Easy Hazelnut Almond Butter + Bonus

‎Hazelnut Almond Butter:

I roasted about 3/4 lb raw almonds and 1/4 lb raw hazelnuts ‎at like 350F for about 20 min, stirring (mixing) halfway through. Removed the "papery skin" from the hazelnuts, and stuck the almonds and hazelnuts in the freezer for about 20 min or until cold. (This makes it easier on the Vitamix. Since its motor is powerful enough to make soup, we don't want the nuts to heat up too much.) 

Once cooled, pour nuts and sea salt, if desired, into Vitamix container and switch ON and *immediately to 10, Then HIGH speed. While using the tamper (stick thingy), put some muscle into it and mix like crazy until desired consistency. About 2 minutes, tamping throughout! 

*If you don't switch it on and immediately turn it to 10 High and tamp, I've heard it won't mix correctly. Some people have experienced a flour-like substance, which would no doubt, be delicious, but not the outcome we've expected.

Pour/spoon nut butter into airtight container, and store in refrigerator.

‎BONUS:

Before you clean your Vitamix, add these few easy ingredients for a yummmmmmy treat!

Frozen blueberries 1/4c

Frozen Red seedless Grapes 1/4c

2-3 sprigs Parsley (really ties everything together, so fresh!)

Coconut milk 1/4c

Coconut oil 2tsp

Almond Hazelnut butter (leftover after scraping blender, or add more!)

Spinach a few handfuls 

Ice 3-4 cubes

Blend to desired smoothie consistency

Oh MY, deliciousness! 

Don't forget to wash your Vitamix afterwards! ;)

Pesto a la pasta

 I used to eat the shiz outta pesto. I put it on anything. Pasta, NAAN, chips, bread (toast), yogurt...(Just kidding). But, seriously I would put it on a lot of nommies.

Since the switch to gluten free, vegan, etc, lifestyle, I wanted to make my own safe version. I threw a bunch of stuff into the Vitamix (no measuring) and voila! Pesto. It was pretty yummy! I will definitely experiment with other ingredients and get back to you.

Chives

2 Garlic cloves
Spinach
Olive oil
Salt
Cashews
Spring mix

Yummm

So I'm discovering that basically anything is delicious with any sort of nut milk incorporated into it. I REALLY like hemp milk, but I don't often find it at a very affordable price. So....go nuts with your nut milk and throw a bunch of good stuff into your blenders and see what you can create!

Here's what I came up with

Apple
Banana
Grapes
Cucumber
Kale
Spinach
Hazelnut Milk

Autumnkin Shake

Feeling a little autumn-y, so I decided to whip up this bad boy. Give it a try and let me know what you think?

2 heaping spoonfuls of real Pumpkin (not pie mix)
1 Fuji Apple skin on
Handful of Red Grapes
2 Handfuls Spinach
1/2 Frozen Banana
Nutmeg to taste
Cinnamon to taste
Ice
Hazelnut milk

Pumpkin fiberlicous

Care for something a little bit thicker and creamier?

Apple
Flax
Pumpkin
Oats
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Hazelnut milk
Ice

Ducking Felicious.

Cherries frozen pitted

Pineapple frozen

Banana frozen

Honeydew frozen

Grapes frozen

*Top with gelled chia

*Add a bit of chia seeds to a few ounces of water and stir. Let sit for 10-15 minutes until gelled, or in fridge over night. I don't mind the bit of "crunch" that comes with not completely gelled chia seeds. =)

Enjoy this delicious treat while soaking up the desert rays! 

Coconanadew Pudding

1 Frozen Banana
1/4 cup Honeydew
Water from 1 Coconut
A few chunks of coconut
Ice

Blend

Top with chia gel!

Can you guess what's in this "Honeyloupplum" sorbet?

H-dew - a few frozen balls
Canteloupe - 1/4 cup
Pineapple - 1/4
Plum - no pit
Chia gel

Not fast enough to snap pic. ;) Wayyyy toooo yummmmyyyy,

Ice cream

Nectarine -skin on, no pit
Pineapple -frozen
Fresh Mint leaves
Ice
Hemp milk

Topped with chia

Delicioso!

Seriously way too good to (not?) share.
2 tsp Chia
Hemp milk or other
6 Grapes
1 Carrot peeled
5 Cherries pitted
1/2 Frozen Banana
2 Kale leaves
Spring mix

Blend

Happy Fourth of July!

What a deliciously, thick and creamy, dreamy way to wake up on this beautiful Fourth of July!

Here's to you!

Hemp milk
2 tsp Chia
6 Grapes
1 Carrot
1 Peach - no pit
3 chunks frozen Pineapple
1/2 frozen Banana
2-3 Kale leaves
Spring mix packed to top!
Ice if not using fruit that is frozen

'D' is for...

I don't have anything exciting to say about this post, except that this is Damn Delicious.

1/2 Banana

3 Strawberries

1T Sunflower/chia bitter

Greens

Hemp milk

Ice

Blueberrchata

1 Banana

1 Handful of Blueberries

2 tsp Flax

1 tsp Horchata powder mix (optional)

Coconut milk

Ice

I don't think the photo does this delicious concoction any justice! Mom even tried this and REALLY liked it! =)

DetoxMay!

DetoxMay*

Black Bean Hummus w/ GF "Chips"

GF "Chips" w/ Guac & Salsa

So, it's been 11 days now of DetoxMay! I've been free of gluten and dairy since May 2nd and completely vegetarian since March 14, 2013, that's two months! I have to admit I definitely see this as a life-change rather than a "hip and trendy" fad. I think the main deciding factor is that I recognize the consequences I have to deal with when I make bad decisions.

Eggplant "Parmigiana" w/ GF Pasta

GF Pasta w/ Veggies & Herbs

Surprisingly, I've also recently (just today in fact) realized some positive effects of being gluten-free, dairy-free, and meat-free! (I should add that I'm also egg-free, soy-free, and corn-free for a while now.)

Here's what I've noticed throughout the past few weeks/months/year since I've changed my eating habits:

•Obvious large amounts of weight-loss (exercise included).

•*Huge* loss of bloating (face and stomach) This is a dairy thing. I have hip bones!? ...and a waist! Also, ribs/breast chest bone things?

Massive Veggie Stir-fry/Curry

•For some odd reason I've been waking up early. I'm attributing this to the lack of gluten. If you're gluten intolerant or have wheat allergies (or allergies of any sort), they physically wear your body down. Maybe now that my body is rid of gluten, dairy and meat it doesn't need as much sleep? Who knows. (I am, however, still chronically fatigued with everything else medically and physically going on, but I've been working on that as well!)

•I mentioned before that my mood directly correlates to what I eat. This continues to be proven by DetoxMay!!!

Green Smoothie

You might be wondering why I only write recipes for juices and smoothies, and if that's all I consume...Well, I'm here to tell you: I eat. A lot.

Here are a few staples in my diet as of recent.

Hummus
Black bean hummus homemade chips
Curry
Stir fries
Green smoothies
Eggplant pasta
Salsa
Guac
Big Salads
Teas
Lemon honey water
Horchata
Etc.,
Etc.,

*My "Detox" from a wide variety of foods. I'm on the Road to Recovery!

Detox May

Detox May

1 Carrot Peeled

1 Gala Apple Peeled

1 Celery Stalk

4 Mint Leaves

2 Kale Leaves

2 Handfuls of Spinach

Handful Fro Pineapple

Handful Parsley

Ice

It's that time again. I've learned the hard way (by eating out yesterday), that I need to be gluten and dairy free. So here I am, beginning Detox May! I'm aiming for at least one über-green smoothie/juice per day and healthy meals with no dairy, no gluten, and, of course no meat!

I know that the most difficult part will ultimately be the cravings, while also attempting to maintain a high enough blood pressure due to the POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Peer pressure has all ready shown to be somewhat difficult. I get feelings of guilt when someone offers "delicious food that I must try". They can't seem to understand that I'm not just being picky, or fussy, or rude, I am simply trying to heal myself by eating what I can tolerate, and avoiding what I makes me ill. UGH!

Life is all about choices. Every choice that we make, either consciously, or subconsciously, or even unconsciously, impacts our lives in numerous ways. That's the beauty of life. These choices, all of them, are up to you to choose what to do. Whether small or large, (putting an apple in my mouth, or eating pizza; climbing a mountain, or going skydiving) we can choose to do what we feel is right for  us. Sometimes when we're overwhelmed or stressed, it seems we tend to shift toward the extremes, which can possibly lead to a dangerous downward spiral. Other times, we can choose to do nothing at all, which is often worse than doing something. YEAH CHOICES! 

 My choices are my own, and I shouldn't have to justify them to anyone else or feel guilty of hurting feelings by saying "No, thank you." Right?

Poop-y Juice

Looks like poop, not poop

Kale
Spinach
Parsley
Golden Beet peeled
Carrot
Blueberry
Chia seeds
Cucumber
Honeydew
Coconut oil
Mint
Raspberry
Ice

Not the most delicious. But fairly nutritious. I'm not a huge fan of raspberries. I think it's the seeds that get me. =\ But I know how good they are for you, and I also know a bunch of berryholics!

Way Too Good

1 gala Apple peeled
1 Carrot peeled
1 Handful Parsley
1/2 Golden Beet
1 Hefty Handful frozen Blueberries
1/4 Cucumber peeled
2 frozen Strawberries (for kicks)

There's just something about how the cucumber, parsley, and apple all come together in this heavenly juice.

Give it a whirl and let me know if you agree!

Tropically Refreshing Juice

...and beautiful! I was so thirsty/hungry I didn't even have a chance to snap a pic before I ran out the door this morning. I will admit it was a little odd for me to leave out the greens. But, I am getting my fair share of GREENS via delicious stir frys and curries. I pack 'em in there, babyy! I've been trying to eat/snack more often and enjoy smaller meals; I'm running out of ideas!

Welp, have a go at this delectable Tropically Refreshing Juice.

1/2 Golden Beet peeled
1 Carrot peeled
1/4 Cucumber peeled
1 Handful of frozen Pineapple
1 Handful of frozen Honeydew
Ice
1-2c water (I just eyeball it, like all of my recipes.) =$

Blend until liquefied.

Top with gelled Chia.

Best served over ice with a straw on a hot day! =)

#
Vitamix beet juice

Something Green

I think I've realized my posts are missing something right here.

2 Carrots

6 Black Seedless Grapes

6 Cherries

1/4 Cucumber

2 handfuls of Spinach

4 Pineapple Chunks (freshly frozen)

Ice

There's something interesting about this drink. I close my eyes and can pick out each individual flavour. Perhaps my taste-buds are just in overdrive this "morning". ;) Give it a try and let me know what you think! 

One of my Favorites.

1 Gala Apple

2-3 Inches of Cucumber

3 Carrots

A Shiz-Load of Spinach

2 tsb Chia

7 Red Seedless Grapes (frozen at the peak of perfection.)

6-8 Ice Cubes

I will admit, this looks disgusting, but
it tastes pretty damn delicious. =)

This one might cure me.

There is not one overpowering flavor in it. That doesn't usually happen. The chia adds a great, almost nutty flavor that complements the grapes quite well. The apple and cucumber blends with the carrots producing an exquisite taste that masks the nearly half pound of spinach I shoved in here. =D

I'm getting full so fast and I have only drank half (10oz) of it! More for later! WOOT!