All in Blog

Salted Margarita Energy Balls

These Salted Margarita Energy Balls will have you thinking “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!” Perfect for a grab-and-go breakfast, afternoon energy boost to power you through that 3 PM slump, or an after-dinner treat, this recipe for Salted Margarita Energy Balls is the answer 😊 Meal prep once, enjoy all week!

Serves: 10 (22 energy balls)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 0 minutes

What (your ingredients):

1 cup raw cashews

1 cup rolled oats

½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes

Zest and juice of 1 lime

Pinch of salt

8 medjool dates (softened in hot water for 5 minutes if not already soft)

To serve: Maldon sea salt

How (your directions):

To a food processor, add the cashews, oats, coconut flakes, zest and juice of 1 lime, a pinch of salt, and the dates.

Pulse 10-15 times, then blend on high until a dough ball forms or the mixture sticks together when pressed between your fingers.

Roll a heaped tablespoon of the mixture into a ball between the palms of your hands. Repeat with the remaining mixture.

Serve by topping the energy balls with Maldon sea salt (to mimic the salted rim of a margarita).

Why (the science): These energy balls are incredibly filling and satisfying due to the balance of healthy fats (coconut), fiber-rich starch (oats), and protein (cashews).

Parmesan Pasta Salad with Fresh Tomatoes

Parmesan Pasta Salad with Fresh Tomatoes is one of the EASIEST recipes- simply boil pasta, slice fresh cherry tomatoes, and toss with salty parmesan and high-quality olive oil. It’s great warm, room temperature, or cold, which makes it perfect for weekly meal prep. Enjoy as a super quick dinner after a busy day, or store in glass containers for a week of grab-and-go lunches.

Grilled Cinnamon Pineapple with Toasted Coconut and Vanilla Cinnamon Yogurt

Grilled Cinnamon Pineapple with Toasted Coconut and Vanilla Cinnamon Yogurt is a fun twist on eating your fruit and yogurt for breakfast! The pineapple sugars caramelize on the grill, which adds a subtle smoky flavor to the dish. Juicy pineapple, sweet cinnamon, rich toasted coconut, creamy yogurt- it all comes together in only 15 minutes! Grilled Cinnamon Pineapple with Toasted Coconut and Vanilla Cinnamon Yogurt is perfect for a quick and easy (and nutritious) dessert, too. A pineapple’s antioxidants are “bound,” which means they last longer in the body and survive harsher conditions in the body…which means that their positive anti-inflammatory effects last longer in the body!

Palatschinken with Raspberry Preserves and Fresh Lemon Juice

This recipe for Palatschinken is my grandmother’s recipe. A native Austrian, she made the best Palatschinken, which is an Austrian crepe. I’ve updated her classic recipe to be a touch more nutritious and sustainable, using whole wheat pastry flour in place of all-purpose white flour, and almond milk instead of dairy milk. Classic Palatschinken is filled with apricot jam, but I love raspberry preserves paired with the pucker of fresh lemon juice and a dusting of powdered sugar. A super quick and easy breakfast or dessert, you can have Palatschinken with Raspberry Preserves and Fresh Lemon Juice on the table in 10 minutes!

White Peach Vinegar Spritz with Blood Orange

This White Peach Vinegar Spritz with Blood Orange is sweet, a little tart and makes for a delicious (and beautiful) sparkling tonic to enjoy before a meal. Whip this refreshing drink up for yourself or multiply the recipe and serve as the perfect mocktail at your next party 😊 You can find White Peach Balsamic Vinegar at your local oil and vinegar shop.

Winter Potato, Butternut Squash, and Leek Soup

Winter Potato, Butternut Squash, and Leek soup is the ultimate nutrient-dense meal to boost your immune system and warm you from the inside out. The hardest part of this soup is the chopping of vegetables! So put on some good music and chop away 😊 Then, the soup simmers for 15 minutes and is ready to enjoy hot with a side of crusty whole grain bread drizzled with olive oil. Winter Potato, Butternut Squash, and Leek Soup can be made vegan by simply subbing out the chicken bone broth with veggie broth.

5-Minute Low-Sugar Blueberry Compote

Most compotes and jams are LOADED with added sugar…to the point you wonder, where’s the fruit?  This 5-Minute Low-Sugar Blueberry Compote has only 1 tablespoon of added sugar in the entire batch, but it still sweet and delicious!  Stir into plain Greek-style yogurt, spoon onto a stack of pancakes, drizzle over open-faced peanut butter toast, or eat with a spoon (I won’t tell 😉)

Easy Baked Apples for Two

Easy Baked Apples for Two is a quintessential winter dessert, from the classic warming spice of cinnamon, to the smell of baked apples in your kitchen- delicious!  My mom made these throughout my childhood (and adulthood) and are a family favorite.  These Easy Baked Apples for Two are relatively low in sugar compared to other desserts during the holiday season 😊 This recipe can easily be expanded to serve as many people as you would like. 

Creamy Roasted Acorn Squash Soup (Vegan)

Creamy Roasted Acorn Squash is the quintessential cold-weather meal!  It’s savory from the onion, garlic, and veggie broth, and sweet from the carrot, squash, coconut sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.  Acorn squash becomes incredibly creamy when blended, and the oat milk adds an extra touch of plant-based creaminess.  Enjoy this soup immediately, or meal prep it for the perfect comforting lunch or easy heat-and-eat dinner.  It will last in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months!

Serves: 6

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

What (your ingredients):

2 acorn squash, sliced in half and seeds removed

2 cups boiling water

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 yellow onion, diced

2 large carrots, sliced into small pieces

¼ teaspoon salt

2 cloves garlic, finely sliced

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons flour

3 cups veggie broth

1 tablespoon coconut sugar

½ cup oat milk

How (your directions):

Heat oven to 400°F.

Place acorn squash, cut side down, into a baking dish.  Pour 2 cups boiling water into the baking dish, then roast the squash for 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven or soup pot, heat olive oil over medium-low heat.

Add diced onion, carrots, and salt.  Sauté and stir for 3-4 minutes, until the onion is translucent.

Add finely sliced garlic, ground cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  Sauté for one minute.

Add flour and stir for one minute.

Slowly add veggie broth, stirring continuously as the mixture thickens.

Lower heat to low and simmer until acorn squash is finished roasting, stirring occasionally.

When the squash is done, remove from the oven, and allow to cool for 5 minutes.  Then, using a spoon, scoop out the tender squash flesh and add to the soup.

Using an immersion blender, or carefully adding to a blender, blend the soup until smooth.

Add the coconut sugar and stir until dissolved.  Add the oat milk and stir until combined. 

Serve hot!

Why (the science):  Acorn squash is high in fiber, making this satisfying soup great for digestion and disease prevention. 

Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Rice with Capers (Vegan, GF)

Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Rice with Capers (Vegan, GF) is a flavor powerhouse, and could not be easier to make! Simply roast the peppers and tomatoes, toast and cook the brown rice with garlic, garnish with capers and spring onions and voila! Dinner (or the perfect side dish) is served 😊 This dish makes great leftovers and meal prep easy! It’s perfect for a quick lunch, since it can be enjoyed room temperature, cold, warm, or hot.

Apple and Goji Berry Kale Salad (GF, DF)

This Apple and Goji Berry Kale Salad tastes like fall with every bite!  When you “massage” the kale with your hands, the kale becomes sweeter and softer, so don’t skip this step.  Sweet apple, crunchy sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and chewy and tart goji berries are a match made in heaven.  And if you’re anything like me, you eat salads for the awesome toppings 😉 And this salad delivers the best toppings!

Serves: 2

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 0 minutes

What (your ingredients):

1 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons honey

Pinch of salt

1 head of kale, torn into small bite-size pieces

1 apple, chopped into small pieces

2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds

1 tablespoon goji berries

How (your directions):

Add kale pieces to a large bowl.  Top with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, and a pinch of salt.

Massage kale for 3-4 minutes with your hands.

Add apple pieces, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and goji berries.

Toss to combine and enjoy!

Why (the science):  Goji berries are high in fiber and the antioxidant zeaxanthin, which helps protect your cells from damage.

Creamy Mushroom Soup (Vegan, GF)

Creamy Mushroom Soup tastes like pure comfort food but is loaded with veggies and has no cream or half-and-half!  It’s as easy as cooking onion, mushrooms, and potatoes in broth and blending until smooth with nondairy milk.  The chanterelle mushrooms from @MushroomMikeLLC add both elegance and a peppery, earthy flavor. 

Serves: 4-6

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

What (your ingredients):

1 tablespoon avocado oil

½ yellow onion, diced

Pinch of salt

28 oz. white mushrooms, diced

1/8 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon dried thyme

¼ cup dry white wine

3 russet potatoes, diced

3 cups vegetable broth

1 cup unsweetened nondairy milk (I used Ripple)

10 chanterelle mushrooms, roughly chopped

2 teaspoons butter (vegan)

Pinch of salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

Optional: Drizzle of olive oil

How (your directions):

Heat avocado oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. 

Add the diced yellow onion and a pinch of salt and sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add diced mushrooms, salt, and dried thyme.  Sauté, stirring frequently, until liquid from mushrooms evaporates, about 5 minutes.

Add white wine and stir for 30 seconds.

Add potatoes and vegetable broth.  Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat vegan butter in a small pan over medium heat.  Add chanterelle mushrooms and sauté for 2-3 minutes.  Season with a pinch of salt.   

Turn the stove heat off and stir in nondairy milk into the soup.  Using an immersion blender or high-speed blender, blend the mushroom soup until smooth.

Serve soup with freshly ground pepper and a spoonful of chanterelle mushrooms on top.  Drizzle with good olive oil and enjoy hot!

Why (the science):  Fiber-rich potatoes and nondairy milk add a plant-based creaminess to the soup without the need for heavy cream or half-and-half!  Mushrooms are prebiotics, which feed the healthy bacteria in your gut to help reduce inflammation and boost your immune system.

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

I grew up eating and loving my Mom’s banana bread, which was so delicious and sweet, it should have (maybe) been dessert 😉 I healthified banana bread by making it with fiber-rich whole wheat pastry flour and oat flour (which you can make at home by blending rolled oats in a blender) and cut the sugar tremendously by using monk fruit sweetener.  The Cinnamon Swirl in the middle and top of the banana bread is unreal and a MUST for the recipe!  The center is gooey, like the center of a cinnamon roll, while the top becomes crunchy, almost like crème brûlée.

Hemp Dip with Dill and Parsley (Vegan, GF)

Hemp Dip with Dill and Parsley is the perfect meal prep dip that can last 3-4 days in the fridge.  It’s highly versatile, too!  Serve with your favorite veggies on a crudité platter, spread on a sandwich, or even dress a salad with it.  And what’s even better is that Hemp Dip with Dill and Parsley get whipped up in a blender or food processor in 30 seconds 😊

Serves: 6

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 0 minutes

What (your ingredients):

½ hemp seeds

¼ cup water

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons fresh dill

2 tablespoons fresh parsley

¼ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon white wine vinegar

How (your directions):

Add all ingredients to a blender or small food processor, and blend on high for about 30 seconds.

Serve with your favorite veggies, as a salad dressing, or even spread on your next sandwich!

Why (the science):  Hemp hearts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are a heart-healthy fat that can help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety.  Omega-3’s are also important for healthy brain development!

Mexican Fiesta Quinoa Salad

This recipe is a crowd-pleaser! Colorful and delicious, Mexican Fiesta Quinoa Salad is the perfect recipe for healthy meal prepped lunches, quick weeknight dinners, or part of a festive summer BBQ!

Serves: 6-8

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

What (your ingredients):

1 cup quinoa

2 cups vegetable broth

1 15.5 oz can black beans

1 cup fire roasted corn

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 spring onions, thinly sliced

How (your directions):

Add quinoa and vegetable broth to a saucepan.  Bring to a boil, then cover, lower heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, add black beans, corn, olive oil, vinegar, cumin, chili powder, and salt to a large bowl.  Stir to combine.

Once quinoa has finished cooking, turn heat off and allow to sit, covered, for another 5 minutes. 

Add quinoa to the black bean and corn mixture.  Top with thinly sliced spring onions.

Enjoy warm, room temperature, or cold!  Store leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

Why (the science):  Quinoa and black beans are rich in protein, making this a satisfying lunch throughout the week!