Zizi's Adventures - Real Food, Real Stories

Vegan Blackberry Smoothie

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I never do fruit smoothie with dairy products (i.e. with cow milk products). I read in a few books that mixing fruits and dairy products doesn’t make good to your body (although you think you drink something healthy, don’t you?). Fruits are either sweet or sour but they definitely contain acid and sugar.

“If you add acid to milk, be it from a sweet fruit like strawberry or a sour one like lemon, it will curdle. Weak acids (like those in sweet fruits) don’t instantly curdle the milk but if you let it sit for too long before drinking it, then by the time it gets into your stomach, it will be.

Milk is actually not digested in the stomach, but in the small intestine by the enzyme lactase. When you drink it on its own, its presence in the stomach does not stimulate gastric secretion. Carbohydrates in fruits are also not digested in the stomach – the breakdown starts in your mouth by the salivary amylase and when it gets in to the stomach, digestion is stopped because the enzyme is denatured by the acidity of the gastric juices. The primary function of the stomach is to churn up all the food into a mush, so that when it enters the small intestine (primary site of digestion) it will have a bigger surface area for the digestive enzymes to work on. “

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“So milk will curdle when mixed with fruit and will slow digestion, therefore creates stasis and fermentation, which leads to feeling heavy and gassy. The stomach in its normal state contains a small amount of acid, which will curdle the milk on its way down anyway, so fruit juices simply facilitate or supplement the action of the gastric juices.If it curdles too much before you even put it in your mouth, and your gastric condition is not ideal, therefore can’t churn it.” (Source: Notions & Notations of a Novice Cook)

So I’m saying it’s better to make fruit smoothies with non-dairy milks like almond, hemp, rice, oat or soy milk. Let’s give them a try!

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Vegan Blackberry Smoothie

Ingredients (serves 2)

– 250 g blackberry
– 500 ml rice milk (or any other non-dairy milk, like soy, almond or oat)
– 1 banana
– 3 tablespoons almond butter

Method

Place all ingredients in the blender and process for 5 minutes, until smooth. If you find it too thick, add more rice milk.

Sunshine Juice

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I think the weather is ridiculous in Hungary but as I see it on Instagram photos, it is crazy everywhere in Europe. It’s already April and it’s still cold, grey and gloomy here, we hardly see the sun and there are two options every day: raining or snowing. This winter has just been too long and looks like it doesn’t want to leave.

I really hope that we will notice the first signs of spring very soon. Fingers crossed that this sunshine juice – that is fully packed with vitamin C – brings us luck and we will see the first warming shines the sooner the better. The juice is powerful that helps boost your immune system after these cold and clammy months.

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Sunshine juice

Ingredients (serves 2)

– 220 g pumpkin/butternut squash, peeled and chopped
– 400 g carrot, peeled
– 2 oranges, peeled
– small piece of ginger, peeled

Method

Press everything through the juicer. Serve immediately.

Vegan Banana Green Smoothie

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Now that my iron level is a bit low I eat a lot of vegetables (spinach, sorrel, parsley, broccoli, Savoy cabbage, sauerkraut, etc.) that have a high level in iron and I take natural iron supplements (like this Feroglobin B12).

The lack of iron can create a low haemoglobin. Signs of being iron deficient can include excessive tiredness, lethargy, lack of motivation and feeling irritable and weak than would normally be expected. Low iron levels do not uniformly cause these symptoms, but do increase the risk for anemia and the risk of becoming symptomatic during periods of emotional or physical stress.

The iron requirements go up significantly when you’re pregnant. Iron is essential for making hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells. During pregnancy, the amount of blood in your body increases until you have almost 50 percent more than usual. And you need more iron to make more hemoglobin for all that additional blood. You also need extra iron for your growing baby and placenta.

I think vegetarians or vegans who eat a varied and well balanced diet are not at any greater risk of iron deficiency anaemia than non-vegetarians. A diet rich in wholegrains, vegetables, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, iron-fortified cereals and green leafy vegetables provides an adequate iron intake. Vitamin C and other organic acids enhance non-haem iron absorption, a process that is carefully regulated by the gut. (More information: here.)

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Vegan Banana Green Smoothie

Ingredients (serves 2)

– 500 ml (2 cups) almond milk (or any other non-dairy milk)
– 1 banana
– 1 big handful of fresh spinach

Method

Place all ingredients in the blender and process for 5 minutes, until smooth. If you find it too thick, add more almond milk.

Winter Vitamin Intake With Freshly Pressed Juices

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Although we have the opportunity to eat raw, fresh vegetables and fruits during winter time, the range is substantially less than at spring and summer time. What do we like eating that is raw? In Hungary the most popular winter fruits are apple, pear and the citruses (orange, grapefruit, mandarin, lemon) + banana from abroad. As a matter of fact, there are not too many seasonal vegetables that are eaten raw. I like carrot, beetroot, kohlrabi, red onion and garlic – these are the most common I eat raw.

I think beetroot has the most beautiful ruby red colour of all vegetables. Beetroot is a rich source of potent antioxidants and nutrients, including magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, vitamin A, B1, B2 and C, and betaine, which is important for cardiovascular health and it is a good source of antioxidants. Beetroot juice has been shown to lower blood pressure, it has been linked with better stamina and improved blood flood.


Beetroot has a rich, earthy flavour (either you love it or hate it) with a mild, bitter edge. Mixing beet with other vegetables or fruits cut through the earthy taste and enhances the sweet taste of this red miracle.

Be a friend of the beetroot, it loves you more than you think. Its beautiful red and pinkish colour is very relaxing. I know, I tested it!

Red daemon juice

Ingredients (serves 2)

– 3 small beetroot, peeled
– 2 apple, deseeded
– 1 orange, peeled
– small piece of ginger, peeled
– juice of 1/2 lemon

Method

Press everything (except lemon juice) through the juicer. Mix in the lemon juice and serve immediately. If you don’t like the earthy flavor of the beet, dilute the juice with 1/4 cup water.

Homemade Chocolate Liqueur

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Is it possible to make homemade chocolate liqueur? Really? And it only takes 15 minutes! Chocolate liqueur can be consumed straight, as an after dinner drink rather than as aperitif. It can be used in mixed drinks and in desserts, especially in dessert sauces, cakes and truffles.

I love making edible gifts for Christmas and for birthdays. I put myself into the effort so the gift has my heart and my love. I gave homemade edible gifts for Christmas or any special occasions in the last two-three years for my loved ones. The success was always guaranteed. This liqueur is perfect for anyone for any occasion.

Chocolate Liqueur

Ingredients (makes 500 ml ~ 2 cups)

– 100 g dark chocolate (70% cocoa content)
– 150 g powder sugar
– 200 ml cream
– 250 ml rum
– 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
– 1 bottle

Method

In a pan mix together cream, powder sugar and cocoa powder. Start heating over low heat. Slowly add the dark chocolate. Stirring continuosly melt the chocolate. Remove pan from the heat and let it cool until lukewarm. Mix rum with this melted chocolate sauce, stirring until smooth.

With the help of a strainer pour the liqueur into the bottle and store it in a cold place. If it gets a bit too thick, dilute it with a splash of rum.