Fueling the Body and Soul

"As i look in the mirror what do I see

a young brave person looking back at me

yearning for a time to be Ed free

constantly searching, looking for a true me

Every second striving, taking one more bite

slowly learning, understanding , putting up a fight.

Knowing one day soon this will all be "all right"

xoxo aimee

Dreading Tomorrow

Its 10pm and im sitting at my computer dreading tomorrow - tomorrow is my birthday - actually my 35th birthday and i am dreading it - as i sit here i cant believe that i am turning 35 years old. I've actually never been one to actually like my birthday - i hate all of the attention and gift giving - actually i feel guilty about it - like i really don't deserve it. I really don't have anything planned - just a regular day at work - hopefully noone will remember its my birthday.

Well i am thankful that God has given me 34 years to experience life - i am very lucky and am very blessed with a loving family, friends and of course my blog friends that i have met. Hopefully tomorrow will be a good day - as my therapist said - your birthday this year should be Ed free - just one day to live free and forget - by taking an "Ed holiday" this could be the beginning of a new and beautiful life. Till tomorrow .......

Long Time No Blog!!!!

Gosh - i can't believe how long its been since ive done a post - a few weeks now but I promise i have been reading many of yours - life has been busy - i still cannot believe that today is already October 22 - and Thanksgiving is only a month away!!!!! My life has been quite busy - work, and taking up a new hobby of mine - i recently bought a video-camera - a hand-held JVC. What I love about it is that it can also take still photosas well so i can take both still and live photos!!!

What made me buy the camera is part of my recovery process - my therapist suggested i buy one and we plan on making a "movie" of my recovery and my life - i have taped many of my sessions, my good days, my bad days. I actually have found it to be quite therapeutic - i used to journal but i find that sometimes putting things on paper is more difficult!!! by just turning on the camera and talking - my feelings flow much easier!!!!

I still have mixed feelings on this whole endeavor - part of me is embarassed talking in front of the camera and sharing my feelings but if in the end i can benefit as well as the thousands of others who struggle with disordered eating - it is all worth it. I will keep you all updated on how things go!!

Some things i have been enjoying as of late-

Omelettes filled with farm fresh spinach and the last of the fall tomatoes !!

Millet topped with ratitoulle served on fresh spinach and grilled veggies

Lots of seasonal Green Mountain coffee in my "orange" mug - just for the fall season ( i have mugs in almost every color and change with the

seasons!!!)

Lentil chili - this is a favorite of mine - i love all different k

inds of chili - especially now that the weather is changing and getting much colder.

What are some things you all have been enjoying as of late as the weather is changing???? One of my favorites is baby sweet potatoes which i just picked up from my farmers market and butternut squash - ill be trying some recipes this weekend and will share them soon!!!

Hope you all are well and have a great weekend!!!

xoxo aimee

Cookie Perfection

What's not to love about a cookie that not only tastes good but also is good for you!!! I recently received a sample of Flax Cookies from Marisel over at Nutridel located in San Diego California. Nutridel is a family-owned comapany that makes handmade all natural vegan cookies made from healthy ingredients such as oatmeal, flax, wheat germ, cinnamon, nuts (almonds, pecans), molasses, sunflower seeds, coconut and aramath. What i love is that these are made from as the website quotes "the seeds of life."

On first view you will not that each package contains two enormous size cookies that are perfectly crisp - just the way i like my cookies. I could not wait to try my enticing treat. I quickly poured myself of vanilla almond milk - and proceeded to dunk my cookie right into the milk. The verdict - absolute perfection!!!!! The cookie was crisp yet had a nice "chew" to it. The light sweet aroma of cinnamon and molasses was an added bonus. You could definately taste the oats and flax which in my mind are a perfect combination!!!

The cookies also come in such flavors as oatmeal, pecan and almond. Currently the cookies are sold at various stores on the west coast and hopefully soon they will be available on the East coast as well but have no fear - you can easily order these delicious treats online at the website: nutridel.com!!!!!

Other ways i have been enjoying my treats:

1. crumbled on top of greek yogurt with fruit

2. take 2 cookies and make - sandwich cookie!!!! I first tried using "banana soft serve" and squashed between the two cookies and then placed again in the freezer to firm up - the result - delicious frozen treat - the cookies maintained their texture and taste!!! I highly recommend this!!!!

Well i hope you enjoyed this product review - i give these cookies a 10 out of 10 and just want to thank Marisel for giving me the chance to review them!!!!! I HIGHLY recommend them!!!

Hope you all have a great Wednesday - ill be back soon with a full recap of some more treats!!!

Is it really October???

October 1 - already????? What happened to September???? I feel like it was just yesterday that we were celebrating Labor Day and the endof summer and now fall is really upon us. Well today is also October 1st - the beginning of my favorite month of the year. I love October - the fall weather has kicked in - the apple and pumpkin season is really upon us. I even have spotted one of my favorite fall products hitting the shelves -

Canned pumpkin!!!!! Oh how ive missed you!!!

Pumpkins are not only for carving at Halloween - they are so versatile - you can eat the flesh the seeds, stuff them with just about anything or just use them for decorating purposes!!!

Not only are they so versatile they are good for you!!!! Pumpkins are packed with beta-carotene which is an antioxidant that can help reduce the risk of certain cancers and other diseases. Pumpkins are also high in fiber, Vitamin A, magesium and potassium!!!

Pumpkin seeds also known as pepitas are also not only delicious but also very good for you - especially for vegetarians. Pepitas are very high in B vitamins which vegetarians can be deficient of. They also are a great source of protein - a one ounce portion has a whopping 9 grams of protein!!!! Pepitas are a great addition

to any salad, trail mix, cookies, savory dishes or even just perfect simply roasted with sea salt!!!

I just love pumpkins - i love pumpkin flavored anything from coffee - have you tried Green Mountain Pumpkin Spice coffee????

Other things i like to do with my canned pumpkin - of course baked goods, mixed with greek yogurt, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin oatmeal - the possibilities are endless!!! What are some of your favorite uses for pumpkin????

Some other yummy eats ive been enjoying these past few weeks:

Hummus, roasted veggies and the necessary Ezekial pita

Lots of greek yogurt messes in my favorite sunflower dish

Perfectly crisp pita pizzas

Slow roasted black bean chili

Other fun things happening in October!!!

Today October 1st is actually World Vegetarian Day - so i inspire you all to make a nice veggie filled meal for someone today!!! I eat mostly a vegetarian diet however i do incorporate fish every so often. I plan on making millet stuffed eggplants with fresh roasted tomatoes, zucchini, peppers and spinach.

Well i hope you all have a wonderful weekend - i hope to go pumpkin picking!!!!!!

Holding onto Summer

I woke up this morning to glorious sunshine however it was quite chilly here on Long Island hence the multitude cups of Green Mountain Breakfast blend coffee - nothing like a warm cup of jo while blogging with the sunshine. Although it feels like fall already the first day of fall is actually not until Wednesday!!!

My eats over the past week have been nothing too exciting - trying to enjoy the last of the late summer produce and fruits. Precisely my impulse to buy a fresh pineapple despite the colder weather. Pineapples not only taste good but are a great source of Vitamin C and also contain bromelin - this is an enzyme that helps aid in the digestion of protein, helps prevent indigestion and also has antiinflammatory properties - great for those suffering from any arthritis or sports related sprains or other injuries.

I personally like my pineapples very sweet - slightly overripe if you must!!!! How do you pick a ripe pineapple????? Ive heard million of different tricks - if you can pick a leaf easily from the center of the stalk - its ripe, if it smells like a pineapple its ripe, if it looks yellow then its ripe - the list goes on!!!! I actually use a combination of all of these but i have had the most luck with smelling the pineapple and also looking at the pineapple. The "eyes" also known as the cotyledons on the skin should be big and firm with a nice yellow (not green) hue. Smell the base of the pineapple - it should smell sweet - if you can't smell anything then don't buy the pineapple!!!! Once you get the pineapple home place the pineapple UPSIDE DOWN - yes you heard me right and let it sit for about a day or so. When a pineapple is placed upside down all of the sugar that is concentrated at the base gets evenly distributed throughout the flesh of the pineapple. Trust me - it works. If you don't do this when you cut it open you will see that the riper pineapple pieces are at the base and the flesh toward the leaves tend to be less ripe and often bitter.

I love pineapple freshly cut - i could eat tons at one sitting - hence part of my morning snack today. I love pineapple plain, mixed with yogurt, added to a banana smoothie, grilled with cinnamon or added to my salsas!!! What are your favorite ways to enjoy pineapple??

I've been trying to incorporate different grains into mydiet recently and made a wonderful recipe of quinoa with roasted red pepper tomato sauce served on top of spinach and roasted broccoli and eggplant slices. If you've never tried quinoa is delicious - a perfect grain to try because its actually a complete protein. The key to making quinoa however is to be sure to rinse it thoroughly before boiling to prevent a bitter taste to the grain. What i like about quinoa is how quickly it cooks and how versatile a grain it is. I have seen it used as a breakfast grain, in baking or simply just boiled. It has a nice texture with a slightly nutty flavor. What are some of your favorite grains??? I am hoping to try millet, and barley this week - any suggestions???

I am finding a new inspiration as i read through your blogs - my love of cooking and health has enabled me to broaden my horizons and include foods that i once enjoyed years ago but have strayed away from. Through blogging i have met so many wonderful people and am grateful for all of your words of encouragement!!!!! I am also thinking about changing my blog to worldpress - any thoughts on this or any suggestions???? I'm not the best on the computer so if anyone could help me id appreciate it!!!!! Enjoy your Sunday and ill be back tomorrow with a delicious new FOOD REVIEW - a delicious healthy cookie i tried - but you'll have to wait till tomorrow!!!

Labor Day Outings

I still can't believe the summer is finally coming to an end - marked by Labor Day weekend. I am very much looking forward to the fall - love the crisp mornings, smell of cinnamon, vanilla baked apples and fields fun of blooming sunflowers.

Yesterday i embarked on one of my favorite outings - i took a ride out to eastern Long Island to visit the wineries and little farmstands. It was glorious - the sun was shining and there was a nice cool breeze - perfect weather for the beginning of fall. I was able to get loads of fresh veggies, pick the last of the peaches and visit my favorite sunflower farm to get a bunch of my beloved flowers for my kitchen table. I also picked up a bag of fresh ginger gold apples. My favorite kinds of apples include ginger gold, macoun, and mitzu.

Ginger gold are one of the first apples of the fall and are a mildly sweet yet tart apple. They have a nice crisp crunch and are a perfect eating apple. They are a hardy apple and will hold their shape during baking. I love baked apples or homemade applesauce on a cold fall night topped with freshly grated cinnamon!!

Before heading out i started my day with a usual summer breakfast of vanilla almond milk topped with fresh berries (the last of my blackberries - how i will miss them!!!) along with my favorite Kashi cinnamon harvest.

We were out for most of the day and I came home quite famished (ate lunch in the car) and was too tired to even think about a new recipe to whirl up soI decided to fall back on a favorite - breakfast for dinner - egg white omelette with fresh spinach, red roasted peppers and a fresh ripe tomato topped with basil and oregano. Alongside i toasted an Ezekial pita bread.

Well today im off to run some errands that desperately need to get done (food shopping and the like) and then im off to my brothers house for a Labor Day barbecue with friends.

Oh and here's a picture of a lovely creature I happened to spot earlier this morning -

A beautiful Praying Manthis - aren't they the most delicate creature you have ever seen???

Hope you all have a great and relaxing Labor Day and enjoy the fall like weather!!!!!!

xoxo aimee

Tuesday blues

Woke up again to the dull patter of rain against my window pane - what happened to my beloved summer weather???? It feels like fall will be upon us much sooner than i expected!!!

Although i love the change of seasons especially from late summer to early fall - i love September and October months im not quite ready to give up the beautiful weather and blooming flowers that i love most about summer.......

As fall is coming soon - what are your favorite things about the fall ?????? I love apple and pumpkin picking, pumpkin spice coffee, harvesting fresh sunflowers, the crisp morning air, comfy wool sweaters and wool socks, roasted butternut squash and sweet potatoes, fresh spinach and broccoli, sipping warm cinnamon tea, the smell of baked apples with cinnamon ....

As thing have been quite busy in my life my eats have been quite on the go - the other night i was craving pizza and roasted veggies - i was so hungry that i could not wait for my beloved whole wheat dough in the freezer to defrost and instead tried pita pizza - at first i was a bit hesistant to try it - would the pita stand up to the dough.....

Pre baking................

The final result.................

The verdict???? A winner!!! The pita was crisp - held the veggies and cheese nicely and was quite tasty in my book - a definate repeat when in a bind for a quick meal. To think that in the past i had deprived myself of pizza - why??? Why not i say!!! What are some things that you have recently added back into your diet that you are now in love with???

Another "random" snack that i made over the weekend - banana fig smoothie!!! My fig tree is bursting with fresh figs - i don't know what to do with all of them - i was craving a smoothie and had tons of frozen bananas so i took 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk, 3/4 frozen banana, 2 fresh figs - tossed in the Vita-mix with a handful of ice -

all topped with a remnant of fig - perfectly sweet!!!!!

Hope you are all having a wonderful week - enjoy the last few days of summer!!!!!!!!

xoxo aimee

Overabundance!!!

One of my most favorite things about summer is a nice super ripe red tomato. Nothing compares to fresh tomatoes during the summer. Growing up in a largely Italian household tomatoes were a staple at almost every meal - fresh tomatoes in our morning omelettes, plates of cut up thick tomato slices drizzled with olive oil sea salt, pepper and fresh basil and oregano with lunch and of course fresh tomato sauce with roasted garlic.

So far this summer i have already eaten my weight in fresh tomatoes. Between my brothers garden and many friends garden every day i have been given tomatoes and now have quite an overabundance!!!!!

Some fun facts about tomatoes:

1. Tomatoes are actually a fruit - more accurately part of the berry family and not a vegetable!!!

The Supreme Court in 1893 actually declared it a vegetable because it is typically eaten with lunch or dinner!!!

2.Tomatoes are actually the world's most popular fruit - the second is bananas followed by watermelons!!

3. Tomatoes are very high in lycopene - this is what gives them their bright red hue - its the lycopene that helps prevent many forms of cancer.

4. A horn worm can eat an entire tomato plant b

y itself in one day!!!!

5. Americans eat an average of 80 pounds of tomatoes each year!!

Sunday night i decided to make my favorite - fire roasted tomato and garlic sauce which i served over whole wheat linguine and fresh spinach topped with roasted asparagus - here's the recipe - simple and easy!!

Take super red, ripe tomatoes and chop into chunks - i like my sauce chunky - take tomatoes and place in aluminum tin and and drizzle extra-virgin olive oil, fresh ground sea salt, crushed red pepper flakes and sprinkle of sugar. Toss and place on barbecue and roast for 30 minutes - you could also do in oven - while tomatoes cook take fresh bulb of garlic and slice off thin layer of the top to expose garlic - next drizzle with olive oil = wrap in aluminum foil and roast till soft. Once tomatoes have cooked combine garlic with tomatoes and add lots of freshly chopped basil and oregano!!!! Serve over favorite pasta, grain or even pizza!!!

What are your most favorite ways to enjoy tomatoes????? Would love to hear all your ideas!!!

xoxo aimee

Holidays for Everything

Happy August - can't believe that the summer is quickly coming to a close - it feels like just yesterday it was Memorial Day Weekend.  Although i love the summertime i am looking forward to fall - one of my favorite times of the year.  As i was surfing the web early this morning i across a website that lists american food holidays for almost every single day of the year.  Since we just started a new month - i figured i would educate us all on foodie holidays for this month!!!

       First off August is National Peach Month!!!!  I love fresh peaches - especially white peaches.  have you ever had a white peach???  They actually have a smell quite similar to a rose.  Why??  Peaches are actually a member of the rose family!!!!!  Peaches are a great fruit - high in fiber, Vitamin A and other vitamins and have been found to have high levels of antioxidants - great for preventing many types of cancer.  Not only are they good for you but this time of year they are the sweetest!!!!!   How have i been enjoying these fruits???

      Some of my favorites include:  greek yogurt topped with fresh peach slices, green smoothie made with fresh berries, peaches and frozen bananas, Kashi Cinnamon Harvest topped with fresh peaches and vanilla almond milk, peach preserves on top of freshly made waffles (check out Jessica's recipe at Healthy Exposures for the world's greatest waffle recipe!!!!!) or even better - just straight up cold from the refrigerator!!!!

                                                             

                                                              

                                                     

                                                 

    The other day when i went to my mailbox i was so excited to see a package from the lovely company Larabar!!!!  I had contacted them a while back because i had really wanted to try the new carrot cake flavor as well as any of the minis that i had seen - i think the minis are perfect for a quick snack when you just want a little something - i had searched all over and could not find them anywhere - well they were nice enough to send me 2 cherry pie, 2 carrot cake and 2 coconut creme minis - can't wait to try them all.  What are your favorite bars and if you like Larabars which flavors are your favorite????  What's great about Larabars is that they are all natural - made from fruit and nuts and provide healthy fats - which is what im really trying to incorporate more of in my diet these days.  These healty fats will not only provide us with energy but give us great looking skin, hair and nails !!!!

Well  i hope you all had a relaxing and fun - filled weekend and hope you have a wonderful week!!!!!!   xoxo aimee 

                                                                                           

Ten Little Facts

             Sitting down after a long day - physically and mentally exhausted I turned to my laptop to catch up on my favorite blogs - quickly my mood became lightened as i read many of yours - they always bring a smile to my face.  I can't believe how many different types of people i have met, from all over - we each have a unique story that we unfold to each other sometimes each and every day - our deepest emotions shared - our ups and downs, good times and bad, recipes, loves, hates, struggles.  Yet although we may seem different - our love for blogging ties us together.

This week i received an award from the lovely Mel at neon flamingos and white peacocks  - if you haven't checked out her blog I highly recommend it!!! It's filled with lovely re

cipes as well as great fashion finds and amazing pictures - 

      Well here goes - 10 little facts:

1.  Yes I am obsessed with SUNFLOWERS - always have been.  They truly are my favorite flower - nothing brings a smile to my face quicker than seeing these majestic beauties blooming in late summer and early fall.  

2. I currently live in a condo on a golf course and do not know the first thing about playing golf!!   However i do get a kick out of sitting on my porch with my morning coffee and watch the daily golfers hit many of the golf balls directly into the pond in front of my terrace!!!

3. I have an intense fear of getting stuck in an elevator ever since I got trapped in one about 5 years ago.   It was 2 o'clock in the morning and I was at work in the hospital - i got into the elevator and then it just stopped between floors - i panicked, had to pick up the bright red emergency phone and be rescued by hospital security!!!

4. I've never had my hair longer than my shoulders.  For as long as i can remember i've had my hair cut very short.  I love it - its easy and fun!!!  Although there are times when i wish i had long hair (like for my sisters wedding) and have contemplated "extensions" but i love my hair!!

Every time i try and grow it out - i get frustrated and end up cutting it!!

5.  My dad breeds and races homing pigeons.  Yes - ever since i was little my dad has had these birds - currently he has about 100 of these amazing birds.  What is amazing is that they will fly distances up to 500 miles away and return to their birthplace in the same day.  Amazing right??

6.  To date i have probably delivered over 400 babies.  

Still to this day the birth of a child is truly an amazing thing.  Although stressful i still cannot believe what an experience this truly is.

7. I love FRUIT!!!!   Eat it with almost every meal -you will always find my fridge stocked with fresh berries and the like as well as see my counter stocked with a fresh bowel of fruit.

P.S. How cute are these bananas - they actually are mini-ones - hard to tell from the picture

8. My favorite colors are Yellow  and Green

9.  I must admit - i love wearing my Teva flip-flops in the summer and i love warm cozy wool sweaters in the wintertime!!!

10. Nothing beats a relaxing morning with a warm mug of coffee watching the sunrise!!!

Hope you enjoyed these 10 random facts!!!!!!   There are so many people i would like to pass this award to - i think many of you have already told us your random facts - here goes:

       Emma from Love from Emma 

       Maggie from My Breakfast Blog 

       Eleanor from Pieces of Her

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday and Happy first day of August - the summer is flying by!

                                                               xoxo aimee

Finally.....

       I love the morningtime - especially on the weekends - i can sit leisurely with my morning coffee on my terrace and watch the sunrise.  Yes, even on the weekends when i don't HAVE to get up at such an ungodly hour (usually 5AM) , my internal clock still awakens me and i usually just start my day as usual.  Today was like no other - i was up by 5 - had my coffee and went for a short walk around my neighborhood and enjoyed the beautiful sunrise.  Today they are expecting the temps to reach a record of 104 degrees !!!!  I plan on sitting in my pool and just finally relaxing with a good book and catching up on my blog reading.  What are your plans for the weekend?????

          This week i was finally able to find fresh figs - i love fresh figs just as much as i like dried ones.  Figs are a wonderful fruit - so versatile and sweet.  They have been called the "fruit of the gods" In biblical times figs were considered to be "restorative"  They fed fresh figs to those who were suffering from long time sickness and found that it aided them in their recovery process. It removed both physical and mental exertion and gave the body renewed vigor and strength.What i found to be an interesting fact - figs contain tryptophan which can induce sleep and help cure insomnia!!!!

        So here are my fresh figs!!!!!!!  I enjoyed them sliced as so on top of chilled fage as a snack!

 Some other things i enjoyed this week:  Sweet potato black bean bites!!!   Now i love black beans and sweet potatoes and i figured why not combine the 2!!!

Here's the recipe as promised!!

          1/3 cup black beans drained

          1/2 large sweet potato - cooked (you can either boil or bake it till soft)

          spinach

          diced vidalia onion

          cumin

          chili powder

           garlic

           salt/pepper

Its actually quite a simple recipe - i took the onion - diced it and cooked in olive oil till translucent , next i added fresh spinach till cooked.  In a separate bowel i simply took half the beans and mashed half with the back of a fork and left the rest whole.  Next combine the sweet potato beans and onions and spinach and the rest of spices (i don't measure my spices  - sorry!!)Form into 4 balls and place in refrigerator till chilled.  Once chilled i spray will olive oil spray and place in aluminum pan and bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

         I served mine on top of fresh romaine salad with roasted red peppers and with additional roasted sweet potato fries.  Toppings i like for the sweep potato black bean bites: organic mustard or ketchup or else greek yogurt seasoned with chives, salt, pepper and garlic.

         Hope you like the recipe and have a wonderful weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!   xoxo aimee   

A Little Inspiration

      There are times when i feel im not sure what to blog about - today i leave you with a favorite of mine - a poem i remember reading when i was younger and came across it in my journal the other night and wanted to share it with each of you.  I love the beach and this poem reminds me of summer and how even the "little" things in life that we do each day can have such a lasting impact on another's life.  I hope that this can inspire each of you to remember the little things in life.                                                                   

                                       The Starfish Poem

                                         By Loren Eisley

There once was a man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.  He had a habit of walking along the beach before beginning his work.  One day while walking along the beach he saw a human figure like a dancer.  He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day.  He began to walk faster to catch up to the figure and as he got closer he saw it was a young man and the man was not dancing but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something gently and throwing it into the ocean.  As he got closer he called out "What are you doing?"  The young man smiled and replied," Throwing starfish into the ocean!"  The old man asked "why?"  He replied "The sun is up and the tide is going out - if i don't throw them into the ocean they will surely die."  The old man puzzled said " But young man

 don't you realize there are miles of beach and starfish along it - you can't possibly make a difference."  The young man listened politely, picked up a starfish and replied, it made a difference to that starfish!" 

                                                       Picture from National GeoGraphic

    I hope you all are doing well and have a wonderful Tuesday filled with hope and inspiration.

I'll be back later with a great Sweet potato and black bean recipe as well as some new food reviews!!!    xoxo aimee

Ode to the Blueberry

    July - one of my favorite months of the year - the weather is warm, flowers are blooming and farmer markets here on Long Island are bursting with fresh veggies, fruits and my favorite - blueberries.

Picture of my farm fresh blueberries in my Etsy "berry bowel"

I received this bowel as a gift and it actually is a bowel just for berries - it has holes in the bottom to act as a "strainer" so you can clean your berries and leave them out on the counter!!

     The entire month of July is actually dedicated to this tiny berry.  July 11th is specifically National Blueberry Muffin Day.  Blueberries are one of my favorite fruits.  These tiny berries are actually one of the only fruits native to North America.  They have recently been called Natures Antioxidant Superfruit because they contain some of the highest levels of antioxidants which are helpful in preventing cancer and the aging process.  Blueberries also help prevent urinary tract infections, improve memory and coordination, decrease total cholesterol and best of all have been found to help elevate mood and act as antidepressants!!!

      Now if those aren't enough reasons to eat these nutritional powerhouses - simply stated they taste DELICIOUS!!!!!  And the possibilities are endless:  you can eat them straight off the vine, dried, add them to baked goods, make dressings, add to salads, smoothies, oatmeal, cereal, yogurt - i could go on forever!!!!

Recipe:   Blueberry banana muffins

Makes 12 muffins

       Ingredients:   1 cup whole wheat flour

                                1/2 cup packed brown sugar or other sweetner

                                1 teaspoon baking soda

                                1 teaspoon baking powder

                                1 teaspoon cinnamon

                                1 teaspoon nutmeg

                                1/2 cup oats

                                2 well-beaten egg whites

                                1 cup mashed bananas (the riper the better)

                                1/2 cup greek yogurt

                                1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line muffin tin with cooking spray or muffin liners.

In a large bowel mix dry ingredients.  Next take well beaten egg whites and add to the wet ingredients.  Fold the wet into the dry ingredients.  Add the fresh blueberries at the end to prevent breaking of the blueberries.  Fill the muffin tins and bake for 20 - 25 minutes.

Makes 12 muffins. 

I hope all is well with my fellow readers and friends.  Quote for the day:  "A true friend is like the shade of a great tree in the noonday sun."

                                Take today to thank those who give you "shade" in the sun!!

                                                                  xoxo aimee  

The Seeds of Change

                   "All of the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today."

                                                -  Indian proverb

                          Have you planted your seeds as of today?

Well the last week has been quite busy and finally i have a free morning to update and say hello - i have been quite busy to say the least - June has been filled with not only long hours at work but also birthdays, graduations and other social engagements - im actually happy to finally have a free moment to catch up with all of you!!!!!  I must say that although ive been busy i have been able to engage in one of my favorite activities associated with the summer months - my herb and flower garden.  I love flowers and gardening.  I love to see how a tiny seed can over time with proper care and a bit of love can bloom into something wonderful.  I like to compare my journey to recovery with the seeds that I planted.  Like the small basil seed - i too need nourishment - not only food but also sunlight and care.  It's funny - there are so many times where ill get too busy and forget to take time to care for myself but yet ill never forget to take care of my plants.  

There is nothing more satisfying then seeing the seed of yesterday bloom into something beautiful and become the flowers of tomorrow.  Like the seed hopefully i can continue to nourish myself, give myself the love and attention that i deserve and continue to discover the real me.

        I hope all of you can plant your seeds today and nourish these seeds because the flowers and fruit they will bare will be ever so rewarding.

Here is a picture of the fig tree - it already has about 10 figs!!!!!!!!

Some other things i have been enjoying this week: trips to the farmers market  - lots of berries and fresh lettuce!!!!

A new recipe: Cold Lentil Salad

Here's the recipe:

1/4 cup uncooked brown lentils

1 red pepper (roasted)

1/2 carrot chopped

1/2 celery chopped

fresh chives, basil and mint

garlic, salt pepper to taste

red wine vinegar

olive oil

First cook the lentils on stovetop in boiling water - note do not salt the water - i like my lentils slightly firm for cold salads so i boiled them for about 15 minutes - once cooked drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.  Next add all other ingredients and place in refrigerator to chill. 

I ate mine last night served over fresh romaine lettuce with grilled eggplant and enjoyed them with wasa crisps.

Enjoy your week!!!!!! 

"Happy Father's Day"

Hello everyone - i hope you are all having a wonderful and relaxing weekend and celebrating your dads.  Dads - they do so much for us - i know my dad has been my role model since i was a child.  I remember my dad always working long hours - never complaining once just to provide for his family.  I have always had a close relationship with him and just want to thank him today for all that he has done for me - he is my constant supporter - he always encourages me when i need it and has inspired me to be the best that I can be.  At times i feel like i take this to the extreme - always wanting to please him and never disappointing him.  For me i think this is where my Ed has stemmed from - trying to "please" my family.  At times i don't even know what I want but rather make decisions based on what "others" would want.  Silly - i know but these are things that I am slowly realizing and trying to work thru.

Today - i dedicate my post to my dad - the best dad a daughter could ask for.  My dad and I share a love for fresh figs - Kadota figs to be exact.   Kadota figs are the figs that have a green skin and have juicy, white sweet flesh.  So for Fathers Day i bought him a baby Kadota fig for his backyard.  I was lucky enough to find one that already had 10 figs budding!!!!  If you've never had a fresh fig I highly recommend trying one.

picture from "local harvest"

Figs are a wonderful fruit with many health benefits: decrease in cholesterol, high in fiber and potassium and have been found to help fight diabetes. 

No only are they nutritional powerhouses but they taste so good and have been called nature's candy due to their natural sweetness.

Figs are so versatile - can be eaten fresh or dried and used in millions of recipes - i personally love them fresh but they are perfect to bake, make preserves, add to salads or make your own "larabars" by using dried figs.  I also have added them to my smoothies and they add the perfect amount of sweetness.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday and hope you are able to spend some relaxing time with your dad's.

xoxo aimee

The Perfect Picnic

                                                             "recipes 4 us"


Hello my fellow bloggers and happy Monday!!!!! I hope you all have been enjoying the month of June and taking advantage of the beautiful summer weather.  One of my favorite things about the summer are picnics.  There is nothing I enjoy more than sitting on soft green grass in the warmth of the sumer sun with family or friends enjoying simple fresh food.  This Friday actually celebrates the idea of summer picnics - its "International Picnic" - now i just learned this interesting fact while perusing the internet - interesting right??? - that they would have an entire day dedicated to picnics!!!!

The word "picnic" as defined by the encyclopedia  - " a pleasurable excursion in which a meal is eaten outdoors (al fresco) usually in a beautiful place (park, beach, lakefront) usually during the summer months."  Typically a picnic basket is brought and filled with simple, fresh foods and are enjoyed while sitting on a large blanket or picnic table.  

What to bring on a picnic ???? Here's a quick checklist:

1.  a picnic basket of course!!!!!  There are so many cute baskets out there specifically designed to bring - i highly recommend buying one - i recently saw one one a website called Uncommon Goods - here's a picture - 

It has adorable spoons made out of wood and includes dishes, glasses and a cutting board!!

2. a nice big comfortable blanket or go to your l

ocal fabric store and find an interesting pattern and buy a piece of it

3. a camera

4. sunscreen and sunglasses

5. a good book or magazines

6. a radio 

7. good food of course!!!

Mark Bittman - food critic and writer for the New York Times did a great article entitled 101 - 20 minute recipes to bring on a picnic.  Can you believe it???  101 different recipes and ideas.  The list is extensive and has some great vegetarian options.  I think i have mentioned in the past that I recently purchased Mark's book entitled "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian" - and how much i enjoy it.  What i particularly like about the book is that it breaks down each food and tells you a little history about it and then different options for cooking.  

What would your ideal picnic basket contain?????  Mine would have:

1. Creamy chickpea hummus with freshly baked whole wheat pita bread

2.  garden fresh tomatoes topped with basil and oregano

3.  grilled asparagus, eggplant, zucchini and roasted red peppers

4. wheatberry salad with raisins, dried cranberries and fresh mint

5. summer fruit salad made with strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, peaches and watermelon with a touch of lemon and garnished with mint leaves

6. strawberry brewed ice tea sweetened with a dash of agave

Well i hope this post inspired you all to maybe think about planning a picnic for next weekend.  What are some of your favorite places to have a picnic and what do you bring ???? Would love to hear all of your suggestions!!!!   

                                           Thanks for reading - have a great week!!!!

                                                               xoxo aimee

A Wish and a Recipe

"This is my wish for you: comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, love to complete your life." Lynne Buttercup

Hello my fellow bloggers - happy Sunday and the beginning of June. I hope this week has all been a good one filled with positive thoughts and expe

riences. I stumbled across this quote early this morning and wanted to share it with all of you as another week begins. When you are feeling a bit on the down side, when things just aren't going your way - think about this quote and I hope it puts a smile on your face.

During the warmer months i love experimenting with new toppings for salads, grilled veggies, tofu or even fish. Although i usually eat a mostly vegetar

ian diet i do incorporate fish - especially during the warmer months. Fish provides a great source of B vitamins as well as a healthy dose of omega 3 fatty acids!! This week I made an amazing mango-orange salsa - perfect to top just about anything!!!!!

Here's the recipe:

1 ripe mango - chopped

1 clementine orange (or any sweet orange) chopped

1/2 red pepper finely chopped

1/2 can chopped green chipotle peppers

chopped fresh chives

fresh mint leaves

freshly grated ginger

salt and pepper to taste

sugar - i used a teaspoon but this will vary depending how sweet your mango is

Let all of the flavors combine and serve on top of just about anything!!!!! The longer the salsa marinates the more intense the flavors are!!!! The fresh mint is really the key to this recipe.

Enjoy your week!!!

xoxo aimee

"The Last Day"

Hello everyone and Happy Memorial Day!!!!!!  Today also marks the last day of May and the end of National Strawberry Month.  Hope you have all been enjoying your long weekend - hopefully filled with barbecues, family and friends.  Since Thursday I have delivered four babies but thankfully i have had a few moments to relax and enjoy the nice weather.

     Yes today marks the last day of National Strawberry Month - i finally was able to enjoy freshly picked strawberries from a local farm this weekend that were absolutely spectacular.  Strawberry picking is one of my favorite things about summer.  Walking through the field and seeing these splendid little fruits bursting with flavor is one activity i will never tire of.  I can remember as a child sitting in the middle of the field consuming more berries than actually ended up in my tiny basket.  I would have eaten so many berries that my fingers were stained red and i would have strawberry juice all over my shirt.  To this day i still sneak a few into my mouth while picking one of my favorite fruits.  

Here is a picture of some of my gems that I have been consuming way too much of!!

Some interesting strawberry facts:

1. Strawberries are the only fruit with their seeds located on the outside

2. These are the first fruit to ripen in the spring

3. In Belgium there is a museum entirely dedicated

 to strawberries (really!!)

4.  Strawberries are actually a member of the rose family

5. Strawberries are grown in every single state in the US and provinces of Canada

6. Americans eat 3.4 pounds of strawberries each year.

Remember the 1980's craze of the Strawberry Shortcake doll and her friends!!!!

Some great ways to use these super fruits:

1. delicious paired with greek yogurt, agave nectar and flax seed

2. a perfect addition to any smoothie 

3. with overripe berries i simply place them on my stove and reduce them with sugar to make homemade preserves - perfect to top whole wheat toast 

4. strawberry muffins

5. love adding fresh strawberries to spinach salads

The possibilities are endless!!!

Simply put - i love strawberries - so i hope wherever you live you are able to enjoy them before the season is over!!!!!

Since today is Memorial Day - it kicks off the official start to summer - the barbecue season.  Many of you will be attending barbecues with family and friends.  I do love barbecuing and one of my favorite things recently is to make homemade black bean burgers.  In the past i have had the pleasure of eating Amy's Bistro Burgers - while these are my favorite "frozen" burgers i was tempted to try and make my own.  By combining a few recipes that I had read in the past and having many cans of black beans in my pantry that needed to be consumed i figured - why not!

The result????    I loved them - now i know that having frozen burgers in the freezer are always a great meal when you are pressed for time but trust me - try these - you will not be disappointed and you can freeze them as well.

 I plan on making them tonight so i will snap a picture of the final product but here's the "rough" recipe ( i say "rough" because i really don't measure my spices)

For one burger:

   1/3 cup rinsed black beans

   1 tablespoon of whole - wheat flour  (could use oatmeal if preferred)

   1/4 of large zucchini and red pepper finely shreddded

   chopped onion (as much or as little as desired)

   cumin, salt, pepper, garlic, chili powder

Basically take the beans and with the back side of fork mash half of them and leave the rest whole, combine all ingredients and form into patty.  Place in refrigerator and let it get cold before grilling.  You can either cook in pan on stove, barbecue or place in oven on broil for approximately 20 minutes.  Spray the burger with olive oil spray prior to cooking so it develops a nice crust on the outside.

I served mine in a mini whole wheat pita topped with Annies mustard, ketchup, roasted red peppers, lettuce and tomato but feel free to try and toppings.   Enjoy!!!

       Trying all of these new recipes has been really helping me on my road to recovery.  I am slowly starting to realize that food is meant to be enjoyed - life is too short to deny ourselves of things that we truly enjoy.  When i try new recipes i get excited about food again - something that i haven't felt in quite a while.  Although it isn't always easy i am trying at least once a week to try an get out of my usual "food ruts" and try new and exciting things.  I want to thank all of you and all of the blogs i read because you all inspire me to keep going even when things are tough!!!  I wish you all a wonderful Memorial Day!!!  xoxo aimee