Coconut Chicory Cappuccino

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Boom.

I have been craaaaaaaaaaaaaving cappuccinos lately, but that desire has been satiated with these delicious candida-friendly recreation....

• 2 tablespoons roasted chicory root grounds
• 3/4 cup hot water
• 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon xylitol
• fresh ground cinnamon

Bring the water and the grinds to a boil. In another pot bring the coconut milk to a boil. Use a milk frother to froth up the coconut milk and then strain the chicory "espresso" into the milk. Sweeten with xylitol and top with lots of fresh cinnamon. SO GOOD. 

Comforting Tastes.

I LOVE BEVERAGES! Specifically warm, creamy, sweet beverages...like lattes, cappuccinos, and chai! Giving up sugar and milk, and caffeine, has been a bit of a challenge - but it's the name of the game on this candida cleanse. I have come up with some delicious alternatives though that I'm excited to share....

Chai :

• 3/4 cup hot water
• 1/4 cup almond milk 
• 1 teaspoon xylitol (made from the pulp of vegetables, super low glycemic index, 9 calories per teaspoon and great for your teeth!)
• 1in chunk of fresh ginger, peeled and smashed
• optional: fresh cinnamon stick, 2 cloves, and/or 1 cardamom pod smashed  *All of these spices are great for digestion! 

Chicory Root "Coffee":

• 1 cup hot water
• 2 teaspoons roasted chicory root granules
• 1 teaspoon xylitol 
• almond milk or coconut milk (unsweetened) to taste
• *The granules partly dissolve, and if you let it sit then they will settle to the bottom. You can strain it if you'd like, but I don't mind the granules. Chicory root is great for the liver!

Candida Alkalizing Lemonade :

• Juice a dozen lemons
• 1/2 cup of xylitol
• 1 quart distilled water
• *Lemons are alkalizing, xylitol is great for your teeth, and distilled water is a great way to stay hydrated. Also, lemon water helps to cleanse the body, cleaning our liver and kidneys (and also helping to assist in your morning bowel movement).

Apple Cider Vinegar Alkalizer:

• 2 cups of distilled water
• 3 tablespoons of Braggs Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 teenytiny spoonful (the spoon that they give you with it) of Stevia 
• 1 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger
• *Powerhouse, amazing, healing, healthy, nutritious beverage. Sip.All.Day.Long.

CHAI Ingredients: Decaf Chai tea, fresh ginger, xylitol, unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Chicory Root "Coffee"

Candida Coffee!

Blackberry Mint Julep

I LOVE THAT IT'S ALMOST SUMMER!! After living in Costa for a few years I have grown accustomed to HOT weather, like 90degrees-in-the-morning type hot. Thank GOD it was a mild winter, otherwise I would have lost my damn mind, or just turned into a depressed drunk. Ha! Speaking of cocktails: my favorite thing about summer is not the beach, not the shoobies, not the madness...but hanging out in my parents back yard, grilling, eating and drinking and laughing. We are professionals. And better yet, I love being able to throw on one of my (3,000) dresses. I hate clothes, and I don't know how to dress for the cold. So summer time is MY time. Last night I made a spread of: 

• Blackberry Mint Juleps
• Grilled Summer Squash w/ Bagna Caruda + Fried Capers
• Grilled Broccoli with Lime Butter and Parmesan
• Dill Biscuits
• Smoky Eggplant Anco-Spread
• Grilled Shrimp + Scallop Skewers

and some plain rice. 

I'll post all of the recipes at another time, but for now I'll just focus on the Blackberry Mint Juleps. I have been obsessed lately with classic cocktails - with a little twist. Traditional Mint Juleps are Bourbon, simple syrup, and muddled mint. I kept that recipe the same but added on some muddled blackberries, used agave nectar and a bit of powdered sugar instead of the simple syrup, and topped them with a splash of club soda so we weren't just sipping straight bourbon. Good times on the regular.