Recipes

Simple Gluten-Free Tea Cookies

A delightful little treat to enjoy with your cup of tea or coffee.

Article by Verdure Magazine Team|November 17, 2023

These delightful—and not-too-sweet—gluten-free tea cookies pair beautifully with warming cup of tea or coffee. They’re also refined-sugar-free, making them a totally guilt-free treat. They’re simple to whip up and bake in just 10-minutes.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups finely ground almond flour

1 cup coconut flour

1/2 cup unrefined coconut oil, melted (you want the coconut flavor to come through in these cookies)

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and set aside two cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.

Mix all the dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl: the almond flour, coconut flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add the wet ingredients in and mix: the melted coconut oil, the maple syrup, and the vanilla extract. Mix well, making sure to swipe up everything from the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

Form the dough into balls and press against the cookie sheet to flatten. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Alternatively, you can roll the balls of dough in shredded, unsweetened coconut flakes before flattening and baking. The coconut will brown more than the dough alone, giving the cookies a lovely visual appeal, and really elevating that coconut flavor.

Enjoy!

 

Crock-Pot Shredded Chicken

Hearty, savory and flavorful, this shredded chicken recipe will quickly become a Fall favorite.

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Baked Peaches n’ Cream

A sweet summer treat that we have on repeat.

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Fast, Easy, Healthy Breakfasts

Breakfasts of champions.

Article by Divina Helene|June 26, 2023

Breakfast is arguably the most important meal of the day. How you choose to nourish yourself after fasting overnight can impact your mood, your focus, and your energy levels for the rest of the day. Breakfast should always include proteins, fats, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables to help keep you feeling satiated and your blood sugar balanced. Here are some of our favorite breakfast ideas that are fast, easy, and healthy.

  1. Greek yogurt bowl with fresh fruit, nuts or nut butter, seeds and raw, local honey. If you want to up your protein intake, add in a high-quality protein powder like Be Well By Kelly Unflavored Grass-Fed Protein Powder.
  2. Smashed avocado on sourdough with a sliced hard-boiled egg. Garnish with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, feta cheese and pumpkin seeds, and top with arugula. Pro Tip: Hard-boil a dozen eggs or more on Sunday night in preparation for the week ahead as they make for an easy-to-grab-and-go, healthy snack for the whole family.
  3. A warm bowl of sprouted oatmeal with ghee and topped with nuts, seeds, and fresh fruit. Check out A Better Bowl of Oatmeal for more ideas on creating a balanced bowl of oatmeal.
  4. A well-rounded, anti-oxidant-rich breakfast smoothie. Check out Elevate Your Smoothie for more tips on creating a balanced and satiating breakfast smoothie (which is especially delightful in the warmer Summer months).
  5. Satiating and decadent blueberry breakfast muffins. Again, you can prepare a dozen muffins on a Sunday evening and enjoy for the week ahead. This recipe here will not disappoint—we promise.
  6. Ground beef scramble with minced vegetables served over rice.
  7. Navy beans sauteed with EVOO, garlic, onion, and Swiss chard. Season with Himalayan salt and black pepper.
  8. Farm-fresh eggs, any style, served with a side of leftover veggies and meats and fresh fruit.
  9. Leftovers. That’s right; you don’t need to eat traditional “breakfast foods” for breakfast. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. A hot bowl of chili is just as satisfying an a cool Winter morning as it is on a cool Winter night. In the Summer time, we’re also big fans of cold, leftover grilled chicken thrown on top of some mixed greens with avocado and a squeeze of lemon. Get creative—use up those leftovers while they’re fresher and more appealing.

 

Demystifying the Adrenal Cocktail

Everything you need to know about this trending elixir.

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1-Bowl Almond Flour Banana Bread

A recipe that's easy like Sunday morning—and that everyone will love.

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Macadamia-Date Energy Balls

A delicious, nutritious, and energy-packed snack.

Article by Audrey Cunnie|January 31, 2023

This is a recipe I love to make at home and is adapted from Earthy Andy’s recipe (Andrea Hannemann). Equal parts macadamia nuts and dates are the base for this recipe and therefore it can be doubled or halved very easily.

This recipe will make about 40 1-inch balls, and the best part is how well these store in an air tight container (up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator or 2 weeks in the pantry.) They also take minimal time from start to finish! Such a quick and impressive recipe.

This recipe is a great start to a diverse array of flavors and nutritional boosts that you can throw in as well, such as protein powders, spices, seeds or nuts.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups macadamia nuts
2 cups pitted Medjool dates
2 tablespoons cacao powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon sea salt

With your oven pre-preheated to 350 degrees, lay the macadamia nuts across a sheet pan lined with parchment paper in a single layer and toast them just long enough to smell their aroma, not more than 5-8 minutes. Do not brown or over-toast the macadamia nuts.

Allow them to cool to room temperature before loading them into a food processor with the rest of the above ingredients.

I prefer to coarsely chop the macadamia nuts and dates in the food processor; just enough so that the dates are smooth, but not long enough so that the macadamia nuts are ground into a fine powder. I find a bit of texture is really perfect when you bite into these. I’d say a medium to finely chopped texture is ideal.

Once you achieve the texture you’re looking for, scoop the ingredients into a bowl. Wetting the surface of your hand with water, you can now form the balls by pulling about 1-2 tablespoons of the mix into your hand and rolling them until a perfect little ball is formed. They’re very pliable and easy to roll; just keep your hands moist with water. They are very sticky otherwise!

Once you have all of the date balls formed, you can leave them plain (outstanding as is) or roll them in something for added flavor, texture or nutritional value.

I love topping them with a drizzle of melted dark chocolate, rolling them in finely shredded coconut, ground pistachios, hemp seeds, or cacao powder. Place them in an airtight container and try to resist popping these in your mouth with each passing hour!

I find that these make an exceptional pre-workout snack, an easy addition to my kids Bento lunches, or a sweet goody to place on the counter when my friends or play-dates come over. They also satisfy my sweet tooth when I need a sweet little something after lunch or dinner.

Here’s some additional ideas for your homemade Macadamia-Date Energy Balls:

Optional add-in inspiration:

  • vanilla or chocolate protein powder in lieu of cacao powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon of ground & toasted cayenne pepper
  • whole sunflower seeds, roughly chopped dried cherries, or dark chocolate chips (stirred in once you food process the main ingredients)

Enjoy!

Audrey Cunnie is a mother and Private Chef in Sonoma County. To learn more about Audrey, visit her on Istagram at @thegardenkeeprsgirl

Soups We Love

Easy, nutritious go-to's that'll warm you up on these cold and rainy days.

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A Better Bowl of Oatmeal

Two recipes to take your morning bowl of oatmeal from blah to balanced—and delicious.

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A Must-Make Herbal Folk Remedy for the Winter Months

A zesty, potent herbal folk remedy that will nurture and support you and the family all Winter long.

Article by Divina Helene|October 7, 2022

Fire Cider is a powerful, warming herbal folk remedy packed with immune and digestive supporting herbs and spices that’s so easy to prepare, there’s really no excuse not to make a batch. If prepared in early Fall, one batch will easily support a family of four all Winter long, as a little goes a long way.

The base of your Fire Cider will include:

  • raw apple cider vinegar (improves digestion, supports blood sugar balance)
  • onion (anti-inflammatory)
  • garlic (anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, supports blood pressure balance)
  • ginger root (anti-nausea, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial)
  • horseradish root (anti-oxidant)
  • jalapenos (rich in vitamin A and C, and potassium)
  • raw, unfiltered honey (anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, rich source of anti-oxidants, soothing)

From here, you can customize the ingredients to your liking.

I add:

  • star anise (anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory)
  • black peppercorns (anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory)
  • cinnamon sticks (anti-oxidant, lower blood pressure, support blood sugar balance)
  • fresh rosemary (anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, improves concentration and mood)

You could also add in lemon, orange, turmeric powder, cayenne powder and any other herbs and spices.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 10 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 2-3 jalapeno peppers, sliced
  • 1/2 cup fresh grated ginger
  • 1/2 cup fresh grated horseradish root
  • 1/2 cup star anise
  • 2-3 sticks of cinnamon
  • 2-3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
  • small handful of black peppercorns
  • raw apple cider vinegar
  • raw, unfiltered honey

DIRECTIONS:

Prepare your roots, fruits, herbs and spices and place them in a quart-sized jar. Pour in the apple cider vinegar until all the ingredients are covered. Place a piece of natural parchment paper between the lid and the contents of the jar (as vinegar is erosive) and shake well. Store in a cool, dark place for one month, shaking the jar every few days. After one month, strain the contents into a clean jar, using a cheesecloth to catch the pulp (which you can use  to flavor a veggie stir-fry!). Lastly, add raw, unfiltered honey to taste (I don’t use much) and stir well. I store my Fire Cider in the refrigerator, but it’s not necessary. Drink a tablespoon every morning to warm yourself up and support the digestive tract, or mix with olive oil and dress a salad. Up your dose at any hint of illness.

Happy Herbal Remedy-ing!

Elevate Your Smoothie

If you think a smoothie is just a bunch of blended fruit, you're doing it wrong.

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Walnut Chocolate-Chip Cookies with Yogurt and Almond Flour

A grain-free twist on an old-time favorite.

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Ashley Rarick’s Calming Chamomile-Rose Tea

Looking for a soothing, calming evening treat? Try this simple recipe from Ayurvedic practitioner, Ashley Rarick.

Article by Divina Helene|April 14, 2021

Ashley Rarick of Ayurvedic Vitality shares this calming evening tea recipe that helps sooth both the mind and body.

“Rose has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, and is regarded for it’s healing benefits and it’s ability to calm the emotions as well as the skin.” she says. “It’s balancing for both Vata and Pitta body types. Kapha body types can add honey for sweetener and have in moderation as a treat.” she adds.

Chamomile-Rose Tea:

1 bag Chamomile Tea

1 tsp Edible Rose Water

1-2 tsp of Herbal Sweetener or Maple Syrup

1 1/2 cups of Hot Water

1/2 Ghee

Optional: Milk or Favorite Milk Alternative

 

Enjoy!

Vegan, Grain-Free, No-Bake Fudge Brownies

Boy, are you in for a treat with these decadent and wildly satisfying vegan brownies! Not only are they vegan, but they're grain-free and refined-sugar-free, making them a much more favorable alternative to the traditional sweet treat.

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