hey y'all! i'm just popping in quick for a new little blog series called, *summer friday's* (!), dedicated to small bites, snacks, and some beverages, too! i'm not sure there are summer fridays in other cities, but many work places on summer fridays in nyc have a shorter work day. typically the workday would end around 1pm, making the weekends a bit longer, and people generally more cheerful. i'm hoping i can translate that cheerfulness here and provide some easy, fun, summery recipes :)
since becoming pregnant i've rediscovered my love for mid-morning and afternoon snacks that are tasty while also nutrient rich (or least strive to be!). i can be pretty tough on myself when i eat too many vegan nacho tortilla chips, or more than a few sweets, so i'm constantly trying to keep a mindful eye on what i'm feeding my bod and my little babe - even more so than i had prior to being pregnant.
all throughout my pregnancy fruit has been my sidekick, my ride or die, and towards the end of my first trimester i got into a really expensive routine of buying these killer, $10 (!) acai bowls from a local juice shop. i realized how ridiculous my purchases had been because i could totally make them just as good at home, while saving money for, i don't know, our soon-to-be baby!? duhr.
this recipe is super basic. it's essentially a starter recipe for those of you who aren't familiar with making your own acai bowls, or have never had one before. the other week i happened to throw in some fresh bloomed elderflowers from our garden and loved its subtle, sweet flowery essence it gave the bowl, so i thought i would share that little twist here :) while i don't generally eat acai bowls for a straight up meal, they can be made more substantial with a serving of plant-based protein powder. i personally love eating them as a mid-day snack, or even for dessert.
i've got some ideas in the works for this easy-breezy, new blog series, but if there's anything you're interested in seeing, i would love, love to hear your feedback! xo's
elderflower açaí bowl | gf + v
there are so many different varieties of açaí bowls, but this recipe is a good starting off point, especially if you're new to making them at home.
| makes 1 serving |
- 1 packet frozen açaí pulp (i use sambazon)
- 1/2 cup frozen banana
- 1/2 cup fresh berries ( i used a mixture of strawberries and raspberries)
- 1/4-1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- handful of elderflower blossoms (about 3-4 blooms)
toppings
- granola
- chia seeds
- sliced strawberries
- raspberries
- elderflower blossoms
method
- thoroughly rinse or soak the elderflower blooms and pat dry. remove the flowers and add to your blender along with the acai pulp, banana, berries, and almond milk. blend for 1 minute, until smooth. if you want a thinner consistency add the remaining milk.
- serve the açaí bowl with a handful of granola, a sprinkle of chia seeds, a few sliced strawberries and/or raspberries, and more elderflower blossoms.
enjoy!