I love chocolate. What kind of person would I be if I didn’t, right? Sugar, especially refined sugar, does not agree well with my body. So, any time I can make something to satisfy my chocolate tooth without using refined sugar, I will. Raw Energy Balls or Bars are an example, they are sweetened with dates and dried cherries. Plus they are healthy, high in Omega 3s, protein, fiber, good fats and antioxidants. In June I made some pretty tasty Almond Joy Raw Energy Balls for our move-in-day to … [Read more...]
Greek Watermelon Salad
When I think of summertime, I think of eating big bright juicy slices of red watermelon outside. The juice from the watermelon usually runs down my chin and makes its way to my arm at some point. All while trying to fish for the black seeds in my mouth so that I can spit them out. Watermelon is the ultimate refreshing fruit to enjoy during the summer. It is delicious and fun to eat a slice all by itself. But sometimes it’s fun to play around with fruit. Let’s take watermelon to a new and … [Read more...]
Roasted Red Pepper White Bean Hummus
I am in love with hummus. Hummus is a staple in our household. I make some kind of hummus at least once a week, maybe twice, or three times. What is not to love? It is smooth, creamy, and robust. You can eat it with a variety of veggies, pita chips, pita bread, tortilla chips, crackers, or smear it onto a sandwich. Did I mention that hummus is good for you? It contains fiber and protein from the beans. The olive oil and tahini paste add healthy fats. Plus the garlic; did you know that … [Read more...]
Salsa Verde
Recently Paul and I found a delicious Mexican restaurant. After just one meal there it will be our go-to Mexican restaurant. I ordered a pork quesadilla that had a tomatillo salsa generously served on top. The salsa was incredibly good. So, I set out to make my own version at home. This salsa verde is reminiscent of tangy green apples with a juicy spice and hint of cilantro. Most of the time jarred salsa verde is cooked. If I had to guess the salsa verde at the Mexican restaurant was raw … [Read more...]
Mixed Nuts with Thyme and Rosemary
This July I am going on two separate week-long trips that are back-to-back. I am super excited! First is a trip to Canada with Paul’s family and the second trip is my annual family vacation in South Carolina. Two very different trips with a tight schedule. I am only back in the Midwest for one day and I am not even coming home to Iowa. I am transferring cars at a rendezvous point in Illinois and going to my parent’s house in Wisconsin to fly out with them for our family vacation. I will need to … [Read more...]
Orange and Jicama Guacamole
I am a huge fan of my basic guacamole. It is a dish that I am constantly making during the summer. It’s such a cinch to whip up and it is always tasty. It doesn’t last very long around here. Sometimes we need to mix it up. Sometimes we need to experiment. I mean no disrespect to my trusty basic guacamole but once in a while we need to leave the tomatoes behind. So, I came up a guacamole that is a little unexpected, and maybe a little crazy. I promise that it is scrumptious, and that’s all … [Read more...]
Roasted Chickpeas with Indian Spices
If you’re like me, or pretty much anyone else in the world, then you love crunchy, salty snacks. Such as crackers, chips, popcorn…the list goes on. We know these snacks aren’t healthy for us, yet it’s so hard to stop eating, especially once you start. The crunch is so satisfying, the saltiness is so addicting. Your hand just keeps reaching for that tasty, crunchy snack. Am I making you hungry for a bag of potato chips yet? Don’t reach for them, don’t do it! Instead make these crunchy, salty, … [Read more...]
Almond Joy Raw Energy Balls
Happy Monday friends, I have some exciting news to share with you! Paul and I bought our very first house. Goodbye apartment that won't let us use our grill anymore; hello to our very own house with a large backyard so that we can grill whenever we want! Yes, being able to grill again is one of the things I am most looking forward to. I have missed out on some serious grill time so far this summer, I will be playing catch-up shortly. Anyways, we are moving in as you are reading this. We … [Read more...]
Detox Beet Smoothie
Happy Wednesday, friends. To help us make it through the remainder of this week I have created a delicious detox beet smoothie. Beets are incredibly healthy for you. They are packed with antioxidants, they fight inflammation, boost your stamina, and they help to detox the blood and flush out the liver. I mean who doesn’t need that? These benefits are just to name a few. Read more about the health benefits of beets here. Now that I have listed several reasons why you should eat beets, let me … [Read more...]
Pickled Peppers
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Remember this tongue twister? I never could make it all the way through without stumbling over my words. But, I can make a delicious jar of pickled peppers. I’m not talking about canning here; I don’t want to mess with boiling a jar and working in a super sterile environment; too much hassle for me. I am talking about using fresh assorted peppers that are pickled overnight and you can enjoy them within 24 hours. I have never pickled … [Read more...]
