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Flaxseeds, the Oldest Super Food!

9/22/2019

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It's just a simple seed, right? One of the oldest grains in the world might be the key to your best health yet, and it is so simple to add to almost any recipe! 

Hello Friends! How is it already September? I hope your little ones have enjoyed their first few weeks back at school, and you're enjoying the last (very warm) summer days! Did you enjoy my recipes last month? This month we are going to be talking about one of my favorite items to cook and bake with, Flax Seeds! Again, these little seeds haven't just been a trend in recent years. They are one of the oldest superfoods in the world and have a really interesting history. 

These little seeds have been cultivated as early as 3000 BC in Babylon. They were cultivated in ancient Egypt and China and played a huge role in Asian medicines for thousands of years. Powerful leaders like Charles the Great and Charlemagne ordered their subjects and warriors to eat them for their incredible nutrients. They were once called "Linum Usitatissimum" meaning the most useful, and for good reason. 

Today these seeds are categorized as a superfood and called one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet. Rightfully so! 
  • They are loaded with nutrients! You will find protein, fiber, Vitamin B1 and B6, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and more within them. 
  • They are high in omega 3 fats.
  • They are a source of lignans, which could reduce your risk of cancer.
  • They are a great dietary fiber.
  • They might help with cholesterol, blood pressure, help control blood sugar and help prevent diabetes and heart disease. 
  • They help control hunger, helping with weight loss.
  • They are incredibly versatile when cooking. It is so easy to add them to almost anything. 
  • It comes in different forms. Seeds, oil, and ground seed. This makes it even easier to consume and cook with! 
  • You only need 1 tablespoon a day to receive all of these incredible benefits. Although doctors prescribe not going over 5 tablespoons a day. 
So in celebration of this incredible seed and the fall season upon us, I wanted to share this incredible recipe celebrating both! Here is a yummy recipe for Pumpkin Flax Seed Muffins! I hope you enjoy this recipe and try it out. If you do, please share your results and what you think! 

What You Will Need: 
  • Two Tablespoons Pumpkin Seeds
  • One teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
  • Three tablespoons Agave Nectar
  • 2 Eggs (or egg substitute of your choice) 
  • Half cup of vanilla almond milk (or milk of your choice) 
  • One and a half cups Pumpkin Puree
  • One teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Half teaspoon baking powder
  • Half cup Suncanat (or sugar substitute of your choice) 
  • Half cup ground Flax Seed
  • Three fourth cup of 100% whole wheat flour (or flour of your choice!)

How To Prepare
  • Preheat your oven to 375. While it is heating, grease a twelve cup muffin pan or line it with baking cups
  • Combine your flour, flaxseed, Sucanat, baking powder, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice into a mixing bowl. Then add all of your wet ingredients, your pumpkin, almond milk, eggs, agave nectar, and vanilla. Blend all of this well until it is smooth. 
  • Pour your newly made muffin mix into the muffin cups. Once all the batter is poured out, sprinkle your pumpkin seeds onto the top of the batter. 
  • Put your muffin pan into the oven for twenty minutes or until a fork comes out clean after cutting into the center of your muffin. 
  • Enjoy! 






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The Wonders of Nutritional Yeast!

8/23/2019

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Who knew that adding such a simple ingredient to some of your favorite everyday snacks could take it up a notch? 

Happy August everyone! Now that summer is coming to an end, you know what that means! Our little ones are heading back to school - and will be needing delicious, healthy, and yummy after school snacks. In the spirit of celebrating my love of eating healthy and clean, I wanted to share three different options to make for your little ones. Each of these after school snacks are easy to make and will be perfect for all of your kids and for your kids at heart. For this blog, we will be talking about one of my all-time favorite ingredients; nutritional yeast! For those of you who are new to nutritional yeast - get ready for a whole new landscape of flavors. It is going to change how you snack and what you snack on.

Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast, meaning that their cells have been killed and are inactive by the time it arrives on the shelves of the grocery store. It has a delicious nutty, cheesy, and savory flavor and is a common substitute for cheese. But with something so delicious and nutritious, it won't feel like a substitute for anything! It also has an excellent source of vitamins and minerals too.

So, I decided to take after school snacking to the next level. I found these delicious recipes, and I cannot wait for my family to try all of them this school year. I hope you try them with me and share what your family thought about them! 

Recipe Number One: Cheeto Chickpeas
This delicious (and altogether very additive) snack takes you back to the original childhood snack. But now, ramping it up into a much healthier snack that you will be thrilled to serve to your family!

What you will need:
  • 1 (15-ounce) can unsalted chickpeas, drained
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic (no salt added)​
Directions:
  • Start by preheating your oven to 400
  • While preheating, line a baking sheet or cookie sheet with parchment paper
  • Drain and rinse the chickpeas from the can in a colander. Pat them dry and allow them to continue to dry for another 5-10 minutes.
  • Put the chickpeas in a large bowl with the olive oil and sea salt, tossing them until they are coated.
  • Put the newly tossed chickpeas on the parchment paper and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Every 10 minutes, toss them and put them back in the oven
  • While the chickpeas are cooking, mix your Cheeto seasoning. Mix together the nutritional yeast, salt, and garlic in a bowl.
  • When the chickpeas are cooked and crispy, remove them.
  • Remove them from the baking sheet and into the bowl with your Cheeto mix
  • Toss them in the Cheeto mix until they are totally coated
  • Enjoy!

For our next snack, we will be taking a spin on another (healthier) snacking favorite: the Kale chip! But adding just a little bit of nutritional yeast will bring a whole new level of delicious to your next batch of Kale chips!!

What you will need:
  • Kale (About 2 large stocks, that will yield about 4 cups worth of leaves) 
  • Avocado Oil (1 tablespoon, plus a little extra on the side for your hands while prepping and cooking) 
  • Nutritional yeast (1 1/2 tablespoon) 
  • Garlic powder (1/2 teaspoon) 
  • Cumin (1/t teaspoon) 
  • Chili powder (1/4 teaspoon) 
  • Cayenne (1/8 teaspoon) 
  • Pink salt (to taste) 
Directions
  • Being by heating your oven to 300. 
  • Take a large baking sheet or cookie tray and line it with parchment paper. 
  • Remove the leaves from the stock of the kale. Cut or rip the leaves into big pieces and let them dry. A salad spinner helps them dry faster and more efficiently. 
  • Put the dry leaves in a bowl and pour on about a half tbs of the avocado oil onto the leaves. Massage the oil into the leaves and sprinkle on about 1 tbs of the nutritional yeast and all of the seasoning. 
  • After massaging all of those seasonings on, oil your hands with the avocado oil, and massage in the rest of the nutritional yeast into the leaves. 
  • Put all of the massaged, oiled, and seasoned leaves onto your baking tray and sprinkle on your allotted amount of pink salt. 
  • Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, but watch closely, they can burn very quickly. 
  • Cool and enjoy! 

This last snack recipe is one of my favorites. Movie theater popcorn smells SO delicious - but with all that butter on there, it'll stop you in your tracks. So why not try this delicious butter-free popcorn recipe instead? 

What you will need: 
  • 1/3 cup of Nutritional Yeast
  • 1 Teaspoon of fine sea salt, or as much as you'd like to taste 
  • 3 Tablespoons of coconut oil, enough to coat the bottom of the pan 
  • 1/2 Cup popcorn kernels 
Directions: 
  • Put your nutritional yeast and salt into a large bowl or container with a lid 
  • Heat your oil in a saucepan on medium heat, and add 3 to 4 kernels to the pan. Once those kernels start popping, add in the rest so they lay as a single layer on the bottom of the pan. Cover your pan with a lid and give it a shake so the kernels are covered with oil. 
  • Once all the kernels start popping, sake your pan every 15 seconds so the un-popped ones fall to the bottom of the pan and pop as well. 
  • Once all the kernels are popped, put the hot popcorn into the container of salt and nutritional yeast and shake until the kernels are all covered 
  • Enjoy! 

I hope that your family enjoys these snacks as much as mine. If you're new to the world of nutritional yeast, welcome! I hope you love it as much as I do. There are so many ways to enjoy it in your meals and so many incredible was to use it. Explore these recipes and get creative - that's when some really delicious things happen in your kitchen! 
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A Twist on a Southern Classic

7/18/2019

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Wanting to savor a taste of the South while still eating clean? Follow this simple recipe! 

Happy July Friends! I hope you all enjoyed the last recipe I shared for a light and summery chickpea salad!

Has your summer been full of delicious fresh summer fruits and veggies? Have you been going out to any local farms and picking your own with your little ones? I just love picking fresh fruits and veggies together as a family!  Have you been trying out any new fun and delicious recipes?

Now I know some people still might think Clean Eating is just a "fad." But news flash everyone! Eating clean and eating to make you feel good has always been around. But for those of you cooking for friends and family members who still aren't believers in this approach to cooking your meals,  there is always a fun and yummy way to compromise.

The South is notorious for fried, buttery, and fatty foods. Not necessarily the healthiest cuisine! But what if you could change up some of those favorite southern classics towards clean eating? Let's start with a simple staple - Okra! Follow this beautifully simple and clean recipe to make the perfect roasted okra to pair with any summer meal!

Now, this takes about twenty minutes to make from prep from being to being on the table, and serves two!  So if you want to make more - just multiply the measurements by the number of people you are cooking for!

What you will need is:
  • 1 pound trimmed okra.
  • 2 Teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • A nice healthy pinch of Kosher salt
  • Fresh ground pepper (to taste)
  • A sprinkle of curry powder (goes a long way!)
Instructions:
  • Preheat your oven to 450
  • After you've cleaned and trimmed your okra put it in a large mixing bowl
  • Pour the olive oil, the pinch of salt, pepper, and your sprinkle of curry powder on top of the okra
  • Toss the okra until all the ingredients are evenly spread
  • Spread out the okra on a lined baking sheet (make sure they aren't touching) and roast for 15 minutes
  • Let cool - and enjoy!
I can't wait for you to try this simple side dish!! Please test it out and let me know what you pair it with - I can't wait to see what you come up with!!
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Chickpea Salad: A Fresh Summer Salad

6/18/2019

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Have you guys been itching for a fresh summer salad that won't leave you feeling heavy after eating? Well, do I have a treat for you! 

Summer is a time of feeling free and having fun with friends and family! That means not spending as much time in the kitchen with this quick and easy chickpea salad recipe!

Chickpeas make salads fun! What's even cooler is how versatile you can be with chickpea salads, adding or substituting what you like and don't like with ease!

For the avocado lover, a Chickpea Avocado Salad is a special treat! It only takes 15 minutes to create, and this recipe gives you 5 cups!

Start with 4 cups of cooked chickpeas(this is about 2 (15-ounce) cans, that you have drained and rinsed.

Take 1 small red onionand peel it, then dice into small pieces. Unless you love onions, it's best to make them small as to not overwhelm the dish!

Peel and mince 2 cloves of garlicto give a nice flavor to your salad.

For those who like their meal a bit spicy, mince a jalapeño pepper(with or without the seeds).

Chop1/2 cup of cilantro.

Juice 4 limesand then zest only oneof them.

Salt the salad to taste.

Add 1 avocadothat has been coarsely chopped.

If you or someone in your family is not fond of avocado, the great thing about this recipe is that it can be substituted with any vegetable! For example, a cucumber! 

I hope you choose to make a fresh salad with chickpeas this summer and let me know what you think!
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OATMEAL GREEN SMOOTHIE MUFFINS- "Incredible Hulk" MUFFINS

6/13/2019

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  • 2 eggs (could use a flax egg if desire)
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 2 bananas, very ripe
  • 1 scoop JP Vanilla Complete (or could substitute 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup)
  • 2 cups rolled oats, uncooked (we use gluten-free oats)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 – 3 1/2 cups baby spinach or mixed greens depending on how green you want them
  • 1/4- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (may need more liquid depending on amount of spinach)
  • 1-2 tbsp flax seeds (optional)
  • ​Top with dairy free chocolate chips 

1. Preheat oven to 350° degrees.
2. Combine all ingredients in your food processor
3. Blend until the batter has a smooth consistency and even color
4. Portion out between the 12 muffin tin 
5. Top muffins with chocolate chips
6. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean
7. Cool in a pan before transferring the muffins to a cooling rack
8. Enjoy warm or allow to cool completely before storing in the fridge for up to 5 days or in a freezer for up to a month.

Original Recipe cred
https://thenaturalnurturer.com/2017/04/03/oatmeal-green-smoothie-muffins/?fbclid=IwAR1oUjJmDMP6MzTFf7KhkEFKJ2jvX4I5LYR-SzlBEG7Un37Oy-pnoqGmg9I

Made some changes to original recipe! Contact me for sample of JP Vanilla complete!
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Meal Prep Ease

10/26/2018

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​Meal prep doesn't have to be difficult! In this video, I go over how easily I prepare  meals for my family through the week! From Buddha Bowls to boiled eggs, anything can be planned in advance!

For working mamas, you may want to cook everything at the beginning of the week, but I end up cooking everything about 30 minutes before we eat! Don't forget about having plenty of fun and healthy snacks to have on hand! 

At the end of the video, I show you my Tower Garden where I grow our fresh greens ourselves! This makes it so easy for our family to know the greens we eat are fresh and healthy!
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Mason Jar Magic!

10/24/2018

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​We love using mason jars to keep our food fresh! In this video I demonstrate three awesome meals you can prep in jars!

Overnight Oats
-flax seeds
-cut up strawberries
-oatmeal
-plant based milk
-yummy shake mix

Salad in a Jar
-dressing on the bottom
-chick peas
-broccoli
-olives
-tomatos
-peppers
-carrots
-corn
-lettuce from our tower garden
-pine nuts
-nutritional yeast (makes it cheesy for those who don't eat dairy0!

*If your child doesn't care very much for lettuce, try layering hummus with the other ingredients of your salad!

Mexican Burrito Bowl
-salsa on the bottom
-cauliflower rice
-black-beans
-onions
-corn
-peppers

These mason jar recipes make it easy to eat out of the jar or dump into a bowl during meal time! How fun you guys!
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Saturday Pancakes!

10/19/2018

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Happy Saturday Morning!

It's pancake time! Our favorite thing to do in the morning on Saturdays is to make pancakes with the girls. Here is how you can make them with us!

Gather all the organic, fresh, and yummy ingredients!

1 Banana

2 eggs

1 Scoop of vanilla plant-based shake mix

2 spoon fulls of flax seeds

Blueberries (or any fruit you would like)

If you want, a splash of almond mix will be a great addition as well!

Then, all you have to do is mix the ingredients well before transferring it into the pan!

This is such an easy and yummy breakfast for the whole family to have a part in! If you decide to make this recipe on a Saturday morning, or at all, I would love to see a picture!
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Chipotle Bowls

10/17/2018

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​In only ten minutes you can make your own yummy chipotle bowl! 

First, we pick fresh greens from our Tower Garden and make a huge bowl filled with beautiful, fresh, lettuce! Being able to walk outside and have fresh greens is so amazing.

The wonderful part of making and having a chipotle bowl is the variety and customizable abilities! Having our girls choose what to put in their bowls ensures that they enjoy their healthy meal. From guacamole to mushrooms, the choices are endless and mouth watering!

Even though these are bowls, we love to have sides to our meals! One side we always make is roasted broccoli with everything but the bagel seasoning! The girls love it and it is so easy to make!

It's all about keeping meals fun and healthy for the family!
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Buddha Bowls

10/8/2018

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Here is a video on my most asked about recipe, the Buddha Bowl! Each Buddha Bowl is made differently with ingredients I have around the house that work well together.

Having a dish like a Buddha Bowl allows the girls to customize their meal within healthy means, and have fun!

The ingredients for the Bowl shown in the video are:
  • cauliflower rice
  • sautéed veggies
  • roasted broccoli
  • sweet potatoes
  • Chinese peanut sauce made with almond butter
  • veggies
  • avocado
  • edamamme

Again, you can create your very own super customizable Buddha Bowl with any healthy ingredients you want!
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  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • HEALTHY LIVING
    • PLANT-BASED LIVING FOR BEGINNERS
  • FAMILY LIFE
  • CONTACT