Detox Cabbage Soup

This recipe is a fantastic, light soup that is great for detoxing after the indulgences of the holidays.  It's also low in calories so it's helpful if you're trying to lose a few extra pounds.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 head of cabbage, chopped into approx 1″ pieces
  • 1 medium onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup carrots, sliced
  • 1 cup green beans, cut into 1″ pieces
  • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 cups of baby spinach, chopped
  • 3 cloves of garlic, diced
  • 1 small can tomato paste 
  • 1 can of diced tomatoes (or 3.3 cups)
  • 4 cups of chicken broth
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Read the entire recipe and directions at Sober Julie.

Triple Seed Superfood Granola

This recipe combines hemp, flax, and chia seeds for an amazing granola full of beneficial nutrients! It’s also fantastic when combined with our homemade yogurt recipe to make your own parfaits!


Dry Ingredients:

•    3 cups crisp brown rice cereal (gluten-free)
•    3 cups gluten-free rolled oats
•    ½ cup shelled hemp seeds
•    ½ cup brown flax seeds
•    ¼ cup chia seeds

Wet Ingredients:

•    ½ cup brown rice syrup (or honey)
•    2 tablespoons flax oil (or other oil)
•    1 tablespoon molasses
•    ½ tablespoon vanilla extract

See the entire recipe and directions at Keepin’ It Kind.
 

Homemade Yogurt in a Crock Pot (Don't Be Afraid- You Can Do This!)

A friend of mine turned me on to this awesome recipe and I had to share it. Most people think making yogurt is too difficult to be attempted, or that you need a special machine to do it (I actually had a yogurt maker once upon a time, but it was literally twenty different parts to clean and keep track of- nobody has time for that).

This recipe uses a crock pot and makes a huge amount of yogurt (or Greek yogurt) for only the cost of a gallon of milk. I also love this recipe because you know everything that is going into it- no carrageenan, no artificial chemicals or preservatives, just milk- I’d recommend using organic.

The recipe below makes a gallon of yogurt, which will stay good for several weeks. Both my friend and her mom always have this in their fridge and have never had it go bad. I was worried at first since it seemed like a gallon of yogurt was such a large amount, but she says it’s actually a wonderful thing since it can be eaten with abandon for breakfast or even as an addition to recipes.

When she first told me about how she’s been doing this, I said it seemed like a lot of steps, but she said not to be scared off by that, that it’s mostly time that the yogurt just needs to sit unattended, and that the actual work is very little (and is worth it when you think how a tiny container of Greek yogurt costs $1 or more).

The things you’ll need:

1 gallon of milk (I’d recommend using organic whole milk)
½ cup of plain yogurt to use as your starter
Crock pot
A kitchen thermometer

Read the entire recipe and directions at The Tasty Cheapskate.
 

The only tip we have to add to the recipe is that after you cool the milk and before adding the starter yogurt would be to skim off the layer of film that forms on top of the milk. It’s not necessary, but my friend said it’s better to skim off the film than mix it in to keep the yogurt uniformly smooth.

Raw Tabouli Salad (Grain Free)

I love tabouli salad (it’s a Middle Eastern salad that is so refreshing and healthy!), and this is a neat spin on it. Usually tabouli contains bulgur wheat, but this recipe uses shelled hempseeds instead of the wheat- a neat idea that had never even occurred to me. 

Ingredients:

•    1 cup fresh parsley
•    1/2 cup fresh mint leaves*
•    1/4 teaspoon sea salt (I used 1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon)
•    4 medium yellow vine or Jersey tomatoes, chopped (I used 2-3 large red tomatoes)
•    1 cup shelled hemp seeds
•    2 tablespoons hemp oil (I used olive oil)
•    2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

*If I can’t find mint leaves, usually I’ll just substitute the mint for a bit more parsley, or even some fresh spinach. Another nice option is adding a bit of green onions to this recipe. I also usually add a bit more olive oil and lemon juice. 

See the entire recipe and directions at Oh She Glows

 

Simple Dairy Free Pumpkin Pie

I absolutely love pumpkin pie, and this is a perfect version for guests who are dairy free. The recipe also includes an easy recipe for pie crust, though we do have frozen pre-made gluten free pie crusts available at the store if needed.  Also, this recipe uses a whole can of pumpkin (maybe it's just me, but it drives me insane when a recipe only uses a partial can of pumpkin).

Crust:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 2 tablespoons rice milk

Filling:

  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cups rice milk (or your favorite non-dairy milk)

See the entire recipe and directions at All Recipes.

Two Gluten Free Stuffing Recipes

Who doesn't love stuffing on Thanksgiving- or at any time, really. Here are two great gluten-free stuffing recipes- the first is more elaborate, and the second is a great basic recipe that is easy to customize (though in truth, even with all the gourmet stuffing recipes everywhere, it's the basic recipes that have always been my favorites).

Udi's Gluten Free Stuffing Recipe

Ingredients

1 loaf of Udi’s Whole Grain Gluten Free Bread
1 loaf of Udi’s White Sandwich Gluten Free Bread
1/4 cup of fresh flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons of fresh sage
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup of unsalted butter or margarine
2 onions (or 1 large onion)
1/2 cup of chopped fennel
1/2 cup of chopped celery
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream

Read the entire recipe and directions at Udi's Gluten Free.

The Basic Gluten-Free Stuffing Recipe

1 loaf gluten-free sandwich bread, diced into 1-inch cubes
1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
2 large eggs
3 cups chicken stock, heated (feel free to use vegetarian broth if desired)

Read the entire recipe and directions at The Gluten Free Girl.

 

We also have gluten free and vegetarian gravy mixes available at the store.

Miso Roasted Brussels Sprouts

If you haven't eaten Brussels  sprouts recently, it's time to give them a try- they're full of vitamins and minerals as well as potent anti-cancer nutrients. Miso is a fermented soybean paste found in the refrigerated section at the health food store. It's delicious and gives this recipe a wonderful and unexpected savory flavor.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
1 pound Brussels sprouts
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
2 ½ tablespoons white miso paste
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon low sodium tamari or soy sauce
½ teaspoon Sriracha or other hot sauce (optional)

See the entire recipe and directions at The Foodie Physician

 

Pumpkin Spice Mug Cake (GF)

I am all about microwave mug cooking.  I won't pretend it's the most gourmet way to bake, but you just can't beat a single serving dessert that's ready in five minutes or less from start to finish.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons coconut flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 egg
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
1.5 tablespoons maple syrup
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

See the entire recipe and directions at Leelalicious.

Pumpkin Spice Baked Oatmeal Cups

These are simple to put together and make a great, quick fall breakfast. They store well too!

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups old-fashioned oats (use certified gluten-free, if necessary)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice mix (or use 1 teaspoon cinnamon,  3/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon allspice, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves)
  • 1 cup milk (I use unsweetened almond milk, but most milks should work)
  • 3/4 cup plain canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup honey

Optional add-in ideas:  white chocolate chips, regular chocolate chips, raisins, chopped walnuts

See the entire recipe and directions at Happy Healthy Mama.

Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte

This recipe makes a delicious, low sugar pumpkin spice latte that can be enjoyed at home!  It's a wonderful taste of fall!

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces brewed coffee (or 1-2 shots of espresso)
  • ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 3 Tablespoons pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 2-3 drops of liquid stevia (or sweetener of choice)
  • a sprinkle of cinnamon

See the entire recipe and directions at Eating Bird Food.

Naturally Fermented Pickles

If you've not tried fermented pickles, or "sour" pickles, you're in for a treat!  These pickles do not use vinegar, but salt water and the natural fermentation process of the cucumbers.  They're rich in probiotics and are absolutely delicious!  For those not interesting in recipes, we have Bubbies fermented pickles for sale at the store, which are seriously delicious (I ate a whole jar in one sitting- just saying).

Ingredients:

  • 24 (or so) small 4"-5" pickling cucumbers
  • 6 cloves garlic, ends removed and smashed
  • 6 bay leaves
  • 2 1/2 tbls pickling spice (cloves, coriander, allspice, pepper, mustard seeds)
  • Fresh Dill
  • 6 tbls large granule sea salt (kosher salt)

Read the full recipe and directions at My Humble Kitchen.,

Quinoa Salad with Grilled Vegetables

This salad is the most gorgeous thing ever, and is fantastic for end of summer barbecues! Grilling the vegetables gives them such a delicious, smoky flavor, and quinoa is a wonderful, high protein grain.

Ingredients:

1 large red onion, peeled, trimmed, sliced
1 large red bell pepper, cored, seeded, sliced
1 large yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, sliced
1 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise
1 medium yellow squash, sliced lengthwise
1 medium eggplant, trimmed, sliced
2 large portobello mushrooms, stemmed
1 pound asparagus spears, ends trimmed
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
2 cloves fresh garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Sea salt and ground pepper, to taste
2 ears of fresh corn, corn silk removed, husks on
3 cups cooked quinoa
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
Extra virgin olive oil, to taste
Juice from 1 lemon
Sea salt and ground pepper, to taste

Read the entire recipe and directions at The Gluten Free Goddess.

Dark Leafy Pesto

This is a fantastic twist on the standard pesto recipe that uses greens rather than basil leaves.  It's also very nutritionally dense and makes a healthy sauce to use on pasta or other grains.

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz. collard, kale, or mustard greens, tough stems trimmed
  • ¼ cup pecans
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled
  • ¼ cup sage leaves
  • ⅔ cup olive oil
  • ½ tsp. salt, optional
  • ⅛ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Read the entire recipe and directions at Vegetarian Times.

This sauce is also a delicious part of this recipe: Penne and Dark Leafy Pesto and Roasted Squash.

Corn and Summer Vegetable Sauté

This is a perfect summer dish that uses veggies fresh from the farmer's market!  

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 cup chopped green onions (about 4)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup sliced fresh okra (about 4 ounces)
1 cup chopped red bell pepper (about 1)
1 finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
1 cup fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears)
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

See the entire recipe and directions at My Recipes.

Raw Chocolate Smoothie with Avocado and Raw Honey

This recipe uses cacao powder which is also known as raw chocolate.  It's full of nutrients, and this shake has lots of good fats to keep you satisfied.  It makes a great fast breakfast or a healthy snack.  The avocado gives it such a creaminess, it tastes like an ice cream milkshake!

Ingredients:

1 frozen banana, sliced
1/2 avocado, pitted, chopped
2 tbsp raw cacao powder
1 tbsp raw honey
1 cup raw almond milk

See the entire recipe and directions at Organic Authority.

Easy No Bake Granola Bars

This is a recipe simple enough to make with kids and can be made without even turning on the oven. It's easily customizable as well!

Ingredients:

2 cups rolled oats
1 1/4 cups natural crunchy peanut butter
1 cup ground flaxseed
3/4 cup honey
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup sliced almonds

See the entire recipe and directions at All Recipes.

Veggie Hemp Sushi Salad

If you're looking for something a little different for lunch, this is it!  Plus, hemp seeds are delicious and are a great source of protein and omega 3's!

  • 2 tbsp Hemp Oil
  • 1/2 cup Shelled Hemp Seeds
  • 2 cups Sushi Rice, cooked according to package directions
  • 1 Cucumber, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp Rice Vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Tamari
  • 2 sheets Toasted Nori, cut into small pieces
  • 1 cup Green Onion, finely diced
  • 1/4 cup Pickled Ginger, cut into small strips
  • 2 tbsp Hot Pepper Sesame Oil (optional)
  • 1 tbsp Fresh Ginger, grated (optional)

Read the entire recipe and directions at Manitoba Harvest.

Simple German Cucumber Salad

This salad is light and tasty and is a snap to put together!  It's a welcome addition to any summer meal!

  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons white or apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 large cucumbers, peeled, very thinly sliced
  • 1/2 sweet onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill weed, chopped (or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried)

See the entire recipe and directions at Fearless Fresh.

Quick Matcha Superfood Smoothie

Matcha is green tea powder that is packed with antioxidants. This is an easy smoothie to put together since it only uses four ingredients, so it's fast to put together on a hectic morning.

  • 1 frozen banana, broken into pieces
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 1/2 cups coconut milk (or almond milk)
  • 2 teaspoons matcha (Japanese green tea) powder

See the entire recipe and directions at Bourbon and Honey.

For more information about the benefits of matcha powder, see this article on our website.