A while ago, I was honored to become a member of the New Hope Network Blogger Co-Op, sponsored through Delicious Living Magazine. Among the privileges and perks I enjoy because I am part of this amazing group of writers and recipe developers, are the many recipes, timely articles and go-green tips that I pass along to my Green Gal readers. There is no way I could add this level of value to my blog posts without the help of Delicious Living Magazine and its parent company New Hope Network. And now, I’m excited to announce that Green Gal of the Midwest is part of a new publication project: Collagen in the Kitchen!
According to the experts at Delicious Living…
Food is the ultimate nourishment, and increasingly we’re embracing the ‘food is medicine’ mentality to help us thrive. For this exclusive cookbook we partnered with NeoCell and passionate healthy lifestyle and nutrition bloggers to develop original recipes that give you a boost of skin-, joint- and bone-healthy collagen. Inside this cookbook, you’ll find:
Why collagen impacts your vitality
How you can get more collagen in your diet
Nine delicious recipes that include this awesome protein!
If you read my post for Valentine’s Day 2017, you may recall my recipe for a Juiced-Up Cocktail that encouraged you to experiment with juicing. I adapted this recipe for the Collagen in the Kitchen cookbook and was so honored when it was accepted. NeoCell’s products work beautifully in many different types of recipes and will blend completely and smoothly into your creations without affecting the desired taste. Who knew staying so healthy could be so easy.
To celebrate the publication of Collagen in the Kitchen, I’ve added another NeoCell-enhanced recipe in the post this week for you to try. Then, be sure to download your free Collagen in the Kitchen copy and try out the creations of my fellow bloggers. Trust me, they are all amazing.
Below is a single-serving, overnight smoothie that uses quinoa flakes and NeoCell Super Collagen Powder to provide a gluten-free, protein-packed, on-the-go breakfast to help you look and feel your best, even when you are pressed for time. If you are wondering where to find quinoa flakes, I recommend Ancient Harvest, which are organic and non-GMO.
Ingredients
- One cup unsweetened organic or non-GMO almond milk, plain or vanilla
- One ounce brewed organic black coffee (If you have eliminated caffeine from your diet, you can leave out the coffee shot and increase the almond milk, but bear in mind that cocoa powder contains caffeine, as well.)
- One heaping tablespoon organic cocoa powder
- One scoop NeoCell Super Collagen
- Three or four organic Brazil nuts, roughly chopped, then ground in a spice grinder to a fine powder
- One small, very ripe organic banana
- One quarter cup finely chopped organic Medjool dates
- One quarter cup organic quinoa flakes
- Two tablespoons raw organic honey
- Freshly ground nutmeg and ground cinnamon to taste (optional)
Instructions
- In a standard blender jar, puree all the ingredients until well combined, two to three minutes, depending on the power of your blender.
- Place your smoothie in a screw-top jar and store in the refrigerator overnight. Will stay fresh about 48 hours.
- Shake well or re-blend before consuming.
Notes
I spend a few extra minutes really chopping up my Brazil nuts and then sending them through my spice grinder to get a moist powder. However, depending on the power of the grinder you use, you could create Brazil nut butter, even though that was not your intension. Either, however, work fine here: powder or butter. The point of adding the Brazil nuts is to add accessible selenium to the recipe. Since I have a standard blender, my dates never completely dissolve, even though I chop them quite fine. For me this is not a problem; they are a delightful sweet bite at the end of my meal. If this is not what you prefer but don’t have a high-powered blender, you could use a couple tablespoons of organic date sugar instead.
More from Delicious Living Magazine and the Folks at NeoCell
Delicious Living Magazine has expanded NeoCell recipe creation on its website to include even more ideas for using NeoCell’s great collagen products in your cooking, so you’ll want to check them out. Here’s a couple of my favorites that are easy to prepare and just yummy: NeoCell Pumpkin Soup and NeoCell Honey Almond Pancakes. Eating healthy can change your life in so many important ways. And now, adding just a little scoop of NeoCell to the foods you love ups the game… effortlessly. I hope you’ll give it a try and keep on being brave in that kitchen!! If you create a NeoCell recipe, I’d love to hear about it, so please share.
