The tradition of hanging holly in the house originates from Celtic lore, as it was believed to bring good luck to the home’s inhabitants. While this mystical plant is beautiful to behold, the leaves are tipped with prickly thorns and the bewitching berries are quite poisonous, so let’s call this a feast for the eyes alone.
The most lovely scent of the holidays (competing with our fir tree) is that of sliced oranges dehydrating for several hours, their warm citrus scent wafting from room to room. Whether you string the fruit as a festive garland or feature the golden discs in a seasonal drink, the magic of Yuletide is, in its sweet way, forever preserved.
A twist on the classic turkey-cranberry combination, this hearty slow-cooked stew is bursting with vibrant red-fruit flavors, paired with subtle earthy undertones of purple carrots, jeweled yams and sweet onions.
Ruffly leaves of kale and sweet basil, peppered with pistachios and crumbly cashews, blend together beautifully, under the gentle guidance of fresh lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil.
Morsels of slow-baked pippin apples and toasted pecans, swimming in maple-coconut syrup spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom, offer the best part of a pie or crisp without the crust.
This cashew-seed seasoning is reminiscent of crumbly parmesan in texture and cheesy taste (thanks to the unique flavor profile of nutritional yeast, which is gluten and dairy-free, as well as packed with B vitamins). It’s the ideal plant-based topping for any savory dish, adding a slight crunch and nutty finish to every bite. Most intriguing is the addition of organic dried kelp flakes from Maine that adds saltiness and further boosts the nutrient density of this nut-seed-spice medley.
Elegant and nearly effortless to make, these dark chocolate truffles, tamed by peppermint and made creamy with cacao butter, are particularly deserving of your devotion, satisfying your sweet tooth and offering a feast for the eyes with each individual floral flourish.
Featuring the sweetest summer stone fruit, this delicate cobbler offers a burst of bliss with every bite, thanks to thick segments of juicy burgundy plums and a crumbly blend of bright spices and chopped pistachios for crunchy contrast.
Nothing can quite compare to this robust, roasted tomato-basil concoction, with a warming bone-broth base and savory spices that enhance the soup’s summer sweetness with every spoonful.
Savor this silky smoothie with every slurp, featuring black sesame milk, raw cacao powder and a dash of savory cinnamon for aromatic enhancement. I’ve partnered with Three Trees Organics to feature their new product, Organic Black Sesame Nut & Seed Milk.
A faux-grain twist on fried rice, this cauliflower alternative, peppered with morsels of soft carrots, onions and snap peas, and seasoned with coconut sap and spices, is a feast for the eyes and an adventure in taste.
Layer by layer, this raw vegan tart delights with its crumbly pistachio-date base, creamy spiced pistachio filling and sweet, juicy plums. I’ve partnered with Three Trees Organics to feature their new product, Organic Pistachio Milk.
Black Sesame Chocolate Mousse, sweetened with maple syrup and embellished with notes of vanilla and cinnamon, will delight your palate with each rich spoonful. Topped with a final flourish of whipped almond milk and sprinkle of seeds, this decadently dark dessert is a plant-based dream. I’ve partnered with Three Trees Organics to feature their new product, Organic Black Sesame Nut & Seed Milk.
Three simple layers are all you need to make your dreams of chocolate come true. Deconstructed, it’s hard to determine which is more appealing: the flaky shortbread crust, the smooth … Continue reading Mint Chocolate Mousse Tart
A flaky chocolate crust cradles decadently dark ganache, enhanced with sweet slices of seasonal strawberries and cooling bites of fresh mint.
Elevate your eating with a refreshing kale salad, massaged with a lemon squeeze, olive oil drizzle, and dash of pink salt. The contrast of dark leafy greens with rotisserie chicken, red apple, sticky Medjool segments, toasted almonds, and avocado swirl transforms a simple meal into an artistic experience.
Cupcakes are an adorable pastry and these petite treats in particular do not disappoint. They feature a light and fluffy cake, bittersweet frosting with ample notes of coconut and cacao, and a crown of dried rose petals for a floral fragrance that lingers like perfume.
With its soft pink glow and delicate blossom fragrance, rose water is an antioxidant rich infusion: an ideal addition to your beauty regime or midday mocktail. Whether incorporated as a facial mist to keep blemishes at bay, or savored as a splash in a spritzer, this hydrating elixir will nourish your heart and settle your nervous system.
Chocolate mousse ‘gelato’ is an elegant dairy-free alternative to its Italian cousin, sweetened with dates, creamy with coconut milk.
Reclaim your bathtub (a dedicated Zen space) and soak your way to vibrant health with rose petal bath salts designed to calm the mind and soothe the body.
With their ethereal scent and spiraling silky petals, roses offer a feast for the eyes and nourishment for the heart. Whether fresh or dried, these vibrant flowers serve as lovely additions to moisturizing oils, bath salts, tonics and toners.
This refreshing lemon curd, with its smooth creaminess and cool snap of fresh zest, reminds me of sunny afternoons spent in leisure, dipping toes in an icy pool while surrounded by bright yellow light.
Fried dandelion blossoms, featuring sweet spices of cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg, are delectable, floral morsels, known for their nutrient density. Often overlooked as an unwelcome weed, these beloved flowers that defined our childhood, double as potent plant medicine, with healing properties to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body.
Chocolate mousse, sweetened with maple syrup, creamy with coconut milk, topped with a final floral flourish, will delight your guests with every fluffy spoonful and crisp crackle of edible foliage. It’s dessert in a glass!
Cashew butter balls, rolled in a thick layer of shredded coconut and boasting soft segments of dried cranberries and crunchy pistachios, enchant with their subtly sweet flavor and crumbly texture.
This golden, crispy flatbread offers a canvas of opportunities: broad strokes of tomato herb sauce, a splattering of caramelized onions, pops of color from peppery arugula and basil chiffonade, to final touches of cashew “cheese” and pink salt crystals. It’s a gluten and dairy-free dream meant to brighten the previously discouraging ritual of the classic pizza party.
Decadently dark layers of chocolate ganache cradle smooth, creamy cashew butter and the sweetest raspberry chia jam to ever stain your fingers.
This fruit-sweetened treat, splattered with toasted walnuts and topped with roasted banana, captures the heart of clean-eating cuisine while maintaining the illusion of indulgence.
Draw your inspiration from nature this holiday season with homemade chocolate leaves, using natural molds from your garden to create delicious imprints. Whether used as a final floral flourish on a delicious dessert or eaten alone, the novelty of this edible foliage will delight your guests.
Melt-in-your-mouth lamb stew, with sweet carrots and starchy parsnips that simmer slowly in a bone broth-tomato medley, warms the body and soul on any wintery eve. Best served with a side of crackling wood fire and cozy blanket.
A delightfully decadent shortbread pumpkin tart is further enhanced by trails of toasted pecans and dollops of swirled ganache.
Chocolate is always in season, and these pumpkin-chocolate bars seem like the perfect way to celebrate the festivities of fall. Thick, buttery fudge smeared between smooth layers of rich puree is reminiscent of cookie dough with an elegant twist.
A vibrant union of peppers, onions and exotic spices frame soft morsels of slow-cooked chicken steeped in bone broth and pumpkin puree. A few slurps of this savory stew will transport you to a brighter, warmer world within seconds.
Fall in love with a festive tart this holiday season, featuring a crumbly crust of spiced pecans and dates, paired with a creamy coconut-pumpkin puree and ganache swirl.
Nothing bewitches the palate quite like a steaming bowl of creamy puréed squash enhanced with exotic coconut milk and spiced with warming nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne.
This warming cider, fragrant with infused grapefruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, offers a gentle detox for the liver and gallbladder, while reducing inflammation in the body through powerful antioxidants.
Raw foods (prepared at 120°F or below) are an incredible way to introduce enzymes into your diet. Preparing them with certain techniques can dramatically increase the bioavailability of necessary micronutrients.
It’s no secret that processed sugar is detrimental to our health. Fortunately, natural sweeteners, used in moderation, offer synergistic flavor profiles as well as numerous health benefits.
Sweet potato noodles – pasta’s heroic substitute – is a supreme match for a bubbling bolognese pulled straight from the fire. Long golden tendrils filled with sweet, earthy flavors pay tribute to traditional Italian cuisine, upstaged by a paleo plot twist.
My silver lining when I get the flu is being able to experiment with new holistic remedies to help fight off infection and give my immune system a boost. Here are 5 integrative therapies I incorporated during my recent illness.
If you find yourself tiring of your favorite loaf of pumpkin or banana bread, transforming a slice or two into French toast is the perfect solution. It’s weekend brunch in a flash, thanks to a little cozy kitchen magic.
This citrus vinaigrette features notes of candied fruit and caramel, thanks to an orange juice reduction over flame. When creating homemade dressings, always taste test the mixture with a small piece of lettuce to determine how its flavor profile will change with the introduction of greens.
These pumpkin spice crepes – stuffed with almond butter and studded with toasted pecans – are the ultimate self-indulgent snack for famished foodies everywhere.
A melt-in-your-mouth layer of cashew and coconut is upstaged only by the dreamily dark chocolate ganache spread across the top, with notes of maple and vanilla playing on the palate.
Decadently dark chocolate gelato is a bittersweet, icy treat that charms the palate and satisfies the sweet tooth. Churned to perfection, this smooth dessert gets its creaminess from ripe avocados and homemade cashew milk, and its soft sugar finish from nature’s candy.
Including your children in your own meditation practice creates space in your family for mindful communication and gives you the opportunity to teach your children how to cope with stress, deal with difficult emotions, and calm their body and mind.
This dessert features three simple ingredients: ripe frozen bananas, creamy coconut milk, and a splash of vanilla.
A trip to the South of France isn’t necessary to savor the alluring fragrance and sweet flavor of Provençal lavender. Simple suspension of these purple spikes and mint foliage in cubes of ice add French flair to an otherwise modest glass of water or summer spritzer of choice.
Unlocking the simple power of breath is transformative: for peace of mind and microbes.
My article first appeared on Dr. Robynne Chutkan’s Gutbliss Rx: https://gutbliss.com/meditation-its-impact-on-gut-health/
This chocolate cake is decadent beyond measure, with a delightfully fluffy base and creamy coconut-cacao frosting ready to dazzle and delight at any swank soirée.
Join me on a visual journey of yoga nidra, a soothing kind of guided meditation designed to restore the body and mind (recording included).
Vibrant in color and robust in flavor, this vegan bell pepper sauce is both smoky and sweet, with all the creaminess of cashew cheese.
A flaky shortbread tart cradles decadently dark ganache, with a deep chocolate flavor tamed only by the pop of fresh raspberries perched on top.
The grace and beauty that can be found in the realm of holistic healing is transformative.
Frozen banana slices, suspended in layers of decadently dark chocolate ganache and creamy nut butter, make these bars altogether irresistible.
Reclaim your bathtub – a dedicated Zen space – and soak your way back to simplicity with these 10 rituals.
No brunch is complete without a little indulgence and these raw vegan carrot muffins add so much charm to a celebratory morning.
n enticing display of finely chopped kale and basil, speckled with sprouted quinoa, roasted pistachios and scallions, then tossed with olive oil and a fresh lemon squeeze will leave you salivating for more, long after your last bite.
Celebrate the taste of magic with an enchanting shortbread tart of whimsical design. Beneath the smooth richness of chocolate ganache you’ll find gooey morsels of date-nut delectation worthy of any feast.
Breathe life into a Chinese chicken classic with this vegan asian salad, bursting with prebiotic cabbage, shredded carrots, ruby red peppers and crunchy romaine.
Layer by layer, this raw fruit tart delights with competing textures and complex tastes. Its crumbly date-almond base and creamy vanilla-cashew filling gently cradles thick slices of burgundy plums.
A masterpiece of complex flavors, this roasted eggplant spread showcases subtle notes of toasted sesame and smoky paprika, followed by a snap of fresh lemon and pungent persistence of minced garlic.
Wild shrimp, salty clams, and fresh cod cook gently in a simmering bone broth infused with aromatic basil, blended tomatoes, soft onions and bites of celery.
Rather than focusing on meeting a number, keep track of your hydration by getting more in tune with your body.
Creamy carrot soup, speckled with parsley, presents a sweet stage for every ingredient to shine.
This fruit-sweetened treat captures the heart of clean-eating cuisine while maintaining the illusion of indulgence.
This delicate vegan blueberry bread, with its soft banana edge and crumbly finish, easily seizes the spotlight without any added sugar, eggs, or usual suspects.
This sauerkraut is stunningly simple, consisting only of green cabbage, pink Himalayan sea salt, and a touch of caraway seeds for aromatic flair.
While many of us are lovers of food and flavor, we’ve forgotten how to eat with intention.
Soft medjool dates, stuffed with shredded coconut, infused with Manuka honey, and dipped in a velvety mixture of melted cacao, are potent treats for any dessert table.
Irresistibly soft collard green leaves serve as a gourmet wrap-sody, smoothed with garlic bean dip and layered with wild rice and vibrant fragments of raw vegetables.
Crisp crackers made entirely of seeds captivates with the very first crunch.
Nature provides us with countless remedies that have been successfully harnessed for hundreds of years to fight infection without the risks of microbial imbalance associated with antibiotic use.
This double chocolate loaf, sweetened by ripe bananas and packed with raw cacao chips, serves as a filling breakfast or deeply satisfying afternoon snack.
Simply put, this smooth, decadently dark cacao-avocado pudding is a food purist’s dream.
Phenomenal to ingest and equally therapeutic for the skin, Manuka honey is packed with prebiotic and antibacterial properties to treat inflammation.
There’s something spellbinding about blending activated nuts – swollen and salty from soaking – into a foaming concoction of plant-rich milk.
Incorporating mindful practices into your workday allows you to establish a peaceful reference point that you can access whenever a situation is spinning out of control.
Golden cloves of soft garlic enhance the mellow flavor of plant-based spreads or stand alone as a declaration of deliciousness.
Hawaiian spirulina’s high concentration of chlorophyll can reduce the skin’s free radical damage.
Pecan butter balls, rolled in a thick layer of coconut, enchant with their subtly sweet flavor profile and delicate texture.
Mindfulness is the cure for our common disconnect.
Oven-baked vegetable fries are starchy morsels with crispy edges and creamy, tender interiors that pack a micronutrient punch.
An elaborate trail of raspberry-chia jam breathes life into this simple nut tart frosted with lemon cashew cream and dusted with aromatic citrus zest.
An ethereal potion featuring cucumber, celery, and kale – foaming merrily after fresh juicing – is invigorating in taste and potent in plant-rich properties.
Establishing a regular meditation practice not only helps with daily stressors, but also conditions your body and mind to react with less intensity when life throws you a curveball.
A generous smear of this chive-cashew concoction pairs nicely with crisp crudités or crunchy crackers made entirely of seeds.
Kale chips – with their light coating of olive oil and sea salt finish – satisfy that elusive crunch that’s often missing from restrictive diets.
Mere salads pale in comparison when placed near this glorious spread of refreshing grapefruit, creamy avocado, and chopped pistachios.
Mantras are instruments of the mind used to settle your stream of consciousness and uncover the silence beneath your thoughts.
Nice cream features a frozen banana base, transformed into mouthwatering classics including mint chip and rocky road.
Roasted salmon, with its honey-coconut crust and pomegranate mint salsa, creates an incredibly fresh flavor that’s hard to forget.
This luxurious almond sea scrub is an ideal body exfoliant, made with pulp from fresh nut milk.
Heal your body through your mind.
Reshape your understanding of healthy living and reestablish your respect for real food.
I offer restorative sessions focused on healing the body through the mind by targeting stress, cultivating more self-compassion, and embracing change.