Turmeric Ginger Pinapple Smoothie with optional collagen powder( anti inflammatory and great for healing cold symptoms)

Turmeric Ginger Pineapple Smoothie

With cold and flu season in full force, I like to give my body a little extra insurance from illness.  I try to incorporate turmeric( which is found with your spices in any grocery store) and ginger into my daily diet.  I start my day with this smoothie.  Both turmeric and ginger have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. I like to feed my body with superfoods early in the day so I have energy throughout and am not fueling with empty calories.  You can substitute the pineapple for mango, peaches, or oranges. We were just gifted a bunch of Florida oranges so I will use them for a nice vitamin C kick. This is a general outline of the smoothie I make. Depending on the day or what I have on hand, I may add a small scoop of goji berries, flax seed, hemp seed, or sprinkle of cinnamon- there are many easy superfoods to add to your smoothie- it is up to you what you may have or want to include.

Ingredients

Fruit of choice- this week I am using 1 orange- peeled, but typically, use a 1/2 C of pineapple

1 t of turmeric

A thumb sized chuck of fresh ginger - peeled

1 t of cinnamon

1/2 C of Coconut Milk or Almond Milk- whichever I have on hand- unsweetened

Optional- 1 scoop of collagen powder- adds no taste- just a nice supplement

I add 5 or 6 ice cubes to the blender, but that is up to you- it gives it a thicker consistency.

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Serve right away.

Protein Balls- Chai Balls ( with an optional kick of espresso powder)

Protein Balls- Chai Balls

These are a staple in our house. They are so easy to make. My kids can put them together in no time. Why we love them - quick energy in the morning, afternoon, and before and after sports practice.  They go quickly around here so I am always making a new batch.  This recipe is  in heavy rotation these days.  Do yourself a favor and grab these for a healthy snack instead of cookies or chips. They will sustain you for a longer time and provide your body with fuel, not empty calories. The espresso powder is optional- one of my kiddos loves it and the other is not a fan. I just make her a batch without it and she is happy. Give them a try


Chai and Espresso Protein Balls

Ingredients

Chai Spice- combine 1 T of ground cinnamon, 1/2 t cardamom, 1/4 t ground ginger, 1/8 t of all spice, 1/8 t of ground cloves, 1/8 t ground nutmeg-  I keep a jar of premade spice in the pantry

1 1/4 C of rolled oats

1 T of espresso powder ( optional)

1 T of your favorite vanilla or chocolate protein powder

1 T chia seeds

1/2 cup of nut butter

1/3 C honey

1/2 t vanilla extract

2 T of cacao nibs or chocolate chips

Directions

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl add wet ingredients and mix well.
Place bowl in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to help with making balls.
Use a scoop or hands to form balls. Serve. 

Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

*Serves 4-5

2 slices hearty white or wheat sandwich bread, torn into pieces
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 garlic cloves, minced
Pink Himalayan Sea Salt - a dash
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup chicken broth
1 large cauliflower head cut into bite size pieces
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
Pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Use a food processor to pulse the bread, 1 tablespoon cheddar, 1 tablespoon Monterey Jack, 1 tablespoon butter, 1 clove minced garlic, pinch of salt and pepper in a food processor until coarsely ground.

Heat the remaining butter, remaining garlic and flour in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly for about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the cream and broth. Stir in cauliflower, dry mustard, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer covered, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the rest of the cheese.

Pour mixture into an 8X8-inch baking dish and top with bread crumbs. Bake until the crumbs are golden and crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Tumeric Roasted Cauliflower with Nutritiounal Yeast ( fights inflammation)

Roasted Tumeric Cauliflower

I absolutely love this side dish.  It tastes cheesy and hearty with the addition of nutritional yeast.  You can find this in Wegmans or any larger scale grocery store. I use Bob’s Red Mill brand.  I, also, sprinkle this on air popped popcorn. Delicious!



  This dish is super easy to put together. The turmeric spice gives it some anti-inflammatory properties and adds a buttery taste. This can be found with your spices in the grocery store.

Ingredients

1 head of cauliflower- chopped into equal size bites
Nutritional Yeast to taste- I never measure, but cover like I would if I was sprinkling cheese
1 to 2 Tablespoons of Tumeric spice
2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil- make sure cauliflower is coated
A dash of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
Pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 425
Toss cauliflower in Olive Oil
Put in oven safe casserole sprinkle with remaining ingredients
Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until cauliflower is soft
Serve