Sweet T and a Honey B

It’s pretty evident I haven’t had a lot of time in the kitchen lately based on my hiatus from any blogging. We’re still kind of finding our new groove over here based of Bryan’s grad school and my dance schedules. As a result, this last week I was looking a lot to other bloggers for some fall appropriate meals to cook for hubs and I while still requiring little time to actually prep it. My first go-to when it comes to AH-MAZING feel good/clean recipes is Rachel from RachLMansfield. A ton of my “must make” bookmarks include her recipes.

This pasta is chocked full of deliciousness and is a solid choice for a dreary fall evening. We added a little chicken sausage for some additional bulk/protein and the combo was a winner.

Avoacado Arugula Pesto Pasta

(serves 3)

Ingredients

1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
1 cup (packed) arugula
⅓ cup raw walnuts
¼ cup pine nuts
3 cloves garlic
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons avocado oil
Water as needed
1 box pasta of choice (I used Banza Chickpea pasta. I love the taste of this pasta and the array of shapes!)
Optional: 1 lb Organic Chicken Sausage, cooked and sliced

Cook pasta as directed.

Combine all sauce ingredients in a blender or food processor. Add water as needed to get desired consistency (I added about 1/3 cup).

Pour sauce over hot pasta. Top with chicken sausage, a little Parmesan cheese, or red pepper flakes. Enjoy!

(Note: my obsession with avocado is very real so next time I make I might try adding a little more avocado and a tiny bit less arugula to give it more of an avocado taste. Add a little more water if this is the case)

Today, I am waking up as if it is Christmas morning and I am anxiously awaiting running downstairs to see what’s under the tree. The only difference is, I am waking up and running to my tiny coffee bar in the kitchen to brew my first cup of the day. If you were unaware, today is National Coffee Day. Why this isn’t a pre-printed holiday on wall calendars I will never understand. I thought I would pay tribute to my beloved morning brew today by sharing what I like to add to my morning coffee, favorite local coffee shops, and where you can find a discount on your own cup today!

What’s in my Mug

I mentioned the little corner of our postage-stamp sized kitchen that holds our coffee bar. This is my first visit each morning and lately it seems as if I can’t start my day without kicking off the Keurig. We purchased this rolling kitchen cart last summer and threw a coat of green paint on it to add a pop of color. It holds not only our Keurig and carousel of K-Cups, but all of our coffee mugs, sugar bowl, and often times – a package of biscotti (I LOVE biscotti with my coffee!). I printed out a little sign I purchased off of Etsy and used a cheap frame to hang it directly over the bar. It was a cheap project, but quickly became me and my husband’s favorite part of our home.

One of the items my morning cup very rarely goes without is one that adds no taste to the coffee – but is so good for you that it’s a no brainier to always have it stocked. Many of you may have recently heard about the ‘collagen craze’. Everything I researched about adding collagen to your diet was positive and I decided to purchase a few single serve packets of Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. I was pleasantly surprised to find out they dissolve completely and immediately and didn’t make the coffee gritty or give it a weird taste. I figured I would continue to use it and see if I saw any differences that the collagen craze boasts. Collagen is the main component in keeping hair, nails, skin, and joints healthy. Our bodies stop producing collagen as we get older and unfortunately our diets don’t contain a lot of it. By adding collagen to our diets, we could see healthier looking skin, stronger hair and nails, bone strength, and improve our digestion/stomach health! With all of this said, I have been adding Vital Proteins to my coffee each morning for the last six months or so and I cannot begin to tell you the difference I have seen in my hair and my nails. I have so much new hair growth which is making it feel fuller and healthier. Additionally, my entire life I have had brittle nails that peel and break and for the first time, I have long nails that look and feel strong. I cannot speak enough about the differences this little scoop of collagen peptides each day has made.

While traditional coffee creamers are not the best for you and can pack a lot of unnecessary sugar, I recently discovered a new brand of non-dairy almond milk creamers by Califa Farms (hellloooo pumpkin spice). These creamers have a very short list of ingredients (none of them artificial) and are made with almond and coconut cream. It’s also only 15 calories per serving so you can add a couple tablespoons to your cup without any guilt 🙂 Califa farms also carries various almond milks, cold brews, and juices.

Flavors are another way to dress up your mug. I like adding a tsp of vanilla, almond, or peppermint to my coffee. You can also find more eclectic flavors such as maple, marshmallow, or coconut!

Favorite Coffee Shops

Brewpoint Coffee Company

This little corner of the world is located in downtown Elmhurst, IL and serves the best coffee I’ve ever had (thats a bold statement coming from me). You haven’t really been to Brewpoint until you’ve ordered their signature ‘Bartolome’ and eaten a delicious donut brought to the shop from Donut Drop Schaumburg on a snowy weekend morning.

Bearded Heart Coffee

I stumbled upon this quaint little coffeehouse accidentally when heading home from Door County, WI this summer and I still think about the perfect little coffee I had with lavender flavoring. It was a cloudy morning and I was tired knowing I had a five hour drive ahead of me. Bearded Heart had just the thing to wake me up and put me in a good mood. I also have to mention how incredible their scones are. If you make your way through Door County and are near Baileys Harbor, this definitely needs to be a stop on your list.

Brewed Awakening

Brewed Awakening is located in downtown Westmont, IL and regretfully I never thought about stopping in until this past summer when I got a text from my cousin that said “You HAVE to try the pineapple zucchini muffin”. This coffee and teahouse is so warm and cozy and you immediately feel welcome. My typical order is a large cup of their house coffee (amazing) and I never leave without a muffin. I highly recommend the pistachio!

Grahams 318

Grahams 318 has a special place in my heart as this is my mom’s local coffee shop since she moved. G318 sits in the middle of downtown, Geneva and is the hub of the downtown area. This coffeehouse and gelato/fondue/sandwich shop/bakery (YES. All the best things) is actually a small two-story house and you feel like you’re at home when you sit in one of the overstuffed chairs to sip your coffee and play a board game.

National Coffee Day Deals

If you’re as equally excited to celebrate National Coffee Day as I am, here are some places that are offering a free cup and/or some awesome deals!

Brewpoint Coffee – $1 12oz. hot or iced coffee

Peet’s Coffee – 25% off any bag of coffee beans and a free drip coffee

Krispy Kreme – Free any size hot coffee or free small iced coffee

Dunkin’ Donuts – Free medium hot coffee with the purchase of a medium, large, or XL sized coffee

Now, go out there and get your Friday pick-me-up. Happy National Coffee Day!

As I’ve boldly hinted before, I don’t enjoy over complicating food. In my opinion, there’s no reason that most meals should consist of a lengthy list of ingredients (side rant, does anyone else hate that when you have to purchase a giant bottle of a random spice you may never use again? And the recipe ends up calling for 1/4 tsp? This pet peeve is certainly a reason I enjoy keeping meals simple..). Spending time in the kitchen tends to be even more cumbersome when you’re experiencing record high temperatures in September (Fall, where you at?). As a result of the hot temps, we’ve avoided turning our oven on at all costs these last few days and in turn, threw together an incredibly simple Sunday night dinner to enjoy while we watched football and a few episodes of Shameless.

I had a taste for a tangy/sweet sort of dressing with our mixed green salads and I consequently had received a jar of avocado oil in this week’s Thrive Market order. The avocado itself has a seemingly endless list of health benefits, and avocado oil is no different. Avo oil is extracted from the actual flesh of the avocado. It’s high in monosaturated fats (improves cholesterol and reduces risk of heart disease!) and Vitamins A, E, and D. Avo/Avo oil also contains magnesium (helps with digestion, increases energy, relieves muscle aches…the list goes on). Another great thing about avo oil is that it really doesn’t have any sort of taste. Even though I eat avocado with everything, I don’t necessarily want all my foods tasting like it. Because of this, I even used some in my gluten-free pumpkin muffins this morning!

I used this oil as the base for my dressing and added it gradually to the honey mustard mixture. It turned out to be just enough tangy and just enough sweet to satisfy my craving and a little bit of it certainly went a long way.

Honey Mustard Dressing

1/4 cup avocado oil
2 tbs yellow or dijon mustard
2 tbs honey
1 tbs apple cider vingar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt

Ham and Swiss Paninis – Makes 2 Paninis

4 slices of crusty bread (sourdough works well)
4 slices of thick- cut ham (I love the black forest ham from (Greenridge Farm).
2 slices of swiss cheese
Any sandwich toppings you like! We love red pepper or avocado slices on our paninis.

Mix the honey,mustard, and apple cider vinegar together with a whisk or a fork. Gradually add the avocado oil to the mixture. Add garlic powder and salt.

We grilled up our sandwiches on our panini maker (that thing gets more use than any appliance in our house) and threw together each salad using 1 cup of organic mixed baby greens, sliced cucumbers, and 2 tbs of dressing. All together dinner took about fifteen minutes which maximized the amount of couch time Sunday night!

Do you have an appliance or kitchen gadget that gets used more than all others? Do you have a Sunday dinner routine?

Fall has officially peeked his head in on us in the Midwest and the pumpkins and apples are popping up everywhere. I’ve never been so ready for an entire season in my life and although I’m almost 100% certain I was the first person in line to order a #PSL, this season certainly brings on some new challenges. My husband officially began grad school last week and since the new dance season has started for me, we basically don’t see each other until Thursday of each week (we now look forward to ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ and ‘This is Us’ On Demand dates). Our hectic schedules have forced me to think even simpler when it comes to mealtime so that our eating stays on track. As a result, baked chicken with various side dishes has been on heavy rotation. I’ve enjoyed experimenting with different ingredients and sometimes our favorite dishes have come from throwing whatever vegetables, oils/dressings, and cheeses we have left towards the end of the week.

It’s no surprise I had a couple extra cans of chickpeas in my pantry last week as I’ve recently been finding every excuse to use them in different dishes. These little guys come with good amounts of protein and fiber and also aid in digestion. I combined a can of these with some thick chunks of avocado, and just a few other ingredients it was really flavorful. Judging by how fast my husband ate his portion, he certainly gave it two thumbs up!

Ingredients

1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed. Pat dry
2 avocados, diced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped green onion
3 oz crumbled goat cheese
juice from 1 lime
1 tsp garlic powder
salt to taste

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl with a spatula or wooden spoon. Enjoy!

Have you ever been pleasantly surprised by combining random ingredients? What’s been your favorite creation?

Happy Weekending!

I am going to apologize ahead of time for the overuse of words like ‘quaint’, ‘picturesque’, and ‘charming’ – but it’s almost impossible to look back on our long weekend away without this pool of words coming to front of mind. It’s full steam ahead in to this upcoming weekend, yet I cannot stop thinking about the last. It was a weekend I was anticipating for a very long time (in reality, we only just booked our stay about a month ago, but hey, it was a long month!). We just needed to get away. It was time for us to unplug and when my husband suggested Door County, Wisconsin, we agreed it was the perfect destination to do just that. We reserved a room at the Church Hill Inn, an adorable bed and breakfast located just steps from downtown Sister Bay. I had visions of spending three days soaking up the fresh air by the lake and enjoying fresh cherry treats. Everything we experienced was precisely what I pictured and more.

The Labor Day Weekend traffic to Wisconsin was less than desirable and as a result, it took about six and a half hours to get to Sister Bay. We arrived around 11 pm and our keys were waiting for us at the desk. Each room at the B&B had a theme and our room was called the ‘Croquet Room’. It was so cozy and comfortable and I loved the simple, yet elegant touches that completed the theme of the room. A pair of old fashioned croquet mallets hung on the wall and as a table centerpiece, there was a small bowl with some wooden croquet balls. Next to this set up was a couple of chocolates and a letter welcoming us to the Church Hill Inn. I was already in love with the Inn and the town and I hadn’t even put my bags down. I was thrilled I could hop into a beautiful bed so that I could enjoy our adventures the next day.

Bryan and I woke up on Saturday and realized it was September 3rd. September 3rd was the first day Bryan asked me to be his girlfriend when we were just thirteen years old. Despite being married and having a real anniversary to celebrate now, September 3rd always puts a smile on our face. This particular year was significant because it officially marked the point in our lives that Bryan and I have been together over half of our lives. I simply cannot imagine another man to share this beautiful life with. We quickly got ready and headed downstairs to a gorgeous breakfast prepared for us by the staff at the Inn. We filled our plates with large pieces of artichoke and egg casserole, freshly baked almond scones (I was elated), slices of cantaloupe, and coffee. I can honestly say this was one of the best breakfasts I have ever had. After filling our tummies, we decided to drive about ten minutes away to the local farmer’s market. I absolutely had to come home with some sort of treat filled with Door County cherries. Bry was excited to pick out some cherry salsa, a favorite of his as a kid. I picked up a couple cherry scones and an adorable little succulent to take home with us. We wandered just a bit before heading back towards Downtown Sister Bay. Since it was a bit chilly (Welcome, Fall!), a top priority was some more warm coffee. Analog Coffee and Ice Cream was an obvious first stop. I ordered a Maple Latte that paired perfectly with the sunny, but cooler, weather. We stumbled upon the annual Marina Boat Festival held each year on the Saturday before Labor Day. We watched as boat owners showed off all different kinds of boats and took in the incredible views. I took a ton of pictures (obviously) and we finally decided to settle on a bench, people watch, and share an order of cheese curds from the festival (when in Wisco….). I wish I could convey in words and pictures how relaxed I felt this particular afternoon. We explored some more of the little shops, purchased some sweatshirts (I’m telling you,it was cold!), and actually headed back up to our B&B for an early afternoon nap! It was a mini-vacation after all!

Saturday evening was not any less wonderful. Despite some initial sadness because it was pouring when we woke up from our naps, that just meant it was time for the winery! My wonderful in-laws are frequent DoCo visitors and highly recommended the Harbor Ridge Winery in Egg Harbor. We each picked five different wines to sample and ultimately settled on three delicious bottles to bring home with us-the Rose, Merlot, and signature Blueberry. We ordered a glass to bring upstairs with us while we chatted and waited for the rain to pass. I truly believe everything was meant to be during this weekend because as soon as we left, the clouds opened up and it was a sunny drive back to Sister Bay. We got ready for an evening out and headed back to the downtown area. I should have mentioned earlier that if it sounds like all we did was eat, drink, nap, and look at the water last weekend- it’s because we did. We decided on dining al fresco at Wild Tomato, an eclectic and delicious brick oven pizza place that seems to be a favorite of everyone when they are in Door County. We ordered the sausage and pesto pizza to share and I finally caved and ordered my first Oktoberfest brew of the season 🙂 We spent the remainder of the evening roaming in and out of a couple places for drinks and live outdoor music. As if I could not get enough of the water and fresh air, the night unexpectedly ended with the MOST INCREDIBLE fireworks show that was being set off from the lake. It might be because we didn’t really get the chance to see fireworks on the 4th of July this year, but I think these had to be the loudest and brightest fireworks I’ve seen in a long time. I was still in awe of how much I was loving being here.

Literally the only definite plan we had going in to last weekend was hiking at the Peninsula State Park. It was 75 degrees and sunny so we were pumped to wake up early and throw on our gym shoes. We drove about fifteen minutes before reaching the beginning of our desired trail. Bryan picked the most difficult one and while I was nervous in a few spots (we’re talking a few mini cliffs..), he helped me every step of the way. It took us about two hours to hike about two miles with a few stops for photos along the way. The views were breathtaking. I kept questioning why I don’t live directly next to a body of water. I was fairly tuckered out afterwards and needed a pick-me-up so I suggested we stop at a little Juice bar and cafe I stumbled across while researching DoCo ‘musts’. Cloud Nine was absolutely one of my favorite stops of the weekend. They work with local organic farmers to bring the best fruits and veggies in to their shop. The decor is simple, fresh, and welcoming. I could tell that Miranda and Taylor, the owners, were very passionate about what they do and the goodness that they serve. I ordered the ‘Erin’ – a smoothie made with banana, orange, mango, kale, and hemp seeds. Bryan had the ‘Feel Good Milkshake’ made with almond milk (crafted right in their shop!), banana, sea salt, almond butter, cinnamon, vanilla, and hemp seeds. Enjoying our smoothies was a perfect way to cool down after the hike. We went back to Church Hill for yet another nap before enjoying the last evening before we had to head home the next day.

Bryan and I decided to head down the street from the Inn and go mini-golfing! This was something I hadn’t done in a long time and we had the silliest time. I was a little worse at mini-golfing than I remember but we didn’t keep score and just enjoyed laughing at how many times it really took me to complete each hole. To finish off our evening, we had a few brews at the Garage at Husbys for some more outdoor live music. The weather was perfect again to sit by the marina and watch the sun set. My favorite photo of the weekend is from this precise moment. A handsome husband and a gorgeous sunset by the water was an ideal way to end a long weekend.

Leaving the next morning was all too difficult, however, I am so overjoyed that I have a new favorite getaway. To say I was relaxed was an understatement and I am already proposing we go back as soon as possible. This weekend was proof that sometimes going into your adventure without a set plan can turn out being one of the best ideas. Bryan and I were truly able to unplug and enjoy each others company before a busy fall season filled with crazy work schedules, weekend obligations, and grad school (for him). I highly recommend spending some time in Sister Bay during your next weekend getaway. As if the gorgeous views and friendly people are not enough, the delicious treats and brews are aplenty. Just don’t expect any cheese curds for a while. I MAY have eaten DoCo out of all of their supply….. 😉

Happy Friday All!

Avocado Arugula Pesto Pasta