Vegetarian

Vegetarian

Cauliflower Poppers

This is a great snack when you want something salty to nosh on. I have found that cauliflower is incredibly versatile and easy to prepare. These are a great alternative to chips and you can snack away, guilt free!

Cauliflower Poppers

1 head of cauliflower
1/3 cup miso paste
2 Tbsp water
1 tsp curry powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Chop cauliflower into bite sized florets. In a separate bowl, whisk together the miso paste, water, and curry powder. Combine with the cauliflower and coat thinly and evenly. Place the florets on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Flipping half way to ensure even crispiness. Cook until golden and crisp.

I used Cold Mountain “Kyoto White Miso Paste – less sodium” which is available at Whole Foods.
If you are looking for a lighter cauliflower popper recipe to try, spray the florets with olive oil cooking spray and sprinkle with your favorite salt free seasoning such as garlic, red pepper flakes, turmeric, or curry just to name a few. Now, go snack away!

Maple Quinoa Cereal

Have you ever had a bowl of store-bought cereal in the morning and heard your stomach growl an hour later? That is because your cereal is probably low in protein, fiber, and overall nutrition. Most breakfast cereals are high in simple carbohydrates, fats, and loaded with added sugar. Even if you look at the nutrition label of a “healthy” cereal, you may be surprised to find that there is nothing healthy about it.

The complex super grain quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) is considered a complete protein, which is an outstanding source of essential amino acids. The fiber and slow-releasing carbs in quinoa will keep your stomach feeling feel, and your blood sugar stable so you won’t get that usual after cereal crash. Chia seeds add a dose of omega-3 and are loaded with both soluble and insoluble fiber.


Maple Quinoa Cereal
Makes 3 servings (1/2 cup each)

1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
1 Tbsp chia seeds
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla


Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix together. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (do not use wax paper. Trust me, I tried it and it failed!) and pour the batter onto the paper. Flatten smooth with a spatula until batter is a thin sheet (about ¼ inch thick). Bake for 25 minutes, flip (it’s ok if the sheet of quinoa breaks into smaller pieces at this time), and bake for 25 more minutes (about 50 total) to ensure that both sides are baked evenly. Remove from oven when cereal is slightly golden brown. Allow cereal to cool, and then break into small cereal sized flakes. Enjoy with almond milk and fresh berries or fruit!

Lemon Garlic Couscous

Since I am usually cooking for myself, sometimes I like to make my meals as a single serving. This ensures that I will eat the perfect serving size and will not be tempted to go back for seconds. Most cookbooks contain recipes that have many servings, and sometimes it can be overwhelming to purchase and make such large amounts of food. I like to offer single serving recipes to my readers who like me are only cooking for themselves and do not have families to feed. Of course, all recipes could easily be doubled to make more servings as you wish.

Lemon Garlic Couscous (vegetarian/vegan)
serves 1

1/2 cup cooked whole-wheat pearl couscous
1/2 cup cooked chickpeas/garbanzo beans
1 cup asparagus (about 8 stems)
1 cup broccoli
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 clove garlic

Cook couscous to package directions. Chop broccoli and asparagus into 1 inch sections. Place vegetables in a microwave safe bowl, cover, and let them steam in the microwave for roughly 2 minutes.
In a blender (I used my magic bullet) combine garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice. Blend until Smooth.
In a separate bowl, combine couscous, chickpeas and vegetables. Add the dressing to the bowl and mix until couscous, chickpeas, and veggies are evenly coated.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: asparagus and broccoli
Whole Grain: whole-weat couscous
Protein: chickpeas
Plant Based Fat: olive oil

Protein Pancakes

These are not your ordinary pancakes, these are Protein Pancakes!
We all have big tubs of protein powder laying around the kitchen don’t we?
You know the story… You get on a health kick, start drinking protein shakes after workouts, and then a week later put the jar in the back in the pantry. Let’s be real, no one can live on protein shakes, they get old fast. I for one would rather eat my calories than drink them anyway.

So how do you put that protein powder to good use? You turn it into warm fluffy pancakes with a purpose!

Kiss the Bisquick goodbye. I promise you won’t even miss it!

Hemp Prtein Pancakes

Protein Pancakes
Recipe By TIU
Makes 1 serving of 4, four-inch pancakes, or one large pancake

Batter:
1 scoop protein powder – any kind or flavor (I used hemp protein powder, hence the green color)
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed (optional for an added nutritional boost)
2 Tbsp almond milk
1/4 cup egg whites
1/2 banana – mashed
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract (if your protein powder is plain)

Toppings:
1 Tbsp sliced almonds or almond butter
1 Tbsp low sugar syrup

In a small bowl, mash half of a ripe banana and set aside. In another bowl, combine one scoop (or one serving listed on packaging) of protein powder, ground flaxseed, almond milk, egg whites, and cinnamon. Add the mashed banana and stir all ingredients together until smooth batter is created. If using a unflavored protein powder, pure vanilla extract can be added into the batter. Lightly coat a pan with nonstick cooking spray, and place on stove over medium heat. Pour the batter into 4 inch circles (or one gigantic pancake!). Flip pancakes once they start to bubble. Top with sliced almonds or almond butter and low sugar syrup.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: banana
Whole Grain: no grains for this one! Keeping it simple and low carb
Protein: protein powder
Plant Based Fat: ground flaxseed and sliced almonds

If you’re interested in Hemp Protein Powder, I used Nutiva Hemp Protein Powder + Fiber. This particular powder is unsweetened and unflavored and has an earthy taste to it. It can be found at Whole Foods or your local health food store.

Cinnamon Apple Pie Quinoa Parfait

This recipe is quick, filling, and packed with protein.
I love making parfaits in glass jars so I can put a few together on a weekend or at night and store them in the fridge for days where I don’t have time to cook. It’s easy to grab in the morning, and can be stored in the refrigerator at the office for a healthy lunch. I love to have a couple of these ready and waiting for me at home after a workout because that is usually when I am starving, and don’t want to deal with cooking.

The combination of decadent flavors will make you feel like you’re cheating, but is packed with super foods.
Apples are a great source of fiber to help keep your tummy feel full, while the complex super grain quinoa is an outstanding source of protein and contains essential amino acids. The walnuts are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids and heart healthy Omega-3s, and as if this snack couldn’t get any better, it’s layered with thick, creamy protein-rich Greek yogurt, which is low in carbs and sugar and contains around 15g of protein per cup!
Talk about healthy, right? Not to mention, yummy!

Cinnamon Apple Pie Quinoa Parfait
Serves 1 

1 small apple (around 160g) – I used a gala apple
6oz or a single serve cup of plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup cooked chilled quinoa
2 Tbsp walnuts
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Cook quinoa and refrigerate beforehand. I like to make a large batch of quinoa for the week and keep it in the fridge for quick meals.
Chop up the apple into small chunks. Place apple chunks in a microwave safe bowl, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover with saran wrap and microwave for 1-1.5 minutes until apple becomes soft. Stir and set aside.
If you don’t like the tartness of Greek yogurt, you can mix a 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract and natural sweetener such as stevia to give more flavor.
In a glass jar, layer half of the yogurt along the bottom, followed by half of the quinoa, walnuts, and apple mixture. Repeat layers to create a parfait and store in the refrigerator or eat right away.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: apple
Whole Grain: quinoa
Protein: Greek yogurt
Plant Based Fat: walnuts

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