Knead to Cook

Food & fitness obsessed girl.

Archives for June 2014

Rainbow Chard with Garlic Scapes.

by Filed Under: Brunch, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Gluten Free, Running/Races, Side dish, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat Free Leave a Comment

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What a whirlwind weekend.  Last week my brand new 2015 Mazda CX5 transmission stopped working on a major road during rush hour traffic as I was driving my daughter to a friend’s house.  I was lucky enough to spot a turn-off and coast down the hill to safety.  After a week at the dealer’s repair shop, and still not knowing what the exact problem was – we opted to buy another vehicle.  This Mazda, with 4k miles, was going to go to our daughter next year when she started driving.  So much for THAT logic. After losing faith in Mazda’s product, we quickly lost faith in Lancaster Mazda Toyota – the car dealer.  Our plan was to purchase a Toyota and keep the purchase under one company and making it financially easier to work.  The company was deplorable to deal with.  Completely dollar focused.  NO customer service.  We were done on so many levels.  We got my little death trap back on Saturday and quickly found a wonderful Toyota dealer (Toyota of York).  If you’re in PA – seriously check them out!  This is my experience and NOT a paid ad.

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— Knead to Cook

Peach and Cucumber Salsa.

by Filed Under: 4th of July/Patriotic, Appetizers, Breakfast, Brunch, Desserts, Dips, Fitness., Gluten Free, Mexican, No bake/cooking required!, Party Foods, Raw, Salsas & Guacamole, Side dish, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat Free 6 Comments

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I love LOVE love salsa.  Even better… summer fruit salsa!  I don’t even need chips for this salsa and admittedly, I can down the entire bowl of it on my own.  The mix of sweet, crunchy, spicy… and mix that with balsamic vinegar ~ a slice of summery heaven.

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— Knead to Cook

Sun tea.

by Filed Under: Beverages, Breakfast, Brunch, Gluten Free, Raw, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat Free 2 Comments

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I would’ve never thought that snapping a pic of sun tea would be so challenging.  Every shot I took… eh!  Oh well.  I wanted to get the post up while the sun is shining and the temps are rising.  Sun tea is one of those fun recipes you can make with the kids requiring just the power of the sun!  You can use whatever tea you enjoy and this can be made on a nice hot day in a matter of hours.  Sweetening is optional and I’ll give you some suggestions on doing that below.  Green tea also works really well.   Happy Summer!

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— Knead to Cook

Chocolate Banana Ice Cream. {vegan} {gluten free}

by Filed Under: Brunch, Fruit, Gluten Free, Ice cream, Nuts, Party Foods, Raw, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vitamix, Wheat Free 9 Comments

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Monday, oh Monday how I can love and hate you so!  The day started out with a good 7.5 mile run. I’m now only 10 or so miles away from my 100 mile month for June.  I had a record 40,700 steps moved (running and walking yesterday) with over 2700 calories burned.  All good.  Got kids, picked them up, dropped them off.  Fed everyone.  Progress.  Then I had a bit of truck drama in my brand new truck with only 4k miles on it.  I’ll spare the details for now but as I sit frustrated and confused.  More on that later….

Onto the recipe post.  I feel like a crazy banana lady.  I buy them in mass quantities and once ripe, I freeze them all. I love adding them to smoothies or to make fake ice cream. Fake ice cream you ask?  Well it’s like a healthy, no-junk soft serve that will convince even your pickiest ice cream fans that they are eating something totally indulgent.  Totally vegan.  Gluten free.  Plus you can add whatever to it to make it even better!  This was yesterday’s dessert and it was so good (I’m glad I snuck a bit to enjoy).  This is for the chocolate coconut fans out there.  Additional mix-in ideas are listed below.

Welcome summer!
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— Knead to Cook

Maille Mobile Preview Tasting in Philadelphia.

by Filed Under: Condiments, Gluten Free, Grilling/Rubs/Sauces, Life., No bake/cooking required!, Party Foods, Product Review., Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat Free 2 Comments

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You know that when a fabulous person falls into you life, regardless of how it happens, you embrace that relationship and place great value on it.  Products are very similar.  You find a product or products and they instantly become your go-to standards that you refuse to deviate from.  In my life as well as on my blog, I share only products that I’m truly passionate about.  Sometimes those posts are sponsored (which are noted) and other times I’m just sharing food or products that I use and love along my food journey.

Maille has been a two-fold blessing to me.  One, I’ve used their products forEVER!  Seriously, as long as I can remember way back when my husband and I moved in together and I was grocery shopping on my own (attempting to enter adulthood) I was buying Maille Dijon.  Well I started my blog a few years ago and have had many opportunities to work with companies creating recipes, attending events etc.  When I started my relationship with Maille I was not only excited because I love and use their products several times a week — I also made a wonderful friend Elsa who I just adore!  She’s my French connection and I just could chat with her for hours upon hours about travel, Paris, NYC, men, life… oh and wifi (inside joke).

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— Knead to Cook

Chocolate Green Goddess Smoothie. {vegan} {gluten free}

by Filed Under: Beverages, Breakfast, Brunch, Desserts, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Fruit, Gluten Free, Nuts, Raw, Smoothies, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vitamix, Wheat Free 4 Comments

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This is the smoothie I make for myself every day.  I’m a chocolate lover and this is my go-to reward protein smoothie after a killer run or workout.  I workout 6 days a week and I prefer to consume a protein smoothie right after working out to speed up recovery.  Not overloading your stomach with food helps speed up recovery so the body can focus on muscle recovery versus digesting food in the stomach.   I’ve tweaked this recipe so many times and I’m finally feel that is ready to share.  I now, also make this for my oldest before swim practice every morning.  I think the balance of the cacao powder drowns out the spinach factor and she never even pays attention to it.  I love that I’m getting at least two servings of veggies in her before 8 am and she works her muscles hard in the pool.  It’s not overly sweet but just the perfect balance.

I realize there are about a million green smoothie recipes out there.  This is just one of my favorite takes on it and it’s vegan and totally gluten free.  Oh yeah, and protein packed!  It may not be the most glamorous but it sure ranks up there in flavor.
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— Knead to Cook

Himalayan Sea Salt Raw Brownies. {vegan} {gluten free}

by Filed Under: Brownies, Brunch, Cookies, Desserts, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Gluten Free, Holiday, No bake/cooking required!, Nuts, Valentine's Day, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat Free 6 Comments

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I’m convinced that everything in my house is now breaking.  Do you ever go through spells like that?  First started with a patio outside that we had to tear up and pour cement.  Then our fridge died… that was replaced.  Now the ceiling fan in my bedroom just went kaput!  Not really happy as I really love my fan and it seems like I’m boiling at night with just the a/c on.  Maybe menopause is closer than I thought (ha ha).  I was relegated to removing the old fan and running out for a new one.  Before I run off to hang that I wanted to blog because the rest of my day is packed with a swim meet.

I had planned on sharing my recipe for mint sun tea that I made yesterday but had a hankering for some raw brownies and these bumped that post.  These raw brownies are a bit different from ones made in my past.  I wanted to use coconut butter or manna in these for a deeper, richer flavor.  They are so good and good for you!  Raw.  Vegan. Gluten free.  I like to make snacks for my daughter to take to her swim meets that I know are diet friendly for her.  These are perfect.  And if you aren’t a coconut fan, no worries… the flavor almost is undetectable.  Packed with protein from the hemp hearts. Perfect when the chocolate cravings hit!  I store in the freezer (or you can store in the fridge too).
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— Knead to Cook

Almond chocolate cookies. {vegan} {gluten free}

by Filed Under: Breakfast, Cookies, Desserts, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Fitness., Gluten Free, Holiday, Holiday Baking Ideas, Nuts, Party Foods, Running/Races, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vitamix, Wheat Free 1 Comment

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Today, altho quite sunny and hot, has been a lovely productive day for me indoors.  We had a swim meet last night which left us getting home quite late.  I gave myself an extra 30 minutes to sleep and then hit the gym to test out my new Mizunos.  I got in a lovely 8 mile run on the treadmill (5 more to go for my 25 weekly mile mark) and then came home to taxi to swim practice.  I walked while practice went on and then came home to start cleaning and whipped up this batch of cookies.  I’ll admit, I just started throwing things in a bowl and prayed it worked.  Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t!  Thankfully… this one was a winner.  These are NOT overly sweet.  Honestly, they don’t need to be.  The almond butter and maple syrup are the perfect amount of sweetness with no added refined sugars necessary.  Perfect, vegan and gluten free cookie.  You can actually see the goodness and ingredients right in each cookie.  I’m smitten.
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— Knead to Cook

Hail to Kale Smoothie.

by Filed Under: Beverages, Brunch, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Fruit, Gluten Free, No bake/cooking required!, Raw, Smoothies, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vitamix, Wheat Free 2 Comments

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Ah summer is here.  Hot temps have arrived and the craziness of summer has begun in our household.  Taxi driving to and from work, practice, friend’s houses, swim meets… numerous grocery store runs for ravenous kids.  Oh and Father’s Day was this past weekend.  It’s all fun and nutty and I’m trying to breathe and embrace the time.  I’m a type A control freak and I desperately am seeking a routine in the midst of the insanity.  I’m not winning, just in case you were wondering.

Our garden is flourishing in the warm, dare I say, hot weather.  Our kale is huge and beautiful.  I couldn’t resist after running one kid home from swim practice and taking the other to the pool to hang out… whipping my dad and I a lovely green kale smoothie.  It came out great.  Not overtly sweet and quite refreshing – just what we both needed after a morning outside working.  When the hot weather comes, I don’t gravitate towards conventional meals but like easily digestible foods/beverages that refuel and fill my body with nutrients I need.  My daughter even loved this one.  Love when that happens!

Inspired by The Blender Girl.  [Read more…]

— Knead to Cook

Sweet Kale Almond Smoothie.

by Filed Under: Beverages, Breakfast, Brunch, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Fitness., Gluten Free, No bake/cooking required!, Raw, Running/Races, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vitamix, Wheat Free 6 Comments

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His & Hers.  Yours & Mine.

Do you see that bright green color???  OHHHHHH I love it!  You can see the nutrients!  The fact:  I drink a lot of smoothies… in fact most of family does too.  It basically comes down to this… they’re fast, nutrient dense and I can throw pretty much anything in them and they taste so good.  Fast food my style!  Perfect for on-the-go lifestyles.  My kids drink them for breakfast or before practice.  We have them for breakfast or quick lunches while running out the door.  Plus my garden is brimming with fresh spinach and kale and I promise you… if you add it your kids won’t taste it!  Other flavors dominate it and it is virtually undetectable.  Plus getting extra nutrients from dark, leafy greens is essential.  I added cinnamon to this recipe which is a great anti-inflammatory.  Great post workout!  Also, it’s been shown to lower cholesterol  and lower blood sugar.

This recipe, like most of my recipes as of late, are vegan. You can always use whatever milk you prefer.  I make all of my smoothies in my Vitamix Pro 750.  Regular blenders may be used but may require a bit more liquid to thin it out the consistency.  One last note on smoothies, for now, they are great post workout to allow your body to focus on healing your muscles you tore up during your workout v. digesting a big breakfast post workout.  Turnover and recovery so you can get back out working out sooner is my focus.
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— Knead to Cook