I also decided to spend an extra 30 minutes in bed every morning, which means that I end up eating breakfast at work. But I promised myself that I would still have a healthy breakfast, and so far so good! I found some really tasty and easy recipes that I throw together the night before, and just grab it in the morning before I head out to work.

Chia pudding is a go-to breakfast option for me because it’s really easy to play around with the recipe, it’s delicious, and from what I’ve read, chia seeds are also really healthy. This breakfast coconut chia pudding is really filling and refreshing, and easy to take to work!

What are some your on-the-go breakfast options? If you have any recipes, share them in the comments below or through social media, @SeppyforLove!

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When my colleague took a bite of this chocolate crinkle cookie, he stared at me in disbelief: “WHAT did you put in these?! Is there crack in them or something?!” No, there isn’t crack. But yes, they’re addictive. Another colleague wanted to know where I bought the cookie, and was shocked when I told him that I baked it. Needless to say, these cookies were a hit.

I never understood what it meant to bake or cook with love. Whenever I bake, especially when it’s for other people, the intention behind it isn’t recognition or praise. Instead, I’m hoping that it will put a smile on someone’s face. Doing something for someone else, whether it’s baking, helping them, or offering a listening ear can impact someone’s day in ways we might not realize.

Now back to the cookies. These cookies are for die-hard chocolate lovers because the combination of melted chocolate and cocoa powder makes them intensely chocolatey. Although I am going to re-make these cookies, they take a bit more work because the dough has to be chilled twice, so I wouldn’t recommend them if you are in a rush. And hopefully next time they look more like actually ‘crinkle’ cookies instead of snowballs, but hey, at least they taste amazing!

What are some of your go-to Christmas recipes? If you try this recipe, make sure to tag me @Seppyforlove!

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I decided to try this vegan pumpkin apple muffin recipe, and was pleasantly surprised with the results! (N.B. I couldn’t find my muffin pan so I used a square 9’’X 9’’ pan and it cooked through perfectly) I couldn’t taste the difference that I did not use any butter or eggs in the recipe! Although I would have liked a stronger pumpkin flavor, and the cake was extremely moist, I am going to try more vegan baking because it’s fun to explore alternatives.

Although I am not a nutritionist by any stretch of the imagination, I want to learn more about nutrition because what we put in our bodies has a big impact on our lives. When I eat healthy, I notice a significant difference on my energy levels and how I feel. Based on those simple observations, I want to learn more about how to ensure that I have a balanced nutrition so that I’m sure that I’m feeding my body what it needs to be healthy.

Do you have any recommendations for any vegan recipes or resources? Or even resources to learn about nutrition? Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments below, I LOVE hearing from you guys!

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Seriously though, when I think of this soup, I get excited (does that make me lame?) because it was easy (and you probably know by now that I’m all about easy, quick and delicious recipes) and so incredibly delicious. I just wanted to dive into this soup because it’s so cozy and full of flavor. It warms you up on the inside with every single bite.

If you have any suggestions of soup recipes that I should try this winter, share them below or on social media @SeppyforLove (Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook).

The post Food { Thai Curry Sweet Potato & Lentil Soup } appeared first on Elle is for Love.

Even though I’ve never been a big fish eater, as I grow and mature (insert mocking laugh here) I’ve grown to appreciate some types of fish, tuna being one of my favorites. I had seared tuna once at a really nice Greek restaurant my boyfriend took me to, and have been dreaming of it ever since. I wanted to re-create it at home, but was intimidated, until I decided to stop being afraid and #justdoit.

Well, I’m really happy I did because honestly, this recipe for sesame seared tuna is SO easy and SOOOO delicious! The whole process took me less than 15 minutes (including washing the dishes…!) This was a super light and delicious meal, I even took some leftovers for lunch the following day and it tasted as good cold!

I think that we tend to make something scarier, harder and more intimidating than it actually is. Oftentimes, I find myself dreading a task, or thinking I wont be able to do it, so and I’ll avoid it. But then when I push myself to do it, without fail, every single time it has not been as bad as I made it out to be in my mind.

What are some things that you find scary/intimidating that you would want to try or do but haven’t? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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There are a few recipes that I always fall back on when I am uninspired or crunched with time. This recipe for a quick & easy tamarind beef is one of them, and I love it because it tastes amazing and is very versatile. You can keep the base the same (the tamarind and beef) and then mix and match any veggies or carbs that you want!

What are some of your go-to recipes? What are some other tips that you apply in your life to be more efficient with your time? Make sure to share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below!

Serves 4

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

{ Ingredients }

500 grams ground beef

1-2 tbsp tamarind paste

One of head broccoli, cut in medium pieces.

{ Steps }

1. 1. Cook the ground beef over medium heat.

2. Throw the pieces of broccoli in boiling water for about 3-4 minutes (until they turn bright green).

1. 3. Once cooked, pour in colander, and rinse with cold water.

4. When the beef cooked is through, add the tamarind paste and mix well.

5. Add the broccoli and mix everything to evenly distribute the tamarind sauce.

{ Alternatives }

You can use any other ground meats (turkey, chicken, pork) or even vegetarian meat options. I just prefer the combination of tamarind with the beef.

Any other vegetables: peas, spinach, kale, chopped onions.

If you don’t like things that are too sour, stick to 1 tbsp of tamarind paste.

Serve with quinoa, white or brown rice, sweet potatoes, or on a salad!

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I think my issue is that when I cook, I do what my Mom does: I use recipes as inspiration rather than following it to the tee. But the difference is that my Mom has 35 years of experience in the kitchen, and I have less than 5…. I’ve been trying to be conscious of that, but it seems that I keep on thinking that I’m a trained chef, which I’m not. I’m going to continue trying new recipes, and try to challenge myself with recipes that I would usually shy away from, but actually follow the recipes until I learn basics of cooking. 

This recipe for Giada’s Roman Style Chicken turned out good, but I think I might have tweaked it too much (you may laugh at me). I didn’t use the prosciutto because I wanted it to be healthier, I used lemon juice instead of white wine, and I didn’t respect the proportions of the vegetables and the tomato sauce. Oups. Although I would try this recipe again, I think that including the prosciutto would have added the missing element in mine. Another issue (yes there were a lot of issues but I still wanted to post this recipe because it’s worth trying!) is that my skillet was too small. #fail. In the end, I made it work and I would definitely try this recipe again!

Make sure to share your pictures with me if you try this recipe, or use the hashtag #cookingwithseppy!

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When I have apples that are too ripe, I make this quick and easy apple sauce to not put them to waste. It’s an easy way to use ripe fruits, and a great alternative to store-bought apple sauce, which are full of preservatives and sweeteners.

Growing up in Africa taught me that being able to eat is a luxury that millions around the world do not have. By reducing how much food I waste by being careful with how much groceries I buy and maximizing the produce like making apple sauce for example, are small ways that I can positively contribute in not destroying the environment, but also respecting the fact that so many people are starving.

Now, getting back to the apple sauce: it’s easy, it’s quick, it’s delicious. What more do you want? It’s great for a quick breakfast or a snack with some yogurt or nuts. You can even use it for baking as a natural sweetener!

{ Ingredients }

Apples

Water

Honey

Cinnamon

For every apple, use about ¼ C water, and add as much honey and cinnamon as you like. To give you an idea, I use 1 tbsp honey and ¼ tsp of cinnamon for every 4 apples.

{ Instructions }

Place all the ingredients in a pot and let cook over low heat for an hour. The apple sauce is ready when you are able to mash the apples with a fork!

How do you make sure you don’t waste food? What are some things you can do to help your surroundings to do the same? Make sure to share your thoughts, I would love to get ideas from you!

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With that being said, I have been more open to trying fish, especially when I’m at restaurants, because fish is one of those things that has to be made properly to taste good, otherwise it has a strong smell and taste of the ocean, which is what I dislike.

The only fish I’ve attempted to cook at home is salmon, because it’s fail-proof. It’s also quick to put together after a long day at work when I want to eat a warm meal. You can pretty much add whatever you want on it, cook it for about 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees, and voila!

I wanted to try an actual salmon recipe, and this Sweet Chili Salmon recipe stood out because of its simplicity, but the combination of spices. The brown sugar in the spice rub caramelized and added a delicious crunch to the salmon. An easy, healthy and delicious recipe that I am definitely going to make again!

What are some of your go-to healthy meals? If you try this recipe, make sure to share it with me @SeppyforLove!

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I’ve been looking for a snack to make to eat while commuting back home for a boost of energy before my evening workouts. This seemed like the perfect solution! I’m realizing more and more how important it is to cook your own food at home, whether it’s breakfast, lunch or snacks. Not only do you save money but you also know exactly what you’re eating. There are times that it’s easier to buy pre-made to have food at home as back up, but I’m going to try and make my own snacks and meals even more than before because I’ve seen the benefits of eating healthier.

When it came to buying the ingredients for this recipe, I realized that hazelnuts are really hard to find nowadays, because apparently the crops have been ravaged. #Fail. Instead of Nutella, I used a Deliciously Ella’s recipe for healthy Nutella, but replaced hazelnuts with almonds, which is why I ended up with chocolate almond energy balls instead. It’s still very tasty, but I think the hazelnut would be a 100 times better. In the energy balls, I used ground flaxseed instead of protein powder, and accidentally bought wheat bran instead of oat bran…oups.

These chocolate almond energy balls turned out amazing. They’re very easy to make, a lot less expensive and healthier than buying protein or energy bars, and such an easy snack before or after a workout, or even in the afternoon as a pick-me-up!

What are some of your go-to snacks? Make sure to share ideas and recipes in the comments below! Or if you try this recipe, make sure to tag me @SeppyforLove!

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