This is an “All-Bulk All Star” recipe, in honor of Plastic Free July. Every ingredient is available in our Bulk Section!
Bring your own jars when you buy the ingredients, no plastic required.
Ingredients
4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup pecans
1 cup pepitas
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
½ cup melted cocoa butter
½ cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ cup dried cherries
½ cup chocolate chips
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. Line a large, rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine oats, pecans, pepitas, cinnamon and salt.
Melt cocoa butter and add maple syrup at the end to warm slightly. Pour mixture in bowl. Add vanilla to bowl and mix everything together well so all is lightly coated.
Spread granola in even layer on parchment-covered pan, pressing down gently.
Bake 10-12 minutes, then stir granola. Press down in even layer before returning to oven. Cook 10-12 minutes more, or until light golden brown.
Cool completely, about an hour or more. Add cherries and chocolate chips on top and break into chunks with your hands.
This smoothie uses melon seeds! Rich in vitamins, minerals and protein, tap into their nutrition by blending with water and straining/discarding solids.
Ingredients
2 cups spinach, collards or kale, stemmed
½ cup fresh mint, stemmed
2 cups melon, fresh or frozen (cantaloupe, galia, canary, piel de sapo…)
½ – 1 banana
1 kiwifruit, peeled
1 cup “melon seed water” (see note), or your alt-milk of choice, plus more for desired consistency
Ice as needed
Optional: ½ tsp cinnamon
Directions
Load the ingredients into your blender in the order listed. Blend at high speed until smooth and creamy.
Note: To make “melon seed water,” blend seeds and inner melon goo with 2 cups water until seeds are broken down. Strain through nut milk bag, very fine strainer or cheesecloth so you remove all seed bits.
When it comes to being active on hot days, it’s not just about drinking plenty of water, it’s also about getting enough electrolytes to keep your energy even and balanced.
Pre-made sports drinks and electrolyte powders can play an important, restorative role, and so can freshly made DIY alternatives! Here’s a recipe for a sweet, refreshing and easy combo that’ll add flavor and freshness to your outdoor fun and help you stay hydrated.
Ingredients
2 bananas, ripe
1 cup strawberries, diced
2 cups watermelon, diced
4 cups water
2 cups ice
1/4 cup orange juice
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinches of salt
Directions
Blend everything except ice. Strain using a nut milk bag or other fine mesh strainer.
Here’s a recipe that’ll give you the sweet and simple taste of summer, Ginger-Lime -Watermelon Beer Cocktail.
For this recipe, you’ll want a lager like Dust Bowl Brewing Company’s Taco Truck or their namesake lager brew, or NA options like Athletic Brewing Company’s Mexican-Style Atlética or Golden.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups seedless watermelon, diced small
2 cup water, divided
½ – 1 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice
32 oz Light or light-flavored beer
½ cup Ginger-Honey Syrup
Mint sprigs for garnish
Ginger-Honey Syrup
1 cup honey
1 cup water
4-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled/chopped
Directions
Make Ginger-Honey Syrup: Combine honey, ginger and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil so honey fully dissolves. Remove pan from heat and allow to steep/cool at least 30 minutes and up to a day. Strain out ginger and transfer to a clean glass jar. Will keep in fridge for a month.
Blend watermelon and 1 cup water 10-20 seconds until puréed.
In a pitcher/large jar, mix watermelon juice, lime juice, ½ cup Ginger-Honey Syrup and beer.
Pour into serving glasses and garnish with mint sprigs.
Atole (“ah-toh-leh) is a popular beverage in Mexico, made with masa harina, cinnamon, brown sugar and milk or water. Folks enjoy it at breakfast, with an afternoon snack, lending a taste of tradition and comforting hominess to both every day and celebratory events like Day of the Dead and, with the Mascogos, Juneteenth.
It’s usually made with piloncillo, big brown cones of sugar. Here we use substitutes in case you don’t have an easy source for it.
Ingredients
5 cups combo of water/milk or unsweetened almond, oat, cashew milk
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
5 Tbsp sucanat panela, or combo of this and pitted medjool dates (sub 2 for each Tbsp panela)
½ cup masa harina
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Optional: 1 –2 Tbsp Spicy Cocoa – like Equal Exchange
Directions
If using dates as part/all of sweetener, pit then soak 4 hours – overnight.
Blend all ingredients except vanilla and salt in a blender until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Note: If using Spicy Cocoa, lower the amount of other sweetener by 1-2 tsp per Tbsp used.
Pour mixture into a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
When mixture reaches a boil, lower the temperature and whisk steadily for five minutes as masa harina thickens.
Remove atole from heat, stir in vanilla and pinch of salt. Adjust sweetness using reserved water from soaking dates, stirring well between each addition.
Best served immediately. Can be stored in fridge for up to two days; it’ll thicken so add a little water/milk before reheating.
Guasacaca (pronounced “wah-sah-cah-cah”) is the Venezuelan version of guacamole that includes vinegar along with the zing of citrus.
Smooth and creamy, this could be your new go-to dip or even salad dressing! And it’s oh-so-satisfying and ready in minutes using familiar ingredients.
Yes, eating healthy can be all these things.
Ingredients
3 ripe avocados, peeled and cut into pieces
3 cloves garlic, chopped
¼ cup white onion, chopped
1/3 green bell pepper, seeded/cut in large chunks
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded/deveined/chopped (or sub more green pepper to make ½ cup total)
¼ cup cilantro leaves
1 Tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley
1-2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
½ cup neutral-flavored oil, like grapeseed
1-2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional garnishes: cayenne/crushed chili flakes/nutritional yeast flakes
Directions
To a blender or food processor, add avocado, garlic, onion, peppers, herbs. With machine on, add oil in a small stream, followed by smaller amounts of lime juice and vinegar.
Add pinches of salt/pepper and adjust acid level to taste. Process further to evenly incorporate all ingredients and ensure a smooth texture.
Put in serving bowl and garnish. Serve with chips, crackers (seed-based or other favorite) or crudités.
