We spent this weekend in Asheville for my brother's wedding. I LOVE AVL! There are so many fun things to do, places to see and most importantly, amazing food to eat! Wanted to share a few of my faves from the weekend!
If you are in Asheville, Wall Street is a must. Two of my favorite pit stops are here, just doors apart. Your first stop is Appalachian Natural Soaps. Their philosophy is "don't get naked with anything you can't trust", and it carries through on all of their yummy soaps. I picked up a couple bars- Cinnamon Oatmeal and Cool Green Asheville. Everything smells amazing and the staff in the store is super nice. Make a quick stop on your way to my next must-visit...
Early Girl Eatery. O.M GAH as all my Southern friends say. This place is amazing! The wait on a Saturday morning can be a bit long, so put your name in and walk around downtown for a bit. We had quite the feast here. I had the black bean & cheddar omelet, and my husband had their Early Girl Benny. This benny is pretty damn incredible- Grit cakes topped with tomato, spinach, poached eggs, tomato gravy and avocado, served with toast or a homemade biscuit. Biscuit. Duh and the end. Their coffee is also really good- it's roasted at Counter Culture, which is always amazing! Don't even get me started up on my soapbox about bad breakfast coffee, and they have some great cocktails too. Try the Cava Sour if you want some early morning bubbles!
The food at Early Girl is farm to table, so you are getting local goodies that are fresh and in season. The food is from smaller, family-run farms, so you're also supporting businesses that have been around for generations. Definitely a must-do.
After brunch, you can hop in the car and make your way along the Blue Ridge parkway, driving for a bit to work off lunch. It's a gorgeous drive and there are many places to stop along the way to take a peek at the mountains or do a little hike if you're so inclined.
After a bit, make your way back to AVL for a bit more feasting. Next stop- Tupelo Honey Cafe. Come hungry because I have a whole list of must-haves here! First off, they will bring you a delicious biscuit with blueberry compote. Pile. That. S&*$ on. It's to die for. Next up, apps... For starters, try out the Appalachian Egg Rolls & TN Country Ham Wontons. These are both incredible and totally unique. If you still have room (try to save a little!), the supper plates are a can't miss. The buttermilk fried chicken and mac n cheese are two standards that are so good. If you're more of a veg, the Grateful Dead Black Bean burger (lunchtime only) is a winner. My favorite part about Tupelo Honey? The cookbook! It's not the same, but helps me get my fix when the black bean burger is 1000 miles away.
For more AVL tips, comment or ask questions. Enjoy your trip!
Monday, May 25, 2015
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Spaghetti Wha...?
I think I am one of the last people in the world to embrace the spaghetti squash. I just refused to believe that anything could legitimately take the place of a carb-filled, nutritionally-void spaghetti noodle. What's even funnier is that I don't really like pasta. Give me a yummy filled ravioli or lasagna any day, but spaghetti? Meh.
I finally bit the bullet a month or so ago and decided to try the mighty spaghetti squash, and now I can't get enough of the stuff! I wanted to share this quick and easy recipe with you... it's healthy, yummy and super quick to fix!
Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash
Pesto:
1/2 cup fresh basil
1/4 cup fresh baby spinach
Olive Oil (1/4-1/2 cup)
Juice of 1 lemon
Pinch of sea salt
Garlic (to taste)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut your spaghetti squash in half, remove the seeds and place face down on a cookie sheet with a thin layer of water on it. Roast for 45-60 minutes, until squash is tender and you can scrape out the inside easily. A good way to test is take a fork and scrape across the inside of the squash. If the inside comes out easily and looks like noodles, you are good!
While the squash is roasting, combine the pesto ingredients in a blender. I have a Ninja, and love to use the individual cups with this recipe. You will see from a lot of my recipes that I live in a grey cooking world, meaning I often cook to taste- not measurement! Such is the case with this pesto. Add garlic and lemon to taste. You can also add pine nuts or freshly grated parm cheese, depending on your dietary wants/needs.
Bon appetit!
I finally bit the bullet a month or so ago and decided to try the mighty spaghetti squash, and now I can't get enough of the stuff! I wanted to share this quick and easy recipe with you... it's healthy, yummy and super quick to fix!
Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash
Pesto:
1/2 cup fresh basil
1/4 cup fresh baby spinach
Olive Oil (1/4-1/2 cup)
Juice of 1 lemon
Pinch of sea salt
Garlic (to taste)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut your spaghetti squash in half, remove the seeds and place face down on a cookie sheet with a thin layer of water on it. Roast for 45-60 minutes, until squash is tender and you can scrape out the inside easily. A good way to test is take a fork and scrape across the inside of the squash. If the inside comes out easily and looks like noodles, you are good!
While the squash is roasting, combine the pesto ingredients in a blender. I have a Ninja, and love to use the individual cups with this recipe. You will see from a lot of my recipes that I live in a grey cooking world, meaning I often cook to taste- not measurement! Such is the case with this pesto. Add garlic and lemon to taste. You can also add pine nuts or freshly grated parm cheese, depending on your dietary wants/needs.
Bon appetit!
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
For the love of... smoothies!
I have been a smoothie junkie for quite some time, but until recently didn't realize that my morning smoothie was quite... junky! I did a two week detox a few weeks ago which really inspired me to take a look at my morning beverages. (Except my coffee. That ain't happening.)
I start off every day with a cup of lukewarm lemon water. This is a great way to start the day, and I have been obsessed with this for months. It also has a ton of health benefits, some of which you can read about here.
Prior to my detox, I was indulging in a smoothie complete with yogurt, spinach, and a bunch of fruit. I loved kick starting my day with a big fruity beverage and thought that it was a great way to get going. Not so much! These suckers can pack quite the punch of sugar and calories. I've since made a switch, and wanted to share my new recipe.
Coconut Milk- 1 cup (unsweetened)
Spinach- a BUNCH!
Protein Powder (approx 1/2 scoop)- my favorite is Sunwarrior Vegan Vanilla
Frozen Strawberries- small handful
I mix the coconut milk with spinach, blend it up. Then throw more spinach in plus the protein powder and blend some more. Follow it up with some strawberries and it's done.
AMAZING! Enjoy :)
I start off every day with a cup of lukewarm lemon water. This is a great way to start the day, and I have been obsessed with this for months. It also has a ton of health benefits, some of which you can read about here.
Prior to my detox, I was indulging in a smoothie complete with yogurt, spinach, and a bunch of fruit. I loved kick starting my day with a big fruity beverage and thought that it was a great way to get going. Not so much! These suckers can pack quite the punch of sugar and calories. I've since made a switch, and wanted to share my new recipe.
Coconut Milk- 1 cup (unsweetened)
Spinach- a BUNCH!
Protein Powder (approx 1/2 scoop)- my favorite is Sunwarrior Vegan Vanilla
Frozen Strawberries- small handful
I mix the coconut milk with spinach, blend it up. Then throw more spinach in plus the protein powder and blend some more. Follow it up with some strawberries and it's done.
AMAZING! Enjoy :)
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Pure Beauty
Over the last several months, as part of my New Year's Resolutions Evolutions, I have been really been working to make a concerted effort to be mindful of what I am putting on and in my body. It's safe to say I look and feel better than I have in a long time.
Clean eating is key to a natural glow. I've been learning to eat by the 80/20 rule. This means, generally speaking, 80% of what goes in is good, healthy, clean eating. The other 20%... indulge away! The ladies at the Conscious Cleanse have just released a new program based upon this rule and I can't wait to try it.
In addition to everything going in my mouth, I'm also really focusing on what goes on my skin. The largest organ in your body, it's often overlooked. Big mistake! What we put on our skin is hugely important.
Skincare can be a tricky one. So many companies claim that they are eco-friendly and free of all the ingredients we shouldn't be using. However, more often than not this is just really good marketing. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is my go-to for all things eco-friendly. They have a website where you can look up virtually any product and see its toxicity.
After discovering that so many of my go-to products were actually pretty darn toxic, I have been on the hunt for a brand that works well and is also gentle on the earth and my body. Enter Beautycounter. I discovered this brand a few months ago and have been wanting to try it since. I did a bunch of research and finally took the leap.
LOVE. Their products are amazing. A-mazing. They are also super low on the EWG scale to boot. So great and great for me! I won't use anything else.
Check out this amazing company. Gregg Renfrew, the founder is incredible and the products are second to none. You will be so happy you did!
Full disclosure, I am also a Beautycounter consultant, so I have recently started selling the products. I buy a lot, so I wanted to a) get them at a discounted price and b) share them with everyone I love becuase I think they are so incredible. With that, if you have questions about any products or want to host a social, give me a shout :).
Clean eating is key to a natural glow. I've been learning to eat by the 80/20 rule. This means, generally speaking, 80% of what goes in is good, healthy, clean eating. The other 20%... indulge away! The ladies at the Conscious Cleanse have just released a new program based upon this rule and I can't wait to try it.
In addition to everything going in my mouth, I'm also really focusing on what goes on my skin. The largest organ in your body, it's often overlooked. Big mistake! What we put on our skin is hugely important.
Skincare can be a tricky one. So many companies claim that they are eco-friendly and free of all the ingredients we shouldn't be using. However, more often than not this is just really good marketing. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is my go-to for all things eco-friendly. They have a website where you can look up virtually any product and see its toxicity.
After discovering that so many of my go-to products were actually pretty darn toxic, I have been on the hunt for a brand that works well and is also gentle on the earth and my body. Enter Beautycounter. I discovered this brand a few months ago and have been wanting to try it since. I did a bunch of research and finally took the leap.
LOVE. Their products are amazing. A-mazing. They are also super low on the EWG scale to boot. So great and great for me! I won't use anything else.
Check out this amazing company. Gregg Renfrew, the founder is incredible and the products are second to none. You will be so happy you did!
Full disclosure, I am also a Beautycounter consultant, so I have recently started selling the products. I buy a lot, so I wanted to a) get them at a discounted price and b) share them with everyone I love becuase I think they are so incredible. With that, if you have questions about any products or want to host a social, give me a shout :).
Influenster Me!
It's been a long while, friends... Mama been busy! (More on "busy" in a future blog- I'm reading a really interesting book on this very subject right now).
Today, though, I wanted to tell you all about the #BlossomVoxBox I received from Influenster! It's chock full of fun stuff- Beanitos chips, Equitance Sunscreen, Hair Food Shampoo (yum!), Nasoya Pasta, Bear Naked Granola & NYC New York Color Eye Shadow. So fun!
I love getting to try all these products. As I type, I'm munching on the Bear Naked Granola, which is so amazing. I love to put it on yogurt for breakfast or a sweet snack. If you haven't tried @Beanitos chips, you have to check them out. They have 5 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein per serving and the Chipotle BBQ flavor is super yummy!
Later today, we are going on a nice Mother's Day hike, so I can't wait to try the Equitance Sunscreen- will report back!
Check out Influenster today- they host Twitter parties, may send you items to review and have TONS of reviews on anything and everything.
Note: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
Today, though, I wanted to tell you all about the #BlossomVoxBox I received from Influenster! It's chock full of fun stuff- Beanitos chips, Equitance Sunscreen, Hair Food Shampoo (yum!), Nasoya Pasta, Bear Naked Granola & NYC New York Color Eye Shadow. So fun!
I love getting to try all these products. As I type, I'm munching on the Bear Naked Granola, which is so amazing. I love to put it on yogurt for breakfast or a sweet snack. If you haven't tried @Beanitos chips, you have to check them out. They have 5 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein per serving and the Chipotle BBQ flavor is super yummy!
Later today, we are going on a nice Mother's Day hike, so I can't wait to try the Equitance Sunscreen- will report back!
Check out Influenster today- they host Twitter parties, may send you items to review and have TONS of reviews on anything and everything.
Note: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
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