New Seasons Coastal Kale Salad

New Seasons Market in Portland has this amazing, simple kale salad in their prepared foods section that is a flavor explosion in every bite. Since I am not a huge fan of canola oil and try not to consume it often, I figured that I should recreate this salad at home. I enjoy it all throughout the year but it is especially nice in the summer months. It tastes amazing right away, but can also spend a day or two in the refrigerator if you want to prep it ahead of time. I love it as a side or a main with a protein added.

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of curly kale, washed and chopped finely

• 1/2 large red or sweet yellow onion, sliced thinly

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 3 tablespoons of Coconut Aminos or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (if soy is tolerated or preferred)

• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 3 tablespoons sesame seeds

• 3 tablespoons sunflower seeds

• 3 tablespoons pumpkin seeds

• Freshly grated parmesan to taste

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Whisk the garlic powder, lemon juice, coconut aminos, or Bragg’s aminos + extra virgin olive oil together

2. Place the kale, onion, and seeds into a large salad bowl. Add the whisked dressing to the salad and gently mix. You will want the kale to be pretty coated so the seeds will stay dispersed throughout the greens

3. Grate the fresh parmesan, salt, and pepper to taste and gently mix again.

4. Enjoy!

Versatile Cabbage Slaw

I LOVE making a cabbage-based slaw as a side all year round because you can always find in-season ingredients and it can basically go along with any recipe. Cabbage is loaded with nutrients including vitamin C and folate, fiber and is supportive of liver and gut health. I make a big batch of this at least once a week to eat as a side or garnish. Here is my go-to recipe. I swap out ingredients depending on what I have on hand. ⁠

Prep time: 20ish minutes

Yield: 8-10 servings

Ingredients:

• Red, green, napa or savoy cabbage, chopped - 6-8 cups⁠

• Bunch of cilantro, chopped fine - more if you like cilantro⁠!

• 1/2 - 1 red onion, sliced thinly (depends on how much onion you like!)

• Bunch of red radishes or large daikon, thinly sliced into half-moons⁠

• Sesame seeds or pumpkin seeds- as many as you'd like for color, interest, and flavor⁠

• Apple cider vinegar, a splash

• Juice of 2 limes or lemons⁠

• Extra-virgin olive oil or Avocado oil, a few glugs, or about 1/4 cup⁠

• Sea salt and pepper to taste⁠

Directions:

Combine all veggies in a large bowl, add spices and liquids, combine, taste, and refine as needed.⁠⁠

Other potential additions or swaps:

• Sliced or shredded carrots

• Chopped celery

• Thinly sliced cucumbers

• Chopped nuts

• Seeds⁠

• Chopped dried fruits⁠

• Chopped apple

• Chopped pear

• Chopped or grated garlic⁠

• Thinly sliced green onion⁠

• Different spices⁠

• Different kinds of vinegar

Any other ideas? Let me know!

Melon, Basil & Feta Salad

Prep time: 20 minutes

Yield: 8-10 servings

Ingredients:

• 4-5 cups seeded watermelon, cut into 1 inch pieces (about 1/2 a medium sized watermelon)

• 2 English cucumbers, halved lengthwise, seeded, and sliced

• 6 Green onions, chopped

• 1/2 Cup fresh basil (mint works too!), chopped

• 4-6 Ounces cubed or crumbled feta cheese

• 1/3 Cup extra virgin olive oil

• 1/4 Cup balsamic vinegar

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a large bowl combine the watermelon, cucumbers, onion, basil and feta.

2. In a small bowl add the oil, salt, and pepper and whisk to combine

3. Pour dressing over watermelon mixture and toss until coated.

Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours prior to serving. This salad is not the best the next day.

Chocolate Truffles

These are SO easy to make and very rich and yummy. They are refined sugar free, only sweetened with dates.

Makes 12-16
Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup organic cacao

• 3 Tablespoons coconut oil

• 2 Tablespoons nut butter of choice (no sugar added)

• 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2-3 Medjool dates (2 large or 3 small-medium), roughly chopped

• 2 Pinches of Maldon or pink/sea salt

• 6 Tablespoons chia seeds (optional)

Directions:

1. Place cacao, coconut oil, nut butter, vanilla extract, dates, and salt into base of a food processor.

2. Process until smooth

3. Pour chia seeds onto a plate or a shallow dish if using

4. With hands form mixture into 12-16 balls (1/2-3/4 inches in diameter) and roll some or all into the chia seeds until covered (this part is optional). I use a teaspoon to scoop out a portion of the mixture to form into the ball.

5. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to eat/serve

Instant Pot Beets

Instant pot beets are sooooo easy! If you love beets, but are turned off by cooking beets because it seems like a challenging task and you have an Instant Pot, be prepared to get cooking. I generally stick with the purple or chioggia beets because golden beets have a tendency to oxidize in the refrigerator once cooked, turning them a no so pretty black color over time. This is a weekly ingredient prep staple in my house. Beets are super nutrient dense, liver supportive and help our bodies to digest the fats we eat. If you like them (I know they are not for everyone), this is a great way to eat them regularly. Their greens are also really yummy braised or sautéed.

Ingredients:

1 large or 2-3 medium-sized purple beets, raw, whole and rinsed

Directions:

Place whole raw beet directly into steamer basket (skin on) add one cup of water. Use the manual button for to cook for 15-20 min. I do 20 min for larger beets (maybe 25 if its a HUGE beet). Once cooled, they peel slides right off and you can chop. Eat immediately or store for a week in the fridge to add to salads or to eat on their own.

Simple Homemade Tomato Soup

Serves 10-12 people

Prep/cook time: 10 minutes / 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 Tbsp grass-fed butter

• 2 Cups organic yellow onion, diced

• 5 Organic garlic cloves, minced

• 3 Tbsp organic tomato paste

• 3 Cans organic whole tomatoes with juice (I like San Mariano)

• 1 Tbsp dried organic oregano

• Fresh basil leaves, chopped

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat olive oil and butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions, salt onions, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and tomato paste, saute for 2 additional minutes. Add canned tomatoes and the juice, breaking up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon. Bring to a low boil then reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup soup directly in the pot (or blend in batches using a standard blender). Season with salt and pepper and serve with a garnish of chopped basil. It goes wonderfully with some crusty bread, croutons or grilled cheese sandwiches. It also freezes very nicely.

Go-To Granola

Ingredients:

• 2 cups raw, organic old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup raw nuts, whole or chopped based on preference
• 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• ¾ cup shredded coconut
• ½ cup unsweetened dried fruit, chopped (optional)
• 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil or ghee (or a combo of both)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
• 1 large pinch coarse sea salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Use your clean hands to mix well and toss to coat; don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty
3. Spread the mixture in a thin layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 10 until toasted. Watch the granola carefully towards the end as it can burn quite easily.
4. Cool before serving or storing.
5. This granola can be kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks.

Enjoy!

Extra Mile Smoothie

This smoothie is inspired by the Extra Mile Smoothie at Kure in Portland, OR.  It is my favorite in town and I had to learn to make it myself, adapting it for the Healthy Balance smoothie formula. It's loaded with healthy fats, fiber and creamy goodness.  If you like coconut, you will be a fan of this one....

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces coconut water 

• 1 tbsp coconut manna (coconut butter) or coconut meat

• 1 tbsp plain coconut yogurt (I love the Coyo brand)

• 1 serving protein powder (I prefer collagen peptides)

• 1 tbsp almond butter

• 1 tbsp hemp seeds

• 1 cup of kale, baby kale or baby spinach

Directions:

Blend all ingredients with one cup of ice. Garnish with coconut flakes, cinnamon or cacao nibs if you are feeling fancy!

Round up: BEST Healthy Instant Pot Recipes

When I first heard about the Instant Pot, I wondered if I really needed yet another kitchen gadget that I would have to find some room for in my cupboard to store and would be forgotten after using it just a couple of times.  When Amazon had a crazy sale for Black Friday a few years back, I decided to go for it. What I didn’t realize is how much it would change the way that I prepare many of my staples, and how much easier and more efficient it would be for me to get healthy food prepped and on the table for my family to enjoy.

Now, it isn’t the perfect product.  It is big and clunky and you do need some space to store it.  It can be dangerous if you don’t follow the directions properly and if you are the kind of person that likes to constantly “check” on what you are making, it may not be the gadget for you.  That being said, it can save you a lot of time and energy in the kitchen.

Below I have curated some of my favorite recipes and some of the favorites of members of my online community. I’ll continue to add to this list so check back often!

Staples

Hard boiled eggs

Bone broth

Spaghetti squash I like to cook mine for 10 minutes instead of 7

Beets

Beans You can sub black beans for the pinto and change up the fresh spices.  I like to add bay leaves to mine. I also will often replace the water with broth if I have that on hand

Hummus

Yogurt

Coconut Yogurt

Whole chicken

Mains

Barbacoa

Beef Bourguignon

Butter Chicken

Carnitas

Kalua Pork

Korean Short Ribs

Lemon Garlic Chicken

Orange-Sesame Chicken

Quinoa Burrito Bowls

Salsa Chicken

Soups + Stews

Beef Pho

Chicken Pho

Vegetarian Pho

Beef Stew I never liked beef stew until I made this recipe!

Chicken Enchilada

Chicken Noodle

Spinach + Lentil

Tomato 

Tom Kha Gai

Turkey Chili

Loaded Mexican Chicken

Sides

Crispy Potatoes

Apple Pie Apple Sauce

Superfood Trail Mix

Serves 4-8

Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup raw pecans, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts or a blend
• 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds/pepitas
• 1/2 cup dried coconut, large flakes
• 1/2 cup dried mulberries (I use Nativa Organics brand), goji berries or cherries work too
• 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips, more if you like chocolate!

Directions:

1. Mix together and store in a cool dark place.  Enjoy by the handful, or two or three!

Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

Prep time: 1 minutes

Ingredients:

• 6-8 eggs
• 1 cup water

Directions:

1.  Place the stainless steel insert pot into the Instant Pot base, along with the included steamer insert. Pour in one cup of water.
2. Arrange the desired number of large eggs on top of the steamer insert.  I usually do six to eight eggs at a time.
3. Lock the lid on top of the Instant Pot and make sure the steam release knob is turned to "sealing".
4. Press the "manual" button on the front. High pressure should automatically be selected, but if it's not, make sure you change it.
5. Use the plus/minus buttons to bring the time to five minutes.
6. When the timer goes off, let the steam release naturally.  Feel free to release though if you are in a hurry.
7. Once the pressure is released, press the cancel button to turn the warming function off.  Remove the lid and transfer the eggs to a bowl and allow eggs to cool on counter for 5-10 minutes before eating or placing them in the refrigerator for later use (up to one week).

Persimmon and Pomegranate Fruit Salad

Prep time: 15 minutes

Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

• 3 fuyu persimmons, chopped (1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces)
• 1 cup pomegranate seeds
•  3 apples, peeled, cored, chopped (1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces)
• Juice from one lemon
• 2 teaspoons honey (optional)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (more if you like cinnamon!)

Directions:

1. Gently toss all of the ingredients together.  Enjoy!

Spinach Salad with Persimmons

Prep time: 15 minutes
Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:
•    3 fuyu persimmons, chopped (1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces)
•    1 cup pomegranate seeds
•    3 apples, peeled, cored, chopped (1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces)
•    Juice from one lemon
•    2 teaspoons honey
•    1 teaspoon cinnamon (more if you like cinnamon!)

Directions: 

1. Gently toss all of the ingredients together.  Enjoy!

It will keep for at least a couple of days in the refrigerator, but is best on the same day it is made.

Fall Kale Salad

Author: Stephanie Selinger

Prep time: 15 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa, cooked*
• 2 bunches (medium-sized) lacinato (dino) kale, washed, dried and chopped into small (one inch or so) pieces
• 1 large ripe pear, washed, stemmed and cored, sliced thin
• 1 cup cooked chick peas, rinsed and drained (if canned)*
• 4 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1-2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Cook quinoa as directed. This step can be done ahead of time, but I like to prepare this salad when the quinoa is warm.
2. Place cooked quinoa in a large salad bowl. Add the kale, pear, chick peas, nuts and parsley and toss to combine.  
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, and maple syrup, adding salt and pepper to taste; pour it over the salad and toss gently to coat.

Can be served immediately or saved for later.  This salad will hold well in the refrigerator for a few days.

*Omit the quinoa and/or chick peas if you are grain free or do not tolerate these items, feel free to add another protein of choice!