It’s that time again, time for another round of fit Friday fun can you believe it?!

Yes, it really is Friday again already! And, not only is it Friday but, it’s the last Friday in July!

Um, how?!

Anyways, today I’m sharing a short, sharp total body workout that you can do anywhere, anytime in just 20 minutes, with or without equipment, totally your call.

Nothing complicated, basic movements done with good form for a short but effective total body workout that will leave you feeling strong, energized and ready to take on the rest of your day.

So, here’s what we are going to do –

A descending ladder workout which simply means we will start by completing 10 reps of each exercise  (count reps per leg/side for lunges, mountain climbers & twists ) and continue to decrease reps, each round, until we get down to 1 , make sense?

We will do ;

Squats
Push Press
Curtsy Lunges
Push Ups
Mountain Climbers
Russian Twists

Now, I’m not allocating any specific rest breaks in today’s workout, the aim is to move from one exercise to the next with minimal/no rest in between  but, that does not mean you don’t take any rest.

I want you to listen to that beautiful body of yours and anytime you feel like you need to take a break to catch your breath and grab a little drink then by all means please do so, and take all the time you need. However, if possible try to wait until you get to the bottom of each round to do so but, do what you gotta do, OK?!

If you feel like you need to stop, grab a drink and catch your breath, by all means do so, take all the time you need,  then get straight back into it , deal?

For those of you who are just getting started or may not have access to a gym of any kind of weights you can absolutely do with workout without any added weight and let me tell you, you will be feeling it.

Just because you’re “only” using your body-weight as resistance doesn’t not make this an easy workout. Your heart will be pumping and those quads, glutes, hamstrings, biceps, shoulders, abs – you name it,  will be burning by the final round! And, you will definitely be feeling the effects of it tomorrow I assure you (and I mean that in the best possible way).

For our fully functioning/more advanced lifters who might be looking to make things a little more challenging – grab yourself a weapon of choice – a set of dumbbells, a barbell, kettlebells, your EmPack, some resistance bands or any combination you like. Make sure you choose something appropriate for your strength but, don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

But, remember, we want quality not quantity, always! Never compromise your form, ever! If your form starts to fail your done, got it?

Take your time, concentrate, focus and breathe through each and every exercise. You are strong, you are amazing, you have big energy! You’ve totally got this!

And because nothing makes a workout challenge more fun than getting a buddy to join you. Why not grab your BFF or a family member or your fave workmate and have them join you, power in numbers baby!

Don’t forget to come back and let me know how you did once you’re done. Either leave me a message in the comments below, or you can give me a shout on the Facebook page or tag me (@EmSwanston) on Twitter , or Instagram (@emsswanston) . I mean it, I wanna hear how you did!

Ok enough chit chat time to work –

20 Minute
“Down for the Count”
Total Body Workout

As always make sure you are nice an warm before you start your workout – Run on the spot, do jumping jacks, jump rope, dance around your living room, anything to get you warm then it’s time to get serious.

Finish with a nice little cool down and stretch, maybe take a walk or something anything to help bring your heart rate down. Finish with a few of your fave stretches. Please don’t skip the stretch people, its like dessert for the body.

Now onto our smoothie recipe . . .

How does a nice tall, light fresh, subtly sweet, deliciously nourishing, golden spiced mango lassi sound?

Not only does this gloriously glowing smoothie taste like paradise in a cup but, it also happens to be quite the nutritional powerhouse!

It’s rich in antioxidants, a natural anti-inflammatory, it’s great for digestion, great for heart health, will help stabilize blood sugar, lower your risk of diabetes, improve brain function and boost your immunity! 

How is it possible that one pretty little cup can pack such a serious nutritional punch and be all kinds of delicious?!

I honestly have no idea how it’s possible I just know that it is!

Close your eyes, take a sip and experience the magic for yourself.

Oh and I should probably mention that not only does our delicious, nutritious, tropical inspired super smoothie taste like an absolute dream but, it also happens to be vegan, dairy free, sugar free, banana free (!!!) keto and paleo friendly – so much to love I tell you

It really is simply divine, the perfect way to treat yo’ self on this fabulous Friday.

Golden Spiced Mango Lassi
{Vegan. Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Banana Free, Keto & Paleo Friendly}
Makes 1 nice tall, light, fresh, subtly sweet, perfectly spiced creamy, dreamy, deliciously, nourishing, magical, mellowed out, mango lassi

Ingredients –

1/4 cup coconut or Greek style Yogurt

3/4 cup coconut milk / unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)

3/4 cup diced, mango – I used frozen

1 Tablespoon of cashew or almond butter

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla (or 2-4 drops of vanilla cream stevia – I like to use Sweet Leaf Stevia )

1/2 teaspoon of ground turmeric

1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon of cardamom

A pinch of pink salt

1 pinch of ground black pepper – this is important as the chemical compound in the black pepper is what helps and enables the body to absorb all of those important nutrients in the turmeric! You can’t taste the pepper, promise.

1 teaspoon of maca – optional for hormone balance

1-2 scoops of Vital proteins unflavored collagen peptides optional for an extra boost of protein and gut healing goodness

1/4-1/2  cup of ice – more or less to desired consistency

Method –

1 – Place all smoothie ingredients into your and process until smooth, creamy and well combined.

2 – Pour into a chilled glass or mason jar then top with coconut flakes and spices if desired.

NOTE – You could also add in a scoop of protein powder (vanilla or unflavoured would work best in this recipe ) for an extra boost of protein if you’re into that kinda thing – do what you feel baby

Enjoy xoxo

Don’t forget to give me a shout out when you’re done – hit me up in the comments below via the Facebook page on Twitter or on Instagram

Now go,

and have yourself a killer day xoxo

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

What’s your favorite/go to quickie workout when you really want to get a good sweat on but your pressed for time??

Feel free to share tips, tricks and/or links to your fave workouts in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make this smoothie (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post 20 Minute “Down for the count” Total Body Workout & A Golden Spiced Mango Lassi first appeared on Better with Cake.

Alright party people, it’s that time again, time for another round of Fit Friday Fun, are you ready?!

Today I’m sharing a short, sharp lower body workout that you can get in and get done in around 20 minutes , what do you say, are you in?

You guys know how how much I love, love, love my lower body workouts, The lower body is where your powerhouse muscles are (I’m looking at you quads, glutes and hamstrings) which means you get a serious bang for your workout butt, I mean buck

So, here’s what we are going to do –

4 exercises – Glute Bridges –  Reverse Lunges – Deadlifts and Squats . We will aim to do 8-10 reps of each exercise (count reps per leg for the reverse lunges) and repeat the entire sequence through for a total of 3 rounds, resting as needed along the way.

4 exercises
8-10 reps each
x 3 rounds
Boomshakalocka, done

Nothing complicated, basic movements done with good form for a short but effective lower body workout.

FYI –

You have been warned

Grab yourself a weapon of choice – a set of dumbbells, a barbell, your EmPack, kettlebells, some resistance bands or any combination you like. Make sure you choose something appropriate for your strength but, don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

Although, we want quality not quantity, always! Never compromise your form, ever! If your form starts to fail your done, got it?

Take your time, concentrate, focus and breathe through each and every exercise. You are strong, you are amazing, you have big energy! You’ve totally got this!

And because nothing makes a workout challenge more fun than getting a buddy to join you. Why not grab your BFF or a family member or your fave workmate and have them join you, power in numbers baby!

Don’t forget to come back and let me know how you did once you’re done. Either leave me a message in the comments below, or you can give me a shout on the Facebook page or tag me (@EmSwanston) on Twitter , or Instagram (@emsswanston) . I mean it, I wanna hear how you did!

Ok enough chit chat time to work –

20 Minute Lower Body Workout

As always make sure you are nice an warm before you start your workout – Run on the spot, do jumping jacks, jump rope, dance around your living room, anything to get you warm then it’s time to get serious.

Finish with a nice little cool down and stretch, maybe take a walk or something anything to help bring your heart rate down. Finish with a few of your fave stretches. Please don’t skip the stretch people, its like dessert for the body.

Now onto our bonus smoothie recipe . . .

How does a nice tall, subtly sweet, seriously healthy, antioxidant rich, creamy, dreamy coconut infused, iced matcha latte sound?

Creamy dreamy coconut yogurt, combined with the deliciously nutty, subtle sweetness of our coconut extract and a splash of vanilla pairs so perfectly with the earthy tones of that magnificent matcha.

Let me tell you, this creamy, dreamy, coconut matcha super smoothie is not only  bursting with nutritional benefits but it tastes like an absolute dream!

Seriously, this creamy, dreamy, iced coconut matcha latte is so insanely delicious that I actually laughed out loud after my first sip because I couldn’t believe how good it was!

It really is simply divine, the perfect way to treat yo’ self and refuel and re-energize that beautiful body of yours on this fabulous Friday.

Oh and I should probably mention that not only does our divine little smoothie taste like heaven in a cup but, it also happens to be vegan, dairy free, sugar free, keto and paleo friendly – so much to love I tell you

Creamy Iced Coconut Matcha Latte
{Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free, Keto & Paleo Friendly}
Makes 1 all natural, light, fresh, subtly sweet, seriously healthy, creamy, dreamy, coconut infused iced matcha latte

Ingredients –

1/4 cup coconut or Greek style yogurt

3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)

1/2 an overripe banana (preferably pre-frozen)

1 teaspoon of vanilla (or 4-6 drops of vanilla cream stevia – I like to use Sweet Leaf Stevia )

1/2 teaspoon of coconut extract (or 2-4 drops of coconut stevia – I like to use Sweet Leaf Stevia )

1 Tbsp coconut butter

1 scoop (1/2-1 teaspoon) of Matcha Green Tea

1-2  scoops of Vital proteins unflavored collagen peptides optional for protein and gut healing goodness

1/4-1/2  cup of ice – more or less to desired consistency

Optional extra super-food add-ins;

“Jing” – To support adrenals

Lion’s Mane – To help improve brain function

Cordyceps – To increase energy

Chaga – To boost immunity

Reishi – To help relieve anxiety & calm both body & mind

Optional but recommended for serving –

Coconut flakes

Extra cacao nibs (or dark chocolate)

Method –

1 – Place all smoothie ingredients into your and process until smooth, creamy and well combined.

2 – Pour into a chilled glass or mason jar then top with coconut flakes and cacao nibs if desired.

Note – You could also add in a scoop of protein powder (vanilla or unflavoured would work best in this recipe) and some some great lakes gelatin or vital proteins collagen peptides (use the code to get NHN329 to get 10% off ) for an extra boost of protein if you’re into that kinda thing – do what you feel baby

Enjoy xoxo

Don’t forget to give me a shout out when you’re done – hit me up in the comments below via the Facebook page on Twitter or on Instagram

Now go;

and have yourself a killer day xoxo

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

What’s your favorite way to refuel after a workout?

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make this smoothie (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post A {NEW} 20 Minute Lower Body Workout & A Creamy Iced Coconut Matcha Latte first appeared on Better with Cake.

I am so sorry for skipping out on your these last few weeks, I won’t bore you with the details but, boy-O-boy things have been a little cray, cray up in here!

For reals!

It seems that no matter how organized I think I am, how much I plan, or how hard I try, something always seem to come up to throw a spanner in the works!

Tell me that I’m not the only one who has days/weeks/months like this?!

It’s been one thing after another . . . “oi with the poodles already!” (please tell me you get my Gilmore Girls reference?!)

Anyway, it’s times like these that I am extremely thankful for recipes like this . . .

5 minute, 3 ingredient curry chicken lettuce cups.

You guys . . . these deliciously simple, seriously flavorful, pretty little lettuce cups have literally saved my life these last few weeks!

3 ingredients, 5 minutes in the making – erry-body got time for that!

But let me tell you, these simple little lettuce cups are packed with so much flavor that your taste buds, tummy and anyone you share them with, will be all kinds of happy.

I’m talking major dorky happy dancing will be happening all over the dining room – or kitchen in my case, which is exactly what happened here the first time I made these.

What, doesn’t everyone get this excited about food?!

Admit it, you know you do – that’s one of the reasons I love you so much 

Speaking of love . . .

These curry chicken lettuce cups . . .

Quick and easy to prepare made with just a handful of ingredients that I bet you have on hand already.

They are naturally gluten free, dairy free, keto and paleo friendly as well as being 100% whole 30 compliant but, most importantly, they are delicious, nutritious and something the while family will just adore!

Serve them simply as they are ( and if you wanted to go ahead and add a couple of slices of crispy bacon to the mix I wouldn’t be mad about it – seriously, let’s do that because, BACON!!!!!)

Or, you could eat it with some of your favorite crackers, plantain or tortilla chips, roll it up in a tortilla, serve it on toast or as a sandwich for a quick and easy yet seriously satisfying, super simple lunch.

Or, you could enjoy it with some perfectly roasted pumpkin or crisp and crunchy roasted baby potatoes and garlic roasted Brussels sprouts and have yourself an absolutely amazing dinner.

However you choose to eat it you really can’t go wrong!

All natural, quick and easy, light, fresh, crisp and crunchy, creamy, dreamy, perfectly spiced curry chicken lettuce cups . . . .

Make them. Eat them. Love, love, love them.

5 Minute, 3 Ingredient Curry Chicken Lettuce Cups

{Low Carb – Gluten Free – Dairy Free – Keto & Paleo Friendly}

Makes  2 – 4 all natural, quick and easy, light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, crispy, crunchy, seriously flavorful lettuce cups. (1-2 servings)

Ingredients –

1 cup of cooked chicken – chopped or shredded

For the dressing –

2 Tablespoons of mayo – Homemade or store bought will work –  ( I use Primal Kitchen Foods – {Paleo} Avocado Oil Mayo) ** – could sub coconut or Greek style yogurt

1 teaspoon of your fave curry/Indian spice mix

A squeeze of lime juice (about 1/2 teaspoon)

Salt and pepper to taste

For serving –

Baby coz or butter lettuce leaves, washed and dried

1/2 an avocado, sliced

1-2 Tablespoons of pomegranate arils – fresh or freeze dried
*You could sub dried cranberries, cherries or even red grapes would work here too

Coriander (cilantro)

Method –

1 – Place all of the dressing ingredients into a small bowl or glass jar and stir to combine.

The dressing is quite thick so feel free to add a splash of water (or milk of choice) about 1/2 tsp at a time, to reach desired consistency.  I usually take 1/2-2/3 of the dressing and stir it into the chicken before thinning out the rest to drizzle over the top;

1 – This helps the salad mix hold together nicely in my lettuce cup and,

2 – No one likes a watery salad!!

Then I thin it out whats leftover to drizzle over the top, because I love me a good drizzle!

2 – Place your cooked chicken into a small bowl, add 1/2-2/3 of the dressing and stir to combine.

3 – To serve – Place a few slices of avocado into your prepared lettuce cups, top with your creamy, dreamy, chicken salad, sprinkle with fresh coriander, pomegranate arils and drizzle over the last of that dreamy dressing!

Enjoy xo

** I order my Primal Kitchen mayo online from iHerb.com – the prices are amazing, shipping is super fast, the customer service is top notch!

You can use my code NHN329 to get an extra 5% off

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

What’s your current quick and easy lunch time obsession?

Feel free to share recipes, or links recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your creamy, dreamy, curry chicken lettuce cups cups (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post 5 Minute, 3 Ingredient, Curry Chicken Lettuce Cups {Low Carb – Gluten Free – Dairy Free – Keto & Paleo Friendly} first appeared on Better with Cake.

Alright party people, it’s that time again, time for another round of Fit Friday Fun, are you ready?!

Today I’m sharing one short, sharp lower body workout that you can get in and get done in around 20 minutes , what do you say, are you up for the challenge?

You guys know how how much I love, love, love my lower body workouts, The lower body is where your powerhouse muscles are (I’m looking at you quads, glutes and hamstrings) which means you get a serious bang for your workout butt, I mean buck

So, here’s what we are going to do –

5 exercises – Box Jumps – Deadlifts – Step Ups – Reverse Lunges – Squats

We will aim to do 8-10 reps of each exercise (count reps per leg for step ups and lunges) then repeat the entire sequence through for a total of 3 rounds, resting for 1-2 minutes between rounds. Make sense?

5 exercises
8-10 reps each
x 3 rounds
Boomshakalocka, done

Nothing complicated, basic movements done with good form for a short but effective lower body workout.

Grab yourself a weapon of choice – a set of dumbbells, a barbell, kettlebells, some resistance bands, your trusty ol’ EmPack or any combination you like. Make sure you choose something appropriate for your strength and feel free to add/remove weight as needed along the way but, don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

The final reps should be tough!

Although, we want quality not quantity, always! Never compromise your form, ever! If your form starts to fail your done, got it?

Take your time, concentrate, focus and breathe through each and every exercise. You are strong, you are amazing, you have big energy! You’ve totally got this!

And because nothing makes a workout challenge more fun than getting a buddy to join you. Why not grab your BFF or a family member or your fave workmate and have them join you, power in numbers baby!

Don’t forget to come back and let me know how you did once you’re done. Either leave me a message in the comments below, or you can give me a shout on the Facebook page or tag me (@EmSwanston) on Twitter , or Instagram (@emsswanston) . I mean it, I wanna hear how you did!

Ok enough chit chat time to work –

30 Minute Lower Body Workout

As always make sure you are nice an warm before you start your workout – Run on the spot, do jumping jacks, jump rope, dance around your living room, anything to get you warm then it’s time to get serious.

Finish with a nice little cool down and stretch, maybe take a walk or something anything to help bring your heart rate down. Finish with a few of your fave stretches. Please don’t skip the stretch people, its like dessert for the body.

Now onto our bonus smoothie recipe . . .

How does a nice tall, light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, subtly sweet, vibrant, delicious cranberry and pomegranate smoothie sound?

It’s light, fresh,creamy, dreamy, subtly sweet, delicious, nutritious – an absolute taste sensation.

And would you just look at that colour?!

It really is simply divine, the perfect way to treat yo’ self while you refuel and re-energize that beautiful body of yours on this fabulous Friday.

Oh and I should probably mention that not only does our vibrant, delicious, pretty pink, powerhouse of a smoothie taste like an absolute dream but, it also happens to be vegan, dairy free and paleo friendly – so much to love I tell you

Cranberry Pomegranate Smoothie
{Vegan, Dairy Free & Paleo Friendly}
Makes 1 all natural, light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, subtly sweet, vibrant, delicious, seriosuly nutritious super smoothie.

Ingredients –

1/3 cup coconut or Greek style yogurt

2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)

1/2 an overripe banana (preferably pre-frozen)

1/3 cup of frozen cranberries

3 Tablespoons of Pomegranate arils

1 teaspoon of vanilla (or 4-6 drops of vanilla cream stevia – I like to use Sweet Leaf Stevia )

1 teaspoon of Chia seeds

1 Tablespoon of coconut oil – optional but recommended

1/4-1/2  cup of ice – more or less to desired consistency

Optional but recommended for serving –

Coconut flakes

Chia Seeds

Fresh or freeze dried pomegranate arils

Method –

1 – Place all smoothie ingredients into your and process until smooth, creamy and well combined.

2 – Pour into a chilled glass or mason jar then top with coconut flakes, chia seeds and pomegranate if desired.

You could also add in a scoop of protein powder (vanilla or unflavored would work best in this recipe – I like to use The Healthy Chef – WPI) and some great lakes gelatin or vital proteins collagen peptides (use the code to get NHN329 to get 10% off ) for an extra boost of protein if you’re into that kinda thing – do what you feel baby

Enjoy xoxo

Don’t forget to give me a shout out when you’re done – hit me up in the comments below via the Facebook page on Twitter or on Instagram

Now go;

and have yourself a killer day xoxo

_________________________________________

The post A {NEW} 30 Minute Lower Body Workout + A Creamy, Cranberry Pomegranate Smoothie first appeared on Better with Cake.

F-F-Friday baby!!!!!!

You know what that means, it’s time for another round of fit Friday fun and boy are we gonna have some fun today!

So . . .

Raise your hand if you’re ready to get in and get good sweat on?!

Ok good because that is exactly what we are going to do today!

Today, I thought I’d we’d have ourselves a short and sharp, total body toning, tabata style workout that you can do anytime, anywhere,  in just 15 minutes, no equipment required!

Because some days you just need a short, sharp cardio blast am I right?!

Get in, get it done, and get on with living!

So, here’s what we are going to do –

6 exercises;

Squats
Squat Jumps
Alternating Lunges
Burpees
Mountain Climbers &
Push Ups

We will do each exercise for 30 seconds before moving on to the next then we repeat the entire sequence through for a total of 4 rounds, or as many rounds a pretty, in 15 minutes.

We will move from one exercise to the next with minimal/no rest in between – I’m not allocating any specific rest breaks in today’s workout but I want you to listen to that beautiful body of yours and rest as needed.

Anytime you feel like you need to take a break to catch your breath and grab a little drink then by all means please do so, and take all the time you need. However, if possible try to wait until you get to the bottom of each round to do so but, do what you gotta do, OK?!

Nothing complicated, basic movements done with good form for a short but effective total body workout.

And remember, we want quality not quantity, always! Never compromise your form, ever! If your form starts to fail your done, got it?

Take your time, concentrate, focus and breathe through each and every exercise. You are strong, you are amazing, you have big energy! You’ve totally got this!

And because nothing makes a workout challenge more fun than getting a buddy to join you. Why not grab your BFF or a family member or your fave workmate and have them join you, power in numbers baby!

Don’t forget to come back and let me know how you did once you’re done. Either leave me a message in the comments below, or you can give me a shout on the Facebook page or tag me (@EmSwanston) on Twitter , or Instagram (@emsswanston) . I mean it, I wanna hear how you did!

Ok enough chit chat time to work –

 
– 15 Minute –

No Equipment

Total Body Tabata Workout

As always make sure you are nice an warm before you start your workout – Run on the spot, do jumping jacks, jump rope, dance around your living room, anything to get you warm then it’s time to get serious.

Finish with a nice little cool down and stretch, maybe take a walk or something anything to help bring your heart rate down. Finish with a few of your fave stretches. Please don’t skip the stretch people, its like dessert for the body.

Now onto our bonus smoothie recipe . . .

How does a nice tall, creamy, dreamy, decedent, rich, subtly sweet, deliciously indulgent, secretly healthy, seriously chocolatey, “cacao kapow” smoothie sound?

Luscious, creamy coconut yogurt is combined with decadent rich cacao, a splash of vanilla, a shot of espresso, sprinkling of cinnamon cheeky little pinch of cayenne to deliver you a deliciously indulgent, subtly sweet espresso infused smoothie that is an absolute taste sensation! 

Not only does it tastes all kinds of incredible but, it’s also bursting with nutritional value thanks to our cacao, coconut, cinnamon and cayenne pepper this bad boy is rich in antioxidants, it’s a natural anti-inflammatory, it will help to aid digestion, boost immunity and your metabolism (aka – aid in weight loss) and so much more! Hence the name “cacao kapow”  – it’s a dark and delicious, nutritional powerhouse!

Oh and I should probably mention that not only does our deliciously indulgent, secretly healthy, creamy, dreamy, seriously chocolatey, nutritional powerhouse of a smoothie taste like an absolute dream but, it also happens to be vegan, dairy free, gluten free, keto and paleo friendly!!!

So much to love I tell you

It really is simply divine, the perfect way to treat yo’ self and put a little extra pep in your step while you refuel and re-energize that beautiful body of yours on this fabulous Friday.

Cacao Kapow Smoothie
{Vegan – Dairy Free – Keto – Paleo}
Makes 1 nice tall, creamy, dreamy, seriously chocolatey, perfectly spiced, decadent, rich, espresso infused, secretly healthy super smoothie

Ingredients –

1/3 cup coconut or Greek style yogurt

2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)

1/2 an overripe banana (preferably pre-frozen)

1 shot (or two) of your fave espresso, cooled – or 1 teaspoon of instant espresso

1 Tablespoon of cacao

1/2 of ground cinnamon

1 pinch of cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon of vanilla (or 4-6 drops of vanilla cream stevia – I like to use Sweet Leaf Stevia )

1 Tablespoon of coconut oil – optional but recommended

A pinch of salt

1/4-1/2  cup of ice – more or less to desired consistency

Optional but recommended for serving –

Cacao nibs

Coconut Flakes

Chili flakes

Chocolate coated espresso beans

Method –

1 – Place all smoothie ingredients into your and process until smooth, creamy and well combined.

2 – Pour into a chilled glass or mason jar then top with coconut flakes, cacao nibs chili flakes and espresso beans if desired.

You could also add in a scoop of protein powder (chocolate, vanilla or unflavoured would work in this recipe – I like to use The Healthy Chef – WPI) and some great lakes gelatin or vital proteins collagen peptides (use the code to get NHN329 to get 10% off ) for an extra boost of protein if you’re into that kinda thing – do what you feel baby

Enjoy xoxo

Don’t forget to give me a shout out when you’re done – hit me up in the comments below via the Facebook page on Twitter or on Instagram

Now go;

and have yourself a killer day xoxo

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

What’s your favorite way to refuel after a workout?

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make this smoothie (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post 15 Minute {No Equipment} Total Body Tabata Workout & A “Cacao Kapow” Super Smoothie first appeared on Better with Cake.

Rockin’ Moroccan roasted carrots with spicy tahini and lime dressing !!!!

Insert alllllll the heart eyed emojis here →

Sweet, tender baby carrots are tossed in an earthy, aromatic Moroccan spice mix then oven roasted until crisp, crunchy and caramelized to perfection before being drizzled with a light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, deliciously nutty, slightly spicy tahini and lime dressing then sprinkled with pretty little pomegranate arils!!!!!

So much deliciousness I can hardly stand it!

You guys know how much I love my roasted veg (see here,  here and here ) but , these rockin’ Moroccan roasted carrots may have taken my obsession to a whole new next level!

They are sweet, spicy, crisp and crunchy and packed with so much flavor flave that your pretty little head may just explode!

Whoever said vegetables had to be boring and tasteless?!

Not this gal that’s for sure!

Eat them simply as they are, served on a pile of salad greens with a couple of soft boiled eggs for a delicious twist on breakfast or a fun way to spice up your meat-free Monday, or for a heartier, more traditional meal serve them along side your protein of choice.

However you choose to do it you really can’t go wrong!

All natural, quick and easy, soft, tender, crisp, crunchy, sweet and spicy, seriously flavorful, rockin’ Moroccan roasted carrots with the creamiest, dreamiest, tahini and lime dressing . . .

I literally can’t even . . .

Just do it already!

Make them. Eat them. Love, love, love them.

Rockin’ Moroccan Roasted Carrots with

Spicy Tahini and Lime Dressing

Ingredients –

1 bunch of “Dutch” baby carrots, halved

1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil, melted and cooled (you just want enough to give your carrots a very light coating) – my fave is this cold pressed coconut oil by Loving Earth

1-2 Tablespoons of Moroccan Seasoning – Homemade or Store bought – If I’m not using my own healthy, homemade Moroccan spice mix I like to use the Rockin’ Moroccan Medley by The Spice Trading Company

Salt and and freshly ground black pepper to taste

For Serving –

1-2 Tablespoons of Spicy Tahini and Lime Dressing

1-2 Tablespoons of pomegranate arils – fresh or freeze dried

1-2 Tablespoons of fresh coriander (cilantro)

Method –

1 – Preheat your oven to 175’C/350’F

2 – Line a baking tray with baking/parchment paper and set aside.

3 – Place your sliced carrots into a bowl, or directly onto your baking tray then drizzle with coconut oil, season with Moroccan seasoning and an extra pinch of salt and pepper if desired, and toss to coat.

4 – Place your carrots onto your prepared baking sheet, make sure your carrots are  evenly spaced on your baking sheet, you want to make sure they have some room to breathe, this is important, it ensures our carrots get nice crispy (not sad and soggy) edges!!!

5 – Roast for 20-25 minutes until the flesh is soft and tender and the edges are nice and crisp.

6 – Once your carrots are crisp and caramelized, transfer to a serving plate, drizzle with some of your spicy tahini and lime dressing, scatter over your pretty little pomegranate arils, sprinkle with coriander (cilantro) and finish with a cheeky squeeze of lime.

7 – Enjoy as a side with your protein of choice, or with build an epic salad with a couple of soft boiled eggs, some garlic roasted Brussels sprouts, some perfectly roasted baby potatoes, some sliced avocado and a mountain of baby salad greens.

Enjoy xo

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

Are you a fellow roasted veg lover?! Whats you’re favorite way to prepare it? And of course how do you like to eat it?! Tell me . . . details please

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your Moroccan spiced carrots (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

The post Rockin’ Moroccan Roasted Carrots with Spicy Tahini and Lime Dressing first appeared on Better with Cake.

It’s that time again, time for another round of fit Friday Fun and boy are we going to have some fun today . . .

Today I’m sharing one of my all time fave, short, sharp lower body workouts that you can get in and get done in just 20 minutes (with or without weight), what do you say, are you up for the challenge?

You guys know how how much I love, love, love my lower body workouts, The lower body is where your powerhouse muscles are (I’m looking at you quads, glutes and hamstrings) which means you get a serious bang for your workout butt, I mean buck

So, here’s what we are going to do –

4 basic exercises – Squat –  Lunge – Deadlifts & Box Jumps (feel free to sub in step ups if plyo-metrics/jumping isn’t your jam)

We will aim to do 8-10 reps of each exercise (count reps per leg for lunges and step ups if you’re doing those ) then repeat the entire sequence through for a total of 3 rounds, resting as needed. Sound good?

Just because I’m not allocating any specific rests breaks in today’s workout does not mean you push through without taking any rest!

I want you to listen to that beautiful body of yours and anytime you feel like you need to take a break to catch your breath and grab a little drink then by all means please do so, and take all the time you need. However, if possible try to wait until you get to the end of each set or the bottom of each round to do so but, do what you gotta do, OK?!

If you feel like you need to stop, grab a drink and catch your breath, by all means do so, take all the time you need,  then get straight back into it and repeat for a total of 3 rounds, deal?

4 exercises
8-10 reps each
x 3 rounds
Done

Nothing complicated, basic movements done with good form for a short but effective lower body workout.

Now, for those of you who are just getting started or may not have access to a gym of any kind of weights you can absolutely do with workout without any added weight and let me tell you, you will be feeling it.

Just because you’re “only” using your body-weight as resistance doesn’t not make this an easy workout. Your quads and glutes will be burning by the final round and you will definitely be feeling the effects of it tomorrow I assure you.

You have been warned

For our fully functioning/more advanced lifters who might be looking to make things a little more challenging – grab yourself a weapon of choice – a set of dumbbells, a barbell, kettlebells, some resistance bands or any combination you like. Make sure you choose something appropriate for your strength but, don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

The final reps in each set should be tough!

Although, we want quality not quantity, always! Never compromise your form, ever! If your form starts to fail your done, got it?

Take your time, concentrate, focus and breathe through each and every exercise. You are strong, you are amazing, you have big energy! You’ve totally got this!

And because nothing makes a workout challenge more fun than getting a buddy to join you. Why not grab your BFF or a family member or your fave workmate and have them join you, power in numbers baby!

Don’t forget to come back and let me know how you did once you’re done. Either leave me a message in the comments below, or you can give me a shout on the Facebook page or tag me (@EmSwanston) on Twitter , or Instagram (@emsswanston) . I mean it, I wanna hear how you did!

Ok enough chit chat time to work –

20 Minute Lower Body Burn Out

As always make sure you are nice an warm before you start your workout – Run on the spot, do jumping jacks, jump rope, dance around your living room, anything to get you warm then it’s time to get serious.

Finish with a nice little cool down and stretch, maybe take a walk or something anything to help bring your heart rate down. Finish with a few of your fave stretches. Please don’t skip the stretch people, its like dessert for the body.

Now onto our bonus smoothie recipe . . .

How does a nice tall, creamy, dreamy, subtly sweet, antioxidant rich, perfectly spiced, blueberry chai chiller sound?

Creamy, dreamy coconut yogurt, is combined with a splash of vanilla, some frozen banana, handful of sweet juicy blueberries and a combination of chai inspired spices to bring you one outrageously delicious, incredibly nutritious, pretty, little powerhouse of a smoothie.

Oh and I should probably mention that not only does our pretty little, blissfully delicious smoothie taste like an absolute dream but, it also happens to be vegan, dairy free, gluten free, refined sugar free, keto and paleo friendly – so much to love I tell you

It really is simply divine, the perfect way to treat yo’ self and refuel and re-energize that beautiful body of yours on this fabulous Friday.

Blueberry Chai Chiller
{Vegan. Gluten Free & Paleo Friendly}
Makes 1 nice tall, creamy, dreamy, subtly sweet, perfectly spiced, antioxidant rich, blissfully delicious, blueberry chai chiller

Ingredients –

1/3 cup coconut or Greek style yogurt

2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)

1/2 an overripe banana (preferably pre-frozen)

1/2  cup of frozen blueberries

1 Tablespoon of coconut butter– optional but recommended

1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1/8th of a teaspoon of nutmeg

1/8th of a teaspoon of cardamom

1/8th of a teaspoon of coves

1 teaspoon of vanilla (or 4-6 drops of vanilla cream stevia – I like to use Sweet Leaf Stevia )

1 scoop of Vital proteins unflavored collagen peptides optional

1/4-1/2  cup of ice – more or less to desired consistency

Optional but recommended for serving –

Coconut flakes

Chia Seeds

Freeze dried blueberries

Method –

1 – Place all smoothie ingredients into your and process until smooth, creamy and well combined.

2 – Pour into a chilled glass or mason jar then top with coconut flakes, freeze dried blueberry crumbles and chia seeds if desired.

You could also add in a scoop of protein powder (vanilla or unflavoured would work best in this recipe – I like to use The Healthy Chef – WPI) and some great lakes gelatin or vital proteins collagen peptides (use the code to get NHN329 to get 10% off ) for an extra boost of protein if you’re into that kinda thing – do what you feel baby

Enjoy xoxo

Don’t forget to give me a shout out when you’re done – hit me up in the comments below via the Facebook page on Twitter or on Instagram

Now go ;

and have yourself a killer day xoxo

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

What’s your favorite way to refuel after a workout?

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make this smoothie (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post A {NEW} 20 Minute Lower Body Workout + A Blueberry Chai Chiller Recipe first appeared on Better with Cake.

Today I’m sharing a short, sharp tummy toning workout that you do anywhere, anytime in just 10 minutes , no equipment required – what do you say,

Nothing complicated, basic movements done with good form for a short but effective tummy toning workout that will leave you feeling strong, energized and ready to take on the rest of your day.

We will do – 5 exercises (10 reps each) that focus on toning, tightening and strengthening your core – 6 pack abs here we come baby!

Here’s what we’re going to do;

Hollow Rocks – Knee to Elbow Plank – Reverse Crunch – Oblique Crunch and Russian Twists – we will do 10 reps of each exercise (count reps per side for knee to elbow plank – oblique crunches and Russian twists) and repeat the entire sequence through for a total of 3 rounds.

Once that’s done we will move onto one firey little finisher where we get into a plank position and hold it for as long as good form allows.

Remember, we want quality not quantity, always! Never compromise your form, ever! If your form starts to fail your done, got it?

Take your time, concentrate, focus and breathe through each and every exercise. You are strong, you are amazing, you have big energy! You’ve totally got this!

And because nothing makes a workout challenge more fun than getting a buddy to join you. Why not grab your BFF or a family member or your fave workmate and have them join you, power in numbers baby!

Don’t forget to come back and let me know how you did once you’re done. Either leave me a message in the comments below, or you can give me a shout on the Facebook page or tag me (@EmSwanston) on Twitter , or Instagram (@emsswanston) . I mean it, I wanna hear how you did!

Ok enough chit chat time to work –

10 minute
“Hard Core On the Floor”
Tummy Toning AB Workout

As always make sure you are nice an warm before you start your workout – Run on the spot, do jumping jacks, jump rope, dance around your living room, anything to get you warm then it’s time to get serious.

Finish with a nice little cool down and stretch, maybe take a walk or something anything to help bring your heart rate down. Finish with a few of your fave stretches. Please don’t skip the stretch people, its like dessert for the body.

Now for our bonus smoothie recipe . . .

How does a nice tall, light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, subtly sweet, perfectly spiced, anti-inflammatory, tummy taming iced golden milk latte sound?

This smoothie not only tastes simply divine with creamy coconut yogurt combined with the subtle sweetness of our frozen banana, a splash of vanilla and the gentle, belly warming hum of turmeric, cinnamon and ginger really does taste all kinds of incredible, but this pretty little smoothie of ours also happens to be a nutritional powerhouse!

It’s rich in antioxidants, a natural anti-inflammatory, it’s great for digestion, great for heart health, will help stabilize blood sugar, lower your risk of diabetes, improve brain function and boost your immunity! 

How is it possible that one pretty little cup can pack such a serious nutritional punch and be all kinds of delicious?!

I honestly have no idea how it’s possible I just know that it is and I (and my tummy, brain and digestive system) are extremely thankful. One sip and I think know that you (and that beautiful body of yours) will agree, no question!

It really is simply divine, the perfect way to treat yo’ self on this fabulous Friday.

Oh and I should probably mention that not only does our delicious, nutritious, pretty little, iced golden milk latte taste like an absolute dream but, it also happens to be vegan, dairy free, sugar free, keto and paleo friendly – so much to love I tell you

Iced Golden Milk Latte
{Vegan – Dairy Free – Sugar Free – Keto – Paleo Friendly}
Makes 1 all natural, light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, subtly sweet, perfectly spiced, anti-inflammatory, tummy taming iced golden milk latte

Ingredients –

1/3 cup coconut yogurt

2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)

1/2 an overripe banana (preferably pre-frozen) – could sub 1-2 medjool dates or 1/2 cup (pre-steamed/frozen) cauliflower or zucchini

1/2 teaspoon of ground turmeric

1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger

1 pinch of ground black pepper – this is important as the chemical compound in the black pepper is what helps and enables the body to absorb all of those important nutrients in the turmeric! You can’t taste the pepper, promise.

1 Tablespoon of coconut oil – this is also important in helping the body absorb those important vitamins and minerals in the turmeric.

4-6 drops of Vanilla Cream Stevia – I use Sweet Leaf Stevia  (or 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract)

1/4-1/2  cup of ice – more or less to desired consistency.

Optional but recommended for serving –

Coconut flakes

Cacao nibs

A pinch of turmeric

Method –

1 – Place all smoothie ingredients into your and process until smooth, creamy and well combined.

2 – Pour into a chilled glass or mason jar then top with coconut flakes, cacao nibs and dust with turmeric if desired.

You could also add in a scoop of protein powder (vanilla or unflavoured would work best in this recipe – I like to use The Healthy Chef – WPI) and some great lakes gelatin or vital proteins collagen peptides for an extra boost of protein if you’re into that kinda thing – do what you feel baby

Enjoy xoxo

Don’t forget to give me a shout out when you’re done – hit me up in the comments below via the Facebook page on Twitter or on Instagram

Don’t forget . . .

Now go, and have yourself a killer day xoxo

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

What’s your favorite/go to quickie workout when you really want to get a good sweat on but your pressed for time??

Feel free to share tips, tricks and/or links to your fave workouts in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make this smoothie (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post A 10 Minute “Hard Core On the Floor” Tummy Toning Ab Workout + An Iced Golden Milk Latte Smoothie first appeared on Better with Cake.

Alright party people, it’s that time again . . .

Time for another round of fit Friday fun!!!!

Today, I thought I’d we’d have ourselves a short and sharp, 20 minute, total body conditioning workout.

Get in, get it done, and get on with living!

What do you say are you in?

So, here’s what we are going to do –

6 exercises;

Squats
Push Press
Deadlift
Bent Over Row
Reverse Lunges &
Tricep Dips

We will do 8-10 reps of each exercise (count reps per leg for lunges) and repeat the entire sequence through for a total of 3 rounds (or as many rounds as pretty in 20 minutes), resting as needed, sound good?

Nothing complicated, basic movements done with good form for a short but effective total body workout that will leave you feeling energized and strong, ready to take on the rest of your day!

And remember, just because I’m not allocating any specific rest breaks doesn’t mean you don’t take them! I want you to listen to that beautiful body of yours and anytime you feel like you need to take a break to catch your breath and grab a little drink then by all means do so, and take all the time you need. However, if possible try to wait until you get to the end of each set or the bottom of each round to take your break if you can but, do what you gotta do, OK?!

Grab yourself a weapon of choice – a set of dumbbells, a barbell, kettlebells, some resistance bands or any combination you like. Make sure you choose something appropriate for your strength but, don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

The final reps in each set should be tough!

Although, we want quality not quantity, always! Never compromise your form, ever! If your form starts to fail your done, got it?

Take your time, concentrate, focus and breathe through each and every exercise. You are strong, you are amazing, you have big energy! You’ve totally got this!

And because nothing makes a workout challenge more fun than getting a buddy to join you. Why not grab your BFF or a family member or your fave workmate and have them join you, power in numbers baby!

Don’t forget to come back and let me know how you did once you’re done. Either leave me a message in the comments below, or you can give me a shout on the Facebook page or tag me (@EmSwanston) on Twitter , or Instagram (@emsswanston) . I mean it, I wanna hear how you did!

Ok enough chit chat time to work –

 
– 20 Minute –

Total Body Burn

As always make sure you are nice an warm before you start your workout – Run on the spot, do jumping jacks, jump rope, dance around your living room, anything to get you warm then it’s time to get serious.

Finish with a nice little cool down and stretch, maybe take a walk or something anything to help bring your heart rate down. Finish with a few of your fave stretches. Please don’t skip the stretch people, its like dessert for the body.

Now onto our bonus smoothie recipe . . .

How does a nice tall, light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, subtly sweet, nutrient rich, minty fresh, strawberry matcha smoothie sound?

The combination creamy, dreamy coconut yogurt, combined with the natural sweetness of our frozen banana and vibrant, delicious, luscious little strawberries and that hint of fresh mint marries so perfectly with the earthy tones of that magnificent matcha – you guys, it really is a matcha made in heaven (sorry, it had to be done)

This pretty little, pastel pink smoothie is quite the nutritional powerhouse! It’s packed with protein, high in fiber, rich in anti-oxidants and those all important omega 3’s and thanks to that magnificent matcha this smoothie is also great for digestion, will help support your hormones (and adrenals), aid in post workout recovery and give your immune system a nice little boost – I told you it was a super smoothie didn’t I?! 

All that nutritional value and still tastes like an absolute dream!

It really is simply divine, the perfect way to treat yo’ self and refuel and re-energize that beautiful body of yours on this fabulous Friday.

Oh and I should probably mention that not only does our pretty pink, powerhouse of a smoothie taste like an absolute dream but, it also happens to be vegan, dairy free and paleo friendly – so much to love I tell you

 Strawberry Matcha Mint Super Smoothie
{Vegan, Gluten Free & Paleo Friendly}
Makes 1 all natural, light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, subtly sweet, delicious, nutritious, strawberry matcha mint infused smoothie.

Ingredients –

1/3 cup coconut or Greek style yogurt

2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)

1/2 an overripe banana (preferably pre-frozen)

1/2 cup of frozen strawberries

1 teaspoon of vanilla (or 4-6 drops of vanilla cream stevia – I like to use Sweet Leaf Stevia )

1 scoop (1/4-1/2 teaspoon) of Matcha ( green tea powder )

1 Tablespoon of mint leaves, firmly packed

1 teaspoon of Chia seeds

1 Tablespoon of Coconut butter

1 scoop of Vital proteins unflavored collagen peptides optional

1/4-1/2  cup of ice – more or less to desired consistency

Optional but recommended for serving –

Coconut flakes

Chia Seeds

A sprig or 2 of fresh mint

Method –

1 – Place all smoothie ingredients into your and process until smooth, creamy and well combined.

2 – Pour into a chilled glass or mason jar then top with coconut flakes, chia seeds and fresh mint if desired.

Note – You could also add in a scoop of protein powder (vanilla or unflavoured would work best in this recipe) and some great lakes gelatin or vital proteins collagen peptides for an extra boost of protein if you’re into that kinda thing – do what you feel baby

Enjoy xoxo

Don’t forget to give me a shout out when you’re done – hit me up in the comments below via the Facebook page on Twitter or on Instagram

Now go;

and have yourself a killer day xoxo

_________________________________________

The post 20 Minute Total Body Burn & A Strawberry Matcha Mint Super Smoothie first appeared on Better with Cake.

So I’m going to keep things super short for you today because I have literally been trying to write this post for 3 days now.

Oh how I wish I was kidding.

Sadly, I am not.

It seems I have gone and got myself a major case of writers block

I’ve been standing here, staring at my laptop for hours on end, on and off for 3 whole days ( ← yes, really) trying to come up with something fun, witty or interesting to tell you.

A funny anecdote or cool story but . . . I got nothin’

Why is this so hard for me?!

I have no trouble at all coming up with recipe ideas.

I literally have lists, upon lists, upon lists, upon, lists, upon lists of all kinds of delicious things I want to make and share with you, my sweet invisible internet BFF, but when it comes time to sit (or stand in my case) and write something fun to go with the recipe . . . I find it really hard.

Like really, REALLY hard!

But, you know what’s not hard . . .

Making this spicy tahini and lime dressing . . .

And, um, you guys . . . this dressing  . . . is life.

Creamy, dreamy deliciously nutty tahini , combined with sprinkling of garlic powder, a pinch of red pepper flakes and cheeky squeeze of light fresh zesty lime is absolute perfection!

1 bowl – 1 spoon – 5 ingredients and 2 minutes in the making  and you my friend have yourself one epic little flavor-bomb!

No fancy whisks or electronic equipment required!!!

And talk about tantalize those taste buds baby!

I seriously can’t stop eating it on alllll of the things!

And you know what?! I’m not even a little bit sorry about it.

It’s just so good!

It’s such a quick and easy, deliciously simple way to spice things up add a tonne of flavor to just about anything!

It’s great on salads, it’s great on burgers, it’s incredible on a creamy, dreamy,  avocado too (like this – best snack ever!!!)  it would go very nicely drizzled over some roasted pumpkin or crispy taters and oh how good it would be slathered onto these quick and easy carrot and zucchini fritters too!! (Seriously, let’s do that, asap!)

You could totally use it hollandaise style and serve it with eggs, a nice juicy steak some grilled chicken, salmon or protein of choice – yum!

But, it’s also all kinds of amazing simply served alongside some fresh cut veggies, carrots and snap peas are my all time fave but cucumber, broccoli, capsicum/peppers are good to – you name it, it just works!

Seriously, so good!

And you know what makes it even better?!

The fact that it comes together in less than 2 minutes using just a handful of ingredients that I bet you have on hand already and, it also happens to be vegan, gluten free, dairy free and paleo friendly.

Deliciously winning on so many levels!

FYI – This dressing is intentionally made to be on the thicker side because;

1 – Ain’t nobody got time for watery dressings, am I right?!

2 – That way I can use it as a spread and dip as well as a dressing.

So versatile and delicious I tell you, I can not wait for you to try because one taste and I know you be as in love with it as I am.

I mean would you just look at how deliciously luscious and creamy it is?!

All natural, quick and easy, light, fresh, creamy, dreamy, garlic infused, spicy, tahini and lime dressing . . .

Make it. Eat it. Love, love love it.

Spicy Tahini and Lime Dressing
{Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Keto & Paleo Friendly}

Makes approx 3/4-1 cup of light, fresh, creamy dreamy, deliciously nutty, zip, zingy, spicy tahini and lime dressing

Ingredients –

1/2 cup of tahini

2 teaspoons of garlic powder

2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1/2 a small lime)

A pinch of red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper to taste

4-6 Tablespoons of water – more or less to reach desired consistency.

Method –

1 – Place all ingredients into a bowl or glass jar and stir (or shake) to combine.

This dressing is on the thicker side which is just the way I like it. That way I can use it as a spread as well as a dressing.  Feel free to add some a little extra water (1 tsp at a time) to reach desired consistency.

2 – Taste and adjust seasonings accordingly. Also, if you prefer a thinner consistency add a touch of water (or you could try using coconut or almond milk if you prefer) 1 teaspoon at a time to reach desired consistency.

3 – Drizzle over your favorite salad, roasted veg, carrot and zucchini fritters or use it to simply dip fresh cut veggie sticks for a seriously flavorful snack.

4 – Store in an air-tight container in the fridge and should keep well for up to 7 days but I doubt it will last that long, mine never does

Enjoy xo

_________________________________________

Question of the day –

What’s your current quick and easy way to spice things up in the kitchen?

Feel free to share recipes, or links recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your spicy tahini and lime dressing (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

__________________________________________

The post Spicy Tahini and Lime Dressing {Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Keto & Paleo Friendly} first appeared on Better with Cake.