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Breakfast

Green Smoothie

February 16, 2013
green-smoothie

I’ve been on a smoothie kick lately. They are so tasty and filling – makes for the perfect thing to eat post morning workout! If you have been cooking a lot of vegan or raw food you’re probably familiar with avocado in desserts.. but have you tried it in a smoothie? Banana, creamy avocado, greens, spicy ginger and tart, yet sweet pineapple makes this drink a tall glass of deliciousness. The Green Smoothie of course makes an amazing breakfast, but it can be enjoyed as a snack or light lunch as well. You can also add kale, chard or other dark leafy green of your choice.

I love sharing new recipes that can are easy to make part of a healthy weekly menu. Fruity green smoothies are easy to rely on for simple and delicious breakfasts and snacks and they provide so much flexibility – you can add or subtract whatever additional ingredients you’re in the mood for.

Green Smoothie

Vegan, Raw & Gluten-free

Serves 1

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1 banana
  • a handful spinach
  • 1/2 inch fresh ginger
  • 2-inch slice pineapple
  • 1 cup ice cold water

Directions:

  1. Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend on high until smooth .

(*Photo Credit: my sister, Jenny Norris – jjnorris.com)

Raw Almond Yogurt

January 24, 2013
raw-almond-yogurt

I returned yesterday from my holiday in America. It was a time of catching up with family and old friends and exploring a city that I called home for many years. I kept myself busy by going to art museums and the science center, bowling, the cinema, holding giggly babies, cooking for the family, playing games, going on long drives and even longer walks. It was a fun few weeks to say the least. Though I’m pretty jet-lagged from my travels, I have a recipe to share with you today.

As part of the Fabulous Fermentation Week, my two food blogging friends, Elenore from Earthsprout and Sarah from My New Roots, sent an email asking me to participate. I jumped with joy for the opportunity to work with these two lovely ladies. I want to celebrate Elenore and Sarah’s wonderful effort to spread the word about the great benefits of fermentation with some raw almond yogurt.

Probiotics are getting a big publicity boost in mainstream media these days. They have always been good for us, but now people seem to be talking about them more, which is a good thing. Acidophilus provides the health benefits of fermentation, the largest of which is the introduction of probiotics into our system. A balance of good bacteria is necessary for optimal immune system functioning and intestinal health. In addition, fermented foods aid our bodies in absorbing vitamins (particularly vitamins C and B12), minerals and omega-3 fatty acids from food.

Probiotics are good to have in the morning, when your body will absorb them more readily. That makes this yogurt a great breakfast. Try adding fruits such as kiwi, pineapple, banana, peaches or fresh berries. I tried mine with a sprinkle of cacao nibs and hemp seeds. Delicious.

raw-yogurt

Raw Almond Yogurt

Vegan, Raw & Gluten-free

Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup raw almonds, soaked in distilled water for 24 hours
  • 2 cups coconut water (or distilled water)
  • 1 Tbsp. maple syrup or honey
  • 1/2 tsp. probiotic powder (or the content of 3 probiotic capsules)

Directions:

  1. First, soak your raw almonds in water for 24 hours. Soaking the nuts will activate the dormant enzymes and release the nutrients. It also makes it easier to break them down in the blender.
  2. Add soaked almonds, coconut water (or distilled water), sweetener and probiotics to a high speed blender and blend until smooth.
  3. Next, using a fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag, strain the liquid into a glass bowl.  This will remove fibers and almond skins and will help achieve a creamy texture.
  4. Cover the glass bowl with a paper towel or clean dish towel and let sit at room temperature for 6-8 hours. This will allow the probiotics to proliferate and thicken the yogurt.
  5. Serve immediately or slightly chilled. Store covered in the fridge for up to a week.

 

Whole Wheat Berry Muffins

January 7, 2013
whole-wheat-berry-muffins

It’s Monday morning and I’m packing my suitcase. I’m heading off to America tomorrow to spend time with my family in Iowa. You can be sure I have my warmest sweaters, scarves and mittens thrown in the mix somewhere. The entire mid-west is under a blanket of snow – a concept I’m come to forget living in Ireland. I’m eager to spend some time outdoors going sledding and chasing our dogs around in the backyard.

If you remember my post from last summer, you know I am always well prepared for long hours of traveling. I never leave home without copious amounts of food and snacks. I think these muffins will make a nice addition to the other homemade in-flight munchies I have packed.

Ever since I started making homemade almond milk, I’ve found myself with an overload of almond pulp. With a bunch of almond pulp and frozen berries in hand, it seemed like the perfect excuse to make muffins. The brilliant thing about this recipe is it works well even without the almond pulp – just replace it with one cup of any flour of your choosing.

These muffins are not monster big or heavy like the American version. They are quite small, very light and filled with a wonderful berry flavor. They totally melt in your mouth! I like that they are not overly sweet, so you could have them for breakfast as well as a snack.

whole-wheat-berry-muffins-vegan

Whole Wheat Berry Muffins

Vegan

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup wheat flour
  • 1 cup almond pulp*
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 3 Tbsp. flax seed + ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup almond milk
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • zest of 1/2 an orange
  • 1 cup frozen berries

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°c). Grease a muffin tin thoroughly or if you prefer, line with muffin cups.
  2. In a large bowl mix the flour, almond pulp, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  3. Whisk together the maple syrup, flax mixture, almond milk, olive oil and zest until they are combined well. Add them to the dry ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to fold the ingredients until the batter is almost fully combined. Add the frozen berries, careful to not break up the berries too much.
  4. Fill the muffin tins 3/4 full and bake until the muffins are browned and a knife goes through cleanly, about 25 to 35 minutes.

*if not using almond pulp, replace with 1 cup of chosen flour

wholewheat-berry-muffins

I will continue to post on the blog while I’m away. In the meantime, connect with me through twitterfacebookpinterestinstagram and my newsletter! Hope you all have a lovely week!

Grapefruit, Lime & Ginger Juice

January 3, 2013
grapefruit-lime-and-ginger-juice

Happy New Year, dear readers! I hope you all had a delightful holiday filled with love and tummies filled with delicious food! Mine was slow and relaxing, with plenty of time for cooking, playing and reflections. Over the break, I came up with some new year’s goals and I thought it might be fun to share them with you. I hope that this inspires you create your own list!

  1. Consume more fresh pressed juices.
  2. Eat a greater variety of fruits and vegetables.
  3. Compete in a triathlon.
  4. Volunteer in the community.
  5. Live every day fully.

If one of your resolutions is eating healthier in the new year, this juice is a good tasty place to start. Kick things off with this beauty – a lovely pink, citrus-centric Grapefruit, Lime & Ginger Juice. This detoxifying and immunity-boosting juice recipe is easy to embrace post-holiday! It packs such a fresh punch of citrus and ginger flavor that you won’t feel you’re missing out on a thing. And by providing your immune system with a strong dose of vitamin C you’ll be putting yourself in the right frame of mind to embrace the new year in health.

grapefruit-lime-ginger-juice

Grapefruit, Lime & Ginger Juice

Serves 1

Ingredients:

  • 1 grapefruit, peeled (I used ruby red)
  • 2 apples
  • 1 stalk of celery
  • 1/2 lime, peeled
  • 1/4 inch knob of ginger
  • fresh mint (optional)
  • sparkling water (optional)

Directions:

  1. Place grapefruit, apple, celery, lime, and ginger through juicer.
  2. Pour fresh juice into a glass and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. Enjoy.

This juice is quite strong – but invigorating! And if you like, you could even add a splash of sparkling water.

I wish everyone the best for 2013. Thanks for continuing to discover the beauty of becoming the healthiest, most vibrant self through figgy & sprout! What are your resolutions? Leave a comment below, start a conversation, make a friend, inspire one another.

Stay connected with me in 2013 through twitter, facebook, pinterest, instagram and my newsletter!