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!

Life Hack: Nutrition Edition

I am a big fan of shortcuts in the form of diagrams, charts and all things nerdy and informative. I feel as though visual information is a lot easier to absorb when learning about nutrition and how to do the right thing when it comes to eating. Plus, colors! Color and illustration make everything more exciting and fun. Or is that just me?

I like comic books…

I thought I’d share a few of my current favorites here on the blog. The source is linked below each photo, so feel free to check out the websites for more information. I cannot take credit for any of these awesome resources but I can say that they are super helpful for those of you starting out on your own healthy journey. Enjoy!

 

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