HookedOnPlants

When getting hooked is a good thing

julia

Immunity-Boosting Mushroom Smoothie

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Well, it’s official. The world is in freak out mode.

There’s no doubt we’re living in a time that will go down in the history books.

My heart goes out to those affected by the COVID-19, and immense appreciation for the doctors and nurses, as well as cashiers on the front line.

It’s important to remember to do things that make you feel good during this time of social distancing. Is there a passion project you’ve always wanted to start? Now is an awesome time! But, also don’t feel pressure to be productive during this time. There’s fear and anxiety all around, so some of the best actions are reconnecting with nature, resting your mind, moving your body, amping up your immunity and treating this like a forced staycation. What are you doing with your time? Let me know on the ‘gram @hookedonplants.

Here’s an immunity-boosting smoothie recipe that will help your body to combat any thing coming it’s way.

I’ve been especially been loving Spud right now for grocery delivery, to avoid the awkward supermarket isles, and to avoid unnecessary close contact. If you’ve never ordered from them before, you can use ‘CRVAN-MURJUB’ for 20$ off your first order at Spud.Ca

What’s so great about the ingredients?

Greens:

DUH, right?! They’re packed with phytonutrients, plant fibre, chlorophyll and micronutrients.

Turmeric with a dash of pepper:

Anti-inflammatory king! Adding a tiny amount of pepper will increase the absorption of curcumin (the active ingredient) by 2000%!

Ginger:

Immune system stimulator that can help kill foreign invaders. 

Berries:

Antioxidants + phytonutrients. The more berries in your life the better.

Medicinal Mushrooms:

I’m using Stay Wyld Organics, a company I believe in and am helping co-create.

All of these mushroom powders are beneficial for your gut health by acting as a prebiotic. Healthy diverse microbiome = strong immunity. Your gut wall houses 60-70% of the cells that make up your immune system.

These mushrooms are all packed with antioxidants to ward off free radicals and minimize inflammation. 

They act as adaptogens in your body, by helping combat stressors and bringing it back to homeostasis (balance).

They’re North American sourced, organic, vegan, and steam extracted for optimal bio-absorption.

  • Chaga: The King of Mushrooms! Chaga has the antioxidant ORAC score out of any natural food, and has been shown to selectively kill cancer cells, while leaving the healthy cells untouched. Chaga is also the richest source of (ready for this?) superoxide dismutase… aka ‘SOD’, which is known to protect cells and repel viruses! Great timing to get a daily dose of this mighty mushroom. 
  • Turkey Tail: Powerful immune-defense! In Japan, turkey tail has been used to strengthen the immune system for over 30 years, especially when given with standard chemotherapy. Turkey tail mycelium (Stay Wyld uses the mushroom fruiting body and mycelium in the powders) excretes strong antiviral compounds. 
  • Reishi: This ‘chill out’ mushroom has incredible anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also been shown to have the ability to stimulate macrophages (a type of white blood cell), an important part in combatting viruses and any kind of sickness. 
  • We also have Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps. All come in capsule or powder form! Use ‘Julia10’ for a discount.

Whole food protein powder:

When it comes to protein powder, it’s important to avoid any ‘fluff’ ingredients…extra sugars, natural flavours, words you can’t pronounce. Sticking with simple whole food ingredients is the way to go. That’s what I love about Complement Protein. 6 high protein plant ingredients ground up, with the lowest heavy metal count in the industry. Getting all essential amino acids in your diet is super beneficial for your immune system.

Feel free to use ‘hookedonplants’ on www.lovecomplement.com for a discount!

Vitamin C (amla fruit) powder:

Back to the basics! You can take a large daily dose vitamin C, but you have to make sure that your vitamin C source doesn’t have extra (not so great) ingredients like sugars or natural flavours. I’m in love with Pranin’s whole food powders, especially their vitamin C made from 2 ingredients: Amla Fruit and Moringa Leaf. A serving of two whole food powders give you the same vitamin C as 20 organic lemons!

You can use my discount code ‘hooked’ for this Vancouver company’s whole food powders here: Pranin.com.

I personally use all 3 of these products daily, especially right now, and only like to promote things that I’m actively using and loving, in hopes that it will help you guys out too. To be transparent, I do get a small kick back if you use my code for any of these, which helps support the work I do to spread veganism and nutrition tips, but don’t feel like you have to use my codes! Up to you… but you will get a discount too 🙂

I wouldn’t promote anything to this amazing community that I wouldn’t be urging my Mom to get on board with at the same time.

Much love!

OK, on with the recipe!

If you make this tag @hookedonplants + @staywyldorganics so we can see your health in a cup!

Raw Vegan Date Hemp Coconut Sneaky Greens Bliss Balls

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Dates glorious dates. Melt in your mouth. Chewy. Sweet.

Natures candy.

Date Balls!

Dates are amazing for well….  anything really. Buy them by the box, and make sure they’re as juicy and fresh as possible. These little morsels are taken everywhere. In the car, on camping trips, in my camel back, on the plane… you name it.

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Packed with fibre, minerals and vitamins, dates are not to be afraid of. They’re a whole food, unrefined and easily digested for amazing, clean burning energy. The perfect snack on the go. If you love caramel apples, take a bite of an apple with your date and call it a day. Seriously. Take them everywhere with you and you will be a happy camper.

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They are delicious as they are. But sometimes it’s nice to introduce them to a few other flavour buddies.

Hemp seeds add a great hit of flavour and essential fatty acids, oats create a cookie-like taste, and for the twist, quinoa puffs round out this delish ball with a surprising crunch and a complete protein (not that we have to be worried about protein, because it literally is naturally in every single whole, plant food).

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All you need is a food processor and a bit of a shimmy of the wrist to create these melt in your mouth hits of nutrition.

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Benefits:

~Dates are chalk full of fibre, magnesium, and selenium. Plus they are stars when it comes to smooth digestion, nutrient-density, and improving the gut flora. This is all beneficial for weight loss, satiety, and clean burning energy.

~Hemp seeds are a great balance of 3:1 omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids. In the Standard American Diet, there is WAY too much omega 6 fatty acids being consumed, and not enough omega 3. SO, hemp seeds are a perfect way to ensure you’re getting enough omega 3s in your life. This will help ward off depression, Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis, blood fat, asthma, and ADHD. Plus it’s one of the best options for plant-based protein.

~Coconut is packed with vitamin E, polyphenols, and vitamin A, which all work together to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

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Makes: 30 balls

Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 20 Medjool dates, pits removed
  • 1 cup oats
  • 1/4 cup hemp seeds
  • 1/4 cup Daily Greens Powder (broccoli sprouts, moringa, spinach, barley grass and chlorella)
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup shredded coconut

Directions:

  1. Process oats to a flour in food processor, then blend in Daily Greens powder
  2. Add dates to flour and process for 10 seconds
  3. Add hemp seeds, quinoa puffs and vanilla to the mix and process until a ball forms
  4. Spread coconut on a plate
  5. Shape date mixture into small balls with wet hands and drop them onto the plate (a few at a time). Shake the plate so the balls get coated with coconut shreds.
  6. Once the balls are all shaped and coated, store them in the fridge so they’re ready for snacking!
  • If youre having trouble keeping the mixture together, add 1-2 tsp of water to the mix then try molding again.

These keep their shape and travel like heroes!

So bring them on hikes, bike rides, camping trips, you name it.

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Pink Banana Oat Pancakes with Maple Cacao Drizzle

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Que the Jack Johnson and bring on Sunday morning! ….And with Valentine’s Day in our midst, then you’re in luck, because we’re flauntin’ the pink today with these banana oat pancakes!

These pancakes are so simple, it’s stupid.

Too easy not to make and packed with whole-food ingredients.

Here for it!

Top it off with a cacao maple drizzle, serve it to your Valentine, and be ready for a proposal.

It’s all about tha base bout’ tha base (que song here).

I’m talking about just 3 ingredients: ripe bananas + oat flour + plant milk.

Vanilla and cinnamon are always a must when I’m whipping up some flapjacks, so we’ll throw some of that in there, too.

Once you have that blended up, feel free to get creative.

Today, I went with beet powder + vegan chocolate chips!

Maybe tomorrow calls for antioxidant boosters, turmeric + blueberries (bonus recipe below).

The next day… Cacao powder + raisins? Maca powder + strawberries?

Whatever that creator within you comes up with, your pancake will no doubt be delicious and ready before Jack finishes off his guitar solo.


Easiest Banana Oat Pancakes | 2 Ways with Cacao Maple Drizzle
 
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Easy Banana Oat Pancakes with a Valentines Flare!
Author:
Recipe type: Breakfast
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 2 cups of oats (gluten-free if needed)
  • 3 bananas, spotty and ripe
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ¼ cup Daily Greens Powder (optional, but a good way to get in potent greens)
  • 1 tbsp beet powder (order from Organic Matters or Amazon)
  • ½ cup vegan chocolate chips
  • ½-3/4 cup almond milk
Instructions
  1. Add oats to blender. Blend into a flour
  2. Add the rest of the ingredients, except chocolate chips, blend until smooth
  3. Gently chocolate chips into the batter (or sprinkle on top after flipping the pancakes)
  4. Heat a pan on low heat (level 2-3)
  5. Spoon pancakes into pan and cook for 3-4 minutes (until you see little bubbles appearing)
  6. Flip, then cook for another 2 minutes
  7. Meanwhile, make the cacao maple drizzle by whisking together a little extra Chocolate Protein and maple syrup until well combined!
  8. Go the extra mile and serve it up with Coco Whip(and fruit and drizzle!)

Tag @hookedonplants on instagram if you make these! I love seeing your recipes 🙂

Another option!

Turmeric Blueberry Banana Pancakes

Serves: 2

Making time: 3-5 minutes

Cooking time: 6 minutes per batch

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups oats (gluten free if needed)
  • 3 bananas, spotty and ripe
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 thumb turmeric root (about 2 cm long) OR 1 tsp turmeric spice
  • 1/4 cup Protein Powder (Complement has the cleanest 5 ingredient vegan protein powder around)
  • 1 tiny pinch black pepper (for turmeric absorption)
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1/2-3/4 cup almond milk

Directions:

  1. Add oats to blender. Blend into a flour
  2. Add the rest of the ingredients, except blueberries, blend until smooth
  3. Mix blueberries into batter
  4. Heat pan on low heat (level 2-3)
  5. Spoon pancakes into pan and cook for 3-4 minutes (until you see little bubbles appearing)
  6. Flip, then cook for another 2 minutes
  7. Pour over maple syrup and top with fruit
  8. Go the extra mile and pour over some delicious chocolate sauce from the Hot For You Bites chocolate layer

Chocolate Zucchini Banana Bread | Vegan + Gluten-Free

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Harvest season around here means ZUKES are flowing out of every corner.

This chocolate zucchini banana bread is THE recipe to put those zucchinis to use… Hidden veggie nutrition in a delicious chocolate loaf.

YES, PLEASE.

No eggs, no dairy, no problem.

I even added in some Love Complement whole food protein powder.

Love this stuff!

First, I’ll say: You can get enough protein on a plant based diet without protein powder! But, if you’re not eating a variety of plants, and enough calories in general, or if you’re training or growing or aging, it doesn’t hurt to add a bit of protein powder to your life.

This one is my fave because it’s 5 whole food ingredients (no isolates), no fillers, no sugars, and comes in a biodegradable bag.

Check it out here.

You can use the code ‘hookedonplants‘ for a discount (I get a slight kick back if you do so, and you also get 10% off). I love this company for the quality and effort they put into transparency! I also take their daily essentials (everyday).

You could also add some organic Stay Wyld medicinal mushroom powders to this too! I add my mushie powders to everything possible.


 
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Chocolate Zucchini Banana Bread
Prep time:
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Serves: 8
A delicious loaf packed with nutrition. Vegan, gluten free, easy and YUM.
Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients:

  • 2 cups oats (use gluten-free if celiac)
  • 1/4 cup cacao powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 pinches salt
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup Complement Protein powder (use ‘hookedonplants’ for a discount!)

Wet Ingredients:

  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup plant milk (using Earth’s Own Vanilla Oat)
  • 2 cups grated or thinly sliced zucchini

Optional (not really optional, just do it):

  • Vegan Chocolate Chips
  • Stay Wyld Mushroom Powder! I added 2 tsp of Reishi powder (use Julia10 for a discount)

Instructions:

  1. Pre-heat your oven to 350F
  2. In your food processor, add all dry ingredients and blend until it’s a flour consistency.
  3. Add all wet ingredients to your food processor and blend until smooth.
  4. Add in choco chips and pulse a few times.
  5. In a parchment-covered loaf dish, pour the batter.
  6. Bake for 35 minutes.
  7. Slice it up and devour.

If you make this, post on Instagram and tag @hookedonplants

Creamy Vegan Red + White Sauce BBQ Pasta + 10 Reasons to DITCH DAIRY

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Some red & white action in a creamy vegan red sauce form for a little Canada Day celebration!

This time the creaminess comes from something special:

ACTUAL CREAM, but vegan.

Earth’s Own Canada just came out with a cooking cream! Made from Canadian Oats.

And lemme tell ya, it does the job.

Just use it like you would use dairy cream, and it cream-ifies anything.

Usually, I make cream from cashews (or sunflower seeds) like this recipe (just add a little more liquid). Or even white beans made into a cream sauce.

But, this cream makes it ridiculously easy, and extra creamy.

(Did you know oats use seven times less water than dairy?)

Better for the environment, better for the cows, better for you, PLUS it does the job. Win win win, WIN.

It’s BBQ season too, so fire up that barby and throw some plants on it, create a creamy sauce with ease, and you’re off to the delicious pasta races.

🥛 10 Reasons to ditch dairy and embrace dairy alternatives instead:
➖baby calves belong with their emotional mama cows⠀
➖ 65-100% of people are lactose intolerant⠀
➖ mama cows don’t deserve to be forcibly impregnated over and over
➖ your gut microbiome will thank you⠀
➖ we humans don’t need to ingest something that is meant for a baby calf to grow to a TON cow⠀
➖ look up casomorphins (in dairy) and cancer promoting IGF-1 growth factor… ⠀
➖ dairy uses 7x more water than oat milk⠀
➖ the countries with the highest dairy consumption also happen to have the highest rates of osteoporosis (so, no.. milk is not good for your bones)⠀
➖ there are tons of other ways to get calcium and protein … from plants ⠀
➖ and, it’s 2020 … the vegan milk, ice cream, butter, cheese and cream (like the one in this recipe) and RIDICULOUSLY DELICIOUS⠀

Creamy Red Sauce Veggie Pasta
 
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A creamy vegan red sauce pasta packed with BBQ'd veggies.
Author:
Recipe type: pasta, dinner
Serves: 5
Ingredients
  • 2 yellow or sweet onions, sliced
  • ¼-1/2 cup Earth's Own Cooking Cream
  • Tomato pasta sauce (used roasted garlic from Neal Brother's)
  • 400-500g whole grain pasta of choice
  • 2 red peppers, chopped
  • 2 zucchinis, chopped
  • 9 mushrooms (cremini/white), chopped
  • 1-2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 3-4 vegan sausages of choice (we used Field Roast Italian)
Instructions
  1. Turn BBQ to 400F (or oven)
  2. Caramelize onions. Do do this without oil, just heat pan to medium, add sliced onions and let the pan brown. Add ⅛ cup of water to de-glaze the pan. Turn the heat down to simmer, and put the lid on. Let simmer for 20 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, a bowl, mix together the veggies with balsamic. Add the veggies to a BBQ roasting dish (OR, bake them in the oven). BBQ for 30 minutes, mixing around halfway.
  4. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to directions.
  5. Add the sausages to the BBQ and grill according to the directions (about 4 minutes a side).
  6. Add cream and tomato sauce to the caramelized onions, and let simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
  7. Strain pasta, then pour it back into the pasta pot.
  8. Chop the sausages, and add them, the BBQ'd veggies and creamy red sauce to the pot. Stir until it's all slathered and delicious looking.
  9. Serve it up with some salad and a sprinkle of vegan parm!

If you make this, tag me on insta: @hookedonplants !

If you missed the premiere of Whistler Virtual Vegan Fest, it is on our Youtube channel for your viewing pleasure. Donate if you like to Happy Herd Farm Santuary or Whistler Food Bank here.

If you need help going plant-based without any judgement + with full support…check out 80/20 Plants, our app with 1:1 coaching ( Plants First Nutrition, Clare Minded, Esther, Matt and I), video lessons, meal planning and recipes.