Ciabotta (also known as ciambotta or giambotta) is an Italian vegetable stew that is a common summer dish throughout southern Italy.
Similar to the French ratatouille, this vegetable stew is made up of seasonal Mediterranean vegetables slowly cooked down with tomatoes and finished with fresh basil.
My Nonna (a.k.a. Ma) made this dish every Summer for as long as I can remember. Although she called it peperonata (which is predominately peppers and onions), she prepared it more like ciabotta with the addition of other vegetables like eggplant and zucchini.
BUT, we won’t tell Ma that I changed the name of her famous Summer dish.
My family could always rely on Ma for containers filled with this vegetable stew, especially when the garden was overflowing with zucchini and eggplant.
She’d send my Nonno out to the garden to pick all the good stuff, while she spent hours in the kitchen (a place she truly loved to be) preparing this dish and many more. Basically, my Nonno was the gardener and Ma was the chef (and not a day passed where Ma didn’t yell at Nonno for bugging her while she was trying to cook).
This dish is dedicated to my Ma... Thank you for passing on your love of cooking to me and inspiring me to create traditional Italian dishes that bring back fun family memories.
Now give this simple and delicious ciabotta a try. It’s the perfect summer time dish and works well with meat or fish.
Here’s what you need for Ciabotta (Italian vegetable stew):
Ciabotta (also known as ciambotta or giambotta) is an Italian vegetable stew that is a common summer dish in Abruzzo, as well as all throughout southern Italy. Similar to the French ratatouille, this vegetable stew is made up of seasonal Mediterranean vegetables slowly cooked down with tomatoes and finished with fresh basil.Give this simple and delicious ciabotta a try. It's a wonderful side to meat or fish.
796mlcan fire roasted tomatoes, or other canned tomatoes
3tbspolive oil
1tspsea salt, add more if desired
Black pepper, to taste
Handful of fresh basil
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, then add the onion and garlic. Cook at medium heat until the onions are translucent. Keep stirring to prevent the garlic from burning.
Add in chopped vegetables along with the canned tomatoes and salt. Simmer on low for 1 hour. If the liquid reduces too much, add a little water.
Taste and season with more salt if needed and black pepper.
Add a handful of torn basil, drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil, mix and serve.
Lemon Sesame Protein Balls are perfect for a healthy mid-day snack or pre/post workout fuel! They’re are soft, chewy and very satisfying given that they’re loaded with good fats and protein. These no-bake balls are super easy to make with ONLY 4 ingredients needed!
DID YOU KNOW? Sesame seeds are beneficial for female hormones.
Sesame seeds contain phytoestrogens, plant compounds that are similar to the hormone estrogen.
Therefore, sesame seeds might be beneficial for women during menopause when estrogen levels drop. Phytoestrogens may help counteract hot flashes and other symptoms of low estrogen.
What’s more, sesame seeds are a rich source of lignan precursors. These specific compounds are produced by the microflora in the colon and have been shown to have powerful cancer-fighting effects on several specific types of cancer.
A 2012 study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that dietary lignans may act as a natural cancer treatment to reduce breast cancer risk by modifying tumor characteristics. In the study, lignan intakes were associated with a lower risk of estrogen receptor negative breast cancer. The study found that women with the highest intake of lignans compared to the lowest intake had a 40 percent to 50 percent lower chance of developing breast cancer.
All that said, if you’re looking for an easy way to add more sesame seeds into your diet, try my Lemon Sesame Protein Balls.
These protein balls are great for a healthy mid-day snack or quick pre/post workout fuel. Make a batch and store them in the fridge or freezer, so you’ll always have a healthy snack ready to pop or take with you when you’re running out the door.
Lemon Sesame Protein Balls are perfect for a healthy mid-day snack or pre/post workout fuel! They’re are soft, chewy and very satisfying given that they’re loaded with good fats and protein. These no-bake balls are super easy to make with ONLY 4 ingredients needed!
3/4cupPurePaleo Protein Powder vanilla, or PurePea Protein for plant-based version
6-8dropsfood-grade lemon essential oil , or 1.5 tsp lemon extract
2tbspsesame seeds, black or white
1/4tspsea salt
Instructions
Add sesame seed butter, protein powder, lemon oil or extract and sea salt into the food processor and combine ingredients. Use a spatula to scrape sides if needed. Mixture should be dense and smooth so it can be pressed together. If it's too wet, add more protein powder. If it's too dry, add more sesame seed butter (1 tsp at a time).
Using a teaspoon, scoop mixture and form into small balls. If balls are too sticky to form, place mixture into the freezer for 10-minutes then remove and form balls.
Roll balls into sesame seeds then place them in large shallow glass container so they're not touching one another.
Store protein balls in the fridge or freezer for a frozen treat. Once the balls have firmed up, feel free to stack them in a smaller container.
Maca Matcha Smoothie is creamy and refreshing! Two powerful ingredients, maca and matcha, make this smoothie great for hormone balancing and anti-aging. Truly the perfect smoothie for looking and feeling your best! Dairy free, AIP, low-carb, plant-based & paleo.
DID YOU KNOW? Maca is a root vegetable in the Radish family that is known for its hormone balancing effects.
Maca is an endocrine adaptogen, meaning that it does not contain any hormones, but rather it contains the nutrients necessary to support normal hormone production.
This root has been studied to help enhance fertility, normalize symptoms of premenstrual/menstrual symptoms, as well as the symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, night sweats, cramps, fatigue and lethargy.
You can easily add maca to your diet by blending it into a smoothie. Look for gelatinized maca for easier digestion and absorption.
What you need for Maca Matcha Smoothie:
Unsweetened coconut or almond milk (use full fat or light canned coconut milk for an extra creamy smoothie)
Maca Matcha Smoothie is creamy and refreshing! Two powerful ingredients, maca and matcha, make this smoothie great for hormone balancing and anti-aging. Truly the perfect smoothie for looking and feeling your best! Dairy free, AIP, low-carb, plant-based & paleo.
Coconut Matcha Protein Balls are a yummy snack filled with protein, tiger nuts, coconut, dates & matcha! They’re AIP friendly, paleo & delicious!
Did you know that coconut oil can be helpful when it comes to weight loss? Here are 3 ways coconut oil supports weight loss …
#1 BOOSTS METABOLISM
Coconut oil is high in MCTs (medium chain triglycerides), which are fatty acids that are metabolized differently than most other fats, leading to beneficial effects on metabolism.
Several studies confirm that when humans replace the fats they are eating with MCT fats, they burn more calories.
Therefore, a calorie from coconut oil is NOT the same as a calorie from olive oil or butter (although these fats are perfectly healthy too).
#2 REDUCES APPETITE
Many studies on MCTs show that compared to the same amount of calories from other fats, MCTs increase feelings of fullness and lead to a reduction in calorie intake.
So, coconut oil boosts fat burning (“calories out”) and it also reduces appetite (“calories in”).
#3 SHRINKS BELLY FAT
Eating coconut is particularly effective at reducing the harmful belly fat in the abdominal cavity, which is strongly associated with disease.
Studies also show that MCTs lead to weight loss, but the weight loss effects of coconut oil appear to be fairly mild, except for the abdominal fat.
Now give these delicious, coconut-rich protein balls a try! They’re AIP, Paleo & IBS friendly.
1/2cuptiger nut flour, or almond flour if not following AIP
4tbspPurePaleo Protein powder vanilla, or PurePea vanilla for vegan/not AIP version*
2tspmatcha green tea
4pitted dates, soaked for a few minutes
1/4cupcoconut oil, melted & cooled
1/2cupcoconut butter/manna, melted & cooled
Instructions
Add all ingredients into a food processor and process until ingredients start to stick together. If mixture is too dry, add 1 tsp of coconut butter or oil at a time. If mixture is too wet, add 1 tsp of tiger nut flour (or almond flour) at a time.
Scoop out mixture with a tablespoon, press firmly together then roll into balls.
Enjoy right away or store in an airtight container for later.
In this article, you’ll find a list of my favourite healthy snacks for when you’re on the go. These snacks are free of gluten, grains, dairy, soy, industrial vegetable and seed oils, artificial sugar and sweeteners and other unhealthy ingredients. If you’re following a paleo, low-carb, keto, AIP or plant-based diet, there’s lots of great options here for you.
How often do you find yourself in the air, on the road, behind a desk or running errands with no healthy food options when your hunger pains strike?
In today’s fast-paced world it’s easy to get suckered into the overwhelming amount of crappy snack options. Not only are people pressed for time these days, but they’re also short on places to get good quality food and snacks.
Keeping your kitchen stocked with easy ‘grab and go’ snacks is a great way to avoid getting caught in old eating patterns.
Below, you’ll find a list of snack foods that I keep my cupboards, fridge and freezer stocked with. On days when I’m on the go, I pack my bag with a couple of these items in case hunger strikes and I’m still far from home.
Healthy Snacks When You’re On The Go
Pack these wholefood snacks in a zip-lock bag or container and take them with you …
This Easy Green Smoothie with Protein makes for a healthy and super easy meal replacement! It’s LOADED with organic super-foods, high-quality protein & healthy fats. Perfect for when you’re short on time and/or fresh veggies and fruit.
Are you looking for an easy way to fill your body with nutrient-rich fuel that’ll keep you feeling energized for the busy day and week ahead?
If your lifestyle is anything like mine then you don’t always have time to fill your fridge and freezer with green goodness–and even if it’s full, you may not have time to prepare your greens.
That’s where a high-quality greens powder comes to the rescue. My fridge and freezer might not always be stocked with greens, BUT my cupboard is!
PaleoGreens has come to my rescue on many occasions, including when …
I’m in a rush and need to prep my smoothie fast
I’m low on energy
I feel a cold coming on
I’m super lazy, but still want to fuel myself with good stuff
I’m looking to cleanse and detox
Here’s what makes this organic greens powder top in its class …
Fruits: High-antioxidant berries, such as cranberry, raspberry, and blueberry + camu camu which is high in Vitamin C
Colorful and high phytonutrient vegetables: Beet, carrot, tomato, spinach
Detox Greens & Juices: Spirulina, chlorella, barley grass and wheat grass juice powders — high in antioxidants and great for detox
ORAC Blend: Proprietary blend of grape seed and grape skin extracts, with guaranteed high ORAC (oxygen radical absorption capacity) content. The ORAC score is a measurement of a food’s potential for neutralizing the damaging free radicals implicated in aging and physical degeneration.
PaleoGreens is superior to many commercially available greens powders for several reasons:
Over 90% organic ingredients
No grain/legumes fibers or components, least allergenic
No alfalfa, a common ingredient in all other leading brands
Special gentle processing that retains potency
Proven ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity) value
Great taste, with no added sugar
Give my Easy Green Smoothie with Protein a try. It makes for a healthy and super easy meal replacement–and it’s LOADED with organic super-foods!
This Easy Green Smoothie with Protein makes for a healthy and super easy meal replacement! It's LOADED with organic super-foods, high-quality protein & healthy fats. Perfect for when you're short on time and/or fresh veggies and fruit.
My mission is to help women heal their gut, lose weight and feel great through simple and delicious smoothies, whole food nutrition & healthy lifestyle habits.
