Recipes

Recipes, Smoothies

Almond Butter and Banana Protein Smoothie

This Almond Butter and Banana Protein Smoothie is healthy, paleo and gluten-free.

This Almond Butter and Banana Protein Smoothie is healthy, paleo and gluten-free.

Note: This post contains affiliate links for Amazon.

So, my Almond Butter and Banana Protein Smoothie is crazy easy, healthy, vegan, and gluten-free. It pretty much has it all. I always have these ingredients on hand for a smoothie. It’s quick, easy, and nutritious. Plus, it’s the foundation for most of my smoothie variations such as my Gingerbread Protein Smoothie, my Blueberry Pineapple Protein Smoothie, and my Apple Cinnamon Protein Smoothie.

To make this smoothie, I use unsweetened almond milk, although coconut milk (from a carton) is great, too. Frozen bananas really add the sweetness, so I don’t add extra sweetener. You could add in a few pitted dates, or a dollop of maple syrup, if you prefer it a little more sweet. Totally up to you.

This Almond Butter and Banana Protein Smoothie is healthy, paleo and gluten-free.

Along with frozen bananas, another staple I keep on hand for my smoothies is almond butter. I love the kind that you grind yourself in the stores. I always pick up a large carton at Whole Foods, The Fresh Market, or my local organic food store. As a back up, I keep a jar of Barney Butter Bare Smooth Almond Butter in my pantry, just in case!

You may also enjoy this Fruit Smoothies Digital Recipe Card Bundle. Beautiful and colorful fruit smoothie recipes are available as digital downloads, sized in 4 x 6, for easy printing on your end. Five recipes are included in this downloadable PDF bundle. Each recipe is contained on one page. Learn more here.

One of my go-to protein powders is JJ Virgin’s Plant-Based All-In-One Protein Powder in vanilla. I love it! It’s gluten-free, paleo, and has no refined sugar or artificial junk in it.  I’ve used it for years and I’m never without this stuff. Check it out:

My other go-to for delicious smoothies is a high-powered blender which will be able to handle frozen and large chunks more elegantly than a blender with less sturdy blades.

Since I make smoothies daily, I keep an abundance of frozen fruits in my freezer. For fresh fruits that are in season and that I want to freeze, or like bananas that I peel and break in half, I use these silicone reusable ziplock bags. Money-saver and eco-friendly!

This Almond Butter and Banana Protein Smoothie is healthy, paleo and gluten-free.

I hope you add this healthy almond butter and banana protein smoothie to your rotation!

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:
Cherry Vanilla Protein Smoothie
Peaches and Cream Protein Smoothie
Blueberry Pineapple Protein Smoothie

If you like these recipes, consider joining the Zesty Recipes Facebook Group. We’d love to have you!

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Note: This post contains affiliate links for Amazon.


Almond Butter And Banana Protein Smoothie
 
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Almond Butter And Banana Protein Smoothie
Author:
Serves: 1 serving
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups unsweetend almond milk (or coconut milk from a carton)
  • 1 whole large frozen organic banana (or more for additional thickness)
  • 2 scoops vanilla protein powder (or what your favorite protein brand recommends for 1 serving)
  • 1½ Tablespoons unsalted, unsweetened almond butter
  • Optional: 1-2 pitted dates for additional sweetness
  • Optional: dash of ground cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Note: This smoothie yields the best consistency if blended in stages.

  2. In a high-powdered blender, add almond milk, protein powder, and blend until combined.

  3. Add in almond butter frozen banana and blend well.{br]
  4. Pour into glass and enjoy!

DON’T FORGET TO PIN AND SHARE!

This Almond Butter and Banana Protein Smoothie is healthy, paleo and gluten-free.

This Almond Butter and Banana Protein Smoothie is healthy, paleo and gluten-free.

This Almond Butter and Banana Protein Smoothie is healthy, paleo and gluten-free.

This Almond Butter and Banana Protein Smoothie is healthy, paleo and gluten-free.

 

 

 

 

Apple Cinnamon Protein Smoothie
Apple Cinnamon Protein Smoothie
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Beverages, Recipes

Easy Homemade Apple Ginger Cider Recipe

This Easy Homemade Apple Ginger Cider Recipe with no added sugar will fill your home with aromas of the season: apple, orange, ginger, cinnamon and cloves, while it simmers in your crock pot.

Apple Ginger Cider

This easy and delicious homemade apple ginger holiday cider recipe takes only 5 minutes (or less!) to prep and can cook in 3-4 hours or 6-8 hours in your crock pot / slow cooker, depending on your heat preference of low or high. And best of all – there is no refined sugar added. Honestly, I believe you don’t need to add sugar because apples are naturally sweet and when added with the orange and cooked slowly, they release their own sugars which makes this cider deliciously sweet, as is.


Apple Ginger Cider

When the cider has cooked, simply grab a clean large pot and strain it through a fine mesh strainer, like this one:

and serve it hot or pour it into a gallon jug or pretty pitcher and refrigerate it for up to a week.


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Easy Homemade Apple Ginger Cider Recipe
 
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Easy Homemade Apple Ginger Cider Recipe
Author:
Serves: 1 Gallon
Ingredients
  • 10 fresh organic apples, any variety
  • 1 large organic orange
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 3-4 slices of fresh ginger
  • ¼ tsp. of ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp. ground cloves
  • 1 gallon of filtered water
Instructions
  1. Wash the apples and orange really well and cut them into quarters. No need to remove the seeds and peels because this will all get strained out later. Add the fruit to the slow cooker along with the cinnamon sticks, ginger slices, ground nutmeg and cloves.


  2. Pour filtered water into the crock pot. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.


  3. An hour before the cider is done cooking, use a potato masher to mash the fruit. Cook for another hour.



  4. Strain the cider through a fine-mesh strainer (or cheesecloth) into a clean pot. Serve hot or let it cool and refrigerate it for up to 1 week.

DON’T FORGET TO PIN AND SHARE!

This Easy Homemade Apple Ginger Cider Recipe with no added sugar will fill your home with aromas of the season: apple, orange, ginger, cinnamon and cloves, while it simmers in your crock pot.

This Easy Homemade Apple Ginger Cider Recipe with no added sugar will fill your home with aromas of the season: apple, orange, ginger, cinnamon and cloves, while it simmers in your crock pot.

This Easy Homemade Apple Ginger Cider Recipe with no added sugar will fill your home with aromas of the season: apple, orange, ginger, cinnamon and cloves, while it simmers in your crock pot.

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Pasta, Recipes, Soups

Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta

This hearty Italian Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta is full of healthy veggies and zesty herbs.

Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta

Note: This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

This satisfying minestrone soup features a classic combination of fresh herbs, vegetables, white beans, and pasta.This dish is a great way to use up any extra fresh herbs and vegetables you have available. Although this recipe is delicious as written, don’t be afraid to experiment a bit with the ingredients. I used gluten-free fusilli here, but any variety will work. Here are a few gluten-free pasta options:


I like to make this soup in my dutch oven. I do, however, cook the pasta separately, rather than in the same pot with the rest of the ingredients. This extra step yields more consistent results by eliminating the release of excess starch into the soup, especially if you’re using gluten-free pasta. It also prevents the noodles from becoming too soft and mushy, which means more appetizing leftovers the next day and better results when freezing for future use.

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Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta
 
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Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta
Author:
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
  • 3 T. extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • ½ medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 medium carrots, finely chopped
  • 3 large stalks celery, finely chopped
  • 1 28-oz. can petite-diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 15.5 oz. can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 4 c. organic vegetable broth*
2 whole bay leaves
  • 1 T. fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped (or 1 t. dried)
  • 1 T. fresh thyme leaves (or 1 t. dried)
  • 1 T. fresh oregano leaves (or 1 t. dried)
  • ½ T. crushed red pepper flakes
  • Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: 3” Parmesan cheese rind
  • 2 c. Gluten-Free Fusilli pasta (or penne or rotini)
  • 2 c. fresh green beans, cut into ½” pieces
  • 2 c. fresh arugula
  • Optional Garnish: 
¼ c. fresh parsley leaves, chopped
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese 

* Use additional vegetable broth to reach desired consistency, if needed
Instructions
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and garlic in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sauté garlic, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes or just until garlic starts to turn golden brown.

  2. Add chopped onion, carrot, and celery and cook for another 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until vegetables are soft and tender.

  3. Add diced tomatoes, cannellini beans, 4 cups vegetable broth, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and red pepper flakes to pot and stir to combine. Add Parmesan cheese rind, if desired, and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer 20-25 minutes.

  4. While soup is simmering, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid before draining pasta. Rinse pasta and transfer to a medium bowl and toss with remaining olive oil. Cover and set aside.

  5. Remove cover from pot or Dutch oven and add green beans and the reserved pasta cooking liquid. Stir to combine and continue cooking, uncovered, another 20-25 minutes or until green beans are crisp tender.

  6. Add arugula and additional vegetable broth, if needed, and stir to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until arugula begins to wilt.

  7. To serve, divide cooked pasta among individual serving bowls and top with hot soup. Top with chopped parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve with crusty bread and/or a crisp, green side salad for a hearty meal. Enjoy!

You may also like:
Dutch Oven Balsamic Chicken and Vegetables
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
Beef Chili Recipe

DON’T FORGET TO PIN AND SHARE!

This hearty Italian Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta is full of healthy veggies and zesty herbs.

This hearty Italian Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta is full of healthy veggies and zesty herbs.

This hearty Italian Minestrone Soup With Gluten Free Pasta is full of healthy veggies and zesty herbs.

 

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