Ahh, it’s that wonderful time of year when the finish line is in sight, the weather is warming up (finally!) and festive decorations are starting to make their sparkly appearance in shopping centres - perhaps too soon, in some cases!

This time of year is also a time when the layers come off and our skin has its moment in the sun (literally!). So is your skin in need of some summer TLC? Here are three delectable recipes to give you that summertime glow.

Vegan Jackfruit Tacos

Did you know jackfruit is a superfood packed with nutrients (vitamin C, carotenoids and flavanones, to be exact) to nourish your skin from the inside out? It's also a versatile tropical fruit with a distinctive sweet flavour and can be used to make a wide variety of dishes. If you're keen to cut back on animal proteins this is the recipe to try!

Serves 4 (2 tacos per person)

Ingredients

• 400g can organic young jackfruit
• 1 brown onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped finely
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes
• 1/2 cup fresh pineapple, finely chopped
• 1/2 continental cucumber, finely chopped
• 1 handful mixed cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1/4 small red cabbage, finely sliced
• 1 bunch of flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
• 1 avocado
• 1 lime cut into 4
• 8 corn tortillas
• Sea salt & pepper to season
  

Method

1. Place the drained jackfruit in a medium-sized bowl. Using your fingers, break apart the chunks of jackfruit into shredded pieces. Add spices and season with salt and pepper.
2. Place a medium-sized fry pan over medium heat, drizzle with olive oil, and add onion and garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes, then add the jackfruit and cook for another 5 minutes.
3. Start assembling the tacos - place a heaped tablespoon of jackfruit in the centre of each taco. Top with cabbage, pineapple, cucumber, tomatoes, avocado and parsley. Serve each taco with a wedge of lime.

Enjoy!

Ferrero Rocher Collagen Balls

A chocolatey recipe that tastes indulgent yet packs a nutrient punch... where do we sign? We infused these little morsels of yum with our popular Collagen Creamer for a hit of skin-loving goodness.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup hazelnut meal
• 1/2 cup almond meal
• 2 heaped tbsp Vitable Protein (Plant Based or Whey)
• 8 large Medjool dates, pitted
• 2 tbsp rice malt syrup
• ¼ cup boiling water
• ¼ cup cacao powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt
• ¼ cup (or 12) roasted hazelnuts to fill the centre of each ball

Chocolate coating

• 1 tbsp rice malt syrup
• ¼ cup melted coconut oil or cacao butter
• ¼ cup cacao powder

Garnish

• ½ cup roasted hazelnuts finely chopped (to roll balls in)

Method:

Balls

1. Cook for approximately 3 minutes, or until fragrant.
2. Place pitted Medjool dates in a small bowl and pour boiled water over the top to help soften them.
3. In a large mixing bowl combine almond meal, toasted hazelnut meal, protein powder, cacao, and sea salt, stirring with a wooden spoon to combine.
4. Add softened Medjool dates with water, rice malt syrup, and vanilla to the mixing bowl, stirring well to combine into the dry mixture. The mixture should hold together enough that you’re able to form it into shapes.
5. Take 1-2 tbsp of the mixture and press one roasted hazelnut into the centre. Roll into a ball and pack tightly to form your ball.
6. Repeat until all of the mixture has been used.

Chocolate Coating

1. Combine all ingredients together in a small mixing bowl.
2. Pour chopped roasted hazelnuts onto a plate and the chocolate mixture onto a separate plate, ready to roll the balls in.
3. Begin by rolling a ball in the chocolate mixture, using your hands or 2 forks to make sure it’s coated evenly. Now repeat this process, this time rolling the ball in the roasted hazelnuts. Repeat this step until all balls are coated with chocolate and chopped hazelnuts.
4. Place the finished balls into an air-tight container, ready to be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months (good luck if they last that long).

Hailey Bieber Skin Smoothie

This recipe went viral in 2022, and for good reason! This celeb is famous for her flawless skin, and while we know she's got access to the industry's finest - this nutrient-rich smoothie is packed with so many wonderful ingredients - and is a must-try for everyday folk like us. We've added some Vitable goodness with our very own Collagen Plus HA for extra hydration.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond milk⁠
• 1 cup strawberries⁠
• 1/4 of an avocado⁠
• 2 pitted dates⁠
• 2 tsp Vitable Collagen + HA Mixed Berries ⁠
• 1 tsp maple syrup (optional)⁠
• 1 handful ice⁠
• 1 tbsp coconut cream to decorate the glass⁠

Method:

Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth⁠. Decorate the glass with a spoonful of coconut cream⁠. Pour the smoothie into your glass and enjoy with a reusable straw⁠!