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