Smoothies can be as light or as decadent as desired. They can be filled with a myriad of superfoods or made from a few simple ingredients. This version is more of a dessert combination, made from only four ingredients- fresh nectarines, vanilla bean, cashew ice cream and cashew milk. The nectarines give it a sweet, summery flavour while the cashew ice cream and milk give it a velvety smooth, rich texture and the vanilla increases the decadent factor. Continue Reading →
Berry Cups
Berry cups are a healthy and easy option for buffets or as part of a dessert platter. Simply fill muffin liners with berries and top with a complimentary dip. I mixed together plain Greek yogurt and hazelnut butter for a creamy, nutty option. Placing the dip on top makes it easy for people to take the whole thing at once and dip each berry in as they eat them. Continue Reading →
Iced Coffee Cubes with 3-Minute Homemade Nut Milk
There are few beverages that I enjoy drinking in the morning or early afternoon on a patio more than iced coffee. Usually, a shot or two of espresso is poured over ice then some milk is added to fill up the cup. When I am at home however, I like to do it a little differently and make the coffee into frozen cubes. Continue Reading →
Sparkling Blue Iced Tea
Some blue iced tea and flavoured sparkling water create a light, refreshing and vividly coloured iced tea. Adding in some iced cubes with fruits frozen in add in a rainbow of colour and keep it cool. Staying properly hydrated , especially as the weather heats up, is important for our bodies inside and out and trying out different herbal teas can be a healthy way to mix it up. Continue Reading →
Chocolate Hazelnut Smoothie
Smoothies are a great option for healthy treats. With the right ingredients they can taste sweet and decadent but still be filled with important and beneficial nutrients. This version has raw cacao powder and chocolate protein powder to make it very chocolaty and some hazelnut butter to create a nutritious nutella-inspired flavour. A few Medjool dates add in lots of natural sweetness along with fiber, minerals and vitamins while some cashew milk blends it all together into a thick and creamy smoothie. Continue Reading →
Coconut Mango Lassi
Lassi is a cooling drink from Punjab, Northern India used as a nice contrast to both the weather and spicy food. It is yogurt based and is blended with water and often fruit, honey and/or spices like cardamom. It is believed that the Lassi originated around 1000 BC, making it a kind of ancient smoothie. According to Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system that categorized foods according to different external climates and internal temperance, Lassis are very calming to the stomach and can aid in digestion. Continue Reading →
Vanilla Peach Smoothie
Peach season is in full effect and freezing them overnight then blending them with a few extra ingredients turns them into chilled, creamy, decadent tasting smoothies that highlight their sweet, summer flavour. Peaches are stone fruits related to roses and they are full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Some medjool dates increase the sweetness, vanilla adds some fragrant flavour and almond milk brings it all together. Continue Reading →
Peanut Butter Banana Fig Smoothie
Growing up, the only encounters I had with figs were the dried and processed versions in the Fig Newton’s my grandpa would try to pass off as “cookies”. Then, despite the misgivings inspired by how gross I thought they were, I finally tried them fresh and unadulterated when I was visiting family in New Zealand. They ripened on the tree in the yard and were like precious jewels that magically appeared on the kitchen counter every so often. That’s where I fell in love with these fruits- warm, squishy and incredibly sweet- almost too decadently sweet to pass as fruits. Now, whenever I have them I’m taken back to lounging by the pool with the soft breeze coming in from the ocean and the sun warming my skin amid the laughter of loved ones. Continue Reading →
Strawberry Rose Tangerine Smoothie
One of the most tangible ways to show love is through food. While extravagant ingredients and meals are wonderful and special, sometimes whipping up something quick, healthy and nourishing can go a long way in improving how you or a loved one feels. Continue Reading →
Digestive Tea
Long before we had modern medicine we discovered how different plants could alleviate certain ailments. Many of these folk remedies’ power to cure may simply be a placebo effect- studies have shown that when people take something they think will cure them, it surprisingly can, even if it is just a simple substance without any curative properties. However, there are some items in nature that have been proven to have positive effects that come from their vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. The spices used in this tea- cumin, coriander and fennel- are spices we have used for thousands of years to strengthen digestion Continue Reading →