dessert

Mango-Kefir Lassi

Have any of you ever tried a traditional Indian Mango Lassi? Have any of you proceeded to fall in LOVE with this drink, before learning it's loaded with sugar, fat, and calories? (guilty). I decided to put the Tovita touch on this smoothie because I felt it had so much potential to be a healthy dessert (or breakfast, or snack, or whatever you want to call it) and honestly, I love mangoes. It's that simple. 

Some ingredients worth mentioning: I added tofu as a source of protein. Rather than adding protein powders, tofu is a good source of protein (7 - 9 grams per serving) and easily absorbs the flavors of the other ingredients. Plus its natural pudding-like consistency makes it a perfect addition to the recipe. Next, I added kefir because it's a great source of probiotics. Remember, probiotics are those organisms that provide a host of benefits to our guts. 

Ingredients (serves1):

  • 1 cup cubed, frozen mango 
  • 1/3 cup plain, unsweetened kefir 
  • 1/3 inch slice of silky, organic tofu 
  • 1/4 - 1/3 cup of vanilla almond milk (or other milk substitute) 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • dash of turmeric

Directions:

  1. Blend all ingredients together until evenly distributed. Note: may add more liquid base per consistency preference. (more liquid = thinner consistency; less liquid = thicker consistency) 

 

Pop off July Fourth with these Coco-Cherry Popsicles

Popsicles take us back to our childhoods, when we had red juice dripping down our chins and blue tongues for days. We like the idea of a refreshing snack for Fourth of July, so we’ve added the Tovita touch to our grade school favorite by replacing the high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors with fresh ingredients. These coco-cherry popsicles are made simply from fresh (or frozen) fruit, Greek yogurt, and a touch of coconut flakes. These guys are a great go-to snack because they combine fiber, protein, and healthy fat - the perfect recipe to hold you over ‘till your evening BBQ.

Ingredients (serves 4):

julyfourthpops.jpg

~10-12 pitted cherries (fresh or frozen)

5 tablespoons nonfat Greek yogurt

¼ cup vanilla almond milk

4 teaspoons coconut flakes

1 tablespoon honey (optional)

Directions:

  1. Add cherries to blender and puree with a touch of water for about 5 seconds.
  2. Add 1 teaspoon of coconut flakes into each individual popsicle mold (found at most grocery stores). Then evenly distribute the pureed cherries to each popsicle mold.
  3. Separately, blend Greek yogurt, almond milk, and optional honey for about 3 seconds.
  4. Evenly distribute yogurt mixture into the Popsicle molds.
  5. Allow popsicles to freeze for at least 5 hours. When ready to enjoy, run under cool water for about 30 seconds, or until the popsicle is easily removed from mold.