I'd understand if you were a little upset with me, after all your family is probably a little hungry considering I haven't posted a recipe in two weeks. But let me tell you, the past two weeks have been a whirlwind with the move and getting the house unpacked. The good news here...I am finally settled and am getting back into my normal routine! I figured since I haven't posted anything delicious in a bit, I would come back with a recipe that you will love and that can make any Monday better! One of my loveliest friends, Renee, was kind enough to share her recipe for banana bread with me about a month ago and I am telling you guys this banana bread is the real deal. You are going to want this for breakfast and a cup of coffee everyday this week. Renee's banana bread is the best I've ever tasted/made and you need a loaf in your life, preferably sooner than later.
I'm alive, in case you were thinking that I wasn't since I dropped off the face of the blogging universe for the past week. Last Tuesday was completely bittersweet as we left the state we call home along with friends and family to uproot and move to a place where we will start a new chapter in our lives, a place that will be filled with new memories. It's hard to believe that just like that, in a matter of one day, we became residents of Texas. We are officially home sweet home. There have been two states in my life that I have considered home, where I have become the woman I am today. This year we add a third state, and it might be the most one yet.
Tennessee has my earliest roots, where I have memories of growing up in a beautiful area right next to the Smoky Mountains.
I've heard stories of pregnant women and infamous cravings. I kind of thought it was a hoax or an excuse to eat whatever you wanted or maybe it was exaggerated a little bit. Especially because my first couple of weeks of finding out I was pregnant I was super healthy giving my body and baby every single thing I read and knew would be beneficial to me and the baby. I was full of energy, exercising everyday, and eating as clean as anyone could. I cut caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and anything else that might be less than amazing for the little lentil growing inside me. Then something happened around week eight...here are my Friday pregnancy confessions from the first trimester.
I have always prided myself on being a healthy eater and have never in my life had an issue with getting my veggies in. I love them all, eh or did love them all. Around week eight my body decided that it was super tired and my energy levels went up and down.
I'll be honest, this cocktail almost didn't happen. Between moving next week and everything else going on including being exhausted, I was reallllll close to letting the ball drop on this week's Thirsty Thursday. It was between my daily nap and shooting this cocktail. But...I couldn't let you all down, so here you go, because that's how much I love you! Today I whipped you up the tastiest and easiest skinny margarita!
It's almost summer and I know most of you are watching those figures, but there is absolutely no reason that you can't still enjoy your happy hour. My three ingredient margarita is low calorie and will leave you with no guilt and on the right track with your diet.
Salad has not been on my list of everyday foods right now. I have been craving lots of things, but vegetables just aren't one of them. I'm hoping my regular love of all things healthy comes back in the next couple of weeks, and in the mean time I have been tricking my brain by putting vegetables into sauces, smoothies, and sometimes forcing myself to eat them for the sake of the baby. However, my strawberry and avocado salad happens to be the one salad that I don't have to choke down and that actually taste amazing to me. This salad is so healthy and easy and the flavor combinations are just right.
You can top it with grilled chicken or salmon and even your picky eaters will approve of this healthy weeknight dinner. There is something about the savory and sweet when you get a bite of the strawberries with the tangy vinaigrette that just makes this salad so dang good until the last bite.
We were watching Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown the other night right before we went to sleep. He was in Chile eating the most gorgeous food, exploring gorgeous land, and drinking to his heart's content. I was half asleep, half listening and watching when all of the sudden I caught a glimpse of the most refreshing looking drink I had ever laid my eyes on. It was simple, no fuss, and genius! A two ingredient cocktail that I will be thinking about until after I have this baby, but for now I wanted to introduce it to you! Pineapple sorbet and crisp white wine come together to create my version of the magical drink I saw on TV that I am calling the pineapple sorbet wine cooler.
Who remembers wine coolers? I can't believe I used to drink those overly sweet, give you a headache the next day fruity drinks. Well never fear, this cocktail is nothing like your memories of any wine coolers that you have ever tasted before. This one is not too sweet and is what summertime happy hours are made of.
