This almond date latte is a recipe my husband created a few months ago while on the Whole 30 diet and we have been making and drinking it every morning since.
Sugar and sweeteners are omitted on this diet so those who like their coffee a little sweet need to get a little creative.
The Whole 30 diet is based on specific whole foods. When we saw dates were acceptable that was the answer to adding some sweetness to the coffee.
When I was offered a sample of the Sumatra blend coffee from Wicked Joe, I thought it would be great to try it in this recipe.
The Sumatra blend is a delicious coffee with notes of dense chocolate and spices which pair perfectly with the cinnamon and coconut oil that goes into the recipe.
Wicked Joe is a family-owned coffee company based in Maine serving up 100% certified organic, fair trade and non-GMO verified coffees.
They roast their beans in a state of the art energy efficient facility using sustainable business practices from crop-to-cup. To complement their sustainable business practices all of Wicked Joe coffee beans are purchased directly from farmers and cooperatives across the globe.
Wicked Joe offers a variety of blends and single origin coffees which include Sumatra, Honduras, Bali, Ethiopia, Costa Rica and more. The Wicked Joe single origin varietals are imported directly from the country from which they are grown and are not blended with other coffees.
This latte recipe is super easy and delicious. We like to use almond milk but you can use any milk you like. If you are trying to keep it Whole 30 compliant though, you will need to skip any milk with dairy in it.
Pour milk into microwave safe mug or dish and add dates. Be sure to remove any pits in the dates. Even if you buy pre pitted dates, a pit can be hiding every now and then so double check them carefully.
Microwave for 1-2 minutes until milk is warm and dates are soft. You can also do this on the stove top. Just combine milk and dates in saucepan and heat until milk is warm and dates are soft.
Add coffee, date and milk mixture, cinnamon and coconut oil into blender. I recommend a Vita Mix.
Place a towel over the top lid in case the coffee leaks out the top when blending.
Start blender on low speed to get it going and then increase to high. Blend until smooth.
Using a large spoon, block the foam while pouring into mugs. Pour coffee about an inch from the top of the mug. Then top with desired amount of foam.
If your mixture seem a little grainy and it bothers you blend a little longer. You can also place a fine mesh strainer over the mug while pouring in coffee.
This fat burning mocktail with apple cider vinegar will get your morning off to a great start and make your digestion system happy too.
I have been hearing a lot lately about apple cider vinegar (ACV) and how it can help with weight loss and gut health. I was just shooting it strait in a shot glass, until I went on Tosca Reno’s Wellness Retreat. That is where I learned about Wetter Water. The ACV contains potassium which is an electrolyte as well as the salt. The lemon or lime juice makes it quite a bit more palatable and helps add some vitamin C into your diet.
I have been trying to drink this consistently for the past month along with eating pretty clean and it has help me shed about 5 pounds. My girlfriend and I are following a plan we are calling the Slow 30. It is a program we made up that follows the Whole 30 way of eating with the addition of having a cocktail or wine on the weekend. I have also been lifting heavier weights using a program by Pancakes and Pushups.
Speaking of weights, wetter water is a great post workout recovery drink as it can replace the electrolytes lost during your work out as well as help rehydrate you. Instead of reaching for that Gatorade, make yourself some wetter water!
I have finally got my husband drinking it and he is dropping weight as well. He loves cocktails so I have named this drink the Wetter Water Margarita. Fresh lemons or limes are best when available but you could certainly use bottled juice. Just make sure there is no sugar in it. I have a bottle of lemon juice in the fridge and throw a shot of that in the concotion when I am out of fruit. Be sure and buy the apple cider vinegar that says “with the mother” on the label. The amount of water in the recipe is just a recommended amount. I can drink it pretty strong and like to get down so I only use about a half cup of water. If that seems to strong for you, feel free to dilute it your liking by adding more water.
If you want to shed a few pounds adding a Wetter Water Margarita to your daily regimen of healthy eating and exercise will help.
Adding a sprinkle of Fleur de sel or French sea salt on top just before baking elevates the flavor of these already perfect chocolate chip cookies.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
The original recipe comes from a Betty Crocker Cookbook I received as a wedding gift back in 1991. As my cooking skills increased and passion for elevating flavors in dishes developed, I took the liberty of making up my own version of this cookie recipe and it has been a hit ever since. These cookies are my families favorites and as you can tell by the recipe it has been tweaked to my standards of perfection and used often.
I promise after one bite you will know what makes them so special. You’re friends will be in awe of how delicious they are but not quite being able to put their finger on what makes them so delicious.
The secret is the sprinkling of sea salt on the cookies before baking. Here is a quick video on how I made them. I have revised the recipe since this video was made and although they come out okay with two eggs, I find that using just one egg makes the dough a little stiffer and the cookies are not as flat. The recipe you will be using below calls for only one egg.
I hope you try out the recipe. Comment below if you did! I promise they will become your families favorite as well!
This protein packed smoothie is delicious and will give you energy all day. I drink this one a lot after a workout and it is my daughters favorite.
Videos seem to be the way of the future but I do not have time to make those fancy ones with all of the editing! What you see is what you get! There will be no double takes and this is the real me. My goal is to keep them under 2 minutes so you can get the jest of the recipe without a lot of rambling.
You could certainly use any nut butter and milk you prefer. If you like cashews try this Cashew and Banana Smoothie or swap out the almond butter here for cashew butter.
I use Orgain brand protein powder. It is taste great and is about the purest I have found. I love Costco and get everything from there. If you don’t have one near by you can still order online. The almond milk, almond butter and Orgain protein powder can be ordered from costco.com or you can get them in the warehouse along with the greens and bananas. I don’t have any affiliation any of the highlighted links, it is just my way of getting you the info on what I like.
Ingredients:
1 cup almond milk or milk of choice
2 tablespoons almond butter or nut butter of choice
2 handful mixed greens
1 banana
1 serving protein powder of choice
1/2 cup ice cubes
Place milk in blender first, then add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
Makes 1 serving
Hey Kansas City! If you live in Blue Springs your lunch and dinner wait just got shorter!
MOD Pizza is a Seattle based fast casual pizzeria that allows customers to create their own pizza and salads with unlimited topping and is opening in their first location in Blue Springs on April 22. Pizza and salads are passed through a line by employees, named the MOD Squad, and customers can request toppings they would like added. Pizzas are then quickly cooked in a brick-style oven and called out for pick-up at the register when complete.
Below is more information and details from their official press release. I am set to visit later in May and will update with my take on the space so stay tuned!
“MOD offers a truly unique concept by serving customers their own, original creations, while still providing quick service. Everyone can get exactly what they want at no additional cost,” said Scott Womack, president of Womack Restaurants. “Beyond the great pizza, we’re passionate about building a company where we value lifting people up as our first goal.”
The 2,711-square foot location will feature MOD’s signature “Wall of Fame,” an assortment of photos from the community and customers, original artwork from local artists and a patio.
Dedicated to giving back, MOD will be donating 100 percent of their sales to the local non-profit, Drumm Farm, on opening day. The organization helps children in foster care, homeless young adults and those aging out of foster care build successful lives by providing programs and services that support forever family environments, emotional and physical well-being, educational opportunities and personal growth.
“We are honored to partner with MOD for the Blue Springs location opening,” said Brad Smith, executive director of Drumm Farm. “The proceeds will truly make a substantial positive impact on the lifelong success of children and young adults in need of a family and stable environment.”
MOD is known for providing job opportunities to former incarcerated individuals throughout their locations as a way of giving a “second chance” to those ready to integrate back into society.
A pioneer of the fast-casual pizza segment, MOD Pizza was founded in Seattle in 2008 by entrepreneurs Scott and Ally Svenson. MOD’s individual artisan-style pizzas and salads are made on demand, letting customers choose whatever they like from over 30 toppings, all for one set price. At the core of MOD is a purpose-led culture that’s committed to being a force for good in the community – creating not only a cool place to eat, but an inspired place to work. MOD was recently ranked as America’s fastest growing chain restaurant by Technomic; earned a spot on the 2016 Inc. 500 list as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies; and was recognized by Fortune as one of the 20 best workplaces in retail for its progressive hiring practices and career-growth opportunities. MOD currently has over 220 locations across 20 states and the U.K. To learn more, visit modpizza.com.
About Womack Restaurants:
Womack Restaurants is a multi-concept restaurant franchise operator based in Terre Haute, IN with development markets in Kansas City, Tulsa, Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio. The Womack team has extensive development and finance experience, having developed nearly all of the IHOPs since 1990, in sometimes complex situations. Womack Restaurants divested its IHOP business in 2014 to focus on expansion of its Popeyes franchise and pursue other concepts. Womack Restaurants is committed to community engagement and partnership, as well as connecting with our country’s leadership.
This strawberry walnut spinach salad is the epitome of spring. With fresh berries coming in to season and local farmers markets starting to open, you can get the ingredients at the peak of freshness and support you local farmer all at the same time.
I love the combination of the sweet strawberries with the salty goat cheese and the walnuts add a nice crunch. You can use plain walnuts or take a stab at making these maple glazed walnuts. They are sweet and salty and the perfect addition to this salad. They also make a great snack!
You can top it with any dressing you like. I like using a balsamic or poppy seed but you can use whatever you like. This salad is great as a side or add a little chicken or protein of choice to make it heartier.
It is absolutely fabulous to serve to a big crowd as you can just get the big one pound package of spinach from Costco or wherever you shop. They also have the best goat cheese! Throw in more berries, onion and walnuts and you will have the perfect salad for whatever event you are hosting. It also travels well so can be the perfect dish for a potluck or gathering.
