ORANGE SMOOTHIE

This week has not been an easy one so today I am recharging my energy center with nourishing food, crossing things of my long to-do list, and spending time doing what feels good. It is always good to step away from a stressful day/week/moment and reflect on re-centering. I know I tend to just keep plowing forward through life's madness and I burn myself out. So quiet days like today are a little healing for the soul! One of the things I have been waiting to try is a sweet potato smoothie- sounds weird right? But I love sweet potatoes so this sounded like a little glass of heaven!

Ingredients:

1 banana

4 slices of baked sweet potato

cinnamon (to taste)

hemp seed 

1 cup coconut milk

 It was frothy, light and delicious- I will definitely be working this one into the mix more frequently.

And for an update on my 30 day pilates challenge- I am happy to say that this week was my half way point! I am feeling amazing and noticing that the routines that were kicking my tail a few weeks ago are feeling less challenging (as in, I can get through them a little more gracefully and with less cave woman noises and cursing). I am down 5 inches total and I can actually see a difference. I think the before and after photo reveal is going to be a lot of fun!

What are you looking forward to this weekend?  Phase Two of spring cleaning has been calling my name, I am thinking some more purging is in my near future ♥

BREAKFAST IN BED

If we weren't traveling this weekend I would definitely be making pink pancakes. Lucky for the mister I thought ahead and made him some this past weekend (his even had dark chocolate morsels! Now that's an act of love). In hindsight, I could have been a bit more generous with the coloring but they were delicious anyway. Everything tastes better in shades of pink and red ♥

SIMPLE SALAD AND COMPLEX EMOTIONS

A client of mine shared this easy and time saving method of jarring your salads ahead of time- its pretty genius! Put all of of your heavier veggies in first (I did cucumber, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower) and then add your greens (I did shredded leeks as well). When you are ready to nosh simply add dressing, shake, and pour onto a plate! I made 5 days ahead of time and am loving how easy it is to grab and go in the morning.

This past weekend I had an awakening at the grocery store. Odd, right? I know. It was a slow and steady awakening and I think I finally just gave in to really reflect on the change that has been happening within me.

Grocery shopping used to be a simple weekly chore that just had to be done. Make a list, make the time, and get it done. I never gave it much thought. I bought what was familiar and never paid much attention to others carts.

It all seemed so simple until I started my food journey a little over a year ago. Until I equipped myself with the knowledge of the food industry and started educating myself on what a healthy diet should really look like. And now grocery trips have become this strange emotional roller coaster that I wasn't prepared for. Experiencing a gamut of emotions from frustration, pride, sadness, anger, hope. Frustration that organic is hard to come by at my local big box grocer and expensive; Pride that my cart is typically full of leafy greens and bright produce by the time I hit checkout, and that I had budgeted to do so. Sometimes I experience sadness- as I look in others carts and see processed, sugary, chemically engineered foods and very little of the natural goodness I've come to look for. And I have to wonder if the owner of that cart doesn't know about healthy eating? Do they know they deserve healthy food? Do they not have the finances to provide their family with wholesome food? Knowledge is power- and I so desperately want them to know the joy of an organic apple!

And I get angry. Angry that natural food is not the norm for many. Angry that I too, fall victim of choosing a product because it is easier or cheaper. I know better! I want everyone to know the better options are and have the finances to fill their kitchens.

But at the end of the day I know I simply have to accept all of those feelings. They are all a part of how I have come to be where I am. And I have to move on to being hopeful. Hopeful that one day everyone will have the knowledge I have, and then some! Hopeful that people will start to vote with their dollar and choose healthy natural items over engineered. Hopeful that everyone will know what it tastes like to eat natural food, not depend on milk and dairy, and treat the world with more kindness.

It wasn't until this past weekends trip to the store that I let myself sort through all of this that I had been feeling for awhile. I have decided that it is definitely better to experience these waves of emotion than to feel nothing at all. I choose passion over complacency any day. Have you ever had an awakening over something that once seemed so simple? ♥

JUICE / RAW CLEANSE

When you are trying something new, either diet or fitness, a routine or whatever, sometimes it can be hard to see the changes taking place. We get so caught in the moment, the bigger picture can seem out of focus. And we will drop it sometimes, because we don't realize how good it really was for us!

This is what happened to me when it came to eating a vegan diet. I stepped back from it a bit in December, let myself loose in a way, and didn't think much of it. Until this past week I started to take note of all the physical and mental differences that have occurred over the last few weeks: broken out skin, lack of mental clarity, and lethargy to name a few. I wasn't OK with these steps 'backward'.  So I resolved this weekend to do a 3 day cleanse of homemade juices and raw fruits and vegetables. Hoping to jump start my body into going back into the lifestyle I didn't even acknowledge was doing me so much good.

So the plan- 3 juices a day. 2 servings of raw veggies and 2 servings of fruit. Herbal tea, water, and hot lemon water constantly. I wanted to do juice only but was concerned with working weekends I wouldn't be my best self, so the decision was made to work in raw plants. I read up on both cleanses and felt a hybrid would work just as well!

Juicing isn't all fairy dust and good health, its kind of hard work! Here are some of my juicing best practices that might help if you're new to the juicing game:

Clear out fridge and make a list-  You will need lots of space when you get home from the grocery store! Gather your recipes (I used the 3 day reboot with Joe guide) and create detailed lists. Also account for any fruits and veggies you don't want to juice.

Juice in small batches- a lot of people out there say to juice fresh, but my schedule doesn't allow that. So I store them in airtight jars and they still taste great a day later!

Prep Prep Prep! I wash, peel, cut, and dice everything and divide into bowls for each juice (Hello, Type A juicer!) according to the recipes. 

Enjoy- Nothing tastes quite like a fresh juice. Try a variety of colors and play with the balance of fruits and veggies. Its easier to enjoy fruit juices where as leafy dark green juices can be an acquired taste- but if you visualize the goodness it goes down much smoother ;)

What are your juicing successes/ best practices?  ♥

TEST KITCHEN: FAVORITE SALAD OF THE MOMENT

Mmmm Mmmm I love salad. I love it so much I actually crave it. I go through phases with salads, sometimes I like them savory with nuts and creamy dressings. And sometimes I like them sweet with berries and fruity vinaigrette. And sometimes I like a mix of the two- like this salad that I have been making for the last 3 days straight. Its a slight obsession ...

Super simple ingredients: Baby Spinach, Sprouts, Avocado, Blackberries, and a little balsamic vinaigrette.

In line with wanting to eat more raw everyday this has been a go-to for lunch and a great side with dinner. What are some of your favorite salad combos? ♥

TEST KITCHEN: UMEBOSHI PLUMS

Bringing to you another 'What the ... ?!?' food. You're welcome.

I first read about these 'magical' plums in Alicia Silverstones Kind Diet, as I try to trust her word even on the strangest of additions to my kitchen I went on the search for these plums that are packed with nutrients.

For some back story- Umeboshi plums come from Japan. They are pickled through a year long process that helps preserve and change their natural properties into a super food. Known for aiding in digestion, helping with nausea, and alkalizing the body (hello hangover help!) these plums are a pretty important part of Japanese food culture.

My carton of these plums have been sitting in my fridge for about a week- I was curious but still unsure of actually tasting one. I wasn't sure what to expect, from what I read they are sour and salty and that didn't sound too appetizing. But after our holiday weekend of over eating and indulgences I thought my system could use a little pick me up. So I bravely took one out and bit in.

OMG.

Its like eating pure salt. Consider this your warning.

But the mystical transformation that was promised held true- I did in fact feel better after about an hour or so. I can't explain it, you can just feel it!

Later I read that the Japanese serve it with rice (will probably help with the salty shock) and sometimes cook with these in dishes for flavoring. I gathered 3 recipes to try with this round of plums. But I am convinced- they are potent and they work!

So next time your feeling the post holiday 'blechs', drank too much, or need a boost in general, run to Whole Foods and grab a carton of them, and let me know how it goes ;) ♥

TEST KITCHEN: VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

I had every intention of baking a vegan cake from scratch for my birthday. I really did. But then the weekend rolled around and honestly, the couch seemed more like my jam for the day than the kitchen. So my cake was from a box. However, I still wanted to share with you what would have been an amazing cake from Martha Stewart's kitchen! (so technically today's Test Kitchen is Martha's Test kitchen- I trust the Queen of all things domestic has done it right ;))

Ingredients:
3 cups organic unbleached white flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups natural cane sugar
1 cup canola oil
4 teaspoons instant espresso powder dissolved in 2 cups water
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 tablespoons cider vinegar

Directions:
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, and sugar. In a small bowl, mix together the oil, espresso, and vanilla extract. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a wire whisk until well incorporated. Add the vinegar and stir quickly. There will be pale swirls in the batter as the baking soda and vinegar react. Pour equal amounts of batter into the two cake pans and bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes. Flip cakes onto wire racks and cool completely.

 And I thought my cake didn't turn out so shabby either- I am a sucker for pink frosting and sprinkles.

I am enjoying my first morning of being 27 flipping through photos of the last few days, practicing my yoga, drinking hot tea, and writing in my Gratefulness Journal. A perfect Tuesday morning. And I may or may not have had a slice of this for breakfast this morning, but shhh, that's between us ♥

FOR THE KITCHEN

Love these Potter's Workshop Dip Bowls from West Elm right now- the perfect serving size and the fun prints would 'pop' next to my white dishes! (Plus they are on sale for $4 right now!)

Happy Friday all- I hope you have a magical weekend ♥

THE POWER OF SEEDS

Who knew that such small little pieces of nature could be so full of nutrients?? And they are like the easiest thing to add to any recipe, as their flavors are typically subtle. Here is  a quick breakdown of my favorite 4 seeds to keep on hand in the pantry ...

1. Chia seeds are amazing because they carry Omega 3's and lots of fiber for their minute size. Chia seeds have been credited with boosting energy, stabilizing blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, and aiding in digestion (aka helps cleanse the colon, great for helping in prevention of colon diseases!) These little guys are packed with calcium, manganese and phosphorus (helllllooo bone health) You can thank the Aztecs for being the first to harvest these healthy seeds. I like to add mine to salads and oatmeal!

2. Sesame seeds have been used since ... well, forever! Egyptians utilized these seeds as one of their harvests. Considered a huge benefactor to cancer prevention these seeds are loaded with manganese, copper, iron, phosphorus, and calcium. I started layering this seed in more since practicing a vegan diet because the amount of calcium in a tablespoon of sesame seeds out ranks that in a cup of milk- win! Sesame seeds are great on salads, in stir frys, and toasted to be sprinkled over veggies!

3. Sunflower seeds aren't just a great snack for road trips and baseball games. These seeds help in controlling cell damage which is essential to preventing cancers. A source of Anti-oxidents, Vitamin E, calcium, and magnesium, and copper. Add them to salads, stir frys or straight from the bag.

4. Poppy seeds are most commonly found on baked goods and breads but these seeds are easily hidden in recipes to add nutrients. A single tsp provides measurable amounts of calcium, iron, and zinc. Throw some in your blender with smoothies, add to oatmeal, stir frys, or any dish really!

Once you keep these on hand you will realize just how easy it is to add them to your usual dishes, and you'll start to see the amazing benefits that they will provide for your body and health! ♥

sources: healthyeating.sfgate.com // care2.com

THERE ARE FOOD DISASTERS AND THEN THERE ARE FOOD DISASTERS

This was the beginning stages of what could and should have been a beautiful serving of black eyed pea croquettes. I felt inspired Sunday to roll up my sleeves and keep trying recipes out of The Kind Diet and gosh darn it- I didn't even come close to forming those perfect little fried nuggets.

I have never claimed to be good in the kitchen- in fact I didn't actually start 'real' cooking until a little over a year ago. And I would never trust myself to create my own recipe- how does one even make one?! The idea of blending flavors and creating correct measurements is beyond my simple cooking minds capacity. But I digress.

So anyway, when I started to fry these croquettes, and they started disintegrating in the pan and the whole apartment started to smell like burned ... well, burned croquettes- my inspiration faltered. My excitement turned into a little gray cloud over my head and I half heartily dumped what was left of the mixture to try one last time.

It still failed. So then my thoughts go naturally to how much money I wasted, how bad the kitchen now smelled, and why oh why is it so hard to fry some freakin' beans?!

Tell me I am not the only one to have a kitchen meltdown over something so trivial as a new recipe?

I think the universe was testing me this weekend. We had just committed to positive thinking and cooking is one of the skills I have struggled with the most but so want to conquer and do well with. And here I was, letting my whole attitude deflate and start in on all the negative thoughts.

It wasn't easy to turn that frown upside down but I mustered up enough mind control to start problem solving for the next time and to not beat myself up for not knowing how to do something that I had never tried before. That's just silly. Lesson learned? Figure out how to properly fry something before you start dumping things into hot oil (insert cheesy grin emoticon here).

So have heart my culinary skill lacking friends, when it all goes a-muck, cut yourself some slack. Learn from the experience and don't let it discourage you or rob you of inspiration. Behind every one of my recipe reviews there are at least one or two fails, and though I get frustrated I like to think I am just going to keep getting better despite it all ;)

Happy Cooking ♥

VEGAN TEST KITCHEN

This past week I made a super food plan before grocery shopping and am trying 5 new vegan recipes! I was so excited to dive in I started with this Polenta Casserole from Alicia Silverstones book The Kind Diet this past weekend.

First of all- this was my first foray with Seitan (also known as 'wheat meat') and honestly, not a fan. I am not a fan of many imitation meat options so I am not surprised, but if you miss your meat- you will probably love this. If this not your thang- fear not, I think this recipe would be just as good in the future sans this ingredient or perhaps with beans? Something worth trying out!

You will need:
1 1/2 cups polenta
1 head of cauliflower cut into large pieces
1 cup peas
1 cup of corn
6 asparagus spears cut into 1" pieces
1 (8oz) package of seitan
1/3 cup soy milk
1 1/2 teaspoon roasted sesame tahini
1 1/2 tablespoon shoyu
2 teaspoons umeboshi vinegar
1/4 cup chopped parsley
tiny bit of sea salt

To Make:
Preheat oven 350 degrees. Pour cornmeal into a large pot with cauliflower chunks, salt, and 5 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and cover, simmering for 30 minutes and stirring frequently. 

In a casserole dish that's 8x8 or more (I had to use an 8x8 dish PLUS another small dish), start layering! Place the seitan on the bottom of the dish and then cover with corn, then chopped asparagus.

Once the polenta has simmered for 30 minutes, remove it from heat and add tahini, milk, soy sauce, and vinegar. Mash until the mixture has the same consistency of mashed potatoes. Add parsley and thawed peas and mix well. Pour this as the next layer. Sprinkle with soy sauce. 

Put in oven and cook for 40 minutes. Let cool a bit and serve. 

Serve with a salad and you have a complete meal!

I was intimidated by a lot of ingredients in this recipe but with the help of friendly grocery workers I found everything I needed at my health food store- so be brave and try it out!

Happy Cooking! ♥

KITCHEN WISH LIST

Suribachi (Japanese mortar and pestle) from Sur La Table

Organic Pasta bowls from Sur La Table

Cuisinart Immersion blender from Macys

Stainless Steel bowls found on Amazon

Le Creuset wide French Oven from Sur La Table

As I spend more time in the kitchen my wishlist of utensils and gadgets grows- I find myself lusting over other peoples decked out kitchen spaces and listing the items that I think would work for our needs. These are some of my current priorities, they vary in prices- from $10 to $150, so it will be easy to accumulate little by little as our budget allows! What is on your kitchen wish list? ♥