Homemade Guacamole

Try making this simple Homemade Guacamole for your next snack option! As Miss Alexa likes to say, “An avocado a day keeps the doctor away!” Avocados are packed with a wide variety of nutrients including fiber, potassium, magnesium, and manganese. Not only will red onion add lots of flavor to this recipe, but it will provide your body with a beneficial amount of antioxidants and help to boost immunity. Cilantro helps to prevent cardiovascular damage while also improving sleep quality. Limes are high in Vitamin C and promote healthy skin. Serve this guacamole with tortilla chips and/or fresh veggies and enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 3 large avocados, ripe

• ½ cup red onion, finely chopped

• ½ large tomato, diced

• ⅓ cup cilantro, rinsed and finely chopped

• 4 tbsp lime juice

• 1 tsp pepper

• ½ tsp sea salt

Instructions:

1) Scoop the flesh of the avocados into a large bowl and begin to mash, leaving some chunks.

2) Toss in the red onion, tomato, cilantro, and lime juice and mix altogether. Then, mix in the salt and pepper, and adjust to taste.

3) Serve immediately with tortilla chips and/or fresh veggies and enjoy!

Paleo Waffles

Try making these delicious Paleo Waffles for your next breakfast option! Almond flour is packed with fiber and benefits digestive health. Coconut oil is excellent for hair, skin, and dental health. Almond milk is a great dairy-free milk option and is full of Vitamin E. Maple syrup is high in antioxidants and adds just the right touch of sweetness to this recipe. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cups blanched almond flour

• ¼ cup tapioca flour

• ½ tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp baking powder

• Pinch of sea salt

• 3 eggs

• ½ cup almond milk, unsweetened

• 6 tbsp coconut oil, melted

• 2 tbsp maple syrup

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Fresh berries and maple syrup for topping, optional

Instructions:

1) In a large bowl, combine the blanched almond flour, tapioca flour, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt.

2) In a smaller bowl, beat together the eggs, almond milk, coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Add this mixture to the dry mix and combine all ingredients well.

3) Start to heat up your waffle maker (only coat with melted coconut oil if your waffle maker instructs you to).

4) Pour the batter into the center of waffle maker, evenly distributing the batter. Cook waffles according to your waffle maker’s instructions. This recipe will yield about 6 waffles.

5) Once waffles are done cooking, let cool before eating. Coat with fresh berries and maple syrup if preferred and enjoy!

Falafels

Try making these delicious and healthy falafels as a side dish for your next dinner option! Falafels are a popular Middle Eastern cuisine that are commonly made from ground chickpeas. Chickpeas are a type of legume that are packed with fiber and protein. They are known to benefit digestion by supporting bowel movements and increasing healthy bacteria in the gut. Parsley is a low-calorie herb packed with Vitamins A, K, and C. Coriander is rich in antioxidants and benefits heart health by lowering LDL cholesterol, while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol! Cardamom helps to fight inflammation and improve oral health. Serve these falafels with your favorite hummus or tahini sauce and enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups chickpeas (uncooked)

• ½ cup white onion, diced

• ½ cup parsley, chopped

• 5 small cloves of garlic

• 2 tbsp gluten-free oat flour

• 1 ½ tsp sea salt

• 3 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp ground coriander

• Pinch of ground cardamom

• Coconut Oil

Instructions:

1) Pour the chickpeas into a colander and rinse under cold water. Transfer the chickpeas to a large pot and cover with two inches of water. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute. Remove the pot from heat, cover with a lid, and let sit for about one hour. After the one hour is up, drain the pot, rinse the chickpeas, and pat them dry with a towel.

2) Add white onion, parsley, and garlic to a food processor, and pulse well. Toss in the chickpeas, oat flour, sea salt, cumin, coriander, and cardamom to the food processor. Pulse for about 5 minutes or until a paste is formed.

3) Transfer the mixture to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for at least one hour.

4) After the one hour is up, remove the bowl from the refrigerator. Use a cookie scooper to scoop the mixture and use your hands to form the mixture into small discs. This recipe should yield around 24 falafels.

5) Add coconut oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Place enough falafels on the skillet to fit, and heat for 5 minutes, flipping the falafels halfway. Let falafels cool before serving and enjoy!

Paleo Hot Cocoa

Try making this Paleo Hot Cocoa to warm you up during this cold holiday season! Cocoa powder provides many health benefits including reducing blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and inflammation. Cocoa powder is also full of flavonoids, which are compounds found naturally in plants that help reduce the risk of heart disease. Maple syrup provides healthy minerals to combat oxidative stress including zinc, calcium, and magnesium. Make this hot cocoa as a dessert or serve to your holiday guests and enjoy!

Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup water

• ⅓ cup cocoa powder

• Pinch of sea salt

• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract

• ½ cup maple syrup

• 1 cup dairy-free milk of choice (1 cup per serving)

Instructions:

1) Pour the water into a pan and bring to a boil on the stovetop.

2) Add the cocoa powder and salt to a heat-proof bowl and pour the boiled water on top. Mix until well combined and let sit for 3-5 minutes.

3) Add the vanilla extract and maple syrup to the mixture and stir well.

4) Warm the dairy-free milk on the stovetop. Transfer to a cup and add in 2 tbsp of chocolate syrup. Mix well and enjoy!