Toaster Waffle + Peaches, Yogurt, & Granola

I don't think I've had a toaster waffle since elementary school. 

During my most recent grocery shopping trip, I walked past the frozen breakfast aisle and came across WHOLE GRAIN TOASTER WAFFLES. I'm definitely behind the time with this one. This has been a breakfast game changer for me. You've probably already caught onto this, but I am not the best at preparing and packing meals during the week. It's quite the struggle for me. 

But now, my mornings have been so easy and I can start the day knowing I have fueled my body right. I love the addition of yogurt to this recipe for an extra punch of protein. If you're not keen on peaches, swap them for fresh berries or your favorite fruit! 

Ingredients:

1 whole grain toaster waffle
1/4 cup plain yogurt
3 tbsp granola
1 peach, chopped
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup

Directions:

Place the waffle in the toaster until golden brown. Wash and dice the peach. Once waffle is toasted, scoop yogurt onto the top of the waffle. Top yogurt with granola and diced peaches. Drizzle honey or maple syrup.  

Enjoy! 

Best of Times & Tastiest of Treats [APRIL 2015]

Good Morning!

So, I decided I wanted to share more of my experiences on this roller coaster called life with you. Each month, I will be posting brief summaries of my favorite moments/meals/stories/jokes/whatever it may be right here. Starting with this pretty plate ...

This Eat Your Veggies Bowl from Laughing Planet

This #RD2BE gets serious cravings for veggies. I get nightmares if I haven't consumed several hefty servings.  This particular day was just one of those days the veggies weren't flowing into my belly and I was in dire need of a veggie fix. Visiting Laughing Planet for this veggie bowl was the best thing I could do since they are just as serious about serving vegetables as I am eating them.

A weekend spent at the Oregon Vineyards

As passionate as I am for food, there is something "fermenting" inside me that's just dying to learn more about wine. There is something so classy and sophisticated about having a glass of wine with dinner. I am not calling myself a wine snob, but my taste buds are slowly learning what a nice glass of wine ought to taste like. I am finding myself more and more curious about different varietals and food pairings. This just sounds so fun! One day, I will be a sommelier! 

A step in the right direction at Tryon State Park

Training for the Foot Traffic Flat half marathon on Sauvie Island on July 4th has begun! I am increasing the mileage every week and I'm pretty sure one these days my feet might just fall off. BUT I am sticking to a workout routine and feeling great! Here you can find me on a lengthy trail run. 

A fresh take on pasta at a new neighborhood restaurant

Oh, yes... it is open. Oak & Olive, a new Italian restaurant in the quaint little town of Hillsdale has opened its doors to the community. I can't tell you how nice it is to finally have a true Italian restaurant nearby. Portland has some of the best food I've ever had in my life, but Italian hasn't it made it to my list until this little cutie. The menu consists of homemade pasta and pizza dough, fresh salads, osso bucco, and pork tenderloin. The agnolotti, fresh pasta stuffed with ricotta and spinach, and topped with cherry tomatoes deserves two thumbs up!

FRIENDS ---> please share some of your favorite things {in the comment box} this month!

Roasted Parsnip Fries

We're really getting fancy with our fry selection. French fries, sweet potato fries, and now parsnip fries. I have to admit I've been so curious as to why so many recipes for parsnip fries are popping up all over Pinterest.

Yesterday, I was in the produce aisle of the grocery store and I wanted to try something new. And then I saw parsnips. So, I bought a few and the next day they were washed, sliced, and thrown in the oven ready to become part of the fry sensation.

After 30 minutes, I was hooked! Parsnip fries are totally delicious. Dipped in a little bit of ketchup, they make the perfect pair to any meal. Plus, they're way healthier than your run of the mill french fries. Go ahead, try for yourself!


Roasted Parsnip Fries

Ingredients:
3 large parsnips
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp minced garlic

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Wash and lightly peel parsnips. Slice into thin strips.
3. In a bowl, toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic.
4. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
5. Spread the fries out onto the baking sheet and place in the oven until golden brown (~25-30 minutes).

Serves 4

A [Quick] Weekend in Paradise

Sand. Sunshine. Mojitos. Paradise.

This is how I spent my weekend...and it was absolutely perfect. Throughout the past few years, I have spent a lot of time in Los Angeles. Since starting the dietetic internship and moving to Portland I haven't visited in a while so, I was extremely excited to make my return to the land where summer never ends.

This trip made me realize something about myself - I don't like to stay in the same place for a long time. I like to travel and explore new places, things, and people. It's so fun to soak in other cultures, experiences, and cuisines. It keeps things interesting and exciting. It stimulates the mind! Even short trips like this get my mind refreshed and excited to keep traveling and even get back to the swing of things in internship land.

My first day in Southern California was spent in Catalina Island. As soon as you step off the ferry, you really feel like you're in another country. So quaint, so peaceful, so perfect.

I parked myself on the beach for the day and I am proud to say the mojitos started flowing at 10:30 am. A vacation isn't a vacation without a good mojito. After hours of pure bliss and sunbathing, the beau and I rented a kayak and paddled our way around the island. Sunshine and warm weather is certainly a huge motivator for me to be active. Incredible views like these don't hurt either (look for yourself ---->).

After working up an appetite, we splurged on a fancy Italian dinner which was heaven on a plate. We started off with some fried calamari followed by linguini and clams + chicken parmesan. We continued to walk around town stopping in cute little boutiques until it was time to take the last possible ferry back to LA.

The next (and sadly final day) was spent on Santa Monica beach. I made it my job to get as much vitamin D as possible... and a tan. Santa Monica promenade is possibly one of the most lively places I've ever seen. Every few steps, you find yourself stopping to witness the talented musicians and street performers.

Later that night, I met up with some old friends at Mike & Anne's, a great restaurant in South Pasadena with outdoor seating in a courtyard trimmed with white lights. We shared a bunch of appetizers including a pomegranate salad, brussels sprouts, roasted cauliflower, and olives. Our waitress joked at our dietitian-like dinner choices. It's funny when you haven't seen someone in almost a year and yet it feels like no time has passed at all. This night was filled with a lot of laughs and later some fro yo.

I couldn't have had a better time or have been surrounded by better people. The message of this story is to stay curious, see new places, and live a little. Sometimes putting yourself out there and breathing in the fresh air is just as nourishing for the mind and body as feeding it well.

Cinnamon Vanilla Overnight Oats

Overnight oats have been a real life saver for both me and my stomach. Prepping meals for the day ahead is not a strong suit of mine. A great deal of effort goes into packing a yogurt cup, granola bar, and banana. So, since overnight oats have been discovered they have made their way onto my menu on nearly a daily basis. They're quick, delicious, and very satisfying - and so they shall stay on my makeshift menu. As someone who prefers to snack throughout the day, some days are busier than others and snacks don't always fit in between meals. Oatmeal is my best bet on these hectic days due to their high fiber content which keeps my belly full until I can fill it again.

Ingredients:

1/2 c oats

3/4 c milk (low fat, soy, almond, etc)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

1/2 tsp maple syrup 

1 tbsp chia seeds

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a jar overnight. Heat in the morning. Eat!

5 Tips for Being Positively Productive

I don't know about you, but sometimes I let procrastination get the best of me. When there's so much to explore on a sunny day, which we've been lucky to have so many here in Portland, it's easy to put everything on the back burner. This often leads to trouble - late nights, cram sessions, and just too much to do in so little time. So, my friends at Kabbage, a company that empowers small businesses (and blogs) to follow their dreams by providing funds to grow big and strong, inspired me to compile a list of some of my essential tips for being your most productive self!

#1 Write it down
Grab a piece of paper, a planner, or white board (whatever you're most likely to look at) u'd create a list of the tasks at hand. Whether it's to write a paper, do laundry, go for a run, or attend a meeting, having it all written down in ink will help you visualize how to schedule your time.

#2 Prioritize
Now that you have your handy dandy list, consider what's most urgent. Can the laundry wait? Is the paper due at midnight? I usually like to stick with whatever's due first.

#3 Brain Food
Being productive can be exhausting. Or, you may just get hungry out of boredom. Having something healthy to munch on will help you fight through mental blocks. My favorite productivity snack is a handful of raw cashews with dark chocolate chunks.  yum.  Oh, and a cup of coffee or tea will do wonders!

#4 The Perfect Playlist
Put in your headphones and pick a playlist on spotify - Chill, Focus, Intense Studying (whatever floats your boat).  This will help set the mood for a productive day.

#5 Minimize Distractions (aka put the cellphone away!)
Yeah, those text messages are just flooding in, but you won't get very far when your honey is trying to say hey. So do yourself a favor and put your phone away. Every hour take a 15 minute break and use this time to check in with friends.


{Brain Food Recipe} Bite Size Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate Cookies


For entrepreneurs looking for some more productivity tips, check out Kabbage's website and blog!




[Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.]

Apple + Granola Breakfast Cookies

Do you ever skip breakfast just because there isn't enough time to prepare a meal on top of getting ready in the morning, making the next bus, or maybe just due to a bad hair day? If this describes you (& frizz gets to the best of us), meet your new best friend...

These apple + granola breakfast cookies will provide you with the fuel you need to get the day running with your best foot forward. They are packed with fiber to keep you fuller longer and are easy to grab and go when on the run. They're not only perfect for the working woman/man, but they are also super easy to pack in a kid's lunchbox for a healthy snack. Give them a try! I promise you won't be disappointed.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups almond meal
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp butter, melted
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 medium apple, finely chopped
1/2 cup granola
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a baking pan with nonstick spray or oil.
2. In a bowl, combine flour, oats, and apple sauce. Mix.
3. Mix in the egg and butter.
4. Add the apple, granola, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir.
5. Place 2" balls of dough onto the baking pan. Place in the oven for 30 minutes or until lightly browned.

Makes ~ 15 cookies