All posts tagged: featured

Mexican Quinoa Bowl with Zucchini and Corn, Black Beans and Avocado Cream

Comfort food means different things to different people, but when I think of comfort food the first thing that comes to mind is a big bowl of yummy mexican food. I’m mexican on my mom’s side so family gatherings almost always included fragrant pots of rice and beans simmering on the stove along with some other flavorful and spicy veggies. This recipe is inspired by those meals, but adapted to come together in far less time. While cooking rice and beans from scratch is wonderful, it takes a bit of planning, requiring soaking and simmering for hours. Instead here we substitute quicker cooking quinoa for the rice and canned black beans for the dried version making this easy enough for lunch or a weeknight meal. While this recipe cuts down on time, it doesn’t lose any of the delicious traditional flavor that make it one of my favorites. I hope you love it to! This makes more portions than most of my everyday recipes, but it makes for great leftovers so if you have extra …

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

Published by Jacqueline King

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 …

Top 10 Ways to Eat More Sustainably

Published by Jacqueline King

As Mad Men showed us, there was a time when a person could feel good about their consumption if it included only a minimal number of cigarettes, cocktails and calories. Yes, it was a simpler time…Today our greater awareness leads us to consider not only the healthfulness, but the carbon footprint, environmental impact, and sustainability of what we consume. This article is not meant to send you on a guilt trip. I know sometimes one must succumb to the craving for a perfect Peruvian mango in the dead of winter. I’ve been there. What I hope it will do is give you the information to make better choices most of the time. Striving to do so (in any area of life) is a noble pursuit and far more rewarding than striving for perfection. 1. Remember this quote from sustainable food advocate Anna Lappe: “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want” I find if I keep this in mind when shopping I am automatically more conscious of …

Easy Elegant Holiday Sides

Published by Jacqueline King

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 …

How to Murder Slugs and Other Organic Gardening Tips

Published by Jacqueline King

The website Organicgardentips.com has so many organic gardening tips its almost overwhelming but its fun to read a few at a time. Here are my 25 favorites: #16. There is no need to work the soil deeply when adding compost or soil amendments. Eighty five percent of a plant’s roots are found in the top 6″ of soil. #22. Bare soil should not be visible around a new planting. Always cover with a layer of mulch, any coarse-textured, loose organic material. #25. Weeds? Spot-spray with common full-strength household vinegar, on a sunny day. It’s an organic weed killer that’s safe for you and the environment. #42. Use the least-disruptive and least-polluting protections against a pest. Try the following methods as applicable: first physical removal, barriers, and traps; next, biological controls; then, appropriate botanical and mineral pesticides. #47. Less than 2 percent of the insects in the world are harmful. Beneficial insects such as ground beetles, ladybugs, fireflies, green lacewings, praying mantids, spiders, and wasps keep harmful insects from devouring your plants. They also pollinate your plants and decompose organic matter. …

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 …

DIY Natural Room Sprays

Published by Jacqueline King

Sure, natural room sprays make a room smell nice, but they also do much more! Studies have shown lightly scenting a room using essential oils can have a variety of beneficial effects ranging from invigorating to calming depending on the oil you choose. Below are some proven blends or experiment using your favorite oils to create your own personal scent. If you are drawn to a particular smell, chances are it will benefit you, so go ahead and trust your intuition. If you are not using your room spray frequently, you can use a mixture of half water and half vodka to avoid a musty scent. The vodka smell dissipates quickly after it’s sprayed and the delicate fragrance from the essential oils is all that’s left behind. It’s best to store your room spray out of direct sunlight. Enjoy! xJacq Start with one cup of water in a spray bottle, add 20-30 drops of essential oils, and shake well. Or use half vodka and half water to prolong the shelf-life. Office or Study Room: 15 drops Lemon, 10 drops …

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 …

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 …