Drinks + Smoothies Archives - Amie Valpone

Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie

Amie — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 13:00:32 +0000

This Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie is creamy, refreshing, and simply satisfying. It’s dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and could even be mistaken for a milkshake! Whip this up in the morning for a quick on-the-go breakfast or for a tasty afternoon snack on a summer afternoon.

Smoothies are my go-to breakfast when the weather starts to heat up. Manhattan is already getting hot so I’ve been busy tossing a bunch of healthy ingredients into my blender to cool myself off before I head out into the heat.

This Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie is packed with healthy fats, protein, and fiber (the building blocks for an anti-inflammatory meal) to keep you happy and full until lunchtime rolls around. It’s naturally sweet without any refined sugar so you can feel good about serving it to yourself and your family first thing in the morning.

Let’s talk about how to make this creamy and refreshing smoothie, shall we?

How to Make:Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie (AUDIO)

Click the PLAY button below to hear me walk you through the steps of how to make this smoothie.

How to Make:Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie

You can make this smoothie in less than 5 minutes. As always, I like my recipes to be 3 simple steps or less. Here’s how to make your smoothie:

Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender.
Blend until creamy or desired consistency is reached. Add more ice as needed.
Serve.

Note: I suggest you do not drink your smoothie ice cold because it will be easier on your organs and your body. No need to drink it hot, however, let it sit for a few minutes in your blender with the top off before you serve it. I guarantee your digestion will feel a heck of a lot better drinking it this way rather than freezing cold.

Tips for Making: Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie

You can use any nut butter you’d like (such as cashew butter, pecan butter or walnut butter) with this recipe but creamy almond butter from Whole Foods Market 365 Brand is the most flavorful in my opinion.

Make sure you purchase unsweetened coconut flakes because regular coconut flakes are high in sugar and way too sweet for breakfast.

If you prefer a thicker smoothie consistency, use less ice and almond milk.

SHOP the STORY

Craving more healthy recipes? Subscribe to our FREE newsletter to receive new recipes and health tips straight to your inbox.

When you’re food shopping, try to buy organic ingredients. Here’s why I eat organic: The Benefits of Eating Organic

If you make this recipe, rate it below and post a picture of it on social media (tag @TheHealthyApple). I’d love to hear from you; you can follow me and chat with me directly on facebook // pinterest // instagram // twitter or book a private session with Amie.

Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie

This Coconut Almond Smoothie is creamy, refreshing, and simply satisfying. It's dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and could even be mistaken for a milkshake! Whip this up in the morning for a quick on the go breakfast or for a tasty afternoon snack on a summer afternoon.

Course Snack, Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword coconut, smoothie, almond, breakfast

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 0

Total Time 10

Servings people

Calories 300kcal

Author Amie Valpone

Ingredients

2 large ripe bananas
2 cups unsweetened almond milk
4 Tbsp. whole almonds
3 Tbsp. unsweetened coconut flakes plus more for garnish
1 1/2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
1 Tbsp. well-stirred creamy almond butter
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
ice as needed

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender and puree until creamy. Add ice as needed and transfer to glasses. Serve immediately.

Notes

Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Nutrition

The post Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie appeared first on Amie Valpone.

Red Velvet Beet Smoothie

Amie — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:00:51 +0000

This Red Velvet Beet Shake is ideal for a morning smoothie when your body needs an extra oomph from antioxidants. Yes, there are beets in here and they’re raw, not cooked, which makes this shake super easy to make first thing in the morning (or at night for a naturally sweet and healthy dessert)!

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Today I’m sharing a super refreshing smoothie that’s ideal for this hot weather we’re having on the East Coast. I hope you’re keeping cool wherever you are. As the temps start to rise this summer, you’re going to want to have a few cooling recipes up your sleeve that you can rely on when you’re about to melt.

Please don’t melt.

Instead, you can enjoy this chilling shake that will hit the spot when you’re living in front of your air conditioner for some relief from the heat. All you’ve gotta do is toss everything into a blender and puree away!

Yes, that’s it.

This recipe is from my friend, Ali Maffucci and her new book, Inspiralized & More, which just hit stores last month. Ali’s recipes (see her site, Inspiralized) are easy, they’re fresh and they’re delicious. She’s all about inspiralizing veggies and I’m sure you’ve seen her previous cookbooks, which were all spiralized. This book, however, has more than just inspiralized veggies in it. It’s chock full of dishes for all ages that aren’t spiralized, so you don’t need a spiralizer to buy this book (see below for the cover)!

Now, go make this shake and let us know how you like it.

Enjoy!

Red Velvet Beet Shake

This Red Velvet Beet Shake is ideal for a morning smoothie when your body needs an extra oomph from antioxidants. Yes, there are beets in here and they're raw, not cooked, which makes this shake super easy to make first thing in the morning (or at night for a naturally sweet and healthy dessert)!

Course Breakfast, Snack or Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword smoothie, beets, dessert

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 0

Total Time 10

Servings people

Calories 279kcal

Author Ali Maffucci

Ingredients

cup unsweetened almond milk
1 large frozen banana
1 cup ice cubes
1 small beet cubed
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
4 large dates pitted
3 Tbsp. cacao nibs

Instructions

In a blender, combine the almond milk, banana, ice, beet, raspberries, dates, and 2 tablespoons of the cacao nibs. Purée until smooth.
Divide the shake between two glasses or bowls. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 1 tablespoon cocoa nibs before serving.

Nutrition

The post Red Velvet Beet Smoothie appeared first on Amie Valpone.

Dairy-Free Eggnog

Amie — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 13:00:35 +0000

This feature was sponsored by Lagostina’s NEW Opera Cookware. All opinions are my own.

Have you tried Dairy-Free Eggnog before? If you haven’t, you’re in for a treat. I’ve never been an eggnog fan because the ‘real’ eggnog made my stomach do cartwheels and I’ve avoided it ever since. But, this year I thought it would be lovely to create a dairy-free version of eggnog that you can enjoy with your family, friends and relatives without getting a belly ache.

Lagostina, who I’ve admired for years, prides itself on bringing families together in the kitchen and around the dinner table so they teamed up with Williams-Sonoma and asked me to create a delicious recipe with the theme “Holiday Movie Night”, which means the recipe that I created for you today using Lagostina’s NEW Opera Cookware was inspired by a holiday movie. What movie?

The best Christmas movie of all time, of course!

Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase. This movie makes me laugh every year and if you’ve seen it, you know that eggnog makes a few appearances in this film, therefore today’s recipe is my new Dairy-Free Eggnog. All the goodness of eggnog without the gluten, dairy, soy and refined sugar!

Before we move onto this Dairy-Free Eggnog, I have to be honest with you. I just moved last month and when I moved in, I only had two pots because I threw out all my old pots and pans. I remember going to sleep a few weeks ago saying, “I need new pots and pans.” No joke, Lagostina emailed me a few days later and sent me their stunning NEW Opera Cookware and I couldn’t wait to use it and share my thoughts with you. All the pots and pans are so shiny and I swear I can see my reflection in them while I’m cooking! These pots and pans are made in Italy and are oven and broiler safe (up to 500 degrees F) so they’re safe for all stove tops including induction. Plus, they’re dishwasher-safe, which is a huge time saver.

This new durable collection is made from stainless steel for low maintenance (which I need, don’t we all?) and has gorgeous flared edges for drip-free pouring. The best part? The pieces nest for compact storage. Just what every New Yorker (or any organized person) needs!

What really makes these pots and pans stand out is the 3-layer LagoFusion base (as you can see in the photograph above) for fast, even heat distribution, ensuring optimal heat diffusion throughout the pots and pans. I really enjoyed cooking with these pots and pans; they’ll surely be making an appearance in my Instagram stories and Facebook Live videos in the future because they’re absolutely beautiful, easy to clean and they cook food evenly, it’s a no brainer for me. Check out the NEW Opera Cookware and let me know what you think. I know you’ll love these pots and pans as much as I do.

GIVEAWAY for the Opera Cookware Set

One winner will receive (1) piece from this new collection. To enter, head on over to my Instagram or Facebook page and follow the entry directions. One winner will be chosen on Tuesday, December 26th at 5PM.

Now, let’s enjoy some eggnog.

Happy Holidays from my home to yours!

Dairy-Free Eggnog

A simple festive beverage to sip on throughout the holiday season. This eggnog is free of gluten, dairy, soy, refined-sugar and eggs.

Course Beverage

Cuisine American

Keyword holidays, eggnog, dairy free

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings people

Calories 150kcal

Author Amie

Ingredients

1 cup cashews raw and salt-free
1 BPA-free can full fat coconut milk 13.5 ounces
6 Tbsp. water
4 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
sea salt pinch

Instructions

Soak the cashews in a medium bowl covered with water for one hour or overnight on the counter top at room temperature. Drain and rinse the cashews and place them in a high speed blender with the remaining ingredients. Puree until creamy and simmer on the stove top in a small pot for 5 minutes on low heat. Remove from the heat, set aside to cool and transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Add rum, if desired.

Nutrition

The post Dairy-Free Eggnog appeared first on Amie Valpone.

5-Minute Strawberry Smoothie

Amie — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 12:00:00 +0000

Who doesn’t crave a good smoothie in this heat? Cool down with this refreshing recipe that’s vegan, filled with fresh fruits, and takes less than 5 minutes from start to finish.

This feature is sponsored by our friends at Lifeway Kefir. All opinions are our own.

WHY WE LOVE IT

There’s something so soothing and refreshing about a smoothie that makes my whole day, especially when I serve myself a glass in the early morning before my day begins. Perhaps you can relate. There’s an ease of tossing a few of my favorite ingredients into a blender and watching everything whirl around that reminds me of the meditative practice of a clean, simple breakfast.

I mean, come on, who doesn’t want a clean, quick breakfast?

I’ve been experimenting with non-dairy beverages in everything from my soups to my smoothies and I recently came across the new probiotic Plantiful by Lifeway Kefir that I absolutely love. You probably recall the recipe I made last month using their new dairy free beverages and I enjoyed it so much that I used it again in this recipe. Yes, Plantiful is that good.

There’s something different about them, they taste better than the traditional almond milk and coconut milk and they contain 10 grams of protein and 10 live & active cultures. I have no doubt you’ll enjoy, as well.

I’ve made a lot of recipes with kefir but dairy free Plantiful is sweeping me off my feet and I can’t stop playing around with it in my kitchen, tossing it into everything from sauces to soups to breads and more.

This smoothie that you will make is creamy, thick, and full of flavor. And it’s ideal for the hot summer days we’re all experiencing right now.

No matter what you’ve tried before in your smoothies, I highly suggest grabbing a bottle of Plantiful and adding it to your next smoothie.

You’ll thank me.

HOW WE MAKE IT

PREP TIPS // I like to slice my fruits right before I’m about to use them so there is not much prep for this smoothie, which is what makes it so easy and fun to toss together. I simply slice off the ends of the strawberries and toss them in my blender and that’s literally ALL the prep that’s involved.

INGREDIENT SWAPS // If you’re not a fan of strawberries, you can certainly use blueberries or mixed fresh berries. If you’d like extra sweetness, add half the amount of strawberries and half of a very ripe banana.

THREE easy STEPS

Here’s how we made this 5 Minute Strawberry Smoothie in three simple steps:

STEP 1 // Slice the strawberries and add them to the blender.

STEP 2 // Add Lifeway Kefir’s new delicious Plantiful beverage. I used the berry flavor because it added an extra touch of sweetness to this already berry-flavored smoothie.

STEP 3 // Blend everything together in a blender and purée until smooth. Serve immediately.

LISTEN // STEP-by-STEP DIRECTIONS

Listen below for Amie’s tips that are not mentioned in this article as well as quick directions on how to make this recipe step-by-step.

SHOP the RECIPE

HOW WE EAT IT

SERVING SUGGESTIONS // I suggest serving this smoothie immediately after making it because otherwise it will get soggy, warm and gross and the last thing you want is a soggy warm smoothie. You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to one day, however, serving this right away is your best bet anytime you make a smoothie. You can feel free to top it with unsweetened coconut flakes, a pinch of ground cinnamon or some finely chopped fresh basil to add to the summery-flavor of this smoothie. However you serve it, I’m sure you’ll love the simplicity of it as well as the sweet berry flavor.

STILL HUNGRY? If you loved this 5-Minute Strawberry Smoothie and want more of our anti-inflammatory recipes, check out our 30 Day Reset Program, which is only available for a limited time.

5-Minute Strawberry Smoothie

Who doesn't crave a good smoothie during the last week of August? No matter where you are, it's HOT and we've got just the smoothie for you today that's filled with lots of berry flavor and takes less than 5 minutes from start to finish.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword smoothie

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 0

Total Time 5

Servings people

Calories 134kcal

Author Amie Valpone

Ingredients

½ large Granny Smith apple cored and diced
½ small red apple cored and diced
1 cup Lifeway Mixed Berry Plantiful Beverage
6 large strawberries, hulled

Instructions

Puree all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Transfer to two serving glasses and serve immediately. Store leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 1 day.

Nutrition

RECIPE COPYRIGHT // This recipe was created by Amie Valpone. Please do not reprint this recipe without our permission. If you’d like to feature this recipe on your website, please rewrite the directions and link to this recipe as the original source. Thank you.

This article may contain Amazon or other affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase by clicking those links.

The post 5-Minute Strawberry Smoothie appeared first on Amie Valpone.

Roasted Banana Tahini Smoothie {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Sugar-Free, Vegan, Paleo}

Amie — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 13:00:58 +0000

This article was sponsored by Megafood. All opinions are my own.

Let’s talk about the idea of adding tahini to a smoothie.

It’s genius.

I know, I know. You all love adding almond butter to your smoothies but tahini is so flavorful and brings a whole new flavor profile to smoothies. Trust me on this.

For those of you who don’t know what tahini is, it looks just like almond butter or peanut butter in a jar but it’s made from calcium-containing sesame seeds instead of nuts and is quite tasty.

In this recipe, I combined tahini, roasted bananas, almond milk, my NEW favorite vitamin C supplement powder that I’m honestly in love with, and a handful of ice. Let me tell you, this is the smoothie for your spring and summer. I have a feeling you’ll be making this over and over again.

Come on in, I want to show you how to make this for breakfast tomorrow (or a snack later today) and I want to tell you all about this new vitamin C supplement that’s got me all happy and giddy inside.

A few years ago when I started out on my 10 year journey to heal my body, one of my good friends told me about MegaFood because she LOVED their supplements. She had been using them for years with her children and herself and was raving over them to me.

Now, by that time I had tried dozens of supplement brands so I wasn’t excited to look at another brand but I did because my intuition told me to and I had a good feeling about the brand just by looking at their label and reading extensive information about their process, their Farm Fresh Partnerships, their transparency (see below for their Big T program), and the fact that ALL the MegaFood products are vegetarian, gluten-free, GMO-free, and tested free of herbicides and pesticides.

So, of course, I tried out their iron supplement, which is plant-based and at that point I had tried a dozen or so iron supplements but they all constipated me, which as many of you know, that’s what iron supplements will do. But not this one! Because it was plant-based and made from whole, organic foods. Pretty cool, right?

I took this supplement for years because it helped my iron levels tremendously and since that day I’ve been the biggest fan of MegaFood, which is why I’m so excited to announce that I’ll be working with them this year to show you some of their fabulous clean, wholesome products that I’m loving.

First up, the MegaFood Daily C-Protect nutrient booster powder is the bomb. I mean, really. I’ve been taking vitamin C for YEARS – like 10 years because my adrenals were SO out of whack from taking steroids for my health issues in my 20s. Since then I’ve been trying to repair my energy levels, get my adrenals back to their healthy state and to help pump super clean antioxidants into my body.

Well, this Daily C-Protect has honestly blown me away. First of all, it’s not in a pill form so for all of you who don’t like popping pill supplements, have no fear. This is a simple (really delicious) powder that comes with a super cute scooper inside that shows you how to measure out 1 scoop. You can use it in smoothies or any beverage you’d like such as juice or almond milk, then all you’ve got to do is shake it up and enjoy!

What I love about this vitamin C product is that I’ve never seen another vitamin C that was made from whole, organic foods. Their FoodState Nutrients are made with whole foods to provide essential vitamins and minerals that are easy-to-digest and gentle on the body, even when taken on an empty stomach.

Take a look at the ingredients; I’m sure your jaw will drop at how clean and pure these ingredients are – they’re all real, organic, whole foods! Nothing fake in here, folks. Isn’t that amazing? It makes me so happy to see brands creating products like this because there are way too many supplements out there that are full of fillers and fake ingredients.

The ingredient list, you ask? Ahhhhh yes. Oranges, blueberries and cranberries… all organic, of course. How incredible is it to see that on a supplement label? My mind was blown and then I tasted it and I was even more blown away. I’m not exaggerating. I just gave my parents and my sister a bottle of this so they can use it daily in their morning smoothies.

Now before we move onto the recipe, I want to take a second to talk to you about transparency. When a brand is transparent, you know they’re the real deal. As one of the only vitamin and supplement brands that controls its production from farm to tablet (cute right — kind of like farm-to-table but they say “tablet” because they’re a supplement brand), MegaFood is committed to becoming the most trustworthy supplement manufacturer in the natural channel. They call it Big T. How’s that for transparency? That’s pretty cool, isn’t it?

I can’t wait to share more of MegaFood’s supplements with you throughout the year here and over on my Instagram, where I’ll be showcasing other products and talking about them. If you missed it, check out my MTHFR methylated B12 post from a few weeks ago.

Scroll on down to the recipe and enjoy!

For more of my favorites, follow me around my kitchen and Manhattan on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

Try to buy everything organic. Here’s why I eat organic: The Benefits of Eating Organic.

Roasted Banana Tahini Smoothie {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Sugar-Free, Vegan, Paleo}

Free of gluten, dairy, soy, sugar. Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian.

Course Beverage

Cuisine American

Keyword smoothie, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, tahini, banana, paleo, roasted, soyfree

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings people

Calories 261kcal

Author Amie Valpone

Ingredients

2 large ripe bananas peeled
2 tsp. coconut oil melted
2 Tbsp. tahini
1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk plus more if needed
1 scoop Megafood Daily C-Protect
1 cup ice plus more if needed

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place the two bananas on the prepared baking sheet and use your hands to coat them with the melted oil. Be sure to coat the entire surface of each banana. Transfer to the oven and roast for 10 minutes.
Remove the bananas from the oven and set them aside to cool for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients in a high-speed blender. Add the cooled bananas and puree until very smooth. Transfer to two serving glasses and serve immediately.

Nutrition

This post was sponsored by MegaFood. All opinions are my own. *This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

This article may contain Amazon or other affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase by clicking those links.

The post Roasted Banana Tahini Smoothie {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Sugar-Free, Vegan, Paleo} appeared first on Amie Valpone.

Drinks + Smoothies Archives - Amie Valpone

Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie

How to Make:Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie (AUDIO)

How to Make:Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie

Tips for Making: Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie

SHOP the STORY

Coconut Almond Joy Smoothie

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition

Red Velvet Beet Smoothie

Red Velvet Beet Shake

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition

Dairy-Free Eggnog

GIVEAWAY for the Opera Cookware Set

Dairy-Free Eggnog

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition

5-Minute Strawberry Smoothie

WHY WE LOVE IT

HOW WE MAKE IT

THREE easy STEPS

LISTEN // STEP-by-STEP DIRECTIONS

SHOP the RECIPE

HOW WE EAT IT

5-Minute Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

Roasted Banana Tahini Smoothie {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Sugar-Free, Vegan, Paleo}

Roasted Banana Tahini Smoothie {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Sugar-Free, Vegan, Paleo}

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutrition