Best of 2017

With the close of the year, we wanted to share a list of our favorite products of 2017.  As students, having healthy options available on-the-go is vital, but not all packaged foods are created equally.  The products below are made with ingredients that make us feel and perform at our best!  

 

1.  Purely Elizabeth

Our absolute favorite granola is addictively delicious and made with the simplest ingredients!  We love having these morsels on top of yogurt in the mornings or snacking straight from the bag.  Our favorite flavors are Original Ancient Grain & Grain-free Coconut Cashew!  We have also recently been loving Purely Elizabeth’s Superfood Oatmeal Cups to which you only need to add water. Purely Elizabeth is every college student’s breakfast dream!

2.  Siete Foods

Their grain-free tortilla chips are the best!  Our whole family prefers Siete Foods to regular tortilla chips!  These snacks are made with clean ingredients from vegetables like the cassava plant that leave us feeling our best.  Our favorite flavor is Nacho, but we also love lime and sea salt!  We also admire their company culture and the close-knit family that started Siete Foods!

3.  RxBar

We love having RxBars on hand in our bags or backpacks for whenever hunger strikes!  These bars provide us with a grab-and-go but nutrient-dense snack.  We love the chewy texture and you can’t go wrong with any flavor.  We especially love Peanut Butter Chocolate, Chocolate Sea Salt, Maple Sea Salt, Chocolate Mint, and the seasonal Pumpkin Spice!  

4.  Not Your Sugar Mama’s

This chocolate is paleo-friendly, low in sugar, and incredibly delicious!  We love that it is cold-pressed and antioxidant-rich. Our favorite flavor is Coconut Crunch, which we find at our local Whole Foods.  This company is also local to Massachusetts and based in Martha’s Vineyard.  If you’re ever vacationing there, be sure to stop by the Not Your Sugar Mama’s café.  We went over the summer and got the grain-free avocado toast, which was absolutely amazing!

5. Rawkin Raw

If Rawkin Raw is the small business you’ve never heard of, you’ve been missing out.  Rawkin Raw sells raw vegan truffles, macaroons, and cookies loaded with antioxidants and adaptogens.  When we are craving a sweet treat after dinner, we love enjoying one or two truffles in flavors like superfood chocolate and mint chocolate chip.  These snacks are sweetened naturally with date paste or coconut nectar and are sources of healthy fat, protein, and fiber.  We love satisfying a sweet tooth without the sugar high!  

6. Primal Kitchen Foods

Primal Kitchen Foods Mayonnaise is a tuna salad gamechanger.  Unlike other mayonnaises, which frequently contain high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils, Primal Kitchen Foods sells a product with ingredients you can trust.  We happen to be partial to the chipotle lime flavor and love serving with fish tacos!

7. Wildway of Life

Wildway is a company selling smoothie bowls, hot cereals, and granolas free of grains, wheat, and gluten.  We have been especially hooked on the cinnamon roll flavor of the hot cereal and frequently find ourselves throwing a packet into hot water for breakfast on the run.  In particular, we love how the Wildway products are naturally sweetened with dates.  The fiber and fats in these cereals keep us fueled for our busiest days at school.

8. Paleonola

Paleonola is addictive!  We are partial to the original flavor filled with ingredients like almonds, honey, and cranberries sweetened naturally with apple juice.  The texture and the flavor can’t be beat and we daresay we could finish an entire bag in one sitting!

9.  Laird Superfoods

Laird Superfood Coconut Creamer is the hack your coffee needs!  We love the natural  flavor because the coconut milk provides a light sweetness without overpowering the coffee.  Simply add two teaspoons of the powdered creamer into your blender with hot coffee and mix briefly!  We also frequently blend in Further Food collagen peptides for flavorless protein and extra frothiness.

10.  Lonolife Bone Broth K-cups

Introducing one of the most genius ideas ever: bone broth K-cups!  So far, we’ve tried the Chicken Bone Broth K-cups, which are paleo-friendly and contain 8g of protein per cup.  We love storing these in our dorm rooms to enjoy on a cold day.  If you’re looking for a quick and convenient snack, we would definitely recommend these!  

11.  REBBL

REBBL’s Reishi Cold Brew is our favorite pick-me-up when we know we’ll be having a long day.  This flavor is low in sugar yet filled with healthy fats that leave us feeling energized.  This drink also contains Reishi mushroom extract, a medicinal herb that provides numerous benefits, some of which include boosting immune function, liver & cardiovascular health, and promoting healthy aging.  We find this product at our local Whole Foods.

12.  Nutty Life Cashew Milk

We had the pleasure of meeting the owner of Nutty Life a few months ago and have been hooked on her mission and products ever since.  The founder, Caroline, created her local business to give consumers a dairy alternative without chemical additives.  As she began making her own homemade cashew milk, she perfected a ratio of cashew nuts to water that makes every cup taste like a milkshake.  

 

We hope you have the chance to try the aforementioned products!  While we can’t go wrong with the classic breakfast of a sprouted English Muffin with nut butter from Crazy Richard’s, Teddie, or Artisana Organics alongside a cup of tea, we wanted to take the time to celebrate speciality items from companies that care.  This post is not sponsored, but we did receive sample items to taste-test from some of the above companies.

 

Let us know your favorite 2017 products in the comments below!

 

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2018,

Grace, Catherine, & Olivia

Espresso Granita con Panna {Paleo, Vegan, GF}

This hot summer weather had us craving the espresso granita we enjoyed a few years back while visiting relatives in Sicily.  This three ingredient treat is the perfect refresher to help cool off with family and friends during these summer months!

In 2009, our whole family took a two-week trip to Italy.  On the first week, we visited our dad’s family, in Fano, north of Rome.  Next, we visited our mom’s family in Messina, Sicily.  We loved getting to see where our grandparents grew up, where our original roots were planted.  Each meal was incredibly fresh and SO delicious.

During our week in Sicily, we had this espresso granita con panna and brioche many times.  I knew that this summer I wanted to recreate the granita con panna, adding a healthy twist but maintaining the flavor.  To do so, I sweetened the espresso with coconut sugar and used whipped coconut cream for the “panna.”  It tastes like an espresso-flavored slush!  Depending on how sweet you like it, you can adjust the amount of coconut sugar you add.

This recipe is so easy and it will give you a taste of our favorite Sicilian summer treat!

 

Espresso Granita con Panna {Paleo, Vegan, GF}

Granita

2 cups brewed espresso (We used Lavazza Super Crema Whole Bean Espresso Coffee)

6 tbsp coconut sugar (We used Anthony’s Goods Organic Coconut Sugar)

Panna

1 can full-fat coconut milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

While espresso is still hot, stir in coconut sugar.  Place in the refrigerator to cool.  Once cool, pour into a small dish and place in freezer for approximately one hour.  After the hour has passed, scrape with a fork to break up ice.  Freeze again for the next couple of hours, continuing to scrape the ice away every half hour or so.  When ready to eat, beat the chilled can of coconut milk with vanilla extract to create a whipped cream.  Top granita with whipped coconut cream.

Hope you enjoy!  Make sure to share your creations with us @sisterswhosavor on Instagram!

–  Catherine

 

Paleo Avocado Toast

This breakfast, my friends, is the toastess with the mostest.  Make this paleo loaf chocked with protein from almond flour to avoid feeling the slump of your average white bread.  We Italians are tough critics when it comes to bread, but we promise you this toast will not disappoint.  This recipe was adapted from Heather Resler at Cook It Up Paleo.  Serve with guacamole sprinkled with crushed red pepper, garlic, and onion.

Ingredients:

6 tbsp lukewarm water

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp active dry yeast

1 egg

2.5 c blanched almond flour

1.5 c tapioca flour

1/2 tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and grease baking sheet with oil.
2. Combine water and oil. Add yeast and sit one minute.
3. Whisk in egg.
4. Stir in flour and salt.
5. Form into ball on baking sheet.  Make a few slashes on the top.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until browned.

Paleo “Breaded” Pork Chops with Cauliflower Soup

What is “paleo” eating?  Paleo is a lifestyle emphasizing lean protein, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats and minimizing processed food and refined sugar.  The following recipes are foolproof and constitute a warm and filling dinner on a wintry night.  Be sure to drizzle your pork chops with the soup for maximum flavor!  We used Bob’s Red Mill for the coconut flour, flax meal, and coconut flakes, Vital Farms for the eggs, Primal Kitchen Foods avocado oil, and Raw Food Central Superfood Seasoning.  If you don’t have Raw Food Central seasoning on hand, you can use nutritional yeast, cheese, or an additional teaspoon of oil.  Be sure to try this meal and let us know in the comments or on Instagram what you think!

Paleo “Breaded” Pork Chops

Ingredients:

1 cup of coconut flour

1/4 cup of flax meal

Scant 1/4 cup coconut flakes

2 eggs

Juice of 1/2 lemon

2 packages of sirloin boneless thin pork chops

1/2 tsp paprika

Sea salt

Black pepper

Extra virgin avocado or olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put parchment paper on a cookie sheet and set aside.

2. Get two bowls. Crack both eggs into one of the bowls and mix coconut flour, coconut flakes, flax meal, and spices in the other bowl. Slightly beat eggs and mix with lemon juice.

3. Start to bread the pork chops by first dipping in egg mixture and then lightly coating in coconut flour mixture. Place breaded pork chops on baking sheet and repeat with the remaining pork chops.

4. Generously drizzle olive oil on pork chops. Bake for about a half-hour or until golden brown.

Paleo Cauliflower Soup

Ingredients:

16 oz. bag of frozen cauliflower

1 stalk or head of celery

1 clove of garlic, minced

4 cups or 1 quart of water

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp Curt’s Classic Superfood Seasoning

2 tbsp extra virgin avocado or olive oil

Directions:

1. Boil water in pot on stove and add salt.  Meanwhile, defrost cauliflower in microwave.

2. Add cauliflower, celery, and garlic to pot.

3. Add spices and cover on medium-heat for 10-15 minutes.

4. Remove from stove and use immersion blender to blend soup in pot until smooth and creamy.  Add oil and blend briefly.

5. Season to taste.  Add additional spices depending on your preferred heat.

With love ,

Sisters Who Savor

Chicken Agrodolce

Hi everyone!  We are excited to be sharing our blog with you.  Today we’re sharing one of our favorite healthy Italian recipes.  This is a recipe passed down from our grandmother that will warm you from head to toe.  In Italian, “agro” means sour and “dolce” means sweet, so this recipe is a version of Italian sweet-and-sour chicken.  The capers and green olives lend a tartness to the dish that is complemented by the sweetness of the vermouth.  This recipe can be made in a heavy-duty covered pot and tastes best when simmered for about an hour.  We like to use bone-in chicken thighs for best results.  Be sure to try and let us know in the comments what you think!

Chicken Agrodolce
1.  Add extra virgin olive oil to pan and cook chicken until brown.  Set aside the chicken.
2.  In the same pan that you cooked the chicken in, add garlic, onion, parsley, celery, pitted green olives, basil, capers, and mushrooms.  Cook on medium heat until vegetables are tender.
3.  Add chicken back into pot and add vermouth.  Let simmer 5-10 minutes.
4.  Mix juice of 1-2 lemons with 2 tbsp of honey in an 8-oz glass. Add enough water to reach the top of the glass.  Add contents of glass to chicken.
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6.  Let pot simmer until liquid is absorbed, which will take about an hour.

With love,

Sisters Who Savor