SIMPLY BRIGHT As the temperatures begin to cool and fall settles into winter, many of us have our sights set on the holiday season ahead. The holidays are an exciting time of year marked with celebrations, both large and small, gathered together with family and friends. In our Winter Issue, you’ll learn how to stay mindful while enjoying this magical time of year. You’ll also discover four ways to stay bright even when it’s dark outside and learn why you should embrace all of the seasonal flavors that this time of year brings with it. Get the most out of this holiday season so you can enjoy every moment between now and the New Year all while feeling your best and brightest.
- The Simple Mills Team
NEED SOME INSPO FOR WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY GATHERING? TURN TO PG. 5 TO GET SIMPLE MILLS’ GUIDE TO BUILD-YOUR-OWN CRACKER APPETIZERS
FESTIVE CRACKER TOPPINGS (2 WAYS) 30 MIN
30 MIN
PREP TIME
COOK TIME
YIELD: 20-30 BITES
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
BUTTERNUT SQUASH,
PREHEAT oven to 400ยบF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. CUT butternut squash in half. Scoop out the seeds. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. PLACE face down onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes or until soft inside. LET cool completely. Scoop out the butternut squash meat and add to a bowl. Mash using a fork. ASSEMBLE your crackers by topping each cracker with a 1 tablespoon of mashed butternut squash. TOP with a teaspoon of pomegranate arils and a sage leaf. SERVE immediately.
POMEGRANATE AND SAGE: 1 box Simple Mills Original Sprouted Seed Crackers 1 butternut squash Salt and pepper to taste 1 tsp. avocado oil 1/2 cup pomegranate arils Sage leaves
5 MIN PREP TIME YIELD: 20-30 BITES
BRIE, HONEY & ROSEMARY: 1 box Simple Mills Garlic and Herb Sprouted Seed Crackers 1 brie wheel, cut into small wedges Honey Fresh rosemary
Nutrition Tip Orange veggies like butternut squash deliver vitamin A - just 1 cup has almost 300% the recommended daily value. Roast butternut squash seeds just as you would pumpkin seeds for a filling salty snack.
Credit: Jenna Gorham, RDN @jennagorham.rd
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Pepper
TOP each cracker with a slice of brie, garnish with a drizzle of honey and a small rosemary sprig. SPRINKLE with fresh pepper. SERVE immediately.
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Credit: Olivia Wagner, MS, RDN, LD, @livnourished
A DIETICIAN’S GUIDE TO
BUILD YOUR OWN CRACKER APPETIZERS Bring friends and family the gift of health this season by bringing our sprouted seed crackers topped with a variety of our favorite toppings to holiday gatherings. Use our B.Y.O. guide to make perfectly balanced appetizer bites. STEP 1: PICK YOUR BASE: Start with one of our many flavors of sprouted seed crackers!
STEP 2: PICK YOUR SPREAD: (choose 1) GOLDEN CAULIFLOWER SPREAD:
CREAM CHEESE OR YOGURT:
BEET HUMMUS:
BLACK BEAN HUMMUS:
AVOCADO LEMON CHICKPEA MASH:
Toss 1 head of cauliflower & 1 head of garlic with 3 tbsp olive oil and roast at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Peel garlic cloves and blend with cauliflower, the juice of 1 lemon, 1/4 cup tahini, 1 tsp of turmeric, 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
Choose organic & grass-fed or dairy-free
Blend 1 package of cooked beets with 1 package of your favorite hummus
Blend 1 can black beans with 2 tbsp each olive oil & lime juice, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp sea salt
Mash 1 can of chickpeas with 1 ripe avocado, juice from 1/2 lemon, salt and pepper to taste
STEP 3: PICK YOUR TOPPINGS: PRODUCE: (choose up to 3)
Cubed Mango Fresh fig slices Avocado slices Dates Goji Berries Cucumber
Roasted red pepper Sun dried tomato Purple cabbage Red onion Black Olives
AROMATIC: (choose 1)
Chopped chives Parsley leaf Cilantro leaf Basil shreds Cayenne
Minced Garlic Minced Onion
FLAVORING: (choose up to 2)
Balsamic syrup Organic Honey Coconut Aminos Curry Powder Smoked Sea Salt Truffle Sea Salt
MUSHROOM CHESTNUT STUFFING YIELD: 4-6 SERVINGS
INGREDIENTS 1 heaping cup cooked chestnuts 2/3 cup Simple Mills Artisan Bread Mix 7 leaves + 1 tsp fresh sage, chopped 2 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped 2 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped 1 Tbsp. avocado oil 1 1/2 cup chopped white onion 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped* 1/2 cup grated Fuji or Gala apple** 3-4 Tbsp. tamari 1/2 tsp. pepper
10 MIN
20 MIN
PREP TIME
COOK TIME
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INSTRUCTIONS
ADD chestnuts, Simple Mills Artisan Bread Mix, 7 leaves of sage, 1 tsp. of fresh rosemary and 1 tsp. of fresh thyme to a food processor. Mix until you obtain a sand-like texture. Set aside. HEAT oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until the onion caramelizes (about 5 minutes). ADD chopped mushrooms and grated apple. Increase the heat to medium high and cook until the mushrooms are brown and caramelized around the edges (about 7 minutes). ADD 3 Tbsp. of tamari and mix until combined. TRANSFER the herb-chestnutArtisan Bread mixture to the pan. Add pepper and the remainder of the fresh herbs. Mix to combine. TASTE and add more tamari for more saltiness or more fresh herbs for a stronger flavor. ENJOY warm alone or along with your favorite holiday dishes. NOTE: *Feel free to use your favorite mushrooms or those you have on hand. We used a mix of shiitake, oyster and cremini mushrooms. **No apple on hand? Swap it out with a pear.
Nutrition Tip In addition to their flavor enhancing abilities, mushrooms are the only vegetable that naturally offer vitamin D. This is especially important in the winter months when we are not outside as much.
Credit: Meghan Dixon RDN, LDN @root_for_food
5 MIN
10 MIN
PREP TIME
COOK TIME
VEGAN HAZELNUT COOKIES Print Me!
YIELD: 10-12 COOKIES
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
1 box Simple Mills Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
PREHEAT oven to 350ยบF and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
3 Tbsp. almond milk
PREPARE the cookie mix according to the instructions on the back of
2 tsp. vanilla extract
the box.
3 Tbsp. coconut oil (melted)
ADD cinnamon to the batter and fold in the chopped hazelnuts and
1 tsp. cinnamon
cranberries.
1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts
DROP 1 Tbsp. scoops of dough onto the lined baking tray, and lightly
1/4 cup dried cranberries*
flatten using oiled finger tips or your palm. BAKE 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. NOTE: *Feel free to swap out the dried cranberries with fresh cranberries if you have them on hand, just make sure to cut them in half before folding in the batter.
Nutrition Tip Hazelnuts are an all-around nutrient powerhouse, delivering mono- and polyunsaturated fats, antioxidants and a variety of vitamins & minerals like iron and magnesium.
Credit: Jenna Gorham, RDN @root_for_food
10 MIN
30 MIN
PREP TIME
COOK TIME
POTATO LATKES YIELD: 9-10 LATKES
INGREDIENTS
Print Me! INSTRUCTIONS
2 pounds yellow potatoes,
ADD grated potatoes to a
peeled and grated
clean kitchen towel. Gather
6 Tbsp. Simple Mills Artisan
all corners and squeeze out
Bread Mix
as much liquid as possible.
3 Tbsp. ground flax seeds
Transfer to a bowl.
1 tsp. onion powder
ADD Simple Mills Artisan
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Bread Mix, flax seeds, onion
1 Tbsp. oil (we recommend
and garlic powder and 1 Tbsp.
avocado oil) + more for pan
of avocado oil to the grated
frying
potatoes. Mix to combine.
Greek yogurt or sour cream
USE an ice cream scoop to
(for topping)
scoop out 9-10 latkes. Then,
Sliced green onions (for
using your hands, flatten them
topping)
to form patties. HEAT a cast iron skillet with enough oil to cover the entire surface. Once hot, drop 4-5 potato latkes onto your pan and cook until golden-brown. Flip and repeat. TRANSFER to a paper towellined plate to remove the excess oil. ENJOY warm and topped with a dollop of Greek yogurt and sliced green onions.
Nutrition Tip When prepared properly, both sweet potatoes and regular potatoes can be a healthy addition to any meal. Leave the skin on for extra protein and fiber!
Credit: Jenna Gorham, RDN @jennagorham.rd
CRANBERRY AND CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
15 MIN
20 MIN
PREP TIME
COOK TIME
YIELD: 10-12 CUPCAKES
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INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
1 1/2 cup cranberries + a few more for topping
2 tbsp water
ADD cranberries, dates and water to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat for 5 minutes or until the cranberries pop open and start releasing their juice.
1 box Simple Mills Chocolate Muffin and Cake Mix
REMOVE from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
1/2 cup water
PUREE in a blender or using an immersion blender. Set aside.
3 flax eggs (3 tbsp ground flax seeds +7 tbsp water, mix and let sit for 5 minutes)
PREHEAT oven to 350ยบF and line a muffin tray with cupcake liners.
1/3 cup Simple Mills Chocolate Frosting
ADD Simple Mills mix, water and flax eggs to a large bowl and mix until homogeneous.
1/2 cup packed pitted medjool dates
Chocolate (optional)
DROP 1 tablespoon of batter in each prepared muffin cup. Top with 1 teaspoon of the cranberry and date jam. Finally, cover the jam with another tablespoon of batter. BAKE for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. MELT frosting in the microwave. Dip each muffin top into the melted frosting. Garnish with a couple of fresh cranberries and chocolate shavings.
Nutrition Tip Cranberries add a festive pop of color to both sweet and savory dishes. Take advantage of their natural bittersweet taste, with just 4 grams of natural fruit sugar per cup.
Credit: Jenna Gorham, RDN @jennagorham.rd
Stay
bright.
4 WAYS TO STAY BRIGHT WHILE IT’S DARK OUTSIDE Credit: Maggie Michalczyk, RDN, @onceuponapumpkin Darker skies and dipping temperatures are nature’s reminder to take a moment to be mindful and focus a little on yourself. Turn your attention to this dietitian’s 4 favorite ways to help keep spirits up and stay mentally and physically healthy during the holiday season.
1
ADD FERMENTED FOODS TO YOUR DIET.
2
OPT FOR MOVEMENT.
3
ADD GREEN TO YOUR SPACE.
4
INCORPORATE FOODS THAT CONTAIN VITAMIN D.
We learn more about the gut-brain connection every day, but one thing’s for sure, they’re strongly affected by each other and impact our emotions. Keeping your gut healthy by populating it with good bacteria like those in fermented foods such as kimchi, kombucha, and sauerkraut has been shown to reduce levels of anxiety, stress and depression. Aim to incorporate these foods into your diet a few times a week! One of the most common benefits of exercise is stress relief. Just 30 minutes has the ability to increase relaxation. So when the season feels overwhelming, hit up your favorite class! And remember to refuel after a workout with protein and complex carbohydrates like those in fruits, vegetables, and beans.
Get an indoor plant for your desk or kitchen in the winter months. Plants help to increase oxygen and purify the air so you’ll be breathing easier helping you to feel calm. Plus it’s a pretty reminder that spring is not as far away as it seems!
In the winter when sunlight it sparse, our vitamin D levels can dip, which can leave us feeling down and tired. The good news is that foods like mushrooms, tuna, salmon and egg yolks contain the vitamin and can help to prevent deficiency.
WHY YOU SHOULD EMBRACE ALL THE SEASONAL FLAVORS ACCORDING TO OUR INGREDIENT SOURCING TEAM These seasonal spices are anything but basic. Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, anise and black pepper (to name a few) have been used for healing purposes for centuries. Warm your body inside and out with a selection of our ingredient team’s favorite spice recipes.
WARM YOUR HOME during the cold months by making stovetop potpourri. Fill a saucepan with 2 cups water, 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 Tbsp cloves, 1 nutmeg and 1 orange peel. Bring to a boil and then down to a simmer, adding more water as needed so the water doesn’t evaporate. Simmer as long as necessary to fill your home with warmth! – Ashley
KEEP FEELING GREAT by mixing in seasonal spices to traditional dishes. Anise, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and black pepper can add nutrient value to savory dishes like braised beef and moussaka, to sweet dishes like pancakes or waffles. Mix a small amount of your favorite spices to our vanilla frosting for a Vanilla Chai Latte twist! – Anna
WARD OFF CHILLS & SNIFFLES with a Clean “Hot Toddy.” Add a few slices of fresh ginger, a cinnamon stick and lemon juice to a few cups of boiling water or chamomile tea. Allow to steep for a few minutes, then add raw honey to taste. – Emily
DID YOU KNOW? Our Pumpkin Muffin & Bread Mix contains real pumpkin and gets it’s pumpkin spice flavor from a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. – Emily
Credit: Emily, Simple Mills’ Procurement Manager, Ashley & Anna, Simple Mills’ R&D Managers
ABOUT SIMPLE MILLS Simple Mills enriches lives and bodies through simple, delicious, real food. We strive to make healthful choices easy by offering food that tastes great in the moment and nourishes your body for the long-term. We believe in clean, nutritious food for a better life—it’s that simple. @simplemills | www.simplemills.com