My Whole30 Experience

It's been pretty quiet around here for the past month, and of course there's a reason for that. I've just finished the last day of my first ever Whole30. I'll let you read as much as you want about it here, and if you're interested in learning even more, I highly recommend this book. The basic philosophy is a 30 day challenge or reset to change your approach to eating. The following sums up what my last 30 days have looked like:

It's definitely been a challenge, but it's also been one of the smartest things I've ever done. I first heard about the Whole30 from reading Carrie and Danielle's blogs, and decided to give it a try. I won't wax on about how much it changed my outlook, but I do think it really highlighted certain aspects of food and eating for me. First of all, do you know how many products contain sugar?! It's staggering and shows up in some unexpected places. By far, the hardest thing for me to adjust to was drinking my morning cup of coffee without the addition of raw sugar. After about a week, though, it was fine and I didn't even think about sugar or grains. I've come to enjoy a splash of canned coconut milk and appreciate coffee for its own flavors. Here is my little bulleted breakdown:

• The key theme for me during my Whole30: preparation. I planned out meals for the week every Saturday and then went shopping for the entire week. It pays off in the long run. This isn't a plan where you can just grab something on the go when you're in a jam. It takes some thought.
• Shop local and seasonal. I tried all sorts of new vegetables and recipes using foods from my farmers' market. I cooked a lot and used up leftovers.
• Find a couple of staple snacks that you can rely on in a pinch. I'm on the road for most of the day for my job, so I don't always get to sit down and enjoy my lunch. I did my best, but it just isn't feasible for me every day. I packed lunches and would snack on some cashews or almonds, or if I was really in a bind, a Larabar (a flavor without added sugar).
• Eat breakfast daily. Do not skip this step.
• Don't be afraid to try new things. Cook from scratch so you can control the ingredients. I made roasted tomato soup from whole tomatoes several times. I tried roasted brussel sprouts (!!!) and liked them. I was really creative and even though my boyfriend didn't do the Whole30 with me, he was happy with all of the new menu items!
• Enjoy the money you'll save by not eating/drinking out for a month! Seriously, though, there are tons of physical benefits (better sleep, clearer skin, more energy), but it was nice to lay low for the month and not worry about going out.
• Don't worry about what every one else thinks. I gave up on trying to explain what I was doing to people because they looked at me like I had seven heads. Do it for you and your own well being.

I'm not going to lie, I'm really looking forward to going out for a sushi dinner and glass of wine on Thursday night (something I used to enjoy weekly), but this 30 day challenge was eye-opening. I don't think I'll ever go back to unnecessarily adding sugar to coffee or other foods and I really don't need cow's milk. I'm perfectly happy with the almond or coconut varieties. I plan on continuing to shop local and buy the highest quality poultry, meat, and seafood that my budget will allow. I'm enjoying the benefits of the challenge, such as the sound sleep, slimmer silhouette, and lack of intestinal turmoil (the past 30 days dairy-free confirmed the fact that I most likely have a dairy allergy). I really encourage everyone to try this, even if it's just for a few weeks. I promise that you will feel better and see results. In the mean time, I'm definitely looking forward to indulging in a couple pieces of Halloween candy tomorrow!

And now back to my regular blogging!

What's new with you?

  

Impromptu Peach Pancake Brunch

The entire week of vacation I spent at home was hot and sunny, that is until a big group of us had plans to spend the day at the pool all day Saturday. That morning I woke up and it was drizzly and overcast (of course). Instead of letting the rain ruin our plans, we hit the farmer's market for a big bag of ripe white peaches and sliced them up for pancakes. I used this recipe with a few adaptations. Instead of making ginger syrup, pancakes were served with real maple syrup (my favorite!) and the amount of milk was reduced to only two cups. The end result was crispy on the outside, but fluffy on the inside pancakes, with lots of peaches and of course laughs with friends. 

Mixing all of the ingredients together.

Table set with brightly colored napkins and gerber daisies.

Pancakes on the griddle.

Camera fun with glassware.

Hot pancakes ready to be smothered in syrup.

The perfect brunch!

Thanks to David for snapping lots of great photos!

Annual Crab Feast + More Photos From Home

One of the greatest 'final hurrahs' of summer vacation last August was a crab feast with friends and family. This year, we decided to do it again, and so a new tradition has officially been born! I have really started to appreciate the Chesapeake Bay crabs because we can't get them up here in New England. The menu was kept pretty simple: steamed crabs, bruschetta, and a new crostini recipe I wanted to try with burrata, thinly sliced fresh figs, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkling of toasted hazelnuts. I can't wait to experiment with more crostini toppings. They're as fun to make as they are to eat!

Steamed crabs hot and fresh from the waterfront. 

Giving Emily's chocolate chip cookie recipe a whirl for dessert.

Toasted and chopped hazelnuts that topped crostini.

Fresh figs that were sliced and put on top of creamy burrata + drizzled with local honey.

Baguette ready for slicing.

Crostini in the making.

Jackson tried crabs, but really loved the watermelon.

"It's SO juicy!"

Mom prepping flowers for the table.

Wooden utensils from Sprinkles in Georgetown.

Sticky s'mores cupcake.

Cinnamon-sugar cupcake (my favorite!).

Around DC: The Eastern Market

It's crazy to admit that I spent most of my life living in the DC area and never once made the trek to Capitol Hill for the Eastern Market, the oldest fresh food public market in the city. Fortunately, I remedied the situation last weekend. My mom, sisters, Max, and I navigated into town, squeezed into a too-small parking space, and spent a couple of hours weaving in and out of the numerous craft, jewelry, and produce stands. It was the perfect way to spend a steamy Sunday and we left with lots of local fruits and vegetables, as well as some pretty baubles and inexpensive friendship bracelets. The peaches, corn, and tomatoes were all in their absolute prime of the season, and complemented various dinners throughout the rest of the week. I definitely recommend visiting the market if you find yourself in the DC area. I can't wait to go back next time I'm home!

Miniature eggplants in pretty shades of purple.

I'd never heard the term 'ecoganic' before.

Heirloom tomatoes that later made juicy BLT sandwiches.

Rows upon rows of colorful friendship bracelets. 

Vendors as far as the eye can see!

Panama hats in a variety of textures and colors.

Softball-sized peaches that Chef Max turned into pie for Sunday night dinner.

Gummy sharks at the candy shop inside the market.

Tiny, piping-hot doughnuts fried to order before being sprinkled with cinnamon + powdered sugar.

Life Lately...

There's been some serious downtime around here since returning from San Diego. Between the time change and getting back into the work routine, my weekends have been reserved for leisurely brunches, walks in the fresh springtime air, and catching up on my favorite blogs. I've also been trying to tackle some of the recipes that I've been pinning for months. Among my new favorites: Pioneer Woman's cold brewed iced coffee (liquid gold, if you ask me), Taza's puffed pancake (which I've been justifying as breakfast during my 40 days of no sweets + alcohol), and the best homemade salsa ever. Seriously, I am not exaggerating when I tell you this salsa comes together in under 5 minutes and will make your taste buds incredibly happy (and leave you craving a frosty margarita). Make all three recipes and tell me they're not amazing.

How have you been enjoying these springlike temps?


puffed pancake right out of the oven


...and with a drizzle of real maple syrup


home-brewed iced coffee (in its sludgy mid-brew state)


fun, springy polishes


my favorite orangey-coral hue by Chanel

Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler

Happy Mardi Gras! When I was growing up, my grandma would have a traditional Fat Tuesday pancake dinner every year and it was so much fun. She would decorate the table with brightly colored masks, feathers, and beads, and we would feast on flapjacks, sausage and bacon, eggs and fruit syrups. It was always a highly anticipated occasion for me and my sisters.

I decided to put my own spin on the tradition this year by whipping up a batch of sour cream pancakes (using this insanely delicious recipe) and served them up alongside sausage patties, scrambled eggs, fruit salad, and fresh squeezed blood orange mimosas. The best part was the real maple syrup (something that I rarely splurge on). The planning and shopping were just as much fun as the finished meal, and who doesn't love breakfast for dinner?






Remember last year, when I gave up coffee and chocolate for Lent. Yeah, that was pretty crazy. Well this year, I've decided to take it one step further and give up sweets and alcohol. I'm also going to try and make it a nightly habit to write something that I'm thankful for down in a journal. Wish me luck!

Do you celebrate Mardi Gras?

Holiday Potluck

I whipped up a batch of these peanut butter blossoms for work tomorrow. They were so quick and easy to make and always remind me of my elementary school Christmas parties!

Pinterest Pizza

Made yet another recipe off of Pinterest tonight. This time, it was bbq chicken pizza and it was delicious. I learned a great tip for shredding chicken breasts, too! All you have to do is put the warm cooked chicken into your KitchenAid stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and turn it on the medium speed (I did setting 4) and let it go for 30 seconds. Voila! Perfectly shredded restaurant-style chicken. I'm never using the two forks method again!

Brunchin'

Homemade baked spinach + egg cups. Nom nom nom.

Bird's the Word

I have to say that I'm so pleased with how well the turkey came out this year!
Hope you're having a great Thanksgiving!

Effortless Seafood Supper

These shrimp tacos are my new go-to dinner. They're so easy that I didn't even follow a recipe! I simply seasoned up some diced raw shrimp with Old Bay, garlic, and cumin, sauteed them in olive oil and a pureed chipotle, and piled the mixture in a blistered tortilla. If you want to get fancy, mix some of the pureed chipotles with sour cream and use that as a dressing for broccoli slaw, which makes a great crunchy filler. The tacos are topped with lots of fresh cilantro, scallions, and a squeeze of lime juice. So easy and less than 15 minutes from start to finish. I promise!

Sesame Soy Goodness

I'm currently just a little bit obsessed with this sauce. It's great as a marinade for chicken, a dipping sauce for dumplings, or even to flavor a stir fry. What would I do without Trader Joe's?

Chewy Caramel Apples

Waiting for these freshly dipped apples to cool before giving them a drizzle of dark chocolate. I can't think of a better football-watching treat!
Super easy recipe found here.

Farmer's Heirlooms

I've recently fallen in love with heirloom tomatoes. I don't know if it's because they've been so readily available at the farmer's market all summer, or if their various colors make me happy, but I love having a few on hand. Recently, I've been slicing them up and having them with scrambled eggs and Ezekiel toast for breakfast. I discovered these miniature heirlooms over the weekend at Trader Joe's and have already incorporated them into an end-of-summer salad and breakfasts.

Skinny Pumpkin Goodness

I made these cookies using this recipe and you seriously can't even tell that they're low fat. I think the secret might be using good quality vanilla and dark chocolate chunks instead of chips. I can't wait to try more recipes from the site!

Lemon Pepper Party

I made this quick creamy avocado pasta for dinner tonight. The sauce was the perfect complement to whole wheat linguine and the addition of grilled lemon-pepper shrimp took it to the next level. Just another reason why Pinterest is so handy!

Fall Foodie Faves

I've been doing some fall recipe research in magazines and favorite cookbooks. The crisp weather puts me in the mood for chili, soups, chowder, and all things pumpkin. What types of recipes do you like to make in the fall?

Building a Summer Salad

yellow + red cherry tomatoes from the farmer's market

It's taken me all summer, but I think I finally found the perfect recipes for a salad filled with fresh, local ingredients and dressed with a simple avocado-cilantro vinaigrette. I used a combination of two salad recipes (here and here) and loaded it with ripe cherry tomatoes, buttery avocado, grilled corn, cucumber, scallions, and lime juice. The result was so full of flavor I had to stop myself from eating the whole bowl!