Sweet Quinoa Breakfast Bowls - Four Days, Four Recipes

Hi Everyone!

This week I was anxious to try something new for breakfast. I (unfortunately) am the type of person that gets tired of eating the same thing everyday, and find myself having to switch things up quite often. This week was no exception...

I noticed an abundance of quinoa in our cabinets and knew I wanted to utilize this in some way for dinner. I was searching for quinoa inspiration on Food52 (if you haven't checked out this website, you must drop everything and do that right now --you're welcome and I'm sorry at the same time, because you are about to spend the next two hours pinning all of their recipes...), and came across a recipe for Toasted Almond + Coconut Quinoa Porridge. And I thought --Quinoa, for breakfast? Best. Idea. Ever.

Below I listed the recipe for the base of my Quinoa Breakfast Bowl, adapted from the Food52 recipe. An awesome aspect of the quinoa base is it's versatility - you can add any flavors/fruits/toppings you like! I like variety - so I chose to make four different recipes, which I have also listed below (and featured on my Instagram, @coconutsandchocolate). 

Sweet Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

1 c of quinoa

1 can of coconut milk (full fat or light)

2/3 c of water

Splash of vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cardamom

2 tbsp pure maple syrup (I'm sure honey would work as well, for non-vegans)

Bring all ingredients to a boil. Cover, lower heat, and let simmer for 15-2o minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed. Let cool for 10 minutes, fluff with a fork, and portion into 4 heat-safe bowls (I used glass). Place in the refrigerator until ready to eat! 

Four Days, Four Recipes

Day 1 - Mango Rice Pudding

1 bowl of quinoa base

1/2 c of fresh or frozen mango (I was 3/4 fresh mango)

1-2 tbsp golden raisins

Sprinkle of slivered almonds

1/4 c coconut milk (or milk of choice)

Place mango, quinoa, and coconut milk into the microwave for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes (or until warm). Stir and top with raisins and slivered almonds. 

Day 2 - Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

(inspired by National Peanut Butter + Jelly Day!)

1 bowl of quinoa base

1/2 - 1 sliced banana

3 tbsp raspberry chia seed jam (recipe in previous post)

2 tbsp of natural peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)

Sprinkled banana chips (optional, but provide great crunch)

1/4 c coconut milk (or milk of choice)

Place coconut milk and quinoa in microwave for 1 - 1 1/2 minutes. Top with jam, peanut butter, banana, and banana chips.

Day 3 - Blueberries and Cream

1 bowl of quinoa base

3/4 scoop of Acai powder (if you don't have this, don't worry)

1/2 c fresh or frozen blueberries (I used frozen)

1/2 tbsp of chia seeds

Sprinkle of shredded coconut

1/4 c coconut milk (use less if using frozen blueberries)

Place quinoa bowl, acai powder, blueberries, and milk into the microwave for 1 - 1 1/2 minutes. Top with chia seeds and shredded coconut. 

Day 4 - Banana Bread

1 bowl of quinoa base

1 tsp cinnamon

dash of nutmeg

1 banana (sliced 1/2 pre-microwave, 1/2 post-microwave)

2 tbsp chopped walnuts

Drizzle of pure maple syrup (I'm sure honey would work as well)

1/4 c of coconut milk (or milk of choice)

Place quinoa bowl, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1/2 sliced banana into microwave for 1 - 1 1/2 minutes. Top with walnuts and maple syrup. 

Have a great weekend, everyone! :)

Tyler

@coconutsandchocolate

Overnight Oats Obsessed

Hi Everyone,

Things have been so crazy the past few weeks - and I feel like I have already fallen behind on my blogging! Luckily, even when things are crazy, there is always time for Overnight Oats. 

Overnight Oats are amazing for lots of reasons. They are super easy to make (I usually make them on Sunday, and they last me most of the work week), super healthy, insanely filling, and so versatile. You can essentially make any flavor combination that you would like, as long as you stick with the same core base ingredients: 1 part oats to 1 part liquid. That's it! Seriously. That's it.

You can also adjust according to your diet. Vegan? Gluten-Free? Vegetarian? No problem. Feel free to play around with toppings! My PB + Banana Overnight Oats (second recipe listed below) were just perfect. Adding jam, sliced banana, and scoop of homemade granola created the perfect mixture of textures and flavors. Or even swapping out the usual milk with tea (like I did with my Chai Tea Overnight Oats) makes a world of difference. The possibilities are endless, literally.

If you have any advice on super delicious flavors you have tried, or would like to see, let me know! I love to hear how other people incorporate different ingredients into their oats. See below for two of my current favorite flavors. Enjoy. :)

Chai Tea Overnight Oats

1/2 c rolled oats 

1/2 c chai tea (steeped in hot water for a few minutes)

1 tsp chia seeds (optional)

1/2 mashed ripe banana

splash of unsweetened coconut milk

sprinkle of coconut sugar

Let soak overnight, and enjoy!

PB + Banana Overnight Oats w/ Chia Seed Jam

Overnight Oats

1/2 c rolled oats

1/2 c coconut milk (or whatever milk you prefer)

1/2 mashed banana

1 tsp chia seeds

1 tbs peanut butter (or any nut butter)

Raspberry Chia Seed Jam

1 1/2 c frozen raspberries (works well with other berries as well!

1 tbsp chia seeds

splash of vanilla

Place frozen raspberries on the stovetop over medium to low heat for 5 minutes, or until completely thawed and separated. Let cool for a couple of minutes. Place in jar with chia seeds and vanilla. Shake well and place in refrigerator overnight. Don't forget to shake the jar a few times during the first hour or two of being in the fridge - to prevent the chia seeds from sinking into the bottom. 

Stay healthy, my friends.

Tyler

@coconutsandchocolate

Chocolate + Nana + PB Smoothie

Hi Friends!

As many of you may know, I have an obsession with smoothies. From personal experience, I think this is the easiest "first step" to a healthier lifestyle. All you need is a blender (doesn't have to be fancy, but a Vitamix doesn't hurt), fruit (frozen, fresh, whatever you have on-hand/whatever looks best at the grocery store), and you are all set. 

I also believe that a smoothie is the best way to start a day! Super easy on your digestion (if your stomach isn't having to put all of it's energy on digesting some crazy food, then you will feel more energized and less lethargic overall), nutritious, AND delicious. What more can you ask for? The smoothie listed below would also be a perfect post-workout treat. 

Still feeling hungry, or worried this can't possibly fill you up until lunch? Feel free to follow-up with a piece of fruit, slice of whole wheat toast, or yogurt (I prefer non-dairy). 

If you are skeptical on the whole smoothie thing, I totally understand. However, I promise you this recipe (below) will help with any doubts you may have. Seriously. 

Chocolate + Banana + Peanut Butter Smoothie

(Makes 4 Smoothies)

4 Bananas (frozen is always better, but non-frozen is perfectly fine)

4-5 pitted dates

1 tbsp almond or peanut butter

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

Sprinkle of cinnamon

Coconut Milk (or whatever milk you like)

Handful of ice cubs (less needed if you use frozen bananas)

Blend until smooth, top with Cacao Nibs, and enjoy!!

An Introduction is in Order...

Hello (my healthy, not so healthy, somewhat healthy, or trying to be healthy) friends!

I'm so excited to finally share with everyone (or at least those who are interested) my passions around living a healthy lifestyle, and hopefully showing you that it can be both easy AND delicious  - banana "nice" cream anyone?? 

Don't get me wrong, I haven't always been the healthiest person. I believe that we live in a very different time than even when my 26-year-old self was growing up. We have much more information at our finger tips, a lot more healthy foods available at our grocery stores (and our doorsteps, thanks to the wonderful world wide web), and an overall higher emphasis on eating and living a healthy life. 

I was raised in a family that ate meat on a daily basis. My dad's favorite hobby was grilling. Dinner was usually grilled [fill-in-the-blank-with-an-animal]: chicken, steak, burgers, shrimp, wings, etc. If the weather wasn't conducive to grilling, we were having chicken pot pie, beef goulash, beef tacos, spaghetti with meat sauce ... you get the picture. Along with dinner, we would have a canned vegetable (no one even thought about BPA then), baked potato, and a tall glass of Dr Pepper. I also had an obsession with collecting ALL of the Barbie toys when they were featured in the Happy Meal. I was the proud owner of almost ALL of them... Needless to say, I am forever thankful to have grown up in a family that had dinner together around the table almost every evening. I would never wish for anything different.

How I Became a Flexitarian (is that even a word??)

I have always had a soft spot for animals. Being from Oklahoma, my long commute during college inevitably meant driving by a lot farmland, where the sight of cows could bring a smile to my face (weird, I know). Therefore, when I moved out of my parents house, I naturally became less of a meat-eater. I was quite picky when it came to meat anyway, so it wasn't a huge change for me. I ate much less beef, and would opt instead for chicken, ground turkey, or fish. My lunch during college consisted of a peanut butter and honey sandwich, some sort of fruit, and chips or pretzels. Breakfast meant a nice big bowl of (sugary) cereal. 

During one of my college classes three years ago, it was one of those delightful blow-off days, where the teacher pops in a movie and catches up on grading papers. This day in particular, my teacher happened to play Food Inc., and my life was forever changed. 

Within half an hour, I was trying my hardest to hold back tears. What I was watching was terrifying, depressing, and disgusting -all-in-one movie. Overall, I think most of us have aan idea as to what the meat industry is (inhumane, fowl, disease-ridden, the list could go on for days). However, when you see actual footage, go through the evidence, and get a true idea as to what goes on in the factories and on farms, I'm amazed at those who can continue to eat no different than they did previous to watching such a film. Fast forward two hours later, and I never wanted to eat meat again. Ever. 

I started with being a pescatarian, and have moved to a mostly vegetarian diet - with an attempt to be vegan. I recently learned (thank you, Jeopardy and Alex Trebek) that there is a such term called "flexitarian" - which is a plant-based diet with the occasional inclusion of meat. I know that I have probably just offended a good amount of true vegetarians or vegans out there, but I truly feel that if I have a severe craving for something like red meat, my body is telling me something and I should comply. This happens about every 3-4 months. Nothing too crazy.

Fast forward another 3 years, to my recent honeymoon to the Domincan Republic (pictures included below of our amazing trip - cows included, of course). My husband and I decided to take an excursion, which opened our eyes to a whole other world, the Dominican life. We visited a cigar factory, sugar cane plantation, and a traditional Dominican home and farm. We ate fruit straight from the tree/plant, chewed on raw sugar cane, tasted raw cocoa beans, learned which herbs can naturally cure certain ailments or diseases, and saw an overall emphasis on healthy, natural living. When we returned, I felt completely rejuvenated, and interested in learning more about how I (and my husband) could lead a healthier life. 

Now, I'm not perfect in any regard, but that doesn't mean I'm not passionate about my beliefs and attempt to be the healthiest person I can be - without driving myself (and others...) crazy through depravation and obsessing over being the healthiest person in the world. I believe it's all about moderation, and just doing your best.  There is a good chance that while I'm posting a recipe for the delicious smoothie I just made, I am also dreaming of doughnuts from my favorite bakery. I'm a believer that life is too short to not enjoy dessert. At the same time, life becomes even shorter if you don't think about what you are putting into your body.

Anyway, I plan to post about many topics: recipes, product reviews, natural remedies, healthy at-home living tips, and LOTS more. Stay tuned! :)


Tyler (that's me and my husband, lovin' life in the DR!)