Cauliflower Fried Rice

18 Jan

rice coverToday I’ll share one of my favourite meal-prep recipe: Vegan Cauliflower Fried Rice.
This one is such a robust and fast recipe. It takes 10-12 minutes if you haven’t prepped the veggies in advance and only 5-6 minutes if you have the veggies prepped.
I use a smaller wok. I cook on induction. Heat the wok on high. It will get hot in a few seconds and ready for you to create the perfect stir-fry. This vegan cauliflower rice recipe only has 4/5 ingredients. I pulse the cauliflower only 3-5 times in the processor to make coarse cauliflower rice

Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon dried onion
1/2 carrot, finely diced
1/2 cup cherries tomato chopped
1/2 zucchini, finely sliced
1 tablespoon tamari or light soy sauce
dash of white pepper
1/4 teaspoon sea salt flakes

Make cauliflower rice – Wash and pat dry cauliflower with a paper towel. Remove the green leaves and woody bits of the stalk attached to the leaves. Break florets into a bowl/plate and try to include as much of the stalk as you can. Place cauliflower florets and stalks in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse the food processor 4-5 times to get coarse cauliflower rice. Remove to a bowl. Heat a wok or frying pan on high heat.
rice baseAdd oil. When it starts smoking add ginger, onion and tomato. Using a wooden spatula, stir-fry the ginger and tomato for a minute.
rice veggiesAdd carrots and zucchini. Stir-fry for another minute.
rice friedAdd cauliflower rice, tamari, white pepper and salt. Mix well. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly to cook the rice evenly. At the end of 3-4 minutes the cauliflower will be al-dente (just cooked).
rice detailsRemove from heat and stir through the spring onion. Serve hot with nutritional yeast.

Have a nice day!

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Oatmeal: variation on a theme

11 Jan

oat_coverBoring oatmeal, no more.
Oatmeal is one of my favorite food to start my day. It’s really quick to make (either on the stove or in the microwave), it’s nutritious, and it keeps me full for longer than a lot of breakfast options out there. You can top your porridge with pretty much anything to be fair – some toppings being more healthy than others. But sometimes you just run out of inspiration and with this post I’ll provide you some very easy and simple ideas!

Like you notice the base is all the same: oatmeal and banana and it’s because I’m literally obsessed with the delicious taste that is made with this combination. Add oats, water or plant based milk, maple syrup, to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a boil, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer until the oats have thickened Remove from heat and add different type of fruits.

Oatmeal with blueberries
oat_blueberry In this recipe I used
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp coconut flakes
1/2 smashed banana

Oatmeal with kiwi
oat_kiwiIn this recipe I used
1 banana
1 kiwi
1 tbsp coconut flakes

Oatmeal with mango
oat_mangoIn this recipe I used
1/2 chopped banana
1/2 chopped mango
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 tbsp homemade peanut butter

Oatmeal with persimmon
oat_persimonIn this recipe I used
1/2 persimmon
1/2 banana
1/2 kiwi
1 tbsp walnuts

Have I convinced you to spice up your oatmeal or is it pretty fancy already? Let me know in the comments below.

 

Detox Green Smoothie

4 Jan

green_coverThe smoothies are designed to help your body naturally detox without leaving you feeling deprived. Not only a quick and easy way to eat natural foods, smoothies make for satisfying breakfasts that can easily replace the coffee in your travel mug. And because your produce is so finely blended, it makes eating vegetables a lot less of a chore. And you also know that I’m an a green smoothie addict!

Ingredients
1 banana
1 cup frozen pineapple
1 cup spinach leaves
1 cup almond milk
1 tbsp chia seeds

green smoothieYou can simply put all the ingredients in your blender and blend until it’s tick and smooth. If you like can you use frozen banana or frozen spinach…
green_smoothieIn this green smoothie antioxidants help to prevent and repair damage to body tissues and vitamin C is one of the greatest antioxidants we have available, and it’s abundant in pineapple.

Have a nice day!!!

Things I Learned That Transformed Me In 2018

31 Dec

studioThe end of the year is the time when everyone tries to give you advice on how to live healthier, look better, and earn more money.

It’s understandable if you find yourself lost among all the tips and opinions. To help you out, I wrote this article about the things I learned in 2018 that made my daily life more harmonious and peaceful.

Stop focusing on the material objects: instead of focusing on what material object to give, I thought about the emotion I want to evoke in the gift recipient, and then I picked a symbolic gift that can support or represent that emotion.

camillaGet a fitness watch and found a physical activity that I enjoy: fitness watches are tiny accessories that will count my steps, calories burnt and served as an excellent motivator to move my body – or to take the stairs instead of the elevator. Also I practiced an activity with pleasure like swimming, running, biking, walking with my dog. Another tips to stay healthy I tried to skip cabs at night, using public transportation or opt for a walking instead to driving. I burned a tons of calories, breathe some fresh air, and save money!

Write a TO DO list everyday BUT plan ahead time to relax: I learned to write every morning my realistic to-do list (no too much stuff to accomplish) and in the same time plan my free/solo time. It’s really important to save some space for you and your passion even if it’s means reading on the couch or watch few episodes of my favorite series!

Block distracting apps and notifications on your phone and computer: I chosed one-hour, or longer blocking sessions and I experimented the positive impact this will have on my mood and productivity. I use Forest app: absolutely gorgeous!

barleyAvoid caffeine: drinking too much coffee leaded my self to nervousness, insomnia, an upset stomach. As a solution, I tried to switching to tea, barley coffee, maca powder, matcha tea – a more sustainable, healthy, and productivity-enhancing alternative. These alternatives generated a more even energy kick throughout the day without the coffee-induced abstinence and dehydration.

Maintaining a consistent sleep-wake cycle gave me a lot of energy: in the book “The Circadian Code: Lose Weight, Supercharge Your Energy, and Transform Your Health From Morning to Midnight” when you don’t follow the circadian rhythm, or let this cycle get out of whack, it can contribute to weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, and many other diseases. Learning this drove me to going to bed before 11 p.m. and rising earlier—every single day.

fruitRaw (vegan) foods are better for my body and my mind: following a vegan raw food diet means the common allergens in food are completely avoided: eggs, soy, wheat (gluten), sugar and dairy. I started to eat such a clean diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, cutting out all the processed crap and the above-mentioned allergens, that something changed inside me spiritually. My clean body seemed to open the passage for my intuition to soar. It’s like  or my brain fogged up from eating gluten, that I could see things with clarity. I became more focused and started to see the world differently.

I hope you will find this article useful…
Happy new year’s eve to everyone and thank you for all your support longer this year!

Chickpea Christmas Eve Pasta

24 Dec

Blogmas#8 it’s about healthy recipe can you prepare for dinner on Christmas Eve 🙂
I’ve tried just about every variety of bean and lentil pasta, and yesterday I choose to make a recipe with chickpea pasta. It’s extremely high in protein and fiber, making it extra filling. For example, a 2 oz (dry) serving of Barilla chickpea pasta has 14g of protein and 8g of fiber. I recently read two articles about chickpea pasta: one from Huffpost and the other from the Time on what nutrition experts have to say about which pasta alternatives are actually good for you.

pasta2It’s really an easy dish, and you can use copious amounts of whatever vegetables you have on hand. As for cooking them, steam, saute, or roast them. And don’t forget to add flavor – saute with garlic and onions, or sprinkle with herbs and spices after steaming or before roasting. Replace cheese with a sprinkle of almond butter or cashew with pink himalayan salt and pepper. The fat from the nuts mixed with the saltiness from the pink salt makes for a delicious dairy-free alternative. It looks and tastes better than cheese!

pasta_barillaThe brands I used in this recipe is Barilla. If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it (by clicking Like), and don’t forget to tag a photo #lookingforahammock @aurormirabella on Twitter, Pinterest or Google+. I’d love to see what you come up with!

Ingredients
1 large organic zucchini chopped finely
2 cups of carrots chopped finely
1 cup of cherries tomato
capers
olive oil
onion powder
pink salt to taste
black pepper to taste
2-3 oz. chickpea pasta dry

For Non-Dairy Cheese (optional)
almond butter/cashew
pink salt
black pepper

Put a pot of water on the stove to boil for the pasta.
Chop the tomatos and zucchini and lay out on a large wok, drizzle with olive oil, add the carrots, onion powder, capers, salt, and pepper. Saute the veggie for 15 minutes. When the water is boiling, add chickpea pasta. Cook for 9 minutes. Drain.
cookingPut the pasta into the wok, mix with the veggies. Top with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper, and non dairy cheese.

pasta1Feel free to add whatever spices you like when cooking try adding turmeric and cumin, nutritional yeast or oregano and thyme.

DIY Christmas Decoration

21 Dec

Blogmas#7 it’s about Christmas decoration and in particular in DIY and realize sustainable (and zero waste) decorations in the spirit of living frugally, plastic free and trying to reuse or recycle any type of materials you have in your house.

The simplest and nicest holiday decorations are the ones you make yourself. Here are some great ideas for making your own frugal Christmas decorations.

xmas_treePlastic free Christmas Tree
This year we bought a plastic free Christmas tree made with bamboo and nylon 6 this is the most bio-degradable solution nowadays. This type of nylon decomposes in a short time and its thickness can vary to create hard, medium or soft biodegradable branches. On the other side of the photos can you see the tree we made last year with wooden and LED very simple and easy.  For more ideas about how to have a zero waste Christmas Tree I’d like to suggest you this article.
xmas_tree1

Candle Holders
candleTo realize this candle holder I used I used an old steel candle holder decorating it with pine cones, real pine needles and papier-mache balls covered with silver eco-friendly colors (for example you can use indelible felt-tip pens or non-toxic dyes). To see other ways to make candle holders look at this video.

DIY crafted decoration
davI choose well-crafted decorations in a mix of materials. We’ve teamed geometric wire shapes with delicate wooden designs. You can use origami pieces and beautifully turned ceramic drops. Showcase your favourites on a simple wall hanger made from dowels and twine. Look on youtube for different ideas.

Christmas Lantern
candle_pineYou will need, for each candle holder, a small- to medium-size can, like coconut milk or small tomato sauce can. Remove the label and any adhesive. Wash and dry the can thoroughly. You will create the can’s punched design on paper first. Measure the height of the can and around the can. Cut a rectangle from white paper in the same dimensions. Repeat for each can. To made mine I was inspired by Mary Smith on this article “How to Make a Candle Holder out of a Tin Can – 5 DIY Tutorials“.

Felt Christmas Tree Ornaments
red treesIf you want to create something interesting and sweet for the Christmas holiday, try these cute Felt Christmas ornaments for your home or give as gifts. Felt Christmas ornaments could be easily crafted by you and your kids to make your Holiday tree more cool and unique. Check this website to a complete tutorial. They are also useful to adorn other things like branches, mantels, lamps and so on. Make a felt Christmas ornament today!

Christmas decorating ideas don’t have to break the bank. Make these homemade DIY Christmas decorations for holiday decorating on the cheap.

Winter Walking

19 Dec

Blogmas#6 walking in the winter wonderland!!!
Last week the cloud cleared and the sky was spectacular. There had been a few days of rain and the temperature had been dropping but we really want to be outside, going for a walk, clear our mind because be in the nature gave us excitement and exhilaration, wilderness and beauty, solitude and magnificence…
sky
We live in a perfect location with majestic wild scenery but also within equal distance to many of the other amazing wild parts of the island.
panorama
We walk down the hill with our golden retriever Camilla: she was so excited and ran around the wildness sniffing everything and discovering new places.

We enjoy every single moment away from the city, savoring every small and every bites of wild apples..yes we found a wild apple tree!!!

The green’s color around us recharged our batteries and our mind, we spoken a lot about the idea to buy a campervan (or a van or a camper…it depends how much we’re capable to save) and going out every time it’s possible AND LIVE, BREATHE, MEET NEW PEOPLE, VISIT NEW PLACES…
greenWe are trying to save money for this dream since the last year…we are living frugally and in the last few months we sold a lot of our stuff and we felt so relief looking at the empty space in our house..it’s strange everytime you declutter your material stuff you’re at the same time decluttering your mind and your soul and finally appreciate what your really have and it’s important: freedom, love, family, faith…becoming minimalist was the best decision that I’ve make in this year I din’t regret any moments and any “sacrifices” because was worth!!!
sky1
Have a nice and sunny winter day!

Winter Skincare Routine

17 Dec

Blogmas #5 what about my winter skincare routine? It’s very easy and simple because I have a sensible and mixed skin (sometimes my skin is oily and sometimes is dry). Year after year I tried a very different range of products/bands and finally only this year I found the best product’s combination.
As always none of my post are sponsored by the brand that I mention, for my it’s important to underline that my opinions are genuine and not influenced by brands.

bath_faceLaidbare DIY! Two In One Cleanser & Toner With Apple Secrets Extract and Brazil Nut Extract: I use this cleanser to wash my face two times a day first in the morning and lastly before go to bed. With Liquorice and Aloe Vera for exceptional anti-bacterial properties that reduce inflammation, tone and strengthen the skin. Apple Secrets Extract helps protect my skin cells and Brazil Nut Extract is a valuable antioxidant working hard to condition, nourish and repair. The cleanser is of a transparent, gel-like texture; the scent is quite refreshing and citrusy due to citrus essential oils. The cleanser spreads easily and not much of it is needed in order to cleanse the skin. I usually spread the cleanser on my skin, massage it for about 20 seconds and then thoroughly wash if off with warm water – the cleanser comes off easily: the Laidbare Cleanser leaves the skin smooth and soft and must of all with a sensation of freshness and cleanliness.

cream2Skin Blossom Cleasing Milk and Nourishing Face Moisturiser: I use both of this product on my morning routine and after my swimming workout and in general after sport’s session. The Cleasing Milk is an organic cleanser for make-up and dirt removal, with a natural antioxidant blend of minerals and vitamins and suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin. I complete the routine with the organic antioxidant face moisturiser that hydrates, nourishes and protects my skin for all day.  The rich light texture glides on beautifully without dragging. Packed with Jojoba Oil to assist with skin rejuvenation and prevent dehydration, so my skin stays moisturised throughout the day or night. Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E combine to deliver minerals and vitamins A, B, C, D, E and F to condition and protect. Delicately fragranced with essential oils and dispensed in a chic hygienic airless pump.

creamPHB Gentle Moisturiser and Skin restore Gel Aloe Vera: The first one PHB’s Gentle Moisturiser is made with a hypoallergenic formula that is perfect for soothing and nourishing sensitive skin. With a pure formula of Shea & Apricot to leave skin silky smooth, strengthened & protected. Relieves redness and irritation. Rich in antioxidants and fatty acids to protect and replenish skin and prevent signs of aging. PHB moisturisers are carefully formulated with the purest natural ingredients to keep skin beautifully supple and hydrated. Perfect for my very sensitive skin. PHB moisturisers are carefully formulated with the purest natural ingredients to keep skin beautifully supple and hydrated. Always free from parabens, synthetic fragrance, irritants & harmful chemicals.  The second one Skin Restore Gel with Aloe Vera is an unscented care for damaged and impure skin. Made by hand using only organic Aloe Vera this gentle gel is perfect for calming burns, rashes and inflammation. The regenerative properties of aloe help to reduce and prevent scarring. Also helps heal cuts and bruises & soothes acne. I tend to use this product for face and body. Aloe Vera is famed for its skin healing health benefits and has been used for centuries as a natural treatment for a variety of skin ailments including eczema, psoriasis, acne, burns and wounds. Aloe Vera contains a high number of active components including vitamins, minerals and fatty acids which are essential for healing, repairing and improving skin. PHB’s Skin Treatment Gels combine the healing properties of Aloe Vera with skin enhancing botanical oils to create tailor made skin treatments that are highly effective and give noticeable results. I use both of this product not only in the winter season but also in the summer when the face’s skin is continuously exposed to sunlight.

Let me know if you want a post about morning and evening routine

Have a nice day!!!

Jacket potato and coleslaw salad

14 Dec

Ta da…. Blogmas#4 today it’s about a vegan easy and quick recipe.
One of the easiest and healthiest quick meals or light bites is a jacket potato. This is great for all ages, affordable and if you take care with your toppings, it’s seriously healthy too!!!
jacket potato2

First of all you need to pre-heat the oven to 200°C. Wash your potato and prick 2 or 3 times with a fork. Place in the oven and back for 50-60 minutes depending on the size. You can tell when the baked potato is cooked as the skin will be lovely and crisp but the inside soft when you squeeze it. If you are in a hurry  like me (always!!!), you could start the cooking off in the microwave for 10 minutes.

I am a big fan of coleslaw salad, it’s one of my favourite salads but I made a  lighter, fresher version that tastes better than the original recipe because is dairy free and egg free and vegan, so can be enjoyed by almost everyone!

Ingredients (for the vegan coleslaw)
2 cups finely sliced green cabbage
2 cups finely sliced red cabbage
2 cups shredded carrots
2 cups of red beans
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Up to ¾ cup mixed seeds like pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and poppy seeds.
For the Lemon dressing
¼ cup olive oil
2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice, to taste
1 cup of avocado
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon salt

In a medium serving bowl, combine the prepared green cabbage, carrots and parsley. Set aside. Measure out your seeds into a small skillet. Toast over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the seeds are fragrant and the seeds are starting to make little popping noises. Add the veggie and cook for just few minutes.
To make the dressing, in a small bowl, combine the olive oil with 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Add the avocado, pepper and salt and whisk until thoroughly blended.
Drizzle the dressing over the slaw and toss until all of the ingredients are lightly coated in dressing. Taste and add an additional tablespoon of avocado and if you like some tomato sauce aside (like the image).
jacket potatoYou can serve immediately the salad or cover and refrigerate to marinate for up to several hours.

The result was a tasty, simple, fresh and light coleslaw that actually tasted so much nicer than standard version also cheap and frugal recipe too!

Healthy snack on the go!

12 Dec

Welcome to Blogmas#3…. today we talk about healthy snack that I find very useful especially in this rushing time f the year when the city it’s a little bit chaotich… Also if you are constantly on the go, you’ve likely experienced unwanted hunger pangs at an inconvenient time. If you want to stay focused, energized, and avoid overeating later, it’s important to be prepared with vegan snacks when hungry feelings arise. Unfortunately, most store-bought convenience foods are synonymous with artificial junk and nutritionally empty ingredients. Additionally, it can be tough to find portable snacking options that don’t contain animal ingredients, making it even more frustrating when hunger hits. Like me, you’ve experimented that smoothie bowls and hummus plates are delicious plant-based snacks, are not exactly practical to throw in your purse in the middle of a busy day. To keep hunger at bay on even your busiest days, you can buy this healthy vegan snacks ahead of time and take them with you next time you’re on the run.

A little disclaimer: this post is not sponsored by any of the brand that I tried and suggested to you…

  1. Adez Drink Coconut Berry

    smoothie_chiaA deliciously nourishing blend of coconut and red fruit, source of B3, B5, B6: Niacin (B3), Pantothenic acid (B5) and B6 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It’s also a dairy free smoothie without added sugar. This product is GMO free, gluten free. The plastic bottle is widely recycled. To complete this fruit blend with a vegan source of protein I added a chia shots.

  2. Fruit Me Up! Apple taste and nutssmoothie_nutsA fresh blend of apples, that comes in handy squeezy pouches with a simple twist cap .There is no need refrigerate the pouches unless you open them. They’re a great alternative to the applesauce cups with the foil lids – I’m able to toss some pouches into my handbag as an on the go snack. The product is gluten, nut and dairy free.  I usually drank this delicious sauce with walnuts, cashew and raisins: the perfect combination! Also if you interested I discovered that apples help us stay awake better than coffee (here the article).

  3. Chia seed’s tortillas and hemp protein bar
    protein_snackThe perfect snack before my swimming/ running training that contains a great sources of protein and Omega-3. Both products are gluten free, organic and obviously vegan.  I like so much the brand Roobar: is organic, vegan, raw awesomeness with no added sugar and no gluten. They have a great variety of bar and each bar is packed with superfoods to boost your body and mind with maximum nutrients. Simple and delicious.

  4. Coconut bars
    coconut_barYou may know that I’m little bit addicted to coconut and just few days ago I found this bars. The first one named Coccole it’s a raw bar with activated almonds and it comes in different flavour (like chocolate, spirulina, orange, ginger ecc). The second one is from the brand Baule Volante and it’s vegan, raw – paleo bar with coconut and cashew. To bring come sweetness with you every single moment of your day!

 

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