Cut out cookies are as much fun to make as they are to eat! The holiday season is upon us and if there is any other time to find an excuse to bake cookies it’s right now! Cut out cookies have always been a favorite of mine because they bring back fun memories of being a kid, getting my hands dirty in the kitchen and getting to be creative. Now that H is almost 5 he is so much more interested in helping in the kitchen and getting involved in cooking. Roll out cookies are the perfect cookies to make with your kiddos because they allow them to easily get involved. You do the rolling and they do the cutting. The perfect team! These Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Cut Out Cookies use cassava flour so they are grain free. But, they still cut out easily like a wheat flour based cut out cookie. The addition of raw cacao powder ups the nutrient levels and a touch of pumpkin pie spice gives these cookies a subtle seasonal flavor. The are topped with a light egg wash and a sprinkling of coconut sugar to make them sparkle. Lovely Ingredients For Vibrant Heath: Pumpkin Pie Spice is filled with Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Allspice and Cloves all of which are filled with anti-oxidants. Raw Cacao is high in magnesium, iron, antioxidants and calcium. Coconut Sugar is still sugar but is superior to table sugar because it has a small amount of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Cassava Flour is filled with vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, vitamin’s C, K and B complex. Pastured Eggs are a nutrient dense power house. When chickens eat what nature intended their eggs are filled with more vitamin A and E, omega-3 fatty acids and beta carotene. Happy Holiday season and I hope these cookies find themselves on your baking list. Enjoy! Print Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Roll Out Cookies Author: Katie at WHOLELOVELYLIFE Recipe type: Treats + Snacks Prep time: 90 mins Cook time: 10 mins Total time: 1 hour 40 mins Serves: depends on cookie cutter size Paleo, Grain Free, Gluten Free, Pescatarian, Nightshade Free, Dairy Free (see note) Ingredients 3 cups cassava flour (I like Ottos) 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice ½ teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon baking powder 1½ cups coconut sugar + extra for sprinkling on top of cookies 2 sticks grass fed butter softened 2 pastured eggs +…
Read MoreSpicy Pumpkin Pie Pumpkin Seeds
Sweet and savory… Nothing is better! If you still have a pumpkin or two to carve reserve your seeds and make these super yummy Spicy Pumpkin Pie Pumpkin Seeds. I promise the work of picking through all the pumpkin bits (my least favorite part and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone) is worth it. These seeds come out perfectly roasted and are the most devine blend of sweet, savory and salty. Oh, and no junk here. These are made with grass fed butter, organic pumpkin pie spice and coconut sugar. Growing up my Mom used to always reserve the pumpkin seeds from our Halloween pumpkins and roast them in the oven. I can still remember the smell! This is the first year that I’m carrying on the tradition with my son H. We had so much fun carving our pumpkins as a family this past Friday night and planning this recipe together. Getting into the kitchen with your kiddos is one of the best things you can do. Lovely Ingredients For Vibrant Heath: Pumpkin Seeds are filled with magnesium (most people are deficient), zinc and omega 3 fatty acids. Ceylon Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Allspice and Cloves are all wonderful spices that are amazing for your health. Cayenne Pepper helps with digestion and detoxification. Coconut Sugar is still sugar but is far superior to table sugar because it has vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Hope you love this one as much as H and do. When you roast your pumpkin seeds do you like them sweet, savory or both? Enjoy! Print Spicy Pumpkin Pie Pumpkin Seeds Author: Katie at WHOLELVOLYLIFE.COM Recipe type: Treats + Snacks Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 35 mins Total time: 40 mins Serves: 2 cups Paleo, Vegetarian, Grain Free, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free, Pescatarian Ingredients Pumpkin seeds from 2 pumpkins (about 2 cups) 2 Tbsp grass fed butter 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice ¼ tsp pink salt ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper 3 Tbsp coconut sugar Instructions Melt grass fed butter in a medium size bowl and add pumpkin pie spice, pink salt, cayenne pepper and coconut sugar. Mix well. Pour cleaned and slightly dried pumpkin seeds in the bowl (I allowed to dry on my counter on top of a paper towel for a few hours). Mix to coat well. Spread on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes tossing a few times during cooking.…
Read MoreChicken Fries with Mint and Sweet Spicy Raspberry Sauce
Raspberries, Raspberries, Raspberries! Did you know Minneapolis-St. Paul is the #3 most berry loving city in the country and #1 for raspberries? Recently Driscoll’s named the Twin Cities the raspberry consumption capital of the country. Minnesotans consume 132 percent more fresh raspberries per household than the national average. Who knew? Although, with the amount of berries and raspberries my family consumes weekly it does not surprise me! I am a huge advocate of buying organic whenever possible and the following is why I love Driscoll’s so much! They are a leader in growing organic berries and take pride in protecting their farmland for generations to come. Driscoll’s defines sustainability as “meeting our present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” They are fully committed to ensuring they make continual progress towards waste reduction and better care for natural and social resources. Driscoll’s uses natural pest control methods for their organic berries to avoid the use of insecticides and they never use genetic modification. I love them even more for this! When I think of raspberries I think of hanging out in the backyard, family picnics and H’s messy little berry-stained fingers and face. I also think about dessert. Who does not love berries and coconut whipped cream? Yay, me too! One of my favorites. I was super excited to partner up with Driscoll’s & theFeedFeed and for this recipe, I decided to challenge myself to come up with a fun, kid friendly, healthy, non-dessert recipe using raspberries and I think “I” did it! I have a major thing for sweet and savory and if that is you too then you are going to love these Chicken Fries with Mint and Sweet Spicy Raspberry Sauce. The best part is this recipe is grain free, gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free! The chicken fries and spicy raspberry sauce keep well in both the refrigerator and freezer so you can whip up a few batches at a time for easy lunches and dinners. Oh, and the spicy raspberry sauce can be used in so many ways. Bonus! Lovely Ingredients For Vibrant Heath: Raspberries are the star of the show and bring this entire recipe together. They are filled with antioxidants and minerals such as manganese, copper, and iron. They have anti-inflammatory properties and boost immunity. Almonds give the crust a perfect crunch and structure which makes these chicken fries perfect…
Read MoreBanana Turmeric Cold Brew
You had me at COLD BREW! This is not your average cold brew. It is blended with sweet banana, turmeric, cinnamon and vanilla making this an amazing antioxidant filled drink! If you know me you know I love cold brew and that I’m always looking for ways to add a little extra nutritional boost to what I consume. This cold brew does just that. You can easily use store bought cold brew for this recipe. However, making your own cold brew concentrate is super easy and affordable especially with Ellie’s Best Nut Milk Bag! I never thought about making cold brew with a nut milk bag until I received theirs and will never go back to my Toddy or french press. Ellie’s Best is a much larger bag than I have used in the past, is much stronger and BPA free! You may not think about BPA when it comes to your nut milk bag but you should! To make homemade cold brew here is what you do. Coarsely grind 1 cup of your favorite organic coffee and place it in a pitcher or jar. Pour 4 cups of filtered water on top and stir gently to mix. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours. I personally like waiting the full 24 hours as it yields a very strong, intense flavor. When you are ready to strain place your nut milk bag in a pitcher or jar and pour the coffee mixture into it. The grinds will be left in the nut milk bag making it super easy to discard. What you have left is a concentrate that can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. How easy is that? Then, just mix the concentrate with your favorite milk or filtered water and you have the perfect cold brew! LOVELY INGREDIENTS FOR VIBRANT HEATH: Coffee: contains even more antioxidants than berries! Bananas: are filled with fiber and are a great source of potassium which is an essential mineral that helps to maintain normal blood pressure and heart function. Turmeric: is a spice I could go on about forever because there are so many benefits to getting it into your diet daily. It is highly anti-inflammatory and filled with antioxidants that help to protect your body from free radicals. Protection from free radicals is one of the most important things you can do to prevent disease. Cinnamon: is filled with antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory and naturally…
Read Moresho Nutrition Supplement Review
sho Nutrition Love Let’s Talk Supplements I am a major advocate for getting as many nutrients as you can directly from your food but the reality is it’s next to impossible to get everything you need even if you are eating a well balanced, organic diet. The soil our food is grown in is depleted of vitamins and minerals and sadly is not what it used to be. Over the next few months I will be sharing the supplements that I take daily and why. I’m kicking off with one of my favorite supplement companies and products sho Nutrition! First, lets talk about sho Nutrition’s rockstar founder and CEO Joy Wang. Joy has almost 20 years of experience in the health and nutrition industry and is a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. She has an MBA and has lived in China, Japan and the US. When she created sho Nutrition she brought her Eastern and Western nutrition philosophy together. She believes supplements taken to complement a healthy diet can have major health benefits. Through her own experience she found that the supplement industry has not had the consumer in mind and that people tend to be confused about what supplements to take, the overall quality, the size of the pill and forget to take them. She addressed all of these concerns with the creation of her supplement line. How many supplements do you take that you actually know who is behind the bottle? Innovation + Design sho Nutrition truly offers an innovative product. Because I work in and have a passion for product design the first thing I noticed about this product was the dispenser. I have never seen a supplement dispenser like this in the market and this one not only addresses aesthetics but it also addresses function. You need both for good design! This product comes in two separate pieces. There is a clear cylinder that holds the small round pills and a one click dispenser with daily tracker. When the product arrives you attach the two pieces together. Then, when you need to order more you purchase just the refill. I love that! What else sets sho Nutrition apart is the shape and size of the pill. They are tiny in comparison to the average supplement and are perfectly round making them easy to swallow. They don’t twist around and get caught in your throat like your standard…
Read MoreCranberry Lime Cream Smoothie
As the weather is starting to warm up in Minneapolis all I have been thinking about is SMOOTHIES! And what better type of smoothie than a HOT PINK one? This Cranberry Lime Cream Smoothie is not only the prettiest shade of pink but it’s filled with lots of healthy goodness. Cranberries are typically overlooked unless it’s fall and Thanksgiving is approaching. However, they are a nutrition powerhouse and should not be forgotten the remainder of the year. Adding cranberries into your diet is a good thing and one of the easiest ways to do it is to toss them into your smoothies. They add a bit of tang and vibrant, beautiful color you won’t be able to get enough of. You can’t always find fresh cranberries so every Thanksgiving I buy a few extra bags and throw them in the freezer for later use. In addition to cranberries this smoothie contains coconut milk and lime (blend the entire lime, skin removed, for extra fiber). A perfect combo! Lovely Ingredients For Vibrant Heath: Cranberries are filled with antioxidants, Vitamin C, E and K, copper, manganese, pathothenic acid and high levels of phytonutrients. Limes are exploding with flavonoids and Vitamin C. Bananas are filled with fiber and are a great source of potassium which is an essential mineral that helps to maintain normal blood pressure and heart function. Coconut Milk contains lauric acid which is a medium-chain fatty acid (ever hear of MCT’s?) that is readily available to the body to use for energy. Hope you love this tangy, delicious smoothie as much as I do. Enjoy! Print Cranberry Lime Cream Smoothie Author: Katie at WHOLELOVELYLIFE.COM Recipe type: Smoothies + Drinks + Juices Prep time: 5 mins Total time: 5 mins Serves: 2 servings Paleo, Autoimmune Protocol, Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Nightshade Free, Pescatarian, Vegetarian, Refined Sugar Free Ingredients 2 banana 1 can full fat coconut milk 1 lime (peel removed) ½ cup frozen cranberries If you need added sweetness you can add 1 Tbsp maple syrup, honey or a date. Instructions Peel lime and add to blender along with banana’s, coconut milk, cranberries and optional sweetener. Blend well and serve. Notes Use organic whenever possible! 3.5.3226
Read More“Healthier” Strawberry Margarita with 1915 Organic Cold Press Juice
Did someone say MARGARITA? I just did! It’s still pretty chilly in Minneapolis but my mind is on spring and warmer weather so I of course have been craving a margarita. If I’m going to have a mixed drink it’s going to be a margarita. But not just any old margarita. It needs to be made from real, fresh, wholesome ingredients. I’m talking about fresh squeezed lime juice, whole fruit and no refined sugar. When 1915 Organic sent me their delish cold press organic juices the first thing that came to mind was using one as a base for a healthier margarita. I know I have never posted an adult beverage recipe before but even though I work to eat a healthy, nutrient dense diet there is certainly room for treats like this! I used their Coconut Water, Strawberry, Pear, Apple, Lemon juice to create this “Healthier” Strawberry Margarita. What I love about using cold press juice as a base in mixed drinks is you don’t need to add any additional sweeter. This juice is just sweet enough! Conventional margaritas are loaded with sugar and who needs that. Just think of this as a margarita smoothie! Lovely Ingredients make a healthier version of this classic drink: Coconut water is naturally sweet and filled with micronutrients and electrolytes. Strawberries add vibrant color due to their antioxidants and are a great source of Vitamin C. Pear is packed with phytonutrients and fiber. Apple is filled with antioxidants and a soluble fiber called pectin. Lemon is amazing for so many reasons and is very alkalizing to the body. Lime is filled with flavonoids and Vitamin C. Hope you enjoy this healthier margarita as much as I do. Enjoy! Print Strawberry Margarita with 1915 Bold House Author: Katie at WHOLELOVELYLIFE.COM Recipe type: Smoothies + Drinks + Juices Prep time: 15 mins Total time: 15 mins Serves: 2-4 Refined Sugar Free, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Nightshade Free Ingredients 1 bottle 1915 Organic Coconut, Strawberry, Pear, Apple, Lemon Juice 1 lime juiced 2 oz organic tequila 1.5 oz Cointreau or orange liquor Maldon or other sea salt for rim 6 whole strawberries + extra for garnish Instructions Wash strawberries and remove green top. Juice lime and pour in blender along with 1915 Organic juice, strawberries, tequila and Cointreau. Add in 1-2 cups of ice and blend on high until fully mixed. Can add more or less ice to achieve…
Read MoreBlueberry Avocado Spinach Salad
Love, love, love blueberries! Especially when it’s the dead of winter and spring is still a bit too far out of reach. There’s something about fresh berries that remind me of warm, sunny days. You know those days that feel like they go on forever and you just chill in your backyard and enjoy the gorgeous weather? You with me? This salad will have you thinking of sunshine, relaxation, and happiness. Blueberries add the perfect touch of tang to both sweet and savory dishes and are the shining star of this Blueberry Avocado Spinach Salad. Not only do they add a pretty touch but the flavor they and crunch they lend to this salad can’t be beaten. This salad is filled with crunchy veggies and topped with a wonderful blueberry vinaigrette. Yes, I just said blueberry vinaigrette! I mean how delish does that sound? Lovely Ingredients For Lovely Health: Blueberries are one of the highest antioxidant foods in the world so getting them into your diet any way you can is a great thing! Cucumbers are crispy, cool, flush toxins, hydrate your body and scream summer! Red Onion is either your thing or it’s not. Leave it out if it’s not but it’s great for fighting free radicals in the body and looks downright pretty in this salad. Raw Walnuts don’t just accidentally happen to look like the human brain. They contain neuroprotective compounds, such as vitamin E, folate, melatonin, and omega-3 fatty acids. Spinach need I say more! Rich in an array of nutrients and minerals. You can never have too much spinach in your diet. Avocado is last but not least. Filled with potassium, heart-healthy fats and fiber. Hope you love this salad as much as I do. Enjoy! Print Blueberry Spinach Salad Author: Katie at WHOLELOVELYLIFE.COM Recipe type: Salads + Sides Prep time: 20 mins Total time: 20 mins Serves: 4-6 servings Paleo, Whole 30, Autoimmune Protocol, Bone Broth Diet, Grain Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Nightshade Free, Refined Sugar Free, Pescatarian Ingredients 8-10 cups spinach ½ cup + ¼ cup (for vinaigrette) blueberries 2 small avocados or 1 small avocado 4 mini cucumbers or 1 small cucumber ¼ medium size red onion ¼ cup olive oil 2 Tbsp champagne vinegar ½ tsp sea salt ⅓ cup raw walnuts (omit for Autoimmune Protocol) ⅛ tsp black pepper (omit for Autoimmune Protocol) Instructions Place spinach and ½ cup blueberries…
Read MoreSouthwest Turkey Meatballs with Mango Salsa
I have been following The Bone Broth Diet the last week and have been loving it. Getting more bone broth in my diet has been a goal of mine forever and this diet is helping me stick to it. I also have dropped 5lbs which makes me super happy. I am still about 20lbs heavier than my pre pregnancy weight and even though I eat clean and live a healthy lifestyle I have found it almost impossible to drop the last bit of weight from when I had my son 4 years ago. I am also noticing a big difference in my nails which I attribute to the bone broth. Even though Vital Proteins Collagen is part of my morning lemon water routine I think my daily bone both consumption is making all the difference! I have been using a lot of the recipes from The Bone Broth Diet book but have also be creating some of my own including these Southwest Turkey Meatballs with Mango Salsa. You can have one small serving of fruit per day on this plan and typically I have berries with my breakfast but once in awhile I will include a tiny bit with my dinner instead. These meatballs are also super tasty all by themselves if you want to ditch the salsa. They are also wonderful on top of a bed of greens. And, major bonus! If you don’t tolerate eggs these would be perfect as they are egg free. I have found organic ground turkey sticks together much better than other ground meats so you don’t need any eggs. Please let me know if the comments if you try these and what you think. Enjoy! Simple Mango Salsa Print Southwest Turkey Meatballs with Mango Salsa Author: Katie at WHOLELOVELYLIFE.COM Recipe type: Entree Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 25 mins Total time: 45 mins Serves: 16 meatballs Paleo, Whole 30, Gluten Free, Grain Free, 21 Day Sugar Detox, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free Ingredients 1 lb ground turkey 1 red pepper finely chopped ¼ red onion finely chopped 1 fresno or jalapeno pepper finely chopped ½ tsp turmeric ½ tsp chili powder 1 tsp sea salt 1 tsp cumin Instructions Finely chop red pepper, fresno or jalapeno pepper (be sure to remove seeds) and red onion. Place in a bowl. Add turmeric, chili powder, sea salt and cumin. Stir to coat veggies. Add ground turkey and mix with hands…
Read MoreSimple Mango Salsa
One of my favorite salsa’s is Simple Mango Salsa! I love that it is nightshade free which makes it perfect for those following the Autoimmune Protocol or other special diet. It is also amazing topped on literally anything or can even be nibbled on by itself. I have been making this salsa for forever and thought it was about time to finally put the recipe on the blog. It’s so easy to make and will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days so you can make a batch on Sunday and enjoy it all week. Let me know your favorite way to eat this yummy salsa. Enjoy! Some recipes this would be an amazing compliment too. Southwest Turkey Meatballs with Mango Salsa Coconut Crusted Chicken Strips Pulled Pork Plantain Tortilla Tacos Sweet + Tangy Pork Lettuce Wraps Pineapple Bun Burger With Peach Salsa Print Simple Mango Salsa Author: Katie at WHOLELOVELYLIFE@.COM Recipe type: Condiments + Sauces Prep time: 15 mins Total time: 15 mins Serves: 4-6 servings Paleo, Autoimmune Protocol, Whole 30, Gluten Free, Grain Free, 21 Day Sugar Detox, Dairy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Refined Sugar Free, Nightshade Free Ingredients 2 mangos handful of cilantro finely chopped ¼ cup red onion finely chopped juice from 1 lime ¼ tsp sea salt Instructions Finely dice two mangos and place in a bowl. Chop onion and cilantro and place in the same bowl. Juice one lime and pour over mango, onion and cilantro. Sprinkle with sea salt, mix well and serve. Notes Use organic as much as possible! 3.5.3226
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