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Tag: Organic

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Blueberry-Maqui Nice Cream

Blueberry-Maqui Nicecream
Blueberry-Maqui Nicecream

Although many of you know what “nice cream” is, there are some of you who probably have no idea what in the world this is- and that’s okay! Taking bananas that have been frozen overnight and blending them until it reaches a soft serve “ice cream” consistency is a great treat for anyone who is dairy intolerant, or looking for a healthier breakfast, after gym re-fuel, or even dessert! This nicecream however is blended with Maqui berry powder and naturally sweetened with dates. Thats right.. no added sugar or unwanted sweetness- its all natural! Feel free to give this recipe a change and add your own favorite fruits to the top.

Blueberry-Maqui Nicecream

Yields 1 serving

Ingredients

4 frozen banana, diced

1/4 cup frozen blueberries

1/3 cup plain almond milk

2-3 tsp of Navitas Naturals organic Maqui powder

2 medjool dates, pitted

1/4 cup granola

1-2 fresh apricots, sliced

1 kiwi, sliced

1-2 Tbsp. nut butter of choice

Directions

  1. In your Vitamix blender, combine the chopped bananas, almond milk, and dates. Using the tamper, turn your vitamix up on high, pushing and stirring the mixture until it is smooth.
  2. Add the Maqui berry powder and give it one good blend till mixed.
  3. Scoop the mixture into a bowl and top with granola, apricots, kiwi, and nut butter.
  4. Serve and enjoy.

Chef’s tip: The great thing about this recipe is you can substitute the powder for spiraling, gogi, açaí, and many others to create different Superfood Nice creams!


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Tomato Basil Soup with Grilled Cheese

Tomato Basil Soup with Grilled Cheese
Tomato Basil Soup with Grilled Cheese

Im sure we all know this classic soup-n-sandwich duo, but if not, id be happy to introduce you! This plant-based grilled cheese uses two slices of bread spread with butter (on one side), Chao cheese, and a drizzle of truffle oil. During these colder months, this dynamic duo will warm you up in all the right places. Just after one measly dunk-n-bite, you will never want any other grilled cheese than then you see before your eyes. Ive been wanting to get this recipe created and I am so happy I get to share one of my top 10 favorite comfort foods!

Tomato Basil Soup with Grilled Cheese

Yields 3-4 servings

Ingredients

Soup:

8 vine ripe tomato

4 cup vegetable broth

1 medium onion, diced

1-1/2 Tbsp. tomato paste

7-9 basil leaves

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

2 garlic clove

1 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/2 tsp. ground white pepper

1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar

1/8 cup coconut cream

Grilled Cheese:

4 slices white bread 

3 Tbsp. vegan butter

6-8 slices Tomato Cayenne Chao Slices

1/4 tsp. black truffle oil, optional

Directions

  1. In a sauce pan, combine all soup ingredients except for the coconut cream. Bring to a smaller and cover with a lid for 10 minutes.
  2. Using a blender or hand immersion stick, blend soup until smooth in texture. Add the coconut cream and mix to combine. Turn to low and set aside to make the sandwiches.
  3. Heat a frying pan on medium heat and add butter. Place bread down and add cheese, topping with the bread. Brown each side for 2-3 minutes.
  4. Serve with side of tomato soup and basil leaf for garnish

Chef’s tip: You can swap out the coconut cream for cashew milk if you would like.

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The Ultimate Cheese Board

Cashew Cheese Board
5 Cashew Cheese Wheels

Are you tired of putting out chips and dip for your family parties and looking for an alternative to the “unhealthy” snacks we load up on during the holidays? Well look no further, because I have this amazing plant-based cashew cheese board with five cheese wheels. This recipe shows you how to take one plain (scrumptious and delicious) cashew cheese and turn it into crafted artisan cheese that will have your guests asking where you purchased it from. Although this recipe does take a bit of time to make, it is well worth every bite.

Yields 4-5 servings per wheel

Plain Cashew Cheese

Plain (Cheese Base):

Ingredients

3 cups Vitacost unsalted cashews, soaked overnight

1/2 cup filtered water

1 capsule Vitacost ROOT2 Extra Strength Probiotic Vegan – 50 billion CFU

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

Directions

  1. In a bowl, cover the cashews with water for about 9 hours (or overnight). Drain and rinse the cashews. Set aside.
  2. In a blender, add the cashews, probiotic powder (from the capsules), and water. Blend ingredients until smooth in texture.
  3. Using two cheese clothes layered in a colander, pour the mixture into the lines colander- folding the cheesecloth on top.
  4. Place this in a warm spot to culture for roughly 24-36 hours.
  5. Serve on one big cheese board or individually with fresh fruit, dried fruit, cookies, pretzels, medjool dates, sun-dried tomato, grapes, crackers, or any of your own choices.

Herb-Coated Cheese Wheel:

Herb-Coated Cashew Cheese

Ingredients

3 tsp. fresh thyme

3 tsp. fresh rosemary

4 Tbsp. fresh parsley

1-1/2 tsp. Lemon zest, fresh

1/2 tsp Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

Directions

  1. Roll the plain cheese into the herb mix. Allow to set in fridge after rolling to hold its shape.

Blueberry-Smash Breakfast Cheese:

Blueberry Cashew Cheese

Ingredients

4 tsp. blueberries, smashed

2 tsp. blueberries, chopped

Directions

  1. Add the smashed and chopped blueberries, mix and place into the fridge for 1-2 hours to set.

Pistachio and Sun-dried Tomato Holiday Cheese:

Pistachio and Sun-dried tomato Cashew Cheese

Ingredients

1/2 cup pistachio, chopped to coat

1/4 cup sun-dried tomato, to coat

1 Tbsp. fresh parsley

3 tsp. fresh thyme 

4 tsp. fresh rosemary

1/2 tsp. garlic, minced

Directions

  1. Mix herbs into the cheese, refrigerate for 1-2 hours to set in mold. Roll in pistachio and sun-dried tomato.

Pecan-Chip Cookie “Cheesecake” Wheel with Strawberry Jam:

Cheesecake Cashew Cheese

Ingredients

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup Simple Mills pecan cookies, crumbled

3 tsp. Vitacost chocolate chips

3 tsp. strawberry jam, on side

Directions

  1. Combine plain cheese base, chocolate chips, maple syrup and mix until well combined. Place in the fridge as well for 1-2 hours to set shape. Remove and roll in fine cookie crumbles.

Chef’s tip: Feel free to use the plain cheese as you wish to create a flavor of your liking!

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Russian Teacakes

Russian Teacakes


Russian Teacakes

Have you ever had the chance to enjoy a light and fluffy Russian Teacake cookie during Christmas? If you haven’t, this cookie is perfect since it only uses a handful of ingredients and goes well with any cup of coffee or tea. In thinking back to when my mother would make these, id always manage to sneak a few that were freshly rolled in the powder sugar and slightly warm! Boy oh boy were those the best.


Russian Teacakes

Yields 36 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup vegan butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

powdered sugar to roll

Russian Teacakes

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In a kitchen-aid mixer, cream together the butter and sugar for 1-2 minutes.
  3. Add the vanilla, salt and slowly incorporate the flour into the mixture until the cookie dough forms. Then add the pecans until combined.
  4. Roll the dough into 1-in diameter balls and place onto a non-stick cookie sheet.
  5. Bake for 10-12 minutes until set, not browned.
  6. Remove form oven and roll the warm cookie into the powdered sugar. Take out of the powder sugar and allow to cool.
  7. Once cooled, place the cookies back into the powder sugar and re-roll to coat.
  8. Serve with coffee or tea.

Chef’s tip: If you’d like, you could also make this recipe with hazelnuts. Just roast them and crack them open!

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White Corn Tortilla Soup

White Corn Tortilla Soup
White Corn Tortilla Soup

This Tortilla Soup is like no other, partially because it is filled with all the things I enjoy most about Mexican cooking, and because it’s plant-based. Normally, it is made with shredded chicken and a lot of cheese, so I am super excited to share this healthier vegan version with you! This meal is packed with a variety of fresh and organic vegetables and is topped with crunchy tortilla strips. This soup will warm you up all winter long!

White Corn Tortilla Soup

Yields 4 servings

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. avocado oil

8 white corn tortillas, cut into quarters

2-3 garlic cloves, minced

3 Tbsp. onion, minced

1 tsp. jalapeno pepper, chopped

3 cups white corn

3 cups vine ripe tomatoes

1/3 cup tomato paste

2-1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/4 tsp. ground white pepper

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1-1/2 cups filtered water

4 cups organic vegetable broth

1 Tbsp. cilantro, minced

1 cup vegan cheese, optional

Tortilla strips, optional garnish

White Corn Tortilla Soup

Directions

  1. In a pot on medium-low heat with your oil, add the corn tortillas and crisp up a bit, roughly 2-3 minutes. Remove and set aside briefly.
  2. Then you will add the garlic, onion, and jalapeño pepper until they are translucent but not browned. Put the corn tortillas back into the pot.
  3. Next add your tomato paste, cumin, salt, pepper, chili powder, water, vegetable broth, cilantro, tomatoes, and half of the corn. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, cooking for 15-20 minutes.
  4. Using a blender or hand emersion stick, blend until soup is smooth in texture. Add the remaining corn and bring back to the stove on a low heat to simmer. Be careful not to let the bottom of the soup burn. Cook for an additional 5-7 minutes.
  5. Serve soup topped with tortilla chips and optional vegan cheese.

Chef’s tip: If you want, you can add 1/4 tsp. Crushed red pepper flakes to spice the soup up for a better kick.

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Carrot Cake with “Cream Cheese” Frosting

Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake

This spiced cake with organic carrots and a non-dairy cream cheese frosting is perfect for any occasion or birthday celebration! Feel free to make this cake gluten-free by using TigerNut flour- its’ a great option for those with nut allergies. I do have to warn you that this cake is effortless to make and dangerously moist so be careful when you taste how flavorful it is. Thanks to this recipe that I get to share with you all, you too will be able to enjoy this amazing dessert!

Carrot Cake

Ingredients

Cake:

2 cups organic flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

4 Tbsp. Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer + 8 Tbsp. filtered water

1 cup organic sugar

1 cup Vitacost brown sugar

3/4 cup avocado oil

1/4 cup apple sauce

1/4 cup crushed pineapple

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups shredded carrots

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 (8 oz) Mykonos Cream cheese 

1/2 cup vegan butter, softened

2 cups Vitacost powdered sugar 

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions 

Cake:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine white and brown sugar with oil and Egg Replacer. Mix until well combined and then add the apple sauce, crushed pineapple, and vanilla. 
  3. Then add the nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and the flour. Once mixed, add the carrots and fold them in. 
  4. In a greased cake pan, pour the cake batter in and place in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until the top is nice and golden brown. 

Frosting:

  1. In a bowl combine all ingredients and beat until frosting has formed. 
  2. Spread evenly over the cake once it has cooled and top with walnuts. 

Chef’s tip: If you would like, you can add 1/2 cup raisins to the batter at the end, mixing it in.

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Banana Cream Pie

Banana Cream Pie

Banana Cream Pie

Feast your eyes on the best Banana Cream Pie that is 100% dairy-free and homemade! This graham cracker pie shell filled with bananas and a homemade vanilla pudding is the ultimate dessert! Simply add cacao nibs and sliced bananas to the top and you are ready to serve. This banana cream pie has an amazing natural flavor of fresh organic bananas as well as a smooth  coconut cream.

Banana Cream Pie

Yields 8 slices

Ingredients

1 Keebler Ready Crust Graham Pie Crust

1/3 cup organic cane sugar

2 Tbsp. cornstarch

1-1/2 cup almond milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract + 1/2 tsp. for whipped cream

1-2 banana, sliced

1 (14 oz) can coconut cream, not the liquid

4 Tbsp. Vitacost powdered sugar

pinch of Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt, optional

Directions

  1. In a sauce pan on medium-high heat, add the almond milk, sugar, cornstarch and salt; stirring until dissolved.
  2. Once mixture is boiling, reduce to medium-low and cook for 2-3 minutes, removing from heat and setting side. When cooled, add the vanilla extract.  Place into a glass bowl and cover the top. Chill for 2 hours in the fridge.
  3. In a KitchenAid stand mixer, add the cream and whip on high until soft peaks form. Slowly add the powder sugar to the mixer. Then add the vanilla and whip again for 1-2 minutes.
  4. Take the pudding out of the fridge and fold together the whipped cream and pudding. 
  5. Slice bananas and add some to the bottom layer. Fill with pudding mixture and top with bananas, cacao nibs, and extra whipped cream if you’d like. Place back into the fridge for 2 hours to set before serving.

Chef’s tip: For optimal quality, allow to set overnight and then serve.

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Party Size Hummus

Original Hummus

Original Hummus

Have you ever wondered about how it would feel to make your own hummus in your own rather than going to a store? What if I told you that nearly all of the ingredients to make this hummus could be bought from an online Food Vitamin, Mineral and Herb store called Vitacost.com. This amazing company not only has a wide variety of options available to purchase, but they have crazy deals and great fast and free shipping on $25+ orders of Vitacost brand products. With this recipe, you’ll be the snack-sation of any party! Feel free to add your own toppings as well to this hummus and get creative, I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.

Original Hummus

Yields 24 servings

Ingredients

6 cups Vitacost Garbanzo Beans 

3 Tbsp. filtered water

1 cup Vitacost organic tahini 

2 garlic clove, minced

2 tsp. cumin

1 cup lemon juice

1 Tbsp. avocado oil

1-1/2 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

paprika to garnish, optional

Directions

  1. In a food processor, combine the chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and cumin.
  2. Set to high and slowly add the avocado oil and water until the right consistency has been achieved.
  3. Serve with paprika or other toppings of choice. Enjoy with fresh pita or a vegetable platter

Chef’s tip: This recipe makes for a lot of hummus, if you would like to cut it in half or even in quarters, please do so!

This recipe is sponsored by Vitacost.com

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Twice Baked Potato

Twice Baked Potato

Twice Baked PotatoThese twice baked potatoes are a great side dish to any meal and even warm up well the next day for lunch. They are filled with fresh herbs, vegan cheese, and a homemade “bacon” as well as tasting amazing! The silky smooth and creamy texture of the potato being blended and baked makes this fancier version of a baked potato that much more special.

Twice Baked Potato

Yields 5 servings

Ingredients

5 potatoes

1/3 cup plain almond milk

2 Tbsp. Earths Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped green onion

1/4 cup vegan cheddar cheese

1/4 cup mushroom “bacon” (see below for recipe)

1 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Pink Fine Salt

1/4 tsp. Spicely Organic Ground Black Pepper

Pinch of smoked paprika

Mushroom “bacon”

1 Portabello mushroom, sliced

1 tsp. smokey flavor

1 Tbsp. Vitacost Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Pinch of Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

Pinch Spicely Organics Ground Black Pepper

Twice Baked Potato

Directions

Bacon:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In bowl, drizzle oil over sliced mushrooms.
  3. Add salt, pepper and smoke flavor. Mix until evenly coated.
  4. On baking sheet, evenly arrange mushrooms.
  5. Bake 10-15 minutes.
  6. Flip mushrooms and bake for another 10 minutes or until brown and crispy.

Potato:

  1. On a baking sheet, place potatoes and set into the 400 degree F oven you preheated for the mushroom bacon.
  2. Allow potatoes to bake for 1 hour. Remove form oven and set aside to cool so you can easily touch it.
  3. Cut 1/3 of the way down from the top and scoop out the middle portion, careful not to break the skin. Place the potato into a mixing bowl.
  4. Add butter, almond milk, chives, garlic, cheese, “bacon”, salt and pepper to taste, mix until well incorporated and smooth.
  5. Scoop or pipe back into the potato shell. Instead of throwing out the top portion you cut off, you can use that by placing it at the bottom of the potato. This will also give you an illusion of over stuffed potatoes.
  6. Sprinkle the top with smoked paprika and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until top is golden brown at 350 degrees F.
  7. Serve with sour cream, cheese, and chives on top.

Chef’s Tip: I let the potatoes cool down in the oven after baking for an additional 5 minutes since I did not use any tin foil around my potato, this helped soften them up a bit further.

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White Bean Swamp Chili

White Bean Swamp Chili

White Bean Swamp Chili

Warm and comforting food has always been a favorite when the seasons begin to change and the cold weather sets in. One of my favorite meals to eat during this time, especially when I was back home in Ohio, is a big bowl of chili! This recipe is filled with plant-based ingredients including beans. White beans, to be more exact, are loaded with cancer-fighting dietary fibers, have a low glycemic index, are a great source of protein as well as antioxidants! All around, this meal will fuel you up in more ways than just one so feel free to give it a try this fall/winter season!

White Bean Swamp Chili

Yields 5-6 servings

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil

1 large white onion, chopped

6-8 garlic cloves, chopped

1 cup tomato sauce

1/2 cup tomato paste

1 cup filtered water

1-1/2 cup cannellini beans, whole

1-3/4 cup cannellini beans, pureed

1-1/2 cup navy beans

2-1/2 cups tomatos, diced

2 cups whole corn

1/2 cup chives, to garnish

Spices:

1 Tbsp. curry powder

2 tsp. cayenne powder

2 tsp. ground coriander

4 Tbsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. all spice

2-3 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Fine Pink Salt

1/4 tsp. Spicely Organics Ground Black Pepper

1 Tbsp. organic sugar

White Bean Swamp Chili

Directions

  1. In a large pot on medium heat, add the oil, garlic and onions. Sauté until tender.
  2. Add the tomato sauce, paste, beans, pureed beans, diced tomatoes, corn, water, and all spices. Bring to a slight boil and reduce heat to low.
  3. Cook for 1-2 hours (I cooked mine for 3 hours).
  4. Serve topped with sour cream and chives or cheddar cheese of choice.

Chef’s tips: I cooked my chili for 3 hours