Posts

Showing posts from February, 2017

Quinoa Chickpea Squash Bowls

Image
One thing I enjoy throughout fall and winter are the comforting flavours of squash and pumpkin. A dish that my family and I love is a squash bowl filled with all the goodness your tastebuds can imagine. You can be as creative as you'd like with these bowls! Yield: 2-3 servings You will need: -1 large acorn or kabocha squash  (cut in half and seeds removed) -1 cup uncooked quinoa -2 cups water/vegetable broth -1 cup cooked chickpeas -1/2 cup chopped mushrooms -1/2 cup chopped carrots -1 chopped up green onion -1/2 teaspoon turmeric -1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning -Any other vegetables you desire Directions: 1. Place the squash cut side down in a casserole dish with half and inch of water and place in the oven at 400F for 1 hour (until the squash becomes soft enough to eat) 2. While the squash is cooking, place the quinoa and all the other ingredients in a pot over high heat on the stove 3. Once the pot ingredients come to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover th

Raw Tabbouli Salad

Image
One thing I love about Tabbouli is the crunch of parsley and the lemon flavor. I can't have the "smeedi" (bulgur) because of the wheat but I found a tasty alternative...hempseed! It gives the salad a nice crunch and all the health benefits too :) Enjoy! Yield: 1 large salad You will need: Salad: -2 bundles of parsley (wash and chop up until very fine) -1 1/2-2 cups chopped cherry tomatoes (any tomatoes) -1/4 cup chopped red onion -2 sprigs of green onion (chopped) -3 tablespoons hemp seeds Dressing: -Juice of 1 lemon -2 tablespoons tahini -1 clove garlic (optional) Directions: 1. Mix the lemon and tahini together until thick. Add a little water to thin it out a bit. Make the dressing ahead of time and place in the fridge to thicken up. When ready to use, add a little water to help thin it out 2. Mix all the salad ingredients together and top with the salad dressing. Massage the dressing into the salad with your hands, to ensure all the veg

7 Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts

Image
I've been seeing so many scrumptious looking donuts lately! On TV shows, social media, commercials, you name it! When I began to look up ingredients and recipes, I was faced with a list of 20 ingredients. I made it a mission to create a simplistic donut recipe that is both vegan and gluten-free and delicious! Yield: 9 donuts You will need: -1 cup coconut milk (any milk) -1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (any vinegar) -1 tablespoon lucuma powder (mixed with 1 tablespoon of water for 5 minutes to thicken up) -1/2 cup smooth and runny peanut butter -1/2 cup date paste (any sweetener) -2 cups oat flour -1 tablespoon cinnamon -Optional additions: 2 tablespoons of cocoa nibs/chocolate chips Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350degrees 2. Add the vinegar to the milk to sit for at least 5 minutes 3. Blend all the wet ingredients together in a food processor and slowly begin to add the dry ingredients in until combined (the batter will thicken up and fluff up as it sits) *

Chocolate Maple Oatmeal Cookies

Image
Chocolate Maple Oatmeal Cookies These cookies are addicting! I'm warning you from now! They are everything you can desire in a cookie... crunchy, sweet, chewy and most of all... DELICIOUS! You can even eat the raw batter and enjoy it as is! (Without the baking soda of course :) Yield: 8 cookies You will need: -1/2 cup smooth peanut butter (or almond butter) -2 tablespoons maple syrup (any sweetener) -2 tablespoons coconut oil (soft, not melted) -1/2 teaspoon cinnamon -3/4 cup oat flour -2 tablespoons lucuma powder (any starch) -1/2 teaspoon baking soda -1/2 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt -1/4 cup water -2 tablespoons cocoa nibs -Optional: 2 tablespoons dried mulberries (or raisins) Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350degrees 2. Mix the first 3 ingredients together and slowly add the other ingredients until combined 3. Allow the mix to sit for about 5 minutes to thicken up 4. Spoon the cookies onto a lined baking sheet (about 2-3 tablespoons per cookie) 5. Bake

Date Caramel Oat Bars

Image
I was so happy with how these turned out that I couldn't wait to share! Each layer is so delicious that you have to stop yourself from eating it all as you're assembling. The crust is delicious and could be eaten on its own as a cookie too! If you'd like to make this completely raw, just use a combination of equal parts of dried mulberries and dates for the crust! Yield: 6 bars You will need: Crust: -1 cup oat flour -1/2 cup steel cut oats/rolled oats -1/4 cup maple syrup/date paste (any sweetener) -A dash of cinnamon Caramel Layer: -1/4 cup peanut butter (any nut/seed butter) -1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste -1 cup date paste Chocolate Drizzle: -1 cup date paste -6 tablespoons coconut milk/water -2 tablespoons raw carob powder/cocoa powder Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x5in baking dish with parchment paper 2. Using a food processor, blend all the crust ingredients together until a sticky dough forms and press it into the bak

Chocolate Coconut Fudge

Image
This recipe was the best experiment ever. It is amazingly fudgy and delicious. You could eat it right out of the food processor or be creative and top off your smoothie or oatmeal bowls, roll them into energy balls and so on. As for my boys and I... we ate it right out of the food processor! Yield: 1 cup of fudge You will need: -1 1/3 cup shredded coconut  (or coconut pulp from coconut milk) -2 tablespoons maple syrup -1 tablespoon coconut oil -1/4 cup raw cocoa/carob powder -1/2 cup date paste (8 pitted dates) -2 tablespoons coconut milk (any milk) Directions: Using a food processor, blend all the ingredients together until creamy and combined and enjoy! *Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer of you have extras

Tangy Mediterranean Vegetable Dip

Image
This dressing has a nice twist with the flavor of Zaatar, a popular middle eastern spice that is a great addition on anything. I made this on the fly and it turned out superb! Yield: 1 serving You will need: -4-5 sundried tomatoes (soaking in water for at least 4 hours) -3 stalks of celery -2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional) -2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar -1/2 tablespoon Italian spice -1/2 tablespoon Zaatar -1 teaspoon garlic powder -5 basil leaves -A little water to help with blending Directions: Blend all the ingredients together until smooth and store in the fridge in an airtight container until ready to use.

Quick Quinoa Protein Bars

Image
I love the texture and pop of quinoa, especially in this recipe. Feel free to enjoy this dish as somewhat of a pudding right out of a bowl, or place it in the freezer to harden up enough to slice and enjoy ad bars. The choice is yours! Either way, it's delicious! Yield: 4 bars You will need: -2/3 cup peanut butter -1 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup -1 1/2 tablespoon date paste -1 teaspoon vanilla paste -1/2 teaspoon cinnamon -1 cup cooked quinoa/quinoa flakes/oats -2 tablespoons cocoa nibs/chocolate chips -1/4 cup shredded coconut (optional) Directions: 1. Mix all the ingredients together and press into a lined dish of choice 2. Enjoy as is or place in the fridge/freezer to harden enough to slice *For a different flavor profile, try using oats instead of the quinoa!

Matcha Chocolate Mint Nicecream

Image
This nice cream is so delicious and I promise that you will be dreaming of when you can enjoy another bowl. It is a mixture of pure goodness and takes me back to my childhood. I think I'll be adding walnuts next time to give it an added crunch. Yield: 1 serving You will need: -5-6 frozen bananas -1 1/2-2 teaspoons spirulina powder -2 tablespoons matcha powder (optional) -2 tablespoons date paste (pitted dates) -1 tablespoon dried/fresh mint leaves -2 tablespoons cocoa nibs/chocolate chips Directions: Blend all the ingredients together until combined and pulse in the cocoa nibs at the end and enjoy!

Quinoa Caramel Bars

Image
What to do when you make too much quinoa for dinner? Why, you make a quinoa caramel dream dessert of course! This was definitely an experiment that turned out yum! I love experimenting in the kitchen, especially when the end product is delicious! Yield: 6 slices You will need: Quinoa Crust: -1 3/4 cup cooked quinoa -1/2 cup oat flour -2 tablespoons maple syrup -2 tablespoons date paste -1/2 teaspoon cinnamon Caramel Layer: -2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar -1 tablespoon carob/cocoa powder -1/2 teaspoon cinnamon -1 cup date paste -1 teaspoon vanilla paste -2 tablespoons coconut milk Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line a small pie pan or a 9x5in loaf pan with parchment paper 2. Mix the crust ingredients together in a bowl and press into the pan of choice 3. Bake for 12 minutes and allow to cool as you make the caramel layer 4. Place a pot on the stove top on low heat and add all the ingredients for the caramel layer and mix until it becones a cr

Raw Peanut Butter Oat Energy Bars

Image
I created these bars on the fly the other night and was done making them in 5 minutes! Sometimes the tastiest things are the simplest and easiest things to make. Feel free to add any of your favorite ingredients to this recipe! Yield: 5 bars You will need: -1 cup steel cut oats/rolled oats -1 teaspoon cinnamon -1 cup shredded coconut -1/2 cup peanut butter -3/4 cup date paste (any sweetener) -1-2 tablespoon maple syrup -2 tablespoons raw carob/cocoa powder (optional) -1/3 cup cocoa nibs/chocolate chips Directions: 1. Using a food processor, blend the oats slightly to break down into a crumbly mix 2. Add all the other ingredients and mix until a dough is formed 3. Pulse in the chocolate chips/cocoa nibs at the end so they don't get broken down too much 4. Press the dough into a lined dish and refrigerate for about 1-2 hours before cutting into bars 5. Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer and enjoy!

*Cheesy Spirulina Popcorn

Image
While my friend and I were out one night, we were introduced to a new flavor of popcorn that blew our minds. I easily became infatuated by this tasty popcorn twist and I was on a mission to replicate the flavours. This popcorn is the most delicious savory snack you could ever desire. It has a cheesy twist and leaves your mouth and fingers green in color. Yum yum is all I can say! Yield: 1-2 servings You will need: -1/2 cup unpopped kernels -1 1/2-2 tablespoons melted coconut oil -1/4 cup nutritional yeast -1 tablespoon spirulina powder -1/2 teaspoon turmeric -1/2 teaspoon garlic powder -A touch of Himalayan sea salt (optional) Directions: 1. Pop the kernels and toss them in the coconut oil, using a sealed bag or container 2. Mix the seasoning in a separate container and toss the popcorn in the seasoning using the sealed container/bag