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Posts tagged ‘Health’

Super Foods Power Smoothie

2012 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

2012 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

This is my daily breakfast.  It’s very filling and so healthy.  I like this smoothie so much that I used it to kick my morning caffeine habit.  I used to look forward to coffee.  Now I crave my smoothie.

May I talk about flax seed for a moment?  One of the most common nutrition complaints I hear from people is that they don’t get enough fiber in their diet.  Indeed, it can be quite difficult to get the recommended 20-35 grams per day, especially if you don’t eat a lot of fruits and veggies.  1 1/2 tablespoons of flax seed has 4 grams of fiber!  That’s the same as eating a cup of brussels sprouts.   In addition to containing fiber, flax seed has omega-3 essential fatty acids and lignans, which have antioxidant properties.  There’s evidence that flax seed may help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.  Adding flax seeds to a smoothie is a perfect way to incorporate natural, healthy fiber into your diet. I recently discovered roasted flaxand prefer the flavor and texture over standard flax seed.  But either will work fine.

This recipe is totally customizable.  I like using almond milk and butter because almonds are another super food.  But feel free to swap out the almond milk for soy or coconut (coconut milk tastes amazing with the other ingredients and is a healthy fat).  Use any nut butter you prefer.  You can also add more nut butter for decadence.  I know a lot of people are squeamish about green smoothies, but I promise you won’t notice the kale.  It’s so good for you and this is any easy way to fill your tummy and add nutrition.  I freeze individual servings of banana and kale so I simply drop them into the blender.  The kale chops up better when frozen. Read more

Basil Apple Lime Juice

2012 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

2012 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

I don’t know about you, but I’m still feeling really stuffed from the holidays.  Getting back into my work and exercise routine has been slow moving, to say the least.  At times it has been downright painful. Since returning home I’ve been watching my processed sugar and gluten intake to try and detox from all of the heavy food I consumed for 11 days straight.  I’ve also dusted off my juicer.  A glass of fresh juice can do wonders when I’m feeling rough around the edges.

This basil apple lime juice is very refreshing and full of health benefits.  Basil contains antioxidants, can improve digestion and aid in stress relief.  Lime juice is a great source of Vitamin C.  Apples are believed to have cancer fighting properties.   I feel almost like new after enjoying a glass!

Almost.

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Creamy Chestnut Soup

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

Christmas has become such a special time for me. We travel to Tucson, AZ every year to visit my husband’s family. Every year I eagerly anticipate the moment we reach the desert landscape, surrounded by cactus and mountains, warmer weather and amazing food. I love experiencing the holidays through the eyes of his nephews. It’s such a fun trip. I’ll be bringing my camera this year and documenting our vacation. We leave Thursday! On to the recipe…

I grew up hearing songs about chestnuts, but had no idea what they tasted like. They’re delicious! As far as I’m concerned, this is the perfect winter soup. It’s silky, rich and inviting. Serve this at your holiday parties and people will rave.

If you’ve never roasted chestnuts before, removing the shell and skin can be a bit of a chore. They come off easiest when the chestnuts are still hot. I like to smash the hot nuts with the side of my knife like a garlic clove. If you have a really good blender such as a Vitamixyou can get away with leaving some of the skin on. It will soften during the cooking process and blend right into your puree. If you’re using a more standard blender, you may want to strain the soup through a chinoisor fine mesh strainer before adding the cream.

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Homemade Coconut Milk

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

Things have been a bit quiet here at Savory Simple.  It’s because I’m currently doing a 7 day detox from Baltimore Health Coach!  No sugar, dairy, gluten, caffeine, soy, corn, or processed foods for one week.  The first few days were rough, but now I’m feeling great!  It’s amazing how much the foods we consume effect our bodies.  I’m waking up without coffee and my night time sugar cravings are gone.  I feel clear-headed and energized.  I think I may do this once per month since I work with sugar and gluten so often.

As you can imagine, it’s been difficult to cook and bake for the blog this week.  Next time I detox I really need to bank some entries in advance.  However, I’ve been wanting to make coconut milk ever since I made raw almond milk.  This was the perfect week to try.  And it was so easy and delicious.  It has a consistency similar to regular milk, but tastes like the canned variety.  Canned coconut milk is much thicker and I tend to use it in curries and ice cream.  I’d recommend this version for cereal and smoothies, or wherever you might use regular milk.  You can store it in the refrigerator for a few days but I wouldn’t let it sit too long.  Natural separation will occur, so shake it before using.  I store my milk in a mason jar for easy shaking.

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Almond Butter

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

Since I now regularly make raw almond milk, I decided to invest in bulk almonds to save money.  Totally worth it! I can now make milk for pennies on the dollar. It got me wondering what else I could do with them, and I decided to try homemade almond butter.  It’s unbelievably easy and incredibly economical.

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Apple Chutney

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

I love making chutneys.  They’re simple to make and pair perfectly with chicken or pork for a tasty weeknight meal.  Many chutney recipes use raisins; I decided to use dried cherries instead.

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Apple Picking at Larriland Farms

As much as I love warm weather, I look forward to fall every year.  Apple picking is my cherished yearly tradition signaling autumn leaves, cool weather, cider, winter squash, and holidays with family.

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

Alcohol-Free Mojito Spritzer

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

As I mentioned in my hot toddy post, I’m not much of a drinker these days.  Maybe I’ve developed a mild allergy to alcohol over the years, because most of time it gives me a headache that ranges from mild to severe.  It’s a shame, because I’ve always loved good wine and beer.  And, you know, drinking is fun… but in the end I’ve found it’s not worth the pain.  I usually stick with cocktails when I do hit the booze because I’ve had the best luck staying headache-free with hard liquor.  The mojito is my absolute favorite cocktail, so why should I be limited to enjoying them on rare occasions?

I’ve adapted a healthy recipe from Canyon Ranch, which they refer to as an “Almosjito Limeade.” The recipe contains several juices that I prefer not to keep around, so I’ve swapped them all out for the fresh squeezed variety.  I usually have red-seedless grapes on hand and since the original recipe calls for 1/4 cups white grape juice, I juiced grapes into a measuring cup with a garlic press over a fine mesh strainer.  Voila, fresh grape juice!

The results are so delicious.  I can drink this everyday without the least bit of guilt or pain! And if you want to turn it into a regular mojito, simply add a shot of rum.

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Strawberry Mango Yogurt Pops

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

I’ve been making homemade pops quite a bit recently.  I go through phases where I get major sugar cravings in the evening (these phases seem directly related to carb and sugar intake during the day).  Homemade popsicles have become my answer! They’re healthy, filling, and they satisfy my sweet tooth.  I already keep Greek yogurt and frozen fruit handy to make smoothies.  For pops, I typically make the same smoothie I would have for a daytime snack and then freeze the contents into my Tovolo Green Star Ice Pop Molds.

It helps to have a good sturdy blender for this.  If your blender can’t puree frozen fruit, use fresh fruit.  My pop molds use approximately 2 1/3 cups of smoothie to fill all of the molds.  This recipe makes a bit extra in case you’re using a larger mold.  Drink the excess, it’s delicious.  And experiment with the ingredients!  I often use strawberries and mangoes because I love the flavor combination, but you can use any fruits you prefer.  Play around with the recipe and make a healthy, homemade pop that’s so much better than anything you’ll buy in the store.

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Salads 101: Everything You Need to Know

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

This summer I’ve become a salad fanatic.  Believe it or not, I was terrible at making salads before I went to culinary school.  It was my shameful secret.  I knew about the different tastes (sweet/salty/bitter/sour) but I didn’t realize that paying attention to such a simple cooking principle would have such a dramatic effect on my final product.  I also didn’t realize the importance of adding texture and color or that the trick to making salads truly filling was to add protein and healthy fat.

I’m going to break everything into categories to describe how I make salads.  Even the picky eaters in my family enjoy my salads, so I think you will too! Pick and choose from this list, but try to add something from as many categories as possible to create a good balance.

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Roasted Gazpacho

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

Over Memorial Day weekend last year, my boyfriend proposed to me on top of the Empire State Building.  One year later, this past spring, we were married in Cabo San Lucas in a private beach ceremony.  It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

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