Smoothies + Drinkables

Creamy Dreamy Chocolate Chia Mousse – The New & Improved Chia Pudding!

0 · Nov 10, 2018 · Leave a Comment

No, this is not another chia pudding recipe! I’m all for the chia puddings, they’re great, but THIS stuff guys, is UNBELIEVABLE! It takes chia pudding to a whole other level. It’s triple the creaminess and can be adjusted in so many ways to create a combo your body is craving! Simply switch the cacao powder for maca powder or the banana for strawberry!

I’ve been super busy lately with all the projects going on behind the scenes here at Nourishing Nelli, so needless to say I highly appreciate a “quick cook” or blend in this case! I’ve stuck to the game plan when it comes to batch cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinners, however dessert-prep has somehow got pushed to the wayside – how could I? 😲 That’s where this creamy concoction comes into play! It literally takes all of 2 minutes to make. Add a tbsp of chia seed to 3 tbsp water, whisk it together and let it sit for a bit. Add everything to a blender, blend and bowl! Could it get any simpler? This Chia Mousse is a great fiber-rich dessert or snack that aids digestion! It’s full of protein, healthy fats, and one of my favorite gut friendly foods – the almighty chia seed. The fruit in this mousse gives it a touch of sweetness, providing you with a well balanced nutrition profile. Try it out and tell me your still craving the sugar ridden ice creams, yogurts, and other desserts you’ll find in the grocery store – I’ll call your bluffs!

Let’s talk chia seed for a second! These little seeds are such an amazing superfood, and one that I keep on hand for things like smoothies, puddings, baked goods, and now mousse!

Chia Seeds are native to Guatemala and Mexico. They’ve been used since long ago by the Aztec’s for their powerful lasting energy. They’re full of fiber and amino acids, (the building blocks of protein) and literally double in size when placed in liquid, as they soak it up and transform into a gel like consistency due to the soluble fiber they carry. (Hello, healthy gut and digestive system!)

Dreamy Creamy Chocolate Chia Mousse - The New & Improved Chia Pudding!

Author: Britni Martinelli

Ingredients

1 tbsp chia seed + 3 tbsp almond milk soaked for 2 hours to for your chia gel
1/2 cup nut milk
1/4 avocado
2 tbsp chocolate protein powder
2 tsp cacao powder
1/2 frozen banana
dash of cinnamon
dash of sea salt

Instructions

Blend chia gel, nut milk and avocado together.
Add the remainder of ingredients and blend again.
Serve with your favorite toppings.

Show me your creations by tagging #nourishingnelli on Instagram or Facebook!

What the heck is Jicama?!

0 · Nov 9, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Jicama is a root vegetable, and actually part of the legume family. It grows on vines and is native to Central America and the Caribbean.

Jicama has a texture of the cross between a turnip and an apple; it’s slightly crispy and has a pretty bland taste, taking on the flavor of anything you pair it with.

Jicama is an incredible source of fiber and a great food to add to your regimen to ensure your eating enough prebiotics.

Jicama is unique, in that it’s fiber contains inulin, which doesn’t metabolize in the body – meaning it’s not utilized as an energy source. In the intestines, inulin has a prebiotic role and promotes the “good” bacteria growth. This helps you maintain both a healthy colon and a strong immune system. Prebioitcs help the probioitcs do their job. You can think of it as food for the probitoics. Due to it’s low glycemic index score, jicama is great for diabetics or those sensitive to sugar, making it a great tool for weight management.

Jicama also enhances the absorption of calcium from other foods, keeping your bones healthy and strong. It’s a great source of antioxidants and vitamin C, to rid free radicals; keeping your skin pretty and protecting you from things like virus’s, cancer and inflammation.

Jicama is namely profound in potassium, crucial for you inner systems to function in sync and is high in vitamins folate, riboflavin, thiamin, as well as, the minerals magnesium, copper, iron, and manganese.

HOW TO JICAMA?!

Jicama goes decent as an addition to salads, yet i’ve come across a brilliant way to add jicama to your nutrition regime that has become my new favorite for more than the taste!

When consuming sugar of any source, it’s a good idea to pair it with fiber, so you create a slow release into the body; preventing blood sugar and insulin spikes.

In Dessert in Disguise, my latest e-book full of indulgent-free dessert bowls that also double as a healthy dinner option, I’ve strategically paired jicama and other fibrous sources with the bowls that contain fruit, to allow you to enjoy nature’s candy without any sugar crashes or insulin spikes; sending you off to sleep with extra sweet dreams!

Find your copy of Dessert in Disguise, here in the NN Shop! Use it for yourself, or as a genius gift option for sending health this holiday season! Enter “gift” at checkout for an easy one and done shop.

Enjoy!

Nelli

Golden Coconut Curry

0 · Nov 5, 2018 · Leave a Comment

This golden coconut curry is a great way to boost your immune system with its select warming spices and herbs: turmeric and ginger. Both are high in compounds that help fight inflammation and guard you in times of cold or when you need a little boost in the digestive system.

Ginger works wonders for stimulating gastric acids and breaking up toxins, sending them south! Turmeric contains the active compound curcumin, that has been used in India for years as an alternative to medicine. That’s where curry gets it’s unique yellow color from! Turmeric is highly anti-inflammatory and one of the most powerful antioxidants out there for warding off oxidative stress; keeping you youthful and glowing!

This whole meal can be thrown together in minutes and left to simmer on the stove. If your in the Batch Build routine, this is one of my favorites to double recipe and use through the week. It tastes great the second, third, and forth days reheated!

As always, I like to make my recipes alterable to your liking via something I call “swaptions” 😬 (swap/options) !!

PROTEIN:

Swap shrimp for crab, chicken, or another shellfish.
Keep it plant based by adding extra garbanzo beans or lentils.

VEGGIES:

No go on broccoli? Use cauliflower! It comes from the same plant family, called Cruciferous, and packs a load of vitamins and minerals.

No bueno, on the beans?

Simply leave the beans out and serve it with gluten-free crackers or homemade Naan bread!

Golden Coconut Curry

Ingredients

1 cup garbanzo beans drained
2 cups broccoli steamed
1 cup yellow onion
2 cups butternut squash steamed
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 cup celery diced
1 cup light coconut milk
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp ginger
8 oz cooked shrimp

Instructions

Sautee the onion, garlic and celery in olive oil. Add the remained of ingredients and simmer on low for 20-30 minutes.

Pretty In Pink

0 · Nov 5, 2018 · Leave a Comment

The prettiest pink drink you ever did make!

Let’s breakdown the benefits of this beauty bowl!

STRAWBERRIES the ultimate skin food –

full of vitamin C which helps your body fight free-radicals that cause depletion of collagen, as well as fine lines in the skin #nothanks!
high in Folic Acid, an important part of cell regeneration and production of new cells to keep you glowing!
Rich in ellagic acid, which has a photoreceptive effect to work against UV damage from things like being in the sun for long hours ultimately leading to wrinkles.
The acidic nature of strawberries helps give you clearer skin by allowing it to rid sebum (oil) which is responsible for things like acne and pimples.

COCONUTS the uber beauty friendly food –

Raw coconut meat is a great source of an anti–microbial rich nutrient. Eating raw coconut reduces the severity of any bacterial or inflammatory skin condition like eczema or psoriasis.
Excellent moisturizer, helping to give you smooth and soft skin!

AVOCADO… is there anything an avocado doesn’t do?! For now lets focus on what they provide for us in the beauty department –

Full of fiber, great for digestive purposes.
Source of healthy fats to in nutrient absorption aka, help all these wonderful vitamins, minerals and nutrients I spoke about above become bioavailable and ready to be used by your body when combined with avocado.
High in biotin, a B vitamin, which helps keep your skin moisturized, nails strong and prevents your hair from becoming dry.
The oil found in avocados contains sterolins, which are molecular structures within plant based oils that can help boost the body’s collagen production and treat age spots!

Along with all these skin foods, the protein powder helps support the growth of muscle to keep you strong, the cauliflower gives you a servings of fibrous vegetables and helps add nutrient density to the smoothie. last but not least the maca powder sends your hormones into overdrive keeping you feeling sexy and lustful!

Give it a blend and show me your creations by tagging #NourishingNelli on Instagram or Facebook!

-Nelli

Pretty in Pink

Prep Time

2 mins

Cook Time

1 min

Total Time

3 mins

The prettiest pink drink you ever did make!

Servings: 1 person

Author: Britni Martinelli

Ingredients

1/4 cup young coconut meat
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/4 avocado
1 scoop vanilla protein powder vega sport performance recommended
1/2 cup riced cauliflower steamed
1/2 inch fresh ginger
1 tsp maca powder
dash cinnamon
dash sea salt

Instructions

blend everything in a high speed blender

Roasted Red Dressing

0 · Nov 2, 2018 · Leave a Comment

ROASTED RED DRESSING

This robust and highly variable dressing is a go-to for me in the kitchen! I make sure to double or triple the recipe on my Batch Building days for an easy selection of salad dressing during the week.

It’s full of heart healthy fats from extra-virgin olive oil, making it fit right into one of the categories of my “EAT EIGHT” formula you can follow when building a meal.

Along side its macronutrient profile, the red bell pepper provides high amounts of vitamin C and carotenoids, both crucial for reducing inflammation and improving your immune system.

The beauty of this dressing comes with the ability to turn it into many different variations when you go to eat it with a little addition of other kitchen staples!