MOCKTAILS AT 33,000 FT.

Perhaps it’s pure boredom after passengers in the first class cabin have been fed on a 5 hour flight, but I also had an idea for this post as I was jotting down ideas for Blogmas. I’ve always wanted to be a barista so naturally, I’ve come to love creating different concoctions on the plane. So just imagine my face when taking orders and someone replies with, “surprise me!”. But not everyone is a drinker, and these are so great to try whether you’re working the flight or killing time getting home or onto your next adventure!

CRAN YOU ORANGE? SPRITZ

The perfect sweet drink for anyone! It’s a fan favorite amongst the little ones. You can change the sweetness by playing with the ratios of the juice versus sparkling water.

  • orange juice
  • cran-apple juice
  • sparkling water

Equal parts of each, served with a lime wedge!

GINGER ZINGER LEMONADE

I love having ginger tea on flights because it helps aid digestion, so it’s definitely one of my favorite ingredients to work with on the plane. Next time you fly, add ginger tea to your list of things to pack to create this detox mocktail.

  • ginger tea
  • hot water
  • lemon (bring your own or ask your flight attendant for some!)
  • ice

Make a ginger tea with a half cup of hot water, let steep for a few minutes before adding room temperature water. Add a squeeze of lemon and ice.

FIGHT FŪD TONIC

You guys are probably sick of me talking about Flight Fūd at this point, but I am just so obsessed, okay?! I normally just have it in about 16 ounces of water, but this time, I tried it with sparkling water and WOW. Just wow.

Mix the pack of Flight Fūd elixir with sparkling water. Simple as that!

SEATTLE MULE

A spin off of one of my favorite cocktails – a Moscow Mule. Spicy, sweet, and just right.

  • lime (bring your own or ask your flight attendant for some!)
  • ginger beer
  • splash of juice (POG is my favorite in this one, but cranberry is tasty too!)
  • ice
  • sparkling water – optional to make it less sweet

Muddle the lime. Add ginger beer (and sparkling water if you prefer it less sweet), and a splash of juice. Top with ice.

Enjoy, loves! And as always, fly safe, be kind, and don’t poke your flight attendants!

OH WHAT (TO)FUN

Scrambled tofu with kale and soyrizo (from Trader Joe’s) with a side of tots. DUH.

I’ve been eating (mostly) plant based for about two months and one thing that I am LOVING is tofu. I grew up eating tofu, so it never creeped me out. I had experimented with cooking tofu before, but they were always super basic recipes and nothing as good as my mom would make. This time around, let’s just say the obsession is real. Here are 4 ways I’ve been loving having tofu.

SCRAMBLED

Can I just say I don’t even miss eggs? Not even a bit. I know. I know. I was all about my savory breakfast (most commonly eggs on avocado toast) in the morning, but a lightbulb went off when one day, I decided to experiment with tofu and turmeric. Turmeric adds the perfect golden color which mimics eggs which is borderline creepy but it seriously tastes SO GOOD. I love cooking with turmeric because of its anti-inflammatory properties, so it’s just a bonus that it helps with the aesthetic of my “eggs.” I like to play around with different spices and herbs, but here is my go to recipe:

  • 14 ounces extra firm tofu (one standard container)
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric (option to start out with 1/4 teaspoon and add little by little, especially if you are not fond of the taste of turmeric)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (I actually used Firefly Kitchens probiotic salt but sea salt will work fine!)
  1. Drain and remove excess water from the tofu by using paper towels and pressing it onto the tofu with a heavy weight (I use books).
  2. Heat up the oil on a large skillet.
  3. Lower the heat to low-medium and using a spatula, break up the tofu block into crumbles.
  4. Add spices.
  5. Mix well and bring the heat to high.
  6. Stir frequently and sauté the tofu until the color darkens and tofu gets a little crispy.
  7. Add more salt, pepper, and/or crushed red pepper (if you like it spicy) to taste.

MARINATED AND AIR FRIED

This has got to be one of my favorite things I’ve been eating, period. All you need to do is drain the water from your tofu, cut it into 1/4″ thick slices, and marinate it in whatever sauce you have in your fridge. My favorite so far has been Sriracha BBQ (literally just Sriracha mixed with barbecue sauce). After marinating for 20-30 minutes (option for longer too), I pop them in my air fryer for about 15 minutes at 400F. Every air fryer is different, so keep a close watch! When finished, the sauce should be dried and created a crispy layer. Spicy, sweet, and delicious! Perfect for buddha bowls, salads, and sandwiches.

PURÉED INTO AN AIOLI

Definitely gotta give credit to Dig Inn for this one. My absolute favorite sauce is the garlic aioli made from tofu (they’re all so good, try them all cause they are free! Bless them!). Though I haven’t tried making it myself, I always get a few when I visit them in New York and Boston so that I can add it to my bowls and salads. From there, I also got hit with an idea to create a nut-free vegan alfredo sauce using puréed tofu. I will be posting a recipe on my Instagram soon, so be on the look out!

TOFURKY DELI SLICES

Perhaps not the “healthiest” by any means, but easy, and such a great alternative when all you want is a sandwich or wrap with something to complement all the veggies. I’ve been a fan of Tofurky deli slices for quite some time, but have just recently grown such an appreciation for it since going plant based. Not only is it affordable, but I actually love the way it tastes. I love the texture. Because it is a processed food, I try to have it in moderation. But either way, I am so grateful there is a great plant based alternative for sandwich lovers!

Hope this inspires you to try something new, even if it’s not tofu! All the love!

TURMER-KICK TUNA SALAD RECIPE

You’ve probably heard turmeric this, turmeric that, but what exactly is it and why do we love it so much? Turmeric comes from a root (you can find it at your local grocery store!). This herb is pretty much like magic, but backed by science. Many studies have shown that turmeric has been found to:

  • act as an antioxidant
  • be anti-inflammatory
  • aid digestion
  • boost memory
  • lift your mood
  • prevent heart problems, diabetes, and cancer

Needless to say, I like to try and sneak turmeric in EVERYTHING. By everything, I mean roasted veggies, salad dressings, cookies, tea, chicken and fish marinades, you get the idea. I am also a lover of golden milk lattes! But this recipe is one I wanted to share because 1. I have yet to see one like it and 2. IT’S FREAKING DELICIOUS. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Here’s what you need:

  • 1 can of tuna
  • 2 TBSP shredded carrots
  • 2 TBSP minced red onion
  • 1 TBSP avocado oil mayonnaise (I use Primal Kitchen Foods)
  • 1/2 finely chopped dill pickle
  • 1 TSP turmeric
  • 1 TSP paprika
  • 1/2 TSP cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 TSP tarragon
  • 1/4 TSP crushed red pepper
  • 1/4 TSP cumin
  • black pepper
  • pink salt to taste

Feel free to add more avocado oil mayonnaise as you go to achieve your ideal consistency. Subbing mayonnaise for mashed avocado is also pretty tasty! You can also sub veggies around to your liking, but I found these veggies create the perfect taste and texture! I love flexible recipes though and I encourage that you change things up until you love it. Thanks for tuna-ing in and I hope you have a fantuna-stic day!

COLLAGEN YEPTIDES + NATURAL PRE-WORKOUT ELIXIR RECIPE

Okay, kind of dying at this punny title, for real. I hopped on this collagen peptides wagon several months ago and I feel like I’ve hit jackpot. How is it that I’ve JUST discovered something so incredible? For those skeptical or curious, I also want to admit that I, too, was a skeptic. I thought it was just another health fad. Before making my first purchase, I did A LOT of research. I read every tl;dr caption on Instagram about them. I looked up the top brands that I could find and read a ton of reviews. I did this for months, then I flew with a flight attendant who swore by them. I guess I just needed to hear personal experience from someone in person because that day, I went home and placed an order on Amazon.

Let me tell you firsthand that the benefits of collagen peptides are insane. Here are just some of them that really resonate with me.

  • Healthier immune and digestive systems
  • Reduces joint pain
  • Reduces wrinkles and cellulite
  • Supports hair growth, nail growth, clear skin
  • Contains amino acids that help muscle recovery
  • Contains protein, give your morning latte or smoothie an extra UMPH.

Since the day I got ’em, I have been taking collagen peptides daily in my morning smoothies and have noticed these benefits. It’s unbelievable. One of the most incredible benefits that I noticed was when I was training for my half marathon. I was able to run longer with less discomfort in my joints. The day of the run, I hit my PR of 2 hours and 27 minutes. Not to mention, my recovery was quicker and smoother than my last half marathon. Crazy, right?

My skin has also cleared up since using collagen peptides. Growing up, I was always very insecure about my skin. My skin scars easily so with every breakout, I’d deal with the aftermath, which was even more troubling than acne itself. It was frustrating. My favorite foundation was Estée Lauder’s Double Wear, a very high coverage foundation that made me feel comfortable because it covered every little scar. Anyone out there feel me? Now, I can confidently say that I enjoy no makeup days. Since seeing such improvement in my skin, I ditched my high coverage foundation for It Cosmetics’ CC Cream. Some days I only use it as spot treatment on my acne scars. Seeing my skin clear up has been a huge confidence boost and I’m thrilled to be sharing my “secret.”

Now what the heck is it and how do you have it, you ask? It comes in powder form and dissolves in liquid, can be used in baking recipes, etc. My favorite way to have collagen peptides is by sneaking them in lattes, smoothies, or oats. I find that when I do, I tend to remember to have them every morning. I’m currently obsessed with my pre-workout elixir, MATCHA MUSHROOM LATTES. (Don’t knock it ’til you try it!)

Here’s what you need:

  • 1 scoop collagen peptides (I use Further Food)
  • 1 tsp matcha
  • 1 tsp Bulletproof Brain Octane (or MCT oil)
  • 1/2 tsp Cordyceps (I use Sun Potion)
  • dash of cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 cup almond milk (or any milk of your choice!)

Throw everything into a blender OR you can whisk manually or use a frother. I just got a frother on Amazon for $10. DEALS. Such a great idea for a stocking stuffer (yep, already going there). This latte is a perfect pre-workout elixir that’s made from natural ingredients and packed with a ton of nutrients and benefits from EVERY ingredient. Since weening off C4 (a pre-workout supplement filled with crazy chemicals), I noticed my workouts have become weaker. Since having this matcha mushroom latte, I noticed a boost in energy. It doesn’t feel crazy, I don’t get itchy, but it’s just enough to pull me through a HIIT workout + some weight training. This is real. I feel like I found the Krabby Patty secret formula!

As far as brands go, Further Food is the brand I currently use and I absolutely love their products. Health things can add up to be pretty spendy but their products are affordable and have lasted me so long. They’re a great company made up of friendly people who are passionate about health and wellness, which is something that’s super important to me when I do brand research. I’m a proud brand ambassador of theirs and if you use my code ‘KALEINTHECLOUDS10′, you’ll get a discount on anything on their website! I would never talk up something I don’t feel passionate about so you know this is real.

Do you guys use collagen peptides? What do you like to use them for and what are some of your experiences as far as benefits you’ve noticed? Let me know! If you’re curious and still have more questions, feel free to leave me a comment or e-mail me at kaleintheclouds@gmail.com. I tend to get rambly about things I love so if you’ve made it this far, I love you and hope you have a great day!