Tag: vegan

Creamy And Delicious Vegan Eggnog

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Guuuyyysss…. this recipe is everything! 

I’ve officially switched into holiday mode. I love seeing the strings of twinkling lights, a little more sparkle on outfits and my calendar filling up with get-togethers to see family and friends. 

You know what else I enjoy? Eggnog! That creamy deliciousness makes an appearance for such a short amount of time so I make sure to get my fair share.   

Growing up in a Portuguese home, Eggnog was never part of our family tradition. As I got older and spent the holidays with the families of my friends, I was introduced to it and quickly became a fan.

Fast forward a few years, it was pretty obvious that Eggnog did not fit into my new way of living.  I still wanted to enjoy it, but on my healthy terms! I didn’t want to give it up but I also didn’t want all of the added sugar, heavy cream and raw eggs from traditional recipes.

What I have come up with is this creamy, spiced blend that is perfect to sip on in front of a cozy fire, with friends at a holiday gathering or even as a base for a morning latte.

The best way to enjoy it is as a creamer for your coffee. Hope you like it as much as I do!

Creamy Delicious Vegan Eggnog
Serves 2
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Prep Time
10 min
Prep Time
10 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 ½ cups coconut milk (or other nut milk of your choice)
  2. ½ cup raw cashews
  3. 4 medjool dates, pitted
  4. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  5. ¾ tsp ground nutmeg
  6. ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  7. Pinch of ground cloves
  8. Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
  1. Soak cashews in water for 30 minutes, drain and rinse.
  2. Add all ingredients to a high power blender and blend until smooth.
  3. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon on top.
Notes
  1. For a festive touch, you can add 1oz. spiced rum and whole cinnamon sticks for stirring.
  2. If you prefer it warm, heat up the coconut milk on the stove top just to a boil before adding to blender.
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
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Energizing Blueberry Spinach Smoothie

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This smoothie contains quite the powerhouse nutrients, like calcium and magnesium from spinach, antioxidants from blueberries, heart healthy fats from chia and plant based hemp protein.

If you’re like me (and like most nutritionists out there), you’ll notice that we have a thing for our green smoothies! Honestly, I just can’t get enough of them.

I am SO happy that spring is in the air and the warmer temperatures are upon us. This really gets me into green smoothie mode! I have a hard time preparing cold smoothies in the winter. Especially with -20 temperatures, it’s hard to want to start your day with something so chilly.

I find it so interesting that my body naturally adjusts to the weather. As soon as the weather gets warmer I naturally crave more salads, raw foods and smoothies and juices. During the winter I am a sucker for soups and stews and heartier meals. Do you find this with yourself as well?

On April 13th I’ll be launching my Spring Detox and I am so excited to share with you the incredible spring menu I’ve prepared. the recipes are light, delicious and incredibly detoxifying. It’s important to give our bodies the right nutrients as we switch from winter to spring and I’ve put together the perfect plan to help you do so. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter (sign up to the right) to receive all the details as to when the detox will be launching. 

Our 21-day meal plan and recipe guide is over 70 pages! It’s full of nutritious and healthy recipes, plus I’ve put together amazing bonuses, like our Spring into Exercise Guide, our 30 page Complete Guide to Detoxing (full of detox tips and tricks and liver cleansing info) and so much more! Can you tell I’m excited 🙂 

In the meantime, whip up this delicious and detoxifying blueberry spinach smoothie and supercharge your body with nutrients.

Happy Sipping!

Energizing Blueberry Smoothie
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Ingredients
  1. 1/2 cup wild frozen blueberries
  2. Half a banana or 1/4 avocado for creaminess
  3. 2 large handfuls of organic spinach
  4. 2 cups water coconut water
  5. 1 cup almond milk
  6. 1 scoop vanilla hemp protein powder
  7. 1 tbsp chia seeds
  8. 3-4 ice cubes (optional)
  9. 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Blend together in a high speed blender.
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
Samantha 🙂

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Broccoli Avocado Detox Soup

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Broccoli is one vegetable that I don’t enjoy eating. It’s true. 

Serve it in a soup however, and I’ll eat it. 

With all the fiber and incredible health benefits, like supporting the liver and detoxing excess estrogen out of your system, how could you not want to eat it! This veggie is truly beneficial for health. So if your not a broccoli lover like me, please find a way to enjoy it. Maybe this soup will be the trick?

You can whip this soup up in 15 minutes. It really is a fuss-free soup to make. Its loaded with hormone balancing fats, immune supportive vitamin C, plus iron, magnesium, calcium and fiber. 

Avocado lends the perfect creaminess to this soup without having to add any cream. So for all the lactose intolerant and non-dairy drinkers out there, you can enjoy a creamy broccoli soup minus the dairy! 

So eat up and stay warm. It’s chilly out there 😉

  • Broccoli Avocado Detox Soup
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    Prep Time
    5 min
    Cook Time
    10 min
    Total Time
    15 min
    Prep Time
    5 min
    Cook Time
    10 min
    Total Time
    15 min
    Ingredients
    1. 1 Tbsp coconut oil or grass-fed butter
    2. 1 medium yellow onion, diced
    3. 3 cloves garlic, minced
    4. 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
    5. 4-6 cups chicken or vegetable broth (enough to cover the broccoli)
    6. 1 head broccoli, trimmed and chopped (about 6 cups)
    7. 2 cups baby spinach
    8. 1 avocado, chopped
    9. Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
    Instructions
    1. Heat oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil. Add broccoli and cook, covered, until bright green and tender, about 3-5 minutes.
    2. Season with salt and pepper.
    3. Remove from heat, and stir in spinach.
    4. Transfer soup to a blender and puree with avocado.
    5. Adjust seasonings and garnish with fresh pepper.
    Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
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Sweet Potato Mac n’Cheese

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I don’t think I’ve met anyone that doesn’t like mac n’cheese. Who doesn’t love a bowl of macaroni covered in creamy gooey cheesy goodness?

If you’re dairy and gluten intolerant, I’m sure you’re cursing me at this moment as you’d love to dive into a bowl of mac n’cheese, but your tummy wouldn’t be so pleased with you! I know the feeling. I avoid gluten and dairy 90% of the time, but there are definitely some treats and slip ups here and there. 

Enter Sweet Potato Mac n’Cheese. No gluten or dairy here! Creamy and gooey and almost cheesy like, this recipe is sure to please. Of course, if you can handle diary (always buy the best quality!), then you can feel free to sprinkle some on top. Some parmesano reggiano would be nice 😉 

My boyfriend loves mac n’cheese and every so often we try to whip up a health conscious version to indulge in. This one really does the trick! 

You can also try my Butternut Squash Mac n’Cheese recipe, or my Gluten Free Mac n’Cheese, which contains dairy and has been a fan favourite so far 😉 I think it’s the cheesy crust that wins everyone over!

In the meantime, you can ditch the dairy and still enjoy a creamy bowl of mac n’ cheese. This recipe will surely win you over. The sweet potato (which is loaded with potassium, magnesium and vitamin C) lends the perfect creaminess to this recipe and replaces the dairy.

Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Mac n'Cheese
Serves 4
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
35 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
35 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 pound elbow macaroni (I buy GoGo Quinoa brand)
  2. 3 tablespoons olive oil
  3. 1/3 cup Bobs Red Mill gluten free all-purpose flour
  4. 1 1/3 cup mashed cooked peeled sweet potato, (about 1 medium sweet potato)
  5. 3 ½ cups unsweetened almond milk
  6. 2 teaspoons sea salt
  7. Fresh black pepper
  8. 2 cloves garlic, minced
  9. 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  10. 1 teaspoon coconut aminos
  11. 1 teaspoon lime juice (optional)
  12. 2 to 3 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
Instructions
  1. To cook sweet potato: Peel and cut sweet potato into 2 inch chunks. Add to a pot, cover with water and bring to a broil. Turn heat to medium-low and cook until sweet potato becomes soft. Approximately 15 minutes. Mash and set aside 1 1/3 cup.
  2. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package directions. Drain and return to pot.
  3. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, make a 'paste' by whisking the olive oil and flour over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. It will become clumpy.
  4. Add mashed sweet potato, almond milk, salt, pepper, garlic, mustard, coconut aminos, and lime juice to the saucepan and bring to a slight boil, whisking frequently. Reduce heat to low and let simmer until the sauce thickens, 3-5 minutes.
  5. Whisk until smooth. Some sweet potato chunks may remain. This is fine.
  6. Add rosemary and combine.
  7. Add cooked pasta to the large saucepan and mix well until all ingredients are combined.
  8. Adjust seasonings to taste.
Adapted from From Chef Chloe
Adapted from From Chef Chloe
Holistic Wellness https://holisticwellness.ca/
 Happy Cooking!

Samantha xo

 

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My Favourite Morning Smoothie

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I’m pretty obsessed with my green smoothies in the morning. Over the years as I was constantly revamping my diet and trying new super foods, I gravitated towards making a green smoothie because it was 1. easy to thrown all my ingredients into a blender and drink it and 2. it’s just damn tasty and it makes me feel like a rock star!

Don’t you want to feel like a rock start? 

I’m always asked what kind of blender and juicer I use…

Blender – Vitamix (which I’ve had now for almost 10 years!)
Juicer – Omega (which I got almost 2 years ago and love)

But I love my vitamix more only because it’s less hassle to clean 🙂

But… juicing is better, right? Or is blending?

Another question I get asked often. 

With blending you preserve all the fiber and juicing you extract all the fiber. That’s why its a juice. The pulp is separated and you’re left with a pure, clean juice. Obviously you want to juice veggies to obtain the most nutrients content that will supercharge your cells upon drinking. Due to the fiber being removed, the absorbability of a juice is much faster. 

As for blending, the pulp is kept in tact and you drink it. Nothing wrong with that! The pulp/fiber will help slow the release of sugar into your bloodstream and is more satiating. 

So..which one is better? I say do both! Personally, I include both smoothies and juices in my diet. If I’m heading out the door to a meeting or off for a super busy day, I’m probably not going to juice. It’s not as filling and my tummy will be wanting to eat soon after. In this case, I’d rather make a smoothie and load it with fruits, veggies, protein, fiber and healthy fats. This is filling!

But what if you combine the two?? Yup! Combine them!

That’s what I’ve started to do and I’m officially obsessed with this blend. It’s so fuelling, energizing, invigorating, healthy, nutritious and yummy!

Due to my juicer being low speed, it prevents oxidation and the juice can actually be stored for up to 72 hours. So what I like to do is make a big batch of fresh pressed juice, use some right away, and then store the rest in the fridge overnight to use again tomorrow. 

Bonus is that I don’t have to juice everyday, but I get to enjoy the benefits.

Image 6

So here’s what I’ve been juicing, which I use as a base for my smoothie:

Juice (makes 4-5 cups)

  • 2 large cucumbers
  • 5 celery stalks
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 inch piece of ginger root
  • 1 lemon

I add 1-2 cups of this to my vitamix blender and add in:

  • Half a banana
  • Handful of mixed greens (spinach, kale, etc)
  • 2 tsp spirulina powder
  • 1 tbsp hemp seeds
  • 2 tsp chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp almond butter
  • 1/4 avocado (optional, but adds extra creaminess)
  • 1 cup spring water (optional, depending on your preference of thickness)

Blend together and enjoy!

Your energizing Juice-Smoothie! It’s loaded with silica, potassium, omega 3’s, protein, vitamin B12, vitamin C, fiber, beta-carotene and vitamin E. It doesn’t get any better than that. Plus, it tastes SO good!

Happy Juicing and Blending!

P.S. If you’re looking for more delicious and energizing smoothie recipes, My Qualitarian Cookbook is full of them! From juices to smoothies and healing elixirs, you’ll find a ton of nourishing and healthy recipes. Check it out HERE. 

Samantha xoxo 

 

 

 

 

 

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Raw Chocolate Gluten Free Torte

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This decadent torte came together on a whim! It’s so easy to make and and is incredibly delicious. Plus, it’s gluten free, dairy free and vegan friendly! Oh and did I mention, requires NO baking at all! It’s raw!

I posted it online and had a ton of people ask for the recipe. Due to this recipe coming together on the fly, the photo really doesn’t do it justice and if I had more time, I would have preferred to use a smaller pan for the crust.

I used a 9-ince springform pan, but initially wanted to use a pie dish. I just couldn’t find mine! So I opted for the springform. If you have a pie dish, I would recommend using that as it will give the crust some texture and design around the edges. Regardless, any pan or baking dish you decide to use, this recipe will taste just as yummy. Just be sure your pan isn’t too big. An 8-inch pan would have been perfect for this crust.

Image 4

Raw Chocolate Torte

Ingredients for crust

  • 1 1/2 cups almond flour
  • 1/4 cup walnuts
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 3 Tbsp. maple syrup
  • 3 Tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1⁄4 cup raw cacao powder
  • pinch Himalayan sea salt

Ingredients for filling

  • 
1⁄2 cup raw cacao powder
  • 1/2 tsp. ground vanilla bean
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3 Tbsp. coconut oil
  • 3/4 cup maple syrup
  • pinch Himalayan sea salt

Directions

For the crust, process all ingredients in a food processor until blended, and press into the bottom and sides of a tart tin, pie dish or springform pan. I used a springform pan and really had to press and thin out the crust to fit the whole pan. An 8-inch pan may work better. Freeze the crust while you prepare the filling. Process all filling ingredients in a food processor until combined and smooth.

Remove the crust from freezer and pour the filling mixture into the crust. Return to freezer until the mixture is set (at least an hour). Remove 5 minutes before serving, and return any leftovers to refrigerator or back to the freezer. Top with cacao nibs, berries or shredded coconut.

Due to having to press and thin out the crust, I quite liked how this torte turned out. I would slice tiny slivers of this cake and it made for the perfect guilt free treat!

Enjoy!

Samantha xoxo

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Creamy Vegan Garlic Caesar Dressing

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Image 7Love garlic?

If so, you’ll love this recipe! Of course, you can always modify the below ingredients, but I love garlic, so more is better!

This recipe came together on the whim. I was craving for a caesar salad, but didn’t have any dressing. So I whipped together this recipe and was surprised by how delicious and easy it was!

It’s super creamy and loaded with flavour. Plus, it’s vegan. No eggs or anchovies needed.

I served this dressing over chopped romaine and lacinato kale. I topped my salad with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and a sprinkling of parmesan. Feel free to get creative with your own salad ingredients. Nothing beats experimenting in the kitchen!

Enjoy 😉

Creamy Vegan Garlic Caesar DressingIngredients

¼ cup walnuts
¼ cup olive oil
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp herbamare (sea salt and dried herb seasoning)
Juice of 1 lemon
3 garlic cloves

Directions

Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend together. Depending on how you like the texture, you can add a little extra olive oil or water to thin out the dressing. Some extra lemon juice may also do the trick.

*Dressing will last in the fridge for 5 days. You can use leftovers as a veggie dip!

 

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Delicious Flourless Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Brownies!

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I LOVE baking!

I’m always tweaking recipes and up for the challenge to health-ify desserts!

I make these delicious flour less almond butter cookies (recipe here!) and they are a huge hit! So I thought I would take that same recipe and make brownies!

I made a few slight changes and it was a success! Yippee! PLUS, they are gluten free! How great is that?!

You can whip up these bad boys in no time, with very little mess in the kitchen! 😉

Image

Flourless Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Brownies

 

Ingredients:

1 cup almond butter (I used chunky for the extra crunch)
1 organic egg
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp baking soda (aluminium free is BEST!)
1/3 cup of coconut sugar (organic cane sugar or sucanat would work well too)
½ tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 – 1/2 cup organic chocolate chips (you can get dairy free chips and make this recipe vegan!)

 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a brownie pan with parchment paper. Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips and pour batter into pan. NOTE – the batter did not completely fill the brownie pan. I used my fingers to press the batter down into the pan, making it quite flat. It ‘almost’ fit the pan, but not quite. This is ok! They still came out amazing! If you have a smaller pan (6×6), use that! Bake brownies for approx. 22-25 minutes. Cool brownies for at least 10 minutes before cutting.

Simple, easy and super tasty!!
Enjoy!
Health & Abundance,
Samantha 🙂
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@holisticwellnessfoodie