CheekyChicago

There’s nothing better on a frigid night than a comforting bowl of soup. One of my favorite ingredients to cook with is pumpkin – for its wonderful vitamins and minerals, as well as its flavor profile. If you want something hearty or to pair with a healthy salad or sandwich for lunch, look no further than this easy soup. Play with non-dairy milk to see what you enjoy best. Dairy Free Pumpkin Soup Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. coconut oil (or olive) 1 cup finely chopped onion 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 medium-sized leek, white parts only, chopped 1 cup chopped apple or pear 3 Tbsp. organic sucanat (or sugar) 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground ginger 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg 1 15-ounce …  Read more

Winter is here (and has been for a while), so it’s always nice to make something that warms you up (and fills you up) at the end of the day. It’s also nice to be a bit lazy in the winter, so when it’s possible, make a big pot of soup, allowing for multiple meals and less cooking for you. Problem is: soup can be uber-boring and plain, so to conquer that I put together this delicious Mexican meatball soup. Meatballs are – shall we say, trendy? – and this soup highlights them beyond the Italian version you might have grown accustomed to. The broth is spicy, there are vegetables …  Read more

The temperatures are finally frigid, and nothing sounds better than a piping hot latte. However, contrary to popular belief, warm drinks don’t actually increase our internal temperature. All the more reason to swap that latte for a healthy juice first thing in the morning (and not the store-bought juices that are loaded with added sugars and preservatives). During the winter months, our vegetable intake decreases rapidly. We reach for comfort foods, hot foods, foods that go great with a movie and a fire. It’s tough to want to eat a big, healthy salad instead of a piece of lasagna. So, if you are falling behind on your veggie intake, invest in a …  Read more