From guest contributor: Arielle Haspel, nutrition and  lifestyle expert + blogger at Be Well with Arielle

When the holidays come around, I don’t really get excited about the presents… I get excited about what I’m going to eat and drink!

Egg nog is one of my favorite holiday treats, but it’s traditionally made with loads of sugar, cream and even whipped raw eggs.

Not Be Well with Arielle approved.

And, the healthy versions typically have bananas in it — yuck!

So instead of depriving myself of my favorite holiday treat, I did a lot of recipe testing and healthified it into the healthiest, most delicious egg nog ever!

This Healthy Egg Nog is made without refined sugar, cream, milk, raw eggs or banana.

Instead, its sweetened with dates and coconut water, and made with avocado and coconut milk and almond milk to add the perfect amount of creaminess.

It’s spiced just right with some of Simply Organic’s cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and a splash of almond extract.

Healthy enough to drink for breakfast on-the-go, sweet enough to indulge in for a holiday dessert and #spicedright.

Healthy Egg Nog Smoothie

Ingredients:
8oz. almond milk
8oz. coconut milk
½ c. coconut water
1/4 avocado
14 small pitted dates
1/2 tsp. Simply Organic vanilla extract
1 tsp. Simply Organic almond extract
1/2 tsp. Simply Organic cinnamon
1 tsp. Simply Organic nutmeg
handful of ice

*optional: top with raw cacao nibs

Directions:
1. Blend up all ingredients
2. Serve in a pretty glass
Cheers!

Read more:  

Healthy Egg Nog Smoothie

Need more ideas? Get the full Purely Holiday Gift Guide–creative ideas for everyone on your list!

Jump to original:

Gift Guide: For Her

…Pumpkin Lentil Lasagna…

Ingredients 

Pumpkin Cashew Ricotta

2 cups of raw cashews, soaked for at least 4 hours

2 cups of pumpkin puree

1 clove garlic

1 lemon, juiced

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp olive oil

Lasagna

1 container of gluten-free lasagna (I love Capello’s)

1 jar of marinara sauce

1 cup cooked black lentils

8 oz shredded organic mozzarella cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Meanwhile, in a high-speed blender add cashew ricotta ingredients. Blend until smooth. Add 1 tbsp at a time of water if necessary to reach desired consistency. Set aside. Meanwhile, in a lasagna pan spread a layer of tomato sauce, followed by noodles, pumpkin cashew ricotta, lentils, then sauce. Repeat. Top the lasagna with shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover lasagna with tin foil and bake for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly.

Credit:  

Pumpkin Lentil Lasagna

…Autumn Sangria…

Ingredients 

1 bottle dry white wine

2 1/2 cups apple cider

1 cup soda water

3 honey crisp apples, cubed

3 pears, cubed

1 cup fresh pomegranate seeds

Directions

Combine wine, cider, apples, pear and pomegranate. Let sit in the refrigerator overnight. Add soda water. Stir and serve.

Read original article:  

Autumn Sangria

 

In light of the holiday season, we’ve once again teamed up with some of our favorite companies to host the 4th Annual Purely Holiday Giveaway! We love these brands because of their passion for creating unique all-natural + good-for-you products. So get ready for 15 days of pure bliss–15 companies, 15 prizes, 15 chances to win!

Details:

The giveaway will run December 1st – December 19th and will consist of a different contest on our Facebook page each day (weekdays only).

1. Visit our Facebook page daily throughout the 15 days. Each day you must like, share and comment on that day’s contest post to win a gift box from one of the featured brands.

2. Each day, entrants will be put into a pool and the winner will be chosen at random through a random number generator.

3. We will announce and contact the winner the following morning.

The Prizes:

SW Basics Face Creams

S.W. Basics makes all of their products from scratch using only whole, high-potency ingredients. Their motto is: less is everything, which is why they stick with the essentials. Their face cream is the mother of all S.W. Basics products. It starts with wild-harvested shea butter  from an incredible Fair Trade women’s cooperative in Ghana. They add some organic extra-virgin coconut oil and organic extra-virgin olive oil–creating an extremely rich cream that sinks deep into the skin a stays there!

http://store.swbasicsofbk.com/products/cream

NuttZo’s Seven Nut and Seed Butter Crunchy + Single Serve Packs

NuttZo makes gourmet nut + seed butters. The healthiest, most unique super-butter on the planet actually. Packed full of so many healthy ingredients such as, organic peanuts, organic cashews, organic almonds, organic flax seeds, + other nuts; we can’t get enough of it! Get a a couple squeezable to-go packs along with a jar of their Crunchy Seven Nut and Seed Butter.

http://www.nuttzo.com/products/

NibMor 3 drinking chocolates, a few daily doses + one of each of their new bars

Started by two passionate ladies, the Company’s chocolate is created using the most delicious organic, non-GMO, Fair Trade and gluten-free ingredients. NibMor (Nibble More) is a premium snack brand catering to the health-minded female consumer who doesn’t want to sacrifice pleasure. With a variety of three drinking chocolates and five delectable chocolate bars, you’ll have to hide them from everyone!

http://www.nibmor.com/products/

Simply Squares their chili spice + cho-coco bar

Simplified Foods is on a mission to create simple, great tasting and healthy snacks. Their flagship products, Simple Squares®, are all natural, organic nutrition bars infused with honey and herbs. With so many unique flavors it is hard to choose a favorite! Their chili spice bar will leave awaken your taste buds. The zest + zing of Chili Pepper provides numerous benefits to the body. Their cho-coco bar delivers a punch of flavor + goodness to your heart.

http://shop.simplesquares.com/

Owl’s Brew gift set

Owl’s Brew is fresh-brewed and ready-to-pour tea “crafted for cocktails”.  Owl’s Brew is the first ever “tea crafted for cocktails”. It is one of the only products on the market that is fresh-brewed and bottled. In the gift set you’ll get a trio of Owl’s Brew!  Each gift set contains three 8oz blends: Pink & Back, The Classic and Coco-Lada. Just add your own booze!

http://www.theowlsbrew.com/shop-our-products/gift-set.html

Birch Benders micro-pancakery’s pancake + waffle mix

Birch Benders is a gourmet pancake + waffle mix that’s delicious, organic, and made by just adding water. All of their products are trans fat free, non-GMO, and certified organic by CCOF. They use only the finest natural and organic ingredients—ingredients both you and your grandparents would recognize. Their Gluten Free pancakes are so good, you won’t even miss the wheat! They start with a perfect blend of wheat-free flours, then add their signature Oregon hazelnut meal, resulting in, dare we say, pancake poetry. But don’t take their word for it—the proof is in the pancake!

http://birchbendersfoods.com/flavors/gluten-free/

Aura Cacia mix of essential oils

Aura Cacia’s uses high-quality essential oils + uniquely deals face-to-face with the people growing the plants + extracting the essential oil. They believe that essential oils may be the ultimate gift from nature. Made from the aromatic essences of plants, they have a remarkable ability to affect a person’s well-being and improve the environment around them. Explore the many essential oils offered by Aura Cacia, that can help you achieve physical, emotional, mental + spiritual well-being.

https://www.auracacia.com/auracacia/acproducts/acessoils.html

For Such a Good Time  3 “Eat Purely” stamped spoons

Hand Stamped is made in the USA that crafts vintage spoons to make weddings, anniversaries, baby showers, meal time, coffee time, or anytime special! These hand stamped spoons will have “Eat Purely” imprinted on them. You’ll be able to purchase these spoons on our website as well. They are perfect to add to any holiday gift!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ForSuchATimeDesigns

Meow Meow Tweet candles

Meow Meow has developed all of their goods as if they were modern culinary dishes, starting with a scent combination.  Each concoction is carefully mixed by hand to produce the perfect aroma and healthful benefits, resulting in uniquely therapeutic and aromatic products. All of our goods are made with organic plant oils and butters. With smells this amazing, these candles are constantly lit in our office!

http://meowmeowtweet.myshopify.com/collections/soy-candles

Rawpothecary nut milks 

Made with almost all organic ingredients, these nut milks are loaded with protein + fiber. They are also rich in minerals + vitamins E & B6, known to be beneficial for skin. They are 100% natural, no preservatives, gluten free + vegan. Every nut milk is an excellent source of energy and are so delicious! You would be surprised how filling these healthy drinks are!

http://raw-pothecary.com/product-category/milks/

See original:

Kicking Off Our 4th Annual Purely Holiday Giveaway!

…pecan crusted trout…

over leek braised swiss chard + lentils

Ingredients 

1 whole trout, head removed, filleted and de-boned

2 eggs

1/2 cup almond flour

1 cup crushed pecans

1 tbsp olive oil

Directions 

In a bowl, whisk together eggs and set aside. In two separate bowls add almond flour and pecans. Dredge the trout in the almond flour then dip into the egg mixture then dredge in the pecans until the entire fish is coated.

In a large sauté pan, add olive oil. Heat to medium – high heat. Place trout skin side up and pan fry for 5-6 minutes or until cooked through.

See the article here: 

pecan crusted trout

…roasted parsnip, garlic + apple soup…

ingredients 

2 tbsp olive oil

1 lb parsnips

1 head of garlic

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 gala apple, chopped

1 can white beans

vegetable stock

Himalayan sea salt

toppings:

La Tourangelle Toasted Pumpkin Seed Oil

parmesan cheese

rosemary

Directions 

Preheat oven to 400°F. On a parchment lined baked sheet drizzle 1/2 tbsp olive oil over parsnips. Slice off the top of the head of garlic, so that each clove inside is exposed. Drizzle 1 tbsp of olive oil and wrap in foil. Roast the garlic and parsnips for 45 minutes. When finished cooking, chop parsnips. Meanwhile, in a large pot, heat remaining olive oil. Add diced onions and sauté for 3-5 minutes until fragrant. Add apples, parsnips, garlic (skin removed), and white beans. Saute for 5-7 minutes. Add vegetable broth and bring to a low simmer for 15 minutes. Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth. Season with salt and serve with parmesan cheese, drizzled pumpkin seed oil and fresh rosemary.

See original article here: 

roasted parsnip, garlic + apple soup

Adapted from: Plant Powered Kitchen

… Pink Lady Apple Pie … 

Crust Ingredients

1 1/2 cups almond meal

3/4 cup sprouted brown rice flour

1/2 cup tapioca flour

1/4 cup arrowroot powder

1/4 cup coconut sugar

1/2 tsp. sea salt

2 tsp. xanthum gum

3/4 cup coconut oil + 1tbsp for brushing pie crust

7  Tbsp. ice-cold almond milk

Pie Filling Ingredients

juice of 1 lemon

1 tbsp arrowroot powder

1/4 cup coconut sugar

1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 cup rosé

6 cups peeled, cored, and thinly sliced pink lady apples

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a food processor, combine dry crust ingredients. Pulse a few times.  Add coconut oil and pulse until combined.  Add almond milk 1 tbsp at a time, pulsing to combine to form dough consistency.   Separate dough into two balls.  On a greased pie pan, press one dough ball evenly to cover pan.  Meanwhile,  in a large bowl combine pie filling ingredients.  Toss to combine and evenly coat apples.  Pour apples into pie pan.  With the second dough ball, place on top parchment paper and cover with saran wrap. Roll out dough into 1/4” thickness.  Cut into 1” strips and place on top of apples to create lattice top crust. Brush lattice top crust with remaining 1 tbsp of coconut oil.  Bake in the oven for 40 minutes. Serve warm with coconut milk ice cream.

Original source: 

Pink Lady Apple Pie

…Endive with Pear, Walnut + Goat Cheese…

Ingredients 

2 heads of endive

1 Bosc pear, sliced

4 oz goat cheese

1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Truffle honey

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. On a parchment lined baking sheet place sliced pears. Roast for 10-15 minutes. Take out of the oven and dice. Meanwhile, trim the end of the endive and separate the leaves. Use the largest leaves to stuff. On each endive leaf, spoon 1 tbsp of goat cheese and walnuts. Top with diced pears and drizzle with truffle honey.

From – 

Endive with Pear, Walnut + Goat Cheese