Super Foods Smoothie

Here's a delicious "Super Food" breakfast smoothie! In Florida we "smoothie" at least until December.

 

 

Super Foods Smoothie

 

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c Silk Almond milk
2 tbsp Almond butter
1 tbsp Maca Powder
1 tbsp Cacao Powder
1 tbsp Goji Berries
1 tbsp Psyllium whole husk
1 frozen banana

 

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.

Black Bean & Toasted Corn Tacos

Something really happens when you turn 50! I know because I'm trying all sorts of things that I've never tried before.  My latest venture is a 21 day Vegan Kick start.  Dr. Neal Barnard, President of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,  promises that I'll become slimmer, have better movement in my joints, and will extend my life when I eat more vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grains and stay away from dairy, eggs, and meats.  This wasn't a  problem because I was moving in that direction anyway.  For tonight's dinner I had a taste for tacos.  I decided what ingredients I had a taste for and ta-da, we have tacos!

I followed the KISS method - Keep It Super Simple - and picked up the ingredients from the local grocery store.  Of course you could spend the time to make everything from scratch if you like.  But if you're like me and want to eat healthy, but not spend too much time in the kitchen, then this is the way to go.

Black Bean & Toasted Corn Tacos

Ingredients:
3 corn tortillas
1 can of black beans
1/2 c diced vegetables (onions, red & green bell peppers)
1 tsp. of cumin
1 c shredded iceberg lettuce
1 tomatoes (diced)
1 stalk of green onions (chopped)
3 tbsp chipotle garlic salsa

Preparation:

Preheat oven 375 degrees.  Place corn tortillas in a baking loaf.  I have a four loaf baking dish that I use to make small loaves of banana bread.  Bake tortillas for about 10-15 minutes until formed.  They should resemble a hard shell taco. 

In a saucepan, add the black beans, diced vegetables and cumin and heat until warm.

Place the corn tortillas in a plate, spoon in the black beans and top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, green onion, and a tablespoon of salsa

Dr. Oz's Detox Smoothie

Dr Oz's Detox Smoothie
1/2 c mango
1 c blueberries
1 c kale
1 1/2 c coconut water or almond milk...
1/4 avocado
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp flax seed

 

Directions

Puree in a blender until smooth.  Enjoy!

 

Chocolate Nutty Delight

Here's a simple dessert that's satisfying and won't do damage to your hips!

Chocolate Nutty Delight

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp Dark Chocolate Almond Butter
1 Tbsp chopped Walnuts

Preparation:
Sprinkle the walnuts over the spoonful of almond butter and simply enjoy!

 

 

Quinoa Health Benefits: A Protein That's Low In Carbs, Gluten-Free, And Full of Nutrients

Did you know that Quinoa is one of the most protein-rich foods we can eat?  It's a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids and is packed with nutrition.  According to Medical Daily, quinoa contains magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, lysine, manganese, and iron. This particular combination of nutrients and antioxidant materials translates into helping to prevent both cell damage and cardiovascular disease. Plus the low ratio of carbohydrates to protein helps it regulate blood sugar and for this reason is considered to be good for diabetics.

Most often used as a grain, quinoa in a single cup serving has 5 grams of dietary fiber and 8 grams of protein. This tiny edible seed, which is related to spinach and beetroots, can be cooked, and added to meals where it serves as a main or secondary protein. Most people believe its light, fluffy texture is similar to couscous.

Another benefit of quinoa is that it contains almost twice as much fiber as most other grains. Fiber is most widely known to relieve constipation. It also helps to prevent heart disease by reducing high blood pressure and diabetes. Fiber lowers cholesterol and glucose levels, may lower your risk of developing hemorrhoids and may help you to lose weight as it takes a longer time to chew than does other foods because it makes you feel fuller for longer and is less “energy dense” which means it has fewer calories for the same volume of food.

So serve up a bowl of quinoa with steamed vegetables, garlic and light seasoning and enjoy!

Nutty Fruit Salad

Eating healthy does not have to be complicated.  Simply and quick is best - a no brainer.  Enjoy this for breakfast or treat yourself with a snack.

Nutty Fruit Salad

Ingredients:
1/2 tart granny smith apple (diced)
4 strawberries (sliced)
1/4 cantaloupe (diced)
8 almonds (cocoa roast)
8 cashews
Preparation:
Just mix in a bowl and eat. You can add a dollop of yogurt to coat the ingredients.  I decided to go without today. Enjoy!

Scrambled Eggs w/Spinach & Parmesan

From my foodie friend Velva at tomatoesonthevine-velva.blogspot.com

Scrambled Eggs w/Spinach & Parmesan

Ingredients:
2 large eggs
3 cups baby spinach
1-2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tsp olive oil

Preparation:
Heat oil in skillet. Add spinach and sauté until tender. Whisk eggs in a bowl and add seasoning. Pour egg over spinach and cook until eggs are almost done. Sprinkle cheese on top. I added onions & bell peppers.

Thanks to my foodie friend Velva at tomatoesonthevine-velva.blogspot.com for the recipe.

P.S. Don't laugh at my plate! I love flowers. Enjoy!