This
Saturday is the one-year anniversary of BYOL! It’s been a great year of
research, reviews, and nutritious vegan recipes. As a big thank you for the
tremendous support and generosity you have all shown, I’m excited to be
announcing my second give-away!
A
while back, I posted about a new cookbook I had picked up at a cooking
demonstration with the author.
That was the start of an ongoing friendship with one of the most talented
chefs I know, Julie Morris.
(Fritz and Julie)
Not
only is she the brilliant brain behind most of Navitas Naturals’ fabulous
smoothie creations but she is also the author of the recently released Superfood Kitchen. Over the months we’ve
gotten to know one another a bit better, but I’ve always had a slew of “professional”
questions for her. Julie is such a cool person she not only agreed to answer my questions,
but she offered an amazing superfood recipe that is perfect for cooler months and has agreed to give one lucky
reader a copy of her new book. Personally, it is my go to cookbook when I’m
feeling inspired and want to make something new. The book is packed full of nutritional information, delicious recipes using some of the healthiest foods found on the planet (and thanks to Navitas Naturals, who Julie is partnered with, readily available) and even has stunning photos of each recipe!
If
you enjoy healthy cooking, this is one cookbook you do not want to miss out on!
1)
Lets start with a simple definition of what a superfood is, what makes a food
a super food in your mind?
“Superfoods” is a term that describes the most
nutrient-dense, benefit-rich foods found in nature. This can range from
everyday superfoods like spinach or leafy greens, to exotic ones like acai berries
and maca root. Looking for foods that have a high nutrient density – an
impressive array of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals per
calorie – is a good way to determine what foods earn the “superfood” star.
2)
What are some of your favorite superfoods? Is there one that reins supreme
(extra credit if you say lentils :)
Love lentils. Because there are so many different
nutrients that are required for holistic health (and every food contains its
own alchemy of these nutrients), it’s very difficult to call one superfood
better than another. But a couple others I love would be chia seeds for their
ease of use and valuable healthy fats; hemp seeds (or hemp powder) for their
exceptional source of plant-based protein; and cacao for it’s tremendous
antioxidant content, important minerals, and so much more!
3)
In your book and talks, you stress some of the more exotic superfoods
such as goji berries and wheat grass. Are there slightly more common super
foods? If so, what are some of them?
Definitely. Leafy greens are a great example of a “common”
superfood: inexpensive, local, fresh, and abundant in benefits… an ideal
everyday kind of superfood. Quinoa is another good one, as one of the most
nutrient-dense “grains” available. You certainly don’t have to use “exotic”
superfoods to garner impressive health benefits, but the goji berries and the
wheatgrasses of the world will do nothing but further enhance your health. They’re
basically healthy extra credit.
4)
What is the one kitchen appliance you couldn't live without?
A blender - I can’t imagine not being able to make
a daily smoothie.
5)
Are you aware that you share a name with a christian weight-loss
motivational speaker? Have you ever been confused for her?
I have been made aware of this, yes! Luckily there’s
been no confusion up to this point.
6)
Why/when did you go vegan (or plant based)? Is there a difference between plant
based and vegan in your opinion?
I became a vegetarian at 14 for compassion
reasons, and began my vegan journey several years later because of the health
benefits. The vegan effort took a little while to get into balance, mainly
because, like your question suggests, there is a big (health-related)
difference between plant-based and vegan! Although I’m not big on semantics, I
do feel like “plant-based” is a more appropriate term for the kind of work that
I do, as it implies a focus on more natural and whole food forms within the
vegan category (as opposed to simply vegan, which mainly implies “anything that
doesn’t come from an animal”). You won’t find any vegan marshmallows in my
books, lets put it that way.
7)
What is your favorite snack?
I love keeping soft Medjool dates around for a
grab-and-go bite, which I’ll stuff with cacao nibs for a real energy boost. (note: I tried this with Navitas Naturals' Sweet Raw Cacao Nibs, and it is amazing! Better than any cookie I've ever had!)
8)
Any advice for people looking to incorporate more whole foods into their diets?
Try and do as much of your shopping as possible at
farmers markets, which will ensure that you’re bringing home “real”
ingredients, and get you inspired about cooking with them. A practice I have
followed for years is making a rule that once a week, I have to bring home
something I’ve never used before – it can be a superfood, a strange produce
find at the market, or even just a local brand of hot sauce. Then I do some
light research on it to “learn” my new food and how to use it. This simple
practice keeps cooking exciting, and expands your natural food horizons in a
very organic manner.
9)
Care to share a favorite recipe?
Of course!
KALE &
BLACK-EYED PEA STEW
MAKES 6–8 SERVINGS
There’s always something exciting
about a pot of good stuff bubbling away on the stove. Especially whenthat “good
stuff” includes powerful ingredients providing a balanced array of minerals,
protein, and fiber. Adding the kale at the very end of the cooking ensures that
it’s softened enough to be enjoyed, withoutdestroying all of its nutrition
through heat. This is the kind of stew that eats like a meal.
1 tablespoon coconut
oil
2 cups white onions,
diced (about 1 medium onion)
6 cloves garlic,
minced
3 stalks celery,
diced
1 red bell pepper,
diced
1 tablespoon fresh
oregano leaves, chopped
½ tablespoon fresh
thyme leaves, chopped
¼ teaspoon chipotle
powder
1 tablespoon smoked
paprika
3 cups vegetable broth
3 cups water
2 tablespoons wakame
flakes, ground/crushed into fine pieces
3 cups cooked
black-eyed peas
1 head kale, stems
discarded and leaves chopped
½ lemon, juiced
fresh parsley,
chopped, for garnish
sea salt to taste
In a large pot, melt the coconut oil over medium heat.
Add the onions and garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add
the celery and bell pepper and cook for a few minutes longer. Stir in the herbs
and spices, cooking for about 30 seconds. Add the vegetable broth, water,
wakame flakes, black-eyed peas, and a pinch of sea salt. Bring to a gentle
simmer, and cook uncovered for 30 minutes, adding more water if needed. Taste,
and adjust salt if desired. After the soup is fully cooked through, stir in the
kale and keep over the heat for a minute longer—just enough to wilt the kale.
Add the lemon juice and turn off the heat. Top with parsley and serve.
Variation: Add 1 cup diced smoked tofu when you add the black-eyed peas.
SUPERFOOD TIP
Using smoked ingredients like chipotle powder and smoked paprika
add an impressive depth of flavor to recipes without compromising nutrition
through overcooking. Find these spices in most supermarket.
THE GIVEAWAY:
Here
are the rules. First, the winner needs to live in the United States (sorry
international readers, no disrespect). The contest
will end next Friday, December 14 at midnight. To enter, you must be a subscribed reader to BYOL. To increase your chances of winning leave a comment on this post or/and "like" Superfood Cuisine with Julie Morris" on facebook.
Good luck and cheers
Good luck and cheers
I like superfoods and lentils.
ReplyDeletecacao powder added to my smoothies is my fave!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite superfoods are pomegranate and edamame
ReplyDeleteI'm up for stuffing cacao nibs into just about anything, but clearly you're not eating the right cookies!
ReplyDeletehahaha! you maybe you're right, but dates and cacao is seriously tasty!
DeleteI LOVE cacao, goji berries, kale, and spinach!
ReplyDeleteYou will love Julie's book!
DeleteChia Seeds, Kale, Ginger, and Hemp Seeds.
ReplyDeleteI love goji berries, pomegranate, spinach, and broccoli!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a HUGE pomegranate and kale fan, always use chai seeds when I make smoothies, and flax seeds to add extra crunch to recipes!
ReplyDeleteBeans, avocado, and all kinds of greens are my daily superfoods. Can't live without them! :)
ReplyDeleteBYOL,
ReplyDeleteIf I don't win this contest, I'm going to order the book. Thanks!
Julie Morris' recipes are SO tasty & simple! I never feel guilty after eating her food! :D
ReplyDeleteMy favorite superfoods - dark chocolate, maca, and kale!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many superfoods I still don't know about and/or have yet to try. Thanks for always introducing new ones!! Some simple favorites are quinoa, kale, chia seeds, cacao, and goji berries. And lentils of course =)
ReplyDeleteVery good soup. Thanks for sharing! I wrote about mine here: http://tastespace.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/smoky-black-eyed-pea-and-kale-stew/
ReplyDelete