Mar 29, 2016

Lessons from 22

Tomorrow is my 23rd birthday!


YAY!

Before I bid 22 adieu, here are 22 lessons I learned from being 22!

...okay, some aren't actually lessons, but rather just awesome things that happened when I was 22 or that I discovered. They still deserve a spot on this list!

1) Working from a windowsill beats working from a desk every time.

2) You don't always need a plan.

3) Coconut oil makes a great skin and hair moisturizer, as well as an excellent butter substitute in cookies. Basically, coconut oil is bae.
4) It is impossible to say (or type, or think) the word 'bae' without bursting into laughter.

5) There is beauty in every disaster if you look closely enough!

6) To-do lists never go out of fashion.

7) Doing laundry at 5am is the best way to make sure you'll get a free machine.

8) If you fold or hang up your clothes as soon as they get out of the dryer, you'll have so much less ironing.

9) It's okay to change your mind.

10) Sometimes it's better to say what you're thinking.

Mar 26, 2016

Recipe: Cherry Pecan Bread

Banana bread is a beloved breakfast and snack time staple. Cherries are a beloved summertime fruit. And pecans taste like lazy afternoons in North Carolina.

This cherry pecan bread is a combination of all three!

Quick Bread Recipe


This recipe is quick and easy! There are no crazy, hard to find, or expensive ingredients and all you need for kitchen gadgets is your standard measuring cup/spoon set, two mixing bowls, an electric mixer, and a wooden spoon.

It's great eaten warm with a pat of butter, cold with pecan butter, or toasted with cherry jam! There's really no wrong way to eat it and since it's quick, easy, and bakes into a beautiful and delicious loaf, it makes an excellent gift or potluck brunch contribution! Read on for the recipe.

Mar 23, 2016

Review: BRAMI Beans

Do you know what the most protein-packed bean out there is? Hint: it's not a black bean. It's not kidney bean. It's not a garbanzo bean.



It's a lupini bean!

Have you heard of lupini beans? Unless you're from the Mediterranean, or familiar with Mediterranean cuisine, it's quite likely that you haven't. I hadn't!

Lupini beans are the most protein packed bean in the world and a snack favorite of Roman warriors. They're rich in fiber, as well, so an all around great snack!

Mar 19, 2016

My Top 10 Favorite Baking Hacks

I love baking and have been baking for as long as I can remember!

I could bake every day and be the happiest girl in the world (assuming we can temporarily ignore the food waste and cost of ingredients for this happy hypothetical).

My friends and family know me as a good baker now, but that wasn't always the case. I've had my fair share of kitchen disasters and near disasters!

The person who set this pasta on fire.

I promise that's not my photo (it's cooking, not baking, anyway) and I have never set pasta on fire. But seriously - how do you set pasta on fire?

I'm also confused by this election, but that's a different topic.
The good thing about (mild) kitchen disasters is that they can be great learning experiences! Read on for some of my ten favorite kitchen hacks - some picked up from books and fellow bakers over the years and others learned the hard way!

Mar 16, 2016

Review: Kit's Organic

I love Luna Bars! They're made by women, for women and they're both vegan and (as of fairly recently) gluten-free, so they fit into many different healthy diets! They're as delicious as dessert, but as healthy as a busy millennial's snack ought to be. 

But this post isn't about Luna bars!


Kit's Organic is another line of delicious snack bars from Clif Bar, the healthy snack company that makes Luna Bars!

Like Luna Bars, Kit's Organic bars are vegan and dairy-free. But for those with soy sensitivities, or who just like to avoid much soy, Kit's Organic are the perfect choice. They're soy-free! 

The fruit and nut bars are made of just a few simple ingredients, combined in really delicious ways, and are, as you could probably have guessed from the name of the line, certified organic!

Mar 13, 2016

Five Foods to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day is just around the bend!


I am 0% Irish, but holidays are fun. Especially when you can dress up and make festive foods! Here are five fun recipes from the blogosphere for St. Patrick's Day. I can't wait to try some of them!



Are you a fan of red velvet flavored desserts (or do you know someone who is)? This is a fun alternative that's perfect for the holiday and still delicious! It's a great option if you're having friends over for tea!

...please tell me I'm not the only twenty-something year old who enjoys afternoon tea. Tea is the new clubbing! Yes? Yes!


Melt in your mouth Mint Sugar Cookies!

Mint and chocolate are great flavors to combine any time of the year and a favorite of many, but they're absolutely perfect or St. Patrick's Day! 

These are super cute if you want to make a little gift that's easy to hand out to friends (or colleagues or teachers) on St. Patrick's Day. Just put a few cooled cookies in a clear plastic bag and tie it with a cute green ribbon for an adorable little appreciation gift for those who make you smile all year long!

Mar 9, 2016

Review: Luna Bars

Spring is a fun time full of renewal. We clean our houses and our closets, coax our gardens back to life, and try out new outdoor adventures, to celebrate the beautiful weather!

Some of our favorite companies, like Luna Bar also like to refresh things every now and then. Along with our long-time favorites, there are new Luna Bar varieties to enjoy!



It' always fun to try something new!

Mar 5, 2016

Recipe: Avogolemono Soup

Greek food is one of the most popular cuisines and for good reason. There are so many great flavors in Greek food!

I shared a spanakopita recipe a while ago (if you haven't tried it yet, do it!) and today we're continuing our Mediterranean culinary adventures with a delicious, simple to follow avogolemono soup recipe!



The tart flavor of lemon works wonderfully with the creamy (from eggs) soup base for a fun spin on chicken soup! It's warming, flavorful, features simple ingredients, and makes a great starter or side to a full Greek meal.

Alternately, you can add a little more chicken to the soup and pair it with warm, freshly-baked pita bread for a light meal. Read on for the recipe!

Mar 2, 2016

Five Pies to Celebrate National Pie Day!

It's already March! Spring is coming (the official start this year is March 20), my birthday is coming, and, before either of those, Pi Day is coming! March 14, aka Pi or Pie Day, is a great excuse to bake a pie!

...or lots and lots of pies...

Here are five great pies to consider making this Pie Day!


Classic Southern Buttermilk Pie

I grew up in North Carolina and, though my family has since moved out of the South and I don't expect to have any personal connection to the South in the future, I still fondly recall the sweet, slow, summer (but really spring and fall, because summer is an unbearable sauna). This pie is as smooth and sweet as a southern summer Sunday!

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