Liv Life

Frozen Margarita Lime Pie

2013-05-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Say the word "Margarita" and you have my attention. A self-proclaimed margarita snob, I like my margarita tart and strong with a heavy dose of lime. Being somewhat particular, I've been known to send drinks back time and again when they boast only a sweet, somewhat limey and no tequila flavor. With some 25+ years of margarita experience, I finally know what I like. And what I like more

Coconut Avocado Frozen Yogurt

2013-05-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

We meet under the cover of darkness. At the agreed upon time he arrives, dimming his headlights as he slides his car easily next to mine - always baking in, never front first. My heart races ever so slightly with anticipation as I step from my car casually checking over my shoulder looking for the others. After a quick hug in greeting he asks, "You're sure you want that many?" to which

Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Clusters

2013-05-16T19:05:00.001-07:00

Shhh... don't tell Liv and her friends, but I made them chocolate clusters from their favorite Peanut Butter Granola for last weekend's dance competition. Protein packed with peanut butter and filled with rolled oats, these crunchy clusters were the perfect snack to fuel them during those quick changes before they had to run back on stage. Well, let me rephrase. They would have been the

Vanilla Oatmeal Cookies with White Chocolate

2013-05-11T05:30:00.000-07:00

Writing a food blog comes with benefits. Food, invitations, packages in the mail... it's all good. What I've come to value most though, are the relationships I've formed with readers and bloggers all over the world. This post is dedicated to two of my special blog friends, Jean, from Lemons and Anchovies, and Christiane, from Taking on Magazines. First off, without Jean and a random

Grilled Artichokes with Balmamic Vinaigrette

2013-05-10T06:21:00.002-07:00

Ready for basting, then the grill Telling Liv that part of her dinner tonight was a "thistle", I received a raised eyebrow followed by a quizzical, "Seriously? Um... No... I'm not eating a thistle.". She did though, and she asked for more. Believed to have originated in North Africa, we can thank the Mediterranean regions of Southern Europe for the cultivation of this partially edible

Grilled Corn Salad with Avocado, Tomato and Lime

2013-05-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

Driving our carpool to dance the other day one of the girls asked, "Mrs. Kelly... if you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?" Without hesitation I described a tropical island complete with graceful palm trees swaying in the afternoon breeze, a hammock strung between them and a view of sea turtles and dolphins frolicking in the crystal clear turquoise waters. Back in the

Biscoff Biscotti

2013-05-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

Mom's aren't supposed to get sick. It's a fact. Kids can get sick and moms take care of them. Dads get sick, the mom takes care of them too. Even neighbors can get sick and moms help out with shopping or meals or a little treat to ease them on the road to recovery. But moms? They aren't supposed to get sick. For the last 3 weeks, however, those sick "bugs" haven't been listening to my "

Living Life Through Photos - Wordless Monday

2013-04-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

Somehow I must have been "Living Life" so much that I forgot to take my vitamins. With the last two weeks moving at light-speed ahead, I picked up a nasty cold, and while I've spent lovely days in full Dance Mom mode, walking the beach and viewing the flower fields, I'm now home with about 0% energy and in desperate need of a nap. Spending a bit of this morning sorting and editing photos has

Cafe Elysa, Agua Hedionda - Carlsbad, CA in Spring

2013-04-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

Though our Southern California winters may be considered "mild" by some standards, the recent sunny spring weather has brought our Carlsbad, CA locals out in droves for early morning walks along the beach. Mingling with tourists soaking up the brilliant sun, locals walk their dogs, run for miles and simply enjoy the view from the sea wall. Strolling along the Agua Hedionda Hubbs Trail

Thai Coconut Chickpeas from The Passionate Vegetable

2013-04-15T15:12:00.002-07:00

Have you ever had someone write a cookbook just for you? I never expected it to happen, but it has. Much as I know it may not be true, I'm firmly sticking to my belief that Suzanne Landry had me in mind when she created her new book, The Passionate Vegetable. First and foremost, the pictures in Ms. Landry's book immediately had me flipping through the photo splashed pages while gaining

Secret Ingredient (Shhh.... Avocado!) Mango Smoothie

2013-04-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

From the avatar on the top of Liv Life, you may have guessed that the avocado rates fairly high on our favorite foods list. While I find the fruit obviously visually appealing, the nutritional punch the little beauty packs while bringing flavor and texture to recipes has my heart... literally. Deemed a Super Food in the eyes of many (*** please see below for info on peeling to get the most

Strawberry Vanilla Bean Jam... Fresh from the California fields.

2013-04-05T17:52:00.002-07:00

She's coming home. She's coming home. Tell the world, she's coming home... with Diddy and Skylar Grey's tune coursing through my head, I see the Flight Radar showing the Boeing 757 at some 33,000 feet and winging its way my direction. Some 6 hours to go and my girl will be home! Lucky Liv spent her spring break touring the East Coast with tour-filled stops in DC, NYC, Philly and Boston.

Ten Treats and Temptations for your Easter (or any!) Special Dinner

2013-03-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

While I love the baking and cooking that comes with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, it's Easter and springtime holidays that really have my heart. Markets overflowing with the beginnings of our spring crops boast tables filled with ripe strawberries and fragrant citrus. With flavors so fresh, your meal brings happiness to any special day. Today we bring you some of our

Asian Fried Quinoa... A Book Club Post

2013-03-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

I don't gush all that often... you know, the "OMG you have to try this, this recipe is the most awesome ever!" type of gushing. But I am now. Guy Fieri's Asian Fried Quinoa is one of the best, most awesome, totally fabulous recipes I've had in a long time. And I've had a lot of good recipes in the last few years, so that's saying something. Taking a turn in Kita's (Pass the Sushi - you do

Strawberries and Cream Crepes - A Food Photography Challenge

2013-03-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while one needs to "call in sick" just because. Because... well, how can you enjoy a sick day if you are really sick? And, with schedules crazy as they are, sometimes a day off is just what the doctor ordered. Liv will be starting high school next year and we all know how the attendance record tightens up with the more intense pre-college workload. As such, I'm savoring

Spinach Salad with Orange Vinaigrette and Prosciutto

2013-03-23T19:48:00.001-07:00

As spring unfolds her wings here in San Diego my yard is stretching its chilly limbs towards the warming sun. Rose bushes are bursting with new growth, bulbs are nearly ready to bloom, and my orange tree is sending off scents of heaven with its fresh, new blossoms. We haven't, however, finished the sweet crop of oranges from last season and these beauties need to come off the tree. As such

Pasta with Prosciutto and Parmesan

2013-03-20T20:34:00.001-07:00

Nothing says comfort like pasta, beautiful carb-loaded pasta. As a teen, pasta was my ingredient of choice making its way into my meals nearly every day. Drenched in tomatoes or a cheesy, creamy sauce, it didn't matter, just so long as the base was my beloved pasta. As some of you may know though, entering your 40's causes the body to process ingredients, shall we say, differently. Where I

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Candy Cookies

2013-03-13T18:20:00.001-07:00

I'm not much of a betting person, but how awesome is it to win a bet and receive a big plate of my favorite crunchy peanut butter cookies?? I'll admit to feeling slightly guilty receiving them as the terms of the bet left me certain that the bet would turn my way, and taking them from a sweet 13-year old girl had me thinking I'd better return the favor. Vanners flies on the stage! You

Secret Ingredient Mixed Berry Smoothie

2013-03-06T19:39:00.000-08:00

For the last few weeks my life has been that of a Dance Mom. Lucky for me, my Dance Mom world is unlike the popular reality show and fills my days with love and the most amazing support as all of us moms work together to get our girls on stage. Hours have been spent applying glittery rhinestones, sewing elastic bands and embellishments on hats, shopping for the perfect color socks and hair

Orange Mango Sunshine Smoothie

2013-03-04T21:35:00.000-08:00

"Mom... can you make that to go?" This request seems to come more and more often as teenage schedules become busier and busier. Hence, finding a quick fuel "to go", or one that can easily be eaten on the run, ranks high in my menu plan. Enter the smoothie. Filled with vitamin rich fruits and/or veggies, our versions frequently add yogurt for a protein plus bone-building calcium

Egg and Mushroom Appetizer ~ A Food Photography Challenge

2013-02-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Eggs... protein packed, vitamin rich, and an empty palate waiting to be dressed, these little orbs are nearly an every day occurrence in the Liv Life household. Be they scrambled, over easy, over medium or simply hard boiled, the versatility of the egg makes them ideal for nearly any meal, or in this case, an amazing appetizer. February's Inspired Plate Challenge titled "Eggs" had my heart

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bites

2013-02-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

For most of my life I've looked to food to heal me when I wasn't feeling well. Orange juice for a cold, chicken soup for achy flu-like symptoms, bananas for additional energy, etc. Pumping rainbows of ingredients into the kids since birth, I've attempted to build strong muscles with lean protein, strengthen growing bones with calcium and ward of disease with organic greens and veggies.

Super Soft California Breakfast Tacos

2013-02-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

With the advent of the internet, I don't often get mail anymore. The day of the actual letter has disappeared leaving my mailbox filled mostly with unwanted bills and junk. Hence, when the doorbell rings and my smiling mail lady presents me with an unexpected package, my heart does a little jump of happiness. The kids are used to me receiving blog "stuff", and frequently show their

Lemon Cornmeal Olive Oil Cake

2013-02-16T09:01:00.001-08:00

While I've been told often that I should be morally against the 5 furlough days our local school district is imposing on our schools this year, I'm secretly loving these extra days off. Sprinkled throughout the year, these extra days seem to come at the time when we most need them, and to be honest, I'm quietly celebrating each and every one of them. My son, a junior in high school, is

Roasted Kale with Garlic and Truffle Oil

2013-02-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

I seem to have missed the kale boat... Last week I was reading a blog talking about the trends of 2012 they hoped never to see again and midway down the list was Roasted Kale, or Kale Chips. (Quinoa was top of the list, but with my love of all things quinoa I'm not even addressing that one...) As I've never even heard of "Kale Chips" up until a few months ago, I'm realizing just how out of