Blessed with sweet, buttery flavour, butternut squash is a stellar addition to your winter lineup of smoothie ingredients, although this drink would also work with cooked sweet potato or pumpkin purée. Kefir adds tang along with a healthy population of probiotic bacteria for better digestive and immune health. You want to use the kefir that has a milk-like consistency as opposed to the thicker yogurt-like versions.
Stealth health
A British study found that subjects perceived creamy drinks (this one fits the bill) to be more filling than noncreamy ones, even when they contained the same number of calories.
1 cup (250 mL) plain kefir beverage (noneffervescent)
1 cup (250 mL) cubed butternut squash, cooked and cooled
1 Tbsp (15 mL) ground flaxseed
1/2 tsp (2 mL) vanilla extract
1/4 tsp (1 mL) cinnamon
1/4 tsp (1 mL) ginger powder
1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) nutmeg
1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) ground cardamom
1 small frozen banana, chopped
Place all ingredients in blender container in the order listed and blend until smooth.
Serves 1.
Each serving contains: 294 calories; 16 g protein; 13 g total fat (4 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 33 g total carbohydrates (22 g sugars, 4 g fibre); 146 mg sodium
source: "Whip It Good", alive #388, February 2015
This nut-free take on classic queso dip is everything you want and more. Paired with chips, crackers, or crudités, this creamy, zesty, smoky, and oh-so-satisfying dip is easy enough to whip up for a cozy snack or as an appetizer for company. Go nuts! If you’re okay to eat nuts, try substituting sunflower seeds with 1 cup (250 mL) raw cashews.
Custardy French toast drizzled in pure maple syrup is a cozy, cold-weather breakfast classic. We’ve given this recipe a vegan makeover by swapping out eggs in the batter with mashed banana and a bit of ground flaxseed. This clever swap makes the French toast reminiscent of banana bread. Top it off with a decadent drizzle of raspberry syrup and you’re just a quick stint in the kitchen away from breakfast bliss. Citrus swap If you don’t have any bananas around, consider swapping for an orange. In blender, add zest of one large orange along with peeled fruit and other batter ingredients. Blend until smooth and proceed with the recipe as described.
A satisfying plant-based dinner or packed lunch, quinoa and beans add filling protein, while greens, cucumbers, roasted veggies, and a probiotic-rich dressing bring texture and flavour. Try it with a creamy plant-based cheese on top, or goat cheese for non-plant-based eaters. Mix and match Use this recipe as a guideline. Add in your go-tos such as chopped walnuts or hemp hearts, pitted sliced dates, roasted cauliflower, and crumbled feta (plant-based, if desired).
Brown rice and two varieties of lentils cook in one pot with broth, coconut milk, and simple spices. Nourishing spinach and sweet green peas bring this meal to life. It’s true sunshine in a bowl for those cold winter nights. Main grains White basmati rice, short-grain brown rice, quinoa, or millet can be used in place of the brown basmati rice. Try a mixture of grains for added nutrition and taste (e.g., millet and basmati rice, quinoa and millet, and so on).