Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate it! I hope that you're having a wonderful end to your year. I'm popping in to share an easy recipe that's perfect for wintertime - one that I've made at least half a dozen times in the past few months. Matcha green tea powder is packed with antioxidants, but it can be too green tasting for some people. Hell, I like matcha and I don't even like it strong! But what I love about this recipe is that it pairs matcha with peppermint extract, and the two blend so well together. Peppermint extract is strong and it kind of mellows out the matcha. In the end, what you'll taste is a chocolatey, pepperminty drink with a hint of matcha that's perfect for pepping you up on chilly days. Since I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk for this recipe, it's also a ... [Read More]
peppermint
Peppermint Chocolate Chip Snack Bites {vegan + gluten free}
Earlier this week, I sent out a health coaching newsletter with tips to avoid holiday weight gain (you can subscribe via the signup form on the right sidebar! -->), and one of my guidelines is to implement an 80/20 diet balance. I've talked about this concept before, but it's the idea that 80% of your calories are from nutritious, healthy choices, and for the other 20%, you enjoy whatever indulgences you're in the mood for. I apply this to my diet not only during the holiday season but year-round, because I believe that moderation is what works in the long haul for a healthy, sustainable relationship with food... which brings me to today's recipe! We all know that December is ripe with food and drink indulgences. I adore baking Christmas cookies and drinking seasonal drinks like ... [Read More]
Peppermint Dark Chocolate Smoothie
Last night I took my first class at my new gym - a nice & sweaty kickboxing session. When I got home from working out, I needed something to eat quick that would please my growling stomach, replenish my muscles with some protein, and also satisfy my mood for something chocolatey. I hadn't had dinner yet but it was kind of late, so I wanted something that could double as a nutritious little meal AND dessert. I knew just the thing to make, as I had picked up peppermint extract during my last grocery store run and was anxious to try it out. This smoothie did not disappoint! It's definitely my new favorite shake combo. Peppermint extract is the key to this recipe. It tastes like dessert, yet it can work for a meal or snack at anytime in the day. Peppermint Dark Chocolate ... [Read More]
Peppermint Fudge
Hello and Merry Christmas from the East coast! My time in Jersey so far has been tons of fun. We've gotten to spend time with both my family and Adam's family, and I'm looking forward to a lot more great times this week. Here are a few of my favorite photos from this week thus far: I spent a good amount of time having fun in the kitchen the first few days of being back in NJ, especially since we spent Christmas Eve at my parents' house this year. I made some yummy goodies to share with family and friends for the holidays: My favorite dessert creation was peppermint fudge: I found the recipe on a blog called A Spicy Perspective and immediately knew I wanted to try it out. This fudge did not disappoint! You can check out her original recipe here, but here is how I made it: First I took ... [Read More]