Tag Archive for: christmas

Black Cherry Smoothie in glass jar

Smoothie Recipes

The simplest and most delicious way to add more plants to your diet is through easy smoothie recipes. Consuming plants add more fiber and antioxidants to your diet. Plants are the key to reduce disease and inflammation plus maintain a healthy pH for proper digestion.

Protein Options

If you need a clean, tasty plant-based protein powder that is also delicious, try PowerMeal which is what I use and recommend. This link will save you 20%.

Smoothie Recipes

Here are a few recipes I love:

Black Cherry Smoothie in glass jarCherry Pie Smoothie

  • 1/2 cup frozen organic cherries
  • 1/2 cup organic vanilla plant-based yogurt
  • 1 cup water or coconut milk
  • 1/3-1/2  frozen banana
  • 1 scoop vanilla plant-based protein. Blend all in a blender or Vitamix. Enjoy!!

Winter Spice

  • 3 oz organic apple juice
  • 1 red organic apple sliced
  • 1 scoop frozen organic vanilla plant-based yogurt
  • 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
  • 1 scoop vanilla plant-based protein

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Christmas Coconut:

  • 1/4 cup apple juice or water
  • 1/2 cup grated unsweetened coconut
  • 1 T coconut oil or coconut cream
  • 1 tbsp. coconut milk
  • 1 banana frozen
  • 1 tsp Honey
  • 1 scoop vanilla plant-based protein

Peppermint Delight

  • 1 cup plant-based milk (use oil free brands like Malk or Califia)
  • ½ cup vanilla organic plant-based yogurt
  • 1/8 tsp Peppermint Extract or 1 drop peppermint essential oil (food grade)
  • 1 scoop vanilla plant-based protein

Pumpkin Gingerbread Smoothie

  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin, organic (not pumpkin pie mix)
  • 1 tbsp blackstrap molasses
  • 1 small frozen banana
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ginger
  • pinch nutmeg
  • Ice, if desired

Soak the oats, almond milk, and chia seeds for at least an hour or overnight. This helps them digest better and it also gives the smoothie a smoother texture.

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Add ice if desired.

Pear Ginger Smoothie

  • 1 organic sliced pear
  • 1-1 1/2 inch of ginger root (peeled)
  • 2 cups of water or plant-based milk plus ice
  • 2 scoops of vanilla plant-based protein
  • 2 scoops Phytogolds (ginger, turmeric, mango, cardamom, vanilla bean and black pepper fruit)* optional

*Phytogolds powder helps optimize digestive health and antioxidant capacity with a blend of phytonutrient-rich superfoods and fermented golden botanicals.

Blend all in blender or Vitamix.  This is one of my favorites! Makes 2 servings.

Chocolate Covered Cherries

  • 1 cup water or plant-based milk
  • ½ c organic sweet cherries pitted fresh or frozen
  • 1 scoop chocolate plant-based protein
  • Add a few ice cubes if you use fresh cherries versus frozen if you like it chilled

Blend in blender or Vitamix and enjoy!

Countdown to Christmas and Traditions

Well, we are officially 7 days away and the countdown begins. For those traveling, this typically means WE have far less time to complete our holiday shopping so the pressure is on!

I’ll be traveling to Michigan which is part of my tradition of going home. It’s a bittersweet trip as I’m excited to see my family but sad that my husband stays here as his daughters arrive from out of state. It was understood at the beginning of our relationship that this was the way it would be as there would be a time that our children would not be coming home.

My son, a chef, and a dedicated employee will stay in town with his dad’s family as to not miss work. I’m proud that he is so dedicated to his job but I find myself singing, “Cats in the Cradle” too many times these days. You know, “when you coming home son, I don’t when, but we’ll get together then..”

So, what I really wanted to share is some of our Christmas traditions. Our Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve with almost everyone (six siblings) coming home. Christmas food consists of a unique blend of old versus new traditions. My dad (now in heaven) was Polish and my mom was from the Czech Republic so our foods connect to these nationalities. The pinnacle of our meal is the Pierogi. This is a Polish specialty consisting of half-moon-shaped noodle dumplings filled with a mixture of potatoes, onion, garlic, and a bit of cheese. (BTW—this is NOT a health food for those that know me.) Fish and fish soup are both parts of the Czech Christmas food tradition. Big brother (one of three big bros) Dennis provides fresh catch which is appropriate as we live in the Land of Lakes! The fish is lightly fried and the soup is oyster stew.

Some newer food traditions that have popped up since our health movement are a variety of salads. My sister Sandy and my niece Chef Jen, personal chef and caterer always come through with something amazing. The amount of sweets has diminished and almost completely eliminated. Mom makes her fav molasses (hold the sugar) cookies and I’ll be starting a new tradition of peanut butter rice crispies squares with my secret ingredient (Modere Chocolate Sync) for the chocolate lovers.

Outside of food, mom and I have created our own new tradition. Since my siblings leave Christmas Day to spend with their extended families, it ends up just mom and me.  So we started the, “stay in your PJ’s all day, play Scrabble and read day”.  This is one of my new favorites. Need to mention, mom (at 87) can kick my butt in Scrabble.

Mom playing Scrabble