Holiday Matcha Shake with Moonlit Matcha

A frosty, matcha shake infused with fresh nutmeg and sweetened by Kahlua is thick with creamy cashews that makes a healthy and delicious treat!

I always have two different types of matcha in my fridge. One is for baking, a lower grade matcha that's best for donuts, waffles, smoothies and the like. The other is best for drinking, a higher grade matcha that I usually drink plain whisked into hot water using my little bamboo whisk. I don't usually make matcha lattes or anything like that, but every so often I'll crave a sort of frosty matcha shake. Today I thought I'd share my holiday version of this yummy drink and a give you a tip on where to get some fantastic high quality matcha.

For drinking, you'll want a premium or ceremonial grade matcha. Cooking grade matcha is best left to be incorporated into baked goods or smoothies. I've been buying this same ceremonial grade matcha from an ethic shop in Anchorage (50 miles from where I live) for many years, but since I don't work in town anymore and nobody sells it near where I live, I am happy to be able to purchase it online. This ceremonial grade matcha gifted to me for review by, Moonlit Matcha by Hybrid Herbs, shocked me when I opened it. 

I'm used to matcha being somewhat dull and lacking luster. This matcha was bright and lofty. When I mixed it into my water, the tea shown a vibrant and deep green color. I'd never seen matcha like that before! It was grassy, smooth, and earthy; not in the least bit bitter at all. I knew I had a keeper! 

I really love that Moonlit Matcha is also 100% organic and comes packaged in Miron violet glass jars which block light and keep items fresh for much longer than regular glass or aluminum packages. The glass is also recyclable,  but I'll keep mine to store ground flaxseed, herbs, and other such food items. 

This is definitely my new drinking matcha, and I am so happy to have discovered it. Do you have a favorite matcha brand? You can find Moonlit Matcha on Amazon, where it ships directly from Japan for free with Amazon Prime! It's priced the same as other ceremonial grade matcha but with the benefit of being organic, packaged in Miron glass, and is the brightest, sweetest matcha I have tasted yet. I definitely recommend it!

And now, onto the recipe!

Holiday Matcha Shake

Recipe by Kathleen Henry @ Produce On Parade

A frosty, matcha shake infused with fresh nutmeg and sweetened by Kahlua is thick with creamy cashews that makes a healthy and delicious treat!

Serves 1.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cold water
• 1/4 cup raw cashews
• 1 tbsp Kahlua
• splash of agave nectar or maple syrup, to taste
• 1/4-1/2 tsp Moonlit Matcha
• pinch of kosher salt
• dash of freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp xanthan gum (optional)

Cooking Directions

1. Place all the ingredients in a high powered blender and blend until smooth. If you don’t have a high powered blender, soak the nuts for 2 hours in cold water prior to use.
2. Pour into a large glass and serve chilled.

*DISCLAIMER*  PRODUCE ON PARADE IS A PERSONAL BLOG WRITTEN AND EDITED BY MYSELF ONLY, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. MY REVIEWS ARE COMPLETELY BASED ON MY OWN OPINION OF THE PRODUCT REVIEWED. THESE PRODUCTS WERE SUPPLIED TO ME AS GIFTS TO TEST AND REVIEW. OTHERWISE, IF I MENTION A COMPANY BY NAME AND THERE IS NO DISCLAIMER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST, I AM MERELY WRITING ABOUT SOMETHING I LIKE, PURCHASE AND/OR USE. THE FACT THAT I DO RECEIVE A PRODUCT AS A GIFT TO TEST AND REVIEW, WILL NEVER POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THE CONTENT MADE IN THIS POST. 

Turmeric & Cinnamon Pumpkin Pancakes and Food52 VEGAN Cookbook Review

These light and fluffy pumpkin pancakes are spiced with cinnamon and turmeric for a seasonal flair and a boost in antioxidants. A two-bowl recipe that's about as easy and quick as they come! Vegans and omnivores alike will agree this breakfast is a keeper.

Todd is a breakfast man. Each weekend, we embark on the journey to make a decadent feast to break our fast. Oftentimes it's more for his sake than my own. I've never claimed to eat breakfast with any regularity, however, these pancakes I would gladly eat each morning! 

I adapted these pumpkin pancakes from Food52's cookbook simply titled, Vegan. I cannot tell you how excited I was to receive this book to review and how many things I've many from it already. This is one of those cookbooks that confidently sighs and claims a coveted spot among your other trusty cookbooks. It's a keeper for sure, take my word on that.

Vegan is written by the very talented, Gena Hamshaw, host of ChoosingRaw.com and contributer to Food52. The cookbook is filled with no-nonsense recipes featuring whole food ingredients. With classics like Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese and Lentil Sloppy Joes, the book also features more unique dishes such as Eggplant Tagine with Millet and  Preserved Lemon as well as a Raw Citrus Cheesecake.

The cookbook is divided into the classic, Breakfast, Appetizers & Snacks, Soups, Salads, Main Dishes, and Desserts chapters. It also features a neat Vegan 101 section where the different components such as A Tempeh Tutorial and Give Millet a Chance are incorporated into the applicable recipes. I thought this was kind of neat as one doesn't always read these bits before embarking on a recipe. It was fun to see them spread out amongst the recipes, where needed. There is also a Basics chapter that features recipes for a couple different milks, an egg replacer, and a few cheeses. 

Vegan is filled with beautiful photographs in the usual, moody Food52 style which I really adore. The images are just so simplistic and modern, featuring neutral colors and a matte finish.  The entire hardcover is elegant and understated, not boastful; you can tell it's solid.

So far I've made the Go-To Pancakes, Five-Minute No-Bake Granola Bars, and the Mushroom, Pecan, and Lentil Burgers. All were absolutely scrummy! I can't recommend this cookbook enough! Right now get Food52 Vegan: 60 Vegetable-Driven Recipes for Any Kitchen (Food52 Works) for almost half off at Amazon.com! That's less than $13 for this hardcover. I hope you love it as much as I do. 

Okay, now onto these delicious pancakes. You definitely don't want to miss these, they are too easy. I decided to make Gena's pumpkin version because... you know... it's my favorite season-pumpkin season!! Of course, I couldn't just well enough alone though. 

Todd sprained his ankle while we were working on our home building and it had swelled pretty huge (thanks rheumatoid arthritis, *sad face*) and was obviously paining him a great deal. Turmeric is supposed to help with inflammation and considering that's basically what RA is, I add it to pretty much everything upon discovering the finger-staining stuff. These pancakes were no exception, and could not escape my heavy-hand when it comes to turmeric. Plus, see as these are pumpkin pancakes, the turmeric aided in enhancing that very orangey-pumpkin hue. It was decided that cinnamon would be an excellent compliment to both the turmeric and the pumpkin and so it was that these pancakes were born. Now I crave them almost every weekend. 

Unfortunately, in the end, Todd had to have his one knee drained but I like to think these helped at least a little...

Turmeric & Cinnamon Pumpkin Pancakes

Recipe by Kathleen Henry @ Produce On Parade and adapted from Food52's cookbook, Vegan

These light and fluffy pumpkin pancakes are spiced with cinnamon and turmeric for a seasonal flair and a boost in antioxidants. A two-bowl recipe that's about as easy and quick as they come! Vegans and omnivores alike will agree this breakfast is a keeper.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp vegan granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp table salt
• 2 cups unsweetened nondairy milk
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 tbsp melted coconut oil, refined or unrefined
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• pat of vegan butter (for serving)
• splash of maple syrup (for serving)

Cooking Directions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour through the salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Whisk the wet mixture into the dry mixture until smooth.
2. Heat a cast iron pan or grill over medium-high and coat with a nonstick cooking spray. Once hot, pour on about ¼ cup of the batter. Once bubbles have formed all over the surface, flip and cook on the other side until just golden. Repeat with remaining batter and serve hot with maple syrup and vegan butter.

A Message From Your Mammographer - Bring Your Brave

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Bring Your Brave campaign. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey ladies! As a mammographer, I feel it’s my duty (especially in October as it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month) to remind you ladies about understanding your risk for breast cancer. This year I am talking about early onset breast cancer; specifically, breast cancer that is diagnosed before the age of 45.

As a mammographer I have the beautiful calling of lending support, compassion, and care for those who play an active role in their breast health. Sometimes this involves a screening mammogram and other times it's a diagnostic mammogram, where we are looking at or for a suspicious area within the breast. I’ve stood by the side of both women who have trembled with the surprising news of a possible abnormality in their breast and women who are veterans of such a devastating disease.

I haven’t just been on the other side of the breast cancer fence though. Several years ago, at the age of 26, I myself was referred to have a breast ultrasound performed. I put it off for a couple months (healthcare professionals are the worst patients) until finally going in. Thank goodness it was nothing, just dense tissue very close to the skin surface. A quick half an hour seemingly greedily stolen from a busy day, to just be...benign. But it always makes me remember the 28 year old mother of two toddlers whose mammogram I did several years ago. She was already diagnosed with breast cancer and was planning her bilateral mastectomy. It was heart-breaking, but so inspiring to witness her strength and courage with such a terrible diagnosis at such a young age. I’ll never forget her while she always reminds me that even at 28, breast cancer can still prevail. She's the one who reminds me to always pay attention to how breasts look and feel. Bring Your Brave

For this post, I challenge you to #BringYourBrave and find out your risks for developing breast cancer. Did you know that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States? Not all of the women who are diagnosed are post-menopausal though. It’s estimated that 11% of all cases of breast cancer in the United States occur in women under the age of 45. Unfortunately, many young ladies do not know they're at risk or think they don’t need to yet be concerned about their breast health.

Unlike more mature women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, those that are young and diagnosed face unique threats. Breast cancer in young women is:

• More likely to be hereditary.
• More often diagnosed at a later stage.
• More aggressive and difficult to treat.

Every great woman in your life can benefit from learning the risk factors for breast cancer. In addition to the risk factors all women face, some risk factors put women at a higher risk for getting breast cancer at a young age. If the woman is under the age of 45, she may have a higher risk for breast cancer if:

• She has close relatives who were diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 45 or ovarian cancer at any age; especially if more than one relative was diagnosed or if a male relative had breast cancer.
• She has changes in the breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 or has close relatives with these changes, but has not been tested.
• She is of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.
• She received radiation therapy to the breast or chest during childhood or early adulthood.
• She has had breast cancer or other breast health problems, such as lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), atypical ductal hyperplasia, or atypical lobular hyperplasia.
• She has been told that she has dense breasts on a mammogram.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) encourages women to take these three important steps to understand their breast cancer risk:

• Know how your breasts normally look and feel; talk to your doctor if you notice anything unusual. There's nothing too petty to bring up!
• Talk to your relatives about your family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer. The CDC offers a terrific worksheet as a guide for such a conversation.You can find it here.
• Talk to your doctor about your risks for breast cancer.

"Bring Your Brave was launched in 2015 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is its first breast cancer campaign specific to young women. Bring Your Brave aims to inspire young women to learn their risk for breast cancer, talk with their health care provider about their risk, and live a breast healthy lifestyle. The campaign tells real stories about young women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. These stories about prevention, exploring personal and family history, risk, and talking with healthcare providers bring to life the idea that young women can be personally affected by breast cancer." - Bring Your Brave Campaign - CDC

Please read these amazing women’s stories here and share your own story on social media using the hashtag #BraveBecause. Wishing you health and happiness.

Your friend,

Katie