About A Blog

I often make fun of my husband when we are watching law oriented shows. As a lawyer, he sits there and yells 'OBJECTION!' and "There is NO WAY a judge would allow that" and on and on. He's a really good lawyer and not so great of a TV watcher.

However, I'm the same with branding. All I do is think about the inner workings of a brand, especially when it comes to this blog. The name, the design, the content, the URL, the host, the metrics - a marketers mind never stops, even if it's just over your own part time food blog.

When I started this blog, it was just a fun way to look back on things and remember when. Now it has become so much more. It's something I LOVE and something fun and something I am so proud of. I feel like I am really ready to take it to the next level, but there is so much to think about.  

I have a lot of learning to do about how to take this from good to great, but I'm ready. It won't be easy, but will definitely be worth it.

Mediterranean Sweet Potatoes

I am not usually super into Mediterranean food (I have had Mexican food 7 of the past 9 days) but this recipe was incredible. I adapted it from this recipe from the Minimalist Baker and it blew my mind.

This meal is meat free, but SUPER filling and comforting. It's everything I love - fresh, garlicky, spicy, warm and comforting. It's just everything.

Indulging in Love

The theme of today's February blog challenge is indulge - which is kind of funny, because food wise I am trying to do the exact opposite!

When I kept thinking about it, I thought about indulging in love. Letting yourself live life to the fullest and feel all the feels. We're only get to do this once - and we might as well make it worth it.

Tomorrow I'm spending time with some of my favorite ladies. My Aunt Jess and my two best friends from middle school. I'm helping Aunt Jess move, but I honestly know we'll just have a great time because we always do no matter what we are doing. And the girls and I are having a girls night and getting take out and watching a movie.

Saturday, I'm spending time with my Dad and sister and her boyfriend trying out a new restaurant in the BK (okay so I will be indulging in some food!). These things sound probably fairly tame, but it's true that it's not where you are but who you're with that really matters. Life flies by, and I want to be the most indulgent person in love.

Dream, Believe, Achieve.

Today's theme from the February Blog Challenge is achieve. This is a big one for me. I have so many goals and hopes for the year.

My main one is to grow my blog and the new Facebook page I built for it. I've loved blogging more frequently and cooking and sharing recipes. It has been the true joy of my current situation. I hope to achieve this goal by:

1. Blogging more often so I have great content to share. I am a woman of the people, so feel free to tell me anything you'd like to see or hear on the blog.
2. Posting to Facebook and social media more often.
3. Reaching out to other bloggers and doing research on how to make this the best blog it can be.

I'm really excited about all the future holds. I just know that nothing can hold me back from my dreams, and that's a super powerful feeling. You can feel this way too. Just envision what you want, develop a plan to get it, and go!

Vegan Veggie Pot Pie with Whole Wheat Biscuits

I can't even tell you how excited I am about this recipe. I just made it, and Sean said it is the best thing I've ever made. And I've made A LOT. And he eats A LOT. But this is THAT GOOD.

Doesn't this just look like a hug?

This is the perfect winter dish - warm, creamy, filling, comforting. There is not anything not to love about it. Plus you can make it with regular dairy, or make it vegan using unsweetened coconut or almond milk. It's like choosing your own adventure.

I made one all in one dish, but you can use individual ramekins.

I adapted it from this Minimalist Baker recipe.

Whole Wheat Biscuit Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 4 tbsp butter, cold
• 1 cup milk (I used whole)

To make biscuits:

• In food processor, mix dry ingredients. 
• Add butter in chunks, and pulse a few times until mixture looks like sand and butter is spread throughout. If you don't have a food processor, you can do this with a fork or by hand, but work quickly as to not get the butter warm.
• Put flour/butter mixture in bowl and form a well. Slowly pour milk into flour and mix. The mixture should be sticky, and may not be fully formed. That's okay, just try to get it all incorporated and not over work it.
• Place dough on a well floured surface. Knead gently, 4-5 times and flatten to about 1 inch thick, being careful not to overwork the dough. 
• Cut out biscuits with biscuit cutter or other similar size object (I've used a glass before). 
• Put aside until ready to top pot pie. 

MMMMMMM biscuits.

Veggie Pot Pie Ingredients:

• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups veggie broth
• 2 cups vegetables - I used 3/4 red potato, 2 carrots, 1ish stalks of celery and a little leftover broccoli
• 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tbsp Old Bay Seasoning (use less or more to taste)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

To make veggie pot pie:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Add 2 Tbsp olive oil to a large saucepan over medium heat, then add onion and garlic and a pinch of salt – stir. Cook until soft – about 7 minutes.
3. Add the flour and stir with a whisk, then slowly whisk in the broth.
4. Add almond milk, bay leaves and stir. Simmer until the mixture is thickened (about 10 minutes). If it still appears too thin, scoop out 1/2 cup of the broth and add 1-2 Tbsp more flour and whisk. Add back into the pot to thicken. Wait a few minutes, then repeat if necessary.
5. While the sauce is thickening, prepare biscuits (if using). Cut out, leave unbaked, and set aside.
6. Once the sauce is thickened, add the frozen vegetables and cook for 4-5 more minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more salt and pepper if needed.
7. Discard the bay leaves and divide the mixture evenly between 5-6 lightly greased ramekins or a 8×8 baking dish. Top with vegan biscuits and brush the tops of the biscuits with melted vegan butter. Set your 8×8 dish or ramekins on a baking sheet to catch overflow and bake until the biscuits are golden brown and the filling is bubbly (about 14-17 minutes). Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Pineapple Fried Rice

It may be freezing in New York (and Chicago, and Boston, and a good portion of the rest of the country) but this meal makes you feel like you're on a warm Polynesian island somewhere. It is so healthy, so tasty and you can make it quicker than it takes to order take out!

Ingredients:

• 2-3 cups cooked brown rice
• 1 carrot diced
• Half bell pepper diced
• 1/4 cup edamame
• 1/4 onion diced
• Broccoli diced
• 2 cloves garlic diced
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• Dash dried ginger
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• Pineapple, cut in half and scooped out. Dice inside pieces.

Directions:

• Heat oil in a pan, put diced onion in and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add other vegetables and garlic and cook an additional 4-5 minutes. Take vegetables out of plan and put in a bowl to the side.
• Put eggs in the pan on low and scramble, breaking into small pieces.
• Once eggs are cooked, put vegetables back in the pan with the eggs, and pour soy sauce on the mix.
• Add rice and mix so all is incorporated. Add diced pineapple. 
• Serve in scooped out half of pineapple. 

Note - I ate mine on a plate, because scooping out a pineapple is harder than it looks, and my half pretty much ended up mutilated. If anyone knows a better way, please let me know! It was still super delicious.

Mighty Winter Meal Plan

Today's theme is "meal" and I was struggling with what I was going to blog about. Thanks so much to my sister-in-law Kerianne who asked for a meal plan this morning and inspired this post!

I am following the Fit Girls Guide 28 Day Jumpstart for February. If you're following to the letter, the provide a meal plan, grocery list, exercise plan and more! (Comment if you want a copy). I've been diligent with the work outs but a little looser with the meal plans, but still making sure I follow the calorie count.

The best part about this meal plan is you can do SO much prep at the beginning of the week, you'll be good to just grab stuff and go.

Blueberry Lemon Sunshine Muffins

This is my 100th post! I'm so excited! And there's no better way to celebrate than with breakfast food. (In my opinion, there's always a reason for breakfast food).

These muffins make me feel like I'm eating sunshine, which why I've added Sunshine into the name of them. They're impossible to not love.

The Food Babe Way

It's here! Today is the day we're changing the world and food industry. "The Food Babe Way" by Vani Hari (a.k.a. Food Babe) is released today!

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy that I was asked to review here on my blog. I received no financial compensation for this, and all my opinions are strictly my own. Also, when I tell you how big I geeked out when I was selected for an advanced copy, you cannot even imagine.

6, 7, 8, 9

Ah! Totally slacked on the February post challenge. We spent the weekend in glorious, beautiful Charleston with Sean's family. It was sunny and between 60 and 70 and I was loving every minute of it. In fact, I'm still here and this is my view:

Spending every minute outside with my loved ones was a much better option than blogging, so now I'm going to do the combo post with a note about the trip for each day!

Relaxation Around the Globe

I'm not really leaving, but I wish I were. Today's post theme is relaxation, and I feel like it's something everyone struggles with. We're pulled in so many different directions all the time - work, parents, kids, friends, commitments - it seems to never end.

So as I sat here racking my brain with things that felt relaxing, I realized my brain kept coming to one things: traveling.

Fit Girls Guide: 28 Day Challenge

Today's theme in the February blog challenge is EXERCISE! I can hear you groaning from here. To be honest I haven't been doing too much of this. If I get two work outs a week it's been a pretty big accomplishment, especially since I have been sick the past week.

It's all about to end starting next week. I've taken the Fit Girls Guide 28 day challenge and it starts February 9!

I'm so excited about it and know it'll be just what I need to motivate me to get moving again. I've been eating okay, but I'm done feeling sluggish and sick. I'm ready to get this body back into shape and be healthy and fabulous!

If anyone wants to join me in the 28 Day Challenge, I would love a buddy! You can learn more here or email me.

Mediterranean Pizza

Today's theme for the February blog challenge is vegetables - which is perfect because I'm sharing this amazing homemade mediterranean pizza recipe.

Yummmmm...

February Blog Challenge: Motivation

For the first time in a long time I don't really care about the Superbowl. I hope the Seahawks win, because NO ONE LIKES CHEATERS! Other than that, I'm just in it for the commercials and snacks.