>U Mom Knows Best: 2018

Monday, December 31, 2018

The Most Delicious Healthy Protein Pancakes

Weekends are made for pancakes!


 Life has been quite busy here since the holidays and I woke up this morning thinking that my family needed a lazy Sunday morning. So I skipped going to the gym and went straight to the kitchen to make pancakes. I let my husband sleep in while I got busy in the kitchen. Yes, I let my husband skip the gym that morning and it was ok as he went to the gym with me 4 days this week. My husband is getting used to working out and realizing how good he has been feeling after getting some sweat time at the gym. He still does not enjoy exercising but knows that is important for a healthy body. So this chilly Sunday morning, I woke up wanting to spend some time with my family with a delicious healthy breakfast. Wait! Pancakes are healthy? Yes, pancakes can be a part of a healthy meal when you make them with a delicious Ultimate Superfood Vegan Protein Powder. 


 The boys were already up when I came downstairs, so I enlisted their help to make the pancakes. My boys love cooking and I love spending time with them in the kitchen. I decided to make two kinds of pancakes for breakfast. My boys love chocolate pancakes and I am more of a plain pancake person who enjoys mine with scrambled eggs. My family thinks that I am crazy that I don't even put syrup or butter on my pancakes.

MMMMMMMMMM, chocolate pancakes are so delicious!


  Use code MOMKNOWSBEST to get 35% off at https://macrolifenaturals.com
++ Discount does not apply to MacroNutrition packages-United States orders ONLY!

  So I got out two bowls and instructed my boys on how to make their batter. One son made the chocolate pancake batter and the other made the plain pancake batter. The ingredients were the same for the batters except for a few ingredients. The chocolate pancake batter was made with chocolate almond milk, cocoa powder, and chocolate protein powder. The plain batter used vanilla protein powder and regular almond milk. Everything else in the batters was the same. My boys enjoyed mixing up the pancake batters. I love that that MacroMeal vegan protein powder mixes into the batter so well and adds awesome nutrition beyond 25 grams of protein. This protein powder is loaded with probiotics, antioxidants, fiber, and digestive enzymes! The pancakes still cook like the pancakes you are used too and they are light and fluffy like pancakes should be.


 My recipe calls for cocoa powder but I wanted a richer chocolate flavor so I used this Finely Grated Chocolate powder. This product is made from artisanal dark chocolate and is basically dark chocolate that finely grated into a powder. This chocolate has hints of vanilla, orange, and cinnamon that adds delicious unique flavors to the pancakes It is awesome in baked goods and dairy-free hot cocoa. Since the American Heritage chocolate powder is made from dark chocolate it is also vegan.


  My husband woke up to the smell of delicious pancakes cooking. He was kind of disappointed that we were out of butter and syrup but once he took a bite of the flavorful chocolate pancakes all was good. My boys decided to dip their pancakes into warmed up honey. I enjoyed my plain pancakes with scrambled eggs and a cup of coffee. I am glad that I skipped the gym as I enjoyed the time spent with my family over a breakfast of healthy pancakes.

One batter~ two different flavors of pancakes!


Dairy Free Vegetarian/Vegan Chocolate Protein Pancakes~made two ways

Serves 2-4, makes about 10 pancakes
Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 scoop chocolate or vanilla protein powder
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups cashew or almond milk, chocolate, plain, or vanilla
3 tbs honey
2 eggs or egg substitute
2 tbs coconut oil
Coconut oil for the skillet

Make these pancakes vegan with one of these egg substitutes
https://www.momknowsbest.net/2018/03/eleven-egg-substitutes-for-baking-more.html

Directions:

1. Mix together the first six dry ingredients.
2. Add the remaining three wet ingredients and stir together until combined.
3. Place a bit of coconut oil into a skillet and pour about 1/3 cup of batter for each pancake.
4. Cook each pancake about 1-2 minutes on each side. Serve with fresh fruits like bananas or strawberries.

Discover what else I eat in a day for a healthy body HERE


  Use code MOMKNOWSBEST to get 35% off at https://macrolifenaturals.com
++ Discount does not apply to MacroNutrition packages-United States orders ONLY!

What I Eat In A Day For A Healthy Body

I received samples of Macrolife products to facilitate this post.

Check out what I eat during the week


    I have learned over the many years of my life what foods are good for keeping my body healthy and happy. I like to think of my body as a well-maintained machine and the right food makes it work the way it is supposed to. Food is like medicine and the right foods can make us happy, energized, smarter, faster, give us healthy hair, clear skin, and so many more benefits. The wrong foods can do the opposite, making us tired, sad, bad skin, and sick. Now I am not saying that food is the cure all but it can keep out bodies strong to fight against germs and diseases. I have such a passion for food and care so much about what I put into my body because it directly impacts me! Medicine may be needed and I am glad that it is available but for me personally, I like to try food first before medicine.

Get the recipe for roasted rainbow brussels sprouts HERE 


I have a passion for nutrition!

Everyone's body is different so what you eat for health may be different than what I eat. I am glad that God gave us a wide variety of healthy foods so that we can choose foods that we like to get the proper nutrition that our body needs. I love learning about nutrition and that was my major in college until a bike accident made it difficult to concentrate so I knew that I could not handle all the math and science to finish my degree. I am the mom that makes her kids wear bike helmets as I was not wearing one when I had my bike accident. I probably suffered a small concussion that day as I do not remember getting hit by a car. All I remember was waking up in the hospital as they were pushing my two front teeth back into my mouth. Yes, that hurt so much!

I do not count calories!

   So I now use my passion for nutrition to keep my family healthy. I am not a certified nutritionist or a doctor so this is not medical advice that I am giving but rather a look into my daily eating that keeps my body happy and healthy. I think my feelings about nutrition have changed over the years too. When I was younger it was all about looking good and eating to have that great looking body but now that I am older and have had some food issues/allergies it is about eating for a healthy body. I have never liked following strict diets or ones that eliminate food groups(having a dairy allergy already eliminates a lot.)  I also do not count calories as I have better things to do with my time. I simply listen to what my body needs and try to eat from all the food groups at every meal except the dairy group as I have issues with dairy. I also do not deprive myself of favorite foods and instead try to eat healthier versions of them. I stock my house with healthy foods but will eat something sweet like chocolate a couple times a week if I have a taste for it. I will also allow myself to enjoy food at parties or when I eat out. For the most part, I enjoy food that is loaded with nutrition as my taste buds have adapted over the years. Yes, I am the one who likes plain cooked vegetables with a bit of salt to bring out the flavor. 


Food is my medicine!

               I believe that eating healthy foods can prevent illness and disease like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. I also believe that certain foods can cause problems for some people. If you are experiencing stomach problems or skin issues eliminating a suspected food from your diet can help you pinpoint those. I recently eliminated all dairy from my diet to see if it could be causing my asthmatic cough. I realized that this severe cough came about around the time I was eating cheese and crackers for a bedtime snack. I already had dairy problems as eating ice cream or milkshakes made me nauseated. I was not happy when I realized that cheese was making my asthma worse and found out I had a dairy allergy. I eliminated dairy from my diet as my asthmatic cough has gone away after 4 weeks of no dairy. I no longer cough at bedtime and I finally sleep through the night. The days of not being able to think straight are gone for me thanks to me sleeping again. I also can't eat mushrooms as I have mold allergies that present symptoms like coughing and a drippy nose.

     So I just wanted to share what I eat during the week to show you that eating for health does not have to be painful. Eating these foods and exercising keeps my body happy and looking good. I will also share my exercise routine at the end of this post to show you that one does not need to go crazy with exercise to maintain a proper weight.

         Use code MOMKNOWSBEST to get 20% off at https://macrolifenaturals.com
++ Discount does not apply to MacroNutrition packages-United States orders ONLY!

I start my day with a protein smoothie


 Breakfast

 I like starting my day with a glass of water and then for breakfast I eat a protein smoothie. I like smoothies as I can add the supplements that I use in a delicious drink along with a cup of frozen fruit. It is also how I get protein in my body as I don't eat meat. I find that having a smoothie not only keeps me full for hours but it also starts my mind thinking about taking good care of my body. My favorite protein powder that I use is a vegan MacroMeal Protein. This protein powder has 25g Protein + Super Fruits and Vegetables per serving and is scientifically formulated with
an advanced blend of fast, medium and slow digesting proteins that deliver protein for sustained energy. I really like that this protein powder has probiotics in it and some of my favorite supplements like maca, spirulina, flax meal, and MTC oil. This protein powder keeps me full for a long time so I am not snacking all morning. I also like to add a green superfood or red supplement to my protein smoothie for more benefits. Some days my smoothie is chocolate flavor and other days fruit flavored.

  On the weekends I like to enjoy healthy protein pancakes. These pancakes are so delicious and my boys love when I make them into chocolate pancakes. https://www.momknowsbest.net/2018/12/the-most-delicious-healthy-protein.html



Use code MOMKNOWSBEST to get 35% off at https://macrolifenaturals.com
++ Discount does not apply to MacroNutrition packages-United States orders ONLY!


 The green and red superfood that I have been using are from a company that I discovered at my last health conference. I was amazed at all the nutrition that Macrolife packed into these superfood powders and that they tasted good when mixed into a glass of juice. Macrolife sent me home with some samples and after I tried them I knew that I had to use these on a regular basis. The first time that I tried the Macro Greens was before I went to the gym and this raw green drink gave me incredible energy. I like that it did not taste like a typical green drink, you know the ones that taste like grass and are hard to swallow. This green drink supplement tasted quite good and left a pleasant taste in my mouth.

Morning & afternoon snacks

I like to snack and I will grab a handful of tamari nuts or a granola bar. In the afternoon, I usually have a protein bar or a glass of almond milk with turmeric and honey as these are both great for muscle recovery after I run.


Lunch

For lunch, I like to have cooked veggies, some kind of grain like brown rice, and a protein like beans or fish. If I am busy, I will grab a protein bar with a piece of fruit.

Dinner

 My dinner is the meal that I take the time to enjoy the most so it is the meal that changes day to day. My dinner always has some type of protein like eggs, fish, or beans along with vegetables and a grain. Last night I enjoyed a three-egg omelet that I made with spinach, tomatoes, red pepper, and dairy-free cheese. I also had a plain bagel with it. Other nights, I will have fish, cooked barley, and veggies. I also enjoy sushi burritos and bowls. My favorite weekend dinners are vegan tamales and pizza. I love eating avocados and will eat a whole one with my meals several times a week.


Late night snack

  I love eating and always have a snack before bed. That snack is usually a couple of wheat crackers or a handful of granola. I may also enjoy a piece of chocolate after dinner and my favorite is Ocho dark peanut butter as it is dairy-free yet filled with flavor.


  So that is what I typically eat every day. There are days that I have a dish of vegan ice cream or I go out to eat. I am not strict on my diet except for the dairy and eat what I enjoy. I stock my house with healthy food and plenty of fruits and veggies.  I am not perfect when it comes to eating and may eat too many cookies or pizza slices but I go back to my healthy foods the next meal. I find that exercising for 40 minutes, five days a week helps keep my body in shape. My exercise is either running or the elliptical machine at the gym. I also do simple weights at the gym three days a week for 30 minutes.


Exercise
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat


Day off


Run 40
Weights 30


Elliptical 40


Run 40
Weights 30


Elliptical 40


Run 40
Weights 30


Day off



Use code MOMKNOWSBEST to get 35% off at https://macrolifenaturals.com
++ Discount does not apply to MacroNutrition packages-United States orders ONLY!

















Friday, December 21, 2018

Clean The Bathroom Mess The Non Toxic Way

Bathrooms don't stand a chance against this non-toxic bathroom disinfectant. 

I received samples of Cleanwell products to facilitate this post.

The bathroom is my least favorite room to clean, especially the one upstairs that the boys use. Bathrooms are a place to get clean and take care of bodily functions. Sometimes the bodily functions of boys can be quite messy. No matter how much you teach boys how to aim, pee always ends up around the potty. In a perfect world, boys would sit while they pee but I don't see that happening. I tried to keep my boys in the dark about standing while potty training but all too soon they see an older brother or friend in the bathroom and it is over. So as a mom of four boys, five if you include the husband, your best defense is non-toxic cleaners that kill over 99.9% of the bathroom germs, including cold & flu viruses.

Check out my recipe for a non-toxic weed killer HERE

A safer way to clean

  I am glad that the boys have learned how to lift the seat when using the bathroom and they always put it back down afterward. So, for the most part, I never see the mess until cleaning day. My husband is also good at playing pee police and will make the boys clean the toilet seat if he sees a mess. So I like to keep a container of Botanical Disinfecting Wipes in the bathroom so they can wipe up after their messes. Messes will happen. I like that there are non-toxic wipes that my boys can use to wipe down the toilet seat. So what happens in the bathroom stays in the bathroom.

Most household cleaning products are a cocktail of chemicals that can be dangerous to your health. Common ingredients include:

·       Quaternary ammonium – used as an antimicrobial and disinfectant – but toxic to aquatic animals and linked to asthma, skin irritation, birth defects and fertility problems in mice

·       2-butoxyethanol – a solvent linked to sore throats and, at high levels, pulmonary edema, and liver and kidney damage- now listed as a hazardous substance in California

·       Formaldehyde – a known human carcinogen that masquerades under different names such as formalin, methanol, and oxymethylene on product labels

·       Synthetic coloring – linked to skin irritations and ADHD in children

Fight those germs with CleanWell 


What happens in the bathroom stays in the bathroom.

I try to deep clean the bathroom one a week. It is my least favorite place to clean but it has to be done. Since my boys are older, they help out with the chores around the house. They help make the messes so they help clean them up. So by using safe non-toxic cleaners, my boys can help with the bathroom chores. I spray and they wipe. Since my favorite cleaner requires no rinsing, we can get the bathroom cleaned in no time. The citrus scent leaves the bathroom smelling nice and clean.

Clean Well is a powerhouse citrus botanical formula that is a kick-butt germ and odor-causing bacteria spray that's perfect for every bathroom surface. 

Benefits
Kills 99.9% of germs botanically
Cleans, disinfects, deodorizes
Effectively controls odors
Package is recyclable, including the all-plastic trigger spray
Botanically based formula
No rinsing or wiping required even on food contact surfaces and children's toys

Check out these tips about hand washing HERE


Next room up, the kitchen

     My boys know that helping with cleaning chores means more time for fun. My youngest loves to help me in the kitchen and when we cook, we can be quite messy. When we are done baking cookies, I let him drive the 3 in 1 Stick Vacuum and I tackle the counter messes. My son gets the crumbs and I kiss the germs goodbye from all our baking fun. Yes, there can be germs from baking cookies as raw eggs can contain germs. That is why I tell my boys no sampling until the cookies are baked.

Are you a mom to boys?

Get my recipe for Lemon Frosted Rosemary Holiday Sugar Cookies HERE



Thursday, December 20, 2018

Fresh n Lean~Healthy Meals That Are Allergy Friendly

A meal delivery service with healthy meals for almost any diet!


          I received several meals to facilitate this review.

 There are days that I just don't feel like cooking but I still want to eat a healthy meal. Sure I could eat out or grab something to go but that can be costly and it is hard to find places that have healthy meals that are plant-based and made without dairy. Why do all restaurants think vegans always want quinoa? I am sure my friends who eat Paleo or Keto have the same frustrations. So I am glad that I discovered a healthy and delicious meal service that an expansive menu of organic meals that are plant-based. They also have options for meat eaters, low carb, and Paleo so I can get meals for the whole family.


  Why do all restaurants think vegans always want quinoa?

 I am sure my friends who eat Paleo or Keto have the same frustrations. Eating out is not always fun when you have dairy issues as you don't want to be that person who is a pain but coughing all night is also no fun. My husband used to manage restaurants and hated the special orders but after seeing me struggle with dairy issues he now says, "you need to be the pain!" I am glad that I can get healthy organic meals delivered to my house that are dairy free. These meals are made from scratch also! When Fresh n Lean reached out to me and asked me if I wanted to try their meal box service, I went to their website and was amazed at all the options of meals that I could select from. A couple of months ago I checked out a different meal subscription and they only had one meal that was dairy free. So I really liked that Fresh n Lean had a huge menu of meals that I could enjoy., in fact, all their meals are dairy free. Even the ones with meat and seafood are dairy free. I do love seafood and eat fish regularly.


  • Loaded in nutrients. High in fiber and plant-based proteins.
  • Made with organic vegetables and grains.
  • Gluten-free, soy free and dairy free.
  • Made-from-scratch & delivered fresh in vacuum sealed trays.



Fresh meals & not frozen


 I loved that the meals were fresh, (not frozen) and arrive in a microwave and oven safe container that you can take with you to eat almost anywhere. I did not even have to be home when the meals were delivered as they arrived in a cooler packed with ice packs. The meals were plenty cold when I opened up the cooler. I loved that I could reuse the cooler and ice packs. 

Delicious. Convenient. Delivered.


  I was sent 6 meals in all. Two ION Performance Paleo (Low-Carb), two Standard Plant-Based, and two breakfast meals. The Paleo meals had seafood in them. The meals all looked so delicious and I could not wait to try them for dinner. The meals stacked nicely in my fridge too. I could see these meals being easy for my husband to take to work for lunch.

Natural. Fresh. Organic.

 I really loved that the ingredients in the meals were listed on the trays and that they were natural, nutrient-rich, ingredients that I would use when I cooked. Fresh n Lean also does not use processed or frozen ingredients. They also never use preservatives. The produce in the meals are always fresh and organic and is not over-cooked in oil. I like my veggies with just a bit of salt and hate when veggies are drowning in butter. Thank you Fresh n Lean for making veggies how I like them and letting me decide how to season them.



Take a few bites first-see how veggies were meant to taste.

  It was hard to decide when organic meal to try first as they all looked so delicious. The Tomato Curry With Shrimp won and I cooked it when I got home from the gym. The meal did not take long to cook and was done by the time I changed out of my workout clothes. Just look at all the natural ingredients and tasty spices in this meal. This meal was so delicious and it was so hard not to share with my husband. I let my husband try some of my shrimp and he said "you should buy this more often." I really loved how crisp the vegetables were and the shrimp were moist and tender.



Sustainable Shrimp, *Onion, *Cauliflower, *Zucchini, *Carrot, *Yellow Squash, *Garlic, *Fresh Cilantro, *Extra Virgin Olive Oil, *Coconut Milk, Granulated Onion, Granulated Garlic, Parsley, Ginger, Parsley, Curry Powder, Basil, Black Pepper, Sea Salt. (*Organic) Meal



So many delicious meals to select

 The other meals that I received were One Pot Veggie Bowl With Salmon, Thai Sesame Quinoa With Tofu, Caramelized Onion Bowl With Sweet Potato FriesCranberry Coconut Oatmeal, and Blueberry Coconut Crumble Loaf. I just love all the fruits and veggies that are in these delicious meals. Fresh n Lean has many options for there healthy meal subscription box. You can order just lunch meals, which would be great to grab on the way out the door for work or you can order dinner meals. If you really don't want to cook, you can order breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals. All the meals can be ordered for 5 or 7 days. I really love that you can let Fresh n Lean know about allergies and your preferences so if you don't like mushooms, they will not send any meals with mushrooms in them. 

So go check out all the delicious organic meals that Fresh n Lean delivers and tell me which one you would like to try.


Tuesday, December 18, 2018

8 Gift Items Your Husband Actually Wants

  You know your husband better than anyone and you love him more than you ever thought was possible. Then, why is it so darn hard to find a gift he’d actually love and use? Yes, we know he could use a couple new pairs of socks and maybe a new tie to add to his collection. Picking up those things are part of a chores list, not part of your potential gifts list for the love of your life!


  Don’t worry, I’ve got your shopping list taken care of this holiday season. Here’s a list of 12 gifts your husband actually wants:

For the Active Husband

Workout Shirts
 Make sure your hubby knows you support him through all his fitness goals with these awesome pattern-revealing shirts. When your husband sweats after a long workout or a run through the neighborhood, he’ll look down and see an encouraging message on his shirt that only comes through when he breaks a sweat. He’ll know you’re always thinking about him and he’ll be motivated to go the extra mile for his personal health.


Running Shoes
 No active lifestyle is complete without a pair of amazing running shoes. Make sure you know your husband's needs and preferences when it comes to working out - whether he is a casual jogger or an organized athlete. With this information in mind, look around at sites such as Fast Sole, which offer good quality sizes and styles of sneakers. Consider any customization options too if you want to personalize the gift further, such as adding his name or initials on it. Get your husband the best running shoes for men that the market has to offer. Make sure they’re stylish and match his personality. He deserves to look as good as he feels! Also, be sure to look for a pair that supports his feet as much as you support his goals so he can hit the ground running into the new year.

Climate-Appropriate Inserts
 If your husband loves the outdoors, make sure he’s protected from the sun and heat. These cool sweat wicking inserts fit right into your hubby’s favorite hat so that he can focus on that big hike he’s been dreaming about instead sitting on the sidelines to deal with his stinging eyes. From fishing to riding his bike, to enjoying a walk through the forest, these inserts make sure your husband can tackle it all and protect his eyes at the same time.

For the Jet-Setting Husband

Handheld Luggage Scale
 Your husband loves to travel and hates hidden fees—who doesn’t? Make sure he never has to pay extra for oversized luggage with this handheld luggage scale. He can bring it with him on business trips or even use it to take you on the second honeymoon you deserve. Now, he has everything under control and can use the money he saves on a little something special (for himself or for you!).

Noise-Canceling Headphones
 It’s hard enough not having him at home, but what about when you want to give him a call and he can’t hear you on the other end? Give him a pair of Bose QuietControl30 earbuds, the top noise-canceling headphones of the year, so you can talk no matter how noisy the world around him gets. He’ll also appreciate being able to listen to music or a podcast while he travels without being bothered by a noisy neighbor.


For the Foodie Husband

Beer Caddy
 Your husband is a total beer guy. Get him an upscale beer caddy so he can take his favorite brew anywhere, from the lake to the golf course. This insulated caddy will keep his beer cold for hours. Is your hubby a little forgetful, too? Don’t worry, it comes with a built-in bottle opener. As I’m sure your husband has wondered to himself, what good is a closed beer?

French Press
 There’s nothing like the smell of fresh coffee in the morning. Buy your husband a beautiful new French Press that he’s sure to obsess over. To give him the complete coffee lover’s package, including a package of gourmet coffee grounds, too. Who knows, maybe you can convince him to bring you coffee in bed to test out his favorite new gift.


New Year, New Grill
 Grilling is your husband’s true passion. Stoke his nostalgia with a classic charcoal Weber grill. Get him one for Christmas so he has enough time to practice before summer. With this gift, you’ll fill the air with that yummy charcoal smell and throw the best BBQs in the neighborhood.

He'll Love It

 Finding the perfect gift for your husband isn’t always easy but hopefully these tips I put together will help the process. Regardless, whatever you’re gifting him is coming from you—from love—and he’s going to adore it. 

Macy's Last One Day Sale of the Year ~ Save Up to 70% + Giveaway

 This post is sponsored by Savings.com 

Check these awesome deals for last minute holiday shopping!


       I am that person who puts off Christmas shopping to the last minute. I tend to procrastinate about holiday shopping and then find myself scrambling to buy all the gifts. My procrastination about shopping for holiday gifts paid off big time this year as Macy's is having a wonderful one day sale and items are up to 70% off! The best part is shipping is free when you spend $25 or more. I am amazed at all the items that are on sale. Macy's has over 25,000 items on sale in all departments from clothing, jewelry, all the to kitchen items. The deals are so incredible that I am buying some gifts for myself. 



I am really loving the Martha Stewart collection and the pink Enameled Cast Iron 2-Qt. Heart-Shaped Casserole is in my cart. This casserole will be perfect for Valentine's day and more. I already own the Martha Stewart Collection Set of 4 Heart Cocottes and they are so cute for all my baking. These heart shaped dishes are perfect gifts! 




Get $10 back on orders of $50+ or $25 back on orders of $100+. The rebate is valid on purchases made through 12/31/18. The rebate form link can be found here.

    If you spend $50 you can get a $10 rebate and if you spend $100 or more, the rebate is $25. I might just have to add some more items to my cart. With all these great deals that will be super easy! I am thinking that this blue casserole dish from the Martha Stewart Collection will be a great gift for my daughter. So if you have put off on Christmas shopping or need a last minute gift, head on over to the Macy's Last One Day Sale of the Year. If your shopping is done, that is awesome. Maybe you should treat yourself to a gift as a wonderful reward. 








Giveaway 

Macy's is giving away 20 $50 Macy's gift cards to support their last One Day Sale of the year!

Twenty (20) winners will receive a $50 Macy's gift card.

ENTER the giveaway HERE

Giveaway starts on Tuesday, December 18th at 12:00 AM ET & ends on Wednesday, December 19th at 11:59 PM ET.
The winners will be chosen through a lottery drawing and notified on Thursday (12/20) via the email address they used to enter.


#LastMinuteMacys

Dairy Free And Vegan Pea Pesto Sauce

I would have never thought peas would be so delicious


 I love the taste of pesto, especially on pizza. That was until my husband informed me that pesto was made with parmesan cheese. Why does having a dairy allergy have to be so hard. I had to give up dairy 6 months ago after discovering through a blood test and diet elimination that it was triggering my asthma. I still don't want to believe that I have a milk allergy and will eat something with milk in it like chocolate and then I start coughing. It also makes me feel sick to my stomach. I have to be careful when eating out as lately even a small amount of dairy brings on asthma symptoms, like vegetables cooked in butter. The other day we went to a holiday dinner and the vegetables did not appear to be cooked with butter but 30 minutes later I was nauseated. Then 2 hours later, the asthmatic coughing started, thankfully Claritin helped it settle down, this time.

 So I have been learning how to eat a mostly plant-based diet since discovering that I am allergic to milk and all dairy products. I say mostly plant-based and vegan diet as I still eat eggs and seafood about once a week.  I have learned that dairy is in so many food products and have learned how to read ingredients. My boys have also become expert ingredient readers as they remember how six I was when my asthma was out of control. I have learned not to trust something that says dairy-free as coffee creamer is labeled dairy-free but has casein in the ingredients. Hello, casein and whey are derived from dairy products and have triggered an asthma attack.

 I have also been learning how to safely eat out at restaurants and I love places that have allergen info online. When I eat at a restaurant, I have learned to ask how food is cooked as restaurants love cooking with butter so I request my food to be cooked in oil and alert the staff that I have a dairy allergy. I hate being that picky person but one bite of dairy could cause a severe asthma attack that could land me in the hospital. Eating out can be difficult so I don't eat out much and instead cook at home.

 My dairy-free diet has forced me to make changes to many of my favorite recipes. I have learned how to make substitutions in regular recipes to make them dairy-free recipes. You need to check out this recipe for Vegan Chocolate Dipped Salted Caramels That Are Dairy Free. I have also discovered an amazing recipe for healthy brownies that are plant-based.
 
This pesto is

+ Vegan
+ Plant-Based
+ Made with peas
+ Delicious
+ Easy to make
+ Gluten-Free
+ Dairy-Free
+ Soy-Free
+ Paleo
+ Nut-Free

Looking for a Vegan, Plant-Based Parmesan Alternative?




 My dairy allergy has made me more aware of products that are dairy-free and many of them are great for people following a vegan food plan. These plant-based products are delicious substitutes for many of my favorite products that have milk in them like parmesan cheese. I recently discovered a vegan parmesan cheese that in my opinion, has a way better taste than the real thing and it is made with superfood ingredients. So I can sprinkle Parma on my food and get the taste of cheese without any dairy. This healthy vegan parmesan is a cheesy lactose-free plant-based product that is loaded with b vitamins and is also gluten-free, soy-free, keto-friendly, paleo, and kosher. If you are looking for some kosher foods that are dairy-free and gluten-free, click HERE

  

Dairy-free is delicious


 So when I discovered a recipe for a dairy-free pesto sauce, I just had to make it. The recipe was a winning recipe from a vegan recipe contest that a magazine sponsored. I found this magazine at my grocery store and loved that it was filled with so many vegan recipes. I was hesitant to make it as the main ingredient was peas. I am not a fan of peas but I had a frozen bag of peas in my freezer from my son's dental surgery. Frozen peas make a great ice pack. So I decided to try the recipe but made some changes as it called for mint and I did not want that taste, so I omitted that. I also did not have any hemp seeds, so I used flax seeds. This dairy-free pesto was so simple to make in my blender. After I made the sauce, I had my husband try it, as I felt it was missing something. My husband knew that it was not real pesto but had no clue about the ingredients that I added. He was amazed that it tasted almost like the real thing and agreed that it needed more basil and olive oil. I added the extra ingredients and then mixed the sauce into some pasta. I brought the dish to my bible study group that night and everyone loved it. My husband even had seconds.


The taste was amazing

  Since the vegan pesto was so delicious, I had to make it again and this time I decided to add more oil to the recipe so I could use it instead of tomato sauce on my pizza. I want to try using pine nuts instead of the flax seeds but will wait until they go on sale. I think other nuts like walnuts and pistachios may give it a great taste so I may try using those instead of the flaxseed. This pesto sauce would make a great dip or spread. I will have to try it the next time I make bruschetta. This vegan pea pesto and sun dried tomatoes on french bread sound amazing to me. I think that frozen peas may be on my grocery list more often.

Parma vegan parmesan in my vegan pesto 

The below recipe for vegan pesto uses many of the ingredients that are in the Parma shaker so I knew that it would be a great product to make my dairy-free pesto with. I decided to use the Garlicky Green Parma! as I wanted the garlic taste in my pesto recipe. I simply omitted the nutritional yeast, flax seeds, and garlic from my original recipe as the Garlicky Green Parma! have these listed in the ingredients. I added 3 tablespoons of the Garlicky Green Parma! to my below pesto recipe and I was amazed at the flavor.


 I also have been enjoying the Parma! Original on my oatmeal, cooked veggies, popcorn, avocado toast, eggs, and pasta as it adds such a wonderful vegan cheesy flavor without any dairy products. When my favorite recipe calls for parmesan cheese, I reach for my container of Parma! You need to discover the other flavors that Parma! is available in as they make a vegan flavor that tastes like bacon. While you are at the Parma! website- https://eatparma.com/- make sure to check out the healthy ingredients that they put into their irresistibly cheesy vegan cheese alternative.



Dairy-Free And Vegan Pea Pesto Sauce

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups frozen Green Peas, thawed
1/3 cup fresh basil
Juice of 1 lemon, about 2 tablespoons
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
3 tablespoons flax seeds
1 large or 2 small garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add pesto ingredients to a food processor or high-speed blender; start with 1 tablespoon of water or olive oil and increase if needed. Blend until a thick but creamy pesto is achieved.
2. Cook pasta according to directions and drain.
3. Combine drained spaghetti and pesto sauce in a pot. Toss pasta to ensure even coating. Add extra water, if needed, to thin out the sauce.
To serve, divide pasta among four bowls and add extra peas.
  This amazing pesto sauce is great as a dip and on pizza.


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