Green Monster Smoothie

Breakfast, Drinks, Health, Life, Recipe 2 Responses »

Apr 092013

How do you guys feel about juicing? I still can’t decide. I think juicing has its benefits and it’s great for cleansing but I also feel like juicing wastes a lot of the fruit/veggie when you’re just extracting the juice. I guess maybe if there were easier ways to use the left over fiber I’d be more into it?

I’m a huge fan of green smoothies though and definitely don’t mind the fiber that’s mixed in. In fact, I actually like that they’re thicker because it makes them taste heartier and I get pretty full from drinking a whole glass! Plus, I really enjoy benefiting from all the nutrients each vegetable/fruit has to offer. Party on.

This is seriously how I get my day’s worth of vegetables (and some fruits as well!), and this recipe only takes about 10 minutes to make. Lightening speed, y’all. I use this awesome blender to make a batch when I get home from work, drink half of it with my dinner and then save the other half the next morning. It might be better to make it all in the morning and then drink the 2^nd half later in the same day but let’s be real, I don’t get up early enough to fit that into my routine.

Anyway, this smoothie is amazing. The added fruit makes it just sweet enough so you can’t even tell how much spinach/kale you’re taking in during each sip. Sometimes I like to switch it up and add new fruits and veggies to the mix but this is my go-to recipe whenever I want a quick, delicious, healthy green smoothie.

Here are some of my favorite things to add/experiment with when making green smoothies (on top of the ingredients used for the smoothie pictured):

Extra ginger! (Love me some extra spicy smoothies–does that make me a weirdo?)
Wheat Grass
Cucumber
Green Apple
Orange
Chia Seeds
Pineapple
Lemon
Celery
Almond Milk

What’s your favorite smoothie combo? And do you prefer juicing or smoothie-ing?

Chug, Chug, Cheers.

Green Monster Smoothie

Ingredients

2.5 cups spinach
2.5 cups kale
1 cup 100% carrot juice
1 inch ginger root
2 kiwis, small/medium sized
¼ cup blueberries
4 tablespoons ground flaxseed
½ cup water

Instructions

Add the carrot juice, kiwi, blueberries, flaxseeds, and ginger root to a blender. Blend until everything is well incorporated.
Then add the spinach and kale a handful at a time, blending after each handful.
Add water and blend everything for a minute or so, making sure that the texture is smooth.
Serve immediately or store in a sealed container (mason jars work great for this) and refrigerate for up to 12 hours.

Quinoa, Black Bean, and Corn Stuffed Jalapenos

Baking, Food, Health, Life, Recipe, Side Dishes, Snacks 2 Responses »

Feb 222013

I have a strange obsession with jalapeno poppers. They’re just so easy to make and great for so many occasions. But sometime they aren’t necessarily the best for you. Cream cheese? Delicious. Bacon? I’ll take 100 please. However, I can’t justify eating regular jalapeno poppers all the time. So I present to you…guilt-free poppers!

These jalapenos are stuffed with a combination of quinoa, black beans, and corn and then topped off with some monterey jack cheese. They make a perfect appetizer or snack! I can also imagine eating them with eggs in the morning or as a side dish. The quantity pictured in this post? Yeah, I almost ate all of them by myself. No regrets.

Some jalapenos are way hotter than others though so be careful! Make sure you take out all of the seeds and wear gloves while doing so or wash your hands with soap right after. They are also tasty reheated so it’s ok if you make a few extra. Make some this weekend…or maybe make some banana chocolate chip pancakes! :)

What’s your favorite guilt-free snack?

Happy Friday! :)

Quinoa, Black Bean, and Corn Stuffed Jalapenos

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 45 mins

Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients

6 jalapenos (12 halves)
1 cup cooked quinoa
½ cup black beans
½ cup corn
½ cup monterey jack cheese, shredded

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut the jalapenos in half and take out the seeds (use gloves or wash your hands with soap directly afterwards).
In a bowl, mix together the quinoa, black beans, and corn.
Scoop the quinoa mixture generously into each jalapeno half. I found that using a spoon to shape a mound works best.
Place the poppers on a baking sheet (with a few inches between each of them) and then bake for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, sprinkle cheese on top of each popper and then place back in the oven for 15 minutes.
Allow poppers to cool for 5 minutes and then serve immediately.

SUCCESS: The 2012 Food Blogger/Reader Holiday Auction

Baked Goods, Friendship, Health, Holiday, Life No Responses »

Dec 142012

What an incredible week. With your help, kindness, and support:

We raised $3,000!

Almost to the penny! I wasn’t exactly sure how this auction was going to turn out when I was brainstorming the idea about a month ago but from the time I sent out initial emails to the last minute of the auction, I was stunned by how much love and generosity we received from fellow bloggers, friends, and total strangers. I also caught myself laughing out loud on multiple occasions at the playful competition going on between bidders…so amazing! Everyone wanted to help, and it was truly inspiring to see individuals (from all over the country) come together to make this Holiday Auction a reality!

Between 25 food bloggers, 20 friends/readers, and a total of 54 items up for bid, I think it’s safe to say that this event was a great success!! For those who have met Lori, you know that she is a fighter and that her positive spirit has never broken, regardless of the obstacles she’s encountered. Her unwavering strength and loving personality are truly inspiring to everyone she meets. I am very lucky to have Lori in my life and am so thankful for everyone who helped make this season so special!

A HUGE, gigantic shout out to everyone (listed below) who contributed items to the auction. Not only did they donate a delicious good but they are also covering the shipping cost of the item they contributed (and some have more than one item!). Without the contributors, this auction wouldn’t have been possible. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this Holiday Auction so successful. I am entirely grateful to feel the warmth and generosity from so many fantastic people this holiday season. :-)

- Steph

A Message from Lori

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

When Stephanie approached me with this idea a little while back, I have to admit I thought it was brilliant. I was very touched by her thoughtfulness then and tonight I sit even more touched by the generosity of all of you! It was a smashing success and I am so incredibly thankful to everyone who participated!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who donated their baking talents, crafting skills, and cookbooks!! You made everything sound and look so irresistible that it would have been impossible to visit the site and not want to bid!! Many of you I have never met before, but with the wonders of technology and a mutual love for all things delicious, I felt my support community expand and when you truly feel that, well, its like I got to enjoy a little bit of all these treats at once—just warmed me through and through. And to all my friends who participated and even got their families to whip up a few things— you just make me feel so blessed everyday, and it keeps me fighting and positive. THANK YOU ALL!

Thank you so much to everyone who bid and donated!!! I am still a little shocked at all the generosity that just came pouring in over this last week! I know you will all thoroughly enjoy your winnings, and if you were out bid I am also sure that the good karma for your participation will see that many wonderful baked goods surround you this holiday season.

Thank you so much to everyone who spread the word and led the bidders to the site!! All of you social media gurus really made this an epic turnout!!

And of course, thank you so VERY much to Stephanie and Life Tastes Like Food for hosting such a wonderful auction. The pages were beautiful, the idea was genius, and the whole thing epitomized what an amazing combination love, creativity, and good eats can be! You are the best!

Sincerest thanks,
Lori Hammond

P.S. In recent news, there was a major breakthrough in Leukemia treatment! Here is a story of a young girl who was saved by a new treatment! http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/health/a-breakthrough-against-leukemia-using-altered-t-cells.html?_r=0

Thanks to people who donate to cancer research, like everyone who participated in this auction, hopefully more life saving treatments will come to fruition and save many more lives!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

***************************************************************

Bloggers Who Contributed to The 2012 Holiday Auction:

52 Kitchen Adventures – Bakerella – Bakerita –Bites Out of Life – Brown Eyed Baker
Cookinfood.com – Family Spice – Foodness Gracious – Iowa Girl Eats –Kath Eats Real Food
Life Tastes Like Food – Love and Olive Oil –Mrs. Schwartz’s Kitchen – Pass the Sushi – Savory Simple
Skinnytaste.com – Smitten Kitchen – Social Potato Chips – Spoon Fork Bacon – Steph’s Bite by Bite
Teatime Adventures – The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen –The Picky Eater – White on Rice Couple

Reader/Friends Who Contributed to The 2012 Holiday Auction:

Amanda – Armen – Caitlin – Camilla – Carolyn and Liz – Caty – Celia
Claudia – Dinah – Jenna – Kristin – Lauren – Lori – Meghan
Monica – Nicole – Rachel – Sheeter – Shelly – Val

The 2012 Food Blogger/Reader Holiday Project

2012 Holiday Auction, 2012 Holiday Project, Baking, Food, Friendship, Guest post, Health, Holiday, Life No Responses »

Dec 102012

I’m so excited to announce that The 2012 Food Blogger/Reader Holiday Auction is officially LIVE! Over 25 bloggers and 20 offline readers/friends have joined forces to put on a fantastic auction filled with baked goods and holiday-inspired gift items.

This year, The Holiday Auction is even more special to me because it’s in honor of my good friend Lori Hammond. Lori (age 24) was diagnosed with APL Leukemia on October 4th, 2012 just as she was starting Veterinary School at UC Davis. She fought the cancer into remission but it was no easy feat and still has outpatient chemotherapy down in San Diego to ensure it is gone for good. You can read more about Lori’s journey on her auction item page and/or through her blog.

Since Lori is a huge fan of food and cooking, I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate her amazing strength and spirit than to bring together a group of like-minded individuals who share the same love for food.

100% of all the proceeds from this auction will be donated so I hope you will do some bidding! There are a bunch of wonderful items that would make great gifts too :)

Auction Details:

100% of the proceeds will be donated. 50% will go to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the other 50% will go to Lori. Everyone will also have the option of donating 100% to LLS (per Lori’s request).
The auction starts Monday (today!) and goes until Thursday, December 13th, 2012. All winning bidders will have to pay within 24 hours after the auction ends or else the item will go to the 2nd highest bidder.
If you win, your item will be shipped no later than Monday, December 17th so it will arrive in time for the holidays.
Bids are placed in the comments section of each item page.

Ok, Ready?

Check Out the Awesome Holiday Auction Items Here!

Below is a list of all the people who contributed to this auction. I am so appreciative of the bloggers, readers, and friends (even if we’ve never met) who have volunteered their time and baking skills to put this auction together. Thanks again for the wonderful items!

Bloggers

Angie - Bakerella
Anjali - The Picky Eater
Annie - Social Potato Chips

Deb - Smitten Kitchen

Diane and Todd - White On Rice Couple

Gerry - Foodness Gracious

Gina - Skinnytaste.com

Ishita - Bites Out of Life

Jen - Savory Simple

Jenny and Teri - Spoon Fork Bacon

J.K. and Angela - Teatime Adventures

Kath - Kath Eats Real Food

Kita - Pass the Sushi

Kristin - Iowa Girl Eats

Krysten - Mrs. Schwartz’s Kitchen

Laura - Family Spice

Lindsay - Love and Olive Oil

Michelle - Brown Eyed Baker

Rachel - Bakerita

Stephanie - 52 Kitchen Adventures

Stephanie - Steph’s Bite By Bite

Susan - Girl in the Little Red Kitchen

Vanessa - cookinfood.com

Readers/Friends

Amanda
Armen
Caitlin
Camilla
Carolyn and Liz
Caty
Celia
Claudia
Dinah
Jenna
Kristin
Lauren
Lori
Meghan
Monica
Nicole
Rachel
Sheeter
Shelly
Val

Backpacking in Big Sur

Friendship, Health, Life, Travel 8 Responses »

Oct 052012

Living in California is truly amazing. Last Saturday, my friends and I hopped in the car at 6am and drove a few hours down the coast to Big Sur for the weekend.

We dropped in at Bottchers Gap and hiked down a road to Boy Scout camp. The camp area wasn’t being used but we got to see where all the boy scouts stay when they visit Big Sur! Very cool. Then we followed the Little Sur trail to make our way to our campsite.

The surrounding was unreal. So green and lush!

The trail was a little challenging due to fallen trees from a big fire that happened a while ago but it was actually a lot of fun hopping over tree trunks and pushing branches aside.

Sometimes the redwood trunks were so big we had to help each other get over them or even throw our packs to the other side before climbing over ourselves.

We crossed the river at least 20 times to stay on the trail because it kept stopping and starting up again on the opposite side of the bank. Luckily, the water level was pretty low so we could rock hop our way across. We got pretty good at rock hopping by the end of the trip :)

The weather was perfect last weekend! We actually didn’t even use a tent and just slept on tarps!

After about 8 miles of walking, we got to camp (located in a grove of giant redwood trees…amazing, right?). We dropped our packs off and headed up the river to find the circular pools. It took a lot of convincing from the boys but eventually we all jumped in the water and swam to the waterfall!

As hot as we were from hiking all day, the water was still pretty cold!!! We lasted about 10 minutes. But it was totally WORTH IT! Then we tried to get to the next circular pool but the trail was impassable so we turned around and headed back to camp.

Can we talk about dehydrated camping food for a sec here? The kind where you just add hot water, zip up the pouch, and then let it cook in the bag for 10 minutes? Um, it’s delicious!!! We had chicken and rice, and then for dessert we ate a raspberry crumble.

I’m telling you, I’d like to get some of those packets for my pantry so I can eat them at home from time to time. Is that weird????

The next day, we got up, packed up camp, and headed out. We stopped at a dam on the way back and ate lunch. Packets of tuna and crackers…SO tasty and the perfect energy boost for the last leg of the hike!

The last part of the hike was probably the most intense. We walked uphill for over an hour straight in the hot, hot heat. Oh, we felt the burn!

But it was so much fun. Overall, we hiked about 17 miles last weekend. I can’t express how beautiful Big Sur was. We all had such a great time!

And below was our view on the drive back last Sunday. Not too shabby right?

We also made a pit stop in Monterey for dinner and ended up ordering, um, about half the menu…whoops!!! :) So delicious and a perfect end to the weekend.