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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Veggie Eats: Caramelized Cauliflower



As a veggie loving gal, I am ashamed to admit that cauliflower is not my favorite. I hardly ever buy it at the market, push it aside when it comes with a dish, much less cook with it.

Well...after a yummy dream-worthy version of caramelized cauliflower at Lazy Ox Canteen in Los Angeles, I had to attempt my own caramelized version of this fluffy cloud-looking veggie, and I think I've found a new dish for the weekly rotation!

What you Need:

Cauliflower, 2-3 heads
Olive oil, 1/2 cup
Crushed red pepper, 1/2 teaspoon
Garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon
Lemon, Juice of 2
Black pepper, to taste
Nutritional Yeast, optional, 1 Tablespoon

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Wash and remove cauliflower from it's stock. Place in a large bowl, and add olive oil, crushed red pepper, garlic powder, juice of one lemon, a few grinds of black pepper, and nutritional yeast. Using tongs or clean hands, marry all ingredients.

Spread cauliflower mixture onto a large cookie sheet, and cook for 10 minutes in heated oven. Remove pan after 10 minutes, turn cauliflower, add juice of second lemon, and bake for 10-20 more minutes, depending on how browned you prefer.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Little Things

It's been a while since I've focused on The Little Things, so here are a few moments from the last few weeks that make me grateful, humbled, and excited for the little things to come!

Our latest lil' home project that is now proudly hung in our dining area. I am truly unbelievably lucky to have a guy by my side that is so handy, and loves to help me bring to life my crazy project ideas!

A birthday celebration for my handsome Dad! I have been brought up by two of the most generous, loyal, and fair parents, and love having any reason to get together and share good wine, food, and always great conversation.


Custom made 'sister' necklaces! These were a very late arriving Christmas gift to my sisters from me, but they were sure worth the wait. Even in our 20's...well almost 30's for me...we can still wear our version of 'friendship' jewelry.


Daily green juices to keep my energy levels high and my insides smiling! As you can tell from the numerous juice and smoothie posts lately, I am definitely trying to sneak in as many greens as possible, and it feels oh so good!


Amazingly gorgeous winter sunsets, I just can't get enough. One of my favorite things to do with my guy on the weekends is explore the cliffs near our home with our pup. Nothing makes you feel more grounded than a beautiful view and sunset!

**If you follow my personal Instagram, you may have seen some of these already :)

Friday, January 25, 2013

DEtox to REtox


Phew...that was one crazy week! I am ready for some rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation this weekend!

Sometimes the weekends include a bit more eating out and maybe a glass of wine or two, so when I'm feeling like I need a little detox before I retox, this green juice is refreshing and oh so easy to whip up!

Ingredients:

Cucumber, chopped
Lemon, peeled
Spinach, large handful
Ground matcha green tea, 1-2 tablespoons
Cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon
Filtered water, 3/4 cup

I have an amazing Blendtec blender, so I throw in all the ingredients, and choose the 'whole juice' option, but this can also be whipped up in a Vitamix or juicer.

Do you have any yummy detox combos for juices and smoothies that are your go-to?? I would love to hear, as I'm always needing a new combo!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Ground MATCHA Green Tea

Ground Matcha Via

My recent discovery of matcha green tea in powdered form was like striking gold! I had no idea what a glorious superfood I was missing out on all this time!

Powdered matcha green tea makes the other superfoods look not as super, and is an easy addition to smoothies, juices, soups, plain hot water, or even cupcake batter??!! It contains 10 times the benefits of a steeped cup of green tea!

Let me tell you why I LOVE me some powdered matcha:

1.  Powdered Matcha Green tea has almost 7 times more naturally occurring antioxidants than dark chocolate...Plentiful antioxidants means boatloads of alkalizing, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral benefits for YOU!

2.  The caffeine in powdered matcha provide a calm energy which lasts for about 4-6 hours, and provides a productive alertness much different than a cup of coffee. Your mood is elevated and you have a greater ability to concentrate, but still feel the ZING!

3.  Powdered matcha contains choryphyll, which detoxifies the blood, balances pH, and also gives it a bright, cheery green color.

4.  Other reported benefits of powdered matcha are that it promotes fat burning, aids digestion, improves foul breath, and boosts immunity.

Stay tuned Friday for a little detoxification combo using some powdered matcha...just in time for the weekend!

Monday, January 21, 2013

No-Bake Energy Bites


My sister gave me this recipe a few years ago, and I completely forgot how amazing these energy balls taste, as well as how easy they are to make! 

They are a better alternative to the packaged energy bars, which are definitely convenient, but these have no preservatives, are gluten free, dairy free, raw, and all that fun stuff. If you have kids, have them get in on the action and help you form the balls, and even do a little taste testing!

Ingredients:

Makes 15-20 energy balls.

Oatmeal, 1 cup
Almond butter, 1 cup
Agave, 1/3 cup
Raw unsweetened coconut flakes, 1 cup
Chia seeds, 1/2 cup
Mini dark chocolate chips, 1/2 cup
Vanilla, 1 teaspoon

Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl. Let mixture chill in refrigerator for 1 hour. Wet hands with water and form mixture into balls. Store in an airtight container up to one week.

I recommend doubling this recipe if you have fans of these energy bites. The day after I made these, I peeked in the refrigerator, and there were only about five left...looks like my guy approved!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Veggie Eats: Vegan Caesar Dressing


I am definitely a sucker for a good creamy dressing or dip, and this Vegan Caesar won't disappoint! 

It tastes divine drizzled over a salad, or as I prefer, drizzled over roasted potatoes...heck, I just dip each bite! ...Sure to satisfy my craving for some creamy comfort food.

Ingredients:

Olive oil, 1 cup
Water, 1/4 cup
Lemon, Juice of 1-2
White wine vinegar, 1 Tbsp
Salt, 1 tsp
Tamari, 1 tsp
Dijon mustard, 1 tsp
Black pepper, 1/4 tsp
Garlic, 2 cloves
Nutritional yeast, 1/4 cup
Tofu, 1/2 pound, 8 ounces

Add all ingredients to blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Your salads will smile with this one!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

The Amazing Chia Seed


You may have heard a lot of buzz around this little seed recently, and I like to think of chia seeds like...flax seeds on crack!

Chia seeds were an ancient staple in the diet of Mayans and Mexicans, and were used for sustained energy while hunting, as well as in religious ceremonies. Today, they are gaining popularity due to their unending nutritional benefits, and can be found in many health food stores. 

I could make a laundry list of the benefits of chia seeds, but here are a few of my favorite:

1.  Chia seeds are great for weight management. They absorb up to 12 times their own weight, and they expand in liquid, curbing your appetite, giving you a full feeling.

2.  Chia seeds contain a high concentration of omega-3, as well as omega-6, which is needed to support heart health, and may lessen your risk for cancer and arthritis.

3.  Your digestive system will start movin' and groovin' thanks to the high fiber content of the chia, which also has a beneficial effect on cholesterol. 

4. Chia seeds are a complete source of plant protein and contain all nine amino acids, great for vegetarians/vegans.

5.  Per ounce, chia seeds provide three times more calcium than skim milk, preventing osteoporosis.

I use chia seeds in smoothies, baked goods, granola, salads, etc...but my favorite snack when I need an energy boost that keeps me feel full is...

Chia Pudding


It's super simple to make...just combine 1 cup of almond, hemp, or coconut milk with 2 Tbsp of chia seeds. Stir mixture every 10 minutes or so as the chia seeds expand and create a tapioca-like pudding. Add cinnamon and agave to taste!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Give Me More Detox!


First off...apologies for not posting in what seems like forever!!! The holiday buzz finally got me...I spent lots of time with friends that came to town, indulged in lots of food and drink, and unfortunately got sick along the way!

I am craving healthy meals at home, and lots of smoothies to clean out my system from the past few weeks, so here's another smoothie recipe that is absolutely delish!

It's a version of my favorite Whole Foods Smoothie...the Green & Glowing!

Ingredients:

Spinach, very large handful
Orange, 1/2 peeled
Mango, frozen, 1 cup
Pineapple, frozen, 1/2 cup
Coconut flakes, raw unsweetened, handful
Chia seeds, 1 Tbsp
Almond milk, 1 cup

Add all ingredients to blender, and enjoy!

You will be back to feeling the glow in no time!
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