Tag Archives: spinach

Baby Bella Sandwich with Spinach Pesto Spread

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Ever since I made the “Creamy Kale Spread by Laws and Wellness”, I have been hooked veggie sandwiches.  I just loved the idea of nut-based spreads!

Today, I wanted to create a sandwich using my pesto recipe which also contains a little bit of nuts (pine), and to make it a bit thicker, I added cashews.  I also wanted to use the baby bella mushrooms and veggies sitting in my fridge and the basil in my garden.  And, this is the outcome:  baby bella sandwich with spinach pesto spread.

This sandwich is very flavorful, light, “meaty” (from the mushrooms), and really healthy.  I just loved the combination of garlic, basil, pine nuts, and mushrooms.

Enjoy!

Ingredients for Pesto Spread:

  • 3 cups of fresh basil
  • 2 cups of spinach
  • 2/3 cup of raw cashews (soaked for a few hours)
  • 1/3 cup of pine nuts
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 4 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt

Directions for the spread:

  1. Place all ingredients in a food processor.
  2. Blend for a minute or two.

Other ingredients:

  • Red onions (sliced)
  • Tomatoes (sliced)

Baby Bella Mushrooms and Garlic:

  • 16 oz.  of baby bella mushrooms
  • 6 cloves of garlic (minced)
  • salt or pepper or use Mrs. Dash’s No Salt Seasoning
  • 1 tablespoons of olive oil

Directions for the mushroom:

  1. Heat olive oil, add garlic, and cook for a little less than a minute.  
  2. Add mushrooms and cook for 10-15 minutes. 
  3. Toast your bread and build your sandwich.

It was delicious with pickled jalapenos from my backyard.

Papaya Strawberry Green Smoothie

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Here is another smoothie idea.  I love papaya!  It is such a wonderful fruit and it is a great source of vitamin A, C, and E.  It also packs a lot of fiber, folate, and antioxidants.  Papaya even contains iron, calcium, riboflavin, thiamine and niacine.

I have added strawberries and greens (spinach and kale) for added vitamins and minerals.  But, particularly because strawberries are a great source of vitamin C and it helps your body absorb the iron from the greens a little bit better.  Also, the greens are a wonderful source of fiber calcium, antioxidants, Vitamin A, C, K and more!

This is they kind of stuff we start our day off with….super healthy green smoothies!  Hope you will try this out!

(serves 2-3)

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of papaya
  • 1 banana
  • 1/3 cup of strawberries
  • 1.5 cups of fresh spinach or kale
  • 2 tablespoons of chia seeds (for omega 3s)
  • 1/4 cup of goji berries (this is not necessary though.  I just added this for more beta carotene)
  • 1 cup of non-dairy milk
  • 2 tablespoons of raw wheat germ (for grains and folic acid benefits) Note: this is also optional
  • 1/2 cup of ice
  • 4 pitted medjool dates (for added sweetness and iron)
  • 4 tablets of spirulina (sea weed) for b12
  • 1/4 cup of blueberries (optional) for added antioxidants and vitamins

Directions:

Throw all of the ingredients in your Vitamix blender and then blend until everything is smooth.

*If you do not have a vitamix, you can replace the medjool dates with raw agave since it probably won’t blend it as well.  You can also omit the goji berries (unless you soak them for a little bit).

*Add more milk and ice if the smoothie is too thick for you.

*If you want to make this all RAW, use coconut water instead of non-dairy milk.

Easy Veggie Hummus Rolls

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This is a super easy and delicious snack/meal to serve at parties and potlucks.  Such a wonderful finger food!

It took me 30 minutes from start to finish!

I don’t know about you, but I just LOVE hummus!!!!  There are so many things you can add to hummus: avocado, sun-dried tomatoes, jalapenos, roasted bell peppers, etc (add when blending in the food processor).   You can use it as a sandwich filling, bagel/toast topper, wrap filling, and/or veggie/bread/chip dip!  So many possibilities!

But, here is the basic hummus recipe that I always use.

Hummus:

  • 1 can of black beans or garbanzo beans (drained) or 1.5 cups of cooked beans (I usually cook my own beans instead of buying the in cans)
  • 2 tablespoons of cumin
  • 1-2 cloves of garlic
  • 2-3 tablespoons of lime juice
  • 1-1.5 teaspoons of tahini
  • salt
  • pepper
  • pinch of turmeric
  • 4-6 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp of distilled white vinegar for more tang (optional)

Wrap:

  • all natural vegan spinach wrap
  • spinach
  • carrot (shredded Note: I just put my carrots in the food processor…way easier than shredding them by hand)
  • sprouts

Directions:

  1. Place all hummus ingredients in a food processor.
  2. Blend until smooth.
  3. Warm your tortilla/wrap ( I used my griddle).
  4. Spread hummus over the tortilla.
  5. Add spinach, sprouts, and carrots.
  6. Roll it.
  7. Slice it into bite sized pieces.
  8. Serve and enjoy!

Note: I like to add turmeric to a lot of dishes because of its health benefits.  It has anti-inflammatory properties, detoxifying properties, it helps slow down the progression of Alzheimers disease, helps with weight loss,  and it is known to have anti cancerous properties.   To learn more, click here, Health Diaries.

Super Healthy Breakfast Idea: Raw Vegan Cookies and Green Smoothie

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This is what we had for breakfast today!  Delicious and super nutritious!  This beats coffee and donuts!  This has lots of fiber, protein, omega 3s and 6s, and lots of vitamins and minerals.  Yay for healthy!

Ingredients for Green Smoothie:

    • 1/3 cup of strawberries
    • 1 cup of spinach
    • 1 banana
    • 1/4 cup of ice
    • 1/3 cup of non dairy milk or coconut water with agave (if you want to keep it “raw”)
    • 3-4 spirulina tablets (sea weed)…for info: Now Foods Spirulina 500mg, Tablets, 500-Count (See all Vitamin B12 Supplements)
    • 3 tablespoons of hemp seeds
    • 1/2 of a small zucchini (optional)
    • 1 small carrot (optional)

Super healthy “raw vegan cookie”

So, I took the pulp from my juice and used it to make this cookie.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of pulp (note: you can just use carrot and sweet potato pulp if you don’t want to get all elaborate with the juice)
  • 3 bananas
  • 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
  • a pinch of sea salt
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
  • 4 tablespoons of sesame seeds

Directions:

  1. Place all ingredients in a food processor.
  2. Shape into a cookie.
  3. Place in the dehydrator.
  4. Dehydrate for 16 hours.
  5. Enjoy!

Tangy Kiwi Green Smoothie (raw)

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This is a super healthy drink….iron, vitamin c, calcium, vitamin a, vitamin k, and much more.  It is important for us to have green smoothies every day, so I have to change it up a bit each time so my family doesn’t get bored with it.

Ingredients:

  • 3 kiwis
  • 1.5 to 2 cups of fresh spinach
  • 1 banana
  • 1/2 cup of papaya
  • 1/2 cup of ice
  • 1.5 cups of coconut water
  • 4 pitted medjool dates
  • 1 carrot (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons of flax seed oil (for omega 3s)

Directions:

  1. Place all ingredients in a Vita-Mix 1300 TurboBlend 4500 (See all Countertop Blenders) (or whatever blender you have).
  2. Serve immediately.
  3. Enjoy!

Peachy Kiwi Citrus Green Smoothie

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Kiwi is awesome and packs so much vitamin c.  This will help your body absorb the iron from the dates and spinach more efficiently.  I have also added some protein, omega 3s, b12, a little bit of grains and other awesome goodness for your body.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 1 kiwi
  • 1 banana
  • 1 peach
  • 1 orange (peeled)
  • 1 cup of fresh spinach
  • 2 tablespoons of hemp seeds
  • 2 tablespoons of raw wheat germ
  • 2 to 3 medjool dates
  • 1 cup of nut milk (almond, hemp, hazelnut, etc.)
  • 1 tsp spirulina
  • 1 cup of ice

Directions: blend together for a minute or two….preferably in a VITAMIX blender.

Note: this will serve 3 to 4 people

Green Berry Carob Hemp Smoothie

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I love smoothies!  Great way to start your day!

Ingredients:

  • 1 Banana
  • 1/3 cup of non dairy milk (hemp, almond, or hazelnut)
  • 1/3 cup of mixed berries (blueberries, black berries, raspberries, etc)
  • 2 tablespoons of carob powder
  • 1 cup of GREENS: spinach
  • 3 medjool dates
  • 1.5 tablespoons of hemp seeds
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup of ice

Directions: Blend together for a few minutes…preferably in a Vitamix….

Spinach, Zucchini, and Artichoke Dip

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This is a healthier version of a “Spinach Artichoke Dip”….it is vegan, no cholesterol, low in fat, high in fiber, iron, etc.

Ingredients:

  • 1 large package of fresh spinach (10 oz.)
  • 1 zucchini (diced)
  • 1 can of drained artichoke hearts (14 oz.)
  • 1 medium red onion (diced)
  • 5 cloves of garlic (diced)
  • 8 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 cup of unsweetened hemp milk
  • 3 tablespoons of Toffuti “cream cheese”
  • 2.5 tablespoons of Veganaise
  • 1/2 cup of Daiya mozzarella “cheese”
  • 1.5 tablespoons of liquid aminos
  • 1 green onion (thinly diced)
  • 1 small tomato (chopped)
  • 1 tablespoon of cold pressed olive oil or grape seed oil
  • pepper

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. In a hot pan, saute onions and garlic with oil.
  3. After onions are transparent, add zucchini, artichokes, and spinach.
  4. Cover pot and stir every few minutes.
  5. Cook the veggies for about 15 minutes or until most of the moisture from the veggies are gone.
  6. After the veggies are cooked, place them in the food processor.
  7. Add veganaise, 1/3 cup of unsweetened hemp milk, toffuti cream cheese, liquid aminos, nutritional yeast and 1/4 cup pf Daiya “cheese”in the food processor.
  8. Process together.
  9. Place in a 11″ x 7″ baking pan.
  10. Sprinkle a little bit more nutritional yeast to it (optional)
  11. Add the rest of the Daiya “cheese” on the top.
  12. Bake for 45 minutes.
  13. Top it off with diced tomatoes and diced green onions (optional)
  14. Serve with pita chips, bread, or tortilla chips.
  15. Enjoy!

#3

#6

Green Fig Smoothie

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This is the type of smoothie I make for my family EVERY day!  :)

….healthy, delicious, nutritious, and high energy!…b12, iron, calcium, vitamin c, vitamin a, omega 3s, and even protein!….and much more!

 Ingredients:

  • 1 banana
  • 1/2 cup of fresh figs
  • 1 cup fresh spinach
  • 5 brazil nuts
  • 2 tablespoons of flax oil
  • 3 baby carrots
  • 1 cup of chocolate almond milk
  • 1/2 a cup of pineapple
  • 1/2 of a small zucchini (this and the pineapple will help your body absorb the iron better)
  • 1 tsp spirulina powder
  • 3 tablespoons of raw wheat germ
  • ice
  • raw agave to sweeten (optional)

Directions:

Blend together and serve immediately! :)   Vitamix is my blender of choice.

Pesto with Quionoa Pasta Noodles

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Ingredients for pesto sauce:

  • 2 qt bag or 1 to 1.5 cups of fresh basil
  • 2 cups of fresh spinach
  • 1.5 cloves of an elephant garlic or 4 to 6 cloves of regular garlic (NOTE: We love lots of garlic in our pasta, if you don’t, then reduce your amount to a few cloves of garlic.
  • 2/3 cup of nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup of pine nuts (Note: I sometimes add a few tablespoons of cashews to make it a bit creamier)
  • 1/2 cup of olive oil
  • 1 fresh tomato (medium)
  • salt
  • pepper

Directions:

  1. Cook quinoa noodles..
  2. First saute the pine nuts and cashews (cashew optional) in a little bit of olive oil until it is brown and toasted.
  3. After it is toasted, place the nuts in the food processor with oil, tomato, nutritional yeast, and garlic.
  4. Process together until it is smooth.
  5. Add spinach and basil, then process again for a few minutes.
  6. Add salt ant pepper to taste.
  7. Add to quinoa noodles.
  8. Top it off with some more pine nuts (optional).
  9. Enjoy!