Breakfast

Homemade Greek Yogurt

I wanted to do this as a separate post especially because this is such a popular style of yogurt!  I love the flavor of my homemade so much better than the store bought and besides, it is remarkably cheaper. First of all, if you haven’t read the post on homemade yogurt, that is the perfect place to start. Greek yogurt is a secondary process once you have made a batch of your own regular yogurt. This process produces a thicker, creamier yogurt which I personally use to replace sour cream or cream cheese.  The longer you allow it to strain, the thicker it will be. Directions: 1. Set a strainer over a bowl lined with a coffee filter or cheesecloth or a greek yogurt strainer.  They carry this brand at Kitchen and Company and can also be used to make yogurt cheese. 2.  Empty your homemade yogurt into the strainer and cover 3. Let sit until it is as thick as you want it. I usually let mine sit in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours.  It comes out thick and creamy.  4. What you will have left in the bottom is the whey. When strained, it will keep indefinitely in the refrigerator and can be added to your smoothies, used to make sauerkraut and sourdough bread. Eat up and enjoy your greek yogurt! I use it as a sour cream replacement and also on its own as a filling breakfast or snack. I top with my homemade granola, fresh fruit and raw honey!    Enjoy!!         […]

Poppyseed Yogurt Breakfast Bread with a Lemon Drizzle

What is not to love about lemon and poppyseed?  One of my very favorite quick breads comes from and 80’s recipe that limited the fats but elevated the sugar.  This bread is made with far less sugar (and a natural sugar source), healthy fats and to top it off is made with whole grain.  I used a Monkfruit powdered sugar for the lemon glaze which keeps the sugar load even lower.  It has been a big hit over here in the Gleeson household.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!! Ingredients: 1 cup coconut sugar 2 medium lemons, zest and juice ½ cup whole milk plain yogurt 3 large eggs, at room temperature ½ tsp vanilla extract 1 ½ cup sprouted spelt flour ½ tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder ½ cup avocado oil 2 TBS. poppyseed 1/2 cup Lankanto monk fruit powdered sugar   Directions: 1.Pre-heat your oven to 350F  with a rack in the middle. 2. Grease a loaf pan with butter or coconut oil spray and line it with a strip of parchment paper.   3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sugar with the zest of the two lemons (reserve the lemon juice for the glaze). 4. Add in the yogurt, eggs and vanilla extract. Mix to combine.  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine spelt flour, poppyseed, salt and baking powder. Combine into the wet ingredients until just incorporated. Finally add in oil until just incorporated. The batter should look smooth and glossy. 6. […]

Favorite Balancing Hormone Smoothie

This is my favorite balancing hormone smoothie recipe! I cannot stress enough the benefits of each ingredient. There are no “fillers” in this smoothie and it is very nutrient dense.  Everything I chose serves a purpose. Whenever I teach a balancing hormones class this is the recipe I share and make for everyone to try. It’s packed full of superfoods, healthy fats and protein. I talk about the benefits of chia seeds and goji berries all the time and they are some of my absolute favorites that give this smoothie extra fiber, calcium and antioxidants. Maca powder is also a rockstar when it comes to balancing out hormones in the body.     There is a lot more I can say about these ingredients but suffice it to say that this recipe is the product of a lot of testing and research on my part. This smoothie really helps my body stay healthy, alert and energized. I get into much more detail about this smoothie in my classes so next time you see me announce one, consider coming!!!   I love being able to connect and tell people in person about these principals. I hope this one becomes a staple in your kitchen. You won’t be disappointed! (I’m pretty sure I’m laughing in this picture because most of my smoothies turn out this brownish color. Oh well, never judge a book by its cover!) Ingredients: 2 Scoops Love n’ Peas Protein powder. (Available to order on Amazon via my affiliate link) 1/2 can coconut […]

Apple Pie Coconut Yogurt Bowl

I am such a huge fan of Cocojune Coconut Yogurt.  It is so creamy and delicious and seriously…added to these hot apples it’s like a dollop of whipped cream.  This yogurt bowl is like a deconstructed hot apple pie.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.     Ingredients: 3/4 cup Cocojune Plain coconut yogurt (or your preferred kind of plain yogurt) 1 apple, sliced thinly 1/4 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. ghee drizzle of nut butter (I use almond butter) 2 TBS. toasted hazelnuts (or nut of choice) 1 tsp. ground flax seed 1 tsp. hemp hearts   Directions: Put yogurt in medium sized bowl. In a small skillet over medium heat, melt ghee.  Add apples and saute’ until almost soft. Add in cinnamon and continue to sauté until apple is soft enough for you. Top yogurt with hot apples. Drizzle nut butter over top of apples and yogurt. Sprinkle with nuts, flax and hemp hearts. ENJOY!!!!!!!!  

Grain-free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

It’s Pumpkin Season!!!! These muffins are delicious and turned out perfectly the first time which is great for me because I am not a baker!! My husband loves them as well so that’s a win for me:) I found this recipe on Smitten Kitchen and modified it just a tad. The first batch I made I added half a teaspoon baking powder for extra plumpness but that’s all I changed. The second batch, I tried coconut oil instead of olive oil and also added half a teaspoon of cinnamon. They were perfection! Enjoy one on a crisp morning with your best cup of coffee. Happy Fall!!!   Ingredients: 1 cup pumpkin puree 3 eggs ½ cup maple syrup ⅓ cup olive oil or coconut oil, warmed 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice ½ tsp. sea salt ¼ cup coconut flour 1 ½ cups almond meal (blanched preferably) ½ tsp. baking soda ½ cup chocolate chips or a 3.5oz. dark chocolate bar, roughly chopped raw pepitas/pumpkin seeds for garnish, optional   Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 360′ and grease a muffin tin with coconut oil or use liners. 2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, eggs, maple, oil, pumpkin pie spice and salt and whisk really well to combine. You want to get some air up in there. 3. Add the coconut flour and mix. Let that sit a minute to absorb some moisture. Add the almond meal, baking soda and stir again to mix. Add the chocolate […]

Homemade Almond Milk

Unfortunately for me, I have difficulty consuming cow dairy. I don’t seem to have gut disturbances but I will be clearing my throat continually after the consumption of a cracker smothered in melty brie or a bowl of my favorite ice cream. This gets annoying to anyone who is hanging with me at the time…aka my husband : ) Since switching to nut milks I have been continually frustrated with the added ingredients to what I am drinking. The only store bought brand I could find that had no additives was New Barn. I make so many foods from scratch that I was afraid to add yet another thing to my list of “food prep” for the week. It wasn’t until I tried this recipe that I realized how easy it was. I now make it on a regular basis and even have been creative with different flavors. Cinnamon and Vanilla are my favorite additions so I am sharing my favorite recipe with you! This recipe is originally from one of my favorite cookbooks, “At Home In The Whole food Kitchen” by Amy Chaplin. I am obsessed with all her recipes right now so you will see a lot more coming your way on my blog. Ingredients: 1 C raw nuts or seeds (Almonds and cashews are my favorite) 4 C water, plus more for soaking pinch of sea salt sprinkling of cinnamon 2 tsp vanilla Directions: To begin, you will need to acquire a nut milk bag. I chose one […]