Ever notice how the the more you glow, the more others glow back?  Spreading the glow with this Golden Milk Granola infused with the super powers of anti-inflammatory turmeric, spicy ginger and warming cinnamon. Food is truly magical and has so many healing powers. Today I’m taking inspiration from classic golden milk with this gluten-free and no-bake granola that is amplified with cinnamon and vanilla infused maple syrup from Runamok. Get the dEATS below on the recipe, a special discount for this delightful maple syrup and a round-up of the top anti-inflammatory spices to integrate into your diet stat.

If you’ve seen the bevvy of vibrantly colored lattes littering Instagram, you may have come across Golden Milk. Some of these bright hued drinks are just for the ‘gram, if you know what I mean, but others, like Golden Milk, have mega healing powers. It’s a beverage that’s been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medice for centuries containing turmeric (which gives the beverages it’s golden color), ginger, cinnamon, black pepper and coconut milk. It’s the curcumin in turmeric that is one of the world’s strongest anti-inflammatory resources. In addition, curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that wards off free radicals and oxidative stress, which can cause wrinkles, cognitive decline and even chronic disease. Read this mbg article for more on the powers and benefits of curcumin.

Many of you know that I was diagnosed years ago with ankylosing spondylitis, which is a potentially debilitating form of arthritis in the rheumatoid  family that primarily impacts the spine, but also other joints. As a result, I’ve spent a lot of time researching ways to calm my symptoms and ward off inflammation. Modern medicine has some great solutions, but so do foods and spices, which often don’t have the dramatic side effects of medications.

According to U.S. News, here are the top 10 anti-inflammatory spices:

1.) Turmeric: a brightly hued spice often found in Indian dishes.
2.) Black pepper: this common seasoning enables the absorption of turmeric.
3.) Garlic: sulfur compounds in garlic ward off proteins that cause inflammation.
4.) Cinnamon: helps to maintain insulin levels to keep inflammation at bay.
5.) Cayenne: the capsaicin in cayenne lends heat and anti-inflammatory powers.
6.) Ginger: polyphenols in ginger prevent the formation of inflammatory cytokines.
7.) Cloves: one study showed it took only 7 days for cloves to take their effect on cytokines.
8.) Saffron: crocin and crocetin add color and anti-inflammatory properties to this pricey seasoning.

Incorporating these seasonings into your diet can add some excitement to your normal routines and add a festive touch – like the Cinnamon and Vanilla Infused Maple Syrup from Runamok. The warming cinnamon flavors make this syrup perfect adding a special touch to French Toast, tea or even cocktails. This barrel-aged maple syrup from Vermont comes in a wide variety of fun infusions like Cardamom, Jasmine Tea and Elderberry. And, until December 25, you can get 20% off with my code, SHOOKS20.

The holidays are around the corner and this no-bake gluten-free golden milk granola with chopped apricots and cashews is an easy recipe to make for you and your family! I love this on it’s own with a bit of almond milk, on top of yogurt bowls or smoothies.

Golden Milk Granola
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:
-3/4 C Quaker Old-Fashioned Oats
-1 C of Rice Krispies
-1 C creamy almond butter
-1/4 C Runamok Cinnamon + Vanilla Infused Organic Maple Syrup
-2 tsp cinnamon
-1 1/2 tsp ginger
-1 tsp turmeric
-1/4 tsp salt
-1/3 C chopped, roasted salted cashews
-1/3 C chopped dried apricots
-1/3 C unsweetened flaked coconut

Directions:
Step 1: Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Toss together the Rice Krispies, oats, cashews, apricots and coconut in a large bowl.
Step 2: Place the almond butter, maple syrup and seasonings in a sauce pan over low heat on the stove top. Stir constantly until smooth and fully combined, about 30 seconds. Be careful not to overheat the almond butter otherwise it will get tough and dry.
Step 3: Pour the almond butter mixture over the oat mixture and stir to combine. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan, pressing firmly to form a compact, even layer. Chill until fully set, about 30 minutes. Break apart and enjoy!

The post The Spice of Life appeared first on The Shooks Life.

Serendipity is finding exactly what you’re looking for, without looking for it. Like this mural I happened upon while wandering Logan Square. It was serendipitous that 1.) the wall perfectly matched my fav new heels and 2.) it started pouring 2 seconds after this photo was taken. When it rains it pours and June was jam-packed with a flurry of activity. It’s those moments of joy before you even know what’s coming at you that make the journey though. Let’s flashback to a few of my June favorites over the last month below.

Every month I like to take a moment to reminisce on all the little discoveries that brought joy to my day, whether a workout that left me inspired or a meal that I’ll remember forever. Here’s the rundown on June Favorites:

1.) Favorite Fashion Finds: A New Day Michaela Pumps

Not sure whether it’s happenstance or the Target curse, but I found myself meandering through an array of cute new sandals at Target this past weekend and walked away with two pairs when all I really came for were some sandwich bags – oops. These bright red block heels can add a pump of color whether dressed up or casual. And get this, they’re less than $30! Plus, Target is running a 20% off sale now through July 4! Super comfortable, though note these run a bit narrow – so don’t feel shy to go with the wide cut.

2.) Favorite Breakfast: Purely Elizabeth Vibrant Oats

I LIVE for color and these bold, superfood-filled oats from Purely Elizabeth are EVERYTHING. I happened upon these while perusing Plum Market in Old Town after a Soul Cycle class. It was like the universe wanted me to try them with that bright “on sale” sign saying, try me! buy me! I’m a sucker for marketing (even though I work in marketing), so I bought every kind. The one above gets its vibrant blue hue from spirulina, a superfood loaded with antioxidants and known to detoxify, lower blood pressure and boost energy. They’re also relatively low in sugar (6g from coconut sugar) and come with a crunchy granola topping (the Purely Elizabeth granola is pure crack).

3.) Favorite Refreshment: Limitless Lightly Caffeinated Sparkling Water

Limitless Coffee is known for sourcing beans from farms that are wet washed so they’re free of contaminants (more on that here). I’m a big fan of their cold brew coffee and iced matcha, so I was thrilled to see a new offering when they exhibited at the asweatlife Fitness Festival a couple weeks ago. This sparkling water gets a bit of a caffeinated kick from green coffee beans. No calories, no sugar and no artificial ingredients makes this a hybrid between LaCroix and green tea, which has about the same amount of caffeine (35mg). I tried the Blood Orange and Cucumber Pear – both oh so good without being overpowering flavor-wise.

4.) Favorite Snack: Purely Pecans Sweet Potater Pecan Butter

I visited the Smart Foods Expo last week to explore the latest in the better for you and plant based food arena. There’s a lot of exciting stuff underway, but my favorite of the show was this Purely Pecan Sweet Potater Pecan Butter made with pecans, sweet potatoes and a touch of maple and cinnamon. Tastes just like pecan pie in a jar! Also, some fun facts: pecans are the most antioxidant-rich tree nut and the copper in pecans helps to reduce inflammation, like that caused by arthritis. I smothered these apples slices with pecan butter, shredded coconut and extra pecans for a healthy take on a “cookie” that was a super easy afternoon snack.

5.) Favorite Workout: 606 Workout with Shred415 and Lululemon

Every summer, Shred415 and Lululemon partner to offer free outdoor workouts across the city. The workouts are taught by Shred415 instructors and follow a similar high intensity interval training format, alternating between running exercises and body weight strength training. I went to the workout on the 606 trail in Bucktown last week and it was a scorcher – the weather and the workout! Four trainers split the group of 30-40 in half with one group focusing on running drills for the first half of the hour-long session while the other group did strengthening exercises like curtsies and split jumps for some cardio. Everyone who attended not only got the workout for free, but also got a free session at Shred415 – score! Plus, there was a burpee competition at the end and well, I’m always in it to win it, so I scored a bonus 5-pack. I’ll be going again next Thursday, July 12, if you want to join me!

6.) Favorite Recipe: Paleo Pop Tarts with Strawberry Chia Jam

This was my first foray into baking with alternative flours and it did not disappoint! Mashed banana added just the right amount of natural sweetness and stickiness to keep this dough together. The pop tarts are filled with a strawberry chia jam that takes roughly 10 minutes to make and can be added to everything from oatmeal to yogurt. The real eye pop is the Pearl Butter Smarty Pants coconut butter, which serves as the icing. This one’s a bit time consuming, but a fun morning activity and a definite show-stopper!

7.) Favorite Plant-Based Meal: Beyond Burger Lettuce Wraps

Before Beyond Meat came along, veggie burgers were mostly bean or soy-based flimsy patties that tasted nothing like the real thing. That’s fine and good for some, but if you’re craving a better version of a thick and juicy burger, Beyond Burger will straight-up fool you. The texture is on point and the beet juice gives it a tenderness and pink color before cooking that will leave you in awe. I paired mine with a butter lettuce “bun”, a juicy beef steak tomato and creamy avocado slices for a hearty plant-based meal that rivaled even the best burger joints.

8.) Favorite New Restaurant: Pacific Standard Time

I visited Pacific Standard Time in Chicago’s River North a few weeks ago for a work event and was awed by every bite, but especially the desserts from Natalie Saben, former pastry chef at Grace. Saben even earned a 30 under 30 award from Zagat at her prior gig, so it’s no surprise that she continues to bring it at Pacific Standard Time. This new American restaurant opened about 2 months ago under the helm of Erling Wu-Bower (opening chef of Nico Osteria) and Joshua Tilden (former director of strategic operations at One Off Hospitality). Favorites of the night were the bright sungold tomatoes with creamy burrata, crispy chicken with pistachio aillade and the toasted vanilla macaron with banana semifreddo and candied hazelnuts (shown above).

9.) Favorite Workout Jams: Spin Class – June 2018 on Spotify

This was my last month of teaching on the reg at Cycle X Studio before taking the summer off to do more outdoor biking. Just in time, Cardi B and Drake dropped some mega hits to add to my list of favorite songs for the month. Even though I’ll be taking the summer off from teaching, I’ll still keep my monthly playlists running. Follow me on Spotify (search for Meghan Shookman) to always have a fresh list of songs to power you through your workouts.

10.) Favorite Bar: Parson’s Chicken & Fish

There are three reasons I love Parson’s: 1.) it’s a dog-friendly patio, which means Moose gets to join in the fun 2.) it’s a block and a half from my house and 3.) they serve the best dang frozen beverages in town, including the negroni and an always-rotating specialty frozen cocktail. It’s a hipster scene for sure, but always filled with adorable puppies and their loving furparents on sunny days.

That’s a wrap on June! Can’t wait to see what July has in store!

The post June Favorites appeared first on The Shooks Life.

Feelin’ that berry bliss. Just got my delivery of @pearlbutter Pearl Butter adaptogenic coconut butters and can’t wait to play. It’s all the wonders of rich coconut butter in fun colors like this vivid blue from superfood spirulina.

Check out my unboxing video below for more dEATs!

I first discovered the wonders of coconut butter on Pinterest when hunting down the elusive unicorn – a decadent treat without the guilt-laden sugars. I was hooked after making these Turmeric Glow Bars with the rich creamy flavor of coconut atop a naturally sweet crust made of dates and shredded coconut.

Coconut butter has oodles of benefits beyond its decadence.

• It’s rich in immunity-boosting lauric acid.
• It’s loaded with healthy fats to keep you feeling full longer.
• It’s jam-packed with other goodies like amino acids, calcium and magnesium.

Hello white unicorn! Except, the fun doesn’t end there.

Pearl Butter makes a line of raw coconut butters colored with superfood adaptogens like spirulina (blue), turmeric (yellow) and papaya (pink). The flavor and color are insane!

So what exactly do you DO with coconut butter? Lots!

• Drizzle over yogurt or berries for a delightful dessert
• Spread over toast, waffles or pancakes in place of boring butter
• Add a dollop to coffee or matcha for a rich flavor that will keep hunger at bay.
• Make your smoothie into a tropical treat
• Decorate your favorite dessert

It’s playtime, friends! Check back to see what I make next!

The post Butter Me Up appeared first on The Shooks Life.