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Spiced Carrot Soup

For a delicious hot soup on demand, roast the ingredients ahead of time and store it in the freezer.

When the craving strikes, simply thaw the roasted vegetables, add your stock, and blend to create a hot soup in a couple of minutes.

Spiced Carrot Soup

A deliciously spiced soup to enjoy at any time
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 52 minutes
Course Light Meal, Main, Starter

Equipment

  • Vitamix Blender
  • Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • 1 Cup
  • ¾ Cup
  • ½ Cup
  • 1 Tablespoon
  • ½ Teaspoon
  • Oven
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking sheet
  • Baking pan

Ingredients
  

  • In the oven
  • 2 Cups Carrots (295g) cut
  • ¾ Cup Red bell pepper (90g) cut
  • 1 Garlic clove crushed
  • ½ Cup Onion (60g) peeled & cut
  • ¼ Piece fresh ginger root (5g) peeled
  • ½ tsp Garam masala
  • ½ tsp Salt optional
  • ¼ tsp Black pepper ground
  • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil extra virgin
  • In the Blender Jug
  • Cups Vegetable broth (600ml)
  • Roasted vegetables
  • 4 Tbsp Fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 205° C
  • In a bowl, combine carrots, peppers, garlic, onion, ginger, garam masala, salt (optional), pepper, and olive oil
  • Toss well to coat
  • Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper
  • Spread mixture on the lined baking tray and bake in preheated oven for about 45 minutes
  • Remove and cool slightly
  • Place vegetable broth and roasted mixture, plus the cilantro into the Vitamix container (in the order listed) and secure lid
  • Start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed
  • Blend for 7 minutes or until steam escapes the lid
  • Enjoy the delicious spiced carrot soup

Notes

Chef's Notes
Make soup packets ahead of time. Cool the mixture and place into a freezer bag, seal, and freeze for a later date.
Before blending, thaw the mixture then follow the recipe instructions.
Keyword Carrot Soup, Hot Soup, Soup, Spiced Soup
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Instant Vegetable Soup

Enjoy a delicious, hot, raw instant soup made in under 15 minutes in MiHealthmaker Power Blender

Quick and easy for those days that you feel a little “sluggish” in the kitchen.

This soup can be enjoyed as a starter, a light meal, or as the main course.

 

Instant Vegetable Soup

A quick, easy and delicious hot soup made in MiHealthmaker Power Blender

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes

Course Main, Starter

Equipment

  • MiHealthmaker Power Blender
  • Cup
  • Peeler
  • Knife
  • Cutting Board

Ingredients

  

  • 4 C Boiling Water
  • 1 med Carrot Washed and cut into 3 cm chunks
  • 1 Celery stalk (with leaves) Washed and cut into 1cm chunks
  • 2 Spring onion
  • 1 Baby marrow Washed and cut into 3cm chunks
  • 1 Slice of red pepper
  • 1 Tomato Washed and cut in half
  • 1 Stock cube Or powder if preferred
  • Salt and pepper To taste

Instructions

 

  • Add the ingredients in the order listed
  • Place the lid on the jug
  • Press the ON/OFF button
  • Press the SOUP button and wait for your soup to be ready (Approx. 4 mins and 15 seconds)
  • Enjoy the instant vegetable soup

Keyword Hot Soup, Instant Soup, Instant Vegetable Soup, Raw Soup, Soup
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Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

A luxurious mix of chocolate and hazelnuts to complement crêpes, pretzels, and sweet strawberries, and so much more
Prep Time 12 minutes
Servings 20 (550ml)

Equipment

  • Vitamix Explorian E320 Blender
  • Spatula
  • Glass bottle

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ c peanut oil (60ml)
  • 3 c hazelnuts (400g) toasted, skinned
  • 1 c chocolate chips (150g)
  • 1 c bittersweet chocolate, or dark chocolate (150g)

Instructions
 

  • Place the peanut oil and hazelnuts into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure the lid
  • Start the blender on its lowest speed, then increase speed to Variable 8 and remove lid plug
  • Insert the tamper and press the ingredients towards the blades
  • After about 1 minute, when a smooth butter has formed, add the chocolate a little at a time through the lid plug opening, tamping only if necessary
  • Once all of the chocolate has been added, increase speed to its highest setting and run for an additional 20-30 seconds
  • Cool in refrigerator to thicken before serving

Notes

How to make the chocolate hazelnut spread in a Vitamix - LINK
Vitamix used in the video differs to the Vitamix Explorian E320 - for illustration purposes only.
 

We would love to hear your thoughts once you have tried the recipe…

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Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse

To make the Aquafaba:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup dried chickpeas – Cooked in an Instant Pot for 15 minutes with 3 Cups of water – no soaking required (drain – the liquid is the Aquafaba – set the chickpeas aside for another use, like hummus)
  • ¼ tsp cream of tartar

Instructions:

  1. Drain your chickpeas and reserve the liquid – then you have aquafaba!
  2. Place the liquid in a large mixing bowl to whip!
  3. The trick to whipping aquafaba is using a hand mixer, or stand mixer, or food processor!   Whisking it by hand takes quite a long time and does not produce as good of a result.  The best trick is to add ¼ tsp cream of tartar, which causes the aquafaba to whip up much easier, faster, and makes the peaks firmer.

Whip your aquafaba to the desired thickness. It generally requires anything between 3-6 minutes to get to semi-firm peaks, depending on your equipment and how thick your aquafaba was to begin with. Do take your time and don’t be discouraged if it takes some time to reach stiff peaks.

See the video link how to make Aquafaba – LINK

Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse

A simple, delicious, three-ingredient mousse for dessert
Prep Time 12 minutes
Servings 5

Equipment

  • Food processor, hand mixer, or stand mixer
  • Double boiler How to fake a double boiler - https://youtu.be/6BQ1N40lj3U

Ingredients
  

  • c aquafaba chilled (± 300ml)
  • ½ tsp cream of tartar
  • 1⅓ c bittersweet chocolate (± 200g)

Instructions
 

  • Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat, stirring occasionally
  • Once melted, set aside and let it cool to room temperature
  • Make aquafaba (see notes above the recipe)
  • Fold the aquafaba into the chocolate mixture and portion into ramekin bowls, or cups
  • Place into the refrigerator for 4-6 hours, best if left overnight
  • Garnish as desired, and serve

Notes

The amount of Aquafaba used in this recipe is approximately liquid from 2 cans of no-salt-added chickpeas.

We would love to hear your thoughts once you have tried the recipe…

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Easy Vegan Quiche

Easy Vegan Quiche

A lovely, filling, and flavourful Quiche

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes

Servings 4

Equipment

  • Food processor
  • Rolling Pin for the pie base
  • Knife
  • Garlic press
  • Measuring spoons Tablespoon, and ½ teaspoon
  • Scale to weigh produce and tofu
  • Pie dish
  • Large frying pan
  • Utensils
  • Cooling rack

Ingredients

  

  • 1 vegan pie base
  • 400 g firm tofu
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 225 g mushroom sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 90 g fresh spinach washed and chopped
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp salt more to taste
  • ½ tsp black salt (Kala namak) **Optional**
  • 2 Tbsp flour Gluten-free or all purpose
  • 1 Tbsp non-dairy milk unsweetened
  • 45 g cherry tomatoes halved

Instructions

 

  • Pre-heat the oven to 190℃
  • Roll out pie base and place into pie dish
  • Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat
  • Sauté the onions for 3-5 minutes (until sof and lightly browned)
  • Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, and lightly browned (± 1 minute)
  • Now add the mushrooms and sauté for 5-7 minutes, they should turn soft and brown
  • Then add the spinach and cook until it is wilted (± 3 minutes)
  • Finally add salt and pepper (optional)
  • Remove from heat and set aside
  • Break up the tofu into a food processor bowl, add the herbs and spices, milk, and flour.  Process until smooth (± 2 minutes).  If the texture is too thick to smooth out you can add another Tbsp of milk, just enough to get it moving
  • Scrape the tofu mixture into a mixing bowl, fold in the mushroom/spinach mixture and combine well
  • Place the mixture in the pie base and spread evenly. Add the cut tomatoes on top and gently press them down to sink down into the mixture
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the quiche is firm and golden
  • Remove from the oven and let it cool for ± 10 minutes before cutting (this is to let the tofu set)
  • Enjoy

We would love to hear your thoughts once you have tried the recipe…

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Kale – The Superfood – a Snack alternative

When it comes to healthy snacking, kale chips are an excellent choice for those looking to satisfy cravings while still maintaining a nutritious diet.

Benefits

Kale, a leafy green vegetable, has gained significant popularity in recent years due to its numerous health benefits.

  • Vitamin A (Important for eye and bone health, and a strong immune system)
  • Vitamin C (Aids in preventing colds and chronic disease)
  • Vitamin K (Reduces blood clotting, and aids in bone building)
  • Folate, a B vitamin that is key for brain development
  • Alpha-linolenic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid.  (Although the omega-3 is less than in fish, it is a way of getting healthy fat into your diet)
  • Lutein and zeaxanthin (Nutrients that give kale its dark green colour) protect your eyes against macular degeneration and cataracts
  • Minerals that include phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and calcium help to reduce cholesterol levels, prevent cancer, and aid in weight loss.

Making this great snack is so EASY

Tear the kale leaves into bite size pieces, adding the flavoured sauce in preparation (remember they will shrink once dehydrated, so not too small)

Cut the washed stems and add the cheeze sauce.  These are crunchy once dehydrated, but are SO good, the more of the kale that can be used, the better

Combine, ensure that everything is coated and ready to be dehydrated

Coat all the leaves and stems to ensure that everything has the same great taste from the delicious cheeze sauce, making every bite worth the wait.

Stack the leaves evenly on the dehydrator trays, try to not overlap too much as this will slow the drying process.

“Melt in your mouth” goodness you can enjoy at any time (and would want to….)

Store the cheezy kale chips in an airtight container.  It can be kept fresh for a couple of months, but will never last long enough to find out how long ….(At least in my home….)

Here is the recipe for the super delicious cheezy kale chips

RECIPE

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Tasty Cheezy Kale Chips – Blender and Dehydrator

Tasty Cheezy Kale Chips

Implements and Equipment

  • Super Blender
  • Dehydrator

Ingredients

  • 2 bunches kale (washed and torn)
  • 2½ cups raw cashews (soaked for 4-6 hours then drained)
  • 1 tsp salt (adjust to more if needed)
  • 2 red peppers (seeded and chopped)
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 limes (juice only)

Health information

Garlic, which is closely related to onions, leeks and shallots, is normally added to food to enhance the flavour and aroma but did you know that at its most basic garlic is medicine in nature. Just one clove of garlic has the following components, Vitamin C, B6, manganese selenium and fibre. It contains calcium, iron and potassium which help strengthen the bones in the body. Garlic is known to be very effective for the common cold and flu’s as it helps boost the immune system to get rid of the accumulated toxins. It is also known to help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. The antioxidants contained in garlic will help the kidney’s in detoxing the body form chemicals and other toxins that accumulate over time.

Kale is an ‘all in one’ vegetable. It is low in calories, rich in fibre and has zero percent fat on the one hand, on the other hand it contains high levels of iron, potassium, calcium, vitamin A and C and powerful antioxidants. The combination of these different elements prevents disease, boosts the immune system, stabilises cholesterol levels and aids in weight-loss.

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Go Green

I never follow these colour trends that keep on going around, on one-day red is the new black and the colour changes with every season but now I can confidently say green is the new black, and no this is not about make-up colours or the latest fashion trend, its the new lifestyle that is increasing in popularity on a daily basis. Green juices, green salads and GREEN SMOOTHIES. You probably have come across it as well at some point, in some magazine, article or blog page and might not have taken much notice of it. Now you are coming across it again and will definitely have to take notice and discover the secret to health and happiness in its simplest form.

-Acid reflux                                  -Constipation                         -Excessive weight gain

-Anxiety & Depression           -Exhaustion                           -Lack of Energy 

If you ticked at any two of the symptoms as something that affects you, I know you have tried every pill, drink, and diet available to mankind, and the hard truth, is they all don’t work. Pharmacies are filled with isles upon isles of medication dedicated to these symptoms, and people are buying these and the relief they receive is short term, which brought me to a realisation, 3 of them actually. Firstly, no one wants to be ill secondly most people have no clue what changes to make to be healthy and thirdly the secret is in your eating habits. Now when it comes to food everyone is an expert, there is always a new diet on the market, a new pill to try out, low-fat something, guess what? There will always be something new. So here is a simple rule about your body and health. Whatever is found in nature will always be best for proper nourishment. In order for you to be healthy, you have to change your lifestyle and adopt new eating habits. The best one to start with is GREEN SMOOTHIES!

Making green smoothies daily, you will notice the following
– You will get fewer cravings as the body is receiving the correct nutrients and minerals that it needs, these are not found in processed food, which is why you can eat an entire packet of chips or biscuits and still feel hungry.
– Your skin and hair will look and feel better
– An increase in energy which causes you to move around more and be able to get more things done
– Good bowel movement due to the fibre present
– High nutrition content
– Mental clarity
– Kiss acid reflux and indigestion goodbye

These are just some of the changes that you will notice. The range of health benefits from green smoothies is much much wider.

Photo by Radu Florin on Unsplash

Green smoothies are known to:

– Prevent heart disease

– Boost the immune system

– Have more absorbable calcium

– Balance hormone levels

– Assist with digestion

– Decrease the risk of diseases such as cancer and diabetes

What are green smoothies?

Green smoothies are blended drinks consisting of leafy green vegetables, fruit, healthy fats and a liquid base.

  • Leafy greens include spinach, baby spinach, lettuce, kale, cabbage, etc. For the best texture, remove the stems of the vegetables.
  • Fruit you can use any type of fruit for green smoothies, but the best fruits are apples, pineapples, pears, and bananas.
  • Healthy fats are obtained from avocado, nuts ( almonds, pecan, cashews, coconut, hazelnuts, macadamia, pistachios, walnuts, etc ) seeds ( sunflower, sesame, chia, hemp, pumpkin, flax).
  • Liquid bases are water or milk alternatives such as soya milk or almond milk.
  • Lemon masks the green flavour.
Image by Marijana from Pixabay

A combination of these ingredients will sound unusual but green smoothies are lip-smackingly good.  The flavour of the vegetables is masked by the fruit and liquid base that you hardly taste the vegetables, meaning you have more greens than you can ever have in a salad at one go and get to enjoy it.

Hints and Tips

For a nice sweet and creamy texture to your smoothies, add bananas. Bananas are also good at keeping the mixture from separating
Avoid papaya seeds and pomegranate seeds, they are bitter and a definite smoothie no-no.
For a cold “slushy ” smoothie always start with your frozen fruit and then add the other ingredients and blend. If you don’t want a “frozen” smoothie then you can leave the blender to run a little longer until you reach the desired temperature.
In order to be content and have a healthy lifestyle it is important to learn what to eat to give your body the correct  ‘fuel’ it needs. Green smoothies are not only about diet but are about developing a lifestyle habit that will leave you feeling so amazing, you will never want to quit.

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Berry Winter Spice Sauce

berry sauce

Ingredients

  • ¼ c apple cider vinegar
  • 3 c cranberries
  • 2 c Winter Spice Seasoning
  • ¼ c granulated sugar, or Date Syrup to taste
  • ½ c olive oil

Directions

  1. Place vinegar, berries, Winter Spice Seasoning and sugar into your Vitamix jug in the order listed and secure lid.
  2. Select Variable 1.
  3. Start the machine and slowly increase to its highest speed, blend for 5 minutes 45 seconds. Carefully remove the lid plug.
  4. Select Variable 1.
  5. Start machine and slowly increase to Variable 5.
  6. Pour olive oil in through lid plug opening. Replace lid plug and blend an additional 10 seconds.

Notes

  • Makes about 2 cups
  • Takes about 5 minutes
  • Cranberries can be substituted for other seasonal berries you find in the store.  We find that equal parts blackberries and blueberries work well together.  If no fresh berries are available, frozen, then thawed berries may be substituted.
  • This sauce is very versatile, consider using your favourite fruit or roasted vegetable as a substitute.
  • A splash of this bright flavourful sauce will give you a feeling of being a professional chef.
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Winter Spice Seasoning

Winter Spice

Ingredients

  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 tblsp crystalized ginger
  • ¾ tsp ground cardamom
  • 3 tblsp salt
  • 1 tblsp peppercorns
  • 1½ tsp whole cloves
  • ½ c dried orange peel
  • ½ c brown sugar (packed)

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients into your Vitamix jug in the order listed and secure lid.
  2. Start the machine at its lowest speed, slowly increase to its highest speed.
  3. Blend for 30 seconds or until desired consistency is reached, using the tamper to push ingredients into the blades, if needed.

Notes

  • Makes about 1¼ cup
  • Takes about 5 minutes
  • This versatile spice blend will have you feeling the warmth in every dish.