vegetables

Green Citrus Juice

Just looking at this juice makes me feel healthier. This fresh zingy juice is bursting with vitamins and minerals and will certainly awaken your taste buds.

green juiceI’ll break it down for you on why kale, pear, cucumber, lemon and basil make such a killer combo.

ingredients1 bunch of kale, 2 cucumbers, 2 pears, 2 lemons, 1 bunch of basil

Adding kale to anything instantly affirms high nutritional value. It is one of the most nutritious greens filled with vitamins A, B6, K, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. It is a must add in the majority of my green concoctions.

Pears are rich in natural fruit sugars and offer enough sweetness without being overpowering, while also acting as natural diuretic. They are a great alternative to apples and a great source of fiber, vitamin B2, C, E, copper, and potassium.

Cucumbers add a refreshing element to any juice along with the benefits of conventional antioxidants, electrolytes, vitamin B, C, K, maganese, and flavonoids. I like to add them to my smoothies too, to up the water content.

Lemons add a sharp boost, loads of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and pectin fiber. All of which help with stimulating the digestive system and flushing out toxins.

Basil is one of my favourite inflammation reducing herbs. It protects the brain, liver, and heart from free radical damage and also keeps things interesting flavour wise. Don’t be shy and experiment with other herbs as well, my go to’s are basil, parsley, mint and cilantro. You will be surprised how delicious adding herbs can be.

There you have it; one delicious juice, five simple ingredients, and multiple benefits. What are you waiting for, get juicing! 🙂

citrus green

Happy Green. xx

Vegan Lasagna with Basil Cashew Cheese

Okay, my first thought was, “Really what could possibly compare to a traditional lasagna?” While I am definitely on Team Veg, I knew it would be hard to please the man of the house with a vegan friendly option, as well as satisfy his Italian taste buds.  I mean I do love the traditional meat lasagna with all the gooey cheese, but I often find myself resisting temptation to indulge due to the “not so hot” feeling afterwards; not to mention the perception lasagna has for being such a task to make. I had the craving for that warm comforting meal, without the comforting calories. Luckily, I had this recipe sent my way from a friend with the affirmation that her husband loved it too, more than regular lasagna! Done and done, this was now Sunday night’s dinner.

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Well, I definitely have proven myself wrong with this recipe, taken from Oh She Glows, this vegan lasagna far surpassed my expectations (as well as his!) and would fool any lasagna lover otherwise. I mean it’s evident that there is no meat sauce, but the flavour combination from the sautéed veg, sugo, and the basil cashew cheese, one would never question the difference.

Hope you enjoy today’s dish.

Lemon Basil Cashew Cheese (Yield ~2 cup)

  • 1.5 cup raw cashews, soaked in water for 30 mins or overnight
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth or water (or more as needed)
  • 1.5 cups fresh basil leaves (lightly packed)
  • 1/2 cup parsley
  • 1/2 cup nutritional yeast (gives the cheese flavour)
  • 3/4-1 tsp kosher salt (or to taste) + freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder (optional)
  1. Drain and rinse soaked cashews
  2. Add ingredients in order listed and process until smooth

Vegan Lasagna (Yield ~12 servings)

  • box of oven ready lasagna noodles
  • 1.5 bottles of pasta sauce
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 sweet onion, chopped
  • 2-3 small zucchini, chopped
  • 2 cups assorted mushrooms, sliced
  • 1-2 red pepper, chopped
  • 2 cups spinach
  • Lemon Basil Cheese Sauce (from above)
  • Daiya mozzarella cheese or vegan feta (as much as desired)
  1. Preheat oven to 400F. In a large skillet, sauté onion and garlic over low-medium heat for 5-10 minutes. Now add in the rest of the veggies and sauté for another 10-15 minutes. Season well with salt and pepperIMG_4362
  2. Add 1 cup of pasta sauce on the bottom of your casserole dish. Add a layer of noodles, half the basil cheese sauce, half the vegetables, more pasta sauce, another layer of noodles, the rest of the cheese sauce, the rest of the vegetables, more pasta sauce, and finally a sprinkle of cheeseIMG_4371
  3. Cover with tinfoil and prick with fork a few times. Bake at 400F for 40-45 minutes and then remove tinfoil and broil for 5 minutes on medium. Watch closely so you don’t burn the edges. Remove and serve. Will keep in the fridge for at least 3-4 daysIMG_4377IMG_4393

Eat Hearty! xx