All posts by rootbranchom

Smoothie Variations

All ingredients are organic, preferably. We use a nutribullet, so these recipes are generally for the large container that comes with the system. These can also be made in the Ninja or other good quality blender.

*Note: you can use water, almond/rice/coconut milk, or apple cider for the liquid depending upon the ingredients.

Green Smoothie: (Light, Zesty, and Refreshing)

2 stalks of celery

1 Apple

Juice of 1 lime

1 cup of either spinach, kale, beet greens or chard (or any combo of them)

1 ½ cup water

Blueberry Almond Butter: (Thick and satisfying)

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

2 Tbsp almond butter

½ + cup almond milk, unsweetened

1 Tbsp flax seed oil

1-2 Tbsp ground flax seed

½ tea cinnamon

Fruit and Veggie: (Thick and satisfying)

1 Cup berries

1 Stalk Celery

1 medium Apple

½ cup spinach, or more (can be frozen)

1-2 Tbsp chia seeds

1 Tbsp Flax oil

Warm & Yummy:

1 Apple

½ can Pumpkin Puree

½ Tea Cinnamon

1 Tbsp Flax Oil

1-2 Tbsp Chia Seeds

Water to blend

Rachel’s Autumn Defender/Winter Warrior Chicken Soup

I start making this soup every year when the temps start to drop, and make sure we have it at least a couple times a week until spring comes around. I recommend cooking a big batch and freezing half in 1-serving size containers for convenience. It also makes a great breakfast! It’s super easy to make- get a big crockpot or slow cooker, add all the ingredients, cover it with water (I usually fill my crockpot to the top as I like brothy soups), turn it on, go about your day, and come back to yummy homemade immune-boosting soup! All of the ingredients are immune-boosters and also taste delicious together. I’ve found it’s best to layer the foods with meats on bottom (drizzle a small amount of oil in first), then potatoes/onions/carrots, then the leafy greens on top. Whenever possible use organic ingredients. I cook it on High for 3-5 hours or Low for 5-8 hours. It’s impossible to mess this soup up! If you’re feeling adventurous, top it with fresh avocado before serving.

Base:

  • Chicken (2-4 breasts or 4-8 thighs. I do boneless/skinless but whatever makes you happy J No need to chop it up; it will be easy to pull apart with a fork)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 big carrots, chopped
  • 1-3 lg. stalks celery, chopped
  • 1 pack mushrooms of choice (I like white button but up to you! Chop, slice, quarter them, whatever J)
  • ~1” chunk fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • a few cloves garlic, diced
  • Add 1 item from Group A
  • Add 1 item from Group B
  • Add 1 or both items from Group C
  • Salt/Pepper to taste, a bay leaf or two
Group AGroup BGroup COptional
1 sweet potato, chopped to bite size chunks1-5 large kale leaves, ribs removed, either sliced thinly or ripped to bite size chunks1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped1 can drained/rinsed beans (navy beans, cannellini beans, pinto beans, chick peas…)
Handful new/red potatoes, halved or quartered“…” w/ swiss chard leaves1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped1 can drained diced (or any style) tomatoes
2 parsnips, chopped“…” w/ collard greens1-3 dried smoked chipotle peppers (note: remove before serving)
Extra carrotsA few handfuls of spinach (note: add at end/before serving or they will completely break down)1 cup cooked whole grain (rice, barley, quinoa, etc.), added at the end before serving

Coconut Milk Yogurt

Homemade Coconut Milk Yogurt:

3 Cans of full fat Coconut milk

1-7 oz box of organic creamed Coconut

4 capsules of *probiotics (*do not use saccharomyces boullardi, this will make the yogurt smell yeasty!)

Place the 4 containers in a hot water bath in a large pot for 10-15 minutes to soften the fat. Shake the cans and open the containers, and empty all of the milk and cream into a blender along with emptying the 4 capsules of probiotics into the milk. Blend together. Pour mixture into a large glass bowl.

In the meantime, preheat the oven to 170 degrees, and turn off as soon as it reaches that temp. Turn on the oven light.

Place the mixture in the back of the oven near the light. Lightly lay a cover over the bowl and allow it to sit for 12 hours, stir and allow to sit for another 12 hours. At this point, taste the yogurt mixture to see if it is to your liking. You can continue to ferment for up to 36 hours, the longer you let it sit the more tart it will be. Once it has arrived at the desired taste, remove from the over, stir again, cover and put in the fridge.

The mixture will cool into a very thick, custardy yogurt. You can add fruit to it and blend. Also great with ground flax seeds, hemp hearts, nuts and seeds. You can experiment with adding some vanilla to the mixture after removing from the oven prior to chilling.

Probiotics: We use either IFlora by sedona labs which we carry at the office, or PB-8.  Make sure whatever you have doesn’t have Saccromyces in the mix.

Eileen’s Gluten Free, Sugar Free Nut Bars

In a bowl combine:

  • 1 Cup Almond Meal
  • ½ cup chopped raw walnuts
  • 1/3 cup chopped raw almonds
  • 1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds
  • ¼ cup ground flax seed
  • 1 heaping Tablespoon each of raw chia seeds, sesame seeds, hemp seeds
  • 1 heaping teaspoon of cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon stevia powder

In a separate bowl combine:

  • 1 beaten egg
  • 1/3 cup of pumpkin puree
  •  ½ cup almond butter

Combine ingredients together fully. Press into a 12 x 12 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Allow to cool and cut into squares. These can be stored at room temperature.

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