It's flu season and it's a bad one. I'm downing these berry and green smoothies to keep my immunity up. It is just one of those morning where nothing really sounds good but I know I need some nutrition to get going with the day. This berry and greens smoothie usually does the trick--loaded with good for you ingredients: ...
Recipes
Eggplant Moussaka (aka Vegan, Gluten Free Lasagna)
This recipe comes from my favorite vegan cookbook, Veganomicon but I revised it a bit to be Whole 30 and Paleo compliant. Eggplant Moussaka or Vegan Lasagna (as I call it around here) has been in rotation in our home since the recipe crossed my path, many years ago. I made it for a dinner party we were having and I knew one of the families didn't eat sugar, grains, dairy or meat. This was long before the Whole 30 and long before I started experimenting with healthy recipes. Anyway, I served ...
Seven Things Saturday: Week One
Welcome to my first ever Seven Things post! This is my place to share some things that I found interesting or useful during the week including (but not limited to) my favorite products or new recipes, travel ideas, business tips and tricks, surf stuff--whatever has peaked my interest during the week. Usually I have a quiet time on Saturday morning, before I bust out my Passion Planner to reflect and review the week. It is the perfect time to share some thoughts with you. Seven ...
Whole 30 Meal Plan: Week Two
Going into the second week, there is something that I know for sure....I would have been lost without meal planning. My Week One Meal Plan was a lifesaver. There were so many times I was tempted to cave in but having my meals planned out and snacks at the ready has made all the difference. How is it going for you so far? Have you lost the cravings? Are you hungry? ...
Cilantro Pumpkin Seed Pesto
I think there should be some sort of lesson given to that explains the HUGE benefits of using sauces when cooking. True Food Kitchen, one of my favorite restaurants, takes a bowl of quinoa, sweet potatoes and grilled chicken and elevates it with the addition of cilantro pumpkin seed pesto. Just a simple addition of this pesto makes it all so much better. Ever since trying out their amazing bowls, I have been daydreaming about them but it wasn't until I tried to recreate the pumpkin seed ...
Chocolate Coconut Chia Pudding
Chia pudding to the rescue! It's an absolute lifesaver, especially when you're embarking on another Whole 30 journey and the thought of having eggs for breakfast again is starting to feel monotonous. We all reach a point where we crave something different, like a comforting bowl of oatmeal or a refreshing yogurt parfait. But fear not, because chia pudding is here to save the day! I've got you covered with a variety of chia pudding recipes on the website, including a delightful combination of ...
Whole 30: Week 1 Meal Planning and Preparation
I am so excited! I am starting my fourth Whole 30 on Monday, January 8th and I am ready. After doing three other Whole 30’s, one successfully and two semi successfully, I know the importance of pre-planning, planning, and support. I gave up on the second and third Whole 30's because I hadn't planned well enough. Hopefully by now, you have a good understanding of what the Whole 30 is and what it isn’t. This isn’t a long term diet but a 30 day reset. I know I need the reset as I am really ...
15 Minute Dinner: Roasted Fresh Tomato Parmesan Pasta
Looking for a quick meal that is warm and comforting too? Look no further than this roasted fresh tomato Parmesan pasta! Even though right now, Florida is in the middle of a cold front (YAY! Cold front = waves), it is the growing season here. The rest of the country is growing cabbage and kale but Florida is growing tomatoes, grapefruit, and strawberries. We have a TON of tomatoes growing on the one plant that Aaron grew. The plant is massive. It has grown to about ten feet tall and is ...
Raw Brownies {Vegan, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free, Paleo}
It's 2018---time to take care of ourselves! These raw brownies are a great way to start. They are vegan, gluten free, and refined sugar free! Are you just here for the recipes? Well, this is a good one. But before we get to it....... Happy New Year! Hope you had a great time celebrating with friends and family. I have been spending the past few days nerding out with my passion planner, prepping for my Whole 30, and just hanging out at home with the kids. We binged watched the entire ...
Whole 30 vs Vegan Diet?
Whole 30 vs Vegan Lifestyle? I have struggled a bit about whether or not a Whole 30 or a vegan lifestyle would be better for me. Have you had the same questions? I was vegan for four years, vegetarian for 20 and have started three Whole 30's, and completed two. I have experimented over the years with lots of different eating styles. I try hard to stick to a whole foods diet--with very little processed food but if I am being truly honest, those processed foods slip ...
Top 10 Recipes in 2017
Always fun to see what the top ten recipe posts of the year were. In 2017, Hawaiian foods were popular as were decadent desserts. Can't wait to see what 2018 will bring! I am working on updating my recipe archives and in the process thought it might be fun to put together a top ten list of the most popular recipes on my website in 2017. In order, my most popular recipes were: ...
12.27.17
I had to ease myself back into work today--and it was from home so that wasn't too bad. I am off for the next five days but needed this one day to finish up a project (didn't finish!) and to give myself a bit of a catch up day so that things aren't such a mess in the new year. I spent too much time applying for a job in Hawaii. It sounds like a great job--we will see how that goes. I go back and forth about whether or not I am ready to move back or not. Sawyer really ...
The Day After Christmas
I mostly have this week off but Aaron is really busy. This is always the busy season for SURFit, which is good. It has been so quiet for too long. The kids and I sat around in our pajamas until almost 2:00 pm. Nova watched shows on her new phone, Sawyer rode his bike around the yard, and I worked on this website. In the afternoon, we decided to head down for a paddle. If everyone else is visiting Sarasota and going on a paddle, maybe we should do it too. Unfortunately, as ...
Christmas 2017
I sit here on the day after Christmas, thinking about our yesterday---Christmas Day when the kids are 15 and 12. Compared to past holidays, this one was quiet. We didn't go anywhere and no one came here--it was just our small family, at home, on Christmas Day. ( We were just in NYC, last week). Part of me felt bothered by this.....in my mind,Christmas should be a big, chaotic event like it was when the kids were smaller, but I am trying to keep remembering that change is inevitable. The ...
Soft Sugar Cookies
If you are tempted by the soft sugar cookies at the grocery store, try this recipe instead. This copy-cat recipe of the Lofthouse Sugar Cookies tastes even better than the ones at the store. I hardly ever buy pre-made sweets at the store but I get tempted every holiday season when the stores start rolling out their soft sugar cookies with the icing and sprinkles. They are one of my weaknesses when it comes to processed baked goods---but I have learned to resist and adapt--by making ...
Mini Momofuku Crack Pies
Trying to redeem my earlier blogging skills with these mini Momofuku Crack Pies---oatmeal and buttery goodness in a bite sized dessert. Seven years ago, I attempted to make the famous Momofuku Crack Pie. I was so proud of my creation that I wanted to share it with the world. I delivered some to neighbors, wrote about it on my blog and even sent the photos to the foodporn sites. Looking back, I am so embarrassed of my photos and think about those folks at the FoodGawker and TasteSpotting ...
Easy Mini Oatmeal Cookies
Plain old pinhead oatmeal cookies don't get the credit they deserve. They are passed over for their better looking cousin, chocolate chip and their brother, oatmeal raisin gets all the attention. I think this needs to change. Why don't we look past all the glitter and glitz that these other cookies possess and look at the true nature of the cookie. The oats, the brown sugar and molasses---perfection made simple. Oatmeal cookies are the perfect minimalist cookie. ...
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Every year, just after Thanksgiving, we look forward to cranberry bliss bars showing up at Starbucks. They are one of Aaron's favorites, loaded with cranberries, white chocolate, candied ginger, and cream cheese frosting. When I first started my previous blog (in 2009), I tried to make these as one of my first recipes. I encourage you to go and check out that post. It was my second blog post ever and wow! My food blogging has come along way! I didn't even include a recipe! The photos ...
Giant Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
These giant oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are a great way to get your holiday baking started. I bake them year-round but make extra batches during the holidays. Happy National Cookie Day! Maybe it should be National Cookie Month---it seems that is all we are making, eating and thinking about over here. These giant oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are truly my favorite chocolate chip cookies. ...
Beer Advent Calender
Every year, I make the kids a pretty elaborate advent calendar which includes all kinds of holiday treats and activities. A few years ago, I started making a special advent calendar for Aaron---a beer advent calendar. Starting on December 1, he gets to open one beer, per day, specially picked out and labeled for that particular day. He loves the hoppy IPAs and local craft brews so I search out for an assortment of 24 beers that I think he would like. I wrap them up and label them and put ...
Surfers Gift Guide
Do you have a surfer on your list this year? I have put together a quick surfers gift guide to help you buy for the surfer in your life. These are all products we have bought, use and can recommend highly! Surf Trip Map: Every surfer has dreams of travelling the world and checking out all the different breaks. This map identifies the major breaks around the world. Perfect for planning surf trips. If you can't gift a surf trip to Tahiti, this map is the next best ...
Miso-Glazed Sweet Potatoes
One of my favorite restaurants, The True Food Kitchen, has an amazing bowl on their menu that is filled with miso-glazed sweet potatoes among other goodness. I knew I had to re-create these at home because the restaurant is over two hours from my house. I have tested this recipe now four times and have finally gotten it right. Just in time for a holiday side dish for Thanksgiving (along with Grandma's Mac and Cheese). In the past week, I have eaten these straight out of the oven. Topped with ...
Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce
You may have noticed that other food blogs have been all about Thanksgiving for a month or more and over here I haven't posted very many Thanksgiving related dishes ( I did post Grandma's Macaroni and Cheese , wasabi mashed potatoes, and instant pot apple cider . Plus, I have a good sweet potato recipe coming up). Call it poor planning, or overwhelm, I suppose. I just haven't really been thinking that much about Thanksgiving. BUT--this recipe for our easy homemade cranberry sauce was ...
Wasabi Mashed Potatoes {Vegan Thanksgiving}
Wasabi mashed potatoes are on our Thanksgiving table every year. I find that regular mashed potatoes are just slightly boring (especially without gravy) and I really like the extra spice and depth of flavor that comes from adding a bit of wasabi. I once brought these to an office party and they were thoroughly enjoyed by the whole group. Later, my BOSS came up to me and asked, "What were those lumps in the mashed potatoes?" Embarrassingly, I replied, "ummm....potatoes". The next day, ...
Grandma's Baked Macaroni and Cheese
This recipe is hearty comfort food at its finest. Grandma Jennie makes this for us every time we visit her in Vermont or when they come to visit us. We know if we are seeing the grandparents, we will be eating this mac and cheese. We were in Vermont a few months ago, during the summer. Usually we go to Vermont in the winter but this time we had a few days to spend there in the summer. Vermont in the summer is beautiful by the way. And, of course, we ate her famous macaroni and cheese. It's ...
Best Ever Homemade Pizza
How was your Halloween? Are you reeling in the candy? We aren't. Unfortunately, the kids weren't too excited about dressing up and going trick or treating this year but I finally managed to get them to dig through the Halloween bin and go out. Aaron and I dressed up more than the kids. I used an old Mad Hatter Costume Sawyer wore a few years ago. Aaron wore an old leather jacket, a water polo head thing and a giant spider wrapped around him. Nova wore a dress (gasp!), one we bought from ...
Halloween Oreos
I had such high hopes for this Halloween. I was planning to make multiple festive cookies, a savory dish, and a few fun cocktails. I had big decorations planned and a great and easy costume. But, I am not sure what happened and now Halloween is tomorrow and the only fun treat I made was these Halloween Oreos. Luckily, my kids are pretty easy and gave me an A for effort. ...
Chocolate Cashew Butter Cups { Vegan, Refined Sugar Free, Gluten Free}
I am obsessed with cashew butter and have been using it in lots of recipes lately. Did you see my granola with cashew butter and chocolate? It is so good! I made a big batch of cashew butter to make the granola but then had cashew butter leftover. I thought since the holidays are fast approaching, now would be a good time to try to make some candies. I thought this nut butter might go great surrounded by chocolate. I looked at a few recipes for the standard peanut butter cups and many of ...
Five Layer Bars {Vegan, Refined Sugar Free}
I am not currently a full time vegan but tend to make lots of vegan recipes. I like every recipe that I test and put on this site but these five layer cookie bars, I LOVE. I have been so excited to share this recipe with you because these are AMAZING. I mean, just look at how decadent they are! A cookie crust on the bottom, topped with pecans, coconut, chocolate chips and an ooey gooey vegan caramel. I highly recommend making these today, make them for your dessert table, make them for ...
Vegan Cashew Butter and Chocolate Granola
Sawyer is obsessed with this particular chocolate and cashew butter granola and eats it multiple times a day. We started by buying it from the store but it is just getting too expensive. Every couple of days, Sawyer announces that he needs more granola and we head back to load up the cart. In an effort to save money and better control what he is putting in his body, I tried to re-create our favorite granola at home. I added my own favorite nuts and seeds and really ...
Cashew Butter { Vegan, Paleo, Whole 30}
I was first introduced to cashew butter a few months ago at a new restaurant in downtown Sarasota called Lila's. We ended up there because 1) it was new, 2) I love to support new businesses and 3) it had all kinds of options for various food restrictions. One of my most memorable parts of the meal were sweet potatoes with a cashew butter sauce. I had never heard of cashew butter and just assumed it was one of the chef's creative creations. Until last week. During a moment of ...
Easy Baked Pumpkin Doughnut with Cinnamon Sugar
I bought a special pan just to make doughnuts at home and I finally used it to make these baked pumpkin doughnuts (or donuts!?). This was a spontaneous creation that was triggered when I was looking through my cabinets for my Halloween placemats and I found my doughnut pan. In the same moment, I realized I had a bit of pumpkin laying around after making pumpkin granola and pumpkin bread. I quickly put two and two together and made eight….eight doughnuts that is! I have a weird ...
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread with Streusel Topping
It is really hard for me to say if I prefer this version of chocolate chip pumpkin bread or the other version I made last week. I made both on the same day and one loaf was finished off a lot faster than the other. Any guesses which one that might be? I used the same recipe for both of my pumpkin bread recipes but added pepitas and walnuts on one loaf for a healthier version. One that Sawyer would be more likely to eat. I also made this one.....with lots of chocolate and the crunchy and ...
Instant Pot Maple Apple Cider
It is definitely not cold enough around here for maple apple cider. If you have an Instant Pot, this maple apple cider can be made in 30 minutes without heating up your house and still making it smell amazing. In the recipe, I give notes to make it in a slow cooker as well. If you're looking to buy a slow cooker, there are plenty of guides at Spice Kitchen and Bar to help you choose the best one for your budget. I think today, two weeks into the official fall season, it is still 86 degrees, ...
Maple Ice Cream
For those of you in more Northern climates, this time of year likely means big, comfy sweaters, boots, soups, and sitting by the fire. In Florida, this time of year still means slippers (flip-flops), shorts and beach days. Right now, we are celebrating because the temperature didn't get much above 80 degrees yesterday. We can feel a slight change in the air but it isn't quite fall yet. While I love the fall desserts like pumpkin and apple everything, I am still feeling ...
Better than Starbucks Pumpkin Bread
Happy Fall! I am so excited to jump into fall with all of the holidays and baking. I am still trying to stay healthy though and not go overboard with lots of treats. I think everyone has their favorite Starbucks item that they wait patiently for each year. Aaron loves the cranberry bliss bars that come out at the end of November. My daughter gets excited about Smores fraps. For me, I really only like their pumpkin bread. It is not too sweet, not too spicy--and has the perfect ...
Finding Gratitude in my Daily Routine
Do you ever feel sort of just bogged down by daily life? I have been feeling that lately. I am trying hard to find gratitude in the everyday but sometimes it is difficult. My day is so busy and still things don't get done that I want to do. It is even harder when I add the fact that I am a working mom and also run (part-time) three other businesses. And, my need and desire to spend as much time as possible with my kids everyday. We all have crazy ...
Insta-Pot Paleo and Whole 30 Friendly Chili
When I was doing the Whole 30, Paleo Insta-Pot chili was on the menu at least once a week. I would make a big pot and eat if for lunch and dinner on multiple days because it was so filling and easy. Honestly, I am kind of scared of the insta-pot so I count on Aaron to do most of the insta-pot cooking. He has no fear of it and is willing to try out cooking almost everything in it. Last week was split peas and a roast. This week, he will be making enchilada quinoa bake and his famous beans ...
Mango Coconut Chia Pudding
Last week, I needed this chia pudding with mango and coconut in order to start to feel a bit more normal in our house, my body and in our life. After our two weeks dealing with our Hurricane Irma drama, I came home completely wiped out and overwhelmed. We didn't sustain much damage other than yard debris and loss of electricity for a few days. It was more the whole process of evacuating that was high stress and anxiety inducing. When we finally returned home, I cleaned out the fridge since ...
Hurricane Irma and the Last Two Weeks of Craziness
It's been about two weeks of thinking about Hurricane Irma, preparing for her, evacuating for her and then coming back and getting our life back together. While we didn't suffer much damage, the whole ordeal was very taxing and traumatic. There were also some beautiful moments. How best to remember it all? Write it down! I am finally feeling like I have time to do that and am sharing our last week of crazy here. This post is going to be long with lots of ...