Blueberry Dark Chocolate Granola

We usually have fruit for breakfast since it's quick and healthy, but this week we wanted to try something new. We wanted something that was still quick and healthy, but more filling with a little extra sweetness. So, we decided on granola. We had it with a little milk in the morning, but it is so tasty that we found ourselves snacking on it all day. You will too.

granola recipe


ingredients:

2 cups of organic rolled oats
1 cup of organic unsweetened coconut flakes
2 ounces of your choice of dark chocolate, roughly chopped (we tried Scharffen Berger)
1 cup of organic blueberries
2 tablespoons of organic extra virgin coconut oil
2 tablespoons of organic honey
Seeds from half of organic vanilla bean
Pinch of sea salt

recipe:

i. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
ii. In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, coconut flakes and sea salt.
iii. In a smaller bowl, combine vanilla bean, coconut oil and honey, then pour into the dry ingredients and stir until ingredients are completely mixed.
iv. Fold in the blueberries, then place in oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring every five minutes or so to keep granola from sticking together too much. Bake until browned.
v. Let cool, then stir in dark chocolate and serve.

serves four


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Dark Chocolate Chip Blondies

This is the first time we have cooked blondies together, and we are glad we did. Blondies are sort of like cookies in brownie form, but they focus more on the brown sugar than on the chocolate, which we love. None of the flavors are overpowering, but instead complement each other perfectly. Lots of brown sugar, with little chunks of dark chocolate and a hint of vanilla. We recommend enjoying these at a drive-in theater with someone you love.

blondie recipe

ingredients:

2 cups of organic light brown sugar

2 cups of organic unbleached all-purpose flour

2 organic non-fertile eggs

1 cup of Earth Balance butter, melted

Seeds from one organic vanilla bean

Pinch of sea salt

1.5 ounces of Noi Siruis dark chocolate, cut into small chunks

recipe:

i. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

ii. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs.

iii. Whisk in brown sugar, sea salt, vanilla bean seeds butter.

iv. Add flour and stir until all ingredients are combined.

v. Fold in chocolate. 

vi. Spoon into an 8x8 glass pan (If you use a metal pan, be sure to grease it before pouring batter into it.) and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until fork comes out clean when inserted into blondies. 

vii. Let cool, then serve.

makes nine blondies

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Buttermilk Biscuits

Having spent a lot of time in the South, we have come to appreciate real Southern cooking. The buttermilk biscuit is an essential part of a true Southern breakfast. It's the ultimate comfort food. Here's our version.

biscuit recipe

ingredients:

2 cups of organic unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting and rolling

3/4 cup of organic buttermilk from a local dairy farm or ethical company

1 1/2 teaspoons of aluminum-free baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of aluminum-free baking soda

1/2 cup of Earth Balance butter, cut into small chunks

Pinch of sea salt

Biscuit cutter (If you do not own a biscuit cutter, use something round, like a cup)

recipe:

i. Preheat oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

ii. In a medium mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients.

iii. Add butter a chunk at a time and combine until mixture becomes grainy.

iv. Make a well in the center and pour in buttermilk.

v. Stir until mixture forms a dough.

vi. Lightly flour a flat surface and knead the dough, but do not overwork.

vii. Use a rolling pin to roll out dough, then cut your biscuits.

viii. Place biscuits on a baking sheet, then bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they have lightly browned, then serve.

makes eight biscuits

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Honey Oat Squares

When we woke up this morning, the plan was to make oatmeal, but then we decided to experiment with ingredients. This is the result. Delicious Honey Oat Squares with sweet vanilla and crunchy coconut. Healthy, filling and easy to make, these little squares are perfect anytime. We suggest pairing them with your favorite tea.

honey oat squares recipe

ingredients:

1 1/4 cups of organic whole grain oats

1 1/2 tablespoons of organic honey

1/2 cup of organic whole wheat flour

1 1/2 tablespoons of organic unsweetened coconut flakes

Seeds from one organic vanilla bean

1-2 teaspoons of water

Pinch of organic sea salt

recipe:

i. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

ii. In a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except honey and water.

iii. Add honey and 1 teaspoon of water and stir until ingredients hold together. If they do not hold together, add more water until they do.

iv. Spoon mixture into a small baking pan and bake for 10-12 minutes.

v. Let cool, then cut into squares and serve.

makes nine to twelve squares

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Dijon Seitan Salad

We try to make a different salad every week. This has been our favorite so far, along with the Gala Gorgonzola salad. The seitan has a good meaty flavor, which goes well with the Dijon dressing. Whether you're a vegetarian or carnivore, this salad will satisfy your meat cravings. It's great on it's own or as a side. Plus it's simple, fast and healthy, and you'll probably want more.

dressing recipe


ingredients:

1 tablespoon of organic Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon of organic honey
1/4 cup - 1/2 cup of organic extra virgin olive oil (Use less if you want the dressing to taste more mustard-y.)
Sea salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste

recipe:

i. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together.

salad recipe


ingredients:

4 cups of organic mixed greens
8 ounces of seitan (You can make it yourself or buy it at the store. Either way, it is very tasty.)
Pepper, to taste

recipe:

i. Turn medium frying pan on medium heat.
ii. Cut seitan into strips and add it to the pan. You do not need oil.
iii. Pepper the seitan to your taste.
iv. Toss the mixed greens and dressing together, then plate.
v. Once the seitan is browned on both sides, arrange it on each salad, then serve.

serves two-four


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Lemon Quinoa

Here's a very simple meal that you can variate in all sorts of ways, but we are giving you the basic recipe. You can do whatever you want to it from there, but it is still tasty on its own. It goes perfectly with some Ciabatta bread topped with avocado. It's a quick and light summer meal.

lemon quinoa recipe


ingredients:

1 cup of organic black quinoa (You can use regular quinoa if you prefer.)
2 cups of water
Juice from 1/2 of a lemon
Organic fresh parsley, to taste

recipe:

i. In a small saucepan, combine quinoa and water and bring to a boil.
ii. Once the quinoa is boiling, turn to low heat, cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until all water is gone.
iii. Squeeze the lemon juice over the quinoa and stir, then plate.
iv. Garnish with some organic fresh parsley and serve.

serves two


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The Only Guacamole You Will Ever Need

Typically, people put so many ingredients in their guacamole that you can't even really tell that there is any avocado in it. Ours is simple. Avocados and lime. That's it. No herbs. No spices. Just two ingredients letting their own flavors be enough. And it's the easiest thing you'll ever make. Trust us. You won't be disappointed.

guacamole recipe


ingredients:

2 avocados, pitted
Juice from 1/2 of a lime

recipe:

i. In a medium mixing bowl, mash avocados.
ii. Add the lime juice and mix together.
iii. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips or use as a side.

(See, we told you it was easy.)

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Gala Gorgonzola Salad

This is by far the best salad we have ever eaten, and we're not just saying that because we made it. Every ingredient complements all the others perfectly. It's as if everything combines to make one huge wonderful flavor, without being overwhelming. It's great to make on a hot summer evening, with the windows open and a bottle of Sangria to share.

salad recipe


ingredients:

1/4 pound of organic mixed greens
1 cup of organic watercress
1 organic Gala apple, thinly-sliced
1 cup of organic dried cranberries
1 cup of organic raw walnuts
1 cup of Gorgonzola, crumbled
Juice from 1/2 of a lemon
1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil

recipe:

i. Heat a medium frying pan on medium heat.
ii. Add lemon juice and walnuts to pan and toast until slightly-browned.
iii. In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, watercress, apple, dried cranberries, walnuts and cheese.
iv. Pour the vinegar and olive oil over the salad and toss all ingredients together, then serve.

serves four


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Simple Summer Bean Salad

with balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Sometimes, we just don't feel like turning on the oven and making a huge mess of the dishes. This is simple, clean and delicious. It's also a quick recipe to make if you're in a hurry. It is great as a dinner entree but can also be eaten as a light lunch. The hotter it is outside, the more refreshing this will taste. Super filling. Super tasty. Super healthy.

bean salad recipe


ingredients:

1 15oz can of organic garbanzo beans, drained
1 15oz can of organic green beans, drained
1 15oz can of organic black beans, drained
1 15oz can of organic kidney beans, drained
1/2 cup of our Simple Balsamic Vinaigrette

recipe:

i. Combine all beans in a large bowl and mix together.
ii. Pour vinaigrette over beans and toss together, then serve.

serves four


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Simple Balsamic Vinaigrette

Last Saturday, we went out to eat at a great Italian restaurant. When the server brought over some bread for the table, he also set down a small plate of their house-made balsamic vinaigrette to use as a dipping sauce. We know balsamic vinaigrette isn't something anyone would usually crave, but when we had one taste of theirs, we knew we had to go home and make our own. By the end of the meal, we had finished off two baskets of bread and two plates of the vinaigrette. You're about to do the same. This is our favorite dressing. It's fast and simple, and it goes well with just about any kind of savory dish. But you could always pair it with a fresh soft loaf of Ciabatta bread. You might need to buy two.


vinaigrette recipe


ingredients:

1/4 cup of organic balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil
2 large cloves of organic garlic, minced
1 teaspoon of organic fresh basil, finely-chopped
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Pinch of sea salt
Pinch of black pepper

recipe:

i. Mix all ingredients together and pour over your favorite salad, or use as a dipping sauce.


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