New Year = New Food

New restaurants are popping up in Dallas, mirroring the new health trend. My new favorite Dallas restaurant you absolutely must try is True Food Kitchen! The drinks at True Food are fabulous! Despite the lengthy wine list, I highly recommend the healthy elixirs on the front page of the menu. On my previous post, I pictured the delicious Kale-Aid! This time I would like to show off the Medicine Man: sea buckthorn, pomegranate, cranberry, black tea, and club soda. It taste like a black cherry fresca but 10x better and completely healthy. A total antioxidant blast! You must try!

True Food Medicine Man

Another surprisingly delicious menu item is the Kale Salad made with lemon, parmesan, and bread crumbs. It is an outstanding appetizer or entree! Ever doubted that you would like kale? Well, give this salad a try and let me know what you think! I bet you billions it will knock your socks off!

True Food Kale Salad

For dinner, I highly suggest and beg you to try the Butternut Squash Pizza. It is one of the most unique dishes I have ever tried, but I am just joining the foodie world so I hope to try more amazing dishes! Unfortunately, I do not have a True Food picture of the pizza since it never seems to last long enough on the plate, but my family and I recreated it at home. Check it out:

Recreated Butternut Squash Pizza
(before adding arugula)

Recreated Butternut Squash Pizza

The ingredients my family used to craft our recreation:

-your crust of choice

-sweet balsamic onions

-garlic pieces

-walnut pieces

-sprinkle of mozzarella

-butternut squash slices

-topped with fresh arugula

The crunchy walnuts, sweet butternut squash, mixed with spicy arugula is the perfect combination. My whole family loved it! Funny story is my dad took a handful of the arugula and stuffed it in his mouth only to choke because he was not expecting it to be spicy. Be cautious of the powerful punch certain greens can have! 

Next up is my favorite raw restaurant Be Raw Food And Juice in Dallas! I have eaten here countless times and brought countless family and friends along for a taste test: my brother, my mom, my friend Lila, my "little sister" aka my favorite 7th grade girl, and more! Each one of them were surprised to try items they actually enjoyed - the kale salad, the bliss salad, the pizzas, the juice, the rawko taco, the pastas, and the raw brownies! Here are some of the recent dishes I ordered:

Bliss Salad with Ginger Miso Dressing

The Pizza Sampler

With the new food processor I got for Christmas, I finally recreated a scrumptious version of the Be Raw brownie so I can enjoy whenever!

The ingredients:

-1 cup walnut

-1 cup dates

-1/2 cup of cocoa and flaxseed (any ratio)

*The flaxseed gives it a nice flour-y taste like real brownies but obviously a million times healthier!

-about 2 tbsp of agave as needed 

-top with cocoa nibs and fruit

You can really make these brownies with numerous variations. Add chia seeds or any other superfoods. Add coconut, vanilla, or any other flavors. Dozens of possibilities await you! 

My own Be Raw Brownie!

Speaking of exciting food processor recipes, I also recreated Gwyneth Paltrow's candy bars with a few modified ingredients. This ooey gooey cashew date bar is the best raw, healthy candy bar I have ever tasted. My family ate these bars for breakfast, snack, and dessert because they loved them so much! Make them for a healthy snack for your kids!

The ingredients used: 

-1.5 cups raw cashews (put in first and grind almost to a meal)

-1.5 cups dates 

-0.5 cups almond butter

-0.5 cups agave 

-0.5 cups almond flour (can be previously ground from raw almonds)

-0.5 cups shredded coconut

-0.5 tsp vanilla

-enough cocoa nibs for topping

Cashew Date Bars
(pressed with cocoa nibs)

The ooey, gooey inside!

Another fun craft is making homemade lotion so you know all the ingredients that go in. It is simply four ingredients! Melt together shea butter and coconut oil together in the combination you prefer. Pour into glass jars. Add a few drops of Vitamin E and your desired essential oil (I recommend lavender!). Then, refrigerate until cooled and solidified. Make it with a friend to share this soothing, glorious lotion.

Another skin indulgence is nutritious juices! One of my new year favorite juices is the Spinach, Basil, Orange smoothie by Fully Raw Kristina! Trade your morning coffee for this energizing juice! It is gorgeously green :) 

Fully Raw Kristina's
Spinach, Basil, Orange Smoothie

When I returned to my apartment in College Station for school, I found out my roommate got a juicer for Christmas, so we had a fun time experimenting making juice. We threw in a bunch of fruits and veggies from strawberries, raspberries, beets, carrots, spinach, kale, pineapple, oranges, apples, and more. This is the stunning juice that resulted:

Juice Experimenting

Juices are one of the best sources of nutrients, but not everyone has a juicer, not everyone can afford high end juices, and not everyone has access to juice, so I like to share other healthy recipes as well. Inspired by the colorful juice, I crafted a beautiful veggie roast full of colors.

Ingredients:
-sliced carrots
-chopped butternut squash
-sliced beets
-fresh garlic slivers
-rosemary
-olive oil
-dash of balsamic vinegar

Roasting Veggies

Leftover Veggies on Quinoa

My most daring recipe experiment yet this year is a Cauliflower Crust Pizza. Ever think pizza could be healthy. Well, try Green Kitchen's recipe for Cauliflower Crust Pizza here! Outstandingly unique and definitely different. My favorite part was the homemade sauces! Also do not be afraid to try ingredient swaps. I used chia seed gel for eggs, added red bell pepper, sprinkled on Daiya cheddar cheese, and more.

Cauliflower Meal

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Trying new, crazy recipes is so fun, so inspiring, and so addicting! I dare you to try some new, healthy recipes this year. You never know if you don't try! Have your family join in for the fun that way if you mess up, you can all laugh about it together :) 

Cheers,

Alexis 

2013 Christmas Time

Happy Holidays everyone! This Christmas has definitely been a joyful and rejuvenating Christmas break surrounded by amazing family and friends. It truly has been a blessing to be home for the holidays with my family. 

However, this Christmas break has also reminded me how much of a challenge health can be during Christmas time. Christmas parties with Christmas sweets are definitely my biggest challenge. To overcome the Christmas splurge, I strive to make my own healthy meals as much as I can. Here are some of my healthy tips, recipes, and happenings to share with you!

Make a conscious effort to make a healthy treat to take to parties. Here are some of the Date Fig Balls I made for one party using a friend's food processor. To make the balls, I processed dates, figs, walnuts, almond butter, agave, vanilla, and cocoa. The dried figs definitely added a sweetly unique flavor. After refrigerating for about an hour, I decorated with cocoa nibs, coconut, or goji berries. They were definitely a hit! 

Date Fig Balls

Two of my favorite gifts this Christmas are my new Spiralizer and Cuisinart Food Processor! I am so happy to finally have my own food processor. I love making my own sweets, like the Date Fig Balls above, to avoid all the processed sweets. If you can't tell, I definitely have a sweet tooth, especially a chocolate sweet tooth. Dates are a great substitute for chocolate because they taste like nature's candy and help balance sweet cravings! 

Additionally, I love my Spiralizer. The first time I ever had spiralized zucchini pasta was at Be Raw in Dallas! Since then I have been dying to try Fully Raw Kristina's raw pasta recipes. I gave my new Spiralizer a whirl the other day and look how beautiful the noodles turned out. 

Spiralized Zucchini

Spiralized Squash
with Pineapple, Red Bell Pepper, Basil, and Lemon Juice

Another great way to eat healthy at home over Christmas time or anytime is to make beautiful fruit salads for yourself and to share with your family. I love fruit because it has such vibrant colors that can light up any dish. Additionally, using a diverse range of fruits lets people pick the fruits they like so there is something for everyone! 

If you have a say in the restaurants your family eats out at, then encourage restaurants with healthy choices. One of my new favorite restaurants is the new True Food Kitchen that opened in Dallas at the intersection of Preston and Northwest Hwy. There menu has something for everyone with a multitude of healthy options such as juices, salads, pizzas, sandwiches, and numerous entree choices. My favorite juice is the Kale-aid made with kale, apple, cucumber, celery, lemon, and ginger. Some of my other favorite menu items are the Caramelized Onion Tart flatbread, Harvest Chopped salad, and Butternut Squash pizza. Go check out this new awesome restaurant!

Kale-aid

One week this break, my family visited my Aunt and Uncle's ranch. While there, my Aunt taught me how to make a beautiful Kale Salad inspired by the True Food chef Andrew Weil. Kale is a great food to add to your fridge because per calorie, it contains more calcium than milk and more iron than beef as well as numerous vitamins and minerals!

Here is how to make the salad! First, wash, destem, and chop the kale. Then, massage the kale with olive oil. Let sit for a few minutes and then sprinkle with Tony Chachere's or salt and pepper. Let chill in the fridge until ready to eat. Finally, toss with grated Romano cheese and serve! 

Kale Salad with
Blueberry, Banana, Coconut Milk Smoothie

Because I enjoyed the Kale Salad my aunt taught me to make so much, I decide to try another kale salad recipe. This time after massaging with olive oil, I sprinkled with salt and added lemon and orange juice. Then, I topped the salad with oranges, avocado, and slivered almonds! Loved it! This is a sweeter kale salad, while the previous one has a kick from the Tony Chachere's, but both are great! 

Kale Salad with
Oranges, Avocado, and Almond Slivers

Lastly, I have also been enjoying hot yoga at Gaia Yoga Flow this break. I even got my mom and brother to go to a class. These hot yoga classes are definitely a challenge and a great workout. Even my brother who is a football player and track runner admitted he thought it was a challenge. Hot yoga is fun because it makes you sweat but has all the great benefits of a normal yoga practice, including strength, balance, and flexibility. 

Overall, the New Year is right around the corner, so keep in mind your health when making your New Year's Resolutions. Here is an inspirational quote to start off your new year! 

Lots of love,

Alexis

New Start November

School has been super busy, but I have been wanting to catch up on my blog writing for almost a month now! It's November and a time for new starts. With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, it is time to give and gift. I have been blessed with so many opportunities, recipes, smiles, friends, and family this Fall, and I hope your Fall has been filled with goodness, too! Time to share all that has been happening :)

In October, I was grateful to go the Texas Veggie Fair, where one of my idols, Fully Raw Kristina, got to speak and demonstrate her recipe for an Orange, Spinach, Basil Smoothie. Needless to say I made it the next morning, especially after I saw Kristina's face light up when she tasted it! 

Fully Raw Kristina at the Texas Veggie Fair

While I was in Dallas, I stopped by my favorite restaurant, Be Raw, and had the scrumptious spiralized zucchini pasta! Hands down makes me want a Spiralizer to make this pasta myself, so a Spiralizer is definitely going on my Christmas list! 

Spiralized Zucchini Pasta from Be Raw

When I got back to school, I had an Engineering Dinner Banquet one night. When I asked for the vegetarian option, they brought me this beautiful stuffed tomato filled with zucchini, squash, and fresh pesto, drizzled with olive oil and placed on top of mashed potatoes. It was so amazing! I really wanted seconds! Trust me folks try asking for the vegetarian option sometime! 

Vegetarian Stuffed Tomato Entree

This past month has also been filled with a bunch of fun grocery shopping trips to HEB, Kroger, and my new favorite: Brazos Natural Foods. Every time I am amazed at all the beautiful colors. When I get home, I just can't wait to start washing everything and packaging it for the week. 

Grocery Shopping Goodies

So what all do I make with all the fruit and veggies I buy? A range of things... salads, smoothies, platters, snack jars, and more!

Fig, Orange, Grape Platter

 This was the last platter that I got to make with figs before the grocery store stopped carrying them! I miss them so much. Bring me figs friends!

Fruit Salad!

Fresh Salad!

Don't forget that Holidays are a time to make gorgeous recipes and play with your food! Here is a fruit pumpkin I made for a party, inspired by Fully Raw Kristina! 

Halloween Pumpkin made of fruit!
Inspired by Fully Raw Kristina!

Play with your food!

Finally got to drink smoothies from a mason jar. Absolutely love it! Makes it taste even better!

Beet Banana Smoothie with Chia Seeds

Mango, Peach, Kale, Wheatgrass
Smoothie with Hemp Seeds

A lot of Americans like breakfast in a bowl, so just make a thicker smoothie, pour it in a bowl, add toppings, and gorgeous, deliciousness awaits you! 

Blueberry Banana Bowl with Goji Berries and Chia Seeds

Make a green smoothie even prettier by adding a pop of color with goji berries on top! 

Goji Berry Green Smoothie

Take study breaks or work breaks and enjoy some delicious fruit to re-energize! 

Pomegranate Grape Bowl During My Study Break

Always be thankful for awesome roommates who make you food! Check out the delicious Tortilla Soup my amazing roommate made! 

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

And remember, shine with happiness because happiness makes you beautiful and it's contagious! 

Lots of Love,

Alexis 

Fruit Platter - Sweetly Orange Smoothie - Mexican Crackers

Hi all! I have been so busy with school that I have not gotten a chance to post lately, which is why I am excited that I have a break this weekend to update my blog with my newest recipes.

First up, nothing is sweeter than a delicious fruit platter of your favorite fruits to snack on when you get home from school, work, or a long hard day. Here is a Fig Fruit Platter I put together and loved! It includes fresh figs, kiwis, grapes, and nectarine slices. So juicy and delicious!

Fig Fruit Platter
-sliced kiwis
-sliced figs
-red grapes
-nectarine slices

Fig Fruit Platter

My second favorite refresher is a delicious, nutrient rich smoothie. Whether you like berry smoothies, citrus-y smoothies, veggie smoothies, chocolate banana smoothies, and so on, you should definitely try this Sweetly Orange Smoothie made with sweet potatoes! Both the sweet potatoes and bananas are great sources of potassium, which has many benefits such as lowering blood pressure. The almond butter and spirulina are great sources of protein. Spirulina is a powder made from algae that is 65% protein, high in chlorophyll, high in iron, and contains many other vitamins. Try it out! You can mix and match ingredients, but the basics are sweet potatoes, bananas, and almond butter. Indulge in a little orange!

Sweetly Orange Smoothie

-Sweet Potato (depending on your blender power, boil first to soften)

-Bananas

-Goji berries

-Pumpkin seeds

-Almond Butter

-Spirulina

-Water & Ice

-Chia, Flax, & Hemp Seeds 

-Pinch of cinnamon

Sweetly Orange Smoothie

Lastly, for lunch and dinner one week, I decided to get crafty and make some Mexican Crackers. I used some tomato, garlic, onion, cilantro guacamole as my spread on my crackers and then topped each cracker with corn, black beans, and red bell pepper. Best part is the sweetness from the red bell pepper balances the tangy guacamole! So delicious, fresh, and easy :)

Mexican Crackers
-crackers of your choice
-tangy guacamole
-fresh corn
-fresh black beans
-fresh chopped red bell pepper

Mexican Crackers

Enjoy! These recipes are definitely keepers when you need a healthy snack, smoothie, or meal! Wishing everyone health and wealth!

Cheers to colorful foods!