October Degustabox Unboxing

Tweet

Pin It

Did you see my September Degustabox Unboxing?

It's a new month - how is it already October 2016?? - and with a new month comes a new Degustabox! To refresh, Degustabox is a monthly subscription service that delivers a big box full of full-sized foodie finds (10-15 of them!) to subscribers every month.

I love getting mail, trying new things, and good food. It's perfect!

I love that every box comes with a greeting sheet telling me a bit more about all the products in the box on one side and offering up some relevant recipes on the other side. 

There are typically also some coupons in the mix, to help you save money if you like any of the products so much that you want to buy more. Yay for coupons! My mom instilled a great appreciation for coupons in me - sometimes we'd get an entire grocery cart full of food for like $7 and it always felt so amusingly satisfying.

Anyway, on to the actual food! We'll start with the food that accompanied the two recipes included in this box:

Barilla is my go-to brand for pasta (check out my mac & cheese recipe) and as a carb-loving vegetarian, I was thrilled to see that I could get 17g of protein and a good dose of ALA Omega-3 fatty acids from eating my pasta, with their new high-protein multigrain pasta.

Read More...

Travel Wrap-Up: My Trip to Germany!

Tweet

Pin It

Tomorrow I start my new job at a tech startup in Cambridge, MA! I've already moved into my new apartment and love it. The location is great, my roommate is really nice, the common spaces are lovely, and (for the first time in a while) I've finally taken the time to really decorate my room in a way that reflects my personality and makes me happy!

I have a cat hanging from my light switch! So yes, I love my new home. I'm also so excited to start my new job tomorrow and learn a lot!

Before that, here's a photo dump post of some beautiful images from my summer vacation with my family in Germany! I'm already looking forward to visiting them again next summer. <3 p="">

I love strolling around the Schloss Derneburg property!

Read More...

The Best Acai Bowls in Boston

Tweet

Pin It

I love acai bowls! They're fruity, sweet, refreshing, creamy, and have some yummy crunch from the granola.

I love the combination of different textures and flavors from the blended fruits, chopped fruits, and granola. I love that they make a perfect breakfast, snack, or light lunch. I love that they're portable and delicious and satisfying without weighing me down or making me sleepy (the opposite of what a lunch should do, especially on a work day).



NYC is an acai bowl heaven, but I've been in Boston all summer and am making the move here (or, rather, Cambridge) full time in just a few short weeks. Luckily for me, moving to Boston might mean that I give up some of my NYC favorites (at least unless I move back some day) like Juice Generation, Magic Mix Juicery, and Juice Press. But I don't have to give up acai bowls!

There are several places in Boston where you can get an acai bowl. Here are my two favorites!

Read More...

Review: Degustabox

Tweet

Pin It

I love trying new foods and will try most (vegetarian) foods once. How great would it be if new foods just showed up in our pantries to try whenever we wanted?



Degustabox makes basically exactly that happen! Degustabox is a subscription service that delivers 10 to 15 new foods to your doorstep every month. Unlike other subscription box services, these foods aren't just new to you - they're new to the market!



Best of all, you actually save money by using Degustabox to try new foods. You get the same products for less than they cost in the shops!

Read More...

Top Ten Kitchen Essentials

Tweet

Pin It

Every time I move or even just cook in someone else's kitchen, I am reminded of what a huge difference a well-stocked kitchen is!

Fortunately, I've never been anywhere near this desperate.

If you're still moving a lot, don't cook that often, or don't want to spend a lot on kitchen supplies, you can get away with skipping some of the fun extras, like food processors and rice cookers, as long as you have these ten kitchen essentials!

1) Cutting Board.

Some people like to get at least two cutting boards (one for meat/fish and one for produce/grains), but at least one good cutting board is absolutely necessary! I can't imagine how one could possibly cook without one, unless everything is pre-prepared (and buying only pre-chopped ingredients is such an expensive, wasteful, and packaging-heavy way to cook).

I highly recommend wooden cutting boards, because then you know there are no icky chemicals rubbing off into your food. If you take good care of your wooden cutting board(s) it/they can last forever!

2) Knife Set.

Good knives are expensive and are so, so, so fun too cook with. But if you're on a budget, moving a lot, live with roommates, or just don't cook enough to justify the cost to yourself, a cheap knife set from Ikea will do (that's what I have at the moment, since I live with roommates, and I make it work).

3) High-Speed Blender.

VitaMixes are obviously the dream, but their $400-$800 price tag is far from ideal. Unless you're making cream soups, produce-packed smoothies, nice cream, dips, or homemade nut butters everyday, I recommend the Ninja system.

It has its quirks and limits, but I've been pretty happy with mine for a few years!

Read More...

My Top 10 Favorite Baking Hacks

Tweet

Pin It

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!

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!

Read More...

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Tweet

Pin It

Banana bread is a classic. Chocolate is delicious. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is a no-brainer!

This loaf is sweet, with the delicious moist crumb that makes banana bread a favorite for many, and it's studded with chocolate chips for a yummy surprise in every bite!



Read on for the simple to follow recipe. It's great for a sweet breakfast or a snack, either on its own or toasted and topped with whatever spread you desire!

Read More...

Recipe: County Fair Apple Pie

Tweet

Pin It

Before I get to today's dessert recipe, I have exciting news to share.

The Princess Games was released today! 

King Winkle and Queen Periwinkle have a problem. They need a princess, and they need her fast. With the upcoming peace-keeping marriage between Prince Linus of Branninia and the princess of the fair Kingdom of Hoggenbottom, it's a bit risky to admit they don't have a princess.

Instead, they decide to host The Princess Games. Soon enough, the fairest maidens of the land are gathered in front of the castle, fairy-godmothers in tow! With a goofy king, an obsessive compulsive advisor, and a fairy godmother whose spells do whatever they want, these games are about to get interesting.

Even if Emma and her clumsy Fairy Louise can manage to do well in the competition, she'll have to get past the expert spells of Fairy Faye and the beauty of Laralyn, who is intent on pleasing her ambitious mother at any cost.

Check it out on Amazon!

Okay, back to the food - I may be a city girl now, but that doesn't change that I grew up in North Carolina. Carolina girls love pie!

Whether you're a southerner, a northerner, a mid-westerner, or something else entirely (I realize I didn't mention most of the planet), I am sure you can enjoy a good pie. And if you can't you just haven't had really good pie yet!

Whether you need a recipe for a dessert for a dinner party, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just because, this apple pie recipe is a simple and delicious way to convert your friends and family to the pie side of life! 



It's sweeter over here.

Read More...

NYC Summer Giveaway - $100 Gift Card to Peapod.com for Grocery Delivery!

Tweet

Pin It

Who's ready for summer?

I am! And that bird.

With the beautiful weather we've been having a lately, it's already prime picnic and rooftop party time in NYC. To celebrate that, and (more to the point) the recent expansion of Peapod's delivery area to include grocery delivery to all five boroughs of NYC, we're giving away a $100 gift card to Peapod.com!

Read More...

22 Days Nutrition: Eat like Beyoncé

Tweet

Pin It

Try not to swoon from excitement, if you haven't heard this yet and you're a Queen Bey fan.

In the best news to hit the BeyHive since Beyonce casually dropped that amazing album the way the rest of us drop a bagel, it is now possible to eat just like Beyoncé did during her famous vegan challenge with Jay-Z last year!

Read More...

Best Healthy Vegan Fast Food in NYC

Tweet

Pin It

NYC has lots of wonderful food. It's also a mecca for vegans and vegetarians, just like LA on the West Coast. Here are some of my favorites!

Let's start with my absolute favorite. I'm obsessed with Juice Generation, especially their off-the-wall delicious Maki Rolls, and I am so thrilled that they're opening a cafe in my neighborhood later this spring!

I'm so stoked to have so many maki rolls in my life. Their acai bowls are also great, considering that it's not Hawaii!

Read More...

Where To Eat In Greensboro

Tweet

Pin It

Though I live in NYC now, I grew up in a (comparatively) small town in North Carolina.

Greensboro, NC is a beautiful, calm place to live with tons of gorgeous green trees, lovely lakes, sprawling suburbs, and...not that much to do, as far as cultural activities go. What we do have is lots of shopping (inside, outside, a mix of the two) and some pretty good food.

The produce in Greensboro, NC is much better than in Manhattan, not to mention much cheaper. And while North Carolina might have a lower restaurant density than Manhattan, there are still plenty of great dining options.

Here are some that I recommend!

Read More...

Best Thanksgiving Desserts of 2014

Tweet

Pin It

Potluck style Thanksgiving dinners are the best for a number of reasons.

It's fair division of labor, so everyone has some fun cooking, but no one's completely exhausted by dinner time.

It's fair division of costs, since everyone ends up buying some ingredients, but no one is saddled with the cost of creating an entire multi-course Thanksgiving dinner for X number of people.

It's a fair division of effort, so everyone has time to sleep in and take it easy on Thanksgiving morning, and no one is forced to get up at the crack of dawn to get to work in the kitchen.

But, quite honestly, my favorite thing about potluck Thanksgiving dinners is that I can claim volunteer for dessert. I love making desserts, they're so fun!

Here are some great recipes to try this Thanksgiving!

How about we start with a fancier, healthier pumpkin pie for the epicureans?

Bourbon Laced Pumpkin Pie with Walnut Crumb Topping

It's the walnut crumb topping that really makes it (though I'd still serve it with ice cream, instead of whipped cream, because ice cream is always the best with pie - period).

Southern Pecan Pie

Okay, so I realize this looks like a shameless plug for one of my own recipes, but it's actually really delicious. Just try it and you'll see what I mean.

If you're in the mood for something fruitier, this next recipe might be right up your alley.

Baked Apple Dumplings

Feeling international? Pay tribute to our Canadian neighbors with a Butter Tart?

Maple "Butter Tart" Pie

I'm not really sure why, but butter tart always makes me think of Harry Potter...

But back to the All-American. Are you a Pioneer Woman fan? 

Honestly, aren't we all?

Then try this: 

Caramel Apple Pie

You'll never settle for plain apple pie again. Don't forget to serve ice cream on top!

What are you serving for dessert today?

What part of the meal are you responsible for?

Are you heading out for Black Friday shopping tomorrow?

Basically, if this is Black Friday shopping:

 

- are you the cat or the kid?

Read More...

Barney Butter

Tweet

Pin It

I looove almond butter.

So does C, my little sister - luckily, because more and more schools are putting peanut bans on lunch.  C has pretty adult tastes at time. For example, she enjoys quiche and green smoothies.



But sometimes all kids just want to eat kid foods! PB&J sandwiches are a childhood classic and while almond butter and banana sandwiches are the shizz, the grainier texture of almond butter just isn't the same for classic sandwiches as the smooth and creamy peanut butter.

Barney Butter is the answer to our peanut butter ban problems. It's the almond butter that thinks it's peanut butter! But really.

It's smooth, creamy, just like your classic childhood peanut butter in texture and consistency.

On top of all that, it's something you can really feel good about making your sandwich with.

A winner of the 2011 Healthy Food Awards, it's chockfull of nutrients and healthy fats!

Barney Butter is also really fun because there are so many different varieties! I tried single serving packs of several of them, but they do come in normal-sized jars for daily sandwich creation.

There's plain smooth, plain crunchy, honey + flax, chia, cocoa + coconut, and vanilla bean. They're all delicious! My favorite is probably cocoa + coconut.

Oh, and did I mention that they're certified gluten free, non-GMO, verified kosher, and all natural? Because they are. And, again, completely peanut free!

If you have a child (or younger sibling), does his/her school have a peanut ban?

Do you have any allergies?

What's your favorite consistency of nut butter? I'm a crunchy girl all the way!

Read More...

Better Brunching: Easy Spinach Quiche Recipe

Tweet

Pin It

Brunch is a great social occasion and one of the best meals of the weekend!

But it can be pricey. And eating out requires you to get dressed and go out in public. That's generally a good thing, but let's be honest - after a Saturday night of hard partying, the last thing you want to face is the crowded NYC subway or slow LA traffic.

You just want food.

For Sundays when you'd like to save some money, get your food without leaving your house, or just show off your inner domestic goddess, here's a quick and easy quiche recipe!

Easy Spinach Quiche

Serves Six

* 2 Tbsp Margarine
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 10 oz bag frozen spinach
* 1 unbaked pie crust (I used a Harris Teeter brand 9" deep dish frozen crust)
* 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
* 5 eggs, beaten
* 1/4 tsp. salt
* 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
* 1/4 c. fresh grated parmeson cheese

1) Preheat oven to 350F.

2) Melt margarine in a large pan over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, and frozen spinach, stirring occasionally. Cook until all the water from the frozen spinach has evaporated.

3) Mix 1.5 c. of the cheddar cheese with the eggs and spices in a large bowl. Add the vegetable mixture from the pan, mix well.

4) Pour eggy filling into the crust.

5) Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and the parmesan cheese on top.

6) Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until center has set.



7) Cut into sixths and serve warm - or cold! This is also great as leftovers later on in the day, so it's perfect for a Sunday.

Brunching out is fun now and then, but it's just as fun to try doing it yourself sometimes!

What's your favorite thing to make for brunch when you have guests?

What percentage of the time do you go out vs. stay in for brunch with friends?

What's your favorite kind of quiche?

Read More...

Back to School: Rock the Lunchbox

Tweet

Pin It

We love back to school in our house. It's one of our favorite times of the year, back to school shopping almost gets us as excited as that first Christmas movie in August November!

It's not hard to find cute school supplies (though it is an ueber-Bummer that C's fourth grade class does the 'communal school supplies' thing, so we can't get all her all pink glitter everything).

A little harder than finding a cute backpack, however, is finding a lunch that pleases both mom (aka: the nutrition concerned one) and student (aka: the "where are my gummy bears?" one). That's why we decided to take the Rock the Lunchbox Draw Your Dream Lunch challenge this year!



C was happy to comply and drew a picture of what she would pack for a lunch without mommies checking lunchbox vitamin level.

We gave it a look. Probably the same you're giving it right now - the one that basically says HA.

Then we check out Rock the Lunch for some ideas of how to transform the lunch into a healthy one!



We ran to the supermarket for some quality ingredients! Along with a few super handy lunch containers Rock the Lunchbox sent our way (reusable is cool, guys) we were ready to go!

We asked C what it was that she liked about pizza for lunch and she said that she liked the cheesiness and the different flavors. Cheesiness? Flavors? We can do that!



We made a healthy pizza sandwich, instead, with Rudi's Honey Sweet Whole Wheat bread as our crust. With 25g of whole grains, no GMOs, no high fructose corn syrup, and an organic label, it's an excellent place to start. Then we added some sliced tomatoes, a dollop of pizza sauce on the bread, and a slice of Organic Valley Muenster cheese, which is basically creamy deliciousness in a calcium-rich, and hormone-free, slice.

C's thoughts? Yum! Our thoughts were equally positive, because that's the kind of power sandwich a growing girl needs.



The drink was a no-brainer - we swapped the soda for a Honest Kids Super Fruit Punch. It's sweet, flavorful, and C loved it. Best of all, it's organic, free of the fake stuff, and sweetened only by fruit!

For the sides, we went for grapes instead of gummy bears (naturally sweet and tart and wonderful!), a few carrots for some extra veggie factor and crunch (with a little tub of ranch!) and Annie's Cheddar Bunnies instead of cheese puffs. They're still cheesy, salty snack awesomeness, but they're organic and made with real aged cheddar. They're a healthy salty snack!

Lastly, we rounded out the meal with some chocolate mini rice cakes and baguette slices with lentil dip to share. C loves when mom or I (when I'm in town) come to visit at lunch. We always forget to bring any food for ourselves, though! C was thrilled to be able to include a little something in her lunchbox for when one of us visits.

All in all, we were very happy with how we rocked C's lunchbox - she was thrilled! Healthy can be every bit as delicious (often even more so) than unhealthy!

What are your favorite parts of back to school?

What's in your dream lunch?

What's your favorite healthy lunch switch?

Read More...

Green Yums Review: Bringing The Farm To The City

Tweet

Pin It

I've been living in NYC for almost two months now and all-in-all, I love it.

I love big cities and small towns. I love convenience and constant access. I love writing, fashion,   crunchy-granola vegetarian food, and acting. Guess where the most auditions are outside of LA (and the only audition-heavy place with a great public transit system)?

It's not a surprise that I chose NYC for my first post-grad home!

There are just a few things I don't love: mobs when I'm trying to walk around, slow walkers, the high costs of EVERYTHING, aaaaaaand - crappy produce options.

Honestly, if I'm paying $3 for a frickin' apple, I expect it to be crisp, sweet, manna-like perfection. That's not asking too much, is it?

And if I'm paying $5.99 for a bag of spinach (with a whopping two servings in it) I expect it to be crisp and green and, well, not wilted and 90% of the way to decomposed.

Zeytuna, Gristedes, Jubilee Market, and all the other grocery stores around here seem to disagree, however. High price, low quality - UM what? There has to be a better option.

^The better option

I decided to give a produce delivery service a spin, because:

(a) it's convenient
(b) it's not actually more expensive than getting groceries from the store, given exorbitant city prices
(c) the quality can really only go up, right?



Spoiler: I'm glad that I did. I ordered from Green Yums and would definitely recommend them to all city-dwellers facing similar produce deserts, because they're not only as convenient as can be, but the value is also so much better than shopping for produce at the grocery store.

Delivery is easy. They packed the produce in a cooler box that held them fresh from their delivery at around 10am until I got home from work (and then my weekly five hour on camera acting class) at around 11:30pm. Impressive!



It's a great way to try new things. Like dandelion greens!



I would never have chosen a bunch of these weed-looking greens for myself (they seem like something I would have fed my pet guinea pig, Diddle, back in the day) but I'm glad that I got the chance to!



They made for a really different, but delicious, green smoothie. Just add extra honey/fruit/sugar/agave nectar, because dandelion greens are more bitter than spinach or even kale!



I also got to try this funky looking leaves:



I'm still not sure what they are, but they're great sauteed in walnut oil with a little grated parmesan or vegan parmesan on top.



Limes, cantaloupe, pears, zucchini, corn on the cob, and nectarines rounded out the list of things I don't normally buy. But my staples, apples, bananas, and cucumbers were also represented!



It was a really great haul that had me inspired to get back into the kitchen - quite a feat after how uninspired I'd been feeling later. It's hard to get excited about wilted spinach from Zeytuna!



The value is far superior to city-priced produce. You don't actually pay more, but every piece of produce was totally crisp, high quality, and even organic! Everything tasted great and nourishing and was visually appealing.



It was a much needed change!

Where do you live - in a city, a suburb, a town...?

Where do you buy your produce most often?

Have you tried a produce delivery service?

Read More...