Right now, as I await my connecting flight back to Texas in the frigid, stale airport air, I can’t help but reminisce on warm memories of the fun-filled, long weekend I just spent with my best friend in sunny Florida. The past five days were a little slice of heaven to my soul. We took long walks down the powder-white sand beaches, swam in the cool azure waters, tasted our way through some fantastic restaurants and just enjoyed one another’s company….
One of my favorite things about time off, whether it’s a vacation or a weekend, is the ability to slowly wake up and make breakfast at my own leisurely pace. While it’s also nice to have someone else spoil you by making you breakfast (or any meal!), I equally enjoy avoiding the hassle of leaving the house altogether (especially with these SXSW crowds!) Some may call this agoraphobia; I call it relaxing. (I’m a weird 24 year-old, this I know.) This mini frittata is a simple, healthy, grab-and-go option to get your “weekend breakfast” fix any day of the week. Once they cool, all you do is freeze individual portions (I do 2 or 3) in foil and then pop them in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes. That beats peanut butter toast any day.
I hope your weekend is brimming with whatever it is that fills and relaxes you. Happy Saturday and buen provecho!…
It has been well over one month since my last post. I never thought I would become this person! Perhaps Can you can let me off the hook this once and we can move on? Hmm…maybe it’s not that easy. Well, what if I tempt you with a mouth-watering photo and a recipe for some scrumptious sweet potato waffles that are also gluten-free? That’s what I thought. Bribery… Works every time. What can I say? A girl surrounded by 17 seven-year-olds day in and day out is bound to have a few tricks up her sleeves. And speaking of seven-year-olds, let’s get back to these waffles. They have a story to tell……
Isn’t it mind-boggling to think about how the brain so tightly intertwines memory with sense of smell? I’ve always wondered why that is. After a little investigation, I learned that the olfactory (sense of smell) cortex is embedded within the brain’s limbic system and amygdala, where emotions are born and emotional memories stored. That’s why smells, feelings and memories become so easily and intimately entangled (Natalie Angier @ NY Times)….
As I perch myself on the veranda railing of our Costa Rican casita, the rumble of thunder, pitter patter of rain, and multifarious birdsongs harmoniously combine into a much-welcomed rainforest symphony. When mother nature dictates ones schedule (to surf or to siesta?), of one thing you can be sure: utter relaxation. From the very moment I landed in this little slice of paradise, an ineffable sense of peace and calm ensued and has yet to even slightly dissipate. Around here, the “Ticos” (Costa Rican people) have a name for this nirvana I speak of. They call it La Pura Vida. …
I am a breakfast aficionada through and through. I’m sure you are catching on to that notion, seeing as my last post was a breakfast recipe as well. One might even wager that I haven’t gone a day of my life without eating breakfast. Yep, I’m that person. Obedient towards the research (err—towards morning hunger pangs). However, I’m not the person who will wake up at 5am to make fresh crepes or a veggie fritatta before going to work. No way. I also value my sleep (and my sanity.) That is where this addictive, yet healthy granola comes into play. It only takes minutes to make and is much more economical than buying granola. Never buy granola! (Next time you go to grocery shopping..let my little voice ring in your ears.) I make it on Sunday night with the intention of it lasting me through the week. Fail. It vanishes by Tuesday….it’s really that good. Pour it over some greek yogurt. Top with fresh berries. And you will be set until lunchtime! ¡Buen provecho!
Behold, my very first baked post!
Hmmm…that came out wrong. I have an uncanny gift for things coming out wrong. My fifth graders will tell you. But anyways, that’s not what I’m talking about here.
I am sure you have guessed it by now. I am not a big baker. Measuring is not my forté; sugar and flour are not normally my friends (unless they are part of a marinade or a roux, that is). I am all about tasting as you go, feeling the flavor, and surprising myself with the results….
Next month I will be graduating from college. As I near this monumental time in life, my tendency towards nostalgia is stronger than ever, and I constantly find myself reflecting on these past four (and a half) years with great joy and yes, a tinge of sadness as well. From Florida, to Spain, back to Texas and everywhere in between, my college years have been replete with constant adventure and growth. There has yet to be a dull moment….
Living in Austin allows a certain degree of Tex-Mex snobbery, more specifically, breakfast taco snobbery. May sound weird to “outsiders,” but Austin proudly boasts itself as home of the breakfast taco, and that is a-ok with me. From Taco Deli to Texas Honey Ham, there are more than a few places to help cure a person’s Saturday morning Tex-Mex temptation….
Some mornings I wake up and my body is undeniably demanding, “ I need greens!” And while I do consider myself a healthy eater, I will never be one of those people who can eat a big green salad first thing in the morning. So, I cheat. This smoothie looks healthy (and pretty) due to the oh-so-clever addition of spinach, but you can’t even taste it, and you get an added iron boost. Win-win. Furthermore, it is packed full of protein from the creamy almond butter and almond milk, the cinnamon helps stabilize blood pressure and can help lower LDL (bad cholesterol). Oh…AND it’s delicious and keeps you satisfied for hours! What’s not to love?
