Simple Banana Acai Bowl Recipe

During the winter, I eat a bowl of soup everyday. During the summertime, I love smoothies, but they don't always fill me up. My in-between of these two is an acai bowl, which is basically an acai based smoothie topped with fresh fruit and granola. Widely dubbed as a super fruit, the Mayo Clinic has stated that the berries contain antioxidants, heart-healthy fats, and fiber. However, the superpowers of this fruit are not scientifically proven. However, I love the depth that this fruit brings to my lunch. Here's one of the easiest acai bowl recipes that I have created: the Simple Banana Acai Bowl.

For the acai smoothie base of the bowl, you will need:

• one banana
• a half cup of Sambazon Acai juice
• 8 frozen strawberries
• a half cup of frozen mango
• a quarter cup of frozen raspberries

I prefer some frozen fruits to fresh when making smoothies, especially for fruits like raspberries that will quickly mold in the refrigerator. They also help keep the smoothie base cold without using ice. If you have plenty of fresh fruit on hand, go ahead and use it! But add a half cup of ice. 

The first thing you should put into your blender is the banana. I break it up into around 1 inch pieces with my hands. 

After the banana, I add the acai juice. 

Then throw your frozen fruits on top.

Go ahead and start blending the smoothie base. It might take a few minutes, depending on the grade of your blender. I use a Magic Bullet. While you are waiting for the smoothie to blend, go ahead and start preparing your toppings. My family goes through fresh fruit really quickly, so the only fresh fruits we had were bananas. Depending on what's available, I also like to use pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, or mango. Really it's all about preference and availability. 

As you can see above, I like to dice my banana pieces pretty small. 

Once the smoothie base is gone, go ahead and put it into a bowl.

Then add your favorite toppings! I love using a ton of granola in my bowls. My favorite is KIND Maple Quinoa Clusters with Chia Seeds. It tastes amazing, and not too strong (unlike some other maple-flavored granolas I own!)

And there you have it! A great, healthy meal that tastes like heaven, and is basically fruit soup. Enjoy!

X.

Healthy Tuesday: Pretty in Pink Smoothie

My summertime smoothie addiction has only increased since my last smoothie post. I love experimenting with all of the different combinations that smoothies offer. I recommend smoothies post-workout, or for a light lunch! I love making myself a cool smoothie after a long and hot hour of paddle boarding!

Pretty in Pink Smoothie:

- Strawberries (1 Handful)
- 1 Ripe Banana
- 1 Frozen Nectarine
- Frozen Peaches (1 Handful)
- Frozen Mangos (1 Handful)
- Acai Juice
- Ice

Mix it all together and enjoy! I love putting my smoothies in different shaped mason jars. They are the perfect size for smoothies, and look so adorable!

Happy summer,
Kels

Healthy Tuesday: Everything Smoothie

Happy summer! 

I've almost got my smoothie skills down! I have been on a smoothie kick this spring/summer, and this is one of my favorite creations so far. I think that the key for my favorite smoothies is to mix lots of different fruit, and add lots of ice!

I call it the "Everything" Smoothie because it literally has everything you can think of inside!

I thew in:
- Kale
- Baby Spinach
- Frozen Peaches
- Frozen Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Pineapple
- 1 Banana
- Ice
- Water

It was so good! I also love the way smoothies look in glass jars (great for storage, too!) I hope everyone is having a great summer. It's so nice to finally be free from exams! (and no longer a junior; that was a rough year) Woohoo!

XOXOXO,
Kelsey

Healthy Tuesday: Green Smoothies

I love smoothies. LOVE. However, I have always struggled at making them myself. So, for the past few years, I have gotten practically all of my smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Café. My favorite smoothie has been Island Green, which I was originally extremely skeptical to purchase. Even though the smoothie has kale AND spinach in it, I couldn't tell at all! Once I learned that TSC used a ton of sugar in their smoothies, I was extremely inspired to make my own at home, because smoothies are actually really easy to make (and are really good for you). You really do not need to add any sugar at all, if you use enough naturally sweet fresh or frozen fruits! Smoothies are an easy vegetarian snack or a great way to stay healthy at breakfast. 

Here is my first original green smoothie!

With this smoothie, I used:

- 1 cup water

- 1 cup kale
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1 cup pineapple
- 1 cup apple
- 1/2 cup mango
- 1 cup ice
- 2 frozen strawberries (for extra chill)

However, feel free to use whatever you have at home! Use this for a guideline:

Let me know if you have any favorite smoothie recipes, or any great vegetarian recipes in general. 

Happy (almost) summer (to me!)

XOXOXO,

Kelsey

Friday Food 5: Weekend Breakfast Recipes

I have seen so many recipes that are perfect for a relaxed weekend breakfast on Pinterest. They look great for a cold winter morning. I knew that I had to share them! Here are my 5 favorite vegetarian breakfast recipes!

1. "dirty chai pancakes + vanilla cranberry compote" from The First Mess (find it here!)

I'm a sucker for pancakes... and for cranberries. As a picky vegetarian, most of what I eat at Thanksgiving is the cranberry sauce. This vanilla cranberry compote sounds like that but so much better. And I beg my parents to make me pancakes (because I'm too tired lazy to do it myself) on a weekly basis. These sounds healthy and filling and oh so delicious!

2. "Buttermilk-Blueberry Breakfast Cake" from Alexandra Cooks (find it here!)

Photo from Alexandra Cooks

I made this a few years back and it was delicious. I originally found the recipe on Pinterest, I believe. I love blueberry breakfast treats! (On a normal school day I will have Eggo Blueberry waffles. Fancy? No. Delicious? Yes.) This cake is great warm and cold, and will help you have a great start to your day! It would also be really good with cranberries, just an idea!

3. "Mixed Berry Cobbler" from Bon Appétit (find it here!)

I use a wide variety of berries from my local grocery store!

Photo from Bon Appétit

My finished product

I have actually made this before, and it is so delicious. (Read my post from June about it, here!) I love having warm cobbler in the morning, especially in the winter. I also have it for dessert with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Cobbler is so versatile, and when made correctly, so perfect. The best fresh berries are available in the summer, but year round you can change it up with the in season fruit!

4. "Spiced Maple Pull Aparts" from Better Homes & Gardens (find it here!)

Photo from Better Homes & Gardens

I love cinnamon rolls, and these look like those, but a little bit fancier (and stickier)! To me, these seem like a classic breakfast dish, and I think that they just sound amazing! They literally look finger-licking good.

5. "Cinnamon Rolls with Pearl Sugar" from Alexandra Cooks (find it here!)

Photo from Alexandra Cooks

 I am the biggest fan of pearl sugar, and as I mentioned before, I LOVE CINNAMON ROLLS. They are such a big deal in my house. Whenever my mom makes them, it is literally a race to the kitchen. These look amazing. I love Alexandra Cook's recipes. They all seem to rustic and delicious.

Have you tried any of these recipes? Any other great breakfast recipes that you would suggest?

XOXOXO,
Kels

Friday Food 5: Vegetarian Recipes

I had Wednesday and Thursday off for snow days, which was so nice! I did not really do much, but its always nice to be able to sleep in 3+ hours later than I usually can, and wear a t shirt all day! I've been living in long sleeve lacrosse tournament tees and leggings for the last few days. Having only two days of school this week has been amazing, to say the least.

I have been on Pinterest a ton over the past few days. You can check out my account in the tabs above! One of the things that I have been posting on Pinterest are some healthy vegetarian recipes. I have been a full on vegetarian for over a year and a half now, so I love finding new recipes to shake up my normal go to favorites. Some of my favorite go-to meals are pasta with homemade tomato sauce, homemade macaroni and cheese with some sort of vegetable on the side, black bean tacos, homemade vegetarian chili, and pumpkin soup from Williams Sonoma (that they unfortunately only sell in the fall, and i am out and suffering majorly). Some days when I am too tired to make a big meal, I will just have a can of black eyed peas, or a bowl of butter beans.

I love going out and finding great vegetarian lunch items. Some of my favorite options are from Panera and Chipotle. At Panera I get the creamy tomato soup in a bread bowl with an apple on the side. I absolutley love this. I get it literally every single time I go. The bread bowl is sourdough and it goes perfectly with the tomato soup. And no matter where you go, I encourage you to put croutons on tomato soup. I do this where ever I go and it really makes a difference. I highly recommend!

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Garfunkle on Pinterest. Not owned by me!

At Chipotle I get a bowl with black beans, hot salsa, pico de gallo, corn salsa, lettuce, and extra cheese (with chips on the side that I share with my mom!). Other times I will get basically the same thing, except as hard shell tacos. Another place I love is Noodles & Company. They have the best pastas, and its a similar type of ordering format as Panera. Of course I have a lot of local favorites that are locally owned and delicious, but I think these are great options that you can find all over! What are your favorite places to grab a great vegetarian lunch?

I found some great vegetarian recipes that I totally want to try! Here are my 5 favorites.

1. "Gingered Pumpkin Soup" from Eat Yourself Skinny (find it here!)

Photo from Eat Yourself Skinny

Totally reminds me of the Williams Sonoma pumpkin soup that I have fallen in love with. At only 85 calories a serving, it sounds not only delicious, but also really healthy too!

2. "Parmesan Roasted Asparagus" from the Barefoot Contessa (find it here!)

Found on tumblr

My family actually had this for dinner last night, in a recipe from a really old Homestead cookbook. Coincidentally, I have seen this photo on both tumblr and Pinterest, and knew it would make it onto this post. Parmesan on asparagus is heavenly. I could not find the original recipe my family used last night, but I know that the Barefoot Contessa's recipe is basically identical. This is a great side dish that is really simple to make. You can easily make it without strictly following a recipe, for sure.

3. "Olive Garden Inspired Minestrone Soup" from Eat Yourself Skinny (find it here!)

Photo from Eat Yourself Skinny

I love minestrone soup, and order it all the time at Italian restaurants. I also sometimes eat it from a can that I got from the grocery store, and it never really compares. I would love to try this recipe and make my own healthy version!

4. "oregano roasted brassicas with maple + dijon dressing" from The First Mess (find it here!)

Photo from the First Mess

Unlike most American teenagers, I actually like Brussels sprouts. This dish sounds right up my alley. I can see it served at Thanksgiving, or just an average weeknight at my house. I feel like I would have some sort of potato with it, and my parents would have chicken! Looks fresh and amazing.

5. "Spring Vegetable Lo Mein" from Half Baked Harvest (find it here!)

Photo from Half Baked Harvest

I love Asian pasta dishes, especially for a light lunch. the only thing that I would change about this recipe is to take out the mushrooms! Otherwise it looks fresh and healthy.

I hope that you've enjoyed this post. Its a little bit different from the other stuff that I've recently been posting, but I hope you like it! Let me know if you try any of these recipes, or if you have any suggestions!

XOXOXO,
Kelsey

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

I cannot believe that only four days from now is Christmas! Also, I cannot believe that the last time I posted was like three weeks ago!! I finished my mid-term exams on Friday. Some of them were really tough for me, but I am glad that they are in the past now. It was a really hectic week!

Yesterday was really fun though after exams. My friend kHr and I went out to lunch at my favorite burrito place, went to Starbucks, then went to a ceramic painting store that I absolutely love! I painted a mason jar that I think I will either give to my cousin, or keep for myself. I also painted a light switch cover in an attempted copy of the Lilly Pulitzer first impression print. The colors are kind of dull right now, but when it gets glaed and fired in the kiln the colors will really pop! I love painting, and it was a great thing to do after all of the stress of exam week. I also took Maelia here when she was staying with my family, its a great things to do with people of any age! There were older ladies, a young woman, young kids, and other teenagers in there with us yesterday. If you have something like this around you, I highly encourage you to go and treat yourself to a fun and relaxing few hours!

I also have been busy practicing for my church's Christmas pageant, which I have done every year since I could walk, probably. It is often hectic, and there are always mistakes, but I love going to church and seeing it packed on Christmas Eve! I am a big angel, and am essentially in charge of girls in 6th to 10th grades with doing a candle dance. Its very beautiful!

I love baking, as you can see from my last post, and I am going to start my holiday baking today! Maybe I will share a few more pictures and recipes...

Although I love receiving presents at Christmastime (I will share with you below what is on my list!) I think giving presents to family and friends is so special. I love looking at people's faces when they open a gift that they love, or a gift that they have been coveting for years!


Here are a few items that I have selected from my Christmas list to share!

1. Hunter Boots I have been asking for these for basically every birthday and Christmas for the past few years. I think that they are so versatile and cute!

2. Frames! I love having photos of my friends and family in my room, and I thought that this would be a good thing to ask for, because there is such a great variety of them out there! This particular chevron frame is from Anthropoligie's website.

3. Stationary: I think the practice of sending letters is not dead. I love sending thank you notes, and expressing my gratitude to people who have helped me in any way, or gave their time to help me when it was not asked of them. I love so many stationaries! You can find this sassy animal print kind, here.

4. I love posters, and I think this one is so cute! Posters are a great and pretty inexpensive way to decorate a space. You can find this poster here.

5. I think that Lilly Pulitzer scarves are a cheery accessory that is very transitional, and can be styled for practically every season. You can find a variety of their scarves here.

6. I love love love Patagonia! I got a Patagonia fleece for Christmas last year and I wear it all the time. It's so cozy! This vest would be a great thing to wear around. I love my J. Crew Expedition vest (in black) and I think this would be a good thing to have, so I don't have to wear the same vest all the time.

7. Sunglasses: I probably do not need sunglasses, but I have been lusting over these for a while. Ray Bans are classics! You can find them here.

This Christmas, I am thankful for a lot of things. I know that not everyone gets presents for Christmas, and I realize that while I am typing this blog post, some kids are dying of diseases and starving to death. I am grateful for so much, and I love my family and my friends to death, and cannot imagine my life without them. I thank God for all he has given me. I wish you a Merry Christmas (or a relaxing break if you are not Christian) and I hope that you have a happy and healthy 2014. 

See y'all later!

XOXO,

Kels

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas....

Hey everyone!! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I cannot believe it is already December! Time has really flown by this year faster than I thought it would. I have less than three weeks of school left, including a week of exams.

 My family got our Christmas tree on Sunday, and just brought it into our house last night! We haven't decorated it yet, but I am soooo excited to do that! Here is a picture of our tree from last year (I was messing around with the bluriness-its intentional!)

Decorating a Christmas tree is honestly is one of my favorite things to do in Christmas time! ... Along with doing advent calendars  (my family has two) and BAKING!

One recipe that I love to bake anytime of the year, but especially around Christmas, is for pretzel buttons! My friend sPg always makes them for Christmas, and I was so excited last year when I stumbled across this recipe on Pinterest. The original recipe was intended for Valentine's Day, but I love them during Christmas! Last year's batches looked so much better than the ones I made this year, so here is what they should look like!



They are really simple to make, and they are great gifts for your friends, or for a hostess, as well! They are also the perfect sweet to have out at a Christmas party! At my family's annual Christmas open house, we had them sitting out for people to much on, and they disappeared quickly! Last year I put them in small mason jars with custom stickers, and gave them to family and neighbors.

Here's the recipe!

You will need:
- A bag of M&M's
- A large bag of pretzels (I have found that the square pretzels work best, but normal shaped mini pretzels or the ones that are just circles work fine as well.)
- 1 or 2 bags of Hershey's Hugs (The candy cane Hugs work, and so do Hershey's Kisses!)
- Parchment Paper
- 1 cookie sheet

Side note on the HUGS: This year I used a combination of Hugs from early 2013 and brand new HUGs. The melting process did not move at the same speed for the different kinds, so I encourage you to use all new ones, or at least ones that were all bought at the same time!

Side note on the M&M's: This year I tried mini M&M's, but I think the normal sized ones work best!

Step 1: Fit a piece of parchment paper to your cookie sheet.

Step 2: Begin placing pretzels on the sheet. I normally try to fit as many as possible.

Step 3: Unwrap your HUGS, and place one HUG on top of every pretzel.

Step 4: When you are half way done with unwrapping and placing the HUGS, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 5: Place your pretzels and HUGS in the oven for about 5-6 minutes (brand new HUGS will take far less time than older ones). You do NOT WANT to melt the HUGS, just to have them be soft. They will be shiny when you remove them from the oven!

Step 6: Get your arms ready! As soon as you remove the pretzels from the oven, place a M&M on top of the HUG. You can decide how far you want to push them, it's all up to you!

Step 7: Place the buttons in the fridge for a few minutes to let them set. Then you can package them!

If you try this recipe, tell me how it goes! I highly recommend them!

XOXOXO,

Kels

Cobbler Tuesday

Hey everyone!

Today I have finally finished my seventh and last day of behind-the-wheel. I will be on the roads, licensed in under 20 days! Its crazy for me to even think about that, I remember when I was younger feeling like driving was so far away.

In celebration of this (but not really), today I am making my favorite Mixed Berry Cobbler. The recipe is from an old issue of "Bon Appétit", which you can find it online here. My cobbler never ends up quite as pretty as the magazine's, but it honestly tastes amazing. I use all of the kinds of berries my local grocery store has to offer: blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. The biscuit topping never is as dough-like as they make it seem, but it will harden up when you cook it! I love to eat my cobbler with a huge scoop of vanilla or strawberry ice cream. I end up eating practically the whole thing by myself over the course of about two weeks! I put it in the microwave to get it warm, then add the ice cream and grab a spoon and I am all ready to go!

Final Product

On another note, so excited that Pretty Little Liars is back on tonight! The show seriously creeps me out. I am on edge the entire time I watch it. I am the same way with my other favorite non-reality show, Teen Wolf. The guys from Teen Wolf are drop dead gorgeous!

And talking about drop dead hot, muscular men, my favorite reality show, The Bachelorette! I really liked the current bachelorette, Desiree, during the beginning of Sean's season, but by the end I was not sad to see her go. During the Bachelorette, however, she has really grown on me! My favorite guys are Chris, Brooks, and Juan Pablo (I love foreign guys! Swoon...). Last season for the Bachelor, I found out who would win Sean's heart through Reality Steve. Just Google his name to find his blog, where he will "predict" who will be the final men, and who will become engaged to Desiree. His predictions are always right, so if you like to know what will happen, head over there. This season I am going to just watch and see.

This Thursday I am heading to Duck, NC for a quick "vay-cay"with one of my best friends. On Monday I am heading to Williamsburg, VA for a tour of the College of William and Mary. 18++ people in my family have gone there, and right now it is at the top of my list, along with Davidson, Washington and Lee, and Wake Forest. There will be more coming on that front, soon.

XOXOXO,

Kelsey