Spring is upon us, friends, and as the weather gets warmer, we’re always looking for ways to cool off and stay nourished. Lately, I’ve been exploring more 5-minute recipes at our followers urging because the truth is, no one has time to spend hours and hours in the kitchen. Although saving time is critical, there are other very important issues at hand. That’s where I like to break it down and here is my criteria:

 

1. It has to taste good. Life is too short for crappy food, no matter how good it is for you.
2. It has to look appealing. Sorry, but I’ve seen my share of nasty looking food across the interwebs and it ain’t purty. You eat with your eyes first and if it doesn’t trigger salivation, then I’m steering clear.
3. Can I get protein, good fat, antioxidants and nutrient dense ingredients into the dish?
4. Will my kids eat it?
5. Will you like it?

 

So, up to the task I go trying to make the magical forces of flavor, nutrition, speed and broad appeal work together all while trying to make it fast and making you want to lick the screen. Naturally when I got to try Kura’s newly formulated grass-fed protein, I was kind of skeptical. There are a million protein powders out there and I’ve tried them all. There were a few things that intrigued me though. One, it’s from New Zealand and they have the happiest cows I’ve ever seen. Second, it’s grass-fed protein which means it’s eating the right type of food, and grass-fed dairy was on my trend report for 2017. Third, they recently reformulated it and reduced the sugar which is a critical piece. And one of the most important parts to note – it tastes amazing. I mean, seriously good – creamy, rich, blends easily with no grit. You could blend it into water and it would still be very palatable. Winner-winner-grass-fed-protein dinner!

 

Protein is such a vital source of essential amino acids, and EAA’s are essential for your survival. Here’s the catch. Your adult body doesn’t produce 8 of them, so you have to get them from food. How important are they, you ask? They control your hormones, your muscle repair, your ability to sleep, your sex drive, your energy, your metabolism – and so much more. This is one of the most critical aspects of nutrition that many people haven’t wrapped their arms around and I’m here to tell you it’s a non-negotiable. If you don’t get the right nutrients into your body, you will not be able to reach your full potential as a human being.

There, I said it. Now onto the 5-minute recipe.

 

Do you have a blender and 5 minutes? Then you can make this soup and may I suggest, you offer it as a starter for your Easter brunch? The color is so gorgeous – like a pretty lilac Easter egg – and it’s such an easy and quick one that will get refresh everyone’s palate and get them primed for the main event.

 

Oh, and the super nice folks at Kura Nutrition are offering you 30% off with my code CHEFMAREYA at checkout. I don’t get any part of that y’all, just straight love to help you make better choices in the kitchen. You can also watch the replay from my Facebook Live show, The REAL Dish, and see how I made it.

CHILLED BERRY SOUP

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup frozen mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)

1/2 Cup full fat plain Greek yogurt

Fresh 1/3 cup Kura Triple Berry Protein

1/3 cup Sparkling Pomegranate juice (to reduce sugar, add 1/4 cup sparkling pomegranate and 1/4 cup water or unsweetened coconut milk)

Topping: Unsweetened shredded coconut, crushed macadamia nuts, edible flowers, fresh blueberries and/or a drizzle of yogurt.

Directions:

1) In a blender, combine frozen berries, yogurt, Kura protein and pomegranate juice and pulse until smooth, about 30 seconds. Place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving, or freezer for 15 minutes. Pour into a bowl and finish with toppings. Enjoy!

Enjoy and please comment here and let me know what you thought!

 

xxMareya