Category: Recipes

Tropical Tango Smoothie with Bananamilk

5/16/2019

Hellooo and happy Thursday! Today I’m sharing one of my new fave products in a Tropical Tango Smoothie recipe that has allllll the island vibes. Last week we had a cold snap in Denver, so of course I was dreaming of all things tropical. 😊

If you haven’t heard of Mooala yet, let me tell you why they’re sure to be a new part of your #fridgegoals. First, if you’re in the Denver area, you can now buy their products at local Whole Foods and Safeway stores! Yay for easy access. I have been into their Bananamilk and Coconut Oatmilk lately, using them in my morning coffee or matcha, and in smoothies. I’m a big fan of alternative milks, but a lot of them have weird ingredients or aren’t organic, so I don’t buy them. It’s been especially hard to find an oat milk that’s up to my standards! Here’s why Mooala is upping the non-dairy milk game:

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Simply Shakshuka: Your New Breakfast Bestie

5/8/2019

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Shakshuka

Shakshuka is a savory dish of Moroccan amazingness that you should definitely be adding to your breakfast rotation. I love this dish because it is a blood sugar balancing, protein rich, and delicious way to start the day. So what exactly is Shakshuka? Simply put, it's a dish of eggs poached in a tomato sauce with garlic, chili peppers, onions, and other spices. This dish is a great way to get some extra choline in your diet (a super important nutrient during pregnancy, and one that a lot of women are deficient in) from the eggs and spinach. This version also uses a pre-made Shakshuka sauce (sugar free) to keep meal prep to a minimum. Full recipe is listed below, but FIRST THE IMPORTANT THINGS: What 90's/early 2000's show have I been re-watching with the hubs???

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Dessert... A la Whole Nikole

5/15/2018

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Quickie post today because when you want dessert... you want it like right now. AmIrightoramIright??? So without further ado, here is my recipe for a Summerlicious Berry Fruit Salad that can pass as dessert even for someone with a major sweet tooth! It's my fave summertime treat because it's decadent BUT healthy and so fresh! Aaaaand it's super easy.

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Layered Rainbow Energy Smoothie

9/11/2016

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I'm going to keep this one short and sweet today because I'm busy praying for Russell Wilson to get it together so I can win my fantasy football matchup this week!!! (SMH)

This layered smoothie might change your life. FA REAL. It's packed full of protein, healthy fats, and crazy potent energy boosting amazingness. Yes that is a word; I use it all the time, mmmk? Also this pic didn't quiiiiiite meet the Whole Nikole standards, but I had to post it anyway because the smoothie was SO DANG GOOD.

Let's talk about how this jar of awesome will keep you going all morning with sustained energy that won't cause an afternoon crash.

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Fig and Banana Smoothie Bowl (OR How I Eat Dessert for Breakfast)

9/3/2016

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I know you want this in your belly, right? I KNOW. But for real, besides being the most decadent smoothie bowl you will ever eat, it's also packed full of nutrients, protein, healthy fats, and fiber to start your day in the best way possible! Imma tell you all about it, so keep readin'.

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Ridiculously Easy Homemade Strawberry Cashew Milk

7/11/2016

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Strawberry Cashew Milk, non-dairy milk, mylk, cashew, milk alternative

I've had a long love affair with non-dairy milks - I use almond, cashew, and coconut milk on the reg. And when it comes to nut milks, I reeeeaaaaally try to make my own, since homemade is free of weird preservatives, unnecessary additives, and synthetic vitamins. Plus, unless you buy the unsweetened version, it's FULL of refined sugars. Gross.

You're probably wondering who the eff has time to make their own nut milk. Well, with cashew milk, YOU DO. Yep. YOU. I swear this ish is so easy you could do it while Netflix auto-switches between episodes of Orange Is the New Black. It literally has two steps. 1: Soak nuts. 2: Blend. No straining required! Amaze.

Speaking of Orange Is the New Black, I just finished watching the new season, and WTF, Netflix??? How you going to leave us with a cliff hanger like that??? All mayhem is about to break loose and I'M SUPPOSED TO WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS??? Also, (*spoiler alert*) I can't beliiiieeeeeve they killed Poussey. So tragic. She was one of my fave characters over the years. (Sad cry face) (My computer needs emojis.) (I need a new tv show to watch now, who has suggestions???)

Okay back to ridiculously easy homemade strawberry cashew milk. I swear, I have a "how-to" and a recipe to share below, but first let's talk about the health benefits of this super creamy amazingness.

Since our homemade cashew milk is unstrained, it retains all the nutrients and health benefits of the whole cashew. This is a MAJOR reason to make your own - the store bought version is basically thickened (and most of the time sweetened) water with a few cashews, and loses almost all of its nutritional value.
Homemade cashew milk is high in protein - with my recipe you will get approximately NINE grams of plant based protein in a 1 cup serving. Compare this to store bought, which is <1 gram per 1 cup serving!
Cashews are rich in some very important minerals. Specifically copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, and iron. If you want to know more, goooooogle it. Or you can just take my word that they are stellar minerals and you need them in your life.
Cashews have a lower fat content and higher protein content than other nuts. The fat they do contain is about 65% derived from oleic acid, a monounsaturated oil with known benefits in protecting against heart disease and cancer.

Fun facts: Cashews are in the same family as mangoes and pistachios, and are actually the seeds that stick to the bottom of the cashew apple (the fruit of the cashew tree). Cashew apples are delicacies in Brazil and the Caribbean!

Recipe (FINALLY, I know.):
Ridiculously Easy Strawberry Cashew Milk

Ingredients:

2.5 cups organic unroasted cashews
5 cups filtered water
1 1/4 cups organic strawberries, hulled
1.5 tsp vanilla

Optional (pick one):

If you like it sweet: 4 medjool dates
If you like it salty: 1 tsp pink Himalayan sea salt

The ridiculously easy part:

Soak your cashews in filtered water overnight (or for at least 6 hours)
Put everything in your Vitamix (or other high powered blender) and blend until creamy and amazing, which takes between 1 and 2 minutes depending on the blender.
I store mine in mason jars, but you can use any airtight container you have on hand. In the fridge, the cashew milk will stay good for up to 5 days. Just make sure to shake it before you enjoy it!

I've been using mine in chia seed pudding and smoothies, and let's be honest - there's been lots of drinking straight from the jar. Lots.

X's and O's,
Nikole

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Tropical Tango Smoothie with Bananamilk

Simply Shakshuka: Your New Breakfast Bestie

Dessert... A la Whole Nikole

Layered Rainbow Energy Smoothie

Fig and Banana Smoothie Bowl (OR How I Eat Dessert for Breakfast)

Ridiculously Easy Homemade Strawberry Cashew Milk

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