Warm Breakfast: Great Goji Groatmeal

For National Hot Tea & Oatmeal Month, we shared the Great Goji Groatmeal breakfast recipe on this recent WBNS 10TV segment with Karina Nova and Ross Caruso. With our weather being perfect (meaning: cold, rainy) for this breakfast, we’re sharing it here with you too!

What is an oat groat? It’s the whole grain form of oatmeal, before it is steel-cut, rolled, or pulverized into an instant oatmeal package. These oat groats are chewy and take some time to cook, which is why we called upon our trusty slow cooker to work the overnight shift.

Ingredients

2 cups oat groats

2 tablespoons chia seeds (and/or flax seeds)

1/3 cup shredded coconut

3 cups water (we used hot green tea)

3 cups of non-dairy milk (i.e. DIY almond milk)

2 tbsp coconut oil

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 apples, cored and blended

1/8 cup of goji berries (or substitute with raisins)

1/3 cup cacao nibs (optional)

Instructions

Use a 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Put oat groats, chia, shredded coconut, water, non-dairy milk, coconut oil, and goji berries (and cacao nibs if desired) inside. Blend cored apple and add to slow cooker. Stir all ingredients and cover, cooking on low for about 8 hours (automatic slow cookers should then switch over to ‘warm’ setting). Stir and serve with additional fruit (i.e. berries), nuts, seeds, or sweetener on top and enjoy a warm belly of food to start your day!

Death-by-Chocolate Zucchini Bread

For a moment it seemed like we were putting TOO much chocolate into this recipe. Then we realized how ridiculous of a thought that was – there’s almost never too much chocolate :D. This amazing zucchini bread will tame any chocolate craving with its brownie-like texture. Bonus: it’s gluten-free!

Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 45-50 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup gluten-free all purpose flour
1 cup almond meal
1/3 cup coconut or date sugar
1/2 cup cacao or cocoa powder
3.5oz dark chocolate bar, chopped
1/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 organic eggs
1.5 medium zucchini, chopped
3 small apples, chopped
2 tbsp melted coconut oil or organic butter
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease loaf pan. In a large bowl add almond meal, flour, sugar, cacoa/cocoa powder, dark chocolate chips, baking soda & baking powder, and salt. Combine & mix well. Melt coconut oil or butter. Boil apples in water, enough to cover bottom of the pot) and allow to cool for about 5 minutes.

Once cooled, put apples into high-speed blender with chopped zucchini and blend. Discard cooking water.

In a smaller bowl, add eggs and beat with whisk. Add apples and zucchini, coconut oil or butter, and vanilla extract. Combine ingredients by mixing and then fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients.

Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack for 20 minutes. Store bread in air-tight container in fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze bread if desired.

Fight Free Radicals with a Rainbow Punch!

photo source: http://www.birthgoddess.com.au

Antioxidants are phytochemicals, vitamins and other nutrients which protect our cells from free radical damage. Studies show antioxidants help prevent the oxidative damage that is associated with heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. So where are these superheroes found? Check out your local garden patch – most fruits, vegetables, and culinary & medicinal herbs can contain high levels of antioxidants.

A study in recent years found that botanical diversity plays a role in determining the bioactivity of antioxidant phytochemicals. Also, and this is exciting, smaller quantities of many different phytochemicals may have greater health effects than larger amounts of fewer phytochemicals. This is why we inspire people to ‘eat a rainbow’ (and we’re not talking about Skittles candy). Here’s how to form a rainbow of protection against free radical damage:

Red, Purple, and Blue

• Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, apples, cherries, pomegranates, red grapes, beets, red cabbage, black rice
• Contains anthocyanin, betacyanin, and proanthocyanidins
• Functions: protect cells from aging, reduce cholesterol and may reduce breast cancer risk

Yellow-Orange

• Carrots, squashes, lemons, apricots, cantaloupe, mangoes, nectarines, peaches, papaya, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, passion fruit, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and yellow & orange peppers
• Contains beta-carotene and alpha carotene; often also cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin
• Functions: protects against some cancers, supports immune system, healthy skin, and good vision

Green Fruits and Vegetables

• Spinach, kale, avocado, broccoli, swisschard, brussel sprouts, as well as dandelion, mustard, and collard greens
• Contains lutein, beta carotene, and chlorophyll
• Functions: builds resistance to certain cancers, protects eyes from oxidative damage that could lead to diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts