soy milk

When going vegan, or trying to eat more plant-based it seems daunting to give up cheese… it’s so creamy, rich, and delicious. But dairy is filled with saturated fat, cholesterol, milk proteins (which have been shown to be linked to all different types of cancers), and can cause inflammation all throughout the body. I came up with the perfect recipe to replace all your dairy-filled cheesey cream sauces. This cashew cream sauce is not only an amazing alternative to dairy cheese sauces, but it’s also packed with nutrients that are good for you!

Soaking the cashews helps to soften them and break them down so they can be digested better as well as blend more easily. I used raw cashews, but you can use roasted if that is the only option available to you. Cashews can be found in most bulk sections of the grocery store, as well as packaged with the nuts and seeds. They contain healthy fats that are unsaturated, and are also packed with selenium, vitamin K, magnesium, and iron.

Cashews are neutral in flavor which makes this sauce the perfect base for lots of recipes!

Continue reading “Creamy Vegan Cheese Sauce” →

Turmeric and ginger are two incredible roots that are helpful in reducing inflammation. Turmeric has extremely powerful anti-inflammatory effects in addition to it being an antioxidant. It is bright orange in color and will stain just about anything it touches (so beware). I always tell people to eat foods that stain your hands, and turmeric (along with beets, berries, tomatoes, etc.) is a great example of that. The color in fresh fruits and vegetables are powerful antioxidants, so the richer the color the richer the antioxidants! Ginger is known for not only it’s anti-inflammatory properties, but also it’s ability to aid in digestion.

Both roots have a bittery spiced earth flavor and hearty stringy texture, so eating them raw (or ground) can be a little difficult if you’re not a huge spice lover. I find it difficult to incorporate these medicinal roots into my own diet, so I came up with an awesome smoothie recipe to help myself benefit from their anti-inflammatory effects.

You may intimidated by something that looks like it could be inedible, but have no fear; fresh turmeric and ginger root are super simple to prepare! They can be found in almost all grocery stores in the produce section. They’re usually by the garlic, potatoes, and other non-refrigerated/dry produce. Most all grocery stores sell them both by the pound, so you just can buy as much as you want to have at a time.