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Paleo Creamy Carrot Soup

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Creamy. Delicate. Flavorful. Delicious. Healthy. And, so easy! This paleo creamy carrot soup is all these things and more…

paleo blender carrot soup

I am not a winter person. I always wanted to be a winter person, but alas… I am not.

I tried to like skiing. It looks so cool and sexy when I see other people do it. I hate heights and I don’t enjoy being cold, so this didn’t go so well for me.

I don’t like having to bundle up in heavy layers each time I want to go out. It actually annoys me…

But, I do love a good sweater and a cute pair of boots.

And, I do love winter food. Comfort food. Stew. Cups of hot lattes, superfood creamy drinks, and hot tea make me really happy.

The best of all: SOUP.

I love a good hearty, chunky soup like my White Bean And Kale Soup or Spring Vegetable Soup… but, every now and then I love a creamy, light, delicate, velvety soup. The taste and the texture make me smile.

This paleo creamy carrot soup has all of the requisite characteristics to be one of my favorite soups. The original recipe is amazing and it’s from Heidi at 101 Cookbooks.

I love to take a creamy soup like this one and add some toppings that add texture. I topped this velvety paleo creamy carrot soup with crunchy buckwheat groats and pomegranate seeds. The combination of the crunchy with the smooth makes each spoonful so good!

I love creating customized recipes for people. And soup’s an easy one! I want you to sign up for a free phone consultation with me… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. So CLICK HERE to be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation… I’d love to create a soup just for you and your needs.

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So, instead of skiing, I’m the one who stays in front of the fireplace. Or, even better, in front of the stove stirring a pot of soup, while everyone else is outside building up an appetite. And, I am more than happy with this arrangement… a little music, a roaring fireplace, a hot toddy or a cuppa something healing… I’m happy as a clam…

I like to serve a creamy, warming veggie casserole of some sort with this soup… something like a Paleo Brussels Sprouts Gratin. Yum. And, if you want to keep the soup vegan too, just swap out the ghee for olive oil or coconut oil.

paleo blender carrot soup

You can top this soup with whatever you like. A pile of microgreens and a drizzle of truffle oil would be awesome. Or, how about some chopped pistachio nuts with some lemon zest? The possibilities are endless…

paleo blender carrot soup

This simple paleo creamy carrot soup doesn’t have too many ingredients, but the few ingredients it does have, really pack a healing punch:

Carrots help strengthen the organs in your body. They also are good for the eyes (this is their claim to fame) and they promote healthy digestion. Many moons ago, people used to make carrot tea to ward off measles and to prevent cancer. Carrots help detoxify the body and in today’s world of Chinese medicine, they are prescribed to ease constipation and tonsillitis.

In Asian medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. And perhaps most importantly, it helps you keep your mind sharp and it makes it easier for you to focus. I like to use full-fat canned coconut milk for this soup.

Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. Recently, I recommended that a patient with bronchitis put sliced raw onions in her socks when she went to sleep… she woke up so much better; they actually can rid the body of bacteria. (I know I’ve told you this before, but it really is awesome!) Onion is a superhero in the food world!

Ghee is one of the best fats to cook with. Ghee is a clarified butter that has had the milk solids removed and it is lactose free. And, it has the delicious taste of butter.  It has a high smoking point, and it doesn’t have to be refrigerated. I recommend buying organic ghee if possible. It contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.

paleo blender carrot soup

Paleo Creamy Carrot Soup
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Recipe type: soup, paleo, whole30, comfort food, vegetarian
Cuisine: Recipe adapted from: 101 Cookbooks
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This paleo creamy carrot soup is really easy to make and deliciously healthy to eat. It's velvety smooth and rich in flavor. It will help your digestion and your immune system!
Ingredients
  • 2 Tbs ghee (or substitute olive or coconut oil for vegan)
  • 1 med onion, chopped
  • sea salt, to taste
  • 1 Tbs red curry paste
  • 2 lb carrots, peeled and cut into 1-in pieces
  • 1 14-oz can full-fat coconut milk
  • 14 oz water (just fill up the coconut milk can)
  • Optional toppings: hemp seeds, raw buckwheat groats, pomegranate seeds, microgreens, lemon zest, truffle oil (whatever makes you smile). I topped mine with buckwheat groats and pomegranate seeds.
Instructions
  1. Heat the ghee in a large soup pot over med heat.
  2. Add the onion and season it with salt.
  3. Saute, stirring, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 mins.
  4. Add the curry paste and cook, stirring 1 min.
  5. Add the carrots, and stir for 1 min.
  6. Add the coconut milk and the water.
  7. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered for 15 mins. Then, cover and simmer an additional 10- to- 15 mins or until the carrots are tender.
  8. Transfer mixture to a blender, or use a hand blender to blend until smooth.
  9. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle on the toppings of your choice.
  10. Enjoy

paleo creamy carrot soup

Pineapple Mango Smoothie

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This pineapple mango smoothie is bright and refreshing… but the best thing about it is that it will help your digestion!

pineapple mango smoothie

I make smoothies all the time. I mean, every day. My Vitamix gets more use than any kitchen tool I’ve ever owned. I just love the idea that I can pick out whatever food and herbs and supplements I need at a particular moment, toss them all in the blender, and have a healing cocktail of sorts that will boost my energy, fix my digestion, decrease my inflammation, or lift my mood in a matter of seconds.

To me, it’s like magic. Smoothies are the epitome of food is medicine.

When I was in school getting my Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine, we learned all about the value and the amazing healing powers of Chinese herbs. And, I  cook with Chinese herbs all the time. One of my favorite things to do is to introduce my clients to these amazing plant-based medicines.

While it was my culinary school training that started my obsession with more traditional food herbs, like basil, it was my Chinese herbal medicine training that taught me the healing abilities and properties of these more traditional herbs. This pineapple mango smoothie includes a large amount of basil. And basil, is one of the most healing food herbs around. Not only is it great for your immune system, but it’s also a spiritual herb and will lift your mood.

Healing. Delicious. Simple. Those are the 3 words that describe the perfect smoothie.

But… yes, there’s always a but… sometimes I get stuck in a smoothie rut. I fall into the trap of using the same ingredients way too often. I find that green, brown, and red are the colors of most of my smoothie creations.

Okay, if I’m being totally honest — if I’m just making one for myself, oftentimes it’s really ugly. Really healing, but really ugly. I’ve been told sometimes that they are the color of baby poop. Wow, that’s pretty unappetizing… but honesty’s worth a lot, isn’t it?

So, I’ve made a pact with myself (do you ever do that?) that I will make new smoothies, with new combinations of ingredients.

Another thing I’m trying to do is to use fewer ingredients in these recipes. Yes, I do love my powders, potions, and supplements, but sometimes less is more.

This pineapple mango smoothie is one of my newest blended recipes. And look… it’s YELLOW. This one makes me happy just to look at it. But, when you taste it, you will really smile.

The combination of the pineapple with the mango is like a tropical explosion in your mouth. The banana gives it just the right amount of creaminess, and then… for the piece de resistance… a big handful of fresh bright green fragrant basil leaves. The aroma itself is incredible!

Okay, have I talked you into making this pineapple mango smoothie yet?

I hope so. And, if you want another great awesome, colorful smoothie creation, try my Pink Pitaya Mango Smoothie Bowl recipe.

pineapple mango smoothie

I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now… let me customize a recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. I’ve got a smoothie with your name on it…  So CLICK HERE to be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.

pineapple mango smoothie

Each ingredient in this pineapple mango smoothie really packs a healing nutritional punch:

Pineapple is great for your digestion and it can help stop diarrhea. It’s especially good in the summer because it fights against heatstroke. And, if you haven’t tried drinking pure pineapple juice when you have a cough… you’ve really been missing out because pineapple juice is the best cough suppressant around!

Mangos are great for digestion and they help if you have one of those annoying dry coughs that just won’t go away. This delicious fruit will also help strengthen your bones and is good for your heart.

I love to add bananas to smoothie bowls; they offer a great natural sweetness and a nice creamy texture. Bananas are good for your intestines (an old Asian remedy was to eat a banana every day to relieve hemorrhoids) and your lungs, and they even help relieve the effects of overindulging in alcohol.

Basil has anti-viral and anti-bacterial capabilities. It also is good for settling your stomach, and it’s good at lessening the symptoms of the common cold and its accompanying cough. Basil is a spiritual herb — the scent actually calms you; you can boil some in a pot and let the aroma fill the air, you can just leave some around the house, you can toss a bunch in your bath water (I love to do this), or you can use an essential oil with basil to get some great calming effects.

Extra-virgin olive oil is amazing. It is good for just about everything. It is great for your heart and has even been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks when added into a healthy diet. It’s also good for your brain, and can reduce some of the inflammation in your body. I recommend buying extra-virgin olive oil because it is less processed than some other olive oils. Also, with olive oils, sometimes you get what you pay for, so if you are able to taste the oils before you buy, that’s a great thing to do.

pineapple mango smoothie

If you make this Pineapple Mango Smoothie, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Pineapple Mango Smoothie
5.0 from 1 reviews
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Recipe type: smoothie, fruit, breakfast, snack
Cuisine: paleo, whole30, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free
Author:
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 1
This pineapple mango smoothie is like sunshine in a glass. It only has a few ingredients, and it will help your digestions... and it is delicious!
Ingredients
  • ½ of a fresh pineapple, cut into chunks (discard the outer rind)
  • 1 mango, pit and peel discarded
  • ½ of a banana (if you have a frozen one, even better)
  • 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • large handful of fresh basil leaves
  • ice (optional)
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients into a blender (I used my Vitamix, so it was pretty quick).
  2. Whiz it up until smooth.
  3. Pour into your favorite glass.
  4. Enjoy!

pineapple mango smoothie

Energy Boosting Red Smoothie

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There’s a lot of talk about green smoothies… but red ones are awesome! Try this energy boosting red smoothie!

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Orange Peel Chicken

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Chicken and oranges pair so well together and orange peels are great for your digestion… enter: orange peel chicken!

orange peel chicken

This past weekend I was at my son’s college graduation. I’m such a proud mom and I just love that kid so much that of course now in the days past the graduation all I’m doing is thinking about him. He likes to cook, so I love to come up with recipes that I think he would like and that are easy to prepare. This one fits the bill — but when he makes it I’m sure a lot of hot peppers will go into the sauce.

I love chicken dishes with fruit. A great friend of mine once made me his version of Caribbean chicken with lots or oranges and lemons and cherries. This was many years ago, and I still think about that dish today.  So, these things had me thinking…

I know, I really should get a life. All I do is think about food…

My favorite lemonade is made with whole lemons (here’s that recipe) — peel and everything. And I absolutely love grating lime zest on everything! So, when I was making orange chicken the other day, I figured why not use the whole orange. Yup, this orange peel chicken uses the entire orange — peel and everything.

All I did was put all of my orange sauce ingredients into my Vitamix, whiz it up and cook the chicken in it. Not only is this recipe delicious, but I underestimated the amount of sauce my ingredients would make and I had enough sauce to freeze half of it for another time… which is definitely a really good thing! There’s nothing better than a freezer stocked with awesome sauces…

orange peel chicken

orange peel chicken

Nutritionally speaking, this chicken is awesome:

Oranges will help boost your levels of vitamins A, B and C. In Chinese medicine oranges have been used for many years to help coughs, colds and anorexia. Lately, oranges have been widely touted for their ability to help heal colon cancer. I peel my oranges and lay the rinds in the sun to dry, and save them for tea or for cooking because the orange rinds are an actual Chinese herb. I dry out the peels of oranges, tangerines, clementines… whatever I have. Dried tangerine peel, or “chen pi” as it’s known in Chinese medicine, is one of the greatest and most easily accessible herbs around. It’s especially good for digestive issues like abdominal discomfort, distention, fullness, bloating, belching, and nausea. It’s also great if you have a cough with a heavy or stuffy chest.

Ginger is a Chinese herb (Gan Jiang) that warms the body. It’s especially good during cold weather and also during seasonal changes. So, when it’s winter or when winter is trying to turn into spring, and we (those of us on the east coast) get some of these cold, raw, damp days, ginger will make you feel better and will help boost your immune system. Old folklore shows that ginger was rubbed on scalps to stop baldness. And, in some circles, a ginger paste is still rubbed on arthritic joints to stop pain (don’t try this at home unless you are diagnosed with a cold-condition by an acupuncturist).

Chicken is something I push people to buy organic if possible. Organic chicken is a great, healthy protein to give you energy, lessen the pain of some types of arthritis, and boost your system when you are particularly weak — like after surgery or childbirth. People who have some conditions that we consider “excess heat” conditions should limit the amount of chicken they eat. So, if you have an illness that gives you a bright red tongue or severe dryness in your body, check with your doctor first. For example, if you have a lot of burning stomach acid, you should avoid chicken for awhile…

Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….

orange peel chicken

Orange Peel Chicken
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Recipe type: chicken, poultry, main dish
Cuisine: Asian
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Toss some whole oranges into your blender (peel and all), add a few more ingredients, cook the chicken in this delicious mixture, and you will have a delicious and healthy dinner.
Ingredients
  • 8 boneless chicken thighs (about 2-1/4 lb)
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 large oranges (organic if possible), washed, unpeeled, cut into quarters
  • 1 Tbs sliced fresh ginger
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • ¾ cup coconut sugar
  • ½ cup plum sauce or hoisin sauce or korean bbq sauce (use whatever healthy version is available)
  • 1 -1/2 tsp sriracha
  • ¾ cup chicken broth
  • 1 tsp raw apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ tsp five spice powder
Instructions
  1. Preheat your broiler.
  2. Heat oil in a large sautee pan over medium-high heat.
  3. Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper.
  4. Brown the chicken on both sides in the oil, about 5 minutes on each side.
  5. Place all of the remaining ingredients into a blender and whiz it up until it's really smooth. (I used my Vitamix so this didn't take too long.)
  6. When the chicken is browned, pour enough of your blended orange sauce into the pan so that the chicken is mostly covered. Stir to coat the chicken.
  7. Cover the pan and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
  8. Transfer the chicken, shaking off excess sauce, to a baking sheet.
  9. (I saved my extra sauce and put it in the freezer for another time!)
  10. Place the sheet under the broiler until the sauced chicken starts to char a bit (about 3 minutes).
  11. Enjoy!

orange peel chicken

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

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

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

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 cold and flu healing ingredients from the cabinets and refrigerator.

All of a sudden it was like a lightbulb went off and poof… the best idea ever!

It’ cold outside. He’s cold inside. He needs something warm and comforting. I’m going to make a hot shake! And I started putting the ingredients into a pot on the stove before I put them into the blender. When the new creation was done, I tasted it and it was incredibly delicious, but too thick for a shake in a glass. It ended up being a warm smoothie bowl, and it’s the best breakfast ever!

It tastes like hot chocolate in the consistency of a smooth and creamy chocolate mousse. Yum. And it’s got a kick of ginger and the sweetness of bananas. This Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl is truly amazing. You have to try this!

He felt better, but I made this yummy bowl 3 mornings in a row, and I rarely make the same thing more than once… but this is that good!

My favorite summer smoothie bowl is my Cherry Berry Smoothie Bowl, so if you want something cold try this one too!

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

Look at some of the amazing things in this healing smoothie bowl:

In Asian medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten-free. Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation. Even if you are not on a dairy-free diet, almond milk is the way to go.  This recipe uses almond milk and almond butter.

Raw cacao is a superfood. It is packed with magnesium, iron, zinc and other minerals. Not only is it packed with health benefits, but it actually has properties that help the body absorb nutrients better and it’s filled with antioxidants. Cacao can actually be translated as “food of the gods”… Raw cacao can help lower blood pressure, promote healthy heart function, improve digestion, and may even help increase the libido.

Baobab is a superfood that is a powder made from an African fruit. This amazing superfood has tons of vitamin C to boost your immune system and it’s great for energy. Sometimes I put some in my water bottle to keep my hydrated throughout the day. It’s easy to put a scoop in anything for a pick-me-up.

Maca Root is one of the superfoods I take every day. It has many healthy benefits including increasing libido, helping menopausal symptoms, relieving menstrual cramps, regulating hormones, and increasing energy.

I add either collagen or grass-fed gelatin powder to my smoothie bowls. They are great for your bones, joints, sleep, skin, and hair. It’s a superfood and it’s a protein. (See the recipe below for the one I like and where to buy it.)

Research shows that pumpkin seeds may reduce blood sugar and increase bone density. And, because they are rich in iron, they are good if you are tired or have anemia. In Asian medicine, pumpkin seeds are sometimes used to get rid of intestinal parasites and to decrease inflammation in the body. I buy pumpkin seed protein in powder form because it’s a great easy way to add protein to my shakes and smoothies without adding any extra sugar. (See the recipe for where to buy it.)

Ginger is a Chinese herb (Gan Jiang) that warms the body. It’s especially good during cold weather and also during seasonal changes. So, when it’s winter or when winter is trying to turn into spring, and we (those of us on the east coast) get some of these cold, raw, damp days, ginger will make you feel better and will help boost your immune system. Old folklore shows that ginger was rubbed on scalps to stop baldness. And, in some circles, a ginger paste is still rubbed on arthritic joints to stop pain (don’t try this at home unless you are diagnosed with a cold-condition by an acupuncturist).

I love to add bananas to smoothie bowls; they give it a great natural sweetness and a nice thick texture. Bananas are good for your intestines (an old Asian remedy was to eat a banana every day to relieve hemorrhoids) and your lungs, and they even help relieve the effects of overindulging in alcohol.

Dates are rich in potassium, dietary fiber and tannins. Fiber is good for your gut and tannins help the body fight inflammation and infection. Dates are also rich in vitamin A and iron. The most amazing thing about dates is that they can be used to replace sugar in almost anything. I stopped using sweetened protein powders in my smoothies and now I use unsweetened ones but I add a few dates.

Chaga mushrooms are a longevity superfood. I use a chaga mushroom extract powder that makes it easy to add this immune-system-boosting mushroom to my smoothies. There’s a lot of research being done on the power of chaga right now and it’s possible ability to help fight cancer. It’s also good for your intestinal system and it can help calm your nerves. (See the recipe below for where to buy this amazing ingredient.)

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

 

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl
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Recipe type: Breakfast, Smoothie Bowl
Cuisine: American, superfoods
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2
This is a hot smoothie bowl! It tastes like hot chocolate, is filled with immune-boosting superfoods and has the texture of a creamy chocolate mousse. It's the best breakfast ever!
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Put the almond milk, almond butter, cacao, baobab, chaga, maca, coconut oil, collagen, pumpkin protein, and ginger in a medium pot. Whisk to combine.
  2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer about 3 minutes.
  3. Put the banana and dates into a blender.
  4. Pour the liquid from the pot into the blender.
  5. Cover the blender tightly with a clean dish towel (using a towel instead of the blender cap will allow steam to escape so you don't burn yourself), and blend until creamy and smooth.
  6. Pour into 2 bowls.
  7. Top with chopped walnuts

 

Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl