Friday Favorites: Summer edition...

It has been WELL (x's infinity) documented on this blog that I am NOT a fan of summer.  In years past, I've been known to close my eyes, bow my head and pray for it to speed by till my beloved FALL rolls in.  And while I'm STILL not a huge fan of walking out of my house at 7pm and the temperature still reading 96 degrees (This actually happened last night) or standing in ONE PLACE and feeling like you're doused in sweat from the 100% humidity rating (ALSO yesterday), summer & I have been changing our tune about each other.  Well, we HAVE been since Katie's 2nd summer where we realized the beach was her absolute happy place, but now I am waving the white flag for making time STOP.  The kids are just at such fun ages, I don't wish one moment away anymore (ok, ok...SOME days are still a crawl-through-barbed-wire till bedtime, let's be realJ) and have really tried to EMBRACE ALL THE SUMMER THINGS and enjoying all it's perks as much as possible.  (I sure as hell ain't hatin' on the late sunsets...a fan of pitch-dark at 6pm, I am not)  

Not that I'm not compiling with Katie's wish to still listen to the $5 Kohl's Disney Christmas CD on the near-daily....and maybe or maybe not letting it play even if she's not in the car.  But, ya know, TOTALLY embracing the restJ

And with that said, we've also been (OF COURSE) embracing all of the good summer eats.  From cool lettuce wraps to bacon-stuffed smores (WHATTT??), it's all-day-everyday seasonal around here!  So I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite recipes we've been making lately and a few more I just CAN NOT WAIT to tryJ


Favorite Burgers: (yes, plural)  Cheddar & Bacon filled burger & Cream cheese & green chili burger

Friday nights have been "summer classics" in our house since Memorial Day...where we get to have ALLTHEBURGERS&HOTDOGS and side salads in the name of summer.  I tried this tradition a few years ago and it lasted...hmmmm, 3 weeks?  This year, however, we are GETTING IT DONE (#lifegoals) and here have been 2 of our favorites thus far.  (until TONIGHT'S!  Tonight's should be EPIC!  More on that later...)

Favorite way to eat the rainbow:  Couscous Salad

A long time favorite in our house for both taste and because it's SO DARN PRETTY!  This Southwestern version is ACES too.

Favorite frozen:  Easy Strawberry Marshmallow Pops

Katie & I have been making Popsicles almost weekly since summer began and these babies are still the favorites out of the bunch (especially when we used our fresh picked strawberries...swoon!)  We also made these with blueberries, but the strawberry tops the charts for me.  Other favorites include these Cappuccino pops (Scott's favs) and these secretly healthy fudge pops.

Favorite healthy breakfast (or snack):  Tone it Up Berry Bright Chia Pudding

This is such a coooooooool way to start the day on a hot morning.  I've made this in both strawberry (for me) and blueberry (for Scott), and we both LOVE it.  Especially while blueberries are at a SEASONAL $$ LOW right now.

Favorite TOOHOTTOCOOK:  Watermelon Caprese

This isn't rocket science, but you'll forgive me once it takes .4 seconds to make dinner and your oven stays O-F-F.  PERFECT for these dog days.

Favorite FAVORITE FAVORITE:  Lettuce wraps

Lettuce wraps.  Lettuce wraps ALL DAY.  I LOVEEEEEEEE em.  I truly do and could eat them 4-5 days a week.  They're light, usually fairly healthy and pretty quick.  MY FAVORITE right now is this chicken satay variation, which we've eaten 3 times in as many weeks.  We also LOVED this Jamaican Jerk Chicken variation.  And to keep your kitchen even cooler, throw all the ingredients for these Honey garlic chicken wraps in the slow cooker in the AM and have a full cooked meal ready by dinner time (sans stove!).

Favorite sneaky way to get healthy:  "The Life Changing Magic of the Veggie Box"

I'm trying my best to keep this as a permanent fixture in our fridge.  All it takes is under-15 minutes of prep to chop up a week's worth of veggies so you have em at your disposal all week.  I can't even tell you how many times in the last few weeks that I've snacked on veggies & hummus, PURELY because they were THERE.  And they make an awesome pack & go snack for your busy days (yes, I'm the gal in the parking lot eating veggies with hummus while going from gym to gym to teachJ)  Now is as good a time as any to customize it with ALL of your favorite summer fresh produce.  Last week we had cherry tomatoes, radishes & pea pods (which I don't even LOVE, but DID like them with hummus) and this week it's rainbow carrots, celery & pepper slices.  A little prep work always goes a long way in eating healthy.

Favorite dessert:  Dirt cake

I've had Oreo dirt cake probably less than a handful of times in my life, but that didn't stop me from DYING for it last night and then proceeding to leave my house at 7pm to get all the ingredients (hence, why I noticed it was still 96 degrees) and come home to whip this up for Katie lickity split.  She actually squealed when she tasted it and yelped "I LOVE THIS STUFF!" (#worthit)  I just bought some gummy worms to add to it tonight to really make her crack upJ  PS- This was all an experiment in my 'eat what you want when you want it,' and I definitely felt satisfied and complete with my small portion.

CAN'T WAIT TO MAKE:

Brazilian Lemonade

This has been on my list to make for a couple years and what better excuse than the OLYMPICS IN RIO for finally putting that recipe to use!  Weeeeeeeeeeee....  (I'm not excited at allJ)

No-churn Sugar Roasted Peach Ice Cream

Once peach season is in full swing, IT. IS. ON!  

I also want to get on board with this homemade ice cream business with this honey ricotta version for decadence & this Tone it Up Mint chip ice cream for health (that may or may not also be breakfast one dayJ)

Let me know what you guys have been LOVING cooking and, of course, ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

Connect with me:

On Facebook

On Instagram  

Through Email

On Youtube

Comment below

As always...thanks for reading!

A peek at balance, week 2...

Here's week 1 if you are interested...

Monday:  Stuffed Pepper Soup with cornbread toppers 

Served in mason jars.  

Because it's 2016 and everything is over-the-top obnoxiousJ

Tuesday:  2 Thai Chicken tacos with peanut sauce

(photo source)

Cookingclassy's dish is the best thing that's come out of my kitchen in awhile!  So fresh, healthy & outstandingly delicious.  Clean out the fridge and make these tonight!

Wednesday:  2 slices avocado toast 

We had a bigger lunch, so this made for a quick dinner.

Thursday:  1 1/2 chicken fingers & crab fries from Chickie & Pete's

The chicken fingers were easy to put the breaks on since, when I tuned in and  payed attention to what I was eating, I realized I couldn't taste them after that 1 & 1/2.  But the fries??  Oh man, EVERY. SINGLE. ONE of those tasted lovely.  It took a LOT of effort to not inhale the entire shared basket.

Friday:  Chicken wings, fries & mozzarella sticks from Wings to Go

My sister-in-laws pick for her birthday dinner and this place is just WAY too good.  Kept a handle on most, sticking to one of each of the wings 'flavors' (garlic parmesan is, not surprising, the family fav), and a few fries...but maybe definitely one too many mozzarella sticks.  Haven't had ones that good in ages...but still, probably one too manyJ

Saturday:  Easiest Pork & Cabbage Eggrolls + roasted sesame broccoli

Make this recipe NOW!  So quick & delicious.  (and the broccoli I just mixed with sesame oil & tossed with sesame seeds for a bit of an Asian flair)

Saturday:  5-spice burger with slaw + chips + salad

(made the slaw with shredded cabbage mixed with 1/2 tablespoon mayo + 2 teaspoons of garlic green onion stir fry sauce + a few diced green onions to combine all of the Asian flavors with the awesome, flavorful burgers.  Plus any chance to use my many-years-old jar of 5-spice, I'm happy)  

Ummm...yum.

Splurges:  

...ya know, besides the chicken fingers, fries, mozzerella sticks and those chipsJ

Wednesday night:  Small scoop of this...

Friday:  My SIL's cake & ice cream...I wasn't messin around on the vanilla bean frontJ  Both were sublime.   

 (more on Jeni's Splendid ice cream here & here) 

Sunday Breakfast:  Nutella, bacon & banana sandwich

Other yummy recipes of the week:

Avocado & shortcut beet hummus toast...pretty much my newestfavoritethingEVER.

Perfect Breakfast Quinoa...back in rotation this week!  Weeeee!

Greek Yogurt Pancakes & Baked Banana Bread Doughnuts from my new favorite & fabulous cookbook "Eating in the Middle."  (Check out my instagram for a shot of Lily chowin down on those doughnutsJ)

Exercise:

Monday:  Hatha Vinyasa yoga class

Tuesday:  Tap class  (aka-I'm convinced this is my version of a mid-life crisisJ)

Wednesday:  Power Yoga class

Saturday:  20 minutes pilates

Sunday:  2 mile "Walk away the pounds"  

Hope you enjoyed a peek at my week and gave you some inspiration heading into a new one!

Connect with me:

On Facebook

On Instagram  (new account)

Through Email

Comment below

As always...thanks for reading!

Memorial Day Weekend Recap...

Kicking off the summer with...

Strawberry-basil chicken burgers...

For real...

Strawberry pickin'...

Girl's nights/mini-baby showers, which led to Katie's favorite gift:  ALL THE TISSUE PAPER...

(this went on for an hour)

Family weddings...<3 p="">

Parade watching... 

A too-tired to cook Memorial Day trip to The Pour House for good ole short rib cheese fries & pork nachos... 

...and a "Sweet Cheese" burgers (topped with blue cheese, cheddar & maple-mustard) ...

...and of course, ICE CREAM...

...as only the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop (now in Philadelphia) can do, with an "American Gangster" (vanilla cone coated in chocolate covered pretzels & a chocolate dip + dulce de leche)... 

In short:  I'm exhausted & ready for a salad.  Hope you guys had a fabulous long weekend and are set for the week ahead.  Have a good Tuesday!

All the berries...

Thursday Recap:

Breakfast:  Avocado toast with honey & sea salt

So, I took this as a breakfast option and ran with it this week, huh??

Snack:  Coconut almond milk yogurt + strawberries + unsweetened coconut 

Lunch:  2 Wasa crackers with peanut butter & jelly + strawberries

Couldn't get ENOUGH strawberries yesterday...they were sooooooooooo sweet!  Tis' the strawberry season.

Snack:  Skinnygirl Mini bag popcorn

Dinner:  Avocado & chipotle mayo topped turkey burgers + kale chips

It was SUPPOSED to be stuffed burgers (al la this recipe), but we...oppps...didn't have enough meat with our leaner portionsJ  TOPPED burgers worked out JUST fine.  Loved the cool & spicy combo.

Which brings us to....sigh...the weekend.  SO. VERY. HAPPY!  Quite a few fun things on tap and I know at least ONE delicious splurgeJ  Hope you guys have some great plans and ENJOY!

All in the name of health...

Morning, all!  Hope you guys had a great weekend, soaking up ALL THE SUNSHINE.  We're having a pretty much PERFECT weather moment right now:  Cool & crisp morning & nights and warm/no humidity mid-80's during the day.  If it could just stay this EXACT weather for 6 months...well, I guess we'd have to call ourselves San Diego instead of NJ, but I'm willing to share the titleJ

So we had a mixed bag of eats this weekend.  On the 'decadent side,' we had our fun, Saturday night dinner of a trip to a local BBQ hot spot "Funnibonz" to sample up some of their goodies.  And while we've been trying to steer clear of carbs after 3pm most nights, this plate made up for a few days worthJ

Tender brisket, FAB mac & cheese, creamy sweet potatoes and that corn muffin?  Don't even get me started.  I could have had 3 of them and called it a meal!  They were sweet & crunchy on the top and soft & crumbly on the bottom.  Sheer perfection.

And Sunday morning brought Katie's favorite breakfast treat of late:  DOUGHNUTSJ

Including Eet Gud's (new to us) peanut butter filled creation.  Swoooooooooooon!  Still doesn't top their ORIGINAL cream, but I ain't gonna throw it outta the bed, ya know?J 

And in the 'keepin it together' category, we had our Friday night dinner of Pot Stickers burgers with Asian Slaw... 

All the flavors of pot stickers without the rolling or wraps?  I'm OK with thisJ

And our dinner last night was from some Bikini Series prep I had done over the weekend:  TIU Enchiladas con mole (and a vegan 'queso') & salad with TIU Ranch dressing (<~ sorta close to this recipe)... 

Honestly, Scott & I were cracking up with this meal, thinking how very FAR it is from our normal 'enchilada fair,' but I'll try anything onceJ  I don't know if this was necessarily a recipe I would repeat, given it had quite a few steps and I didn't exactly LOVE it enough to repeat said steps, but it was certainly an interesting take and we both felt SUPER healthy afterwardsJ  (I'd rather just opt for the easy and equally healthy taco lettuce wraps for an easier Mexican swap)  

Anddddd, that brings us up to Monday and the beginning of WEEK 4 of the Bikini Series!  Wowza.  Half way to the 8 week mark, although Scott & I fully plan on cycling right back to Week 1 once the 8 weeks are over, subbing in some of our own healthy meals in the few places we found recipes we weren't crazy for.  That said, I don't think we've had one bad breakfast, lunch or snack though....especially the breakfasts.  They've been fab.  Just more great, healthy ideas to keep us movin forward.....and cracking up that life at the moment is involving enchiladas made of millet & ranch dressing made of hemp seedJ  All in the name of health, I say....as long as I get my burgers & Blizzards still in there!J

Have a good Monday, everyone!

Spring yogi eats...

Morning, folks!  Hope you guys had a great weekend.  It was a CRAZY BEAUTIFUL one in NJ, with temps in the high 60's & 70's, bright sunshine, cool breeze, and for me:  a weekend spent with my fellow yogi teacher traineesJ

Which also meant a fabulous weekend of foods fresh from EdoFoods Spring menu.  Starting with our Saturday round up of goodies, including a spiced Carrot Muffin... 

Which I remember it being delicious, but don't remember too much else since I think I scarfed it down in 3 bitesJ  Hahahahahahahaha....

Lunch brought us this BEAUTIFUL salad packed with sweet sugar snap peas, radishes and peppers in a strawberry coconut dressing...

...and on the side, a spring mix of fresh asparagus, diced tomatoes and peppers in a balsamic dressing.

Much like its name, this tasted soooooooooooo fresh!  I didn't even recognize the raw asparagus, since I'm not sure I've ever eaten them uncooked, but they were so snappy & crunchy that I'll definitely be adding them raw to my salads all spring-long.

And, of course, everyone's favorite course is the 'dessert' course for late afternoon, and these Dark Beet muffins made EVERYONE super happyJ  Mini chocolate muffins studded with mini caco chips made the whole afternoon that much sweeterJ

And Sunday brought us a new round of treats, starting with HUGE oat crisp cookies...

I love love love oatmeal cookies, so any excuse to have them as part of a healthy diet is A-OK with me.  These (like all of Edofoods) were made with clean, healthy ingredients so you got to indulge in every bite of crisp goodness without an ounce of guilty.  Yee-ha!

Lunch included some sunshine...along with these chickpeas, cabbage, carrot, lettuce wraps in a gluten-free rice wrap smothered in spicy & sweet hummus sauce...swooooooonnn.... 

And on the side, ain't she a beaut??  Quinoa salad filled with little jewels of diced peppers, cilanto & tomatoes.  JUST SO GOOD! 

And, um, remember that thing I said about 'late afternoon snack?'  Well, this one had to get bumped up to 'lunch dessert', when some of us just COULD NOT WAIT to crack into these mini jars... 

...of blueberry CHEESECAKE!!!!  Minus the cheese!  EdoFood's specialty treats maker, Jen, is just BEYOND amazing to be able to turn all of these vegan ingredients into a 'you'd never know the difference' cheesecake treat.  Bliss, I tell ya!

Thank you again, Ricky & Jen, for all of your beautiful food mastery and for nourishing all of us, body and SOULLLJ  Just the cherry (or blueberry) on top of a beautiful weekendJ

And the rest of the weekend, we kept to our "Bikini Series" plan with Almond/flax pancakes on Saturday morning...(Scott was NOT a fan of the Perfect Fit pancake I had made for him one time, but was a much bigger fan of this energy/protein pancake swap)

And dinners of bean salad & avocado on Saturday...

...and another round of chili lime tacos on Sunday...

We DID, however, have our weekend splurges of doughnuts for breakfast on Sunday morning (Katie's latest request, replacing her request for Sunday morning pancakes, which were apparently her 'winter thing'J) and a burger from Issac Newton's on Friday night...

...chased with a mini Salted Caramel Blizzard from Dairy Queen, which OMG...don't even get me started.  This latest baby Loooooooooveessssssss chocolate and that little number made us both VERYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY happy.

But I'm soooooooooooo happy to go through a weekend WITHOUT feeling like I need a full-blown Monday "restart," since we kept our balances & splurges in check....which is always QUITE a challenge, I will admit.

But we're already back at it for Week 2 of the Bikini Series.  And I say "already back at it" since I already ate the breakfastJ  And sneak peek:  it was another winner.

Alright...better get up and get this day officially startedJ  Have a good Monday, everyone.