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What is an Acai Bowl?

The acai berry has been heralded for an array of health benefits, but its strongest asset is definitely its taste. Acai is a delicious tropical fruit and when it comes served as a bowl it makes waking up a whole lot easier.

Acai bowls look like ice cream, almost taste like ice cream, and make you feel good about your breakfast choice. It's what breakfast dreams are made of. An acai bowl is basically a really thick smoothie that's been topped with oatmeal, fruit or peanut butter, and then you wolf it down with a spoon. For breakfast. After eating a bowl, you will not only feel happily full (for hours) and have satisfied a sweet craving , you'll have also done something that was good for you. Win win.

How to take care of your kitchen tools

1- Scrub Your Stainless Steel: You can't run a kitchen without a good stainless steel pots and pans, so it's important to properly clean them for the long run.

2- Sharpen your knives: You should have at least three decent knives in any kitchen , and you should hone them before every use.

3-Oil Up Wooden Utensils: No matter which wooden instrument you use—a cutting board, a wooden spoon, spatulas, bowls, or even things with wooden handles—you need to apply walnut oil to them a few times a year

4- Clean Cast Iron Without Losing Flavor: When you're finished cooking, pour a little oil into the pan (if there isn't any left from cooking), dump in a handful of kosher salt, and then just scrub the salt around the pan with an old rag or some wadded up paper towels.

Source:  http://lifehacker.com/how-to-care-for-your-favorite-kitchen-tools-1591157130

5 Ingredient breakfast pizza

Grilled Salmon with Avocado

One of the benefits of eating salmon is that has omega-3, which contributes to have a healthy brain and heart and the avocado is loaded with Heart-Healthy Monounsaturated Fatty Acids. So together make a super food for your body!

We found this recipe for you.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lbs salmon, cut into 4 pieces
• 1 tbs olive oil (I used light extra virgin olive oil)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp paprika powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp ancho chili powder
• 1 tsp black pepper
• for the Avocado salsa:
• 1 avocado, sliced
• ½ small red onion, sliced
• Juice from 2 limes
• 1-2 tbs finely chopped cilantro (depending on how big of a cilantro lover you are)
• Salt to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Mix the salt, chili powder, cumin, paprika, onion and black pepper together, rub the salmon fillets with olive oil and this seasoning mix
2. refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
3. Pre-heat the grill.
4. Combine the avocado, onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt in a bowl and mix well, chill until ready to use.
5. Grill the salmon to desired doneness. (I grilled for about 5 minutes)
6. Top with avocado salsa and enjoy!

SOURCE: http://www.thecookierookie.com/salmon-with-avocado/

How to make infused water:

Chia Seed Pudding

The chia seeds are loaded with antioxidants and massive amount of nutrients with just a few calories! So we thought you can include this food into your meals and what better way that with a puddin!

Ingredients:

FOR THE CHIA PUDDING:

• 3 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup chia seeds
• 1-3 tablespoons of pure maple syrup, to taste

SUGGESTED TOPPINGS:

• Granola
• Fresh fruit
• Coconut flakes
• Pure maple syrup
• Cinnamon
• Nuts and seeds
• Banana Soft Serve

Directions:

1. Whisk the almond milk, chia seeds, and sweetener together in a large bowl. Let sit for 5-10 minutes and then whisk again (this just helps prevent clumping).
2. Cover and chill in the fridge for 2.5-3 hours, or overnight. It helps to stir the mixture every so often during this time, but don't worry if you can't.
3. Stir well before serving. Portion into bowl(s) and add your desired toppings. Leftovers will keep in an air-tight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

Baked Kale

Kale is one of the most healthiest and nutritious plant foods in existence and is delicious!

Try these baked kale recipe!

Ingredients

2 lbs / 900 gr kale

4 tablespoons butter, divided

1 ½ tablespoons arrowroot flour (or regular white flour)

1 cup / 250 ml stock (I used beef stock)

¾ cup grated Swiss cheese

2 tablespoons gluten-free breadcrumbs (or regular breadcrumbs)

1 teaspoon fine grain salt

⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

• Steam and wash the kale.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add kale, cover, and cook for 4 minutes, until tender.
• Transfer to a colander, immediately fill the pot with cold water, transfer the kale back to the pot of cold water to stop the cooking. Drain again.
• Squeeze a small amount of kale in your hands to extract as much water as possible. Transfer to a chopping board and roughly chop it.
• Wipeout the pot and melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
• Stir in chopped kale and cook for two minutes or until all of the moisture has boiled off and the kale starts to stick to the bottom of the pot.
• Lower the heat and sprinkle with flour. Stir for 2 minutes to cook the flour (the flour will stick to the pot, that’s okay!)
• Add the stock, ¼ cup at a time, stirring between each addition.
• Once all the liquid is added, simmer for 1 further minute. Finally stir in one tablespoons of butter.
• Remove from the heat and stir in ½ cup of the cheese into the kale
• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and place a rack in the middle.
• Lightly grease a baking dish and pour the kale into it.
• In a small bowl mix remaining ¼ cup of cheese with breadcrumbs and sprinkle on the kale.
• Melt remaining tablespoon of butter and pour it over the top.
• Bake in the oven for 30 minutes until golden on top.
• Serve warm!

SOURCE: http://www.theironyou.com/2015/12/the-best-baked-kale.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theironyou%2FVraN+%28The+Iron+You%29

Organize your kitchen with this tips!

1. Empty cabinets: Pull everything out of each cabinet and toss away or donate anything you are not using.
2. Group like items: Pile together the things you think are better to store in the same place.
3. Organize the cabinets: Now that you have groups laid out on the floor, decide where each item should be stored.
4. Use clear containers to store items: Use containers or plastic bags  to streamline the inside of your cabinets
5. Clean out the refrigerator: See what food needs to be pitched and immediately throw it out, and take the trash out.

Vegan Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Being vegan doesn’t mean you can enjoy the Holidays eating cookies. We found this vegan peanut butter cookies that look delicious for dessert.

INGREDIENTS

For the chocolate kisses:
1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips

For the cookies:
1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup vegan margarine
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla soy milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup turbinado sugar (for coating)

DIRECTIONS

1. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave (about two minutes); the chocolate should be smooth, but not runny. Spoon melted chocolate into a small ziplock freezer bag. Snip the corner to make a tiny opening (or use an icing tip, if you have one) and pipe out 18 chocolate kisses. Set aside on the counter or in the fridge to cool.
3. Heat the oven to 375°F.
4. Beat the peanut butter and margarine in a large bowl until well blended. Add the brown sugar and beat again. Add soy milk and vanilla and beat well.
5. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually beat this into the peanut butter mixture.
6. Shape the dough into one-inch balls. Lightly roll each ball in turbinado sugar and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
7. Bake eight to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie, then transfer the cookies to a rack to cool. Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container.

Source: http://frame.bloglovin.com/?post=3913910881&blog=22471

10 healthy foods your fridge should have

1. Nut butters: For smoothies, whole grain toast, apple slices and more
2. Fruits: Perfect to grab and go.
3. Ready to eat- lean proteins:  Precook chicken breasts or quinoa at the start of the week so you can make a quick dinner when you get home and salmon is a good option too for fast cooking.
4. Cut vegetables: baby carrots, celery or sliced bell pepper.
5. Lemon: Squeeze lemon into your water for detoxing.
6. Greek Yogurt: to topped with fruits or as healthy replacement for sour cream or butter in baking.
7. Eggs: perfect for breakfast.
8. Hummus: The high-protein condiment pairs great with cut-up veggies for a low-calorie snack.
9. Baby spinach: Baby spinach is an easy way to add nutrients to almost any meal
10. Almond milk: it has fewer calories and fat.

Source: http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Healthy-Foods-You-Should-Have-Your-Fridge-34872965#photo-3487