Smoothies & Juices

Glowing Green Smoothie Bowl

Despite the wicked snow storm we were having early this morning, I had a bit of extra time and was feeling inspired. Since we rang in the new year, I’m finding muse in all the social sharing that is taking place with everyone’s new healthy 2016 regime – there have been some beautiful creations posted out there. With that being said, I wanted something different than my typical blend of fruits and veggies.

I recently organized my spice/toppers/baking/coffee/tea cupboard (yes this a thing haha) so I knew I had a handful of delicious add-in ingredients. So I decided to get creative and jazz up my smoothie with something beautiful and even more filling – a smoothie bowl!

I took some of my favourite toppers/ingredients – chia seed, coconut, hemp hearts, and strawberries and topped them onto my trusted Glowing Green Smoothie recipe (limit the water part to keep it on the thicker side).

What a simple and gorgeous dish to start off the morning – it definitely brightened my day!Glowing Green Smoothie Bowl

Be creative. xx

Vegan Eggnog

‘Tis the season for some festive cheer!

With Christmas Eve upon us, it is time to soak in all things festive the next couple days or week – if you are so lucky. Christmas movies, holiday parties, long dinners with family and friends, sipping on festive drinks around the fire, Christmas music lingering in the background – I absolutely LOVE this time of year! With the merry spirit filling our home, I wanted to share something perfectly appropriate for this Christmas Eve. And what could be more merry than the beloved Christmas drink of Eggnog!

To be honest I have never been a real fan. I love the idea of this signature Christmas beverage and EVERY year, I give it a try hoping that I will like it, and am always left disappointed. Until now! Granted this isn’t the traditional Eggnog that many of you love so much, but it’s the next best thing or in my opinion – better than! The My New Roots, Creamy Eggnog Milkshake is beyond delicious! (I’ve made a couple changes based on what I had available).

This rich and creamy egg-less Eggnog is perfect any time of the day. Let it be the star at your Christmas brunch, part of your cocktail mix, or dress it up for dessert, which is what I am going to do, (and I won’t judge if you enjoy it more than once).

What makes this drink super nutritious and full of protein, fibre, and calcium is the sesame seeds. I had no idea how nutrient packed these little seeds were. They pack a great punch of essential minerals – calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, iron and copper – so you don’t need to feel guilty if you down a glass or two. 🙂

So please give it a try, I guarantee it’s better than anything store bought.

Vegan Eggnog (yields 2 servings)

  • 2 frozen bananas
  • 3-4 dried figs
  • 3 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 2 tbsp hemp hearts
  • 2 cups water (you could also use milk of choice – but not necessary!)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg (freshly grated or ground)
  • 1/8 tsp ground clove
  • pinch of himalayan sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp pure maple syrup
  • juice of half of lemon
  • cinnamon sticks
  1. Place sesame seeds, figs and salt in a bowl. Cover with water and soak overnight or up to 8 hours. Drain and rinse well
  2. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend on high until completely smooth. Add spice to taste and water to desired consistency
  3. Pour and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a cinnamon stick

Vegan Eggnog

Happy Ho Ho! xx

Vanilla Rosehip Hibiscus Cider

With the winter amongst us, I find myself continually wanting to grab a hot cup of anything delicious. Java, matcha, hot water with lemon, apple cider, black tea, green tea, blueberry tea, mulled wine – there are a ton of options for all times of the day and some more simple than others.

This weekend was probably the first where we really felt Winter in the air (lately we have been SO LUCKY with above average temps).  After strolling around the city all day in these cooler temps and almost immediately as I come in from the cold, I find myself looking for something warming and special. A cup of deliciousness to cozy up on the couch with and catch whichever Christmas flick that may be on.

With a ton of apples lying around, I decide to juice them and make homemade apple cider. While healthy and delicious, how can I fancy this up, make it special, make these apples worth juicing. 🙂

I come up with a vanilla bean, cinnamon stick and rosehip hibiscus; in my mind – perfection! This combination could not go wrong.Vanilla Rosehip Hibiscus Apple Cider

A cup of HEAVEN was just how right these flavours were when brewed together. Sweet, warm, rich, extraordinary, a treat for those days when you need that special pick me up.

  1. Juice apples (I used a mix of gala and fuji), remove foam from juice. 6 apples yield about 3 servings
  2. Slice open the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into a large pot; add the scraped pod as well + cinnamon stick
  3. Pour in the apple juice and heat over low-medium heat until liquid starts to simmer
  4. Remove from heat, add the rosehip hibiscus and let steep for 10-12 minutes
  5. Strain cider and serve

Vanilla Rosehip Hibiscus Cider

Keep warm. xx

Tropical Greens

Sweet and delicious, this tropical smoothie will have you throwing back the greens. I don’t often incorporate pineapple in my green shakes due to the higher sugar content but this combination makes for a nice change and is a welcomed option for those starting to drink more green shakes/juices. This combination is loaded with tons of nutritional properties from our beloved Kale and Hemp Hearts (as you have learned about in my previous posts or can now catch up on), but we also have some added perks from the funky pineapple.

This fruit is so deliciously sweet that we often forget how nutritious they actually are. Yes, they are higher in sugar, but they do contain high amounts of vitamin B & C, manganese, dietary fibre, thiamin, and bromelian (which in my book, offsets the negatives of sugar. And we are pairing it with Kale and Hemp Hearts here).

These vitamins and minerals make pineapple a great source of energy and a defensive antioxidant. Eating pineapple (in moderation) can help:

  • fight heart disease
  • reduce joint pain
  • strengthen bones and connective tissue
  • support digestive health
  • reduce inflammation
  • increase metabolism

Multiple reasons for you to check this one out. Here’s the dish –
Tropical Greens

Tropical Greens (yields 4 servings)

  • 3-4 cups kale
  • 1 banana
  • 1-2 cups pineapple
  • 3-4 tbsp hemp hearts
  • 2 cups water

Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Add water until desired consistency.

Tropical Greens

Je suis un ananas. xx

 

The Little Black Bottle – Activated Charcoal

Yes this is now a thing, activated charcoal is the newest health phenomenon. Not to worry, it’s not the same kind used to light up your grill. The activated kind is processed so it becomes porous and ultra-absorbent, making it safe to consume.

The idea of using charcoal in your beauty routine, has been quite the trend over the last year. You might recall my shout out to bamboo charcoal  properties in my beloved Konjac Sponge. It’s properties to draw out dirt and purify complexions has made charcoal an active ingredient in  face masks, cleansers, and creams.

With the juicing trend peaking, more and more juicers are now attempting to apply the benefits of charcoal to our digestive tract. Acting as a strong detoxifier, charcoal will help rid the body of unwanted substances and toxins. In turn, once the body eliminates these toxins, one will see an increase in energy and a better overall health.  There’s also many other benefits associated with hearth health, anti-aging, weight loss, teeth whitening and fresher breath (to name a few).

My favourite variation of this juice on the market right now is the BBQ Apple Pie from Yamchops. It’s sweet and refreshing and is a major immune booster. It’s a must try in my books!

What’s your favourite charcoal juice combination and from where?

AuJus-bottle_BBQ-Apple-Pie_web_2-01-370x360

Drink & Detoxify. xx