Blueberry Lemonade Smoothie

Blueberry based smoothies are my fav – and perfect for greens. The blueberries, yogurt, and greens makes it a really delicious way to get fruit, veggies, fiber, and a little protein. Add a banana to make it more creamy, swap for Greek yogurt for more protein, or any other add ins.


Blueberry Lemonade Smoothie
Ingredients: (serves 2 small, or 1 meal)
1 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup spinach
3/4 cup yogurt
3/4 cup lemonade
zest from 1/2 lemon

Directions:
Add blueberries, spinach, yogurt, and lemonade to a blender. Blend well.


Serve with extra lemon zest.
Enjoy!

It is perfectly summery from the lemonade.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Chicken Caesar salad turned into a pasta salad! This one provides the beloved flavors and works great as a hefty side or as a cool meal!

Use any pasta you have, any greens you have, and rotisserie chicken to make it quick!

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Ingredients (serves 2 meals or ~4 sides)

~8 oz short pasta
1 chicken breast
1 head romaine
1/4 cup creamy caesar dressing
1 teaspoon anchovy paste (optional)
oil/vinegar
2 tablespoons parmesan

Directions:
Cook the pasta and allow to cool.
While the pasta cools, chop the chicken and romaine.
Stir the pasta, romaine (if serving right away), and chicken with the dressing and a splash of oil and vinegar.

Sprinkle on the parmesan and pepper.
Enjoy!

This is so cravable. I love these flavors and this is a nice but gentle twist. Make it in advance and stir in the lettuce just before serving!

We love caesar and it works just as well with other greens – I packed it for a work lunch with arugula to toss in.

Buffalo Chicken Burrito

Rice & crisping the outside turn this from wrap to burrito. It has crispy chicken tossed in buffalo sauce, rice, greens, carrots, just a little cheese, and dressing of your choice before getting crispy on the outside and melty on the inside.

Buffalo Chicken Burrito
Ingredients: for 2

1/2 cup cooked rice
2 tortillas, burrito size
~10 breaded chicken chunks
1 cup arugula
1 carrot
1/3 cup cheese
buffalo sauce
ranch/blue cheese

Directions:
Prepare the rice – I used brown rice in the pressure cooker for 10 minutes.
Cook/crisp the chicken.
Chop the arugula and chop or shred the carrot.
Cut the chicken if needed, toss the chicken in the buffalo.
Assemble the burritos with the tortilla, cheese, rice, arugula, carrot, chicken, and lastly the dressing.

Before rolling them up, preheat a pan to medium heat with a drizzle of oil or non-stick spray.
Tuck the ends towards the center, then roll it up, carefully tucking the sides inward.
Carefully cook rotating it to evenly crisp. Use tongs to ensure it stays rolled up.

Slice and enjoy!

It’s perfect. I thought about adding pickled onions and tomatoes but it seemed like it was bordering on too much. I loved it. It needs so little chicken and so little rice per burrito so it makes a great use of leftovers – it becomes impossible to wrap if it gets too full too!

Breakfast Guacamole with Bagel Chips

We need more dips for breakfast, right?! This is avocado toast turned dip and is perfect. It is fresh! It is filling! It is balanced! It is fun!

Bfast Guacamole
Ingredients: (for 2-3 servings)

2 avocados
1/2 jalapeño pepper
1/4 white onion
1 small tomato
~ 2 tablespoons lime juice
salt & pepper
2 eggs
everything bagel seasoning
bagel chips

Directions:
Boil the eggs for 12 minutes and place them into an ice bath.
Prep the guacamole – chop the avocados, jalapeño, onion, tomato and mix together with lime juice and salt & pepper.

Peal & chop the eggs.
Plate as dip or individually with guacamole and egg and everything seasoning with bagel chips to dip.
Enjoy!

In a hurry? Buy your favorite guac and it will be ready almost instantly!

June 2024 Recap

There’s so much in June for the kids’ end of school festivities and with my work fiscal year-end. We finished strong but I’m also really looking forward to a little more relaxed July! My bffs celebrated our birthdays with a long weekend to Charleston and that included tons of good food, drinks, and a lot of walking. Mr. J didn’t get the greatest birthday or Father’s day celebrations but agreed to a burger and his one gift he wanted.

The Hawaiian Burger was the star this month. It was so juicy and the pineapple slaw was a great addition.


I gave this strawberry lemonade smoothie a refresh from 2015. The extra became popsicles and were fantastic that way.


Lastly, I loaded up Cranberry Nut Chicken Salad and loved it.

July means lots of day camps for both kids this year, which also means packing anything they’ll agree to eat as lunches. I picture more pool time. I have a bfast idea I can’t wait to try out! We are probably overdue for apps for dinner so I’ll have to make that happen.

The Big Kid:
He’s done with 3rd grade! It was a really great year and I love to see him grow up in so many ways. He’s Celtics obsessed and went to the parade. He picked friends instead of the whole class for his end of year party and they are a nice group. He got to see his big cousins play all the sports as their seasons ended.

The Little One:
She had a great time having field day for the first time. She also hosted her first ever end of year party with her class and dance friends. It felt a little sad for kindergarten to be over but I think she’ll feel very comfortable joining the elementary school and with kids who are more used to being at school than in kindergarten. She grumbles about swim lessons but does everything and we can see such growth in her strength.

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I picked cute earrings in Charleston
More meatless meals: hmmm. Maybe not a lot
sandwiches and salads: I made cranberry nut chicken salad!
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time: I had margaritas with the moms’ night out group at El Centro and was reminded to get there soon.
redo photos – this strawberry lemonade smoothie a refresh from 2015
what I’m reading: I read Banyan Moon and was really into it. Then, my fav author had a new book: Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xohchitl Gonzalez had so much to it. I also read Mad Honey which is one I’ll remember forever and wasn’t expecting. It was a really good reading month.