Alfredo Sauce with a "healthier" spin

Disclaimer: This recipe is delicious, and yet please understand the goal.  This is not what I would call a "healthy" recipe.  This recipe is for moments we are intensely craving pasta with alfredo sauce, and this is a very tasty way to make it better for you, but I would not recommend this recipe often as being "good for you".  It's just better than the traditional recipe because of the added fiber and whole grain.  That said, let's make some yummy pasta alfredo!

Alfredo Cream Sauce

1 cube butter

3/4 C heavy cream

1/3 C parmesan cheese

1 scoop Blendfresh spouted fiber blend

Cook: 1/2 box Barilla whole grain spaghetti

Cook pasta.  In a separate pot gently melt butter, then add heavy cream and stir until very warm and blended (do not boil or cream may separate).  At the last moment quickly add parmesan and Blendfresh fiber and whisk to blend.  Pour immediately over cooked pasta and mix together.  The parmesan will melt and the fiber will begin to thicken immediately, so you want them on the pasta as that happens so it's easier to work with.  You can still add it after it thickens, but it will become very thick, not like a traditional sauce.

Serve with steamed broccoli.  To make a complete meal serve with a protein.  In this picture I show turkey seasoned with Blendfresh Orange.  As an alternate, try kidney beans added to pasta for a vegetarian meal.

How do I get "THE DEAL" on a Blendtec blender?

"THE DEAL" from Blendtec

Get the Total Blender for $99 refurbished ($329 at Costco)

Get the Express Blender for $199 ($649 at Bed, Bath and Beyond)

Get the Express Pro Blender for $599 ($1500 at Bloomingdale's)

Keep reading - here's how!

Get your deal!  Everyone's asking me how to get the big savings on their Blendtec purchase, so I have the steps to take listed below.

1.  Click here for the ordering website.  Then you'll choose how you want to purchase;

2A.  Join the Club (lifetime membership for $10 gets you huge discounts on Blendtecs and accessories, and $10 off every bottle of Blendfresh.  There is no minimum monthly order required unless you purchase a discounted blender)  OR

2B.  Join as a Consultant ($35 year let's you earn commission promoting Blendtec and Blendfresh with a new business opportunity and you get access to all the same savings as a Club Member).

3.  Select your blender model and from the shopping page and click on the subscription button to see the discounted price (includes shipping).  Scroll down to add accessories if desired at the discounted Club price.  

4.  Select your Blendfresh foods.  Choose any combination you like as long as it totals the right amount for your blender*.  90 day money back guarantee on all Blendfresh foods, just to make sure you love them!  It's the easiest way to eat healthy every day.

*If  you are purchasing the Refurbished Total Blender model for $99 ($329 suggested retail), you commit to buy one bottle of Blendfresh totaling at least $29 per month for 12 months.  

*If you purchase the discounted Express Blender for $199  (suggested retail $599), you commit to buy two bottles of Blendfresh totaling at least $69 per month for 12 months.

*If you purchase the discounted Express Pro Blender for $599  (suggested retail $1500), you commit to buy two bottles of Blendfresh totaling at least $69 per month for 12 months.

5.  Complete your order and then count down the days until it arrives!  This will be the beginning of a new, easier, healthy way to eat and live.  I'm excited you're choosing to follow this path and I can't wait to hear how Blendtec and Blendfresh benefit you personally! 

6.  Stay connected.  I really care about the success of my customers. Email me a quick hello and I'll send you recipes and a link to join my next Blendfresh Lifestyle Facebook group.   Through recipes and videos I'll teach you how to make the most of these great tools and really make them a part of your life.  It's easier than you think, especially when you have someone to guide you.  If you have questions at any time, email jenn@coachjenngibbs.com and I'm happy to assist. 

Click here to order

and congrats on making a commitment to your health!

Raw Butternut Squash Soup

Raw Butternut Squash Soup

3 C raw cut butternut squash (seeded)

2 Tbsp raw pine nuts

2 Tbsp olive oil or coconut oil

sprinkle of Italian seasoning

1/2 fresh garlic clove

salt to taste

1 tsp cinnamon (or more to taste)

1 scoop Blendfresh Orange (optional)

Add all ingredients to you blender jar and blend on the hot soup setting if you have a Blendtec that spins fast enough to heat it.  Otherwise, blend then warm and serve.  Serve with a salad or a whole grain roll to round out a full meal. 

I am a little leary about raw recipes sometimes.  I want to like them, I'm a little worried that they will just taste like plain old vegetables, like taking a bite out of an actual butternut squash.  (I just buy the cubed butternut from Costco).  However, I'm all about trying new things that are healthy because maybe the next one will be my new favorite!  

So I did try my own version of a soup I'd seen, and was pleasantly surprised!  I even went back for seconds.  There was way more dimension to the taste than I had expected.  It was actually something I would choose because I enjoyed it and not just because I was trying to eat "clean" or healthy.  

 I always try my recipes before I add Blendfresh, just so I can experience both and see how it affects the flavor, color and texture of the recipe.  This was good with or without Blendfresh, but I like knowing that if I just add that easy scoop, I get 12 extra fruits and veggies in my delicious soup in addition to what it started with.  

So enjoy this - you probably have everything on hand except the actual squash.  I recommend buying it very close to the time you plan to use it since it tends to spoil quickly once it is cut.  I know pine nuts are expensive, but you can sometimes buy small quantities in bulk to reduce the cost.  Keep them in your fridge drawer since their healthy oils are fragile and they will keep longer that way.  Pine nuts are great for making health Ranch Dressing too, which I will be adding the recipe for soon.

Winter Wassail

Winter Wassail 

1 C warm or tap water

1 apple (seeded, peeling is optional)

2 sprinkles pumpkin pie spice

1 squeeze agave syrup

1 scoop Blendfresh Reds (optional)

Combine in your blender jar and use the soup setting or blend 90 seconds until very warm if you have a high powered blender like Blendtec that spins fast enough to heat your food.  Enjoy with a cinnamon stick if desired.  And be merry!  You can make this recipe without the Blendfresh if you don't have yours yet, but I really like the red color from the berries and the flavor with it.

Super easy, warm and comforting.  Nothing beats a toasty drink on a chilly evening.

I got tired of feeling guilty after indulging in hot chocolate.  I'm not a coffee drinker and I'm not always in the mood for herbal tea, so I modified this Wassail recipe and it's technically more of a health drink, but you'll never know it!  13 whole fruits and veggies with the Blendfresh, plus cinnamon that helps regulate blood sugar and the fiber of a whole apple.  Only share if you want to, but your really should!

Full Power Caesar Dressing

Full Power Caesar Dressing

1 C olive oil (or Mediterranean blend oil)
1/4 C water
2 Tbsp lemon juice (fresh is best, I used bottled this time)
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar (or sub your own if you don't have it)
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp Dijon mustard (I didn't have any so I used regular mustard)
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 large egg yolk*
2 cloves fresh garlic
1/4 C Parmesan cheese (fresh is best, I used a bottled version this time)
2 Scoops Blendfresh Greens (raw, whole food, powdered fruit and veggie mix) (optional)

Add ingredients to your blender jar and blend until creamy.  Its best to let the flavors sit and come together for a day.  It can also be a dip.  Because of the use of raw egg yolk (as is traditional for Caesar dressing), use within a week or according to common sense and be aware that *Consuming raw or undercooked eggs or egg products can increase your risk of foodborne illness.  

This is the new favorite at my house!  My teens who were almost dragging their feet to eat their salad are now looking at me and asking "What did you do?!".  I'm hearing "This is the best salad dressing I've ever had!".  High praise from the family dinner table :)

I was experimenting with ways to use Blendfresh Green raw food powder.  I've recently been speaking more with chefs and caterers about using Blendfresh from a taste perspective.  It really adds so much more depth and dimension to recipes.

This dressing I've adapted from the Blendtec cookbook.  At first I made it without Blendfresh and tasted.  Then I added one scoop of Blendfresh Greens and liked it better, but thought the flavors would be good with a little more intensity.  So I added a second scoop, and that's the magic!  It's hard to describe how a hint of sweet from the lime and a touch of asparagus and other raw vegetables come together to create this whole amazing flavor.

Instinctively we add oil based dressings to our green salads.  The good oils actually aid in the uptake of minerals found in green plants.  So here is an even more powerful way to do it - add the veggies right into the dressing!  Enjoy and comment below how you like it.

PBJ Energy Bites

Fast, easy and filling!  In case you can't read the graphic, here's the breakdown;

Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Bites

1 Cup rolled oats (pulsed in blender optional)
1 Scoop Blendfresh Protein Powder (or sub your own)
1 Scoop Blendfresh Purple fruit and veggie raw powder (or sub 1 Tbsp jam)

Stir dry ingredients together with a fork.  The add 3 Tbsp water and

2/3 Cup chunky peanut butter

Mash until mixed and roll into bite sized balls.

So tasty you'll forget it's good for you.  Kids love it and it makes a great after school activity and snack!

My favorite ways to use Blendfresh!

I have loved plants for nutrition for many years.  The idea just sits right with me.  The One who made our amazing bodies also made the perfect fuel for them, and in pretty colors as a bonus!  Each color does something different in the body.

When I found Blendfresh, it was a sigh of relief.  Clean, pesticide free, non-GMO, raw, whole, good foods, preserved gently by removing the water so they can be picked when they are ripe, and they won't spoil before I can use them.  Plus I love to save money!

I want to help as many people enjoy great health as possible, so once you have your own Blendfresh, how do you actually USE it in real life?  Here are some suggestions for my favorite ways.  I'm sure I'll discover more as I go!

Reds
Beautiful!  Add a ruby color to any dish and a variety of tastes come into play.
Sprinkle on Eggs
Sprinkle on Oatmeal
Salsa
Pizza Sauce
Enchilada Sauce
Soups
Add to chili
Smoothies
Raspberry salad dressing
Syrups
Yogurt for a fruit dip
Use as a food coloring
Smoothie
In coconut water as a workout recovery drink
Add to red jello
Add to cranberry sauce
Flavor chutneys or sauces
Add to chunky dips

Purples
Add to any smoothie that may have a brownish color from adding greens
Oatmeal
Let kids lick fingers and use like Fun Dip
Berry salad dressings
Use like sugar over cold cereal
Make a flavored water
Roll with peanut butter, oats, honey, Protein and a little water for an energy bar
Add to smoothie
Add to cottage cheese
Stir into yogurt

Orange
Use in scrambled eggs or a baked frittata
Use in enchilda sauce
Use in any orange soup like pumpkin, sweet potato, taco soup, etc
Sprinkle on cheese quesadillas for extra nutrition and taste
Use in meatballs
Add to macaroni and cheese
Add to scalloped potato dishes
Use in warm water first like tea
Use a s a pre-workout mild energy drink
Use as a season salt on meat or veggies
Add to sweet breads like pumpkin
Serve over baked chicken

Greens
Anywhere you can sneak them in!
Stir into scrambled eggs or frittata (baked eggs)
A scoop to any smoothie
Make a flavored Mayo
Keep in a salt shaker and sprinkle on foods to season
Sprinkle on quesadilla
Add to box brownie mix or chocolate cake
Add to green soups like spinach or broccoli
Add to lasagne
Sprinkle a little into the middle of a peanut butter jelly sandwich!
Drink with water if I know I haven't eaten well during the day (not delicious, but doable)
Add to green jello

Protein
In smoothies!
Make a high protein almond milk
Make a high protein hot chocolate
Protein pancakes
Substitute for part of the flour in sweet recipes
Make energy balls by adding peanut butter, a little water, Purples and oats
Experiment!

Fiber
Stir into a tall glass of water and drink quickly before bed
Add to a thick smoothie and pour into cups to make pudding
Substitute for powdered sugar when making fudge (if the chocolate in the recipe is sweetened)
Thicken soups and gravies
Alfredo Sauce
Add to cake recipes or boxed cornbread mix
Add to a smoothie with protein and a veggie color as a meal replacement (very filling)
Use half a scoop in water with kids and call it a "Fiber Racing Drink".  Let them race to see who finishes theirs first!

Probiotic
Add 1/2 tsp. to a smoothie once per day.

Caring for your Blendfresh
It's best to refrigerate these items.  All are raw and nutrients will be best preserved in low temperatures.  It is recommended to use the bottle within 90 days of opening.  There are no fillers or preservatives, so once oxygen enters the container, fragile nutrients can begin to deteriorate.  If unopened, it is suggested to use within 3 years for optimal nutrition, but they are shelf stable for 20 years.  Consider adding them to your home emergency storage.

Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe

Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup

This takes literally less than ten minutes from start to table, so you are hearing a chorus of "What's for dinner?" this could save the day!  Pair it with a hearty slice of whole grain bread and you have a nice light evening meal that satisfies.

4 Cups broccoli florets, steamed and divided

1 Cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)

1 Cup water

Salt and pepper to taste

1/3 Cup grated cheddar cheese

Add 3 1/2 cups steamed broccoli and the rest of the ingredients to the blender jar.  Blend on the Hot Soup setting if you have a Blendtec blender (the heat from the blades will heat the soup), or 90-180 seconds in a regular blender.  Add the remaining 1/2 cup of steamed broccoli and pulse about 3 times, until they are bite sized chunks.   You are done!  You may need to heat the soup in the microwave or on the stove if using lower end blender.  Pour and top with shredded cheese to make it pretty.

Is it good?  Yeah, they like it...

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A Compromise on Instant Oatmeal?

Some days the kids just want a "fun" cereal for breakfast.  Translation: "Please can I have extra sugar and less fiber from a brightly colored package before you send me off to sit still at school for half a day".  Uh, maybe not.

But we want them to have a little fun sometimes and feel like they have choices, and most importantly to not grow up feeling so deprived that they binge on cold cereal the second they go off to college.  So being the stealthy, healthy mom that I am, I've engineered a compromise.  Here's how it goes.  On special days they can pick a flavored instant oatmeal packet.  In the beginning they would watch me pour it into their bowl, then I'd walk over, add the water, and as they happily ran off to get ready for the day I'd grab a handful of regular oats and add them to the bowl.  (The regular oats aren't even called instant, but cook up in just the same amount of time in the microwave and actually give the kids something to chew on versus drinking down the instant stuff).  They've figured out what I'm up to and these days they don't even mind.  They're used to the taste of less sugar now.

So they get to pick the fun flavor they want from a brightly colored assortment, and I get to give them an added dose of fiber so they will stay full until lunch and keep their tummy from hurting from too much processed food.  Plus the goodness in the oats will dilute down the sugar from the instant packet since the body has something more hearty to digest, creating a more positive glycemic effect on blood sugar.  By doing this I'm also teaching them to adapt recipes to be more healthy at the same time.

Oats even have some protein, did you know that?  Lots of vegan protein powders use it as a main protein source.  Just think, you get all these benefits and you slash your grocery bill too by adding the less expensive regular oats to the more expensive flavor packs.  Everybody wins!

Let me know how you like it!  If you're on Instagram post a pic of your bowl and tag me with @coachjenngibbs .  Thanks!

Epic Backyard Warrior

Sometimes you can't sweat the small stuff - just have to get out and enjoy life! 

This is what we did with the last days of summer...