Asparagus and Mandarin Spring Salad

20130412-083308.jpg

After feeling sick for the past week, I’m so thankful to be able to say that I’m finally feeling better! Woohoo!

Whatever bug I contracted, it was extremely vicious and completely knocked me off my feet. I spent four full days doing nothing but lounging on the couch and in my bed trying to sleep as much as possible–which might sound like a nice vacation, but I was in too much of a coma to actually enjoy it.  Honestly though, I needed the rest. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends lately and I have a feeling that this was my body’s way of reminding me–of forcing me–to slow down and take better care of myself. I find it easy to forget that while exercising regularly and eating nutritious foods are important, those are only 2 ingredients in the recipe for overall health.  Getting proper sleep and avoiding stress are equally important. So, to the bug that thoroughly kicked my butt: you stink, but thank you for helping me calm the heck down.

Continue reading

Raw Buckwheat Cereal with Coconut Cream

20130404-121841.jpg

Breakfast is without a doubt my favorite meal of the day. In fact, I love it so much that I often eat breakfast-type foods for lunch and dinner, too.

There are some mornings–especially now that it’s spring–when all I want for breakfast is a big bowl of fresh seasonal fruit. Other mornings I crave homemade fruit and veggie smoothies. But on those days when I feel like indulging or I need something more substantial, I’ll have pancakes, porridge, or a beautiful bowl of my favorite Raw Buckwheat Cereal.

Continue reading

Simple Quinoa Porridge

On cold mornings like this, I want nothing more than a nice warm bowl of Quinoa Porridge.

20130113-174900.jpg

I just love when it snows in Dallas!! It’s a rare occasion, but when it does happen, I turn into an excited little kid who can hardly wait to throw on my boots and heavy winter coat so that I can run outside to build snowmen and make snow angels. Ok, so we usually don’t get enough snow for that, but I try my hardest to make it work!

Continue reading

Healthy Oat Bars with Nutella Frosting

20121028-235020.jpg

I could NEVER go without breakfast. Completely skipping a meal just isn’t an option for me because whenever I do my body simply shuts down. I’m pretty uncoordinated so simple functions like walking and talking (especially at the same time) are hard for me anyway, but when I don’t have anything for breakfast, I become catatonic. Usually it doesn’t matter what I eat in order to snap myself out of the stupor, just so long as I eat something.

But because breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, I like for that something to be special. Unfortunately, with the crazy school/work schedule I’ve got going on right now, I rarely have time to make my wonderful big breakfasts in the morning. In fact, I don’t even have time to properly dress myself. Just between you and me, there have been a couple of instances recently when I’ve put my clothes on backwards or inside-out–because I often dress in the dark so as not to wake the hubs–and end up realizing it, undressing, and fixing my mistake in the car. Don’t worry, the corrections are made at stop lights or in parking lots :) At the time, I just pray that those around me aren’t taking pictures of the half-dressed crazy lady (me) in the car next to them.

So since I’m obviously a big mess in the morning, I decided to prepare a yummy, healthy, and portable breakfast that I can simply grab from the fridge to take with me on those hectic mornings. That’s how these Healthy Oat Bars were born.

Continue reading

Homemade Pumpkin Butter and How to Roast a Pumpkin in 10 Easy Steps

20121002-201005.jpg

There’s just something so pleasing about the sweet smell that invades my home when I’m roasting pumpkins. It’s such a wonderful, nostalgic smell that conjures up memories of past holidays, spending time with my family, eating warming foods, and the changing seasons.

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a huge sucker for the holidays. I don’t go all out decorating my home, but I love the food and togetherness that are associated with this time of year. Usually by October I’ve watched National Lampoon: Christmas Vacation at least once. I know, we haven’t even gotten through Halloween yet and I’m already talking about watching Christmas movies, but honestly, it’s one of my all-time favorites and I could watch it anytime. The fact that I haven’t watched it yet means that I’m behind this year :)

Even though I’m behind on my holiday movie-watching, I jumped the gun on my pumpkin-roasting. Apparently, every time I go to the grocery store I have to buy another winter squash to add to my ever-growing collection.
Continue reading

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...