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Fruit Salad With Mint
recipes

A Berry Bountiful Fruit Salad With Mint

The long wait is over — thank goodness!
by

The long wait is over — thank goodness! — and berries and stone fruit are returning to supermarket shelves (at absurdly low prices to boot). A textured Winter fruit salad has kept me going the past few months, but now I'm putting that recipe aside for this Spring- and Summer-forward fruit salad featuring all-new produce.

It's impossible to pinpoint what I love most about this combination of flavors. Sure, any old day you can combine a bunch of berries in a bowl, but here, mint, nutty Marcona almonds, and lemon zest and juice transform this into a fruit salad worthy of serving on a special occasion. The addition of sugar enhances the flavors in the fruit as well as releases more juices so the whole salad is marinated in a berry syrup.

Celebrate berry season with this fruit salad.

Vegan Substitutes For Cream
healthy living

Hold the Cream: 5 Vegan Substitutes That Are Just as Good

Heavy cream can elevate many dishes, but its high saturated fat and calorie content doesn't exactly make it the healthiest option.
by

Heavy cream can elevate many dishes, but its high saturated fat and calorie content doesn't exactly make it the healthiest option. And if you're vegan or lactose intolerant, your meals may be lacking that distinct texture from the dairy product. Stop pining and get the creaminess back with these five vegan substitutes!

Avocado: The creamy high-fat content of avocados make them a perfect substitute for milk and cream. Use avocado in baking or as a base for creamy sauces; one of our favorite ways is this vegan creamy avocado pasta from Oh She Glows.

Beans: Pureed beans can offer the consistency you're missing in those comforting creamy soups. Use canned cannellini beans; not only are the white beans the right hue when substituting for heavy cream, but their mild taste also won't overpower other flavors in your dish.

Bananas: Who needs ice cream when you've got frozen bananas? Keep a few ripe ones in your freezer (peel them and put in a container before you do for easier handling once they're frozen). Before creamy cravings strike, toss one or two in a food processor or blender with a little peanut butter and freeze for two hours. You'll have a 150-calorie vegan ice cream treat to enjoy after dinner.

More vegan cream options after the break!

Spicy Sesame Carrot Salad
salads

Off the Bookshelf: The New Persian Kitchen's Sesame Carrot Salad

This simple ribboned carrot salad might not be the first thing to jump off the beautifully photographed pages of Louisa Shafia's much-lauded cookbook The New Persian Kitchen, but skimming past it would make for a small tragedy.
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This simple ribboned carrot salad might not be the first thing to jump off the beautifully photographed pages of Louisa Shafia's much-lauded cookbook The New Persian Kitchen, but skimming past it would make for a small tragedy. Vinegary and bright, with a nutty, roasted note from the toasted sesame seeds and oil, it's not only visually stunning, but also delightfully balanced and far more nuanced than its simplicity would suggest.

Even better, it's quick (and easy) to prepare and can hold up to an overnight stay in the fridge, making it weeknight dinner- and brown-bag lunch-friendly, a rare and impressive feat. So what are you waiting for? Bust out the vegetable peeler, and get down to it.

Is Dairy Good For You?
healthy living

Is Dairy Bad For You?

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Shape here on POPSUGAR Fitness.
by

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Shape here on POPSUGAR Fitness.

Q: What's the deal with dairy? I've heard so many different things!

A: Milk, despite being a dietary staple for a very long time, does have its controversial side: On the one hand, you hear that milk and dairy are good sources of calcium, so you should consume them; on the other, you're told that drinking milk is unnatural and that humans are the only mammals to drink milk from other mammals, plus it has hormones.

To the unnatural point, we are also the only species to build and drive cars, so the line of thinking that compares our behaviors to other mammals isn't that compelling. As for hormones, there isn't adequate, credible research to support that there are hormones in milk causing problems for people. Now let's take a closer look at what we do know about how healthy milk and dairy are.

Whey and casein: These are the two proteins found in dairy products. Whey is by far the most popular protein used in protein powders, and casein has been gaining popularity over the years as well. Both offer unique benefits regarding amino acid profiles and digestion rates. Whey contains an abundance of branched chain amino acids, which are key for supporting muscle growth while also helping fight soreness from your workouts.

Convenience: Whether you choose cheese, cottage cheese, or Greek yogurt, dairy is an easy way to get in a high-protein snack during the day when you're on the go — something many people struggle with.

Learn the cons of eating dairy after the break!

Vegan Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Vegan

Naturally Sweet: Vegan Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bites

Loading up on a hefty dose of the white stuff isn't exactly the best way to start your morning.
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Loading up on a hefty dose of the white stuff isn't exactly the best way to start your morning. Baked goods like scones and quick breads tend to be high in sugar and fat, so if you're craving a homemade treat from the oven, then bake up a batch of these oatmeal breakfast bites. They're sweetened with banana and a touch of maple syrup, but each chewy bite has only 2.6 grams of sugar and 0.3 grams of saturated fat.

Keep reading for the simple recipe.

Easy Roasted Salsa Recipe
recipes

Never Buy Jarred Stuff Again With This Chipotle-Tomatillo Salsa Recipe

With Cinco de Mayo on the horizon, you'll need a lot of salsa to celebrate.
by

With Cinco de Mayo on the horizon, you'll need a lot of salsa to celebrate. Instead of reaching for bottles in the chips aisle, make this chipotle-tomatillo salsa, which will put any of the jarred stuff to shame. If you've never attempted homemade salsa, let me let you in on a little secret. I've never been able to make a decent homemade salsa before I met Michelle Bernstein, a Miami chef, restaurateur, and expert in Latino cuisine. We met at Lean Cuisine's Culinary Roundtable, where Michelle, a member of the conference, taught a group of us food writers how to prepare various salsas from different regions of South America. This is a riff on her traditional Mexican salsa.

Afraid of tomatillos? Don't be! They have a flavor like underripe tomatoes, and once you've tried them in this salsa, you'll want to experiment with them in other Mexican sauces, soups, and dishes.

The tomatillos, onions, and garlic take a trip to the broiler to become charred and softened. This adds a smoky, roasted flavor to the salsa.

If you're wondering how the salsa turns out red, it's due to the chipotle peppers in adobo. Pulse the charred vegetables, chipotles in adobo, and agave nectar (which neutralizes the spiciness, according to Michelle) together in a food processor until a smooth salsa forms. One bite and you'll be hooked on this salsa forever. It has the amazing ability to hit all the flavor profiles at once: sweet from the agave, sour from the tomatillos, spicy from the chipotle, and salty from the adobo sauce.

Keep reading to make the salsa for yourself.

Sources of Vegan Protein
Vegan

Vegan Protein Sources With 20 Grams or More

Vegans hear this all the time: "How do you get enough protein?"
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Vegans hear this all the time: "How do you get enough protein?" Milk, meat, and eggs aren't the only sources of protein out there. If you're avoiding animal products and need to up your daily protein, then dig into these foods.

1 1/4 cup cooked lentils: 22.3 grams, 287 calories
1 1/4 cups kidney beans: 20 grams, 250 calories
3/4 cup shelled edamame: 24.9 grams, 282 calories
1/3 cup seitan cubes: 21 grams, 120 calories
4 ounces organic tempeh: 22 grams, 230 calories
3/5 block of extra-firm tofu: 24 grams, 240 calories
3 cups unsweetened organic soymilk: 21 grams, 240 calories
1 Tofurkey Chick'n and Apple Artisan Sausage: 29 grams, 260 calories
6 slices Smart Deli Turkey: 21 grams, 150 calories
3 Tofu Pups: 21 grams: 150 calories
2 cups Kashi GoLean Cereal: 26 grams, 280 calories

Best Way to Serve Vegan Wedding Desserts
Wedding

Babycakes Offers Sweet Advice For Vegan Wedding Guests

If you, your partner, or the majority of your guests aren't vegan, then the idea of a dairy- and egg-free cake might seem a little far out.
by

If you, your partner, or the majority of your guests aren't vegan, then the idea of a dairy- and egg-free cake might seem a little far out. But with all the dietary restrictions on your guest list, finding a happy medium can be a bit overwhelming. Luckily, we discussed this issue with Erin McKenna, the founder of the renowned NYC bakery Babycakes that specializes in vegan and gluten-free culinary creations.

According to Erin, you can't even taste the fact that the "Babycakes brownie cake with vanilla icing is vegan or gluten-free." But instead of going all out and ordering a vegan cake for every guest to enjoy, another trend that's picking up steam at wedding receptions, bridal showers, and even bachelorette parties is to offer additional vegan-friendly options.

Many brides are ordering vegan and gluten-free cookies, cupcakes, or doughnuts to supplement the traditional dessert served at their celebration. This way, every guest feels included and is able to take part in sweet celebration. If you don't want to single anyone out for their diet, then consider setting everything up together on a festive dessert table. Erin believes this is a "fun and clever way to have options for everyone."

Have you seen this trend at any weddings you've attended? Did you have a vegan option at your wedding? Share below!

Source: Babycakes
Gwyneth Paltrow Quinoa Granola Recipe
Breakfast

Gluten-Free Quinoa Granola From Gwyneth's New Cookbook

There's been a lot of hype around Gwyneth Paltrow's new healthy cookbook, It's All Good ($32), but every recipe I've tested so far has exceeded my expectations.
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There's been a lot of hype around Gwyneth Paltrow's new healthy cookbook, It's All Good ($32), but every recipe I've tested so far has exceeded my expectations. This vegan and gluten-free granola is no exception.

High in iron and completely free of cholesterol, Gwyneth's granola is sweet and nutty with the perfect crunch, everything you want in a bowl of granola. Chopping all the dried fruit is a laborious process, so I'd suggest cooking this over the weekend when you have plenty of time to spare. Once you've made a big batch, you can enjoy it all week long: the granola can be stored in a glass jar for up to two weeks. Keep reading to learn how to make this gluten-free recipe.