Gobble, Gobble! Whipped Sweet Potato Soufflé Recipe

Last year, I shared with you that one of my favorite holiday side dishes is sweet potato souffle. This year, I want to post the actual recipe, so you can enjoy it for yourselves! It's really simple to prepare, especially if you have any type of blender or food processor.

Here's what you'll need:
  • 4 sweet potatoes
  • 1/4 cup of unsweetened almond milk 
  • 1 bag of walnuts
  • 2 tbs of olive oil
  • 2 tbs of light brown sugar
  • 2 tbs of vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp of cinnamon
  • 1 tsp of nutmeg
  • 1 pinch of himalayan pink salt
Cooking instructions:
  • Heat your oven to 350 degrees.
  • Bring sweet potatoes and a pinch of salt to a boil. You want to be sure to cook the potatoes until you can poke it with a fork and it nearly breaks in half. Roughly 25 minutes.
  • Once softened, strain them, slightly cool and remove the skin.
  • After the skin is removed, place potatoes in a bowl to manually blend, in a blender or in your food processor.
  • Add and begin blending together the almond milk, olive oil, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  • Now that it has reached a whipped/smooth consistency. Use oil to grease a pan. Then spread the whipped potatoes in your pan.
  • Crush up your walnuts and cover the top of your souffle. I've also used marshmallows in addition to walnuts.
  • Place in the oven to bake for 20 minutes.
  • Serve and enjoy!
What do you like to eat during the holiday season to ensure that you remain holiday healthy? Please feel free to share any recipes that you might have!

Organic Greek Nonfat Coconut Kefir

Hi there! Remember my Creamy & Delicious Flax Milk post? Well, I promised to return with my other healthy milk alternatives and here walks mighty, yet powerful...Coconut Kefir! It took me a month or so to blog about this because I wanted to be sure that I could share the benefits and they ring true to me. So let's learn about Kefir and how it can play a major role in your digestive health, among other things!

What is Kefir? I honestly feel bad for answering, since I have not blogged about probiotics, but that is essentially what Kefir is - a modern day probiotic. :-) I thought it'd be easier and less painful for me to explain, so I found a mini definition on the world wide web: "Kefir is a fermented milk product...it is slightly sour and carbonated due to its fermentation...it is a potent probiotic, consisting of both bacterial and yeast species of beneficial flora and may help against gastrointestinal diseases." How was that?  Pretty easy? I personally chose coconut kefir because my body does not digest cows milk at all. If you are lactose and/or suffer from digestive disorders like myself, I would recommend the coconut version of Kefir. I instantly noticed a difference in my IBS pangs, which subsided after a short period of time.

So how can Kefir help you? I am completely amazed at how many healthy food options there are for people who suffer from a mental illness and Kefir is definitely one to place on that list! I read somewhere that Kefir has a "tranquilizing effect on the nervous system". It has been known to aid people with the following symptoms:
  • Depression - filled with tryptophan, which produces serotonin, which makes us all HAPPY!
  • ADHD
  • Sleep disorders/chronic fatigue syndrome
  • AIDS
  • IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
  • Various cancers
  • Reduces food cravings
  • Digestive health, such as IBS. Adds friendly bacteria to your gut.
Have you tried Kefir? What about Coconut Kefir? There are so many brands and of course, you can make your own pretty easily. Not much time to make my own, but if you have a recipe, please email me or post below!

Collard Greens: Benefits and Vegan Recipe

I'm just a girl raised in the South and I love my collard greens!
Collard Facts: 

1/2 cup cooked collards =
  • as much fiber as 1 cup of brown rice
  • about at much calcium as 4oz Greek yogurt
  • high in vitamin a, c, k and folate (good for pregnant women)
  • low in calories, fat, sugars and sodium
Maybe you've always found cooking collards intimidating, well, I thought I'd provide you with a really simple recipe.

Here's what you'll need:
  • 1 tbs olive oil
  • green onions, chopped
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 clove of garlic, chopped 
  • 1 pound collards, chopped
  • 3 cups veggie stock
  • 2 roma tomatoes, chopped 
  • Himalayan pink salt and pepper (to season)
Directions:
In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil. Saute onions until soft, add red pepper flakes, salt and pepper and garlic. Gently stir in collards for 1 minute. Add veggie stock, cover and bring to a simmer. Cook until greens are tender, which can be about 40-45 minutes. Once cooked, add fresh tomatoes to garnish.

Enjoy!

Wellness Break: Natural Products Part II

If you may recall my original Natural Products post, I was just beginning my journey with the elimination of chemically induced products. Since then, I have had the pleasure of trying out new natural products and have inducted them into a top 10 list. The list is so broad, but in it contains shower loofahs, candles, facial wash and more. For the purposes of this blog post, I took a snapshot showing you a few of my favorite things from the list:
r-l: Nature's Gate Natural Toothpaste (Fluoride-free) in Mint, Tea Tree Therapy Mouthwash with Tea Tree Oil (alcohol-free) and Nature's Gate Lavender & Aloe (Aluminum-free) Deodorant

A click-through link is provided, if you hover over each name. This way you can learn more about the products and company associated with them. Also, please be sure to read my original post, as to why I switched to natural products and educate yourselves on the benefits of not utilizing certain chemicals.

Side note: You can barely see it, but I am advertising my Sprouts Farmers Market tote as the backdrop. While living in Houston, Sprouts quickly became a staple in my shopping experience. Check here for a location near you. If you're unfamiliar with Sprouts Farmers Market, I tell people that it's "Whole Foods and Trader Joe's baby". I love it!

Enjoy!

Hello November!


Hey guys, its November already! What has materialized since the beginning of October? Just wanted to pop in and offer a gentle virtual nudge. It's not too late to accomplish what you've put off in 2014. If you're like me...you're enjoying the NOW, but prepping goals for the new year.

Love + Light!

"Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking." - William Butler Yeats