Happy Holidays Everyone! Last weekend, here in northern coastal Maine, we received our first snowfall of the season - a beauteous white blanket 7 inches thick. Truly sets the tone for Christmas, for sure. But, the shoveling of my walkways and decks reminded me that my cardio training has not been up to par and that my energy stores need to be stoked. So, on that note, today's blog will be about how to infuse your body with a quick burst of energy - healthfully. And, during this busy Holiday Season, who couldn't use a bit more energy? Right?
In my bestselling book, Raw Energy In A Glass: 126 Nutrition-Packed Smoothies, Green Drinks, and Other Satisfying Raw Beverages to Boost Your Well-Being (Storey Publishing, c2014), I wrote a chapter called, "Raw Shots: A Quick Blast of Energy". What the heck is a raw shot, you ask? These are small, uncomplicated, quick-to-make, energy elixirs, usually a half-cup of liquid or less per serving, that deliver a rapid shot of power! In addition to being the perfect afternoon pick-me-up for both adults and children, many of these little "energy rush" drinks are wonderful to serve at parties.
They can be made in large batches a few hours ahead of time and stored in decorative liquor or wine bottles in the refrigerator - chilled and ready to excite the palates of your arriving guests. Attach a custom, colorful label to the bottle describing your "healthy home brew." It's fun to watch the reaction on people's faces when they taste your wares!
The darker purple beverages in the photo below (the ones with the dark flecks) represent today's recipe: Deep Purple Vibrations Shot. Please give it a try - it's most delicious!
Deep Purple Vibrations Shot
A feel-good, look-good drink if there ever was one! Simply made using only dark purple, antioxidant-rich grapes blended with tart lime juice, it will quench your thirst, lift your energy, and, with abundant natural sugars, satisfy a raging sweet tooth. Most kids love this drink, especially if you give it a goofy name, like Purple Monster Juice. Beats a box of pasteurized juice any day!
Highly alkaline and energetically cooling, grapes will help the body eliminate excess heat and acid. Enjoyed on a regular basis, the anti-inflammatory action will help soothe achy joints, too.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dark purple, seedless grapes
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- Pinch of sea salt (optional)
Directions:
1. Place the grapes, lime juice, and salt, if desired, in a blender and blend on high until smooth and frothy, about 30 seconds.
2. Serve immediately, complete with all of the fiber, as I do, or strain through a mesh strainer to yield a more clarified beverage. Mix with a splash of carbonated water to make a natural, yummy sparkling soda!
Yield: 2 servings
A Good Source Of: antioxidants galore, plus vitamin C, iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, boron, natural sugars, and fiber (if you don't strain it out)
Note: This blog was written by Stephanie Tourles and the recipe adapted from her book, Raw Energy In A Glass (Storey Publishing, c2014). The information is true and complete to the best of her knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this recipe/information. It is for educational purposes only.
Spring Greetings Everyone! Seems most of the country has already enjoyed their spring season, or are in the midst of it, or have even slipped on into summer - being quite warm and dry. How envious I am of you all! Here in coastal Maine - we seem to be stuck in a never-ending soggy cycle of rain, drizzle, fog, and unseasonable coolness . . . with ever-so-short bouts of sunshine. Squish, squish, squish . . . as I walk through my water-logged garden soil. My deep-emerald lawn is growing so fast I can hear it! What I would give for a week of 60+ degree steady sunshine . . . please send some so we can all dry out up here . . . that is my prayer request for everyone who reads this blog😊 Many thanks!
Well, since I've been craving warmer weather and summery foods, my recent thoughts have turned to ways in which I might brighten my diet, which would also brighten my heavy, down, mood - and one of my favorite foods is the sunny, cheery, sweet mango. So, after wracking my brain as to what to make, I remembered that I had published a delicious recipe in my best-selling book, Raw Energy In A Glass (Storey Publishing, c2014) . . . called Mango Silkshake (the photo is below - the golden-yellow glass in the lower right, next to the Blackberry Bliss shake). And, this luscious, mood- and immune-boosting shake is what I'm going to share with you today. I hope you get as much pleasure from it as I do! Enjoy!!
Mango Silkshake
Pale orange, sensuous in texture, and fabulously scrumptious! Each silky sip glides over your tongue and makes your taste buds dance with sheer delight. It's quite filling and delivers energizing and beautifying phytonutrients to help satisfy your daily "wellness quota."
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups almond, walnut, or cashew milk (recipe on pg. 109 of Raw Energy In A Glass)
- 3 cups frozen mango chunks
- 1 tablespoon raw, unrefined coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon raw honey, coconut syrup, or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon natural vanilla flavoring
- Pinch of sea salt (really enhances all of the flavors)
Directions: Put the nut milk, mango, coconut oil, honey, vanilla, and salt in a blender and puree until smooth and silky, about 30 seconds. A high-powered blender works best. Next, pour into glasses or insulated mugs. This shake is moderate in natural sugars, but loaded with fiber, so be sure to "chew" each sip, mixing well with your saliva so that it digests with ease, or savor slowly by eating with a spoon.
Yield: 2 servings
A good source of: antioxidants, vitamins C, B, E, and K, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, other trace minerals, healthy fat, natural sugars, and fiber
Note: Portions of this blog are adapted from Stephanie Tourles' book, "Raw Energy In A Glass" (Storey Publishing c2014). The information shared here is made without guarantee on the part of the author. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.
Healthy Greetings to All! I hope this early fall season finds you looking good and feeling great . . . and on that note, I want to announce to everyone the release of my latest health-enhancing, raw food recipe book, Raw Energy In A Glass: 126 Nutrition-Packed Smoothies, Green Drinks, and Other Satisfying Raw Beverages to Boost Your Well-Being. It's the 2nd in my raw food series of books - the first being, Raw Energy: 124 Raw Food Recipes for Energy Bars, Smoothies, and Other Snacks to Supercharge Your Body. My new book will be available in bookstores nationwide by mid-December 2014 and is available for pre-order NOW thru www.amazon.com and other online book retailers. It can also be purchased as an e-book . . . for all you "digital book enthusiasts". Raw Energy In A Glass makes the perfect healthy holiday gift for friends and family, too!
Superfoods In Every Sip
Have you ever enjoyed a sweet raspberry smoothie, creamy banana milk shake, rich glass of chocolate milk, or tart strawberry yogurt drink? Maybe an Orange Julius from the mall, spicy holiday eggnog, or a glass of tangy, dairy-based, peach kefir are favorite drinkable treats. In this book, I will be introducing you to their raw, vegan cousins - more healthful and nutritionally dense versions that are free of dairy, eggs, sugar, alcohol, and artificial flavors and colors. They're chock-full of plant-derived rejuvenating liquids; energy-enhancing live enzymes; easy-to-assimilate vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, fiber, complex carbohydrates, natural sugars, and proteins; plus loads of tongue-tantalizing flavor.
Every day there is new information printed and reported on the television, radio, and Internet regarding the benefits of eating a plant-based diet or at least a diet that relies heavily on plants. If you don't know by now, you should: a daily diet rich in raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, as well as whole, gluten-free grains and other plant-derived specialty ingredients such as raw cocoa, carob powder, spirulina powder, goji berries, and rejuvenating herbs such as maca root and Solomon's seal root, can maximize your health and well-being.
When you feed yourself only the very best raw plant foods - organic if possible - these foods become extraordinarily beautiful and sacred to your being. Why? No only because they taste great, but also because you begin to feel better and look better than you have in years. Energy comes roaring back. Every cell that hungers for fuel and revitalizing fluids is satisfied. It's true that when you eat more raw plant foods, you tend to be less physically hungry on a day-to-day basis. By eating foods of superior quality, your body will be better satisfied and the quantity you consume will naturally diminish. Raw food does not have empty calories. Every bite you eat is nutritionally dense, so your body is happier and not always crying out for more.
Every sip of the raw, whole food-derived, superfood beverages in this book is so rejuvenating, refreshing, energizing, and youthifying that every cell of your body will be singing your praises for finally quenching the thirst for nutrient-rich liquids.
Happy cells = a happy, energetic body = happy you!
In the next blog, Part 2 of this series, I'll begin to share with you a few of the dynamic and delicious raw drink recipes from the book as well as other interesting and useful information with regard to raw food nutrition. Until then . . . be happy, whole, and enjoy unbelievable energy and health!
