There are certain foods that people immersed in the healthy living world tend to be obsessed with... things that the average person isn't even aware of. Take nut butter for example. Every healthy foodie not only knows about nut butter, but probably has a dozen jars of it in their pantry at any given time. But use the term "nut butter" with a random person and ask them what their favorite is, and prepare for them to look at you like you have three heads. That's because they probably know about peanut butter, but that's all about it when it comes to nuts being processed into a smooth, creamy and dreamy spread. Foods like hemp and chia seeds are another example. If you normally have these in your kitchen, you're probably a health nut foodie. During a stint visiting my family ... [Read More]
appetizer recipes
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]
Mediterranean Goat Cheese Crostini
Hello friends! Ever have days when you feel like you're going a mile a minute from the minute you wake up until the minute you go to sleep? That has been me for the past couple of days. At the moment I'm procrastinating packing for my trip to San Diego tomorrow. Packing is the worst but I'm excited for my trip! In the spirit of hectic days, I thought it'd be fitting to share a recipe I whipped up last week during a busy day. I was starving for dinner and all I felt like eating was the loaf of fresh bread I had picked up at the grocery store earlier. What resulted was an easy appetizer recipe that can also be your meal if you're like me and love to make appetizers your main dish. Mediterranean Goat Cheese Crostini Crostini creations are perfect for get togethers and quick ... [Read More]
Heirloom Tomato & Avocado Bruschetta on Focaccia
My favorite kind of weekends are those that have a good balance of busyness and relaxation. These past few days were just the right mix of things. Highlights of the weekend include mountain biking, checking out the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival, house hunting (yes, we're looking!), hanging out at the beach for a couple hours and watching football. I also completely unplugged from my computer for a full 24 hours. Between working from home, blogging, and social media, I feel like I'm always on my laptop. It's nice to have a day every so often when I don't even turn my Mac on! Another fun part of my weekend was the NY Giants bandana I ordered for Harley arriving. She completely hates it and keeps biting it, but I can't stop cracking up at how funny she looks with it ... [Read More]
Thursday Night Football with Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Happy Friday! I started off my morning with a long walk with Harley. Apparently it's going to be 100 degrees here today and tomorrow. Yikes, that it pretty damn hot for San Diego! I wanted to burn off some of Harley's energy before it got too warm. It was gorgeous out this morning, and it always feels good to start off the day with some movement. Winning! Knowing we'd be tuning in to NFL football last night, I was inspired to make more of an unconventional dinner that coincided with Thursday night game watching. This dinner brought me back to my college days. I used to waitress right near an Applebee's, and sometimes after my dinner shift was over, a friend and I would head over there to get some grub. One of my favorite things on their menu was their spinach and artichoke dip, and I ... [Read More]