Girl Power, Plant-based, Recipes, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetarian
Celebrating Women with Love From Frances!
Remember, nothing is more important than people; in other words, friendship is the most important thing – not career or housework, or one’s fatigue – and it needs to be tended and nurtured. ― Julia Child
Just at that moment when I needed a little reminder, I came across this quote by Julia Child. I know I’m not alone when I say that it’s very easy to get caught up in the hustle of the daily grind. Work can distract us and we often lose sight of the more significant aspects of our lives. Making time to truly connect with people and then build, nurture and uphold these connections is so important.
Personally, I find the connection between women particularly powerful. I’ve always admired the positivity and support women share after establishing a connection with each other, whether it’s through our social feeds, an event or in the workplace. For me, the best way to connect with people always seems to be through food; whether it’s online, over a coffee or sharing a meal; I think food has this ability to connect us to each other in a unique and beautiful way.
In the spirit of celebrating women this month I created three recipes which are easy to make, don’t require a lot of time and are armed with nutritional amo! These will be shared throughout the week. Each recipe has its own unique flavour and can be enjoyed separately or together. You can also make them ahead of time and they are easily adaptable to suit your personal preferences. The recipes are all plant-based, feature Happy Earth People protein-packed pasta, and can be eaten as they are or featured as a side dish for a meal which best suits you.
Introducing the Happy Balance Bowl.
This recipe is super simple and packed with hormone balancing ingredients. It includes a walnut and kale pesto, which I love because it has a more complex and fantastic toasted flavour. It’s a perfect option for cold winter days or add a little lemon for a flawless summer favourite.
DID YOU KNOW
Walnuts are high in omega-3 and are known to balance the depression, anxiety and mood swings associated with hormonal imbalances. The omega-3 healthy, fatty acids also reduce inflammation and balance insulin, a leading cause of acne in women. These nuts will support any attempt at having a skin that GLOWS!
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients:
- 1 large avocado, diced
- 80g – 120g edamame beans, shelled
- 100g tender stem broccoli, chopped
- 100g asparagus, chopped
- olive oil
- salt
- 250g Happy Earth People chickpea pasta
Walnut and kale pesto
- 100g walnuts
- 80g kale leaves, stems removed
- 40g fresh basil or parsley
- 1 lemon, juice
- 125ml olive oil
- pinch of salt
- 1 clove of garlic
Method:
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water (you can make the pesto while the pasta is cooking). 2 minutes before the pasta is completely cooked, add the edamame beans, broccoli and asparagus.
- Once the pasta is cooked, strain, drizzle with olive oil, add the diced avocado and walnut pesto (I usually add 2 tbsp.) and toss lightly before serving.
For the pesto:
- Toast the walnuts in a frying pan until golden brown. Allow the walnuts to cool then place all the ingredients into a food processor and blend for approximately 2 minutes or until the pesto becomes smooth and creamy (although it will still taste amazing if a little chunky).
- Place into a sterilized glass jar or airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Enjoy, balance, be happy.
About the author:
Frances is a professionally trained chef, recipe developer and blogger, who believes that life and food should be healthy as well as delicious. Her lifelong passion for sustainable alternative eating, took her to culinary school to hone her craft. She curates plant based recipes that are designed to be enjoyed by all and that are gluten-free; dairy-free and refined sugar-free.
Frances believes that living well begins with eating well! There are no set rules as everyone is different. So, it is a matter of becoming mindful and listening to your body which will allow you to incorporate her recipes and become the best you.
She also feels that keeping it simple means that fuelling and nourishing the body can be enjoyed by anyone – and hey, it is by no means boring or scary! Join Frances on a journey to discover how mouth-watering and rewarding a plant based lifestyle can be. Even conscious carnivores will be surprised by how easy and tasty the recipes are – let alone how great they will make you feel.
You can follow her on Instagram and check out her Website to find more deliciously conscious recipes like these!