Nutella is probably my favorite food on a cheat day. I love it on bread, crêpes, pretzels, on everything. Even though my family has always led a healthy life, Nutella was always part of our breakfast. We all love it. No hazelnut spread can compete with it, nothing tastes like it, there is simply nothing like Nutella. As we all know, Nutella cannot really be considered healthy, but that’s ok because nobody is perfect and we can allow ourselves to eat it from time to time. If you’re such a big Nutella junkie like my family or my boyfriend, however, I am talking about going through one jar a week, then this healthy version of Nutella is perfect for you.

It is so creamy and sweet, nutty and chocolaty, and it even convinced the most sceptical Nutella lovers in my family. It is the best Nutella substitute you will find, and the best thing is that you can easily make it yourselves. All you need is a good food processor, hazelnuts, almond milk, maple syrup and a touch of vanilla. My favorite part is that it is also really good for you as it contains many important nutrients and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc which actually make it an antioxidant power spread. The hazelnuts also contain the important vitamin E which is important for healthy skin, hair and nais. The tiny nuts also regulate the blood pressure, which is my excuse to indulge in my healthy nutella all the time. It’s really the perfect healthy guilt-free version of Nutella you will ever find.

Health benefits in this heavenly healthy Nutella:
– calcium (important for bone, teeth, muscle and nerve health)
– iron (important for healthy red blood cells that transport oxygen through your body)
– magnesium (important to maintain bone integrity, manages blood pressure and cholesterol levels)
– mono-unsaturated fats (decreases risks for breast cancer, important for heart health)
– potassium (lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure)
– vitamin B (lowers blood pressure, important for healthy nerves, and energy production)
– vitamin E (antioxidant against free radicals, prevents skin ageing
– zinc (important for growth, skin, and a healthy immune system)

Enjoy!

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So before I start with this recipe, I want to thank you all for all the kind words and the support that you’ve shown me in the days following my blog launch. I did not expect anything like that. It is incredible how many of you have messaged me or left such sweet comments. Every one of them has made my week. I hope that you will all stop by frequently and get some kitchen inspiration from the recipes. If you simply want to stop by and just look at the pictures, that’s also totally fine.

I also want to take this time to quickly thank my family and closest friends for the support they’ve shown me these past weeks. It is not a given that your family supports you no matter what you do – especially when you have the crazy idea of starting your own food blog. So, thanks Mom and Dad.

Now on to this new recipe. Carrot soup is probably everyone’s favorite during winter time. The combination of carrots and coconut milk is simply amazing, and I actually don’t know a single soul who doesn’t like carrot soup. The mango gives this dish a special Asian touch though. The exotic fruit gives the soup the special hint of sweetness, and add makes it even more creamy, which I love about it. If you are wondering about the dark carrots in the picture, I picked these rainbow carrots up at the local farmer’s market, and I immediately fell in love with their beauty that I simply had to place them in the picture. I did not use them in the recipe because they are a bit pricey, so you do not need to buy them for this dish. I just wanted to show you that they are out there and that they taste amazing as a snack. Ok, now that we’ve clarified this, let’s get to the fun part, the health benefits:

Health benefits in this carrot coconut mango soup:
– fiber (important for heart health, lowers cholesterol levels)
– iron (important for healthy red blood cells that transport oxygen through your body)
– magnesium (important to maintain bone integrity, manages blood pressure and cholesterol levels)
– potassium (lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure)
– vitamin A (antioxidant powerhouse, anti-aging benefits, maintenance of good eye-sight)
– vitamin B (lowers blood pressure, important for healthy nerves, and energy production)
– vitamin C (good for your immune system, tissue health)
– vitamin E (antioxidant against free radicals, prevents skin ageing
– vitamin K (important for blood clotting and healthy bones)

Ingredients:
Serves 4
– 1 onion
– 1 clove garlic
– 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger
– 6 cups (800g) carrots
– 1 mango
– 2 tbsp (20g) extra-virgin olive oil
– 2 cups (500ml) vegetable broth
– 1 can coconut milk
– 2 tsp curry powder
– ½ tsp cinnamon
– 1 tsp coriander (optional)
– 1 tsp cumin (optional)
– 1 tsp salt
– ½ tsp pepper

Start by preparing your ingredients: Peel and dice the onion and garlic. Slice the ginger with the skin on. Peel the carrots and chop them into rough pieces. Remove the skin of the mango and cube its flesh.
In a large saucepan,heat the oil and sauté the onion and garlic for about 1-2 minutes. Add the carrots, ginger and half of the mango cubes, and cook on medium to high heat for 5 minutes. Add the vegetable broth, and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. Once the carrots are nice and soft, remove from heat, add the remaining mango cubes (safe some for decoration) and the coconut milk and blend the soup in a blender until evenly smooth. Pour the soup back into the saucepan and the spices. Add a little bit more of them if desired.

Serve with bread.

Enjoy!

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I admit that the thought of eating vegetable granola is a little bit disturbing in the beginning. At least I thought so when my boyfriend (who’s basically addicted to red beets) suggested adding beets to my breakfast granola. The thought of adding a great source of iron to my morning diet was actually kind of appealing so I started experimenting a little bit. And the result is divine – trust me you will love it.

Not only does it taste delicious, it also looks amazing because it is red! Since I added apple sauce to the recipe, the granola does not have the beet typical earthy (hence too healthy) flavor. The apple sauce combined with cinnamon and agave create a great mixture of different flavors in your mouth – and it totally overruns the beety taste.

Health benefits:
– iron (important for healthy red blood cells that transport oxygen through your body)
– lauric acid (prevents heart diseases and lowers blood pressure)
– magnesium (important for a healthy nerve system, muscle health, energy production)
– mono-unsaturated fats (decreases risks for breast cancer, important for heart health)
– potassium (lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure)
– vitamin B1 (important for nerve health)
– vitamin B2 (needed to extract energy from carbohydrates, protein and fats)
– vitamin B3 (important for energy production and antioxidant protection)
– vitamin B5 (important for energy production; lowers cholesterol and blood pressure)
– zinc (important for growth, skin and a functioning immune system)

Besides being a great source of iron, this granola gives you everything you need to start your busy day. The pumpkin seeds are a great source of zinc, the nuts provide healthy mono-unsaturated fatty acids which are considered the “good” kind of fats that help lower cholesterol.  There is a debate about the health benefits of coconut oil as it is rich in saturated fats, which are actually considered “bad” for the body. Others argue however, that coconut is actually very beneficial for the heart because it contains 50% of lauric acid which is thought to prevent heart diseases and lower blood pressure. Since I indulge in anything that can help lower my blood-pressure I definitely prefer coconut oil over butter or vegetable oils.

The buckwheat is a great gluten-free alternative to regular oats, and it is loaded with magnesium and vitamins such as B1, B2, B3, B5 and potassium that help lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Interestingly, buckwheat is not a grain as commonly perceived, but actually a fruit seed related to rhubarb, which is why it is perfect for people who are sensitive to wheat.

Ingredients:
– 1 medium beetroot (200g)
– 2 cups (160g) (gluten-free) oats
– ½ cup (85g) raw buckwheat
– ½ cup (60g) sunflower seeds
– ½ cup (60g) pumpkin seeds
– ½ cup (70g) raw unpeeled almonds (with skin)
– ½ cup (70g) pecans
– ½ cup (120g) apple sauce, unsweetened
– 2 Tbs virgin coconut oil
– 3 tbs agave
– 3 tsps cinnamon

You can add or leave out any ingredient that you do not like or cannot eat. If you’re allergic to nuts just leave them out and add flax seeds instead. You can get creative with the ingredients once you get familiar with the recipe.

Start by pre-heating the oven to 200°. Wrap the whole beet in tin foil (with the skin) and place it in the oven for about 60-75 minutes.

In the meantime, put the almonds and pecans into a food processor and crush for 2-3 pulses until they are broken into pieces. They should not be completely crushed, you still want to be able to identify them as nut pieces. Place the crushed nuts into a large bowl. Add all the dry ingredients except cinnamon, and stir well until the ingredients are combined.

After an hour or so, take the beet out of the oven. It’ll be done when you can easily put a knife through the skin. Peel it and put it into a strong blender or food-processor until you have a smooth beet puree. You might need to add some water or apple sauce if your blender isn’t strong enough.

Next, melt the coconut oil in a small sauce pan. Add the agave, cinnamon, apple sauce and beet puree. Stir well until everything is combined.

Now pour the sweet beet mix over the dry ingredients and stir well. The mixture should be covered evenly and it should be slightly sticky.

Heat the oven to 170°. Pour your granola mix into a baking tray (you might want to spread some parchment paper over it) and bake for about 40 minutes. After 10 minutes or so, take the pan out and stir well so the outer edges do not get burned.  Repeat this every 5-10 minutes for the rest of the time.

After 40 minutes, take out the tray and leave it to cool for about 20 minutes. By this time the granola should have a dark red color and your kitchen should smell divine.

Serve with milk, non-dairy milk, yoghurt or non-dairy yogurt, top with fruits. Stored in an air-tight container it should taste amazing for 3-4 weeks.

Enjoy!

The post Beetroot and Apple Granola appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Thai is one of my favorite cuisines. It’s so delicious and healthy, it fills you up but doesn’t let you feel stuffed. I love how many vegetables you can add to a curry, there are literally no rules on what belongs in it. That way you can use whatever body is craving, and it will turn out great no matter what. If you do not have all the vegetables in my ingredients list, just switch it with some other veggie that you still have at home. The recipe is extremely easy to make, it’s a guaranteed success and a great lunch or dinner.

I use green curry paste in this recipe, which I bought at the local asian store. It is gluten-free and only contains fresh green chilli, lemongrass, garlic, shallots, salt, galangal, cumin and coriander seeds. No nasty preservatives or anything I can’t pronounce.
The coconut milk gives curries their unique creamy texture and flavor. The plant-based milk is probably a vegan’s best friend, because it is an amazing alternative to dairy milk or cream. Although high in saturated fats, it has many great vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, which is said to lower blood pressure or magnesium which is great for a healthy immune system.
Naturally, thai curries are packed with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Depending on what veggies you add, the nutrients may vary, but the dish is certainly a great way to combine health and deliciousness.
My tip: this dish is great for a girls night in because there is a lot to chop, and almost everybody loves a good curry. It is also dairy and gluten-free, so it is perfect for people suffering from food allergies.

Health benefits:
– copper (important for the development of the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves; important for the transformation of melanin which is involved in the pigmentation of hair, eyes and skin)
– fiber (important for heart health, lowers cholesterol levels)
– iron (important for healthy red blood cells that transport oxygen through your body)
– magnesium (important for a healthy nerve system, muscle health, energy production)
– potassium (lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure)
– vitamin A (antioxidant powerhouse, anti-aging benefits, maintenance of good eye-sight)
– vitamin B (lowers blood pressure, important for healthy nerves, and energy production)
– vitamin C (good for your immune system, tissue health)
– vitamin E (antioxidant against free radicals, prevents skin ageing)
– vitamin K (important for blood clotting and healthy bones)

Ingredients:
Serves 2 hungry
– 3 carrots
– 1 red pepper
– 1 zucchini
– 3 cups (150g) sprouts
– 2 cups (200g) mushrooms
– 1 cup (130g) frozen peas
– 2 strands of lemongrass
– 3 tbsp (45g) green curry paste
– 2 tbsp (60ml) glutenfree soy sauce
– a thumb-size piece of fresh ginger
– 2 tbsp (30ml) rapeseed oil
– 2 cans (400g) coconut milk lite
– 1 tbsp (15ml) maple syrup
– salt to taste

Start by chopping all vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Then finely chop the ginger. Peel the lemongrass, and also finely chop its the inner layer. In a large pan or wok, heat up the oil. Add the ginger, and lemongrass to the wok and sauté for 2 minutes. Next, add the curry paste and cook for another 2 minutes so it releases all its flavor. Now add the carrots, and cook for about 5 minutes. Then add all the red pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, peas, and sprouts. Cook everything for 5-7 minutes, then pour the coconut milk into the wok. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 25 minutes.
Remove the wok from the heat and add the maple sirup and salt. Add more curry paste if desired.

Serve with whole grain rice or quinoa.

Enjoy!

The post Thai Curry with Lemongrass appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

When I was strolling over the local farmer’s market last Saturday, I immediately eyed the beautiful striped eggplants. I mean just look at them. I think they really belong to the most beautiful vegetables out there. They were almost too pretty to eat them!
I had some sweet potatoes left and amaranth from a granola recipe testing, so I decided to stuff these beauties with both the sweet potatoes and the amaranth. Since I am a big fan of sauces and creams, I added an avocado sauce which made the outcome amazing.

All you need for this recipe is amaranth, which is a gluten-free grain alternative also known as a “power grain”. It is widely known among athlets because it is commonly found in engery or protein bars. Amaranth is packed with protein, amino acids such as lysin which is important for healthy skin and bones, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium or iron. It is pretty great to add to your diet. In combination with the sweet potatoes and the avocado basil pesto, it is a real power dish that I am sure you will love.

Health benefits:
– calcium (important for bone, teeth, muscle and nerve health)
– iron (important for healthy red blood cells that transport oxygen through your body)
– magnesium (important to maintain bone integrity, manages blood pressure and cholesterol levels)
– fiber (important for heart health, lowers cholesterol levels)
– omega-3-fatty-acids (prevents heart disease, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure)
– protein (important for a healthy metabolism, immune systems, production of enzymes)
– vitamin A (antioxidant powerhouse, anti-aging benefits, maintenance of good eye-sight)
– vitamin B (lowers blood pressure, important for healthy nerves, and energy production)
– vitamin E (antioxidant against free radicals, prevents skin aging)
– vitamin K (important for blood clotting and healthy bones)

Ingredients:
Serves 4
– 2 eggplants
– 1/2 cup (100g) amaranth
– 1 ½ cup (375g) water
– 2 sweet potatoes (400g)
– 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
– 1 tsp cumin
– 1/2 tsp cinnamon
– ½ tsp coriander
– ¼ tsp salt
– 3 tbsp olive oil

For the avocado basil pesto:
Ingredients:
– 2 ripe avocados
– 1 cup basil leaves (a large handful)
– two small handful of pine nuts
– 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
– 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
– salt

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celcius (390°F). Then peel and cut the sweet potatoes into little cubes. Add them to a bowl with 1 tbsp of the olive oil, cumin, cinnamon, coriander and salt and mix well until the potatoes are completely coated. Place them on a baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes.
In the meantime prepare the amaranth. Add the grains to a medium saucepan filled with the water and the apple cider vinegar. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. Take off the stove and let it stand for another 20 minutes.

Now take the sweet potatoes out of the oven and add them to the amaranth.

Next, half the eggplants and take out the inner flesh with a spoon. Place the halves into one large or two medium baking sheets and bake for about 10 minutes.

In the meantime make the avocado basil pesto:
Simply take out the avocado flesh with a spoon and add it to a blender together with all the other ingredients. Blend until smooth and creamy. If your blender is not strong enough, add some water to make it blend easier.

Next, take the eggplants out, grease them with the remaining olive oil, then back into the oven for another 5 minutes. Take them out again, and fill their bottom with the sweet potato amaranth mix. Spread the avocado basil pesto on top and bake for another 5 minutes until everything is nicely soft and warm.

Sprinkle with some more pine nuts and enjoy!

The post Amaranth Stuffed Eggplants appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

I have got to give credit to my boyfriend for this recipe. He actually surprised me with this soup one day. Since we are both addicted to sweet potatoes and beetroots, it was kind of a given that we would one day even it them in the liquid form. This Sweet Potato and Beetroot Soup with Blood Oranges is the best thing for a cold winter night. Not only does it warm you up, it is also extremely filling and provides you with many nutrients that the body needs during a long and cold winter. The sweetness of the sweet potatoes combined with the beetroot and the almost sour taste of the blood orange juice is simply heavenly. I’m sure you will love it just as much as we do.

Health benefits:
– calcium (important for bone, teeth, muscle and nerve health)
– folic acid (important for a healthy heart; prevents certain cancers)
– iron (important for healthy red blood cells that transport oxygen through your body)
– vitamin A (antioxidant powerhouse, anti-aging benefits, maintenance of good eye-sight)
– vitamin B (lowers blood pressure, important for healthy nerves, and energy production)
– vitamin C (good for your immune system, tissue health)
– vitamin E (antioxidant against free radicals, prevents skin ageing)

Ingredients:
Serves 4 or 2 hungry
– 2 large sweet potatoes
– 1 large beetroot
– 3 blood oranges
– 1 onion
– 1 clove garlic
– 1 tbsp olive oil
– 2 cups (500ml) (gluten-free) vegetable broth
– ¾ cup (200ml) coconut milk
– 1 piece of ginger (about the size of a small thumb)
– salt and pepper to taste

Start by peeling and chopping the onion and the garlic. Then peel and cut the sweet potato and the beetroot into large cubes. Then slice the ginger (don’t peel it). In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the chopped onion and garlic. Sauté for about 2-3 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes, beetroot, and ginger, and cook, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes. Add the vegetable broth and let it cook, covered, for about 25 minutes. While the soup cooks, juice the blood oranges.

After about 25 minutes your kitchen should smell divine and the sweet potatoes should be easily broken down with a fork. Place the soup into a blender (you may have to do this in a few steps depending on the size of yours) and blend it until the soup is heavenly smooth. Put the soup back into the saucepan and heat it up again for 2-3 minutes on high heat. Then lower the heat and add the coconut milk and the blood orange juice. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with (gluten-free) bread.

Enjoy!

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