Happy Day 2... To A New You!

Welcome to day 2!
How do you feel?  I already know of some friends who have cut out refined sugar or alcohol or tried yoga for the first time today... Great Job you guys!
Well, my "no refined sugar" for a week goal didn't go as planned...
I reached for a bowl of complimentary chocolates at a store this afternoon with out even realizing it!
Ooooops! But it's ok, shit happens like we learned yesterday.  Tomorrow I will try harder.
Have you come up with a goal yet?  Don't forget to write it down!

Todays menu is so pure and cleansing...you will love it!
And today's healthy living tip is even better!

Eat Your Way Clean!

Ok, backing up to the basics...
I have been getting some feedback in regards to the menu I posted on, Day 1 To a New You.
My apologies for not helping you properly stock your fridge/pantry for the week...

Happy Day 1... To A New YOU!

Hello There!
So... today did not start off exactly the way I expected.  But that's ok, bumps in the road are part of life.
Today's bump was the inspiration behind my first healthy living tip...

Tip #1
Shit happens, don't beat yourself up, move on.

A New Year... A New You!

Happy New Year Everyone!

I am feeling so good about 20-12... great things are going to happen...
I have a feeling!

For the next 7 days join me on the path to a new healthy you!

Every day I will be sharing recipes and tips on how to make healthy living enjoyable, fun and easy.

Savory Pie Bites

Blue Cheese, Skillet Red Potatoes, Pancetta, Caramelized Onion and Rosemary 

Herbed Goat Cheese, Zucchini, Parmesan and Thyme

Holiday Gift Ideas

A looooooooong over due update is much needed from me.

I have been so busy with catering events and haven't had time to post in a month :(

Good news though, I have a ton of new fabulous recipes I am so excited to share!

Until then, here are a few DYI gift ideas

I went to an antique store and bought a set of butter knives, soup spoons and a cake server.

The Cheese Course book and Butter Knife for Aunt Izzy 

 Slow Cookers book and Silver Soup Spoons for Mom and Dad

  Marinated Greek Feta with...

 Rosemary and Fleur de Sal Flatbread with a Butter Knife

Homemade Pumpkin Granola for Clients at the gym and friends

 Cake Stand and Silver Server for my cousin, Mindee 

Happy Giving!

A Mediterranean Spread

HairDo for an I Do Night

Side Braid and Bun for a Wedding

Last night was a very special night.  One of my best friends, Kaity, got hitched!
I'm so fortunate to have a really tight group of girlfriends.   There's actually about 15 of us chicas who make up our special group, and to add to the special-ness we have all known each other since elementary school or middle school!
Anyway, Kaity is the first one of us to get married, making this all the more special and memorable.

When Life Hands You Lemons...

...Make Dessert

A client of mine recently gave me 20 lbs of lemons from their yard and asked me to surprise them with some gluten free treats.

Eggplant Cannelloni

ok, I get it, this is not really cannelloni.  The only true similarity between this and cannelloni is that tube shapes are stuffed and baked- plus lots of tomato sauce, parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Anyway, my version is healthier, vegetarian and gluten free! wooohooo!

Roasted Eggplant and Tomatoes

I feel as though the only recipes I post are sweet/dessert recipes...which is not a good representation of the foods I really love and enjoy.
So I am going to start making a conscious effort to post what I really eat, on the day-to-day, the healthy whole veggies and grains!
We'll start with a couple of eggplant dishes.  I love cooking with eggplant because there are a lot of different options, roast, stuff, puree...

Mini Reese's Cookies

I made these for a friend who loves Peanut Butter Cookies.  I thought, why not spike them up a bit, because who doesn't love chocolate peanut butter cups!?.
I found Mini Mini Peanut Butter Cups in the Whole Foods bulk aisle.  You can also buy them here.

Shrimp Sushi on a Sunny Sunday!

Anyone who has lived in San Francisco knows that September is the most beautiful month of the year.  It's actually common for the fog to disappear for a few consecutive days!  Everyone's mood changes and  positive vibes fill the streets, shops and cafes.

Holy Sweet!

Here's the Scoop:

The Flavor is Vanilla

Oreos are my Childhood Favorite

Smothered with Skippy is my Guilty Pleasure 

I was introduced to this amazing Oreo Skippy combination by a friend when I was feeling a little blue...

Buckwheat Pancakes with Honey Rum Pecan Sauce

These little guys are somewhere between crepes and pancakes.  The recipe is for crepes though they didn't spread and thin out like crepes should.  So I kept them tiny like little pancakes.

Honey Almond Cakes

When life hands you eggs, split them!

Last weekend I made Lemon Crème brûlée for 8 people and hollandaise sauce for my brother, leaving me with a hell of a ton of egg whites!
There was no way I was going to let a hen's hard work go to waste, so whether to use the whites or not was not a question.  Thinking of how to use them though got me very excited!
I have been wanting to make the little French tea cakes called financiers for quite some time now, and they call for only egg whites, how perfect.

Motivation!

Need a little Motivation to put on your running shoes and get moving!?

Squeeze In One More Summer Lunch

Photo courtesy of Downtown Romantic

A Whole New Toad In A Hole

Since I was a little kiddo my favorite breakfast has been Toad In A Hole.

It's simply an egg cooked inside a piece of bread and not only is it as cute as can be, but you have your toast right there, ready to soak up the yolkness!

Woke up Crabby...

At what point do you go from being able to have a few margaritas and still feel like 100 bucks the next morning OR have a few margaritas and wake up absolutely crabby!?
Does this aging happen over night, literally?!