Vegan Tacos

Even if you are not Vegan, I promise you will love these tacos.   This recipe is from the Nutrition Stripped Cookbook and it is a crowd pleaser. Fresh Pico De Gallo and homemade cashew cheese makes these tacos complete. I make these often and usually have to double the recipe because they go so quickly.  Using romaine lettuce adds some greens to the meal and you can also make this dish into a taco bowl as well.  Happy Eating!

Ingredients

·      1 cup raw walnuts

·      ½ cup raw almonds

·      2 tablespoons olive oil

·      ¼ cup red onion

·      2 cloves garlic

·      1 tablespoon tomato paste

·      1 tablespoon ground cumin

·      1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

·      1 teaspoon sea salt

·      fresh pepper and 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Add all ingredients to Food Processor and mix well until nuts are chopped down finely.  This can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week,

For the Pico De Gallo:

·      3 large tomatoes

·      1 medium red onion

·      1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

·      2 jalapeno peppers, chopped

·      Juice of 1 lemon

·      Juice of 1 lime

·      1 clove of garlic

·      1 teasooon salt

Chop all ingredients by hand or place everything into a food processor.  After well mixed place in the refrigerator for at least an hour for flavors to deepen.  Enjoy. 

Clean Eating Banana Bread

Banana bread reminds me of my G-ma <3.  She made the best pastries, cookies and cakes that my brother and sisters all gobbled up as kids.  I blame my sweet tooth on her! This recipe is clean and adaptable.  You can make this recipe vegan with flax eggs and fresh nut milk or water, and also make this whole grain with different flours.  This loaf comes out of the oven very moist with great texture on the outside.  Happy Baking Friends. 

Ingredients:

·      1 ¾ cup Gluten Free Flour Blend (I used Pamela’s Artisan blend) **If not gluten free you can use Organic whole wheat flour as well.

·      1 tsp baking soda

·      ½ tsp salt

·      ½ tsp ground cinnamon

·      1/3 cup melted and cooled coconut oil ( if not vegan you can sub Organic Grass-Fed unsalted Butter)

·      ½ cup Maple Syrup or Honey

·      2 Farm eggs (or Flax if Vegan)

·      1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large bananas)

·      ¼ cup milk of chose (Almond, Brazil Nut, Cashew or water)

·      1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·      Options: add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans or get crazy and add dark chocolate! Pictured above I have walnuts, dark chocolate chips and a fresh sliced banana on top. 

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 and grease a 9x 5-inch loaf pan.  In a large bowl mix together all dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt) and set aside.  In mixer smash the two bananas pretty well before adding melted then cooled coconut oil, maple syrup, eggs, milk of choice and vanilla.  Bled well and then start to add dry ingredients.  Last add your addition toppings if using and mix well.  Batter will be lumpy!  Add to the prepared loaf pan and throw into the oven.  Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out pretty clean.  Let bread cool in the load for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool for about 20 minutes before slicing.  Enjoy alone or with almond butter and yogurt! 

Mint Dream Cacao Smoothie….

This was much needed after a sand run with added arm and core work.  For this recipe I add zucchini in place of banana because I have a food sensitivity to banana.  I have banana on occasions but for smoothies I have found that replacing it with zucchini tastes great and keeps the sugar down.  For better digestion I recommend steaming the zucchini first then freezing (perfect prep-cooking task to create smoothies for the week). Give this one a try!

Ingredients:

·      ½ cup Steamed then Frozen Organic Zucchini

·      ½ cup frozen coconut meat

·      1 tbs almond butter

·      2 handfuls of Greens (spinach, kale, swiss chard)

·      ½ cup fresh mint

·      ½ cup water or fresh nut milk

·      Squeeze of lemon

Toppings: hemp seeds and cacao nibs and don’t forget your glass straw #noplastic