Snacks

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Dinner, Lunch, Raw, Recipes, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

Kale Pesto + Giveaway

HAPPY NATIONAL KALE DAY!!!!
Today is literally my favorite holiday. You guys know that I LOVE kale. I use in anything and everything from salads, to soups and smoothies, and now… pesto!

Ok, so quick story time before I get to the goods: I’ve never liked pesto, and I’m starting to realize that it’s because I don’t like basil, not necessarily pesto. Have you ever heard anyone say that if you really really despise a certain food that it might actually be a sign that you are slightly allergic to it? I’m kind of into this theory. I’ve noticed that every time I eat basil, my nose/sinuses get reallllyyy plugged up, so I think that “not liking pesto (or basil) has been my body telling me to avoid it. Weird? Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but my great uncle absolutely despised peanuts and peanut butter when he was younger, and well… it turned out that he had a severe allergy to them! Back to the point though, I’ve never liked basil pesto and always wanted to like it, so I came up with a pesto made from Baby Kale!

This recipe is so simple and easy to make. No cooking and minimal prep required! You can have fresh homemade Kale Pesto in a matter of minutes! My Kale Pesto is gluten-free, vegan, and loaded with healthy benefits.

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Let’s get to know the main ingredient: KALE!
ALL HAIL KALE!

1. Kale is low in calorie, high in fiber and has zero fat. One cup of kale has only 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber and 0 grams of fat. It is great for aiding in digestion and elimination with its great fiber content. It’s also filled with so many nutrients, vitamins, folate and magnesium as well as those listed below.

2. Kale is high in iron. Per calorie, kale has more iron than beef. Iron is essential for good health, such as the formation of hemoglobin and enzymes, transporting oxygen to various parts of the body, cell growth, proper liver function and more.

3. Kale is high in Vitamin K. Eating a diet high in Vitamin K can help protect against various cancers. It is also necessary for a wide variety of bodily functions including normal bone health and blood clotting. Also increased levels of vitamin K can help people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Kale is filled with powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants, such as carotenoids and flavonoids help protect against various cancers.

5. Kale is a great anti-inflammatory food. One cup of kale is filled with 10% of the RDA of omega-3 fatty acids, which help, fight against arthritis, asthma and autoimmune disorders.

6. Kale is great for cardiovascular support. Eating more kale can help lower cholesterol levels.

7. Kale is high in Vitamin A. Vitamin A is great for your vision, your skin as well as helping to prevent lung and oral cavity cancers.

8. Kale is high in Vitamin C. This is very helpful for your immune system, your metabolism and your hydration.

9. Kale is high in calcium. Per calorie, kale has more calcium than milk, which aids in preventing bone loss, preventing osteoporosis and maintaining a healthy metabolism. Vitamin C is also helpful to maintain cartilage and joint flexibility

10. Kale is a great detox food. Kale is filled with fiber and sulfur, both great for detoxifying your body and keeping your liver healthy.
(source)

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Kale Pesto
Makes about 1 cup

2 cups DOLE Power Up Greens – Baby Kale
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup pistachios, shells removed
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1-2 cloves fresh garlic

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until well mixed.

Tip: I used roasted salted pistachios, so I did not add any additional salt. If you use unsalted pistachios, add a pinch of salt to the recipe!

 

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In celebration of National Kale Day, I’m hosting a giveaway with Dole Salads!
One lucky RFFMBT reader will win:

  • A copy of “KALE: The Complete Guide to the World’s Most Powerful Superfood” by Stephanie Pedersen
  • Dole Coupons
  • Dole Tote Bag
  • Dole Tumbler
  • Dole Power Up Greens Yoga Mat
  • Dole Headphones

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Must use a valid email address to enter. Must be a US resident to enter.

Giveaway ends on Sunday, October 5th at 11:59 PM (PST).
1 winner will be randomly selected and announced on Monday, October 6th.

| 95 Comments
Desserts, Recipes, Snacks, Treats, Vegetarian

Passionfruit Protein Popsicles

Happy fall everybunny!  It’s officially fall, but California still thinks it’s summer. Kind of awesome, kind of not, especially when the rest of the country is shopping for boots and scarves while sipping on pumpkin spice lattes, and we are over here sweating it out during this insane heat wave! I’m having fall FOMO (fear of missing out) and want to wear all of my fall clothes, dark nails, and dark lipstick!

So if you live on the west coast, or you’re experiencing a heat wave like we are, these popsicles are the perfect way to cool down. Greek yogurt popsicles are awesome because they’re creamy and loaded with protein! I love combining them with fresh passionfruit for a sweet and tart combo and some crunch from the seeds. Great for post-workout, an afternoon pick-me-up, or healthy dessert option!

But don’t worry, I’m working on some healthy pumpkin recipes for all of my pumpkin loving bunnies!

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Passionfruit Protein Popsicles
Makes 4 Popsicles

1  (16 oz.) container Chobani 0% Original Greek Yogurt
2 passionfruit

Cut passionfruit in half, scoop out each half of the fruit and place in the bottom of a popsicle mold. Fill the rest of the popsicle mold with Greek yogurt. Freeze overnight and enjoy.

| 3 Comments
Recipes, Snacks, Vegetarian

Healthy Baked Avocado Fries

I am sooooo excited for you guys to try this recipe! I’m a huge snacker. I snack alllll day, and this is one of my new favorites. It’s so rich an filling that I can usually only eat a few slices at a time! Luckily, it’s a snack with a purpose, because avocados are filled with healthy fats that will leave you feeling satisfied but not weighed down.

You’ve probably noticed that I like to keep my ingredient lists rather small. I like my recipes to be intriguing but not intimidating. My goal is to make healthy eating fun, easy, simple, and delicious for everyone. I hope you love these 4 ingredient Avocado Fries and super easy High Protein Ranch Dip made with only 2 ingredients!

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This question comes up pretty often. What is panko and why is it better than regular bread crumbs?
Panko is a Japanese-style breadcrumb traditionally used as a coating for deep-fried foods. The biggest difference between panko and standard breadcrumbs is that panko is made from bread without crusts.

Panko’s crustless bread is coarsely ground into airy, large flakes that give fried foods a light, crunchy coating. The flakes tend to stay crispier longer than standard breadcrumbs because they don’t absorb as much grease.

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For this recipe I’ve paired my Avocado Fries with a High Protein Ranch Dip. One of my favorite healthy eating swaps is using Greek yogurt instead of Sour Cream. It has way less fat, much more protein, and contains probiotics which are live bacteria that support the healthy bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract and may help treat some digestive disorders and flatten your tummy. Since plain greek yogurt is tart, you get a very similar flavor to sour cream, but with tons of benefits.

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Healthy Baked Avocado Fries
Serves 2

1 large avocado
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup egg whites (or egg whites from 2 eggs)
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

Preheat oven to 425. Cut avocado into small slices. Place flour, beaten egg whites, and panko bread crumbs in separate bowls or plates and form an assembly line. Once slice at a time, dip avocado into the flour and dust off excess. Next dip the avocado into egg whites, and lastly, coat with panko bread crumbs. Place complete led avocado slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat until all slices have been coated. Bake for 15-20 minutes until edges become golden brown. Remove from oven and serve with High Protein Ranch Dip.

High Protein Ranch Dip
1  container (5.3 oz.) Chobani 0% Original
1/2 packet Simply Organic Ranch Dip Mix

Add half of the packet of ranch dip mix to the Chobani Greek yogurt container and mix well.

| 16 Comments
Desserts, Recipes, Snacks, Vegetarian

Dole Bananas Dessert Quesadilla

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The Peel the Love Summer Banana Cabana is touring the nation until Labor Day so there’s still plenty of time to catch an event near you!  Events include yummy samples, free recipe cards, giveaways, coupons and more! Checkout the tour schedule and catch a Banana Cabana event in your area!

Since the Dole Bananas summer Peel the Love tour is coming to an end in September, so I wanted to share another banana recipe with you guys!

This is a super easy healthy dessert or sweet snack idea that you can make yourself or share with friends (but let’s be honest, who likes sharing their dessert?!). The amount of dessert quesadilla flavor combinations are endless. Don’t like peanut butter? Try almond or cashew butter! Not a fan of chocolate? Sprinkle on some cinnamon instead! Get your kiddos (or roommates, can you say girls night?!) in the kitchen and let them add their favorite toppings to their banana quesadillas before cooking!

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Dole Bananas Dessert Quesadilla
Serves 1

1 whole wheat tortilla
1/2 Dole Banana
1 Tbsp peanut butter
1 tsp mini chocolate chips
1 tsp shredded coconut

Spread peanut butter evenly on tortilla. Slice banana and distribute to one side of the tortilla. Add chocolate chips and shredded coconut. Over medium high heat, grease a skillet with olive oil cooking spray or healthy butter/spread alternative. Place the tortilla in the skillet and fold in half. Cook for about 1 minute or until underside becomes golden brown. Flip tortilla to cook other side until golden. Remove from skillet, slice, and serve immediately.

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REMAINING DOLE BANANA CABANA TOUR DATES:
August 7-10: San Francisco, CA
August 11-15: Sacramento, CA
August 14-16: St. Louis, MO
August 17-18: Reno, NV
August 22-25: Portland, OR
August 21-24: Des Moines, IA
August 29 – September 1: Seattle, WA
August 29 – September 1: Minneapolis, MN

Show Dole Bananas some Love!
Website // dole.com/peelthelove
Facebook // Facebook.com/DOLEbananas
Twitter // @DOLEbananas
Pinterest // Pinterest.com/DOLEBananas

| 6 Comments
Desserts, Raw, Recipes, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

Espresso Chocolate {avocado} Mousse

Today’s recipe is a sweet little treat made with healthy fats from avocado, naturally sweet Medjool dates, and mineral & antioxidant loaded raw CaCoCo chocolate blend. Not only is this dessert rich and flavorful, but it’s also vegan/plant based, refined sugar-free, and loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Don’t let the avocado scare you, I promise you cannot even taste it after the espresso, cacao, and Medjool dates are added! Avocado gives this recipe the perfect creamy texture that you will be sure to love. This kicks your typical Jell-O pudding to the curb! Plus you can make it in under 5 minutes!

Eat it plain, or spread it on a brown rice cake or whole grain toast for a quick snack!

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Espresso Chocolate {avocado} Mousse
Serves 2

1/2 avocado
2 Tbsp Original CaCoCo (or raw cacao powder)
1 Tbsp coconut milk (or milk of choice)
1 shot of espresso (or 3 Tbsp strong french press)
4 Medjool dates, pitted

Remove pits from dates. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth and mousse-like.

| 4 Comments

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