Happy Friday! I'm very much looking forward to the weekend, because later today my hubby and I are heading out on a little weekend getaway. It's a place just a few hours away from home that we've never been to before.... Palm Springs! Just a couple of days full of what will hopefully be fun: relaxation, hiking, good food and exploring a new area. But first, onto today's recipe! This recipe will provide you with a good dose of produce. It's vegan, gluten free, nutritious, and simple to throw together. Call me a nut, but it seems kind of fancy to me because it involves scooping the salad mixture back into the avocado skins. And speaking of nuts, recently Blue Diamond sent me a few boxes of their Almond Nut Thins to play around with. They're gluten free nut & rice ... [Read More]
easy appetizers
White Bean Bruschetta
It's no secret that I adore farmers markets. The colorful fruits, veggies and flowers. The fresh food being cooked for the many hungry bellies. The local bakers, producers, growers, and artists all hanging by their stands offering samples and eager to talk to patrons. Everyone there seems happy to taste, happy to pay a bit more for the high quality foods being offered, happy to just be there. I love the vibe of farmers markets. Nothing screams weekend morning more than walking around at a nearby market, getting excited at the heirloom tomatoes and juicy nectarines as only a real food lover like me does. The last time I lived in SoCal, I used to go to the Little Italy farmers market all the time, and it's amazing there, but it's a bit of a hike from where I live now. So a few ... [Read More]
A Yummy Sunday Lunch: Greek Pasta Salad, Spicy Salsa & Yogurt + Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
A very fun weekend is coming to an end! The only thing that put a damper on my weekend was the NY Giants just losing to the Eagles, especially because my hubby is a gloating Philadelphia fan! I guess I can't blame him though, I would certainly do the same if the Giants had pulled out a win. ;-) This afternoon we had a few special guests over for lunch - my girlfriend Angi, her hubby John, and their adorable 3-month old baby girl Zoie. I've talked about Angi on my blog before. She was one of the first women I met when I moved out to San Diego. I thought she was an awesome person within a few minutes of meeting her, and she's been my close friend ever since. Last year her Marine hubby got stationed in Arizona, so now she doesn't live quite as close. I haven't seen her in awhile and miss ... [Read More]
Crostini Combo Ideas
At the farmer's market yesterday, a loaf of fresh bread was calling my name (and so were berries, broccoli rabe, spinach, guavas, cinnamon peanut butter, granola, and the list goes on and on!). When I came home with a French baguette, I decided that experimenting with crostini combos sounded like a good idea. After slicing the bread, brushing them with olive oil, and throwing in the oven for a few, I began pulling out random things from my fridge to top my crostini with. This was the result: From top left going clockwise, here are the toppings: Goat cheese, fig butter & drizzled honey Fresh mashed raspberries, brie cheese & slivered almonds Arugula, roasted pepper & fresh Burrata (a ridiculously creamy cheese I bought yesterday as well) Sun-dried ... [Read More]