All tagged Soy-Free

Blueberry Muesli Bowl

Soaked oats are made more fun and delicious by making a blueberry almond milk with fresh summer blueberries!  A colorful bowl of oats, coconut, and fresh and dried fruit, this Blueberry Muesli Bowl will keep you energized for hours.  Using quick cooking oats allows the muesli bowl to be ready within 30 minutes, without needing an overnight soak to “cook” the oats.

Serves: 1

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 0 minutes

What (your ingredients):

½ cup almond milk

½ cup fresh blueberries

½ cup quick cooking oats

1 teaspoon chia seeds

Toppings: Blueberries, dried mulberries, unsweetened desiccated coconut, goji berries

How (your directions):

To create the blueberry almond milk, add almond milk and blueberries to a high-speed blender, and blend for 30 seconds.

To a cereal bowl, add quick cooking oats and chia seeds.  Pour blueberry almond milk over oats and chia seeds.  Stir to combine, then allow to sit for at least 30 minutes.  Tip: You can refrigerate this blueberry muesli if you like your oats cold or if preparing overnight.

Top with blueberries, dried mulberries, unsweetened desiccated coconut, goji berries, or YOUR favorite toppings.  Sliced strawberries, slivered almonds, and mint would be delicious!

Why (the science):  Blueberries contain polyphenols, compounds which are known to boost brain health and prevent cognitive decline!

Pink Pancakes! NBC News! | Vegan and Gluten-Free |

These Pink Pancakes are perfect for Valentine’s Day brunch or Christmas morning!  I mean, look at that color 😊  And they couldn’t be easier to make, since they’re made in a blender.  Serve them with butter and maple syrup, and perhaps a dusting of cocoa powder for something sweet and elegant.  Or try my savory version with slices of avocado, wedges of blood orange or grapefruit, and a drizzle of tahini.  You could even pack the savory ones for lunch and eat them at room temperature…yum!

Serves: 2 (2 plate-size pancakes or 9 silver-dollars)

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

What (your ingredients):

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup plant milk

1 cup roughly cubed beet (raw, not cooked)

½ teaspoon baking powder

Pinch of salt

Coconut oil for cooking

Savory toppings: avocado slices, blood orange or grapefruit sections, drizzle of tahini, freshly ground pepper

Sweet toppings: butter, maple syrup, a dusting of cocoa powder

How (your directions):

In a high-speed blender, add oats, plant milk, cubed beet, baking powder, and salt.   Blend until smooth.

In a large skillet, heat coconut oil over medium heat.  Pour pancake mix into whatever size you prefer.

 

Once the sides are cooked and the tops are bubbling, flip the pancakes.

Allow to cook on the second side for 3 more minutes.

Serve immediately with your favorite sweet or savory toppings!

Why (the science):  Beets contain the pigment betalain, which is considered a potent antioxidant which fights inflammation and oxidative stress.

Shakshuka-Eggs Poached in a Tomato Stew

Shakshuka is the fancy name for a one-skillet dish of eggs poached in a tomato stew or sauce.  While shakshuka originated in North Africa, it is now a breakfast favorite in Israel.  While you can certainly wow your friends and family at a weekend breakfast or brunch, I prefer to make it as an easy weeknight dinner.  Shakshuka is warm and comforting at the end of a workday 😊  Serve with crusty bread, or my favorite way, over brown rice with a drizzle of good olive oil!

Serves: 4

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 45 minutes

What (your ingredients):

1 tablespoon avocado oil

2 shallots, thinly sliced

1 zucchini, diced small

1 yellow squash, diced small

1 bell pepper, diced small

5-6 Roma tomatoes, diced small

1 head of kale, roughly chopped

 Salt

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon cumin

1 15-oz. can tomato sauce

½ cup water

4 eggs

How (your directions):

In a medium cast-iron skillet, heat oil over medium heat.  Add shallots and cook 3-4 minutes until translucent.

Add diced zucchini, squash, pepper, tomatoes, kale, and salt.  Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to brown slightly.

Add garlic and cumin and sauté for 1 minute.

Add tomato sauce and ½ cup water, then simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Using the back of a wooden spoon (or just a spoon or ladle), create four wells for the eggs.

Crack an egg carefully to keep the yolk intact and gently allow egg to slip into one of the wells.

Repeat for remaining three eggs.

Cover and allow to simmer until eggs are cooked to desired doneness (about 10 minutes).

Serve hot over brown rice with a drizzle of good olive oil and a sprinkle of salt!

Why (the science):  You may know that tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which is protective against prostate cancer, but did you know that the more processed the tomato is, the more lycopene there is?  Canned tomato sauce and tomato paste have a higher lycopene content than raw tomatoes!