Brain Functions Archives - Page 10 of 10

Creamy Vegan Chocolate Mousse

February 12, 2016/1 Comment/in Boosting Energy, Brain Functions, Digestive Health, Elevated Mood, Increased Athletic Performance, Managing Illnesses, Managing Stress, Weight Management, Youthful Appearance Dessert vegan /by Stacey Isaacs

This creamy vegan chocolate mousse is so delicious that nobody will miss the dairy!

Last year when I was on vacation in Carmel, California, I had the best chocolate mousse in the world. I’m not being overly dramatic. It really was The Best. Chocolate. Mousse. Ever. You know how sometimes out of the blue, for no reason at all, something just pops into your head? Well, the other night that chocolate mousse popped into my head. I really, really wanted some.

OK, so I don’t eat dairy now and I don’t eat sugar now, so what was I to do?

Also, I love eating dessert but I am not a great baker/dessert maker.

I posted a recipe for a healthy chocolate mousse a long time ago, so I looked it up. I remembered it being good, but it really wasn’t that same creamy decadent goodness as the mousse now stuck …

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

January 25, 2016/2 Comments/in Boosting Energy, Boosting Immune System, Brain Functions, Digestive Health, Elevated Mood, Increased Athletic Performance, Managing Illnesses, Managing Stress, Reduced Aches & Pains, Reduced Inflammation, Weight Management, Youthful Appearance Breakfast, Smoothie Bowl American, superfoods /by Stacey Isaacs

This hot chocolate smoothie bowl is my favorite breakfast of all times! It’s deliciously healing and energizing.

This is my favorite breakfast of all times!!!

I know I say a lot of things are my “favorites” but I really mean it this time…

Many mornings I make a healthy superfoods packed shake for breakfast. I adjust the ingredients depending upon what my body needs on that particular day. I use herbs, superfoods, fruit, vegetables… you name it and I’ve blended it up for breakfast.

If you’re looking for a whole list of great breakfast ideas, there are some great recipes here: 10 Breakfasts To Boost Your Energy.

Last week, on a cold windy morning, Steve wasn’t feeling great and asked me to make him a shake to make his sore throat and emerging cold feel better. Now, I’ve done this many times before so I started pulling out the …

Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Chicken

January 22, 2016/8 Comments/in Boosting Energy, Boosting Immune System, Brain Functions, Digestive Health, Managing Illnesses, Reduced Aches & Pains, Weight Management Main Dish, Chicken recipe inspired by:[url href="http://healingfamilyeats.com/chicken-with-cider-vinegar-cream-and-caramelised-apples-aip-2/" target="_blank"]healingfamilyeats.com[/url] /by Stacey Isaacs

Get the amazing healing benefits of apple cider vinegar in this delicious creamy apple cider vinegar chicken dish!

I’ve been making a lot of creamy recipes lately. Maybe it’s because it’s cold. Maybe it’s because I’ve been craving comfort food and creamy somehow means comfort to me. Or, maybe it’s for some other reason that I haven’t yet figured out. But, one thing’s for sure: these creamy recipes are delicious. And they are dairy-free. And they are simple to make. So, really, who cares why I want them…

Today is Friday and in New York we are bracing for the blizzard said to be coming our way tonight. There’s no fireplace here In the apartment we just moved to, so there’ll be no sitting around the fire with a blanket. More likely, we’ll be sitting around the TV binge-watching something while eating this Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Chicken recipe.

Did …

Creamy Broccoli And Mushroom Casserole

January 18, 2016/1 Comment/in Boosting Immune System, Brain Functions, Digestive Health, Managing Illnesses, Weight Management, Youthful Appearance vegetables, side dish, casserole vegan /by Stacey Isaacs

This creamy broccoli and mushroom casserole is vegan!

I am not vegan, but I have to say that I love vegan food. I stopped eating cheese a million years ago when i realized how much better I felt without it, but it wasn’t until recent years — when I learned how to make foods taste cheesy and creamy without real cheese and cream — that I became a lover of all things vegan. I’m not a huge fan of meat substitutes, but give me a vegan creamy, cheesy casserole or some non-dairy ice cream and I’m in foodie heaven.

This creamy broccoli and mushroom casserole makes me happy. It’s comforting and warming and smooth and creamy and it’s just plain delicious.

I make it whenever I’m looking for a simple healthy side dish, especially in the cold winter months.

And, in my house, I’m embarrassed to say that even though …

Pork Chili With Bok Choy

January 11, 2016/0 Comments/in Boosting Energy, Boosting Immune System, Brain Functions, Digestive Health, Elevated Mood, Increased Athletic Performance, Managing Illnesses, Reduced Inflammation, Weight Management, Youthful Appearance chili mexican, american /by Stacey Isaacs

This pork chili with bok choy has a great traditional chili taste will some awesome added extra healing ingredients!

Chili is awesome. It’s warming and delicious and there are about a bazillion different ways to make it. Yes, a bazillion.

I love to open the fridge and put whatever catches my eye into my chili pot.

Right now we are in the process of moving, so sometimes it’s challenging to cook dinner, because half of my things are in the new place and half are in the old place. Sometimes when I start cooking dinner, I forget what’s where and I end up using kitchen tools that really don’t work for the job I need. But chili makes it easy… one pot… no special tools.

There are white chilis and red chilis and hot ones and mild ones. There are meaty versions and veggie versions. There are ones that …

Cherry Berry Smoothie Bowl

January 6, 2016/2 Comments/in Boosting Energy, Boosting Immune System, Brain Functions, Digestive Health, Increased Athletic Performance, Managing Illnesses, Managing Stress, Reduced Aches & Pains, Reduced Inflammation, Weight Management, Youthful Appearance Breakfast, Smoothie Bowl /by Stacey Isaacs

This cherry berry smoothie bowl is delicious, healing, and has everything your body needs to stay healthy!

I remember the first time I had a smoothie bowl. I had been seeing them pop up in photos all over the internet and I thought they were the most beautiful things. Yeah, I’m a bit of a freak that way — I think food photos are gorgeous the way other people think pictures of amazing sunsets are the best…

Then, I went to visit my daughter at college, and I went to a juice bar (I can find a juice bar in any city) and lo and behold they had a whole smoothie bowl menu. I ordered one, ate it, and then went back every morning for another one.

Smoothie bowls are the perfect way to start your day.

I still think these bowls are awesome. I put all of my greens …

10 Clean Eating Recipes

December 31, 2015/0 Comments/in Boosting Energy, Boosting Immune System, Brain Functions, Digestive Health, Elevated Mood, Increased Athletic Performance, Managing Illnesses, Managing Stress, Reduced Aches & Pains, Reduced Inflammation, Weight Management, Youthful Appearance /by Stacey Isaacs

These 10 clean eating recipes are one’s you’ll make again and again!

Okay, so Day One is here! If any part of your New Year’s resolution involves clean eating, you’ll love these recipes.

Here are 10 of my favorite easy to make clean eating recipes. And, each one can be made in advance, so you can make enough for the week in one batch and store the rest in the fridge for the week.

Make a few of these each week and I promise you will feel better. Really. All that bloat that you have from the holidays (okay… all that bloat that I have from the holidays…) will start to disappear. I mean it.

Are you with me? Click on the recipe links beneath each picture and let’s get cooking!!!

Here they are:

This is the best soup. It’s healthy. It keeps well in the fridge. And you can …

Raspberry Chia Pudding

December 27, 2015/5 Comments/in Boosting Energy, Brain Functions, Digestive Health, Managing Illnesses, Reduced Aches & Pains, Reduced Inflammation, Weight Management, Youthful Appearance breakfast, dessert American, superfood, pudding /by Stacey Isaacs

This raspberry chia pudding is delicious and since you can make it the night before, you’ll be so happy in the morning!

It’s Day One. Again. Almost. Next week is when it happens. Yes, it’s time to stop all of my food and eating madness!!!! I’m usually a really healthy eater. I know what my body feels best eating and that’s what I do. But I’m on vacation. And, oh, all of the glorious food… it’s all sooooooooooooo good… and the margaritas… oh my…

I’m getting my recipes ready for my return to health. Chia puddings are awesome for breakfast.

So easy. So quick. So delicious. So healthy.

I’ve even developed a whole plan: Healthy Living Plan For The New Year. I hope you join me!

I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now (okay… always…), so let me customize a recipe for you that will work for …

Spicy Chickpea Turkey And Tomato Stew

December 1, 2015/2 Comments/in Boosting Energy, Boosting Immune System, Brain Functions, Elevated Mood, Managing Illnesses, Managing Stress, Reduced Aches & Pains, Reduced Inflammation, Weight Management stew, chili, one-pot meal /by Stacey Isaacs

This spicy chickpea turkey and tomato stew is so warming and healing!

Why is it that a big pot of spicy stew makes me smile so much?

Do any of you feel the same way?

Whether it’s chili or hot and sour soup or a spicy meat and veggie concoction, just the smell of it makes me happy. Maybe that’s why a huge pot of chili is often on my stove. Or, maybe it’s because I love football and all of the traditional foods associated with the game. I’m sure it’s partly because a big pot of simmering goodness is the perfect foil for my Chinese herbs.

But it’s mostly because it’s just so yummy! And warming! And filling!

Whatever the reason, this stew came together because I had a hankering for chili, but it wasn’t football Sunday. So, what’s a cook to do? Lots of times, I just make …

Persimmon Pomegranate Smoothies

November 27, 2015/1 Comment/in Boosting Energy, Brain Functions, Digestive Health, Managing Illnesses, Reduced Aches & Pains, Weight Management, Youthful Appearance Smoothie /by Stacey Isaacs

When persimmon season hits you have to try these persimmon pomegranate smoothies — so sweet and so healthy!

Here it is the day after Thanksgiving. When I walked into my kitchen this morning and looked around, I saw all of the food that remained staring at me. I’m not talking about leftovers (although there are plenty of those…); I’m talking about the fresh ingredients that I bought with grandiose ideas of preparing so many more dishes than we needed. Or that I had time to make. Or that I was in the mood to make after a few glasses of wine…

So, this morning, on my kitchen island calling out to me were the most beautiful, huge persimmons you have ever seen. Persimmons are amazing. They are in season now and here in New York they are everywhere. The farmers markets have them, the fruit vendors on the street are …