Sustainable & Creative Living
My newest obsession is the Starbucks pink drink, which consists mostly of coconut milk, strawberries, and a delicious sugary syrup that makes the drink just perfect in my opinion. Every time I discover a drink I like at Starbucks I immediately start trying to recreate it at home. Mostly to save money because my obsession can get to be a little out of control if I let it, but also because I enjoy the thrill of knowing I can recreate the flashy, expensive drinks at [Read more…]
Granola is one of those healthy, tasty snacks everyone seems to like. I’m definitely in that group. After all, what’s not to like, right? Nuts, cinnamon, butter…yummy! I do prefer to make my own at home though. Homemade Granola is simple and easy to whip up, not mention so much less expensive. This Almond Apple Granola is the perfect granola to try the next time you’re [Read more…]
I love pancakes so I’m always interested in new ways of making them. I’d heard of using rolled oats and applesauce as the main ingredients in pancakes instead of flour and eggs so I put them together with blueberries, my current favorite in-season fruit. These Blueberry Oat Pancakes are chunky, dense, and so delicious. They’re so good you can eat them hot or cold! [Read more…]
I’m always trying to find or come up with healthy, easy to make snacks. Preferably sweet and/or cinnamony ones! I love the taste and texture of chickpeas in salads or roasted plain with garlic salt, but I thought they’d taste good with a sweet, cinnamon flavor. After some experimenting, I came up with this recipe for sweet Roasted Cinnamon Chickpeas to satisfy both [Read more…]
Hot tea is a great home remedy for a sore throat, even my doctor prescribes it when I’m suffering from a bout of strep or severe allergies. One of my favorite teas to drink when I’m sick is from Starbucks- Venti Honey Citrus Mint Tea- not only delicious but also runs about $5 a pop. That can add up pretty quickly when my throat bothers me for a week or two! In efforts to avoid going broke with daily Starbucks runs, I created [Read more…]
Lemons are one of those foods I like to have on hand in the kitchen to use as a quick, zesty flavor additive for chicken, veggies, tea, and, of course, ice water. They are packed with fiber and vitamin C, which makes the health benefits through the roof. Some specialists also believe that lemons aid in the prevention of kidney stones. As a long time sufferer of kidney disease, my nephrologist often praises the number of lemons I must eat as a result of my citric acid levels.
Lemons are such a versatile fruit, but I often find myself with a [Read more…]
If you’ve ever had yummy Greek treats like spinach pie or baklava then you know that infamous tissue-thin, light as a feather, melt in your mouth crunchy goodness is phyllo dough! The layered crunch comes from being brushed with oil or butter and then baked into light, flaky pastries. Growing up, I remember my mom using phyllo dough to make huge cheese and spinach pies that were never fully eaten and then later stored in the freezer for months. Over the years I’ve learned to incorporate my own twist on a nice family tradition but also scale it down a bit. These tiny Feta Stuffed Phyllo Bites are the perfect finger food for [Read more…]
Ok, so I’m a little behind the trend on the acai bowl craze. Yes, I just had one for the first time last weekend from Clean Juice. When I spent $12 on this delicious bowl of fruit and granola I thought I can for sure make this myself. Enter— this Pumpkin and Almond Butter Acai Bowl recipe. Bear Naked makes an awesome pumpkin granola blend but probably just until the end of fall so hurry to [Read more…]
Now that it’s Fall, all I hear about is pumpkin spice this and pumpkin spice that. I know I say that every Fall, but all that talk really seems to start earlier and earlier every year. Also, as I’ve said before, my favorite Fall flavor is anything apples and cinnamon. One of the best ways to enjoy the flavor of apples and cinnamon is [Read more…]
It’s almost the end of the strawberry season, which means I have to start stocking up on fresh strawberries while they’re cheap and tasty. Right now my local grocery store is selling a pound of strawberries for about $4. In about a month they’re going to go up $2-$3, and they’re not even going to taste as yummy! I was inspired by a recipe I found to make these Strawberry [Read more…]
If you’re a busy mom, like me, and always running out the door—habitually late for life, then you have to put this recipe for Chocolate Oatmeal Energy Bites on your to-do list. Lately, since my 4-year-old started preschool, I’ve been feeling the pressure to get out the door on time so, of course, something has got to give–I find that it’s usually my [Read more…]
Even though it’s still 1000 degrees here in Florida, summer is going to be over soon. I know a lot of you look forward to the whole pumpkin spice thing, but I hate when summer is over because I miss all the fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables. One of the best ways to enjoy the summer bounty of fruits and vegetables is by [Read more…]
One of my new morning obsessions is a nice, cold, Iced Matcha Latte. A form of green tea that is essentially in the powdered form. Traditional green tea is made from components of the leaves, which are infused with hot water and then the leaves are discarded. Matcha, on the other hand, is made from the entire leaf, powdered, and then mixed with milk or water. I’ve never been a coffee drinker, but I love getting that caffeine fix from my morning Matcha Latte without the [Read more…]
