Szerző: Réka

Life loving human with a passion for healthy food.
morning matcha superdrink latte infused with mint and vanilla

Minty morning matcha latte with vanilla & coconut oil

Silky and frothy.

Delicious and healthy.

And has a beautiful green color.

Minty morning matcha latte with vanilla and coconut oil

Meet my minty morning matcha latte (intentional alliteration here) with vanilla and coconut oil, or as I’ve been calling it lately: pre-breakfast date with my fiancé.

We’ve jumped on the matcha bandwagon just recently, but quickly became obsessed with this wonderful tea. This recipe is my personal success story of how I made my love consume something that is actually green. Now we sip on this goodness almost every morning. Score!

minty morning matcha latte with vanilla and coconut oil

Matcha latte is a little twist on green tea, made with high fat milk to make it extra frothy and creamy.

Infused with mint and vanilla, it’s the exciting combination of hot and cold, and it has a sweet and characteristic taste that you will love! It can even double as dessert for after breakfast. I also added a scoop of collagen powder for healthy joints and shiny hair, yaay!

Matcha tea actually comes from Japan and goes through a special treatment during production: in the last 10 to 20 days prior to harvesting, the plant is grown in the shade which increases its chlorophyll content, a powerful antioxidant, painting it a lovely vibrant green color.

Whole tea leaves are then finely grounded, so you consume the entire leaf and reap all its benefits. Cool story, I know!

matcha latte for two and matcha powder

This superfood helps you detoxify your body, boosts your immune system, it also aids in weight loss, and is packed with antioxidants that help you stay young, inside and out. It contains caffeine, but doesn’t give you the crash (a.k.a. that coffee hangover feeling). Instead, it provides mental alertness while also stimulating the alpha waves in your brain, which results in a relaxed, calm state of mind.

Matcha is also very versatile: other than drinking it in traditional tea form, you can add it to your smoothies, juices, even pancakes or other baked goodies and bam! All healthified.

I guess you could probably write a novel on the perks of matcha, or better yet: an ode. An ode to the mighty matcha…

minty morning matcha latte with vanilla and coconut oil

On top of its health benefits, this drink also has magic powers: it has the power to get me out of bed at 5:30 am, marking the beginning of our morning rituals. Make it part of yours too. 🙂

I want to encourage you to start each day with intention. Set the foundation for a great day.

Get out of bed and stretch. Take a deep breath.

Smile and be thankful.

Drink matcha.

And attack the day with enthusiasm! You are invincible.

Cheers to that!

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minty morning matcha latte with vanilla and coconut oilMinty morning matcha latte with vanilla & coconut oil

Yield: 2 cups
Prepare: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups milk of your choice (preferably high fat)
  • 1 heaping tsp coconut oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp matcha powder
  • 1 Tbs collagen powder (optional)
  • 1 Tbs honey
  • a sprig of mint

Instructions:

  1. Heat milk on the stove in a small pot, add mint leaves too and simulaneously melt coconut oil over it in a metal bowl.
  2. Be careful not to overheat the milk. Once the coconut oil has melted, turn off the heat.
  3. Gently bruise mint leaves in the pot with the help of a wooden spoon to release the essential oils. After a few minutes take the leaves out.
  4. Add warm milk, melted coconut oil, vanilla, matcha and collagen powder (if using) into a blender and blend.
  5. Add honey to taste.
  6. Enjoy!
by Categories: Drinks, RecipesTags: , , , , , , , , , , 1 hozzászólás
a featured image for beetroot powder covered energy bliss balls

Energy bliss balls with beetroot powder

Don’t know about you, but after lunch, my sweet tooth comes out.

Always.

I need a little something to crown my midday eatings. If you find yourself having similar cravings or just want to make a quick healthy dessert, I have just the right recipe for you.

Easy-peasy, 6-ingredient bliss balls! Nude or potentially dusted in beetroot powder. Believe me when I say, they go perfectly with your afternoon coffee. You will look forward to finishing lunch and gobble up a few of these.

energy bliss balls with beetroot powder in spring

They are 100% raw, no-bake and easily customizable as well, the equation is really simple: healthy base + sticky power + extra flavour = bliss balls that keep you energized throughout the afternoon.

a bunch of beetroot powder covered energy bliss balls for spring

Feel free to swap the ingredients to please your tastebuds, though.

Healthy base options, among others, are ground nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts) or oats. Sticky power can be dates, tahini, honey, maple syrup, agave or nut butter. For extra flavor you can add coconut, lemon juice, cranberries, raisins, cocoa powder or your favorite spice… The possibilities are endless, let your imagination flutter.

I used cinnamon and dark chocolate chips as well as beetroot powder for coating, and also added chia seeds for a healthy kick.

energy bliss balls on a plate covered in raw beetroot powder
a stack of energy bliss balls coated with beetroot powder for spring

Chia seeds deliver an incredibly generous amount of nutrients like Omega-3s, fiber, minerals and vitamins. You can leave the bliss balls uncoated, but honestly the powder makes them look like precious gems. And who doesn’t like food that’s pretty? 🙂

And there’s more!

Beetroot powder also boasts of high levels of antioxidants and iron.

Even my Dad liked these which is a HUGE deal, and I’m sure you’ll love them too! They’re a New Year’s resolution-compatible dessert that can be inserted into a health-conscious diet.

On that note, it’s important to emphasize that New Year’s resolutions regarding food should never be about restriction. They should be about nourishing.

So this year do not resolve to deprive yourself. Instead, resolve to provide your body with nutrients as well as a whole lotta love and take care of your health.

Happy New Year! Be well!

With love,

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Energy bliss balls with beetroot powder

energy bliss balls with beetroot powder in spring

Yield: 25 bliss balls
Prepare: 25 mins
Total: 25 mins

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cup ground walnut
  • 2/3 cup peanut butter
  • 2 Tbs honey (use agave for a vegan option)
  • 1 Tbs chia seeds
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips
  • cinnamon
  • beetroot powder (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Add all ingredients in a bowl, prepare to get your hands all sticky.
  2. Form bite-sized balls with your hands and roll them in beetroot powder (or not).
  3. Consume happily, keep the rest in the fridge until all gone.
by Categories: Food, Recipes, Snacks, TavaszTags: , , , , , , , , , , , 4 hozzászólás

Turmeric sweet potato bulgur “risotto” with elderflower wine and chestnuts

Cosy, comfort food alert!

Creamy & easy ‘risotto’, anyone?

turmeric-sweet-potato-risotto-with-elderflower-wine-and-chestnuts1

With autumn in full ‘bloom’ and crispy weather outside, it is only natural that our bodies start craving hearty, steaming dishes that feel like a soft, warm hug in our bellies.

Mama Nature is busy changing her colors from luscious green to rusty and bright red, and more and more frequently showering us with love (aka rain). So why not get busy in the kitchen and make this delicious dish in just about 45 minutes? Light your favorite candle and get into that ‘autumn spirit’. Indulge in cosy fall comfort food, you deserve it!

Turmeric sweet potato bulgur risotto with elderflower wine and chestnuts.

This hearty ‘risotto’ perfectly epitomizes this time of the year while still caring for your health with nutritious sweet potato and the oh-so-wonderful turmeric. Chestnuts are also a great source of vitamin C, copper and manganese, we can all use that immune system boost around November. *flexes right arm muscles*

Bulgur is my favorite choice of grains. It has a soft, chewy texture and is rich in fiber and minerals in addition to having a low glycemic index (GI), which means it is kind enough to not mess with your blood sugar levels.

Now, if you’ve made it through all that nerd talk, I have good news, too! You can absolutely make this dish in one pan, which leaves you with exactly one dirty dish in the end. Huge pro, if you ask me!

sweet-potato-bulgur-onion-in-a-pan

Oh, and don’t worry, there’s a generous amount of melting cheese coming in the end! It’s a comfort food after all. 😉

As for elderflower wine, we are lucky enough to have been given it as a gift, it is entirely homemade. And entirely delicious. If you can’t get a hold of it, though, your favorite white wine will do just fine. 🙂elderflower-wine-and-pumpkins

If you’ve made this recipe (which you should!), be sure to tag me on Instagram or use the hashtag #allwithzest to show me your beautiful creations!

Take care and don’t forget to smile today! 🙂

With love,

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sweet-potato-bulgur-risotto-with-elderflower-wine-and-chestnutsTurmeric sweet potato bulgur “risotto” with elderflower wine and chestnuts

Yield: 3 servings
Prepare: 20 mins
Cooking: 25 mins
Total: 45 mins

 


Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbs coconut oil
  • 1 large red onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 ½ cup bulgur washed & rinsed
  • 3 cups veggie stock
  • ¼ cup elderflower wine
  • 1 ½ cup sweet potatoes chopped
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 cup grated gouda cheese
  • 150 g chestnuts, roasted
  • parsley to garnish

Instructions:

  1. Chop red onion and sweet potatoes, slice garlic.

red-onion-sweet-potato-garlic

2. Scoop about a tablespoon of coconut oil into a large pan and steam onion for a couple of minutes over medium heat.

3. Add sweet potatoes, turmeric, salt & pepper and rinsed bulgur. Add vegetable stock and elderflower wine. (Optional: pour a little extra of the latter and sip on it, if you like.)

4. Cover with the lid and bring it to a boil, then turn the heat down to minimum and let it all be cookin’.

5. In the meantime, roast your chestnuts in the oven. NOTE: I had soaked the chestnuts the night before, but half an hour prior is enough. You can also cheat a little, and roast them ahead or buy pre-packed, if you like. Otherwise, carefully, with a sharp knife, cut an X into each chestnut and place them on a baking tray for roasting, about 20 minutes. Wait until cool and get them out of their shells.

6. Once the bulgur and sweet potato are cooked, turn off the heat, add cheese and roasted chestnuts.

7. Stir it well. Consume while still hot. Enjoy! Be mindful of the taste, smell and textures. 🙂

by Categories: Food, Lunch, RecipesTags: , , , , , , , , , , Megjegyzés hozzáfűzése