I Think It's Tme You Grew Up: Grown up PB&J

One of my favorite go to warps/pits/sandwiches! No joke I would eat this everyday if I could. Not to mention putting it together is pretty pain free as well :)

Southwest Cobb

Even though life has been a little crazy as of late and I haven't had time to do as much cooking, I still on average make about 3-4 meals a day. So with less time spent at home I've been in need of amazing breakfasts and energizing lunches that are also quick to throw together.
 

Is That Bacon I Smell?

I finally got my butt to the grocery store the other day, and while on a quest to pick up some essentials (fruits, veggies, Jif for the hubby) I came across a small bottle of liquid smoke. I had heard of the stuff before but never actually cooked with it. I knew that you could use it in barbecue sauces and thought that would be fun so I picked some up.

Holy Kittycats!

Probably the greatest thing ever!!!!

I dare you watch this without it getting stuck in your head!

Happy Easter!!

Bird's Nests:

• 1 bag non dairy chocolate chips
• 1c peanut butter
• 6c cereal of your choice (I used Kashi GoLean because I thought it would make pretty nests)
• jelly beans

Melt chocolate in microwave, stir in peanut butter and toss with cereal, drop into clumps on cookie sheet and top with jelly beans, freeze for at least 1 hour.

How Sweet It Is: Sweet Potato Oatmeal

Good morning everybody!

I know a couple of days ago I mentioned I hadn't gotten around to grocery shopping... yeeaa... still haven't done it. So once again, I had to get my creative juices flowing and I came up with this bowl of awesome after a quick bout of google research.

Avocado Oatmeal with Apple-Strawberry Salsa

I've been experimenting with breakfast as of late. I have the most energy to cook right away in the morning so it works out perfect. I also have a bad habit of getting bored with having the same old oatmeal or bowl of cereal or toast. Not that there's nothing wrong with any of these things, it's just, on there own they're so bland... so blah... like "meh, good morning... whatever". I'm sorry, but that's just no way to start the day.

I also have had no time to grocery shop for the last couple days so I've been getting creative with what I have on hand, this particular morning it was avocado, fruit, onions and peppers. Obviously I did what anyone would do and I turned it into a sweet and savory oatmeal, duh.

(Keep in mind: this salsa is best eaten that day, you most likely will have leftovers for what this recipe calls for. It goes great with chips and it makes and add a bunch of your favorite leafy greens and it also makes for an amazing salad!)

Strawberry-Apple Salsa:

• 1c chopped strawberries
• 1 apple chopped
• 1/4c onion, finely diced
• 1 jalapeno, finley diced
• 1 limes worth of juice
• 3t fresh basil, chopped
• 1t ground coriander
• 1t salt

Chop up all ingredients, toss together with spices in a bowl. Cover and chill for 30 minutes before serving.

Avocado Oatmeal with Strawberry-Apple Salsa: (serves 4)

• 2c dry regular or thick oats
• 3c water
• 1c almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
• 1/4t salt
• 1/4t chili powder
• 1/4t coriander
• 1/2t cinnamon
• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 ripe banana (ripe as in a few brown spots)
• 1T fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1c Strawberry-Apple Salsa (see above)

Combine oats, water, almond milk and spices in a sauce pan and cook according to package directions.

While oats cook, peel avocado and banana. Place in a medium sized bowl, add lemon juice and mash together thoroughly.

When oats are finished cooking remove them from heat and stir in avocado mixture. Divide evenly into four bowls and top each one with 1/4 cup of the Strawberry-Apple Salsa.

This song has been seriously stuck in my head for the last three days haha

Colombian Breakfast: Calentado

I am absolutely fascinated by food from exotic places. No more so than with Colombian food (I think you guys know why). I've been doing a lot of research on different Colombian recipes and I love that behind every recipe is generations of experience. Grandmothers passing recipes on to mother passing on to daughters. There's something so personal about it while at the same time so comforting and welcoming.

Give Your Oatmeal A Buzz: Chai Spiced Oats

A caffeine buzz that is!

I've been lovin' chai tea for the last couple weeks. A new job has reawakened my love for the morning boost that comes with black tea. And I am a flavor junkie, I love heavily spiced things like Indian food, Latin American food, and Thai food, so that's why chai tea is perfect for me, strong black tea flavors blended with my favorite spices. You might remember me using chai in my Sweet Spiced Chai Hash. Well surprise you can also use it to cook oatmeal!

I Can Be Sweet Sometimes: Sweet Spiced Chai Hash

As you all have gotten to know, I am a fan of mixing things up. I've made a savory oatmeal, and a spicy cookie, among other things. This particular morning I turned my curiosities to hash browns. I can't speak for any of you but when I think of a good breakfast hash, I think potatoes, peppers, onions and the like. But then I asked myself, why couldn't it be sweet?

So Fast It'll Blow Your Mind: Savory Tofu Pasta

No joke, this recipe will take you 15 minutes MAX! Mike found it two years ago (literally) in the midst of one of his Men's Health magazines and on a whim we decided to make it, it was amazing, so we lovingly tore the page out and tucked it away in our "stuff drawer" (don't judge, every kitchen has one)

Getting Back on Track (Pun Intended) and Cashew Tofu

Just got done running my little heart out, at 4am. To be honest with how crazy busy I've been not only has my cooking kind of been put on the back burner (also pun intended), but my Urbanathlon training hasn't been going as steadily as I would have hoped either.

That's why I decided for the next few posts I'll be taking my favorite all time go-to recipes, and revamping them! These are recipes that either came from or were inspired by recipes in magazines like Men's/Women's Health, and Cooking Light. The also usually contained meat, so I'm going to remake them meatless :)

Rejoin The Living... With Breakfast!

Maybe you partied a little too hard last night. Or maybe you've eaten like shit for the past few days and you feel like you need to get back on track. Or maybe you just really like fruit.

Fear not, all the solutions lie within this bowl.

Sring is a Good Time To Thai New Things: Pad Thai

Dear Minnesota, Thank you for not trying to freeze me into submission when I walked outside today. I actually was able to go without a jacket, it was awesome.

So it's been a crazy week, and it's not that I haven't been cooking. Its more that by the time I'm done cooking, my heads ready to hit the pillow. No joke. But It's all for good reasons that I've been so wiped out.

The Air Is Filled With The Smell Of Spring! ...And Jambalaya!

Today was a beautiful day! The sunwas out and it was over 50 degrees for the first time in sooo many long months. Absolutely gorgeous! As the day went on and the sun started to loose strength, the air became chilly and I was inspired to whip up something to warm us back up.

Live Young Die Fast

I wanted to say thank you to Jon, and Live Young Die Fast for being so sweet and giving me a shout out today!

If you're not familiar with him he's a really cool guy with an awesome blog and sweet clothing company. Seriously, If you got time check him out http://liveyoungdiefastmn.blogspot.com/. I would also highly suggest checking out his clothes either online or at The Youth Shelter Supply!

Over 1000 hits!!! Plus Chocolate Chip Cookies and Why I'm an April Fool

I just wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! to everyone who takes the time to read my blog. It really means the world to me that you guys are so awesome and supportive! I promise to keep bringing you guys tons more recipes! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!