Quick Dinner Fix Tonight - Loaded Sweet Potatoes

Since I've been knee deep in wedding planning, yoga training AND working full-time, cooking has become a thing of the past. I've been ordering in so much lately that Seamless.com should do an algorithm of my past orders and just have dinner waiting on me when I get home at night from one of my top three:

• Steamed Chinese Bok Choy with Brown Rice from Szechuan Garden
• Roasted Eggplant and Broccoli Rabe from Da Nonna Rosa
• Fish Tacos and Tortilla Soup from Cochinita 

A few weeks ago while Dave was finishing up his fifth week in Thailand, I was at my breaking point. When every menu item on every take-out menu sounded, well, just blah, I went back to my trusty friend, Love and Lemons, for some inspiration -- and I found a recipe for a loaded baked sweet potato. At first it didn't seem substantial enough, but it looked simple and fulfilling and I honestly couldn't remember the last time I had a baked potato.

It was also something I could make two of so I wouldn't have to cook again the next night. Whether you are cooking for one or for many, this makes the perfect meal.

PS - I steamed broccoli on the side to add some greens. And don't you dare skimp on that greek yogurt + lime + salt + chile powder goodness... delicious!!! 

Healthy Loaded Sweet Potatoes

Quinoa is Queen

I LOVE Quinoa and I eat it almost daily. Below is a fun infographic by fabfitfun with everything you could possibly want to know about the health benefits of Quinoa. You may remember me discussing Magnesium in my last post. Well, this superfood provides 48% of our daily requirement of Magnesium! 

I'll be posting some of my favorite go-to Quinoa recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner soon, but here's some to get you started from our friends at Love and Lemons. 

Love and Lemons

I have a mild obsession with the website, "Love and Lemons" for two reasons:  the enticing food photography and realistic, healthy, delicious recipes.  If this is the first time you are learning about "Love and Lemons",  I hope Jeanine and her husband, Jack change your life the way that they have mine and Dave's, adding a bit of simplicity and color into your kitchen.

The website also offers one of the best recipe browsers I've ever seen, in which you can search by season, diet restrictions, meal type or ingredient. The ease of use is definitely one of the reasons I keep going back. I encourage you to browse through the website on your own, but to get you started, I've provided links to a few meals that keep turning up in our kitchen. You will be hearing more about "Love and Lemons" recipes as I continue to experiment with vegetables.

Migas Breakfast Tacos

Peanut Soba Noodles

Strawberry Quinoa Salad

Almond & Banana Smoothie Recipe

Ever since I purchased my Vitamix, smoothies have become a part of my daily routine.  Today,  I wanted to share the go-to smoothie that I make at least twice a week because the ingredients are so easy to keep on hand. For anyone looking to consume more healthy fats and introduce more protein into your diet this one is for you.

Base:

• 1 Cup of Almond Milk

• 1 Frozen Banana

Ingredients:

• 1 Spoonful of Almond Butter

• 1 Small Spoonful of Coconut Oil (optional) 

• 1 Scoop of Protein Powder (optional)

• 1 Scoop of Cocoa Powder (optional)

• Pinch of Flax Seeds (optional)

• Several shakes of Cinnamon (this is what makes it taste so good!)

Enjoy!

Smoothie Ingredients To Keep on Hand

This blog is dedicated to my brother, Ben for his recent curiosity of my Vitamix obsession. Below is the email I sent to him with ingredients I'd suggest keeping on hand to whip up a smoothie as a meal replacement or snack, especially when you're in a pinch or need a healthy fulfilling quick fix. The ingredients are all kitchen-categorized and alphabetized in true sisterly fashion. For anyone into grocery lists, I hope this makes your life a little easier. You can also shop these items directly from this website. Countless smoothie recipes to come! 

Pantry

• Almond Butter (lots of it)
• Bee Pollen
• Cacao Powder
• Cayenne Pepper (lots of it)
• Chia Seeds
• Cinnamon (lots of it)
• Coconut Oil
• Flax Seeds (ground & whole)
• Ginger (fresh and lots of it)
• Goji Berries
• Hemp Seeds
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Maca Powder
• Matcha Powder
• Mesquite Powder
• Protein Powder
• Raw Shredded Coconut
• Vanilla Extract

Fridge

• Almond Milk (lots of it)
• Apples (Chopped)
• Avocado
• Beets (chopped)
• Carrots (chopped)
• Celery (chopped)
• Coconut Water
• Cucumber (chopped)
• Kale (lots of it)
• Mint (fresh - I grow this seasonally)
• Parsley (fresh - I grow this too)
• Pomegranate Seeds
• Spinach

Freezer

• Bananas (lots of them)
• Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice Squares* (squeeze into ice cube trays and freeze)
• Organic Berries (all kinds)
• Anything that is about to go bad I throw in the freezer to use in a smoothie, i.e. avocado, herbs, etc

* You can squeeze any fresh juice into ice cube trays and freeze for single serving use!