All posts tagged: Healthy Choices

Amaranth Bites

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I have quite the sweet tooth and really need to hold back on sweets like cakes or cookies to not eat them on a daily basis. However I find that if I bake or produce at home I enjoy eating sweets a lot more since I am in control of the amount of sugar and the quality of ingredients used. Puffed Amaranth Bites ∼ 12 Muffins ∼ 40 gr. coconut oil 60 gr. puffed amaranth 20 gr. chia seeds 40 gr. agave nectar / honey 3 teaspoons almond butter Melted chocolate for the topping Melt the coconut oil. Mix the amaranth and chia seeds together with the coconut oil, agave nectar and almond butter. Fill into muffin mold (I prefer the silicone type) and press the mass firmly and evenly into the mold. Cool the bites in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and freeze them for about 15 minutes prior to taking them out of the mold. Slather the bites with melted chocolate and let them cool down once more.

Spinach Coconut Soup

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It`s this time of the year again where the days get shorter and we tend to spend more time at home, getting cozy. Soups are the perfect addition to one of those cozy days: easy to make, with a bare minimum of ingredients needed and so nutritious and delicious! This Spinach Coconut Soup will bring some color into a dark autumn day ♡ Spinach Coconut Soup ∼ Serves 4 ∼ 1 Onion 2 Small cloves of garlic 400 gr. spinach 1 Potato 200 ml. vegetable broth 400 ml. coconut milk 4 Teaspoons creamed horseradish Salt Pepper Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic. Peel the potato and cut into medium sized cubes. Sauté the onion, garlic and potato in olive oil on medium heat. Add the coconut milk and vegetable broth and bring to boil. Add the spinach and let it simmer on medium heat for 15 minutes. Purée the soup and bring to boil once more. Season with salt and pepper to liking. Serve with 1 teaspoon of creamed horseradish.

Orange Vanilla Chia Pudding

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When living in LA you can’t get around Chia Seeds. They are virtually everywhere. I remember when a few years back my husband and I would not buy them when in Munich, because they were too expensive and hard to get by. A lot has changed since then and Chia Seeds are not only to be found in most stores, they also became affordable. However, it has taken me a very long time to prepare my first Chia Seed pudding at home. I’m usually feeling hesitant towards trends and prefer for the hype to slow down before I join the party. Chia Seeds are high in vitamins, protein, fiber, antioxidants and omega-3’s. Hence they make for a deliciously healthy breakfast that will provide you with a lot of energy to start the day. Plus, this will be most likely be the richest, creamiest, orangiest pudding you’ve ever had.   Orange Vanilla Chia Pudding ∼ Serves 2 ∼ 1 Cup of milk of choice 1/2 Cup freshly squeezed orange juice Zest of 1 orange 2 Tablespoons maple …

Red Beet Soup

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After teaching evening classes I often come home late. Since eating a big meal before class isn`t an option I usually end up being pretty hungry by the time I make it back home. Since you don`t want to eat a big meal before going to bed neither, soups are a great way to nourish yourself without feeling stuffed or heavy. This red beet soup tastes great and its color brings pure joy ♡ Red Beet Soup ∼ Serves 4 ∼ 2 Onions 3 Medium sized red beet 2 Medium sized potatoes 2 Tablespoons butter 2 Lb vegetable broth 0,25 Lb cream 4 Teaspoons creamed horse raddish Salt Pepper Finely chopped chive Finely chop the onions. Peel the potatoes and red beet and cut into medium sized cubes. Sauté the onions, potatoes and red beet in butter on medium heat. Add the vegetable broth and bring to boil. Let it simmer on medium heat for 40 minutes. Purée the soup and bring to boil once more. Season with salt and pepper to liking. Sieve the soup, …

Apple Jam

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Are you looking for christmas presents to give to your loved ones but don`t want to join in the shopping craziness? Then I have the perfect solution for you: homemade treats! When I started making jams, cremes and spreads for my family and friends two years ago everyone was loving it – including myself. My kitchen smelled delicious, the house felt warm and cozy, and the decoration of the jars and cans brought out a whole new level of creativity. One of my favorite recipes and the last one in my apple series is this velvety apple jam – with just the right amount of sweetness it melts on your tongue and makes every scone or croissant oh so exquisite. Apple Jam ∼ 6 pints ∼ 6 lbs cored and chopped apples 2 cups sugar ⅓ cup Lemon Juice Core and chop apples into desired size. Put apples in a very large pot, pour 1 cup of sugar over the apples and mix well. Cover the pot with a towel and let it sit overnight in a …

Gazpacho

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Another one of my all time favorite summer recipes. And even though we have oficially entered the season of fall, it continues to be hot here in L.A. so this Gazpacho still makes for a nice lunch or dinner. I usually have those ingredients at home so I can make it anytime without much preparation. It`s also really easy to make and if you have a lovely soul helping you with the chopping it won`t even take long. Gazpacho is originally from Seville, Spain where the summers get very hot. It`s a perfect dish that provides you with important nutritients, minerals and salt when you need to eat but it`s too hot for a warm meal. Try to use the best ingredients only and choose a fine olive oil that will give your Gazpacho a heavenly taste. Gazpacho ∼ 35 ounces / 1 liter ∼ 2 pounds ripe red tomatoes 1 long, light green bell pepper such as Cubanelle or Anaheim 1 cucumber 1 small, mild onion 1 clove garlic 2 teaspoons sherry vinegar 1/2 cup olive …

Green Machine

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It is very hot, dry and windy these days in Los Angeles and a lot of people, including myself, came down with a summer flu. The wind and dryness seem to enforce the cities general hustle and bustle – which according to Ayurveda belongs to the realm of Vata energy – and if your energy chambers are already depleted, you`re leaving the doors wide open for anything that wants to move through. So rest, replenish and make yourself a juice that will boost your immune system and help you stay healthy and cool in the summer. The fruits and veggies in this juice are alkaline and rich in minerals. These so-called micronutritients play an essential role as transporters, synergists, and co-factors for nutrients throughout the body and are often missing in our standard macro nutrient based diet, consisting of protein, carbs and fat. Also, juicing allows for a much higher mineral density that we could ever get by blending our food like in a smoothie or chewing – which makes juicing an even greater addition to your  diet! …

Somen Delight

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Summer is finally here and with it long, georgeous days filled with beautiful sunshine (yes, that`s right, I looooove summer!). Here in Los Angeles it can get pretty hot and humid though and I am often at a loss with what to eat. Being hungry without appetite doesn`t make for the best cook… Since we live in Koeatown and my husband has a thing for Asian cuisine we prepared Somen the other day and what can I say… this dish has already made it on my favorite summer recipes list! It`s so light and refreshing and fun to eat, plus it will only take a couple of minutes to prepare. Somen are thin wheat flour noodles that can be found at East-Asian grocery stores. They only cook in three minutes and are served chilled on a bed of ice. Traditionally the icy-cold Somen are dipped in a light sauce called Tsuyu – also to be found in stores or prepared at home. In this recipe I replaced Tsuyu with a light soy sauce variation, making …

Delicious Sivananda Cookies

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Only last week I was wandering the streets of L.A., with temperatures rising as high as 40 degree, a glistening sun blazing down on the city, and roads to Santa Monica clogged with people heading for some beach time and incredible sunsets. This week I find myself back in Munich with temperatures as low as below cero, having left my love behind once more. Hence, my arrival requires quite some adjustment, physiologically, psychologically and of course, emotionally. However, the more stability I find within myself and life, the more I come to love the seasons. After the excitement and abundance of summer, autumn winds us down, making space to turn inward and preparing us for the halt that is winter. It is in this setting that I have chosen to complete another Yoga Teacher Training with Patrick Broome. Forever thankful for yet another experience of growth, learning, letting go and friendship, honoring the warmth inside of me, the cold autumn weather outside and the lineage that brought me here after all I decided to make some yummy, …