Archive | Tasty Tuesdays RSS feed for this section

Tasty Tuesdays: Gluten and Dairy Free Basil-Pesto Tortilla Panini

27 Mar

Recipe & Photo by Amanda Kosarin

A Gluten Free, Dairy Free Basil-Pesto tortilla panini is 100% vegan and a great way to add lots of flavor to your meal, while not overloading your body with common allergens that cause inflammation, such as wheat, gluten and dairy.  For the recipe below I used a Food For Life Brown Rice Tortilla that is wheat and gluten-free because it doesn’t break when it is folded and flipped and adds the perfect amount of crunch.  I used a dairy free pesto sauce by, Basiltops, they have lots of  great flavors, but for this recipe I used Pesto Perfectto (their traditional flavor) or you can always make your own.  I also used Daiya Cheese, which is dairy (casein, whey and lactose) free, soy free and cholesterol free because it not only tastes good, but it melts easily and stays melted unlike other vegan cheeses. It’s an easy recipe and one you can get creative with!  Stay tuned for more recipe ideas for your gluten-free tortilla.

PREPARATIONS: 5 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 2-3 MINUTES

1 SERVING

RECIPE

1 brown rice tortilla

¼- ½ cup of vegan cheese

2-3 large organic basil leaves (chiffonade the leaves)

Pesto

  1. Pre-heat a cast iron skillet, by turning the stove to a medium heat.
  2. Place the tortilla on the skillet and heat each side for a minute or so until the tortilla begins to soften.
  3. Place the cheese on one half of the tortilla and then fold over, as if you were making an omelet.
  4. Check to see that the cheese is beginning to melt and then flip the tortilla over so the cheese melts evenly.  If the cheese is not melting, then turn up heat to high and flip tortilla every 10 seconds or so until the cheese is fully melted.  The tortilla should start to brown, make sure to flip it over again, so both sides are nice and toasty.
  5. Add the pesto sauce and basil to the inside of the tortilla.  Let your taste buds decide how much sauce you will use.  Be Creative!
  6. Using a spatula, remove the tortilla from the skillet, place it on a plate and cut in half with a pizza cutter or knife.
  7. Garnish with basil.
  8. Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesdays: Gluten and Dairy Free Quesadilla

13 Mar

Gluten Free, Vegan Quesadilla

A Gluten Free, Dairy Free Quesadilla is 100% vegan and a great way to add lots of flavor to your meal, while not overloading your body with common allergens that cause inflammation, such as wheat, gluten and dairy.  For the recipe below I made a Cheese Quesadilla, but you can add any other ingredients you might like.  I used a Food For Life Brown Rice Tortilla that is wheat and gluten free because it doesn’t break when it is folded and flipped.  I also used Daiya Cheese, which is dairy (casein, whey and lactose) free, soy free and cholesterol free because it not only tastes good, but it melts easily and stays melted unlike other vegan cheeses.  It’s an easy recipe and one you can get creative with!  Stay tuned for more recipe ideas for your gluten free tortilla.

PREPARATIONS: 5 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 2-3 MINUTES

1 SERVING

RECIPE

1 brown rice tortilla

¼- ½ cup of vegan cheese

Cilantro

Lime

  1. Pre-heat a cast iron skillet, by turning the stove to a medium heat.
  2. Place the tortilla on the skillet and heat each side for a minute or so until the tortilla begins to soften.
  3. Place the cheese on one half of the tortilla and then fold over, as if you were making an omelet.
  4. Check to see that the cheese is beginning to melt and then flip the tortilla over so the cheese melts evenly.  If the cheese is not melting, then turn up heat to high and flip tortilla every 10 seconds or so until the cheese is fully melted.  The tortilla should start to brown, make sure to flip it over again, so both sides are nice and toasty.
  5. Using a spatula, remove the quesadilla from the skillet, place it on a plate and cut in half with a pizza cutter or knife.
  6. Add cilantro, salsa and lime to taste.
  7. Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesdays: Quinoa Soup with Avocado and Cilantro

28 Feb

Enjoy Healthy Soup!

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is a great alternative to using noodles in soup that is abundant in anti-oxidants.  Quinoa is a great vegan source of protein and it is a complete protein, meaning it includes all 9 essential amino acids. Quinoa is also a gluten-free grain, which is a great choice if you have an intolerance or allergy to gluten, as discussed in a previous post.  Quinoa has other health benefits, it is high in magnesium, which can help reduce migraine headaches, improve cardiovascular health because it helps relax blood vessels and lower the risk for type 2 diabetes.  It is also a great source of fiber, which helps reduce the risk of high blood pressure and prevents gallstones.  With all these great benefits, quinoa is an overlooked grain that adds to your health! I also added, avocado, cilantro and turmeric, which all have anti-inflammatory properties. I always recommend using organic ingredients to steer clear from food with harmful pesticides.  Enjoy!

PREPARATIONS: 5 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 10-15 MINUTES

2-3 SERVINGS

RECIPE

1 cup of quinoa

1 avocado

Vegetable or Chicken Broth (To save time you can use Whole Foods Market organic low sodium broth, when you have more time you can make a homemade broth.)

Cilantro

Sea Salt

Pepper

Turmeric

  1. Rinse Quinoa and place 1 cup of quinoa in a medium saucepan with 2 cups of filtered water.  Bring to a boil and then turn to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes (depending on stove.)  When it is ready, it will look fluffy with all the remaining water cooked off.
  2. Heat up soup broth in a separate pan.
  3. Cut up 1 avocado
  4. Chop a bunch of cilantro.
  5. Depending on how you like your soup, spoon quinoa into bowl and place desired amount of broth over it.  Mix in the avocado and Cilantro.
  6. Add turmeric, salt and pepper to taste!
  7. Enjoy!

Tasty Tuesdays: Popeye’s Special

21 Feb

All the ingredients in the Vitamix Container

Ready to Drink and Enjoy!

Popeye’s Special is loaded with spinach, which is rich in phytonutrients such as carotenoids and flavonoids, both which which have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer  benefits. It also has an immense amount of antioxidants vitamin A, Vitamin K and Vitamin C and E  to neutralize any free radicals that can damage healthy cells and strengthen your immune system and regulate hormones. Mangos and Spinach, are  both known to be rich in iron, which is responsible for carrying oxygen to the blood cells. Mangos are also known to have enzymes that can help to relieve indigestion problems. I always recommend using organic ingredients to steer clear from fruits with pesticides.  For this recipe I used the Vitamix Blender, it has so many capabilities (purée, blend, dice, chop, make hot soups, chop nuts etc.), it blows away anything else I have ever used.  That’s one less piece of equipment you’ll need, it saves counter space and money! Enjoy!

PREPARATION: 5 MINUTES

PROCESSING TIME: 1 MINUTES

YIELDS: 3 CUPS

RECIPE

1 medium apple

1/2 cup of strawberries

1 cup of fresh spinach leaves

3/4 cup of mango

3/4 cup of banana

1/4 cup ice

  1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
  2. Select Variable 1.
  3. Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
  4. Blend for 1 1/2 minutes, using the tamper to press ingredients into the blades.
  5. DRINK AND ENJOY!

Tasty Tuesdays: Coconut Ice Cream Sundae

14 Feb

Happy Valentines Day! No matter who you are celebrating with, love yourself enough to enjoy a healthy treat!  Try an organic coconut ice cream sundae topped with organic chocolate syrup and organic fresh berries!

Organic Coconut Ice Cream

Coconut Bliss ice cream is organic, vegan and dairy/soy/gluten free.  It has only a few ingredients and you know what they are! You can go to their website to find a store near you.  I get mine at the local Whole Foods Market.  They have several flavors, but here are a few examples.

Vanilla Island:
Organic Coconut Milk (Organic Coconut, Water, Guar
Gum*), Organic Agave Syrup, Organic Fair Trade Vanilla Extract, Organic
Fair Trade Vanilla Beans.

Mint Galactica:
Organic Coconut Milk (Organic Coconut, Water, Guar
Gum*), Organic Agave Syrup, Organic Fair Trade Dark Chocolate (Organic
Chocolate Liquor, Organic Sugar, Organic Cocoa Powder [processed with
alkali], Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Vanilla Extract), Organic Coconut
Oil, Organic Peppermint Extract, Organic Vanilla Extract.

Dark Chocolate:
Organic Coconut Milk (Organic Coconut, Water, Guar
Gum*), Organic Agave Syrup, Organic Fair Trade Cocoa (processed with
alkali), Organic Vanilla Extract.

Ah!laska Vegan Chocolate Syrup

Ah!laska Chocolate Syrup is organic, vegan and dairy/soy/gluten free.  Add it to your coconut ice cream of choice!  You can buy online or find a store near you.

Ingredients:  Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Water,Organic Cocoa (Non-Alkaline), XanthanGum (a Natural Fiber Thickener),Organic Vanilla, Citric Acid.

Top Off Your Sundae With Fresh Berries

Top off your coconut ice cream sundae with organic fresh berries to add some antioxidants to your treat!  Try Organic raspberries, strawberries or blackberries and load up with vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Manganese, Fiber and Potassium.

Enjoy and share your love!

Tasty Tuesdays: Basil Lime-Lemonade

7 Feb

All the ingredients in the Vitamix Container

Enjoy a frosty drink!

Basil Lime-Lemonade is loaded with antioxidants vitamin A, Vitamin K and Vitamin C to neutralize any free radicals that can damage healthy cells and strengthen your immune system. The oil in the basil leaf has  anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so it not only tastes good but will add to your health. I always recommend using organic ingredients to steer clear from fruits with pesticides.  For this recipe I used the Vitamix Blender, it has so many capabilities (purée, blend, dice, chop, make hot soups, chop nuts etc.), it blows away anything else I have ever used.  That’s one less piece of equipment you’ll need, it saves counter space and money! Enjoy!

PREPARATION: 5 MINUTES

PROCESSING TIME: 1 1/2 MINUTES

YIELDS: 5 CUPS

RECIPE

1 lemon, peeled, halved, seeded

1 lime, peeled, halved

1/4 cup of agave or sweetener of choice

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

2-3 cups of ice cubes

  1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
  2. Select Variable 1.
  3. Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
  4. Blend for 1 1/2 minutes, using the tamper to press ingredients into the blades.
  5. DRINK AND ENJOY!

Tasty Tuesdays: Jazzed up Juice!

31 Jan

All the ingredients in the Vitamix container

Fresh juice ready to drink!

Jazzed up Juice is loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C and resveratrol, so it not only tastes good but will add to your health. I always recommend using organic ingredients to steer clear from fruits with pesticides.  For this recipe I used the Vitamix Blender, it has so many capabilities (purée, blend, dice, chop, make hot soups, chop nuts etc.), it blows away anything else I have ever used.  That’s one less piece of equipment you’ll need, it saves counter space and money! Enjoy!

PREPARATION: 5 MINUTES

PROCESSING: 1 MINUTE

YIELDS: 4 CUPS

RECIPE

1 cup blueberries

1 cup strawberries

1 cup green grapes

1 medium orange

1/2 cup ice cubes

  1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid. (you can make this in any high-speed blender)
  2. Select Variable 1.
  3. Turn the machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
  4. Blend for 1 minute or until desired consistency is reached.
  5. DRINK AND ENJOY!


Tastes like Juice!

24 Jan

All of the ingredients in the Vitamix container

Fresh Juice ready to drink

Don’t be fooled by the color.  Just because it is green doesn’t mean it tastes like a lawn mower.  I have always loved making smoothies, but thanks to my new Vitamix Blender I can also make fresh juices. What’s great about fresh juice this way vs. pressing you own with a juicer is that you get all the fiber in the skins, so nothing gets wasted and you get tons of nutrients.  Juice is bioavailable, meaning that the body can easily absorb the nutrients without having to first digest the food.  Since everything is raw and unprocessed, the chemical makeup of the food is not altered by heating or cooking.  This is great because you can put in vegetables that you might not normally eat  or only eat if they are cooked in oil/butter and get all the vitamins and nutrients to nurture your body and contribute to your optimal health.

I always recommend using organic ingredients to steer clear from fruits and veggies with pesticides.  For this recipe I used the Vitamix Blender, it has so many capabilities (puree, blend, dice, chop, make hot soups, chop nuts etc.), it blows away anything else I have ever used.  That’s one less piece of equipment you’ll need, it saves counter space and money! Enjoy!

PREPARATION: 5 MINUTES

PROCESSING: 1 MINUTE

YIELDS: 2 CUPS

RECIPE

1/2 cup of coconut water (or filtered water)

1 cup of green grapes

1/4 cup cucumber, peeled,chopped

1/2 kiwi, peeled

1/2 medium apple, halved (I used a Gala apple)

3/4 cup chopped fresh broccoli

1/2-inch-thick slice lemon, peeled, seeded

1/2 cup ice cubes

  1. 1. Place all the ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid. (you can make this in any high-speed blender.)
  2. Select Variable 1
  3. Turn on Machine and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to high.
  4. Blend for 1 minute or until desired consistency is reached.