Things I'm Loving Lately: March 2014

Hi all!  I've been super busy at work, hence the lack of posts the past few weeks.  I haven't been cooking up a storm as usual, but I still wanted to share with you some of the eats I've been loving lately:

- Oranges - I've been loving this sweet citrus both in juices (like this one) and in it's whole form. 
- Raw walnuts - I go through phases with nuts, and right now I'm in a huge walnut phase.  They are so rich and satisfying, and packed with healthy fats that help you feel full for longer.  I love them plain, mixed into salads, and on top of a hot bowl of oatmeal.
- Oats - Speaking of oatmeal, I'm all about oats these days.  I love to make a hot bowl on the weekends, but I've also gotten into preparing overnight oats for weekdays. I can't believe  it has taken me so long to try overnight oats - they are the best! Check out the most basic recipe here.
- Figs - I seriously cannot get enough dried figs lately.  Figs are super good for you as they contain tons of potassium and dietary fiber.  I have to watch myself though - too many can give you a tummy ache (all that dietary fiber!).

Hmm... all of the ingredients above sound like they would make a really good cookie... maybe I'll have to do some baking this weekend =)

Until next time!

Teaching at New York Yoga!

Hi all-  I want to share the exciting news that I've started teaching at New York Yoga on the Upper East Side!  Not only am I ecstatic to have found a place to teach (this is a big deal - NYC is overrun with yoga teachers), I'm also very happy to have found a hot yoga studio where I can get my sweaty flow on!  It feels beyond amazing to get back into a heated practice, especially with this cold winter weather we've been having here.

For the month of March, I'll be teaching the 1:35 PM Yogi's Choice Donation class on Mondays and Tuesdays at the New York Yoga HOT studio on 85th Street.  Hope to see you on the mat!

Ch-ch-ch-chia!

I originally created this recipe because I was trying to come up with nutrient dense snacks that I could send with the BF for his extremely long days (and nights) at the office.  He's one of those people who forgets to eat, especially when stressed out, so I try to pack him snacks that are higher in calories (healthy calories that is) and that will hold him for hours at a time.  I was pleasantly surprised when I tried the result - a creamy, tangy treat that reminded me of Greek yogurt - but I knew I had whipped up a winner when this text came thru: "This chia pudding is DA BOMB."

What makes chia seeds so great? 

-Fiber! One serving has 1/3 the recommended daily value for adults.

-Omega-3s! Good fats that are important for brain health.

-Calcium! Who needs milk?

-Protein! 4.4 grams per serving.

-Blood sugar stabilizing! Which means fewer "wish I had a snickers" moments in the short run, and a lower chance of diabetes in the long run.  

If only we knew these things years ago, we would have just eaten those green pets before they had a chance to grow hair.  But they were sooooo cute...

 
Ch-ch-ch-chia Pudding
-2 TBSP Chia seeds
-1/2 cup non dairy milk (for a super thick and rich pudding, use full fat coconut milk; for lighter option, try light coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk)
-1 tsp lemon juice
-pinch of lemon zest
-Add ins (optional): fruit butter or jam, fresh berries or chopped fruit, shredded coconut, cacao nibs, chopped nuts... the possibilities are endless.

Pour non dairy milk of choice into small bowl (or small container if you are making for later).  Stir in chia seeds, lemon juice, and lemon zest.  Cover and let sit for 5-10 minutes.  Stir again and top with your choice of add ins and sweetener (if desired).  Enjoy immediately or transfer to an air tight container for storage.  

Raw Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

Packed with natural sugars and healthy fats, these little cookies are my new favorite after- lunch sweet treat. I keep a batch in the freezer and have noticed that they dry out a bit when stored like this, but I think that makes them taste even more like a baked cookie (versus your typical raw energy ball).  Seriously, these cookies taste so much like the baked, less wholesome version that I'm surprised (in a good way) every time I bite into one.

Like many raw treats, this one has limited ingredients (PB, dates, almonds, salt) and comes together in a snap.  Head over to A House in the Hills for the recipe!

Note:  I added a bit more peanut butter than the recipe calls for.  Taste and adjust as you go.

UPDATE: I also made these with almond pulp instead of almonds and they turned out just fine! I'm always happy to find a recipe to use up the mountains of pulp I have in my freezer (from making homemade nut milk).  SCORE.

Green Sunshine Smoothie

I'm really digging this living-with-your-significant-other-thing.  For one, I have someone to test recipe experiments on.  As I've mentioned in a previous post, our apartment is hot, so that means smoothies for breakfast in the dead of winter are totally appropriate.  While I'm permanently stuck on banana smoothies, the "other" likes his drinks more fruity (versus creamy), so I have been experimenting with different recipes incorporating citrus, berries, and other non-banana ingredients.  I made this combo this AM and had to admit that it was pretty darn delicious, almost delicious enough to convince me to cheat on my daily banana blend...almost.

Green Sunshine Smoothie - Vegan, Gluten Feee, Refind Sugar Free, Soy Free Option

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup soy milk (or any non dairy milk)

1 ripe banana

1 handful baby spinach

1 TBSP coconut butter (optional but I think it takes the smoothie to the next level)

1-2 pitted dates (optional depending on how sweet you want your smoothie)

Blend, sip, and feel like you are on a beach soaking up sunshine (sigh).  

(This is obviously not a picture of the smoothie, or a current picture.  But this drink will make you feel like you are in a tropical oasis, as pictured above.) 

Eats in the New Hood

Since we've moved to Brooklyn Heights, especially when we just moved and hadn't unpacked anything, we've been exploring the local food spots.  Here's a few words on my favorite local spots thus far:

Siggy's Good Food

The first night I was in NYC we came here to eat, and immediately I was in love: the funky atmosphere (there's a sign outside that says aliens eat free) and healthy, but innovative menu (vegan and gluten free lasagna made with vegetables instead of noodles), and, of corse, the juice bar (fresh wheatgrass!!).  While not super cheap, Siggy's is definitely affordable, especially considering the quality, organic ingredients they use.  I'm obsessed with the "Live Earth" salad - a giant helping of amazingly fresh and tasty greens topped with cucumber, sprouts, avocado, and roasted red pepper.  Seriously, I've ordered this salad 4 times I think.  The juices also rock and the staff are friendly.  If you come visit me, I will most likely take you here.

Tutt Heights 

Tutt Heights is a little place that so happens to be next door to our apartment (literally, like the UPS man leaves our packages with Tutt if we aren't home).  And it just so happens to have amazing pita and babaganoush and falafel, among other things. Oh, did I mention that it is cheap?  We've also been here multiple times.  If you come visit me, Ariel will insist on taking you here to try the babaganoush.

Dellarocco's 

On New Years Eve, we decided to go out to dinner.  This was a big deal, since we both had been sick and in bed for the entire past week.  We decided to try out Dellarocco's, which is located on Montague Street, which is the main drag in Brooklyn.  We ordered a salad, roasted vegetables as an appetizer, and two pizzas.  A lot of food for two people but I wanted to try their Marinara pizza, which has no cheese (yay!). And there is no such thing as too much leftover pizza, right?  We did end up having leftover pizza, not because it wasn't delicious - it was.  The sauce was really tasty and the crust was crisp and lightly charred by the wood fire grill.  The salad and veggies were great as well.  I'm sure we will be getting pizza from here again (they deliver!).

Iron Chef House

Until last week, I hadn't had sushi since moving to NYC, which for some one who loves her nori rolls, is kinda a big deal.  Enter: Iron Chef House.  Located just a short walk from our apartment, this place was a great Yelp! find.  I was so happy to see that they had more than just your typical cucumber avocado roll for vegetarians, and the option for brown rice! Not sure what else you could ask for.  I got a vegetable sushi assortment and Ariel got some variety plate with sushi, noodles, and a few other things.  We both agreed that everything was great, and the service was good as well.  I can see many sushi take-out dinners in my future. And that comforts me.

Hanco's

While I haven't been to the Brooklyn Heights location, I've eaten at Hancos twice and have no complaints. There's not much better than a huge bowl of steaming hot (vegetarian) pho on a cold day, so you can bet I will be back here again soon.

Lantern Thai Kitchen

Having visited Thailand this past summer, Thai food has a special place in my heart.  Not only is it delicious, and generally somewhat healthy, it brings back good memories.  For those reasons, I'm glad to have found a neighborhood spot that serves good Thai.  Try the red curry with vegetables, it's the bomb.

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I've found good sushi, falafel, and wheatgrass - what else is there to look for in this world we call Brooklyn Heights? Well not much, except a yoga studio... But that is for another day and another post.  Until next time - peace and good eats!

DATES

Dates are nature's candy.  And no, I don't mean the dinner-and-a-movie type, although those are sweet too.  Seriously, who can argue that a dense, gooey medjool date isn't just as good, if not better than any candy?  For those of you who don't taste the similarity, try this simple recipe.  I promise when you try these chocolate covered bites of heaven, you will swear you are eating a Snickers (with no guilt, sugar rush, or sugar crash).

 

Nature's Candy (Chocolate Covered Stuffed Dates)

1 TBSP coconut oil

3 TBSP natural peanut butter **Sub any seed or nut butter if you have allergies/intolerances/aversions

1 cup vegan dark chocolate (chips, bar broken into pieces, whatever you want)

10-15 medjool dates, pitted (will depend how big your dates are and how full you stuff them)

1. In a small bowl, combine the coconut oil and peanut butter. 

2. In the center of each date (where the pit used to be), spoon a small amount of the peanut butter mixture, about 1/2-1 tsp depending on the size of the date. You don't want the date overflowing with PB, but try to get as much as you can.

3. Place stuffed dates on a tray lined with parchment paper and stick in your freezer to firm up.

4. While dates are in the freezer, melt your chocolate using a double boiler (or microwave). Once chocolate is melted, remove from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes.

5.  Remove dates from freezer.  Coat with melted chocolate and return to tray.  Once you've covered all your dates, stick the tray back in the freezer for about 30 minutes.  Then transfer your treats to a container and store in the freezer until ready to enjoy.  

These come together quickly, which is good because they will disappear quickly too!  I'm already getting ready to make my third batch... 

Shhh... Don't tell anyone I'm eating the last one!

What's your favorite healthy indulgence?