Who else is a summertime baby? Today is my birthday! My 31st birthday celebrations kicked off with a Saturday night out in downtown San Diego with my cousins and husband, when we enjoyed Spanish tapas, then sang the night away at my favorite piano bar. The birthday celebrations continue today, and I plan on spending the day doing some of my favorite things: A morning beach walk with my pup, an afternoon of wine tasting with my hubby, and an appetizer style picnic lunch at a winery are all on the agenda. Speaking of favorite things, today I'm talking about one of my favorite types of easy meals to whip up: a nutritious, delicious smoothie. Smoothies have long been one of my favorite ways to pack in fruits, veggies, protein, vitamins & antioxidants in one small meal. But lately I've ... [Read More]
vegan recipes
Salted Cookie Dough Bites {vegan + gf}
Made with almond meal, cashew butter, dark chocolate chips, and fine sea salt, these cookie dough bites are a guilt-free treat that takes 5 minutes to whip up! Lately I've been craving cookie dough all the time. I've been wanting to bake cookies just so that I can eat the dough. Who can relate? I think it started a month or two ago when my husband and I had a date night in downtown San Diego. We grabbed a bite to eat in Little Italy, strolled around to check out the art walk that was going on, went to a Padres game, and capped off the night by stopping into the new Salt & Straw gourmet ice cream shop. Just like when we visited the Salt & Straw in Portland, the new shop here was packed, and we waited on a long line to get in. But we were determined to eat their ice cream... A 30 ... [Read More]
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Protein Oat Cookies {vegan + gf}
These healthy cookies are made with oats, peanut butter, banana, and cocoa powder, sweetened with monk fruit, and include chocolate protein powder for a protein boost. Ideal for breakfast, dessert, or anything in between! Have you guys ever seen photos of people's meal prep for the week that includes 5 containers of the same bland thing for each meal? If you've worked your butt off for a bikini competition and ate that way to get there, good on ya, but that looks like a bit of a nightmare to me. I like food too much, and I like diversity in my eats too much. Sure, I have my favorite smoothies and my go-to dinner recipes, but I certainly don't eat them on the daily. In general, monotonous, robotic living scares the hell out of me. No thank you, I don't want to do the same thing every ... [Read More]
Snickerdoodle Energy Bites {vegan + gf}
Greetings from the Sunshine State! This week I'm in Marco Island, Florida for my father-in-law's wedding (which is happening today!). Have you ever been to Marco Island? I've been to Florida many times and even lived here briefly, but it's my first time being on Marco Island. When I'm getting ready for a trip, I always make sure to pack some healthy snacks in my carry-on bag. Being a healthy vegetarian eater, I can't rely on there to always be food options around that I'm happy with. Some airports/flights have pretty decent options, and other have a horrible selection - I just never know. By packing some healthy snacks, like protein and granola bars, apple chips & pretzels, I know that I'll always have something to hold me over. Another snack that I like packing for trips is energy ... [Read More]
Hearty One-Pot Ratatouille {vegan + gf}
Get your veggie fill with this hearty one-pot ratatouille! The recipe is ready in about half an hour & features peppers, zucchini, baby kale, potatoes & beans. It's perfect as a healthy side dish or for your main course! It's hard to believe that we're already a week into November. Before we know it, Thanksgiving will be here and the holiday season will be underway! Truth be told, I don't get to be part of the Christmastime cooking festivities as much as I'd like. My husband and I always fly to the east coast to be with our families, and with all of the traveling around from house to house, there's not all that much time for me to be in the kitchen - well, my family members' kitchens that is. In recent years I have been able to make a few things for Christmas Day at my ... [Read More]
Pumpkin Banana Protein Smoothie Parfaits with Apple Pie Granola {vegan + gf}
'Tis the season for all things pumpkin & apple! These autumn parfaits feature a pumpkin banana protein smoothie with apple pie granola. Hello, hello! Now that we're over a week into October (how?!), I am full force into autumn recipes. Forget the fact that it was 85 degrees in the San Diego area all weekend, I made pumpkin pancakes and am craving hot chocolate. And speaking of recipes, between traveling for half of September with little kitchen access to experiment, being busy with freelance recipe development, and being out of town last weekend camping (more on that later this week!), I somehow haven't posted one on the blog in a couple of weeks. Well that changes today, and I have an autumn goodie to share with you guys! October can be a funny month. Most people are gearing up ... [Read More]