As I've mentioned before, I don't drink coffee in the morning anymore because I replaced it with these, which give me a bigger boost of energy. I still like to drink it just not like I use to… I  loved drinking the speciality drinks like frappuccinos and lattes until (more…)

This plant-based Italian “chorizo” is a healthy alternative made from real ingredients. It adds a hearty texture to things like pizza, pasta dishes, salads and more! (more…)

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Seeing that most of the country continues to have cold temperatures, I would say we're definitely still in soup season so I give you my new Creamy Zucchini Basil Soup. This recipe doesn’t disappoint either.

It explodes with flavor while (more…)

Have you ever been stuck in traffic or working late and your hunger levels continue to grow & grow because you only had a light meal 4 hours ago? By the time you get in the presence of food, you grab whatever you can and it's usually not the healthiest of choices because your hunger pains took over (more…)

I love coming up with creative recipes that keep me from getting bored with the average dish. Not that pizza needs to be spruced up, but using (more…)

This Balsamic-Infused Hummus is oil-free, and only requires 6 ingredients! Homemade hummus is cheaper and so much healthier than store-bought. This one takes less than 10 minutes to prepare, plus it goes great on so many things.

If you've ever checked the ingredients label on hummus you buy from the store, you might be shocked at the processed oils and preservatives that's in them. Before I really knew how to eat healthy, I use to eat store-bought  hummus all the time. Little did I know what I was actually eating.

Now I make it at home and it's even more delicious than anything you'll find at the grocery store. It feels good when you know exactly everything you're eating. This balsamic hummus is so easy to make it might shock you!

All you have to do is throw all the ingredients in a food processor, blend and you're done! It can easily be flavored other ways, but the balsamic-infused version is definitely a favorite.

You can't beat the fresh taste or nutritional benefits of this homemade version. It's a great snack with veggie sticks and I love eating it with falafel balls too.

I recently made this for my cooking class at Whole Foods Market at it was a hit! Be sure to follow on me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to see when and where I'll be doing my next cooking demo.

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Balsamic-Infused Hummus

Please use all organic ingredients when possible!

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword balsamic hummus, homemade hummus, oil-free hummus

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Author Megan Lawson

Ingredients

• 1 can Garbanzo beans (13 or 15 oz)
• 3-4 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar (Depending on how strong you want it, I made it with 4)
• 2 Garlic Cloves
• 1 tsp Tamari (Amino Acids work too)
• 3 tsp Lemon Juice
• 1/2 tbsp Tahini
• 2 tbsp Water

Instructions

• First pulse the garlic cloves in the food processor to break them up.
• Add the beans and pulse more to break those up.
• Then add the rest of the ingredients and blend it all together.
• Taste and make sure you don't need to adjust any of the seasonings before you serve.
• I love eating it with veggie sticks, falafel balls and more!

 BENEFITS OF THIS RECIPE: 

1. Aides in weight loss 
2. Supports a healthy digestive system 
3. Assists in the body's absorption of essential minerals like magnesium and calcium which improves bone health 
4. Helps reduce blood pressure and enhanced heart health

I really can't get over these healthy raw Chocolate Cinnamon Cream Cheesecakes. They're a great healthy alternative to regular cheesecakes. These are made with Cacao, which is chocolate in it's natural form. That way you can sweeten it without using refined sugar. These make a perfect treat for Valentine's Day or any day you want to show some love.

Here are 5 reasons why these no-guilt treats should be your sweet of choice:

1. No Baking Required
2. You only need 6 ingredients (not including toppings)
3. They're sugar and oil-free
4. Great source of protein
5. They taste like a little piece of heaven!

Have I sold you yet? I don't think you'll  be disappointed.  More of what you'll reap from this nutritious dessert under the recipe.

Make sure to taste and adjust seasonings as you like them. You can leave the cinnamon out all together if you prefer.

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CHOCOLATE CINNAMON CREAM CHEESECAKE LOVE

Please use all organic ingredients when possible! If you don't care for cinnamon you can leave it out or only add a pinch or so. If you want it really chocolate-y add an extra tbsp or two of cacao. Make sure to taste the cream and it's to your liking

Course Dessert

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Author Megan Lawson

Ingredients

• **********CRUST**********
• 1 cup Walnuts
• 1/2 cup Pecans you can do 2 cups of either those if you don't want to mix
• 6 large Dates soak them in water if they are hard
• Sprinkle Salt
• **********FILING**********
• 1 pack Soft Tofu I used #2 in firmness
• 3 tbsp Cacao Powder
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups Dates
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• *********TOPPINGS************
• Shredded Coconut optional
• Vegan Chocolate Chips optional
• Nuts optional

Instructions

• ***CRUST***
• First blend nuts in food processor until they are chopped
• Then add the dates and sprinkle of salt to the nuts. Pulse until everything is mixed well and turns into a dough like texture
• Grease pan with a little coconut oil (or other non-stick you prefer)
• Scoop crust mix into pan and press it down firmly. Make sure it's packed in well. If using muffin tin, scoop a heaping tbsp of the mixture into each slot and press down firmly
• After crust is in, set in freezer for 5 min or so while you start getting the filling ready
• ***FILLING***
• First blend up the tofu in the food processor
• Add cacao powder and 1 cup of the dates and blend with tofu.
• Then add the rest of the dates, vanilla and cinnamon and mix again
• Be sure to taste it and if you want it sweeter add more dates or more cacao if you want more chocolate
• Pour chocolate tofu on top of crust.
• Tap the pan a few times to make sure there isn't any air bubbles
• Put in freezer for 1 1/2 hour - 2 hours
• I used a knife around the corners to scoop each out. Put in freezer approved container to store.
• Note: If you leave them out they will start to get soft. Take out of freezer only when you're ready to serve

 BENEFITS OF THIS RECIPE:

1. Filled with antioxidants and cancer-fighting properties 
2. Assists in reducing stress levels 
3. Improves circulation and helps lower cholesterol 
4. Promotes better bone health

Since Valentine's Day is next weekend I have a couple dessert recipes I'll post before then. First up, Cacao Chocolate Cupcakes that are dairy-free, refined sugar-free… yes, they're vegan and so, so good! (more…)

This feta-like cheese is a delicious plant-based substitute. It goes great on salads, pasta and sandwiches – pretty much anything you'd use regular feta on, this cheese goes well with. It's easily be made using simple ingredients.  (more…)

I can't believe it's already February! Now is the time of year when winter blues set in for a lot of people. The holidays are over, no more magical feelings, we just have cold weather. Plus it gets dark earlier, so after work, you feel more tired than in the summer months.  (more…)

We're less than a week away from another foodie event… The Super Bowl and this Superfood Salsa is perfect for it! I'll be serving it plus Smoothie Shooters, Cheesy Cauli-Tots and more. (more…)