Summer isn't officially here, but I feel like it has already made it's way to Texas! Blazing hot days have me craving all of the light dishes I can get my hands on! Fresh salads, fruits, and smoothies are on repeat around our house lately because the thought of turning my oven on just sounds like a bad idea! I love making recipes that I can have on hand to eat on throughout the week that are ready to go in the fridge for easy and healthy lunches! My peach and fennel chicken salad is my new favorite lunch that makes for a great sandwich or lettuce wrap any day of the week!
Have you ever had a guava? I had my first one in Costa Rica almost ten years ago and fell in love with their unique flavor, that is hard to describe until you taste one! While we were in Hawaii a couple of weeks go, my love for the fruit reawakened with all of the guava that was readily available to us wherever we went! I knew I needed to find some when we returned home! While it is hard to find the pink variety here in Texas, I was able to find the white flesh variety at my local grocery store! Both are delicious by the way, so I snagged a bag of them! I used them to create my guava caipirinhas, which is a twist on one of my favorite Brazilian cocktails!
Since coming home from Hawaii, I can't help but remember some of my favorite flavors that I experienced on the island. One of the reasons that I love traveling so much is because of the inspiration I always get from the food that I eat! We ate breakfast at a little spot on the water one morning and before our main entrees came, they served us macadamia nut banana muffins that were out of this world! If you didn't already know, macadamia nuts are everywhere in Hawaii and so they use them in tons of dishes ranging from salads to baked goods! I gave the muffin a healthy spin and added a little coconut for even more of a tropical feel! My healthy macadamia and coconut banana muffins are so good AND so good for you, that they will be your new favorite go-to breakfast!
In case you were wondering, I am still here! Sorry for the radio silence, but I took some time off because my hubby and I were in Hawaii celebrating our ten year anniversary! I decided to put work to the side and just focus on the two of us, and it was so nice! And now that we are back, I cannot believe that it is already June! (The year is passing so quickly already, right?) That means summer is just around the corner and backyard BBQ's are in full effect! My avocado crema slaw is the perfect side dish to make all summer long!
Memorial Day is right around the corner and no matter what your plans are, one thing is for sure, good food is a must! Whether you are hosting a party, are at the beach, or hanging by a pool somewhere (jealous if thats the case), you need to have a yummy spread to serve up to your guests! That's why I've gathered up some of my favorite Memorial Day recipes that are crowd pleasers and perfect for any type of gathering and even just hanging at home!
I am not good about meal planning over the weekend. I think it's because that part of my brain turns off when Friday rolls around. So Monday for me is when I plan out my week and figure out all of our meals. One thing is for sure when I am planning, and that is all of the meals have to be EASY and relatively fast too! I recently did a round-up of my top ten easy weeknight meals, and this recipe that I am sharing with you today could easily get added to that list! My spiced citrus fennel braised chicken thighs and carrots should most certainly be added to your weeknight dinner rotation!
