Healthy Vegan Chocolate Pudding

Organic cocoa powder is rich in flavonoids which have anti-inflammatory properties. For all chocolate lovers, it is good to know that organic cocoa may reduce bad LDL cholesterol and increase HDL, the good cholesterol. It is the added sugar and additives in chocolate bars that can be unhealthy. Try this healthy vegan chocolate pudding recipe that will tame your cravings, plus it is sugar-free.

Ingredients:

1 can of Thai Kitchen® Organic Coconut milk 14 ounces - chill 2 hrs.

8 ounces of cold water

3 Tablespoons Now® Organic Cocoa

1/4 Cup of organic chia seeds

12 drops of now® organic Stevia drops

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla extract

Directions:

In a large glass or aluminum bowl add

chilled organic coconut milk, cold water, chia seeds and cocoa powder. Mix well with a spoon. Then add stevia drops and vanilla extract and mix. With a hand mixer blend on low for 3 minutes. Pour into 4 individual dessert cups garnish with fruit. Chill for 2 hours to allow chia seed to thicken. Then enjoy this delicious nutritious treat!

One of the sexiest men alive actor Charlie Hunnam has a slender lean body type. His workout routine is simple in that he can do his workout virtually anywhere. By using his own body weight with out added equipment. These types of workout make your body strong and lean.

Charlie maintains his great shape by eating real food that is natural and unprocessed, and it shows. I think Charlie Hunnam would approve of this chocolate pudding recipe. A no cook recipe perfect for hot summer days.

Summer salad with Apple Cider vinegar dressing

Summer is here, my favorite time of the year. When the temperature is too high to cook over a hot stove I make this crunchy and nutritious salad. This recipe fills a 3-quart casserole dish. 

I make this salad every Sunday evening for a weeks worth of salads (serves 2). The phytochemical found in these vegetables keep your body healthy and help fight disease. Plus, pumpkin seeds are rich in magnesium and zinc, which your body needs for a healthy heart and immune system. 

Salad Ingredients:

• 1 English cucumber
• 5 stalks of celery, chopped
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, quatered
• 1 cup baby peppers, chopped
• 1 can organic garbanzo beans, drained
• 2 cups broccoli florets, steamed
• 1/4 cup organic pumpkin seeds, shelled

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspooons Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Place all the dressing ingredients in a bowl, beat for 10 seconds,pour over the salad. Refrigerate and serve.

Mother's Day dessert - Sugar-Free Lemon Meringue Pie

This Mother’ Day celebrity moms will be indulging in treats, and some not so sweet, in order to maintain their fit bodies. Don’t worry you can enjoy dessert. This lighter version sugar-free pie recipe is a dessert any mom can afford to splurge on. It’s made with fresh lemon juice and is easy to bake. Bake it Mother’s Day morning and serve it for your dessert entree in the evening. Mom will appreciate it!

Sugar-Free Lemon Meringue Pie

Filling :

• 1 pre-baked 9-inch pie crust
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 1 1/4 cup Swerve® granulated sweetener
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 egg yolks ( save the whites for the meringue)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 teaspoons lemon zest

Meringue:

• 5 egg whites
• 1 cup Swerve® granulated sweetener
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Filling: In a medium saucepan combine cornstarch, water, lemon juice, sweetener, and salt. Whisk until no lumps are in the cornstarch and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 75 seconds. The mixture will be clear and thick.
2. Whisk the egg yolks together in a medium bowl and slowly whisk the cornstarch mixture into the egg yolks while stirring constantly. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook on low heat while stirring constantly for 60 more seconds. Do not let the mixture boil.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the butter and lemon zest. Pour the filling into the prepared pie shell and cover the filling with a piece of parchment or waxed paper. Set it in the refrigerator, and prepare the meringue.
4. Meringue: Whisk the egg whites and sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer. Place the bowl of the stand mixer over a double boiler and cook, stirring occasionally, until the egg whites are warm to the touch and the sugar has dissolved.
5. Preheat broiler. While heating, whip the egg whites on medium-high until stiff peaks form. Add in the salt and vanilla extract and whip.
6. Remove parchment paper from the pie filling then carefully spread the meringue on top of the lemon filling in a decorative pattern. Spread the meringue all of the way to the crust.
7. Carefully slide the pie under the broiler and cook for 20 to 60 seconds, or until the meringue is golden brown. Remove the pie from oven and cool completely in the refrigerator before slicing . Serve it for Mother's Day.

Getting Sexy with Kale

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but not all the sexy stars will be enjoying turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. Actress Natalie Portman stays fit and sexy eating a vegetarian diet, which would include the healthiest vegetable on the planet - the great kale.


Kale is low in calories, but high in calcium, vitamin A, C, and K. Kale is also rich in minerals, like iron, potassium, and copper. Consuming antioxidant rich kale may reduce your risk of developing cancer, and aid in normal blood clotting, to name a few of kale's health benefits. Sounds good to me! Some people do not like the taste of raw kale, but frozen raw kale can create a more palatable texture like I used in this kale smoothie recipe. Its quick and easy to make and it will keep you feeling full until lunch time.

Frozen Kale Smoothie Recipe:

• 1 Cup Frozen packed Kale
• 1/2 Cup Frozen Blueberries
• 1 Cup Unsweetened Almond milk
• 1  Scoop "Raw Protein" or  "Raw Fit Protein"

Pour 1 measured cup of unsweetened almond milk in a blender. Measure half of your frozen kale (1/2 cup) and place in the blender and blend until smooth.

Add 1 scoop of "Raw Protein powder" into the blender and blend until the powder is completed blended in and smooth.

Add the second 1/2 cup of the frozen kale and blend until smooth. Blending half of the frozen kale at a time allows the mixture to blend thoroughly and prevents the blades from freezing.

Add 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries and blend all the ingredients until smooth. If the consistency is too thick add ice cold water and blend until perfectly smooth to your taste.  Enjoy the healthy taste and your glowing skin! after a month of these filling smoothies.