I don’t know about you, but I tend to do less baking in the summer. Whenever I crave cookies, I make Energy Bites. Packed with dried fruit and nuts, they’re wonderful treats to take on a trips or hikes. I like to roll the dough in coconut flakes. Chopped pistachios or pecans would work well too. The possibilities are endless for these sweet little snacks.
How to add chia seeds to a smoothieLately, I’ve been experimenting with chia seeds. The little seeds are known for their omega-3 fatty acids along with increasing your daily iron, fiber, calcium, and magnesium. I’ve read that adding chia seeds to smoothies is an easy way to get a daily serving. The trick is to soak the seeds in water before blending them into the drink.
If you have any chia seed recipes let me know. I loved trying them in my blackberry acai smoothie. Continue reading “Blackberry Acai Smoothie”
When I’m cooking for a special guest, I like to impress them with my saffron risotto. The sweetness of saffron paired with the nuttiness of aged nut cheese transforms this risotto into a wonderful dish. You’ll be surprised at how easy risotto is to make. I found the key is using Vialone Nano rice as a base. Today, I’m excited to share my secret recipe with you. Continue reading “Saffron Risotto”
My first month of blogging was a blast. I love connecting with fellow foodies around the world. And a big thank you to my fellow bloggers. I assure you that I’m following your culinary journeys too. Continue reading “Chocolate Cupcakes with Coconut Milk Ganache”
Well, it looks like I got my wish. We’re experiencing a bit of a heat wave here. Summer is officially on. My run turned into a walk this morning to look at all the wildflowers sprouting. I even noticed a few blackberries.
During the summer, I like to drink citrus carrot juice after a run. It gives me a boost of energy and promotes healthy skin. I also read that vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron. If you don’t have a juicer, all you need is a blender and a fine-mesh sieve. Continue reading “Citrus Carrot Juice”
During the first week of summer, we’ve had more rainy days than sunny. Honestly, it’s put a little damper on my workout and healthy eating goals. Well, that and not being able to find my Fitbit charger this morning. However, there’s nothing like a nourishing soup to beat the rainy day blues. Italian Gnocchi Soup is one of my family’s favorite recipes and I hope it becomes one for your family too. Continue reading “Italian Gnocchi Soup”
Summer ResolutionsNew Year’s resolutions never made sense to me. Whether it’s getting back into the routine of school, planning a new fiscal budget for work, or juggling a new schedule, there’s a lot on your plate. Not to mention its cold, and the weather is less than ideal for a new workout routine. I read somewhere that half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions and only eight or ten percent follow through with them. Admittedly, I’m with the majority.
Summer, however, seems to work wonders with setting and fulfilling goals. It’s sunny out, and people are a little more relaxed at the office. On the trails I see children smiling as they run or bike with their parents. And the farmers’ markets are full of fresh produce to try.
Yesterday, I asked myself what I wanted to achieve by the end of August. In Greece, I ate more spinach than I thought was humanly possible. When I lived in Belgium, I would walk miles each day to work and the university. For some reason, I let these healthy habits fade over the years.
So this summer, I’m challenging myself to reach at least 15,000 steps a day on my Fitbit and adding two cups of dark leafy greens to my daily diet. To kick off my summer resolution, I made a delicious green smoothie. Continue reading “Leafy Greens Smoothie”
Making beet smoothies naturally sweeterSmoothies are my morning staple. I’ll even gulp them down in January when it’s snowing. Thankfully, it’s now officially summer!
I’m one of those picky beet eaters. In Europe, beet roots were plentiful. However, I couldn’t commit to the earthy taste of this super veggie. Then I remembered that my grandmother would cook the beets. The process breaks down the sugar and makes the beets sweeter. Now I love making “Beet Cubes” to add to my smoothies.
In anticipation of the first day of summer, I’d like to share my family’s go-to appetizer. I think it was my grandmother that first served Caprese Salad on mini bamboo skewers. My mom coined the phrase “Salad Bites,” and I’ve been making my Greek version ever since.
When I lived in Athens, I loved walking around our neighborhood Laiki market. There I’d find bright green watermelons, basil, olive oil, and fig preserves to make a fresh and delicious snack. Today, I added soft almond cheese to the salad. To my surprise, it tasted like feta. I think I officially found my favorite summer appetizer. Continue reading “Greek Caprese Salad”
Okay, I’d like to think that with this recipe I can redeem myself from yesterday’s unplanned post. I recently found almond brie crafted by Kite Hill. It only cost a few dollars more than regular brie. To a girl that has intolerance to dairy, this brie is worth its weight in gold. Almond brie has a mozzarella-like texture to it and is low in fat. Because of this, it works better in a salad than melted in a Panini or baked.
I love that the French add wild strawberries to everything imaginable. In the Limousin region, they have an entire festival dedicated to the sweetest of berries. Naturally, I thought, why not pair strawberries with brie? Trust me; it’s a simple salad with a hint of luxury. Continue reading “Strawberry Brie Salad”
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