3 cups unsweetened cranberry juice (100 percent juice)
5 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Optional: 1 star anise. If using this optional ingredient, leave to infuse for one hour then strain.

After mixing all ingredients: refrigerate.

This all-natural homemade energy drink provides a great tasting mix of carbohydrates to fuel your muscles. It also contains electrolytes (sodium and potassium) to help replace what your body loses through sweat.

Source: Jenn

The post Popular Homemade CRANBERRY ENERGY DRINK Recipe appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

• 1 small half-frozen banana, peeled
• 1/4 avocado, peeled and pitted
• 1 key lime or 1/2 regular lime, peeled and deseeded
• 4 ounces of fresh almond milk
• Vanilla from 1 vanilla bean, or use 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoons maple syrup or 1 medjool date, pitted and soaked for 20 minutes

It is simple to make this Key Lime Pie Smoothie:

Start by adding the liquid to your blender, followed by the soft fruit.  Blend on high for 30 seconds or until the smoothie is creamy.

Tip: Blend with “half-frozen” bananas that are partially thawed to improve the key lime pie texture of the smoothie.


Note that this particular smoothie is a rich source of folate, vitamins B5 and B6, copper, magnesium, manganese and potassium.


Source: Tracy Russell

The post Enjoy This Popular, Tasty & Nutritious “KEY LIME PIE” SMOOTHIE! appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• ¼ cup Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup almond milk (soy, hemp, rice or dairy work, too)

Then add these extra ingredients for this special Carrot Cake version:

• ¼ cup shredded carrot
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp pecan, chopped (optional)
• ¼ tsp cinnamon

If you want to see exactly how it’s done, then watch Sara Lynn put it all together in a 3-minute video on the Next Page.


Source: Sara Lynn Cauchon

The post [Video] Make a Delicious “Carrot Cake” OVERNIGHT OATMEAL Treat for Breakfast! appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

After you watch this, let me know if you have some more creative ideas to share. (My personal favorite is the High Protein Banana Oatmeal.)

By the way — you’ll also need a spoon, bowl, water and a microwave oven!

And when you’re done with breakfast, here’s an idea (on the next page) to use up some of the leftovers.

Next Page »

The post [Video] 5 Awesome BREAKFAST HACKS to Make in 5 Minutes or Less appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

71% of the world’s maple syrup comes from Canada!
Maple Syrup contains 100% of the daily value of manganese.
1 tablespoon of Maple Syrup is only 50 calories.

Continue on to the next page to see the full recipe …

Next Page »

The post Delicious Canadian-Style “Overnight Oatmeal” appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

Honey

Replace 3/4 cup for every one cup of sugar
773 calories, 209 grams sugar

• How it’s made: Bees gather nectar from flowers, and spread it throughout the honeycombs in the hive where it evaporates and turns into a thick syrup, which is used to feed the colony.




• Additional info: It offers 132 mg of potassium and may help reduce sore throats. Raw honey is rich in B vitamins and also vitamin C.




• Baking tips: Decrease the liquid in your recipe by one-fifth, and lower the baking temp by 25 degrees to prevent browning.

Maple Syrup

Replace 3/4 cup for every one cup of sugar
600 calories, 159 grams sugar

• How it’s made: Sap is collected from maple trees, boiled to evaporate the water, and the syrup is then filtered and bottled. It takes between 35 and 50 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of real maple syrup.




• Additional info: A one-cup serving offers 180 mg of calcium, and also contains manganese, iron, and zinc, important minerals for a strong immune system; it also contains 322 mg of omega-6 fatty acids.




• Baking tips: Always use real maple syrup — not maple flavored. Reduce the amount of liquid in recipes by three tablespoons for each cup of maple syrup used. Baked goods will have a brownish tint and also brown much faster so bake for less time or lower the temp of the oven by 25 degrees.

Here are the facts about another popular sugar substitute:

Stevia (Pyure Bakeable Blend)

Replace 1/2 cup for every one cup of sugar
0 calories, 0 grams sugar

• How it’s made: Glycosides are the components of stevia leaves responsible for the plant’s sweetness. The leaves are placed in hot water, which is passed through a resin material to trap and collect the glycosides. The resin is then washed with alcohol to free the glycosides, and is then crystallized into the form you buy.




• Additional info: Some research shows it can lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Since it’s calorie-free it’s helpful for weight management.




• Baking tips: Reduce pan size and baking temp by 25 percent, add an additional egg white or slightly increase baking powder/soda, and add fruit puree or yogurt for moistness.

Visit Jenny’s website to learn about some more sugar substitutes!


Source: Jenny Sugar
Image: torange

The post All-Natural Sugar Substitutes appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.

Honey

Replace 3/4 cup for every one cup of sugar
773 calories, 209 grams sugar

• How it’s made: Bees gather nectar from flowers, and spread it throughout the honeycombs in the hive where it evaporates and turns into a thick syrup, which is used to feed the colony.




• Additional info: It offers 132 mg of potassium and may help reduce sore throats. Raw honey is rich in B vitamins and also vitamin C.




• Baking tips: Decrease the liquid in your recipe by one-fifth, and lower the baking temp by 25 degrees to prevent browning.

Maple Syrup

Replace 3/4 cup for every one cup of sugar
600 calories, 159 grams sugar

• How it’s made: Sap is collected from maple trees, boiled to evaporate the water, and the syrup is then filtered and bottled. It takes between 35 and 50 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of real maple syrup.




• Additional info: A one-cup serving offers 180 mg of calcium, and also contains manganese, iron, and zinc, important minerals for a strong immune system; it also contains 322 mg of omega-6 fatty acids.




• Baking tips: Always use real maple syrup — not maple flavored. Reduce the amount of liquid in recipes by three tablespoons for each cup of maple syrup used. Baked goods will have a brownish tint and also brown much faster so bake for less time or lower the temp of the oven by 25 degrees.

Continue on to the next page for details about another sugar substitute …

Next Page »

The post Popular Natural Sugar Substitutes appeared first on Top Morning Recommendations.