This Happy Hemp savory salad blends two of my favorite ingredients: brussel sprouts and kale, and turns them into healthy blend of amazing, melt in your mouth rich fresh goodness. Here is some nutritional info on hemp, which adds a punch of protein, omegas and good fatty acids to the mix. 

Nutritional Benefits of Hemp Seeds

• Hemp has more protein than meat, fish or tofu.
• Hemp has the perfect ratio of omega’s 3, 6 & 9. Great for women and hormone regulation.
• Hemp is packed with essential fatty acids, amino acids as well as all of the vitamins and minerals our bodies need on a daily basis.
• Hemp is in the same category as flax seeds or chia seeds, but because of it’s nutritional balance it is actually superior to the others. 
• Hemp Seeds Support: Immune Deficiency Disorders - Digestion - Maintaining a healthy level of cholesterol - Hormone fluctuation - Circulation - Weight Management - Insomnia- Healthy Hair, Skin, Nails
• Commonly known medicinal uses: nausea & vomiting; multiple sclerosis/muscle spasm disorders; spinal cord injuries; Chron's disease; Alzheimer's disease; Tourette's syndrome; digestive disorders; glaucoma; asthma; neurodegenerative disorders
• Not to mention they taste delicious!.. And no you will not fail a drug test after eating hemp seeds. They have less than .01% THC and are perfectly legal :)

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp minced shallot
• 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
• 1/4 tsp kosher sea salt (plus more for seasoning)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 large bunches of kale (1 1/2 lbs. total), center stem discarded, leaves thinly sliced/shredded
• 12 oz brussels sprouts, trimmed, finely grated/shredded with a knife
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 
• 1/3 cup macadamia nuts, chopped coarsely
• 1/2 cup finely grated Pecorino or Parmesan
• 1/2 cup Hemp Seeds

Instructions 
1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Lightly drizzle coconut oil over chopped brussels sprouts and bake for 20 mins.
3. Take brussels sprouts out of the oven 
4. Combine chopped mushrooms, lemon juice. Dijon mustard, shallot, garlic, cheese, hemp seeds, salt & pepper in a small bowl - Stir to blend & set aside to let flavors meld.
5. Mix thinly sliced kale & shredded brussels sprouts in a large bowl.
6. In a small skillet, heat coconut oil on medium & add macadamia nuts/hemp seeds, stirring frequently  until golden brown in spots (about 2 mins).
7. Transfer nuts to a paper towel-lined plate & lightly sprinkle with salt.
8. Slowly whisk remaining olive oil in a cup into lemon juice mixture.
9. Season dressing to taste with salt & pepper.
10. Add dressing & cheese to kale mixture; toss to coat. Season lightly with salt & pepper.
11. Garnish with macadamia nuts. Enjoy!!

Non-dairy milks have become a staple in most homes these days. It is not strange to see a carton of almond, coconut, rice, soy or hemp milk in just about anyone's fridge. This was also the case for me until a few months ago when I took a closer look at the label of my seemingly innocent Organic Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk. What should be a healthy drink of almonds, vanilla and water had a few sneaky ingredients like carrgeenan, a processed seaweed used as a thickener in everything from yogurt to frozen pizza and also an extremely inflammatory additive shown to induce colitis in laboratory rats. Unfortunately it is still an allowed substance in organic foods. (More info HERE)

Other suspicious ingredients include sunflower lecithin, D2, "natural" flavors, soy, and vegetable oils. All of these ingredients are super processed and have a plethora of harmful side effects you don't want polluting your body. Not to mention, if your nut/seed milk is not labeled "unsweetened" you can be sure it has at least 7 grams of added sugar per cup. 

I had been wanting to try making my own nut and seed milks so I decided to give it a shot. After a few test batches I came up with a pretty incredible blend of almonds, hemp seeds, vanilla, cinnamon, Himalayan sea salt, and dates that we lovingly have begun to call "Nutty Jugs" or better yet truly "Natural Nutty Jugs." No funny business (except the name) in these jugs just real food ingredients. 

I chose to blend almond and hemp for several reasons. Almonds have cholesterol-lowering effects, help reduce the risk of various heart diseases, and have high quantities of vitamin E (an excellent antioxidant), magnesium and monounsaturated fats. Almonds also contains manganese, copper and riboflavin which play an important role in energy production.

Hemp on the other hand is my new favorite superfood. Hemp seeds are a complete source of protein (15 grams in just 5 Tbs), packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and have the perfect nutritional balance of Omega 3, 6 and 9. Hemp supports brain function, digestion, immune function, energy and healthy hair, skin and nails. Not to mention they taste of creamy nutty goodness. What more could you ask for?!! 

For added deliciousness and health benefits I add Himalayan sea salt, cinnamon, vanilla and dates. Himalayan sea salt restores the body's natural alkaline balance crucial to wellbeing. Cinnamon has been proven to lower blood sugar and cholesterol and also reduce inflammation. Dates are a traditional Ayurvedic food used for centuries. Date sugars contain more complex carbohydrates than other fruits. These complex carbohydrates are heavier to digest, and because they release their energy more slowly into your body, curb your appetite longer than simple sugars. 

So without further adieu I give you Nutty Jugs, the tastiest non-dairy milk you have ever tasted. 

In a blender add:

• 1 Cup Raw Almonds (soaked in water overnight)
  
• 1/4 Cup Raw Happy Hemp Seeds (Awesome Austin based company. Support local!)
  
• 2 pitted dates
  
• 1 Tsp. vanilla
  
• 1 Tsp. Cinnamon
  
• Pinch of Onnit Himalayan Sea Salt 
  
• 5 cups of water

1. Blend on high for 1 minute. I don't have a fancy blender and my blender has no problem pureeing this mixture. 
   
2. Strain mixture through a nut milk bag.
3. Chill and enjoy. I find it tastes better the next day. Not sure why though. Let me know what you think!