Eight Things I'm Loving Right Now

1. Poached eggs. Oh.My.Goodness.Oh.My.Goodness. Why did it take me almost 29 years to give these a try?! Why didn't anybody tell me about these??! (Mama, you're excused, but everybody else.... I'm looking at you.)

2. My latest guilty pleasure readings seem to be Christian Romance. I am such a sap. Such a romantic at heart. The Dandelion Field. A Marriage in Middlebury. I just finished Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter and am starting Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck. It's fluff. It's all lovey-dovey. It's fairy-tale-ish. It makes me cry. It's my current kick.

3. And speaking of... My new Vera Bradley reading glasses in Slate Blooms. And I'm not sure I even need these. But they were only $3.99. And they were cute. It's been almost a decade since I last went to the eye doctor. Mama took me and the doctor said my eyesight was fine, but with all the reading I was expected to do in college I might want some reading glasses. So we purchased some really cute, stylish red ones, which I wore mainly to coordinate with a red outfit every once in a while. Actually, I haven't wore them since unmarried life?? Maybe. I feel like my eyes are fine. Always have been. But these glasses are super cute! Maybe I should schedule an exam....

4. Polka dots and dresses. After the 70 degree-weather tease a few weeks ago, then the 40 degree-drop last week, spring seems to be poking it's head out today. We're in the 60s, people! Time to celebrate with all things spring! And let's hope it stays longer than three days. My dresses are growing impatient in the closet, and boots and tights just don't look as pretty or make them happy like sandals and heels.

5. So, through my Robeks app, I was notified about their new FITNESS SMOOTHIES made with maple water. As soon as I saw the peanut butter one I knew I had to have it. Last weekend I drove to the nearest location for a taste test. Honestly, it tastes like Teddy Grahams (the original, y'all) with a bit of peanut butter. Teddy Grahams! I loved those as a snack in my college days childhood. Yet, I could do with more peanut butter. Shocker, I know. I can always do with more peanut butter. Fitness fuel, my friends.

6. Grinding my coffee beans. Since my new coffee pot purchase a few months ago, now I wake up to the smell of coffee beans. Programmable coffee pots are the best thing since sliced bread, you know? I know. And my additional grinders are perfect for those days I want French pressed coffee. Like this past Tuesday. French pressed and Cabela's. Yep. That's my thoughts on Tuesdays in a nutshell. Time to be productive, but I'm not happy about it.

7. These Raspberry Chocolate Chip Muffins. Made with oat flour, dark chocolate, halved sugar, fresh raspberries, protein powder, and Greek yogurt. Healthy. Tasty. Breakfast-pleasing. Snack-pleasing. Dessert-pleasing. I had more than one, definitely. Check out Katie's book for the recipe!

8. This ballet core workout on DVD I borrowed from my library. I was at another branch killing time before a program, and while walking around I spotted it. It's pretty basic, but leaves you with a great burn. I'm really, really liking it. And it's something different. (Also, something I'm in need of if I keep eating muffins.)


With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

My Favorite Black Bean Burger Salad

So, you know those black bean burgers I love?

Put those babies on a salad!

Over these last few weeks, I have been addicted to my burgers atop a beautiful plate of greens. I think it's spring fever. However, as I look out the window this morning and see the snow falling, I'm sure, completely, that it's SPRING FEVER.

Hello? Sunshine? Where are you??

But, you know, it's Ohio. We go straight from winter to summer. Always. ALWAYS. I think Ohio has a thing against spring time. I think it's the chirping birds at 6 a.m. Or maybe that's just me.

But, my point. And I do have one.

These beauty burgers are even more beautiful in a salad and drizzled with a white balsamic vinegar. Right now, I'm all about this peach version I found at the Market District. So good.

The slightly warmed burger with a sprinkle of feta is enough to get anyone to eat this salad. Trust me.

Black Bean Burger Salad

Serves 1

1 black bean burger, cooked (follow the link for the recipe)
2 cups spring mix greens
1 large tomato, sliced
1 cup English cucumber, chopped
1/8 c crumbled feta cheese
1 half of an avocado, chopped
White Peach Balsamic Vinegar, for drizzle (about 1 T)

Place greens on a pretty plate. Layer on tomato, cucumber, feta, and avocado. Top with a heated black bean burger, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Who knew these beauty burgers could get any better?


Nutritional Information:
409 calories, 17 fat, 53 carbs, 20 protein, 15 fiber, 14 sugar

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Healthy Sweet 'n' Sour Marinated Chicken

This chicken.

If there was only one chicken dish I could convince you to make, it would be this one.

Until I made my next chicken dish, obviously.

I could eat chicken every day and never tire of it. I'm 90% certain that is why I'm not a vegetarian. The other 10% belongs to a perfect medium-rare steak. A girl's gotta have her steak.

But back to this particular chicken. It's marinated and it's healthy. It's quick and it's delicious. It pleases the man in your life. It will please you.

This chicken pairs perfectly with rice and your favorite vegetable. Sometimes I add it to a stir fry or eat it cold in a lunch salad. The flavors from the marinade easily complement and are very versatile.

Which makes this chicken the most perfect chicken.

A chicken to flavor up your go-to weeknight meal. Any leftovers can flavor up tomorrow night's meal.

As I said, chicken all the time.

Sweet 'n' Sour Marinated Chicken

Serves 4

4 chicken breast halves
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
1/4 c orange juice*
1/4 c lime juice*
1/4 c lemon juice*
1/4 c brown sugar
3 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil

(*Side note: When I'm out of lemons or limes, I use a few drops of my lemon essential oil, and when there's no orange juice, the orange blossom essential oil is a fantastic replacement. Although, I recommend using one or the other of the oils because you need the liquid. But I guess you could replace it with water or stock.)

Combine all ingredients, except chicken and olive oil, in a large glass bowl. Stir to combine. Slowly pour oil into mixture while stirring with a whisk. Place chicken in marinade, cover and chill 8 hours, or overnight, turning once or twice. In a large skillet or grill pan, cook chicken over medium heat for 6-8 minutes on each side, or until cooked.

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Good Morning Frappe

This is my GOOD MORNING! Healthier Coffee Mocha Frappe.

And, y'all, just looking at these photos makes me want to rush into my kitchen and make one of these bad boys immediately.

It is THE most perfect way to enjoy the leftovers in the pot you didn't quite finish off yesterday. I am a die-hard iced coffee fan anyway, but sometimes I WANT more than just coffee and ice. I WANT less than a thousand-calorie beverage. I WANT the assumption I'm enjoying something I should feel guilty about. I WANT something that's not going to load my body with a ton of sugar in the early hours. I WANT creamy and caffeinated but will keep me full until an early lunch. I WANT fast... as in I should have left 10 minutes ago.

Because of these WANTS, I created this fantastic homemade frappe.

YUM-O.
PERFECTION.

It's also easy to adjust the recipe to the ingredients you have or the taste you want. I like plain protein powder, but if you want a little sweetness, use vanilla. Or better yet, chocolate. Not a fan of cottage cheese, use plain Greek yogurt instead. Out of chia seeds? Toss in a spoonful of flax seeds. Not sure about the coconut oil? Leave it out. (Or try butter. Bulletproof coffee, anyone?)

This morning frappe can also star as a mid-afternoon snack or a late night dessert. Just add a natural sweetener if you'd like it a bit more decadent, such as honey, maple syrup, or a few slices of a frozen banana. And thicken it! (Extra ice or a pinch of xanthan gum will do the trick.) So you can eat it with a spoon. It's like coffee mocha ice cream.

Some days I drink half in the morning and save the other half for an after dinner treat. When I get home I throw the rest of it back in the blender with a pinch of xanthan gum and one or two more ice cubes. What a delicious treat to come home to! :)

Good Morning Frappe

Serves 1 or 2

3/4 c unsweetened almond milk
3/4 c strongly brewed coffee, cold
1 T coconut oil
1 T chia seeds
1/4 c cottage cheese
1 scoop plain protein powder
1 T unsweetened cocoa powder
handful of ice

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender (place ice in last); blend until desired consistency. Top with coconut whipped cream, if desired. Drink up!

Nutritional Information (without whipped cream) for one serving:
344 Calories, 24 Fat, 3 Sugar, 28 Protein, 10 Fiber

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

BLTs In a Bowl

nom.nom.nom.nom.nom.nom.

Who doesn't like a BLT??!!

Besides the grilled cheese, it's the king of all kings when it comes to sandwiches. (All things not grilled cheese, of course.)

It's so easy to throw one together when you just arrived home from work and half to rush out of the house in a half an hour to make it to Wednesday night church service. Or when you don't feel like cooking or dirtying up the kitchen. Or when all you want is a hearty deli sandwich. Or when the pantry is bare.

It's a household favorite over here. Mr. B loves his BLTs along with a side of soup. Which got me to thinking....

BLTs with soup. BLT SOUP!

It's possible, and yes, it's delicious. Whenever I make it, I have to control myself to not eat the entire batch before my husband gets home.It's a simple broth-based soup with chopped bacon, lettuce, and tomato. Most often I use Romain lettuce, but if I make it just for me to have as my work lunch for the week, I like to use a heartier green like kale. Annnndddd....the best part? One serving is less than 300 calories. Yay! Plus, I don't even miss the bread. It's perfect with a BIG COBB SALAD. Or with toasted peppercorn bread, as Mr. B reminded me. <--- He likes his bread.

The tastiest way to celebrate National Soup Month.

nom.nom.nom.nom.nom.nom.

BLT Soup

Serves 4

3 T coconut oil
1/2 c green onions, diced
3 cups Romaine lettuce or kale, finely sliced
1/2 c flour
4 c vegetable broth
1-2 cups [fresh] tomatoes,chopped
6 slices pre-cooked bacon, chopped
1/4 t nutmeg
1 t pepper
1 c unsweetened almond milk (or regular milk)
3 T mayonnaise
3 T plain Greek yogurt
Optional: extra diced bacon for topping

In a large pot, over medium-high heat, melt coconut oil. Add in diced onions and saute 3-4 minutes. Stir in sliced lettuce, and saute a couple more minutes. Sprinkle in flour and stir until well combined. Pour in vegetable broth, cover pot, and bring to a quick boil. Once boiling, add in tomatoes, bacon, nutmeg, and pepper. Lower heat and simmer about 10 minutes. Add in milk and heat through. In a bowl combine mayonnaise and yogurt.

Serve in bowls topped with a dollop of mayo and yogurt mixture. Sprinkle with diced bacon, if desired.

Nutritional Information:
270 calories, 19 fat, 18 carbs, 2 fiber, 2 sugar, 6 protein

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Cheeseburger Casserole

Talk about cleaning out the freezer and tossing everything into a quick weeknight dinner casserole.

This casserole is a dish I throw together when Mr. B and I are craving fast food. Burgers. Fries.

But we don't eat fast food, and haven't since March of this year. We've always been "health conscious" when it comes to food, eating everything in moderation with occasional indulgences. We don't bring junk food into the house; it's just something we I don't buy. Now if there's a party and we need chips, I'll throw in a bag or two. If I'm craving ice cream and it's the dead of winter or I don't feel like waiting two days to make my own, I'll head to the store and buy a pint or smaller. Unless it's Christmas or a special occasion, you won't find candy or cookies in my house. Mr. B doesn't eat sweets. I never get dessert when we do eat out; I'd rather make it myself.

And in all honesty, it's not necessarily because we only like healthy food. It's more likely because we're too cheap. I mean, have you seen the cost of a bag of chips or a box of pastries from the bakery lately?  For the quality, I'll just make it myself. And.Mr.B.cannot.stop.eating.when.it.comes.to.chips.

I'm mentioning all of this because we had a downfall and that was running through the BK Lounge when out and about and feeling too lazy to cook. Or through McDonald's for fries. It wasn't all the time, and considering most people, our once a week fast food splurge isn't much. But this past March we made a decision to cut out fast food. Mainly because I finally convinced my husband how bad it was for us. After watching Food, Inc. he made the decision he'd never eat it again. To my surprise, he hasn't. Here it is, almost January, and the only fast food he's consumed since that declaration is a couple Subway sandwiches and an Arby's roast beef. While on vacation we stopped for his traditional Big Breakfast and he didn't even finish it.

I'm so proud. My husband is definitely a burgers and fries guy. And I know he misses the taste, not the particular restaurants. So I created this casserole dinner just for him, as a way to get his fix. This casserole is the perfect dinner for those of us who love burgers and fries. It's a healthier, homemade version to kick that fast food craving.

Cheeseburger Casserole

Serves 4

1 lb ground turkey
S.O.S. mix equivalent to 10.5 oz (prepared)
a decent-sized batch of caramelized onions and mushrooms
22 oz. pkg french fries
1 c grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided
Toppings: lettuce, tomatoes and pickles (and other condiments optional)

Preheat oven 350 degrees. In a skillet, brown the meat, drain off fat if needed. Place meat in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper, mix in the caramelized onions and mushrooms, and S.O.S. mix. Stir until combined. Spoon the meat mixture into a greased casserole dish. Next, top with half the grated cheese and the fries. Bake 30 minutes, and then sprinkle on the remaining cheese. Bake another 15 minutes, or until the fries are done and cheese is melted. Top with chopped tomatoes, pickles, and lettuce. Drizzle with burger condiments, if desired.

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Triple Chocolate Cookies

I have been making these melt-in-your-mouth health-ified chocolate beauties for years.

And besides these Chocolate Chili Cranberry Cookies, this chocolate cookie is my close second favorite. I first discovered this cookie when perusing the internet for something chocolate-y to add to my Christmas baking. I found this instant winner, and since then have made my own healthy substitutions. However, it's been a while since I indulged in these, and after looking at this season's baking list, I knew I needed at least one chocolate cookie and dug out my recipe.

The best way to devour eat these bite-size cookies are straight from the oven when they're warm and gooey. YUM-O. Just try not to scorch your tongue. A couple of seconds in the microwave is a great substitute for when you shouldn't eat them all straight from the baking sheet because you need to make a pretty platter to take to Grandpa's Christmas and everybody is depending on you to bring a cookie platter with at least one chocolate cookie. Oh, and if you don't want to spend the rest of the holiday season in your yoga pants because none of your jeans fit.

Wait... who doesn't want this? Yoga pants are comfy. Yoga pants are acceptable. Yes, definitely. Sign me up for that.

But, hey, these are "health-ified," remember? You can eat the whole sheet and probably still fit into those jeans. And, trust me, you will be tempted to eat more than one, or five. The gooey chocolate just oozing out of the cookie. A soft not-too-sweet treat with rich dark chocolate chunks. I won't blame you if you lick the pan. Just let it cool first, 'kay?

Black Bean Triple Chocolate Cookies
*adapted from Ellie Krieger's recipe

Yields: 2 dozen cookies

1/4 c coconut oil, softened (or the original recipe's 1/4 c unsalted butter, I vary this substitution)
1/2 c scant dark brown sugar
1/4 c scant granulated sugar
1/4 c plain Greek yogurt
1 flax egg (1 T flax seeds + 3 T water)
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 c black beans, pureed
1/2 c whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder (Trader Joe's is my favorite, of course)
1/3 c dark chocolate, chopped
1/3 c semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream together the butter (or oil) and sugars until well combined. Add the yogurt and flax egg and beat until creamy. Mix in the vanilla. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and cocoa powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Stir in the black beans, mixing well. Then add in the chopped chocolate and mix well. Using a tablespoon, scoop the batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool.

Nutritional Information per cookie: 77 calories, 3 fat, 12 carbs, 1 fiber, 1 protein, 8 sugar

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Re-Visited: Cooking Club #12

[Original post date Nov. 2011. --Updated 10/29/14: original, but separate content, with updated photos and/or more details, if available.]


---> Cooking Club is coming up soon, and now that I'm blogging, I want to share these moments but I thought I should play catch-up first. So without further ado, here (and in more posts to come) is what we've been up to. Enjoy!

#12 June: Finger Food

The Menu:
        Appetizers
Tomato, Watermelon and Basil Skewers
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Savory Parmesan Bites
        Dessert
Vegan Raspberry Scones

This month Kelly finally got to pick the theme. She got a bunch of cookbooks over the Christmas holiday and wanted to do an appetizer theme....which became a finger food theme...and then Kelly and her girls couldn't make it. But we thoroughly enjoyed her theme for her.

I came across this fun skewer recipe--actually I have no idea where I got this dish--I just know I've had it for a while. And it includes all of the things I love:

Cherry tomatoes (I eat these like they're candy, God's candy they are), check.
Watermelon (one of the reasons I love summer), check.
Basil (my favorite herb), check.
Balsamic vinegar (love and will put it on almost anything), check.

Even in bad lighting, these ingredients look delicious. I can smell the basil and taste the vinegar syrup as I type. I'd make these today if I didn't have to sell my right arm for the ingredients.

Trust me, you won't stop at just one, or two.....or five.

So, soooo good.

Tomato, Watermelon and Basil Skewers

Serves 8

1/4 c balsamic vinegar
scant 1/4 c sugar
1 (4-5 lb) watermelon, cut into 1 1/2" cubes
32 small basil leaves
16 cherry tomatoes, halved
2 Tbsp olive oil
kosher salt
16 wooden skewers (about 16" each)

Combine vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat and set aside to cool. Starting with watermelon squares, push a square to very tip of skewer. Then skewer a basil leaf, then a tomato half. Continue layers until skewer is full. Continue with remaining skewers. Drizzle skewers with balsamic syrup and olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and serve. (I even like mine with a little freshly ground black pepper.)


Even though there were only three of us this month, we have one, two, three, four...yes, four recipes. Jessica and I stumbled upon this Vegan Raspberry Scones recipe while killing time at work one day, and decided immediately that these qualified as finger food. We split the cost of ingredients and made these tasty little things as a combined effort.

(However, ours didn't turn out as dark as theirs...)

I was able to score some beautiful raspberries.

Jessica and Jenny might have consumed more than went into the batter. I, however, am not of the fresh-raspberry-liking crowd.

These were so flavorful with a different texture than your average scone. Great for breakfast, warmed with a tiny drizzle of honey, and cup of hot tea.

*I hope you enjoyed these Cooking Club snippets. There are more to come as I try to play catch-up before this month's meeting. I hope these themes, and even Cooking Club itself, inspire you to gather with your friends and family in the kitchen, and make sweet moments (and delicious food) of your own.

**I've only included the recipes to the dishes I made. Only because I'm unsure of where everyone got theirs...and hey, we gotta give credit where credit is due. If you have any questions about the other dishes, I'll ask the other members where they got their recipes and pass it along!

Check out our previous meetings!
Cooking Club #1-4
Cooking Club #5-8
Cooking Club #9
Cooking Club #10
Cooking Club #11

[Update: Just the previous Cooking Club links!]

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

What I'm Reading

I have had quite the eclectic collection of books on my nightstand lately. Titles on yoga with kids, yoga for adults, Yoga Sparks, cookbooks, cookbooks, and more cookbooks (you can read about my favorites here), a few children's lit selections, some Brain Candy, and a few health books (because I'm a researching nerd). Among those, Sarah Wilson's I Quit Sugar is a must-read. The book's layout is absolutely beautiful and really appeals to the reader; it's by far the best healthy/dieting/cookbook I've crossed visually. After reading through, I realized I pretty much follow this mantra daily already. My only downfall: FRUIT. I eat 3-4 pieces of fruit almost everyday, but I always choose sugarless yogurt, granola, nut butter, etc. I can eat just one sugary treat or piece and move on quite easily (or as Wilson calls it "lapsing"). This is definitely the book to read if you can't go a day without eating some sweet dessert, always put sugar in your coffee or tea, or load up on breads and pastas. It's pretty much a less-restricted "paleo" lifestyle. You take eight weeks to recalibrate your body, and then slowly add some sugar back in to your diet to see how your body reacts. I fast sugar often throughout the year, and it's amazing how quickly you lose a taste for the sweet stuff. Since I started my own occasional sugar fast five years ago, I can barely tolerate sweet treats. (Ice cream is always a "yes" though! ---> unless it's DQ. Yuck!)

Because I already limit my sugar intake and always use healthier sugar replacements, I mainly picked up this book for more recipe ideas and tips to eliminate "hidden" sugars, like those found in condiments, pastas, breads, and supposedly "health" foods. Plus, I heard great things about the book, and it didn't disappoint! I really, really loved Sarah's attitude, tone, and honesty. I'm excited to try the included recipes, which she keeps quite simple and easy. I will own this soon. Another favorite health book I will be adding to my collection in the near future is The Yoga Body Diet. This is the perfect book for yoga beginners, or anyone a fan of yoga interested in integrating the practice in all facets of their life. This book breaks down the three different doshas (or lifestyles/personalities/characteristics), explaining how to apply each one to your every day life through power poses, sequences, ingredients, and recipes. It's really convenient how the book gives one recipe, but breaks it down into the three different doshas' needs. Everyone is different, and I like how the author reiterates this. This is not something to follow to the tee; it's a helpful guideline, and quite forgiving.

I am a KAPHA to the tee, lol, and when I'm getting my particular dosha requirements I'm at my best. When I'm not, my focus, diet, health, practice, and sleep suffer. And I can easily see that now, and better yet, understand why. The Yoga Body Diet is a great addition to any yoga fan's shelf, and reads quickly and can be easily referenced. I heard it's available in eBook format, and I think that would be great, but I prefer to grab the actual book and easily find my kapha sections, to see the routines and pose index. And, since we're (err, I am) talking about recent health reads, I have to mention The Coconut Oil Miracle. If you aren't on the bandwagon of this miracle oil yet, I suggest you hop a ride quickly. If you aren't obsessed and using it on everything and in everything, I suggest you fix that ASAP. While I'm on board with using this miracle oil already, and I'm aware of its awesome benefits completely, this book is better suited for those who are skeptical and/or really want to know the science behind the benefits of coconut oil. If you have the slightest interest or are using it already, I highly recommend checking out this book. I.cannot.say.enough.about.coconut.oil. LOVE.

Okay, now onto a few fiction titles I stayed up way too late finishing. The first would be my beloved Outlander. Written in My Own Heart's Blood, the eighth installment, hit the shelves this past June (and you can bet I'd been on hold for that sucker since last December. Yeah, buddy). Y'all know my relationship with this fantastical historical fiction series. (It finally went to TV, but of course, I don't have cable or STARZ, so I have to wait until Netflix or Amazon picks it up. I'm throwing a huge adult tantrum right now.) Y'all are quite familiar with how I spent the last two years devouring reading all seven books, and now I could finally settle into the latest. Sadly, I read it all too quickly, and all too soon it was over. The ending left me saying, "What?!" and then "Huh? Hmmmmm...."

I did really enjoy this installment. There were times when I wanted certain scenes to just hurry up so I could get to the scene I was waiting for, but then once I got to it I appreciated the other scenes and characters. BUT, there's a lot more I wanted to know, and the leaving me hanging with multiple opened story lines....darn it, GABALDON!

And I can't forget my book club! Again, each member chose their own book to read for summer, and my choice was originally The Goldfinch (you can read my thoughts on that here), but halfway through I switched to Rainbow Rowell's YA title, Fangirl. I was in desperate need of something to get me out of my fictional rut, and it did just that. (Outlander didn't count. It was an obvious out-of-rut given.) Although it took me awhile to get into because of the whole fan-fiction topic thing, I really did enjoy this novel. I definitely found it relatable, and it is the perfect recommendation for teens in the "books that won't make you blush" category.

My most recent audio book endeavor was a title recommended to me by a friend. She happened to pick it up at her library, gave it a listening to, and mentioned it to me one day on the phone when I asked what books she was reading (I'm a book lover, and a...umm librarian, so I'm always asking). She mentioned The Next Thing on My List ages ago, and I finally got around to requesting it from my local library. Although the audio was decent, I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more had I read it, actually. The main character, June, is involved in a car crash that kills her passenger, a woman she barely knew and had just met at a Weight Watchers meeting. She finds the deceased's purse, and in it a list of 20 things she wished to accomplish by her next birthday. So June sets off to finish the list. I found the story to be quite predictable, but I would recommend it to someone looking for something light and fluffy to add to their beach-reads.

Read anything this summer worth mentioning?

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Double Coconut Strawberry Smoothie

It was quite chilly here a week or so ago. Like low of 40 at night chilly. Thoughts of fall, boots, football, festivals, and all things pumpkin were filling my brain. I even started preparations for my seasonal wardrobe swap (more on that later). But, alas, it's nearing 90 degrees today. Summer is sticking it out. This means I'm still on my cold smoothie kick and not ready yet for my warm bowl of oatmeal in the mornings.


This smoothie was my go-to breakfast a few weeks ago. I couldn't get enough. I'm that kind of person. When I find something new and tasty, I eat nothing else until I'm sick of it. Which, by the way, usually lasts about two weeks. Afterwards (read: a month or so later), I come back to it occasionally, rotating it through my weekly meal menus.

This is the perfect smoothie for fresh and beautiful strawberries. (Or if out of season, the frozen berries work just as well, usually adding more flavor and color.) The perfect smoothie to satisfy your coconut oil addiction. Oh, wait. Is that just me? I am addicted. I want coconut oil EVERYTHING. In my cooking, baking, health and beauty care. You name it, I will find a way to use coconut oil for it. (FYI, it works wonders on mosquito bites and burns. Trust me, I know.) However, Mr. B cringed the other night when he saw me using it as lotion. Yet I'm the one with amazingly soft skin, not him. I'm pretty sure this is a great addiction. I'm buying the jars in surplus now (or at least begging my friend to because Trader Joe's is too far away!!!! <--- adult tantrum). I digress. Back to this yummy smoothie. Tons of flavor. Try it, please!

As I always say, everything in moderation, right? Well, once the [short] initial obsession wears thin. YUM.


Double Coconut Strawberry Smoothie

Serves 1

1 c coconut water
1 c strawberries, chopped (fresh or frozen, if using frozen ice is optional)
1 T flaxseed or chia seeds
1 T coconut oil
1 T plain Greek yogurt
Handful of ice
Optional: 1 scoop soy vanilla protein powder (when I have it on hand)

Place all ingredients in a blender; mix until smooth consistency. Devour!

Nutritional information (with protein powder): 378 Calories, 18 Fat, 30 Protein, 5 Fiber, 19 Sugar

Pssttt....IT'S GAME DAY. Go Bucks! Go Flashes!

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Nutty Chocolate Breakfast Shake

I know it's been a little shake/smoothie/beverage overload on here lately this summer, but I am not at all sorry. As the months get warmer, the more I crave something fast and cold to jump start my mornings. Today I'm sharing my new morning obsession favorite, and a heads up(!) I'll be sharing another smoothie favorite next week. I.cannot.stop.drinking.this. It's the perfect shake for me. It's all about the peanut butter taste with half the calories, made possible by PB2. I love PB2, and you can read/purchase more about it here, but basically it's powdered peanut butter. Regular PB2 has 23 calories, 1 fat, 1 sugar. Compared to one of my favorites, Trader Joe's raw almond butter, which has 95 calories, 9 fat, 1 sugar.

The product recommends mixing a tablespoon of PB2 with water, but ewwww. Yuck. Instead, I throw it into my shakes. I know a few people who have used it in baked goods, which is next on my list, but for now I'm inhaling it by the glassful. I kid you not, my friends. I've been enjoying this Nutty Shake every morning for days now. Even when I ran out of protein powder, I blended on. Alas, I ran out of PB2. This has made for a very sad Brindi.

While at work, Mr. B called to let me know he was heading to the store and asked if I needed anything. I squealed "YES!" and began to describe my PB2, what it looked like and where in the store it was located. "Umm, yeah. Anything normal?"

I did not get my PB2.

The day after I purchased my first PB2, I received a message from my co-worker telling me about this awesome product she stumbled upon at Target (love Target), and knowing I enjoy smoothies and peanut butter, needed to tell me about it. It was PB2. Seriously. This stuff is awesome.

Mixed with vanilla protein powder and coconut oil, this makes for one satisfying breakfast shake. I drink half when I get up, and place the other half in the freezer to chill while I get ready for the day.  I grab it as I head out the door, and finish it on my way to work. It keeps me full and energized until lunch. Love it. Love it. Love it. Obsessed? Definitely. In need of purchasing the bulk size for sure.

Nutty Chocolate Breakfast Shake

Serves 1

1 c unsweetened almond milk
1 T chia seeds
2 heaping T PB2 (with cocoa)
1 heaping T raw coconut oil
1 heaping T cottage cheese (<--- makes it delightfully creamy)
Pinch of xanthan gum
5-7 ice cubes
Optional: when I have it on hand, 1/2 frozen banana, sliced (for a little added sweetness)

Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until desired consistency is reached, adding more ice or water if needed.

Nutritional information (without banana): 283 Calories, 24 Fat, 11 Protein, 8 Fiber, 4 Sugar


With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Breakfast+Snack+Treat All in One

Well, hello!

[Whenever I say that, I always picture Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire when he sticks his face in the whipped cream (I think it is?) so his ex-wife won't recognize him. And I say it like he does, "Well, hellooooooo!" I can't help it, my cousins and I were huge fans of that movie.]

Hmmm, anyhoo, I threw a bunch of ingredients in a bowl and discovered a quick and versatile treat.

This Breakfast Cookie came about because I was really, really annoyed with how quickly my bananas ripened. Most people prefer this; however, I do not. I strongly do not. I can't even stomach a banana if there are any brown spots, let alone stand the smell. And my kitchen reeked of overripe bananas. Something needed to be done immediately. So instead of tossing them like I occasionally do, I decided to mash them in a bowl and do something with them....?

At 10 o'clock last night, I searched what ingredients I had on hand and added some oats, nut butter, and chocolate chips. I was aiming for a breakfast bar. The mixture wasn't as thick as I intended, and rather than add more oats, I opted for some flax seed. Alas, my kitchen was sans flax seed. No problem, cookies it is!

These cookies are great. Fantastic. Healthy. Transportable. Delicious with just the right amount of sweetness to make you feel as if you're indulging. I was so thrilled with the turnout, I hadn't realized I'd already eaten three of the little gems until I went to take a photo. Soooo good. And the best part, store them in the freezer, and grab one when ya need it! It's as simple as that. You might want to make a double batch.

Perfect for breakfast, they remind me a little of baked oatmeal. A great snack throughout the day. Or as a guilt-free late-night treat. This morning I enjoyed one crumbled up on top of my plain Greek yogurt with berries. I felt a little indulgent. Awesome start to my day. :)

Breakfast Cookies

Makes 13 cookies

2 very ripe bananas
1 c quick-cooking oats (or rolled if it's what you have on hand; I did a combination in mine.)
1/3 c dark chocolate chips (or semi-sweet)
1 heaping T raw almond butter (or whatever nut butter fits your fancy)

Preheat oven 350 degrees. With a fork, mash the bananas in a medium bowl. Stir in the oats, chocolate chips, and nut butter. Scoop batter onto a baking tray, making scoops as round as possible.

Bake 12-15 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely. In a tight container, store in fridge or freezer. (I prefer mine straight from the freezer, no need to thaw!) *Note: this recipe is quite easy to make gluten free and vegan.

Nutritional Information (per cookie): 44 Calories, 1 Fat, 1 Sugar, 3 Fiber, 2 Protein

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

What I'm Reading

The Body Book. I.could.not.put.this.book.down. Cameron Diaz's knowledge, up-front writing style, and blunt honesty is refreshing, educational, and highly motivating. I've never been a huge fan of Diaz, but her book made me respect her a lot more. It's nice to see celebrities with brains, interest, and knowledge of their body and healthy lifestyle....not just a "look at me, I'm famous with a great body, buy my book so you can be skinny like me" view. FYI, "skinny" does not mean healthy or fit. She actually gets into the science of why our bodies are unique, what they and our minds need to be their best, and so forth. I learned a few things I didn't know or didn't realize I should probably know why my body does that.... I would recommend this book to ANY woman, no matter her age whether she's 16 or 61. An important read, I promise, with vital information all should know.


Another celebrity-authored book I finished recently was Ellen Degeneres' Seriously...I'm Kidding on audio. She is the narrator, and why anybody wouldn't listen to it is beyond me. Oh, Ellen. She's hilarious, and she kept it clean and enjoyable. Although we don't have the same views on certain things, I adore her...the woman, the role model, and the loving and caring person she is. I don't care who you are or your beliefs, everyone should be as kind as Ellen. She hits on some great points layered under her comedic thoughts and rambles. Definitely, definitely listen to this audio for a great laugh. Her chapters on yoga and meditation had me in tears :)

The best thing about The Swan Gondola was the beautiful, eye-catching cover. I really, really wanted to like this book. It was May's book club read, and I really, really wanted to find something I enjoyed just as much as previous book club reads, like Seraphina and The Night Circus. Schaffert's book has been compared to Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, which I absolutely adored and the audio is fantastic, and Water For Elephants, which I did not. Honestly, I found this book, what I did read of it, to be a struggle. I wanted to give up around page 98, but since I was reading it for my book club I pressed on. I finally put it down at page 220 (almost halfway). I was bored, didn't feel anything for or care about the characters; most of which were very two-dimensional, but the scenery and the 1989 Omaha Fair descriptions were lovely. But even they became too much, and soon I was bored with the scenes and plot. I really wanted to like this book, but from reading others' views and hearing about what I missed, apparently I didn't really miss much. I would NOT compare this to The Night Circus, other than the fact a fair and circus are similar and there is a romance plot. I have not read anything else by Timothy Schaffert and am not planning on in the future. (BUT I do appreciate the amount of research he did for this book.) After a little discussion, I was happy to hear I wasn't the only one with these thoughts....

Lastly, I picked up My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife because I came across it on my Good Reads account. Sara Horn's diary-like book discusses her struggles and successes with becoming more of the wife she feels she needs to be, the famous Proverbs 31 Wife we've heard quite about. This book wasn't quite the devotional I thought it was going to be. She sets out on a year-long journey, but I found it slightly disappointing because she doesn't seem to try very hard at being a Proverbs 31 Wife; I felt the book to be a bit whiny at times and lacked scripture references. With that being said, I still enjoyed her writing style and reading about her [failed] attempts; it just needs to be promoted a little differently, I think. Still this would be a great choice for a book discussion with a women's Bible group. It's more about the heart than the doing, more about paying attention to how you treat your husband and why, and how to focus on him first. This was a decent introduction on the subject.


With Love and God Bless,
Brindi