Breakfast

You’ve Got the Beet! – Day 7 – Seven Days of Smoothies

Today is the final smoothie recipe of the Seven Days of Smoothies series! You’ve Got the Beet! has a respectable amount of fiber from figs (6% per medium fig). Sweet delicious figs also contain calcium, potassium, magnesium, Iron, Vitamins B, C, Selenium, Phosphorus and Zinc. There are two colorful vegetables incorporated into today’s smoothie, (you guessed it beet, and also carrot). Strawberries are a low sugar addition to this smoothie and provide over 140% RDA of Vitamin C. Choose your favorite dairy free milk to add, and don’t forget the protein!

You've Got the Beet Smoothie - Day Seven, Seven Days of Smoothies

You’ve Got the Beet Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 Cup Frozen Strawberries

2 Turkish Figs (soak them if they are not soft for ease in blending)

3 Baby Carrots

1 Slice of Beet (about a Tablespoon)

1/2 Cup Dairy Free Milk

2 Tablespoons Pomegranate Juice Concentrate

1 Tablespoon Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

Blend it thoroughly to incorporate those figs! Then add:

2 Tablespoons of Collagen Powder and/or Your Favorite Protein Powder (add after initial blending and blend just until incorporated to prevent foaming).

Here is a recap of the smoothies shared during the Seven Days of Smoothies! When rotated into your routine, they will keep you from getting into a rut with food choices, and help you include a colorful array of nutrients into your diet!

Razzleberry Rad – Day 1

Blue Bumbleberry – Day 2

Orange U Sweet – Day 3

Kale Me Later – Day 4

Chocolate Mocha No Moo – Day 5

Creamy Dreamy Tropical Ginger – Day 6

You’ve Got the Beet! – Day 7

Creamy Dreamy Tropical Ginger Smoothie- Day 6 – Seven Days of Smoothies

Day six will take you to a warm paradise with the pineapple and ginger in this smoothie! Fresh ginger is wonderful for digestion, has antiviral properties, is anti-inflammatory, and is a warming food. The frozen banana makes this a creamy sweet smoothie, and the fresh lemon juice brightens the flavors.

Creamy Dreamy Tropical Ginger - Seven Days of Smoothies - Day 6

Creamy Dreamy Tropical Ginger Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 Frozen Banana, Sliced

1/2 Cup Frozen or Fresh Pineapple Chunks

1/2 Cup Orange Juice (no sugar added)

1 teaspoon minced, fresh ginger root

1 Tablespoon of Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

2 Tablespoons of Grass Fed Gelatin or Your Favorite Protein Powder (add after initial blending and blend just until incorporated to prevent foaming)

Blend all the ingredients together until very smooth. Then add the gelatin or protein powder and blend briefly.

Enjoy your day!

Chocolate Mocha No Moo – Day 5 – Seven Days of Smoothies

Chocolate Mocha No Moo - Day 5 - Seven Days of Smoothies Challenge

This smoothie is like a mocha milk shake without the dairy, and unhealthy sugar. Smoothies that taste so creamy and delicious and promote health are the way to go in my book! One of my favorite reasons for using whole food sweeteners like dates is the food is unrefined with all it’s minerals and fiber intact.

This smoothie contains Raw Cacao which gives it the rich chocolate flavor. Raw Cacao is a superfood rich in essential minerals and antioxidants. Eating raw cacao releases dopamine in the brain, a neurotransmitter that boosts mood and pleasure, and it has been shown to lower insulin resistance. Coconut Butter is a healthy fat that also gives the smoothie a creaminess, as well as the coconut milk. (You may substitute another milk like almond). A touch of cinnamon and vanilla compliment the coffee and brings out more of the chocolate flavor. This is a smoothie that I like to drink with my feet up, savoring every delicious sip!

Chocolate Mocha No Moo

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Full Fat Coconut Milk

2 Tablespoons Raw Cacao

2 Tablespoons Cold Coffee

2 Large Medjool Dates

1 Tablespoon of Coconut Butter

1 Cup Crushed Ice

1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/8 tsp. Cinnamon

Optional: 2 Tablespoons of Grass Fed Gelatin or Your Favorite Protein Powder (add after initial blending and blend just until incorporated to prevent foaming)

Directions: Add all the ingredients to a high speed blender and mix until creamy and the dates are fully incorporated.

Put your feet up and Enjoy!

Have a beautiful day!

Kale Me Later – Day 4 – Seven Days of Smoothies

The midway point of Seven Days of Smoothies is today! You didn’t think I would forget about green smoothies did you? They are my favorite! In fact I love them so much, I want to give you an an A-Okay to throw greens into any of the smoothies on this seven day challenge! Kale Me Later is the smoothie of the day, but you’re going to want to do it now not later. 🙂

Lucuma powder, a maple flavored natural sweetener from the Inca fruit which contains iron, zinc, vitamin B3, calcium, and beta caroteine is an optional add in to your smoothie. Matcha adds green tea flavor to the smoothie as well as a powerhouse of antioxidants like the Catechin EGCg known for it’s cancer protective properties. It is energizing, detoxifying, and helps concentration and focus.

If you want more green goodness, feel free to double this recipe for a larger smoothie!

Kale Me Later - Day 4 - Seven Days of Smoothies

Kale Me Later Smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Green Grapes

1/2 Green Apple, Core Removed

1 Cup Frozen Kale (fast & convenient, prewashed)

1 Tablespoon Lucuma Powder (optional but good)

1 Teaspoon Matcha Green Tea

1/2 Cup Crushed Ice

2 Tablespoons of Grass Fed Gelatin or Your Favorite Protein Powder (add after initial blending and blend just until incorporated to prevent foaming)

Blend all the ingredients together until very smooth. Then add the gelatin or protein powder and blend briefly.

Orange U Sweet! – Day 3 – Seven Days of Smoothies

Today is Day Three of the Seven Days of Smoothies challenge, and this one is loaded with more than 100 percent of your RDA of Immune Boosting Vitamin C! The higher sugar fruits and protein make this a perfect post workout smoothie to replenish glycogen stores.

Orange U Sweet - Day 3 - Seven Days of Smoothies

Orange U Sweet Smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Frozen Mango

1/2 Cup Orange Juice (No Sugar Added Pure Orange Juice, or Squeeze your own)

1/4 Cup Frozen Pineapple

1/4 Cup Frozen Peaches

1/2 Cup Sparkling Mineral Water

1 Tablespoon Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

pinch of nutmeg or mace

2 Tablespoons of Grass Fed Gelatin or Your Favorite Protein Powder (add after initial blending and blend just until incorporated to prevent foaming)

Blend all the ingredients together until very smooth. Then add the gelatin or protein powder and blend briefly.

Orange U Sweet Smoothie - Day 3 - Seven Days of Smoothies

Seven Days of Smoothies Challenge -Orange U Sweet!

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Blue Bumbleberry Smoothie – Day 2 – Seven Days of Smoothies

We are at day 2 of Seven Days of Smoothies! Today’s smoothie is rich in Anthocyanins! They are the blue, violet, and red flavonoid pigments found in plants. Anthocyanins are good for your eyes and cancer protective among many other benefits. I have also included Maca which is beneficial for hormone balance in both men and women. It is an ancient Peruvian Superfood!

Blue Bumbleberry Day 2 Seven Days of Smoothies

Blue Bumbleberry Smoothie – Day 2

Ingredients:

1 Cup Frozen Blueberries

1/2 Cup Frozen Blackberries

1 Tablespoon Maca Powder

1 Tablespoon Blueberry Juice Concentrate (I found a smaller bottle at my local grocery store, but this is the brand I used)

1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice

2 Tablespoons of Grass Fed Gelatin or Your Favorite Protein Powder (add after initial blending and blend just until incorporated to prevent foaming)

Blend all the ingredients together until very smooth. Then add the gelatin or protein powder and blend briefly.

Blue Bumbleberry

Razzleberry Rad Smoothie – Day 1 – Seven Days of Smoothies

I am kicking off 2016 with a fun series of smoothies! The goal is to have a different one each day so that over the course of a week, you get a large variety of nutrition, fiber and phytochemicals (some of which are still being identified) from foods like richly colored fruits, raw cacao, matcha green tea, dates, berries, protein and healthy fat! Each day uses different colors and ingredients. They are all dairy free and nut free. Won’t you join me?

Day one is Razzleberry Rad! So here we go! Seven Days of Smoothies!

Day 1 - Seven Days of Smoothies - Razzleberry Rad

Razzleberry Rad Smoothie – Day 1

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Frozen Raspberries

1/3 Cup Frozen Dark Sweet Cherries

1/3 Cup Frozen Strawberries

2 Tablespoons Pom Juice Concentrate

1/4 Cup Full Fat Coconut Milk

1 Tablespoon Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

2 Tablespoons Sparkling Mineral Water (or plain filtered water)

2 Tablespoons of Grass Fed Gelatin or Your Favorite Protein Powder (add after initial blending and blend just until incorporated to prevent foaming)

Blend all the ingredients together until very smooth. Then add the gelatin or protein powder and blend briefly.

Razzleberry Rad Smoothie

Date Sweetened Spice Muffins (Nut Free, Dairy Free, AIP Paleo)

There is a new kid in town, and it is Tigernut Flour. I used it in a previous recipe here and am really liking it. It is not a nut at all but a tuber, and it acts as a prebiotic. Tigernut Flour has been around for over 4,000 years, and contains nutritional benefits like phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and vitamins E and C.

I have been experimenting with it in the kitchen during the last month, because I am all of a sudden reacting to nuts and nut flours. 😦 I also have found it is a good idea to rotate my food to avoid developing any other sensitivities. Also, after being almost two years free of SIBO and following a Low FodMap diet, I slowly added in safe starches to improve gut motility and feed the good bacteria I have been working so hard on. I was pleasantly surprised to find everything improved, and the SIBO did not return. I have been using Tapioca Starch, Arrowroot, and eating White Rice occasionally, all with very positive results.

Since I started my blog to empower myself to eat delicious foods on a restricted diet, the blog is evolving, as I have healed and have added in new ingredients, always seeking optimal health, energy and just plain feeling good. The addition of starches not only has helped my overall digestive system (in moderation), but is also helpful post workout for me!

All that aside, this recipe took some time, and I had some flops, but I have to say, I am very, very happy with the results here! It is a muffin that is dense, with a pleasing, (not gummy, ewwww!) texture. The muffins are sweetened with just dates and have other whole foods in them like carrots, green plaintains, coconut oil and applesauce. I could eat them every day.

Date Sweetened Spice Muffins (Nut & Egg Free, AIP Paleo

This recipe makes 16 muffins. They freeze well also!

Date Sweetened Spice Muffins

Preheat your oven to 350º degrees. Line two muffin pans with 16 paper liners and set aside.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Dried Medjool Dates (about 8 large, soaked in warm water for ten minutes, pits removed)

2 1/2 Cups Shredded Carrots

2 Green Plantains (Difficulty finding plantains, Walmart has them. Plantains are cheap!)

1/2 Cup Applesauce (no sugar added, preferably organic)

1/2 Cup Tigernut Flour

1/4 Cup Coconut Flour

2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil (melted)

2 Tablespoons Ground Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder (homemade corn free recipe here)

1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves

1/4 Teaspoon Mace (or Nutmeg may be substituted if not AIP they are very similar)

Directions: In a food processor, puree the green, peeled plaintains, that have been cut into chunks, with the applesauce and dates (drained after soaking) until very smooth, about three to five minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together your dry ingredients. Add the carrots to the pureed plantain mixture and puree until smooth. Add in the dry ingredients and melted coconut oil. Pulse until thoroughly incorporated.

Scoop into the muffin papers with a muffin scoop.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes until the muffins spring back when touched with the tip of your finger. I used a convection oven, so the cook time is a little shorter than a conventional oven. Remove from muffin tin and cool on a wire rack.

Wishing you and yours a very Happy and Blessed New Year!

Not recommended for those with SIBO

Apple Pie Microwave Mug Muffin

My family loves my mug muffin recipes, and they have been asking for an apple pie mug muffin! I can’t wait to share it with you also! Mug muffins are so awesome…….they are fast, fresh, and cater to an individuals preference, because you make one at a time! You don’t have a whole batch to consume before they get stale, and if you feel like apple, pumpkin, berry, or whatever you have in the house, you get to choose.

This muffin takes two minutes in the microwave, and you can prep it and refrigerate it the night before if your morning is rushed. Then all you have to do for breakfast is pop it in the microwave for two minutes, and it is ready! Even so, they only take ten minutes to prep and two minutes to cook if you make it right when you want it.

It is a nutritious, grain free, guilt free breakfast or snack! I personally like to make one in the evening, and my children like to make them for breakfast. This Apple Pie Mug Muffin is sweetened with just a tablespoon of honey, has a healthy fat and protein rich egg in it, and the apple of your choice, which is a good source of fiber as well as the coconut flour! I used Fuji apple in the muffin pictured below. If you like an apple with more tartness, try a Granny Smith, but any kind will work! Use your favorite!

Apple Pie Microwave Mug Muffin

Apple Pie Microwave Mug Muffin

Ingredients:

1 Large Egg

1/2 Cup Chopped Apple (this is about half a medium apple, peeled and cored)

2 Tablespoons Apple Sauce

1 Tablespoon Coconut Flour

1 Tablespoon Almond Flour

1 Tablespoon Honey

1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

A Dash of Himalayan Pink or Sea Salt

Directions:

In a bowl, whisk together all the ingredients except the apple. Fold in the apple, reserving a little bit for the top. Spoon the batter into a mug. Sprinkle with the remaining diced apple. Microwave on high for 2 minutes.

Serve! Be careful, it is hot and delicious, and smells soooo good!

Enjoy your day!

Apple Pie Microwave Mug Muffin Ingredients

Eat Your Nutrients!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mug Muffin in Minutes!

Mug muffins are scrumptious, convenient, individual and fast! Just mix and microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds and you have a warm muffin in a mug!

Since Fall is in the air, I have been craving pumpkin. I was in the kitchen this weekend creating a pumpkin flavored mug muffin with a touch of chocolate that really evokes thoughts of cooler weather, sweaters, autumn crafts and warm hugs. My youngest daughters are 12 and 14 now and like to choose and make their own breakfasts. They love mug muffins and can whip them up quickly on a school morning!