Recipe: Apple Pie Breakfast Quinoa

Up until now, I’ve only been sharing recipes that I’ve tested out with the intention of posting as tried-and-true original and rigid recipes. However, I realize my favorite meals and recipes are those that I throw together, especially when it comes to my variations on go-to staples. They’re easy and and delicious and definitely worth sharing with all of you looking for a quick meal that will fill you up and nourish your body.

With that in mind, it only makes sense to share my new favorite breakfast with you:

Apple Pie Breakfast Quinoa:

(serves 2)

2 teaspoons coconut oil or non-dairy butter, such as Earth Balance
2 cup cooked quinoa
2 small apples, finely chopped
4-5 medjool dates, finely chopped
1/4 cup almonds or walnuts, finely chopped
1/2 cup coconut milk
1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 pinch of nutmeg
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

*Toppings: shredded coconut, almond butter, chopped banana and/or your favorite granola.

Over medium heat, add walnuts or almonds to a small frying pan. Stirring frequently, toast nuts until they become fragrant, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, add non-dairy margarine or oil. Once it’s completely melted, toss in quinoa and mix together until quinoa is coated. Simmer for about 3-5 minutes. Add chopped apples, coconut milk and dates and allow to cook on medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes.

Add in cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and vanilla extract. Stir together and continue to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.

Removed pan from heat. Add in toasted nuts and desired toppings. Serve immediately.

This recipe gets me so excited for fall, especially with that hint of nutmeg spice thrown in for good measure. Warm, hearty and healthy – sweater weather is just around the corner and I couldn’t be happier.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Protein Packed Parmesan

Craving something cheesy? Looking to sprinkle some goodness onto avocado toast, a lacking pasta dish or the best heirloom tomatoes you’ve ever had?

So. Good.

Fear not. I have a super easy and incredibly nutritious spin on an old favorite for you today.

Hemp seeds.
Nutritional yeast.
Pink Himalayan Salt.

That’s it. No joke.

So what makes this recipe so protein packed and nutritious? Here’s a quick rundown of all the benefits these 3 ingredients provide:

First up? Hemp seeds. I put hemp seeds on just about everything these days. The texture is great and they give any dish a nice and subtle nutty flavor. Hemp seeds also happen to be full of omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Full of essential amino acids, hemp seeds are considered a complete source of protein, adding roughly 10 grams of protein per serving to your meals. So sprinkle that stuff on all the food!

Oh, nutritional yeast – it’s kind of the holy grail for all of us former cheese-loving vegans out there. On top of being perfect as a cheese substitute, nutritional yeast also happens to be full of B vitamins and amino acids. Oh, and another complete protein! Nutritional yeast is winning at life, guys.

And lastly, pink himalayan salt. Not only is it super pretty, but pink salt contains all of those wonderful minerals that are stripped out of basic table salt. If you feel like totally nerding out, feel free to check out this in-depth chart listing all of the minerals packed into these tiny crystals. Flavor-wise, it adds just the right amount of bite without being too overpowering.

3-Ingredient Protein Packed Parmesan

1/4 cup hemp seeds

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

1 teaspoon pink himalayan salt crystals or 1/4 teaspoon if it’s pre-ground

Combine all ingredients into a food processor. Blend until fully combined. 

Enjoy!

The Full Bowl: Deconstructed

As I’m sure you already know, I’m a lady who loves to switch things up. In my daily activities, in style, and certainly in food – it’s the spice of life.

One of my favorite meals is something I’m loosely calling the full bowl – full of all the good stuff your body needs and loves. Because this is a meal that can vary so much, I thought it’d make more sense to share my tips and guidelines than to post an actual recipe. You can easily adapt this bowl for any meal. For example, a breakfast-based full bowl would go something like this: rolled oats, fresh berries, almond butter, sliced almonds, cinnamon, fresh vanilla bean, and hemp milk. Pretty balanced, right?

Here’s what every balanced Full Bowl needs:

• Protein

• Veggies/Produce

• Starches/Carbs

• Sauce, Fresh Herbs or Seasoning.

This is one of my favorite bowls – it’s basically a healthier twist on southern comfort food. You can’t tell from the photo, but I always fill my bowl with a ton of greens. The steamed kale actually takes up half the bowl.

My ratios usually look something like this:

• Greens – 2 cups

• Protein 1/2-1 cup

• Carbohydrates- 1/3 to 1/2 cup

• Vegetables – 1-3 cups, depending on what vegetables I’m using.

• Healthy Fats or Sauce: 1-2 tablespoons

One last tip:  Don’t skimp on the spices, sauces or fresh herbs. These add-ins make all the difference and will play the biggest part in giving you variety in your meals.

So that’s it! The Full Bowl is a great way to make a meal that is tasty, satisfying and offers a lot of different textures and flavors. Let me know if you have your own take on this – I’m always trying to think of new ways to make my favorite go-to meal. Leave any suggestions in the comments below!