the perfect ingredient: coconut oil.

September 1, 2015August 30, 2015Leave a comment

In most of my stove top cooking (and baking sometimes, too) I now default to coconut oil. This is a recent switch in the last 2 years or so, but I really love the added boost of flavor and the amazing benefits that coconut oil has to offer. It’s also my go-to ingredient in many of my skin care routines and home-made products.

Copy of CoconutOil_0007_Smoothie

Let’s Learn More.

Coconut oil is actually almost 92% saturated fat. Because of the fat content, it turns to a solid at room temperature.

Please don’t let the fat content deter you! This fat offers many health benefits including the following:

improves mineral absorption (which can improve the condition of your scalp, hair, & skin)
protects the liver against toxins
helps prevent kidney & gall bladder dieases
improves blood sugar levels (& can help manage diabetes)
contains antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties

Why It’s Important to Choose Organic:

Let’s talk a little about the manufacturing of coconut oil. It’s a fairly lengthy process, but to summarize for you, coconuts are collected and broken open. The flesh inside is then allowed to dry. After the flesh has dried, it is heated at low temperatures to evaporate any additional moisture. This leaves the manufacturer with oil residue.

Now, to expedite the process, many manufacturers use additional chemicals and additives to expedite drying and heating to extract the oils. If you purchase organic coconut oil, no chemicals were used during the process AND the coconut was also grown in an organic manner.

I’m not one of those people that believes organic everything is a must, but I do try to go organic when I can or when chemical absorption would be very high, like in a case like this.

Remember that we vote with our purchases. Purchase wisely!

Why you Should Choose Virgin.

I know, who knew this could be so complicated. Just like olive oil, coconut oil has different grades of oil.

Virgin coconut oil is oil that is made from fresh coconut while refined coconut oil is made from the dried meat of the coconut. The refined coconut oil is typically what you see in stores. In this process, the oil needs to be refined, deodorized, and filtered through bleached clays to remove impurities. I try to stay away from the refined stuff, although it typically has a less ‘coconut-y’ smell if you’re not really into that.

If you see extra virgin coconut oil, note that there really isn’t a process that makes the virgin coconut oil any more virgin, so this is just marketing at its finest.

Okay, This Sounds Great. What Do I really Do with it?

Here are a few of my favorite ways to use coconut oil in the kitchen:

In a stir fry or quick sauté (coconut oil is less sensitive to heat than other oils, so it’s perfect for this!)
As butter substitute in baking
To make your own raw chocolate bars
In a supercharged smoothie
In bulletproof coffee
Spread on toast

I’ll be posting a delicious cauliflower recipe that uses coconut oil tomorrow – make sure to check back!

You may have noticed from the photos boldly declaring ‘THRIVE,’ but I’m also very excited to announce that we have partnered with Thrive Market (mentioned here in our Cacao Banana Shake recipe), as they are truly a company that has values that match ours. Even better, Thrive is now offering our followers and readers a free 30 day trial membership + a free 15-oz jar of Nutiva Coconut Oil + 15% off your next purchase! Just click here to see more details!

For Free, you say?

Yes, that’s what I said! Just click here to sign up. For new Thrive members, you will receive the free coconut oil to try out and see if you like it. If you’re an existing member, you will still receive 10% off your order!

What do you use coconut oil for? I’d love to hear more below!

Refreshing: Lemon Verbena Tisane.

August 9, 2015August 24, 2015Leave a comment

Lemon Verbena is, hands down, one of my personal top 5 herbs. More on the benefits of Lemon Verbena later.

For now, let’s talk about one delicious way to prepare this herb as a lovely and refreshing beverage.

First, what’s a tisane?

A tisane (pronounced tea-zahn) is the name of any infusion of herbs or spices. Technically, ‘teas’ like chamomile, lemon balm, mint, etc. aren’t teas at all. Tea leaves (for green tea, black tea, white tea, etc.) all come from the same plant: Camellia sinensis. Only teas that contain leaves which come from that plant are technically teas at all.

So, what does that mean for us? Well, nothing really! It’s just interesting to know! And, before I had the amazing opportunity to spend time in Darjeeling, a town noted for its tea industry (more on that later, too), I had no idea that this was the case. Maybe you didn’t either?

Okay, Great. Let’s Get Started!

Agreed.

Ingredients:

Extremely Simple:

A Large Handful of Fresh Lemon Verbena Leaves
Hot Water (just under boiling)

Optional:

St-Germain Liqueur‎ to add even more deliciousness to this night cap.

Let’s Make It!

I’m sure you guessed, but it’s just like making a tea. Put the leaves in a teapot and pour the hot water over.

Let this steep for ~5 minutes while covered. If it’s not covered, you’re letting the beneficial essential oils of the plant escape, and we don’t want that!

I don’t use any sweetener, because it’s so light and refreshing as-is.

On occasion, I do like to add just a splash of St-Germain Liqueur‎ to add another layer of flavor that enhances the profile perfectly. (And St-Germain Liqueur‎ is my favorite, always).

That’s it! Now enjoy and end your evening well. You deserve it!

steeping with my grandmother’s beautiful jars behind. always make me think of her ❤

Do you make tisanes? Any tips, tricks, or favorite herbs? Let us know in the comments below!

ps. I also started making some Lemon Verbena oil that I will use to make delicious meals in the future. How-to on this coming soon!

Xox,

Leah

Delicious: Cacao Banana Shake (+ More on Cacao)

August 8, 2015August 24, 2015Leave a comment

I definitely have a sweet tooth. I always have a bit of a chocolate craving, especially in the afternoons & evenings and have been playing with ways to satisfy my cravings without consuming too much chocolate.

I came up with this delicious Cacao Banana Shake that is always exactly what I want when I’m craving a little something sweet.

But First, A Little On Cacao

When you read headlines and articles about the amazing benefits of chocolate, they aren’t talking about milk chocolate you find in the store, but they are talking about raw cacao. Lucky for us, it’s just as (if not more) delicious, but sometimes does take a little getting used to!

So what is raw cacao exactly? It is the powder that is made after un-roasted cacao beans are cold-pressed. Fat is removed (the butter) and living enzymes are kept intact.
Cocoa is also a powder and looks very similar, but, boy, is it different! We get cocoa from roasting raw cacao at high temperatures, which changes the molecular structure, ultimately making it less nutritionally beneficial for us to consume. In other words, it is the over-processed version of cacao.

There are many benefits to consuming cacao. Here are a few of them:

Nervous system protection due to very potent antioxidants
Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and high blood pressure
Guards against toxins
Mood booster!
Rich in minerals (especially iron & magnesium)

So, what do you say? Let’s get to it!

Pro-tip: You might find that some brands (cough, Hershey’s, cough), has a product labeled as 100% Cacao on the front, but if you look at the ingredients, you’ll see that it lists Cocoa, which is not the same thing as Cacao, as noted above. Be careful with tricky marketing designed to pull you in!

Ingredients:

1 (Over)Ripe Banana, Peeled
2 Tablespoons Raw Cacao Powder (or to taste)
1.5 Cups of Almond Milk (or milk of choice. Try to avoid dairy, as research has shown that dairy can inhibit the absorption of raw cacao’s nutrition.)

Pro-tip 2: I buy my Raw Cacao Powder (and Raw Cacao Nibs – see below) in bulk so I can get exactly the amount I need. And label them in pretty jars with fancy labels, of course.

Optional:

Cacao Nibs for a little extra crunch and texture
Superfood Powder or Protein Powder for extra power in your shake! I really like Coco Mojo Energy Elixir by Essential Living Foods. I got mine on Thrive Market*.

Let’s Make it!

Simple:

Put all ingredients in blender (I put milk in first, then the cacao so it doesn’t stick or clump on the bottom)
Blend for 20 seconds or until desired consistency
Pour into a fancy glass and let out a big sigh – it’s delicious!

*Thrive Market is a neat online food marketplace whose mission is to make healthy living easy and affordable for everyone. You can get a free membership for ~30 days and then it costs ~$50 for the year. In exchange for your membership fees, they provide a membership to a family in need. You’ll find great deals on organic, raw, and delicious food and there are many unique finds! Note that these words are mine and not sponsored by Thrive, however the link is an affiliate linked to my account.

Xox,

Leah

Refreshing: Watermelon Strawberry Breeze

August 7, 2015August 24, 2015Leave a comment

I didn’t realize National Watermelon Day was this past week, but this watermelon-based smoothie is a recipe you can enjoy any day of the summer! Completely light, crisp, and refreshing, this Watermelon Strawberry Breeze is perfect to cool off and relax on these hot, fun summer days.

(Side note: Who creates these whacky national days? Is there a national day for everything now?)

Anyway, here is the (extremely simple) recipe:

Ingredients

Only 3 ingredients are needed:

3 Cups Cubed Watermelon (Chilled is best)
1 Cup Strawberries (Chilled)
1 Whole, Peeled Lemon

You may also choose to add (but definitely don’t need to – still delicious, either way!):

Mint Leaves (as garnish or blended into the smoothie)
Crushed Ice (for a cooler taste. I personally like it without and prefer the full fruit flavor instead)