Some mornings I enjoy a savory breakfast like avocado toast, and other mornings I crave something more sinful like chocolate… topped with chocolate… served with a side of CHOCOLATE.  It’s mornings like the latter, that I indulge in homemade chocolate nut granola.  You might be wondering why I make my own granola when there are so many readily available at the grocery store.  This reason is two-fold.  1) I do not tolerate oats and the majority of prepackaged granola options use oats as their base ingredient.  B) I like knowing exactly what ingredients are in my food.  By making this quick recipe at home, I know there are no preservatives or synthetic ingredients. And III) It is much more economical to make granola than to purchase the prepackaged variety. (just realizing my reason is in fact NOT two-fold…) [Read more…]

Until recently, I hadn’t given much thought (if any) to eating fruits and vegetables that are seasonally grown. I mean, why would I?  The grocery store stocks most everything I enjoy year round.  It wasn’t until I thought about my own garden and how it produces various fruits and vegetables at different times of the year that I even considered the concept of eating seasonally.  With this in mind, I decided to dive further into why an individual might choose to eat seasonally and came up with the following reasons. [Read more…]

Before you dismiss this post based solely on its name, you might recall from my guacamole post that “The word avocado comes from the Aztec word “ahuacatl” which translates to testicle tree”.  That being said, I recently visited the grocery store twice in the same week and as a result I accidentally purchased double my weekly supply of testicles (anyone else getting hungry?).  I had hoped they would ripen at different times, BUT the little boogers had other plans. This predicament challenged me to come up with creative ways to use these tasty treats and I feel like I met the challenge head on.

Of course, I made homemade guacamole , enjoyed them in my sMuQi’s, and ate them freshly sliced with salt and pepper; however, quite possibly my favorite way to eat this testicle fruit was on toast (I can honestly say I never thought I’d say testicle toast was a favorite of mine, but then again,….don’t knock it until you try it! 😉 )  [Read more…]

Let’s face it…salads can be booooooring.  Don’t get me wrong, I like a good side salad, but as a main course…….meh 😕 .  That being said, I’ve finally found a salad that appeals to my taste buds and my visual senses.  One thing I love about this salad is that you can literally throw in whatever vegetables you have on hand.  On my salads I enjoy chive, parsley, cilantro, broccoli sprouts, onion, cucumber, pistachios, carrots, red bell pepper, and purple cabbage.  Other ideas include tomatoes, avocado, Mandarin oranges, cauliflower, zucchini, sunflower seeds, or even pumpkin seeds.  In my book, plants are nature’s Skittles and my goal is to “Taste the Rainbow” every day. [Read more…]

Roses are red

Chocolate is brown

One bite of this treat

Turns any frown upside down

I’ve finally found the perfect nutrient rich alternative for chocolate cake.  My husband’s German grandmother is an exceptional cook who makes THE MOST AMAZING chocolate sheet cake I’ve ever eaten.  When I found out I had a gluten sensitivity I reluctantly said goodbye to grandma Hanna’s chocolate goodness forever.  After years of searching for a comparable alternative I’ve finally found one (truth be told, nothing can replace the original recipe, but this is a good runner up). [Read more…]

Let’s talk about smoothie bowls.  It is literally a smoothie….(wait for it)….IN A BOWL.  I know, mind blowing isn’t it?  I like smoothie bowls because they are a way to express creativity in a fun and nutritious way.  There’s no right or wrong way to make a smoothie bowl (That’s not true. Every once in awhile I come up with a flavor combo that even my dog wouldn’t eat, but that’s definitely not the norm).  For the smoothie bowl base I typically add:

• 3 or 4 different frozen fruits (banana, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, acai, raspberries, pineapple, peaches, etc)
• vegetables (my favorites are spinach, zucchini, and carrot)
• (optional) plant-based fat (1/2 avocado, 1 tablespoon coconut flakes, 1/2 – 1 tablespoon nut butter, flax seed, etc)

[Read more…]

We’ve all had days (or weeks) where we come home after a long day to find ourselves tired, hungry, and unmotivated to put much effort (if any) into preparing a nutritious meal.  Times like these are when quick and easy dishes make a world of difference.  Without these go-to recipes I am tempted to grab something convenient like fastfood 😳 which often leaves me feeling bloated and miserable.  One of my family’s favorite go-to recipes when we’re in a pinch is salmon cakes.  This recipe has a mild flavor and pairs nicely with salad or can be eaten on its own.  For an added kick, drizzle sriracha sauce on top just before serving 😉 .   [Read more…]

We eat a lot of fresh produce in our house, but unfortunately, berries have always been a challenge for us to keep fresh.  That being said, I’m willing to bet we’re not the ONLY ones who have experienced the following scenario:

You’re at the grocery store picking out fresh berries.  You double check that there are no visible signs of mold or bacterial growth.  Thinking you’ve found the IDEAL container of berries you buy them and revel with joy knowing you’ve made the perfect purchase.  You go home and place the berries directly into the refrigerator for safe keeping.  The next day you open the refrigerator to enjoy some fre…..What the heck?!?…..Despite your best efforts, the berries are covered in (queue dramatic sound effect)…..Dun Dun Duuuuuuun…..fuzz.

Thankfully, this scenario is a thing of the past.  I’ve recently learned how to prolong the life of my beloved produce and couldn’t be happier with the results.  Berries now last a week or longer in our refrigerator, which means less fruit in the trash and more in our bellies! [Read more…]