Sometimes keeping it simple is where it's at - in the kitchen and in life. I do enjoy getting fancy in the kitchen using lots of different ingredients, but I also enjoy easy creations and recipes that are delicious simplicity at its finest. Take today's recipe: easy homemade Italian croutons. It's a 5-ingredient recipe that comes together in 15 minutes flat, and it brings great flavor and crunchiness to salads. I've made these croutons a bunch this year, including as part of a brunch that I put together when we had family visiting. I also made these croutons as part of an Italian salad that I brought to Easter festivities, and it was a hit. My older brother, who became a vegan last year, ate this salad and declared that if it was the only thing he could eat out of all of the food, he'd ... [Read More]
Archives for May 2019
How to Make Oat Milk from Scratch
It’s no secret that dairy-free milks have become uber popular in the beverage world. From almond, soy, and cashew milks, to rice, coconut, and macadamia varieties, there are so many brands and types to choose from. A few of my favorite non-dairy milk varieties are almond and cashew milks, and I use them a lot in smoothies, pancake batters and cereal. I've also been obsessed with Silk dark chocolate almond milk lately. I'll enjoy a cup when I want a little something sweet and it hits the spot! Speaking of dairy-free milks, have you tried oat milk yet? Better yet, have you tried making oat milk yourself? Turns out it’s actually quick and simple to make oat milk from scratch - not to mention inexpensive. For this oat milk recipe, all you need are a couple of ingredients and a ... [Read More]
Why I Switched from an OB-GYN to a Midwife
Pregnancy is such a wild ride in a woman's life. While I had obviously heard from women about all of the changes that happen during pregnancy, I don't think I really grasped it until I became pregnant myself. There is A LOT happening and the human body is pretty amazing! What I've realized this year is that while many of us experience similar symptoms and changes, pregnancy is unique and personal to each woman. I think that rather than looking at prenatal healthcare with one clear-cut way to doing everything, it's best to honor the individuality of the person creating the baby. That's why a few months ago, I listened to my gut and switched from the standard Western medicine healthcare of an OB-GYN to a more holistic midwifery practice. Most American women use an OB-GYN as their ... [Read More]
Reflections // Ignoring Societal “Shoulds” To Create a Truly Happy Life
A few weeks ago my grandma passed away, and I find that death has a way of making me really reflect on the kind of life I want to lead. She died 5 days short of 5 years apart from my other grandma, who was the first person I ever lost that I was talk-to-you-every-single-day kind of close with. Admittedly, this grandma and I weren't as tight, but she touched a lot of lives and made people laugh with her in-your-face North Jersey sense of humor. When I visited her in the hospital a couple weeks back as she neared the end of her battle with cancer, I was thinking about how a few short months ago, she had my husband and I hysterically laughing when she shared with us how she had been eating marijuana laced goodies to deal with the pain, but had to stop eating them because they were giving ... [Read More]
Chocolate Banana Pudding Pie
Friends, oh how I've got a yummy dessert recipe to share today! Let me tell you the story of how my newfound love for pudding began. Around a month ago, I got super sick with ear infections. The gist is that I have sinus issues and have gotten ear infections in my adulthood numerous times, but usually it's either when I'm already sick with common upper respiratory yuckiness, or when I'm traveling since my sinuses sometimes don't drain normally after flights (fun stuff). This time, however, I wasn't either of those things. And normally when I get an ear infection, I get some ear drops prescribed and go about my life. I swear to you that I'm not a baby about these things... so believe me when I tell you that these ear infections were hell. I was experiencing throbbing pain that kept me up ... [Read More]