Hi folks, long time no speak! I started a new job this month with pretty crazy hours and unfortunately blogging has had to go on the backburner…
I’ve been trying to be ultra organised and do a lot of food prep at the weekends as I get home after 8pm most evenings during the week and am usually too tired and hungry to cook a meal entirely from scratch, let alone come up with creative recipes to share with my readers.
I’m making good use of my cookbook collection though and have been making a few new recipes a week.
Greens 24/7 is one of the latest additions to my collection and has been proving perfect for healthy, satisfying meals during these busy times. We all know that greens are incredibly good for us but despite knowing that it can still be hard to eat them as much as we should.
Luckily I love green vegetables so chowing down on a ginormous leafy salad isn’t a hardship for me but I know not everyone feels the same way. Author, Jessica Nadel of Cupcakes and Kale makes it easy for everyone to eat (and enjoy!) more greens and shows us how to incorporate them into all our meals – breakfast, lunch & dinner, as well as snacks and special occasion treats.
Hello Sunshine Smoothie
Though I eat a good quantity of green vegetables, what I struggle with is reaching for my old green favourites over and over again – broccoli (my no.1!), kale, avocado, etc. But variety is key when it comes to a healthy diet and Greens 24/7 has been pushing me to go beyond the familiar and cook with vegetables I don’t use often enough.
The “Green fact files” give us the lowdown on the most frequently used greens in the book, including what makes them so good for us, as well as top tips for preparation. You’ll also find a brief introduction to “The other greens” and “The other ingredients”, and a few “Typical day greens meal plans” in the front pages before the 100 recipes.
Chard, Coriander and Cashew “Cheese” Pizza
The recipes themselves are fantastic. I love that they manage to be fairly simple and not too time-consuming while still being creative and tasty. I’ve made quite a few already but have many more near the top of my “must try “list. The Chocolate Superfood Shake and Hello Sunshine Smoothie are both delicious. They’re supposed to serve 2 but I like a bigger breakfast so I drink both servings or have them as a snack or dessert. Next recipe to try from the Breakfast chapter is the Cinnamon-Courgette Waffles!
Shredded Rainbow Salad with Lemony Avocado Dressing
From the Soups and Salads chapter I made the Shredded Rainbow Salad which is filled with some of my favourite things – red cabbage, kale, edamame, avocado and carrots but the dressing fell a little short for me. I’ve got my eye on the White Bean and Three Green Soup and the Beetroot Greens, Pear and Maple Walnut Salad.
Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes with Broccoli, Swiss Chard and Hummus
The Green Main Meals chapter is probably my favourite – I want to make every single one of the recipes! These stuffed potatoes were a super filling and tasty meal. Broccoli & Swiss chard get a zingy gingery makeover which works wonderfully with the sweet potato and creamy homemade hummus – don’t forget the hot sauce!
My favourite recipe so far has been the Chard, Coriander and Cashew “Cheese” Pizza. I love making my own pizza at home and pesto-topped ones are a really nice change from the usual tomato-based versions. There are a few components here – the pesto, cashew cheese and vegetable toppings so it’s better for a weekend, especially if you like to make your own pizza dough like me. Definitely worth the effort.
Next to try from this chapter are the Ginger Bok Choy and Sweet Peas with Miso-Glazed Tofu and the Spinach and Mushroom Galette.
I’m yet to delve into the Green Sides and Small Bites and Green Cakes and Desserts chapters but it’s only a matter of time. Pesto Polenta Fries and Vanilla-Mint Cheesecake are calling to me.
The publishers have generously allowed me to share a recipe from the book with you all and give one copy away! Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.
Ingredients
- 1 sweet apple (e.g. Gala, Fuji)
- 1 kiwi
- ½ English cucumber
- ½ banana
- 1 cup (35 g) Swiss chard leaves
- 1 cup (250 ml) coconut water
- 3–4 ice cubes
Instructions
- 1. Peel, core, and quarter the apple. Peel the kiwi.
- 2. Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve immediately with a slice of kiwi to garnish.
Notes
Calories (per serving ) 103 Protein 1.1 g Total fat 0.4 g Saturated fat 0 g Carbohydrates 21.6 g Dietary fiber 4.1 g Sugars 17.6 g Vitamins A, B6, C
Greens 24/7 by Jessica Nadel, with photography by Jackie Sobon. Published by Apple Press.
Other things to note:
- All recipes are vegan, many gluten-free and most with an easy gluten-free option.
- There are 2 versions of the book – UK and US. The UK version helpfully includes gram and millilitre measurements for those who aren’t used to cup measurements.
- Nutritional information is included for each recipe.
- In most recipes greens can be mixed and matched to adapt for availability and seasonality.
- About 50% of the recipes are accompanied by pictures.
What’s your favourite green vegetable and way to prepare it?
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I adore kale stir fried with large amounts of ginger and garlic!
I love broccoli, and most often roast it with coconut oil and spices. But it’s great thrown in a healthy pasta or curry dish, as well!
I love asparagus! I broil it for 5-6 minutes in the oven and it is delicious!
That’s a tough one for me, but at the moment I’d have to say roasted asparagus. I can easily eat a whole pound by myself, lol!
Whew, I hear you on the job issues. Heading out early and coming home late with no time - or creativity - to come up with new recipes for the blog or even just creative dishes for yourself? Same here. Weekend meal prep is my saving grace.
The book sounds fantastic. Thinking about it many of my favourite vegetables are green. Kale is my current favourite and I’m sad the season is almost over. I’ve been adding it to basically every dish but my favourite probably still is the vegan phyllo pastry I posted last year. It convinced my parents kale is delicious in another way than the classic (non-vegetarian) one eaten around here so that’s a winner.
I love roasted broccoli and sauteed kale!!
My favorite green vegetable is Brussels sprouts; I love roasting them with oil and spices.
I couldnt chose one green veggie! Probably zucchini though, its awesome:)
I love so many green veggies. Lately, I have been roasting broccoli and Brussels sprouts or adding spinach to smoothies!
I love roasted asparagus and brussel sprouts! Or kale prepared any way….steamed, raw or juiced!
I’m loving broccoli salad these days.
I love avocado, in guacamole or on top of a salad, but my favourite is a simple avocado/tomato sandwich.
I love broccoli and Brussels sprouts which I could eat everyday, cooked al dente.
This sounds like a beautiful book and I only wish I could win it 😉
Thanks, Emma!
Spinach
Because it’s so versatile. I love it in my green smoothie 
Thanks for the giveaway!
Cheers,
Annie
My favourite green vegetable is runner beans simmered in water with a knob of butter
Hi Emma! I’ve been wondering how you’re getting on with the new job and guessed that the new job was probably the reason why I haven’t been alerted to new blog posts. I hope you’re enjoying the job and I do sympathise regarding the recipes, my hours have been pretty similar over the last year, it’s not easy to do both!
The book looks fantastic I’d LOVE to win a copy! I have 2 favourite greens - watercress and spring cabbage! I add watercress to most salads and the collard greens - well I just like to slice it extremely fine and steam it!
Have a lovely week xo
I’ve just bought a Nutribullet and love doing various mixutres of leafy greens and fruit in it. My favourite veg. to use so far is kale x
I have started juicing this weekend so have been mixing various greens in together so not sure about individual favourites there. However my favourite greens in cooked meals are peas and cabbage.
To many to choose from - but I love juiced broccoli and stir fried tenderstem broccoli the most
i really love courgette raw. kale in currys is lovely too
Cabbage. I love it all different ways, boiled/stir fried/in casseroles! I suppose my favourite is boiled though -although the kids say I’m gross as I like it with a dash of vinegar
I’m sorry your new job is so hectic! Are the hours likely to settle down or is it a company where working late is standard? I hope you’re enjoying it at least, and it’s great you’re able to prepare meals in advance. Having these kinds of dishes ready for you mid-week really does make all the difference!
I absolutely love garden peas! Steamed, added to soups/casseroles
At the moment, I’m loving dry frying cavolo nero served with a little olive oil and a sprinkling of garlic breadcrumbs
My favourite is still spinach. I have been drinking a green smoothie from the oh she glows cookbook recently, with peanut butter and cinnamon. It feels great to be able to drink all the nutrients you need for the morning in 3 minutes as you run out the door!
I love Spring Greens, they’re great baked as a healthy alternative to crisps too!
Jen xx
Thanks for this wonderful giveaway !!!
I love all the greens, so it is difficult to choose just one. However, kale is one of my favorite. I use it everywhere possible; smoothie, fresh juice, dressing, salad with avocado, tomatoes, pepitas, shredded carrot and a creamy dressing, soups, stews, savory pie, dessert, pesto, hummus, etc. Yummm !!!! Salad and smoothies are probably my favorite way to enjoy it.
roasted broccoli, roasted cauliflower and kale top my list!
Hey Emma! I hope the new job’s going well and that you’re enjoying it (despite those long hours!) This new cookbook sounds really inspiring. Everything you’ve made so far looks absolutely delicious, and I can’t wait to try the Hello Sunshine smoothie recipe. It’s hard to pick one favourite green vegetable as there are so many I love! The one I crave most often and eat multiple times a week is roasted Kale - I can literally a whole tray’s worth all by myself (I really dislike raw kale though!)
I love kale baked in the oven. So yummy.
Thanks for the chance to win
My favourite green meal ever is zucchini noodles with chiffonade swiss chard tossed in a bright basil/cilantro/lemon pesto. It’s a green bowl of greatness!
asparagus - warmed staffordshire oatcake with cream cheese spreadon it & asparagus wrapped in it mmmmmmm
I love shredded raw vegetables in salad! Kale, cabbage, etc.!
I absolutely love kale and spinach, whether in salads, smoothies, mixed into items like spaghetti or creamed as a side dish. Yummy!
I klove roasted broccoli with garlic and some pasta.
Green beans, I grow them salads, stir fry, steamed, raw as snack love them
I love broccoli and I love it raw with a little olive oil, coconut oil, salt and pepper. The crunch of the broccoli is great. Thanks
When it comes to green foods, my favorites are the leafy ones. I love spinach, kale or Swiss chard sauteed in a little oil, garlic optional. It’s such a quick, easy, and delicious way to load up on greens. When I’ve got a little more time and energy, there’s nothing better than creamed spinach or kale, made with cashew cream and a touch of nutmeg.
collard greens, steam boiled for a few minutes. The “stems” taste to sweet to me anything on it would ruin it.
I love so many green vegetables, but I think kale has to be my ultimate favorite, at least for the moment. I usually just steam it and eat it plain alongside whatever else I’m having for dinner - I honestly love it that way!
Avocado! I’ll put it in smoothies, have it raw in salads or bowls! Yum.
Baby spinach! It’s good cooked, it’s good raw, it’s good in smoothies, you can even make cupcakes out of it. It’s the best!
Brussels sprouts and steam them
crispy sprouts
Oh gosh I know how you feel. Right now I’m so busy that even if I do come up with something awesome and share-worthy, its too late at night to take decent photos, or I don’t have the time/energy to set everything up and take photos, and most importantly of all I’m usually just too HUNGRY to not just wolf the food down! Its very frustrating xD
That cookbook looks awesome and especially the pizza! I think for me it’d be a tie between spinach and broccoli. I throw spinach into just about everything, and broccoli, either roasted or stir-fried is basically a comfort food xD
My fav vege dish is broccoli steamed in vege stock garlic and lemon juice
I love brussel sprouts, boiled with a little bit of butter. They are my favourite part of Christmas dinner.
My favourite is spinach - and I like it best raw in a salad
Brussell Sprouts are my favourite green veg. I like them cooked but love them raw
spinach and the best way is raw
Sprouts - lightly fried with chestnuts
My favourite green veggie is zucchini hands down. I eat it every single day, whether in a smoothie, roasted with chocolate sauce, steamed with lemon juice, or just gazed at lovingly as it comes out of the oven in the shape of a brownie or cake. It’s so incredibly versatile, but roasting it is definitely a favourite!
(I hope this is open internationally! *fingers crossed*)
That’s a tough one! I love fresh spinach salads so I’ll go with that!
I like a spinach in smoothies
this smoothie looks delicious and all the meals look fantastic - sounds like you have been eating well from this book
I do love cooking from cookbooks! This one’s definitely been fun to get stuck into.
“Green” pizza is simply amazing, my favorite!
Isn’t it?! Green food makes me happy!
The hello sunshine smoothie looks so good, I bet you would feel great after too.
It’s definitely a smoothie that tastes good and you can feel good about too.