by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, Recipes
5 ingredients.
1 pot.
5 minutes.
It’s as simple as that.
I adore this Enlightened Golden Chai. It’s caffeine free, vegan and best of all – delicious! It also has incredible health benefits.
Besides being a tasty spice often used to enhance holiday treats, main ingredient ginger can soothe upset stomachs and diminish nausea, and studies show it may help pain and inflammation, too.
Turmeric may be the most effective nutritional supplement in existence. Many high quality studies show that it has major benefits for your body and brain. Turmeric contains curcumin, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Turmeric actually targets multiple steps in the inflammatory pathway, at the molecular level.
Organic, raw cacao is not only the delicious part of hot cocoa, it has immense health benefits! Raw Organic Cacao is also one of the highest plant-based sources of magnesium, the most deficient mineral in the Western world. Magnesium is important for a healthy heart, and helps turn glucose into energy enabling your brain to work with laser-sharp clarity and focus.
In just 5 minutes, you’ll have a tasty beverage reminiscent of a chai tea, with all the seasonal warmth you crave – vegan, caffeine free and totally healthy for you! Welcome to totally enlightened tea 🙂
INGREDIENTS:
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
DIRECTIONS:
- Add a cup of coconut or almond milk into your pot
- Turn stove on high
- Add the rest of the ingredients (spices) into your pot
- Stir gently until your delicious concoction is a golden to golden brown color
- Watch for one or two bubbles, turn down your heat before it gets to a boil
- Transfer your golden chai to your favorite teacup & enjoy!
PRO TIP:
- Add organic, raw honey or organic maple syrup for sweetener.
- You can add collagen peptides and/or coconut oil for a dose of skin-loving, healthy fats.
- I use tablespoons of spices instead of teaspoons because it allows me to refill my cup multiple times a day without adding more spices (I just re-heat the milk or use hot water). Plus it turns out super frothy and creamy the first go-around!
by Tara Mackey | Beauty, Blogroll, Recipes
You’ve likely seen Unicorn Food pop up on your instagram feed (it’s hard to miss!), but have you heard of Unicorn Food’s sexy new sister – The Mermaid Mocktail?
Whether you’re strapping on your boots in this unseasonal Nor’Easter, or you’re basking by the beach, there’s something about have a beautiful mocktail during the day that makes you feel like you’re on a faraway island. Sometimes a beautiful drink, some summer vibes and a good book are all that you need to relax. Great to share with your kids, too – or add a little champagne for yourself!
Made with butterfly blue pea tea, the health benefits of this sophisticated and simple drink are so far-reaching! Great to enjoy hot or cold – all year round!
BENEFITS OF MERMAID TEA:
- Butterfly pea tea is full of antioxidants and anti-infllamtory properties has been proven through clinical research.
- Been proven to have anti glycation properties. Glycation is damage caused to protein because of sugar molecules and it is one of the main causes of skin aging.
- Recent scientific studies have shown it to be effective in stopping the progress of cataracts and improving night vision.
- The tea is very good for people suffering from chronic fatigue as it improves vitality.
- Has been proven to have analgesic properties (pain relieving properties).
- According to “The Ayurvedic medicine Clitoria ternatea—From traditional use to scientific assessment” Bluechai has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine as a memory enchancer.
- Feeling blue? This amazing flower also reduces stress and depression!
- Packed full of Proanthocyanidin and Anthocyanin which stops the harmful effects of free radicals. This helps to improve overall cell health by perventing premature aging, cutting the risk of cancer and other diseases.
INGREDIENTS:
INSTRUCTIONS:
- To make the tea, place flowers in a tea catcher
- Place tea catcher in teacup + pour the boiling water over the dried flowers in tea catcher. Steep till the color of the water changes to blue color
- Add organic honey + lemon + stir
Enjoy hot or add ice and place in the freezer for 15 minutes to enjoy it cold!
The drink makes a splash at parties!
by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, Fitness, Food, Recipes
This beautiful petal power recipe is going to be your new favorite! The powerful ingredients have been proven to combat pain.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- To the gluten free brownie mix add the coconut oil, hemp oil, Sugar 2.0, Vital Proteins Collagens, cayenne, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, chocolate chips and toss to combine.
- Add gluten free mix to cupcake trays so they are each 1/4 full.
- Optional: Add fruit such as raspberries or strawberries to the middle. This can also be done after.
- Bake for 25 mins or until moist when poked with a fork or toothpick.
- Remove and let cool.
- Add petals on top for decoration.
- Enjoy immediately. Best eaten when fresh but also amaaaazing the next day! Store in fridge.
*This post was created in loving partnership with Vital Proteins + Sugar 2.0, two companies I use daily and absolutely adore.
by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, Food, Recipes
Of course I have to throw my healthy little twist on everything, even staples like hot cocoa. But seriously – you’re going to thank me for this one!
I love nothing more than cuddling up by the fireplace with a good book and a hot cocoa when the weather gets colder. Even in San Diego, right now the fact that I need socks and sometimes even a COAT(!!!) is a big deal and calls for a lot of warm grounding potions and healing concoctions so that I don’t get sick! Hot cocoa was a staple in my childhood and something I am really enjoying experimenting with (and perfecting!) as a full fledged adult.
You guys know by now that I don’t do anything the “normal” way. Stay weird is my motto and I literally walk the walk. So, here’s my healthy secret of the week (maybe of the whole season!): I make my hot cocoa collagen-infused. YUP.
Every delicious, frothy sip is infused with one of the best skin rejuvenators out there: collagen peptides.
The benefits of collagen are bountiful – from helping bone growth and soothing joint pain to acting as a natural botox, there is a reason everyone should be taking this vital supplement daily for optimum health and all of its wonderful wellness benefits. Once you incorporate collagen into your life for just a little while, it’s easy to notice the great advantages it provides for overall appearance (your skin literally glows!) and for those of us with chronic pain or illness (you’ll start to notice you suffer much less frequently!)
Supplementing with collagen peptides can protect the degradation of the connecting tissues. If you take 30 – 70 grams of collagen peptides per day, it’s been shown to provide a reduction of risk for injuries on muscle, tendons, and ligaments, even in professional athletes!
You are seriously never going to go a day without this stuff!
I love Vital Proteins so much because they are sustainably sourced, which is always important to me. They’re odorless and tasteless and these supplement powders deliver real results in just days! Several studies show that a daily intake of just 10 grams of collagen peptides for 4 to 24 weeks may increase bone mass density. I find that my hair, nails and skin cells all grow so much faster and thicker when I am taking a lot of collagen in my meals and drinks – and this way is sooooo much easier than popping vitamins all day!
Not sold on Collagen yet? In a recent study, women who took just 2.5 g of collagen once a day saw a 20% reduction in wrinkle depth around their eyes… in just 8 weeks!! Even more significant, levels of the body’s own procollagen (the precursor to collagen) were significantly elevated, with production up by an unprecedented 65%!! SOOO impressive. It seems that the pills in this study could make a woman’s skin behave like a younger version of itself!
So, why not incorporate these healthy peptides into everything you can? I start my day every morning with a collagen chamomile tea (where I just mix the powder in with the tea), and at night I wind down with this collagen infused hot cocoa. I use an amazing, affordable and light espresso machine (my first! A gift from Todd last year, which I just adore!) to easily add the body-building, skin regenerating boost to this winter classic. Alternatively, this recipe can be done on the stovetop with a wooden spoon if you don’t have an espresso machine at home, however it won’t stay traditionally “frothy” as pictured. Still heavenly!!
INGREDIENTS:
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Add coconut milk to smart pitcher and froth in espresso machine until bubbly.
- Add Vital Proteins Marine Collagen Peptides to coconut milk and froth until thoroughly combined.
- Remove smart pitcher.
- Combine cacao powder, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg and pumpkin spice into smart pitcher.
- Froth until bubbly and transfer to your favorite mug.
- Sip and enjoy!
(PS for those of you who asked, my lippie in these pictures is Survivor by Nudus – vegan and organic!)
This post was created in loving partnership with Vital Proteins, a company that I really believe in, use daily and truly love.
by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, Food, Health, Recipes
- 1/4 small can of coconut milk
- Pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 Tbsp Sugar 2.0
- Healthy pinch sea salt
- 1/2 Tsp ground cinnamon
- Soaked raw cashews (soak in water for 3 mins)
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a blender, combine raw soaked cashews, coconut milk, cayenne pepper, Sugar 2.0, sea salt, ground cinnamon + blend on high.
- To the gluten free brownie mix add the coconut oil, Sugar 2.0, cayenne, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, chocolate chips and toss to combine.
- Add gluten free mix to cupcake trays so they are each 1/4 full.
- Add a scoop of raw almond or peanut butter to each cake.
- Add a tablespoon of cashew filling to the top of each of your cakes.
- Optional: Add fruit such as raspberries or strawberries to the middle. This can also be done after.
- Bake for 45 mins or until moist when poked with a fork or toothpick.
- Remove and let cool.
- Enjoy immediately. Best eaten when fresh but also amaaaazing the next day! Store in fridge.
*This post was created in partnership with Sugar 2.0.
by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, Food, Health, Recipes
- 3 cups peeled, cubed butternut squash
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
- Pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 Tbsp Sugar 2.0
- Healthy pinch sea salt
- 1/2 Tsp ground cinnamon
- Pomegranate seeds
- Organic kale or mixed greens
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- To the butternut squash add the coconut oil, Sugar 2.0, cayenne, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and toss to combine.
- Bake the squash for 15-20 minutes or until it is tender, sweet, and golden brown. Toss occasionally to ensure even baking.
- Add the pecans to a separate baking sheet and bake on a separate rack in the oven for 8 minutes. Then remove from oven and add coconut oil, nutmeg, Sugar 2.0, cayenne, salt, and cinnamon. Use a spoon to carefully toss until well coated. Then return to the oven and bake for 5 minutes more, or until golden brown and fragrant. Set aside.
- To serve, either place the squash and pecans on the kale or mixed greens on a serving dish and top with pomegranates.
- Enjoy immediately. Best eaten when fresh.
*This post was created in partnership with Sugar 2.0.
