of the ordinary. Enjoy! xJacq Ingredients: 1-2 servings 1 Orange 1/2 Asian pear 3/4 inch chunk of Ginger, peeled 1/2 Avocado 1/4 cup Cashew Nuts, soaked* 3 medium Kale Leaves 2 Romaine Lettuce leaves 1/2 cup Orange Juice 1/2 cup Almond Milk 1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar 1 large Lemon wedge, juice only Peel and break the orange up into wedges. If you are using …

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 …

Feel Good Blended Iced Mocha-Vanilla

Before I started to focus more on healthy eating I was addicted to a certain national coffee chain’s blended iced mocha drinks. It was pretty much a daily ritual. I decided to quit cold turkey when I did my yoga training several years ago which left me feeling pretty bad and groggy the first couple of days, but when you’re doing yoga all day you won’t feel miserable for long, so it certainly could have been worse. After training I decided that if my worst vice was morning coffee I was doing Ok, so I switched to a simple homemade brew with almond milk, which was great and definitely has a lot less crap in it than those blended drinks. Sometimes though… I still wanted my old fix. Which is why I’m so excited about my new mocha-vanilla ice-blended recipe made with only natural whole food ingredients. Did you know cacao has a higher anti-oxidant rating than blueberries and coffee is the number 1 anti-oxidant source in the American diet? This is mainly because americans in …

Quick & Delicious Superfood Chocolate Mole

 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 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 …

Zucchini Noodles with Quick Marinara and Creamy Cashew Parmesan Sauce

 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 …

Feel Good Green Smoothie

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, …

Foodie Heaven Cashew Cheese Spread

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 …