Detoxifying Celery Freeze

An easy way to enhance your detox, or add some veggies to your day!

Detoxifying Celery Freeze:

1 organic cucumber
2 organic celery stalks

2 organic limes, peeled

10 fresh spearmint leaves

1-2 cups of ice 

1/2 cup purified water 

Add everything to a blender, blend well, and enjoy!! 

If the ice makes it too thick, feel free to add more water. If you want a smaller drink, omit the ice and blend well. Enjoy chilled or over ice.  

Healthy Life Tip: avoid making this (or anything like it) into a juice via a juicer or strainer. You'll want to consume all of the nutrients and fiber found in the pulp that will be thrown away if turned into a juice. The goal is to "eat" the whole cucumber, celery, lime, etc.

Minty Cucumber Lime Freeze

The perfect way to add a cucumber to your day!

Minty Cucumber Lime Freeze:

1 organic cucumber

1-2 organic limes, peeled

5-10 fresh spearmint leaves

1-2 cups of ice 

1/2 cup purified water 

Add everything to a blender, blend well, and enjoy!! 

If the ice makes it too thick, feel free to add more water. If you want a smaller drink, omit the ice and blend well. Enjoy chilled or over ice.  

Healthy Life Tip: avoid making this (or anything like it) into a juice via a juicer or strainer. You'll want to consume all of the nutrients and fiber found in the pulp that will be thrown away if turned into a juice. The goal is to "eat" the whole cucumber, lime, etc.

Crunchy Veggie Medley with Fresh Lime

This fresh pop of flavor is great as a snack, on tacos, 

as part of a salad, or anything you can think of! 

Crunchy Veggie Medley with Fresh Lime:

1 organic cucumber

1 organic red yellow pepper

1 organic green pepper

2-3 organic celery stalks

1 organic lime

Optional: fresh spearmint and a variety of other crunchy veggies like red peppers!

Dice the veggies to the size of your liking (I think the smaller, the better), combine them in a bowl, and top with the juice from the lime to taste. That's it!

Healthy Life Tip: prep this at the beginning of your week and separate into several different grab-and-go servings for an easy snack! 

Pairs excellently with these BBQ Seitan Skewers 

and may also want to check out this Pepper & Lime Salsa:

         

Creamy Vegan Buffalo Dip

Creamy Vegan Buffalo Dip:

2 cups cook organic quinoa

4 tablespoons organic buffalo sauce

1 cup organic almond milk

2 cups shredded organic vegan mozzarella

1/4 teaspoon organic garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon organic paprika 

1 organic cucumber, chopped

1 organic avocado (optional)

Cook quinoa as directed and measure out 2 cups cooked quinoa into a mixing bowl. Add the buffalo sauce to the quinoa and combine fully. 

In a small sauce pan over medium-low heat, bring the almond milk to a slow boil whisking in the garlic powder and paprika. Once warmed and lightly boiling, add the mozzarella and allow to simmer for 2-5 minutes, whisking continuously.

Finally, mix 6 tablespoons of the cream sauce into the quinoa throughly, top with chopped cucumber (the colder the better) and avocado and serve with your favorite organic tortilla chips!

Enjoy!

For more apps, Click Here, and you may also like:

                

Fresh & Light Cucumber Salsa

Fresh & Light Cucumber Salsa:

2 organic cucumbers, chopped
11 organic grape tomatoes diced (should be 1 cup diced)
1 organic jalapeño deseeded and finely chopped
1/2 small organic red or yellow onion, chopped
1 tblsp parsley (fresh and finely chopped is best)
1 organic garlic clove finely minced
(fresh dill, spearmint, and/or cilantro would also go well)

1/4 cup organic vegan yogurt
2 tbslp freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tblsp freshly squeezed lemon juice


First, chop and combine all of the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir together well and set aside. Next, measure out the greek yogurt into a separate bowl, then add the lime and lemon juice to the yogurt and stir until fully combined. Once combined, add 4 tblsp of yogurt mixture to the chopped veggies, and toss until evenly coated.

Serve immediately with organic tortilla chips and enjoy!

Makes 6 servings:



Healthy Life Tip: Since the dip is so low in sodium and carbohydrates, make sure to pay close attention to the chips you select to serve with the dip to keep the values in a healthy range. Always choose organic chips whenever possible (that way you'll be guaranteed that none of these ingredients are in them and that the chips are non-gmo) and make sure to compare the nutrition info on of the chips first to make sure you're making the best choice - especially the sodium values.

A Look Back: Top 3 Appetizers of the Year!

Buffalo Chicken Wontons

A fun, healthier alternative to the typically unhealthy buffalo options. Great to serve in the fall and winter at football parties and easy to freeze and save for later!

Easy Greek Salad 
Appetizer Bites

Refreshing app that's light and especially fun in the spring and summer! Easy and inexpensive to make as well!

Crispy Parmesan 

Zucchini Strips!

Fun and healthy alternative to things like mozzarella sticks. Great as a healthy after school snack, fun to serve at a party, or even as a side to your favorite pasta dish. Marinara dipping sauce recipe included as well!

Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Grilled Balsamic Tofu!

Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Grilled Balsamic Tofu:

Makes 3 Servings:

1 1/2 servings of your favorite whole wheat organic pasta (365 organic rigatoni pictured above)
4 servings organic extra firm tofu
1/2 cup 365 Organic Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
20 grape tomatoes, halved or quartered
1 organic cucumber, diced
1/2 organic yellow pepper, chopped
1/2 organic orange pepper, chopped


Cook pasta according to directions. While water is heating, drain and cube tofu and place into a bowl with dressing to marinate, then set aside. Begin to prepare vegetables until water begins to boil.

Once you place the pasta in the water, begin to heat grill pan on medium and place the tofu cubes onto the center of the pan using a pair of tongs. Once pan is heated, tofu should begin to sizzle. Keep the tofu on the same side moving occasionally and adding more dressing to prevent sticking, but do not flip. While tofu cooks, continue to prepare vegetables and place into a separate large bowl. Add 1-2 tablespoons of dressing from tofu bowl and toss into vegetables. You won't need more than this.

Once one side of the tofu is light-medium brown (2-5min), use the tongs to flip it to the opposite side. Add some of the extra dressing to the tofu and onto pan so that it sizzles around the tofu. Let sit for another 2-3 minutes allowing this side to brown also.

Once pasta is complete, drain and add to large bowl with vegetables and toss, allowing the dressing to spread over everything. Separate onto plates and once tofu is complete, add tofu and enjoy!

This dish works great cold also, just rinse and place pasta in refrigerator for several minutes and allow tofu to cool before serving.

Healthy Life Tip: Cook extra servings and save for an easy lunch or dinner later in the week!

Rather just stick the tofu in the oven and get something else done? Check this out:

Easy Greek Salad Appetizer Bites!

Greek Salad Appetizer Bites:

Organic grape tomatoes
Organic vegan Feta cheese block (not crumbles) - Here's a vegan feta cheese recipe. I haven't tried it yet, but didn't want to remove the recipe because I love this ease and versatility of it.
Organic cucumber
Organic olives of your choice (pitted)
Organic extra virgin olive oil
Decorative toothpicks

First, slice cucumber into 1/2 inch slices then quarter each slice. Next, cut the feta into 1/2 inch squares, halve the grape tomatoes, and rinse your olives. Drizzle small amount of olive oil onto the serving dish/tray. Enough for dipping, but not so that each bite is soaking in oil. I pour the oil into a tablespoon first and use that to spread onto the dish.

Finally start by putting each ingredient onto the toothpick; olive followed by tomato, feta, and cucumber, in that order. Putting the cucumber on the bottom ensures they have a stable base and stand straight up.

So Easy! Enjoy!


Healthy Lifestyle Tip: If you're going to a party and are worried about snacking on some unhealthy apps, bring your own! This is a great option and can be made easily in large quantities! Being prepared and planning is half the battle!

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Grilled Balsamic Tofu:

Makes 3 Servings:

1 1/2 servings of your favorite whole wheat organic pasta (365 organic rigatoni pictured above)
4 servings organic extra firm tofu
1/2 cup 365 Organic Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
20 grape tomatoes, halved or quartered
1 organic cucumber, diced
1/2 organic yellow pepper, chopped
1/2 organic orange pepper, chopped

Cook pasta according to directions. While water is heating, drain and cube tofu and place into a bowl with dressing to marinate, then set aside. Begin to prepare vegetables until water begins to boil.

Once you place the pasta in the water, begin to heat grill pan on medium and place the tofu cubes onto the center of the pan using a pair of tongs. Once pan is heated, tofu should begin to sizzle. Keep the tofu on the same side moving occasionally and adding more dressing to prevent sticking, but do not flip. While tofu cooks, continue to prepare vegetables and place into a separate large bowl. Add 1-2 tablespoons of dressing from tofu bowl and toss into vegetables. You won't need more than this.

Once one side of the tofu is light-medium brown (2-5min), use the tongs to flip it to the opposite side. Add some of the extra dressing to the tofu and onto pan so that it sizzles around the tofu. Let sit for another 2-3 minutes allowing this side to brown also.

Once pasta is complete, drain and add to large bowl with vegetables and toss, allowing the dressing to spread over everything. Separate onto plates and once tofu is complete, add tofu and enjoy!

This dish works great cold also, just rinse and place pasta in refrigerator for several minutes and allow tofu to cool before serving.

Healthy Life Tip: Cook extra servings and save for an easy lunch or dinner later in the week.