Brendan Brazier’s New Thrive Cookbook, Recipes, & Challenge Loop Winner!

March 5, 2014 -
4 comments, add yours

Hey all! Happy Wednesday! Very busy and productive week but it’s exciting! I love new possibilities and working hard towards them. Let’s chat about working hard – my Power Plate Challengers did AMAZING last month & Yenory & I have loved every day. Waking up to new inspiration daily on the Challenge Loop App was exciting & you all did great! I wanted to say a BIG thank you to Under Armour Women for Sponsoring the Challenge & Challenge Loop for Hosting!

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The randomly chosen winner of the challenge was Yolanda Brown! Congrats, love!

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Everyone did so great so thank YOU all for participating!! I hope you got some new workout ideas that you can literally do anywhere – all you need is some paper plates!

So now that we’ve talked fitness – let’s chat food! The best combo, right?

The other day I came home to a new package that totally didn’t disappoint! I was pumped when I opened up a large envelope to find Brendan Brazier’s new Cookbook – Thrive! Mamacakes & I totally fought (nicely) over who got to read it first ;]

Packed with 150, nutrient dense, whole food recipes developed within the Thrive nutritional philosophy, Thrive Energy Cookbook brings concepts that started the functional, plant-based nutrition revolution to life. Recipes are all allergen-free (or with gluten-free options) to eliminate wheat, yeast, gluten, soy, refined sugar, and dairy from your diet.

Easy-to-make and performance-enhancing, these chef-created recipes merge purpose-driven functionality (every ingredient has a nutritional purpose) with mouth-watering appeal. From the alkaline-forming, plant protein-packed Vanilla-Almond-Mocha Motivator Smoothie to Roasted Red Pepper & Sweet Potato Soup, Thai Green Curry Rice Bowl, and desserts such as Raspberry Chocolate Pomegranate Tart, Thrive Energy Cookbook will have you quickly preparing nutrient-packed and delicious dishes.

Um, can you day, deeeeeeeeeeeelicious?

If the description doesn’t make you hungry enough already, check out these recipes below that Brendan is sharing with all of us!

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Acai Berry Pre-Workout Energizer

Designed to be consumed about 40 minutes before a longer or especially intense workout, this easy-to-digest preworkout fuel will provide your muscles with clean burning carbs to carry you through the toughest of workouts. Since it’s in liquid form it will digest easily and therefore reduces the risk of a dreaded side stitch. Also, pineapple is high in a digestive enzyme called bromelain that further assists with digestibility. In addition, the Vega Sport Pre-Workout Energizer will give your fat metabolism a boost with its green tea and yerba mate, enabling your body to burn more body fat while sparing muscle glycogen, thereby directly boosting endurance.

Thrive Energy Cookbook- Acai Berry PWE Picture
Serves 1 / Makes 2 1/4 cups (550 mL)

Prep Time: 2 to 3 minutes
Special Equipment: high-speed blender

  • 4 fresh or frozen strawberries
  • 1/3 cup (75 mL) chopped pineapple
  • 1/4 cup (60 mL) fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1 scoop acai berry–flavor Vega Sport Pre-Workout Energizer
  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) coconut water
  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) acai berry juice
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) agave nectar or maple syrup (optional)
  • *The agave is recommended if you’re planning a workout that will exceed 3 hours
  • About 2 cups (500 mL) ice cubes
  • *If using frozen fruit, use less ice
  1. In a blender, combine all the ingredients except the ice.
  2. Add ice to about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the liquid line.
  3. Blend on high speed until smooth.

*Gluten-Free
*Super Nutrient-Dense

Thrive Energy Cookbook by Brendan Brazier
Publisher: Penguin Canada

 

Cookies & Cream Recovery Smoothie

Ideal for strength athletes in pursuit of building lean mass, this recovery smoothie is a delicious way to feed your fatigued muscles while reducing inflammation and oxidative damage to your cells. Popularized at the Thrive Energy Lab by those who just spent themselves at the gym.

Thrive Energy Cookbook - Cookies and Cream Smoothie

Serves 1 / Makes 2 1/4 cups (550 mL)

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Special Equipment: high-speed blender

  • 2 tbsp (30 mL) raw cashews
  • 2 tbsp (30 mL) vegan dark chocolate chips
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) cacao nibs
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) raw cashew butter
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) pitted and chopped Medjool dates
  • 1 scoop vanilla Vega Sport Performance Protein
  • 1 cup (250 mL) unsweetened almond milk (or homemade, page 23)
  • ¼ cup (60 mL) agave nectar or maple syrup (optional)
    *the optional agave is recommended if your workout has exceeded 90 minutes
  • About 2 cups (500 mL) ice cubes
  1. In a blender, combine all the ingredients except the ice.
  2. Add ice to about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the liquid line.
  3. Blend on high speed until smooth and creamy.

*Gluten-Free
*Super Nutrient-Dense
*Protein-Rich

CREDITS:
Thrive Energy Cookbook by Brendan Brazier
Publisher: Penguin Canada

 

Coconut, Lemongrass & Lime Soup

Thrive Energy Cookbook- Coconut Thai Soup Pic
Gluten-Free, Super Nutrient-Dense
Prep Time: 20 minutes

  • 1 tbsp (30 mL) sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp (30 mL) fresh ginger, chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
  • 1 cup (250 mL) shiitake mushrooms, sliced thinly
  • 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) vegetable broth
  • 2 cans (14 oz/400 mL each) coconut milk
  • 2 small red chili peppers, minced
  • 1 fresh lemongrass stalk left whole, top cut off and pounded to release aromatics
    and flavors
  • 1 fresh lemongrass stalk, top cut off and thinly sliced
  • Small handful of Thai basil leaves
  • Juice from 1 lime
  • Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) red bell peppers, julienned
  1. Heat up the sesame and olive oil in a large pot and sauté the garlic, onion, ginger,
    celery, and mushrooms until translucent, about 4 to 6 minutes.
  2. Add the vegetable broth, coconut milk, chili peppers, and lemongrass stalks.
  3. Allow to simmer over low heat for at least 10 minutes.
  4. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Add the Thai basil leaves and lime juice and serve garnished with julienned red bell peppers.
  6. This fragrant soup with Thai aromatics and flavors combines nutrient-dense shiitake mushrooms and red bell peppers.
  7. Serves 6 to 8

CREDITS:
Thrive Energy Cookbook by Brendan Brazier
Publisher: DaCapo Press

 

Thank you so much Brendan for sharing these with us! All of these recipes look amazing.

Even if you don’t eat 100% plant based, I think we can all benefit from adding some of these nutrient dense recipes into our daily eats!

You can find the VEGA Protein Powder & Pre-Workout on iHerb.com discount code XUG228 for first time users!

You can also find Brendan’s Cookbook Thrive [here] and watch a short video all about it!

 

I’m off to train a client, head to a meeting, then listen to Mamacakes present today at a local meet up.

I hope you have a great one guys!

 

be true to you,

xo Kasey

 

 

Do any of these recipes spark your interest? I think the best day ever would be to have all of these in one day! Who is with me? Winking smile