This "black forest overnight oats" was adapted from my Matcha overnight oats recipe by adding raw cacao powder instead of matcha tea powder. I served these soaked oats with coconut yogurt (or you can use sheep's yogurt), fresh cherries (or unsulfuried dried cherries), shredded coconut, cacao nibs and bee pollen. It might be one of my favourite overnight oat recipe (and I tried a lot of them!). This breakfast is just slightly sweeten with mashed bananas, decadent enough and as all the flavours that remind me of the famous black forest cake!
I wanted to share this recipe for a long time because it's one of our favorite healthy go-to breakfast. When I was experimenting with this recipe, I was looking for the perfect sweetness (obviously I didn't want it to be too sweet so we could eat it in the morning) and texture (not sticky or too thick) and thankfully I think I got it right! But feel free to play around with the recipe if the balance (sweetness) isn't right for you. I've said it before, our family doesn't have a very sweet tooth.
I can't believe I waited 32 years to taste my very first passion fruit. I mean... I had some passion fruit juice blends or desserts before, but never tasted the whole fruit. I think it might be the most delicious fruit in the world! The flavour is so delicious, fun and exotic... Kind of hard to describe. When I was a kid, I hated candies and sweet desserts... But I couldn't resist sour candies ! Well... These sour and crunchy passion fruit seeds reminded me of those candies! Felt like a kid again :)
Also know as grenadilla or "lilikoi", passion fruit is a tropical fruit that contains crunchy edible seeds and sour juice. And the passion fruit flower is so beautiful! You want to pick the ones that are sweet and ripe enough, meaning you should choose those who are slightly wrinkled and that have a deep purple color. You can also shake the fruit. If it feels like there is a lot of liquid inside, it also means there should be a lot of delicious seeds to eat.
Hibiscus flower is Hawaii's beautiful state flower. It's those large flowers traditionally worn by Hawaiian (and Tahitian) girls. Since my new obsession is to include edible flowers in my recipes as much as I can, I had to find a way to use the dried Hibiscus flowers I bought at a few months ago at my local Whole Foods Market.
Gazpacho is a Spanish cold soup traditionally made with bread, tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, garlic, olive oil, wine vinegar and topped with fresh bell peppers, diced tomatoes and cucumber (or any other fresh ingredient). This soup is adaptable (the variations are endless!) and perfect for hot summer days... or when you just don't feel like putting your apron on and spending a lot of time in the kitchen (in front of a burning-hot oven!). The kids and I love to throw whatever vegetables (or fruits!) we have on hand in our high speed blender (aka our ten-year-old-almost-dead-Vitamix!) to make cold soups!
Hello! I know, I know, I’ve been very quiet for the last couple of weeks!
The thing is... I was traveling to my hometown, Montreal, alone with my two energetic kids. Needless to say I was asleep at 9pm every day! Plus I almost never had access to a computer. Yeah... I broke my Mac screen for the second time (no comment...) and had no time to repair it before leaving so I left a computer loaded with draft recipes waiting to be posted... Arghh, how frustrating! So, I apologize for the lack of blog activity.
Enough said, I'm back and I have a lot of great recipes to share!
Açai bowls are so freaking good! Oh my goodness!!! As I explained in one of my previous post (Blueberry, acai & coconut paletas), an açai bowl is like a frozen yogurt/sorbet/thick smoothie topped with granola, fresh fruit, coconut flakes and other healthy garnishes. The small purple berries are full of antioxidants, omega fatty acids, fiber, minerals and other incredibly powerful nutrients, making this bowl the post-workout treat or the perfect breakfast.
Fresh cherries might not be the most affordable fruit, but they sure are worth every penny! They are SO fresh and juicy at this period of the year! The first thing that "popped" into my head when I bought my first bag of organic cherries at my local farmer's market is a black forest cake. Not that I ever particularly enjoyed this cake... It's usually made with cherry pie filling (most brands are made with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, artificial colours and other ingredients I can't even name), white flour and refined sugar... But I kind of liked the idea of the combo "chocolate and cherry"!
My three breakfasts are all vegan, refined-sugar free, rich, satisfying and incredibly nutritious!
Popsicles (or "paletas") can be a great nutritious and fun snack if they are made with wholesome ingredients. These refined-sugar, dairy-free and vegan "blueberry bliss" popsicles are made with fresh blueberries, açai puree, maple syrup and coconut milk.
Açai is a superfood that is grown in South America (Brazil) known for its nutritional value. The small berries are loaded with powerful antioxidants, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as essentiel amino acids.
HAPPY MONDAY!!
I'm very excited! Today's the first day of my special kids week where I'll be sharing one healthy, whole food and kid-friendly recipe each day! Be sure to follow me all through the week, since I'm going to share my kids favourites recipes! You sure don't want to miss my best vegan mac & cheese ;)
This smoothie is a classic strawberry and banana smoothie with a healthy twist.
Recently, we have been making a lot of different porridges or smoothie bowls in the morning. I like to experiment with different flavors, toppings and presentations. My kids both really love porridges, particularly cold and raw ones. Every time I put a tiny bowl of porridge and a spoon in front of Mila, we don't hear a single noise from her until she's done.
With the first organic strawberries of the year now available at the Farmer's market, I was looking for a new breakfast idea more appropriate for the summer weather.
Turmeric is gaining in popularity this year. I was already using it a lot (I have a 1 kg bag of organic turmeric in my pantry!), but I only recently started using turmeric in other recipes that only Indian curries. For example, my favorite hot drink when I feel sick is a Roiboos tea with fresh ginger, raw honey, cayenne, lemon and ..... turmeric ! Maybe you caught my recent post, Zen turmeric pancakes w/blood orange syrup ? These are so delicious they've become one of our top morning treats ! You probably also heard about the golden milk, which is a sweet turmeric plant-based milk with a touch of black pepper.
Eating a plant-based diet doesn't mean you have to forget that your body needs good fats to function at its best! Kids need a certain amount of fat in their diets in order for their brain and nervous system to develop correctly. That's why vegetarian and vegan toddlers (as well as adults!) need to eat a diet that includes a variety of nuts, seeds, good quality oils and butters (like coconut butter) and avocados.
This year, Noah and I decided to do a little surprise for daddy on Valentine's day. My son really enjoys being in the kitchen with me, so I thought it would be a nice idea to make our own raw chocolate. And you know what ? You don’t need to be an expert to make this easy recipe! In fact, I've done it a few times and I've always been thrilled about how great they turn out. On top of that, it's a 5 minute recipe! My son always has a blast when it's time to choose the flavours and toppings... and he's surprisingly creative!
Today, I had the pleasure of guest posting on one of my favourite blog, Nutritionist in the Kitch! Her site looks awesome and you should definitely have a look on all her amazing recipes!
The recipe I'm sharing for my first guest post is a vegan apple caramel "cheesecake". Who doesn't love that combo? This desert is simple to make, decadent and believe it or not, packed with nutrients! The cake itself doesn't require any baking and it is entirely gluten-free and vegan. Enjoy!
Head on over to Nutritionist in the Kitch to get the recipe for my Vegan apple caramel cheesecake!
Kombucha, also known as the Elixir of life in Imperial China, is a lightly effervescent fermented drink made with tea. It is also referred to as "kombucha mushroom tea", but in reality, it's not a mushroom, but a colony of bacteria and yeast. Therefore, this delicious beverage is high in probiotics and will keep your gut and immune system happy!
The misunderstood Brussels sprout, the “kid's most hated vegetable”, is the star in this fantastic salad! I normally like to oven-roast my sprouts, but shaved and raw, they are as delicious! Slicing the Brussels sprouts into very thin slices with a sharp knife (or a food processor) give them a delicate shaved appearance and result in this "chic and festive cabbage salad". If you really don't love Brussel sprouts and kale, you could totally do this salad by replacing them with lettuce/mesclun/white cabbage instead. The result will still be lovely and tasty.
Soaking ingredients for the next morning has now become a part of our family night routine, just like brushing our teeth or feeding the cats. Chia pudding and overnight oats takes 2 minutes to prepare. You can make a big jar of both and enjoy them 3-4 days later! These are two simple recipes that you can adapt to fit your taste.
Look at that color ! When you see color, you see nutrients. This beet n' blueberry smoothie is delicious, fresh and filled with proteins (hemp!). It is also loaded with fibres, antioxydants and is a great booster for the immune system, since the main ingredients are kale, blueberries and beets. The fresh mint really helps to balance the "earthy taste" of the beets and kale and is so refreshing. Don't be afraid of using frozen blueberries in drinks if they aren't in season. Serve this smoothie with coconut whipped cream (see tutorial here) and I promise you'll be delighted !
Who else is feelin' the Halloween vibe? We do (even if we celebrated the indian Diwali this week at my husband's job!). When your son asks you to carve a "Puss in boots" pumpkin... you have no other choice but to feel the vibe ! 3 hours of carving in total! But at the end, it was totally worth it and our own little knight and ladybug were so happy!
There's no "typical" breakfast for us. Sometimes it can be a bowl of homemade granola with coconut yogurt topped with fruits. Other times it can be having pancakes or crepes with nut butter, maple syrup or blackstrap molasses and fruits. I have to say my husband also makes the best omelettes in the Universe! Other than that, one of the things we especially love to eat before starting our busy days is either an overnight oat bowl, a chia pudding or porridge. I have a few porridge recipes, but this one is (so far!) the entire family's favorite.
I always try to pack the most super foods and nutrients as possible in their snacks without them realizing it. I often do a super easy, almost instant chocolate avocado pudding (don't worry... no one's going to notice the avocado taste!), so I thought why not freeze them and make pops? I added dates instead of maple syrup and an extra pinch of chia seeds. I also topped these with Goji berries, a nutrient-rich small dried fruits. They're rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Ever since we bought our high speed blender (Vitamix), we drink a smoothie almost every morning. At first, my husband was complaining about their taste when I added few green leaves. But last year, on our trip to New York, we took a green smoothie at the Grand Central Terminal in a small grab-and-go shop. It probably was the first green smoothie my husband drank with good appetite (in seconds!). The secret ingredients were fresh ginger and lime juice. We now add those in every green smoothie we make and they always come out great ! No more complaints !
Figs and blackberries are still available in California's farmer's market, but I can see it's the end of the season, since pumpkins, pomegranates and apples have made their arrival.
This vegan ice cream is divine ! Meyer lemons have a sweeter, less acidic flavour than the more common lemon varieties, but if you can't find those, the recipe is still delicious. The combinaison between figs and blackberries is just perfect.
Chia seed pudding is one of our favourite go-to breakfast (and dessert!) at the moment. This ridiculously simple recipe can be done in a matter of seconds. You just need to let it soak overnight and you will get a delicious nutrient-packed pudding with the consistency of tapioca. You can add whatever fruit puree you like or just blend it with cocoa powder to get a dessert. If you're not a fan of that kind of texture, blend it before serving to get a creamy omega-3 rich pudding.
Ok. Let's start BIG !
The first post of my blog is a mocha dessert! I do not drink coffee, actually I never drank coffee in my life. I don't like the bitterness of it, whether it's an espresso or allongé (even in Italy!), or a hot or ice coffee served with sugar or milk, even if it comes from the best place in town or an ordinary coffee machin. As boring as it sounds, I'm more of a camomile or chai tea type of girl. However, I LOVE almost every mocha or coffee based desserts. I guess the aroma is addictive. I don't particularly want to start a coffee dependency, I've seen too many people struggling to eliminate caffeine from their life, but once in a while... as a dessert (or breakfast ?), why not!
This "Black forest in a jar" is a chocolate chia pudding, layered with a homemade cherry chia jam and topped with coconut whip, shaved dark chocolate, sliced almonds and fresh cherries. It sure sounds like a dessert to me... and I've served it as a dessert in the past, but since this chia pudding is not too sweet, we enjoy this recipe in the morning as well.
The cherry chia jam is adapted from my Strawberry chia jam. I love chia fruit jams because they take only a few minutes to cook and don't require any "jam maker" skill at all! If you can't find good affordable cherries, you can use frozen cherries without a problem! It's also a good way to enjoy this fruit all year long!