So naturally, the best homemade crepe recipe is next. 

You see, special occasions in the Kennedy household commence with crepes for breakfast. Everyone's birthday wishes start with "mountains of crepes" and end with "strawberries and creme". Can you blame us?

Before we get to the nitty gritty (sweet and fluffy) crepe recipe, I have a confession: this recipe has been sitting around waiting for you for a LONG time. Sorry for holding out on you. Let me explain.

One day last May, the talented Ingrid Carney, a wedding photographer based out of Gainesville, FL, found my Instagram and contacted me. She said she wanted to branch out and practice food photography - boy am I glad she did!

The result? These beautiful pictures AND I had a taste tester! Win-win. It was so fun working with Ingrid, and I get so excited seeing these pictures. Anyways, I was going to wait to use this recipe for around Valentine's day, but strawberries (my go-to filling) are too delicious these days. So, you get your recipe early! 

Enjoy these professional photos here and be sure to check out Ingrid's work.

The Best Homemade Crepe Recipe | The Spice Girl Blog
For the crepes:
2 Cups Cold Milk
1 3/4 C All-purpose Flour
3 Eggs
1/2 C Granulated Sugar
3/4 Tbsp Vanilla
3/4 Tsp Salt
2 Tbsp Butter

1. In a large bowl, mix milk and flour while cold to prevent clumping. Add eggs and sugar. 
2. Slowly warm mixture to room temperature and mix in melted butter, vanilla, and salt.
OR
1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. 

To cook:
1. Heat pan over medium heat. Wipe surface with butter to prevent sticking. 
2. Once pan is hot, add mixture to middle of pan and move so the batter spreads evenly.
3. Cook 10-30 seconds or until edges begin to crisp.

To eat:
Stuff the crepes with your favorite flavor combinations and enjoy! My go-to is strawberries and whipped cream. Go savory with some prosciutto and fig jam or ham, cheese, and arugula. Express yourself! Like always, I'd love to hear what combinations you pick.

Comment below, share on FB, Instagram, Twitter, send me a smoke signal or carrier pigeon, I want to hear how it turned out! And of course, spread the word (and the crepes) with your friends. 

Spice It Up.
Sincerely,
Beth

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Everyone has that one dish. You know, the one that isn't anything special. It's not gourmet. It's the one you wouldn't brag about to your foodie friends. 

But, it's the dish you always fall back on. Your true and tried. The I'm-too-tired-to-move-and-am-too-hangry-to-function option. The dish that is the answer to the question: "What would you eat for the rest of your life if you could only eat one dish?"

A bean burrito for me, please! Sounds crazy, I know. If we're Instagram friends already or if you know my family, that's of no surprise to you. 

[For those of you that are not familiar with the Kennedy clan, here's a quick low-down: My parents raised 7 children on not much more than a pot of beans, homemade salsa, and a lot of grace and patience. A pinto bean burrito with homemade salsa is like a taste of my childhood (and teenage years, and college years, and post grad life...) ]

So, to try my "one dish" here are the tricks:
1. Make your own pot of homemade pinto beans - drop the canned stuff.
2. Try making your own homemade salsa to spice it up.
3. Enjoy!
4. But wait, before you go burrito-ing!

I want to hear what's your "one dish"! What's the meal you turn to when you need a taste of comfort? Or nothing sounds appetizing but this one thing? I always am P-U-M-P-E-D to hear from ya'll, so seriously, comment below, say something on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, send a carrier pigeon, email, smoke signals, you choose!

Can't wait to hear from you!
Spice it up.
Beth

This is a guest post written by Whitney Donaldson from WhitneyInParis.com.

When I first moved to Paris, I was always on the go. I wanted to see all of the things, wander each tiny street, and eat up every French treat in sight. Those first couple of weeks, I was very tired. I had been filling up all of my minutes and hours with tasks and to-do lists, the way we Americans do. 

But then, I started to learn more about the French way of life: their monstrous amount of vacation time, dinner service starting at 8pm, the exodus in August and lengthy lunch breaks away from your desk. I learned that beyond their amazing food culture, the people of France have a healthy appreciation for leisure. To me, this is truly the spirit of Paris. 

It’s not easy to get a perfect baguette or cheese lait cru in the US, so I’ve brought you some alternative ways to enjoy the spirit of Paris, no matter where you are.

—-

1.) Apero time aka l'heure de l'apero

Ahh the apero. It’s a lovely time of day just between work and dinner. It’s routine for Parisians; they slow down and socialize with a drink (usually wine or beer), perhaps something to nibble on. The apero is the perfect time to detach from the work day, a way to consciously create space before heading into dinner. I love to sit and savor my glass of wine and take in the buzz from the streets (a.k.a. people watch).

Do it yourself: Apero can happen anywhere, a restaurant, cocktail bar or your own home. If the weather is nice, go outside. And munch on a small dish of peanuts or olives to satisfy those hunger pangs.
 

2.) Be a flaneur/flaneuse

A flaneur/se is someone who walks without purpose, observing what’s around him or her with no where in particular to be. The word comes from the 19th century France, usually describing a literary type who lived a life of leisure and had the freedom to move through the world at their own pace. These days I do it more often, but as I said, when I first moved to Paris, I found it hard to just let myself walk without a destination in mind. 

Do it yourself: Walk around your city with no intentions. Get lost on purpose. Take a right when your first inclination is left. Bring a bottle of wine and a small picnic; you’ll know when you find the right place to break it out.
 

3.) Embrace joie de vivre

Sometimes we forget that happiness doesn’t always need to be pursued. It can be found in everything, big and small. In American culture, we are hardwired to look forward to the next big thing - a promotion, marriage, vacation, even the weekend.

But in France, they have perfected the art of living in the moment and enjoying the little bits of happiness that cross their paths: a warm crusty baguette, a beautifully decorated shop window, a conversation while waiting in line, fresh flowers or a pastis. They aren’t waiting around for life to make them happy, but uncover the joie in everything around them.

Do it yourself: Go out to dinner and savor every part of the process. While getting ready, put on your favorite lipstick (in Paris, it’s usually red). Before dinner, notice the bursting bubbles in your champagne flute. Make sure that your meal is long and lingering so you can enjoy each bite and, of course, your company.

—-

I hope that in this new year, you can use these tips to bring Paris to you. And it doesn’t hurt to have some delicious soft French cheese or a glass of champagne. 

xo,
Whitney

—-
Whitney is an American living in Paris uncovering the French way of life one day at a time.
Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and be sure to keep up with her latest posts. 

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Let's Chat:
- Have you ever been to Paris?
- What does the Parisian spirit look like to you?

We've talked about how to get to Iceland and back for $300. We know that cheap places to stay are always possible to find between hostels, Airbnb, and couch-surfing. But food? How do we indulge in a place's culture without breaking the bank?

That answer is one only a local would know. Introducing Jeannie from Life With a View. She's done all the research to take away the guesswork for us. Here's what she says:

Eating can definitely be one of the most expensive parts of your trip to Iceland.

Icelandic cuisine is traditionally prepared with fresh and local ingredients. However, a lot of things have to be imported to this small island in the Northern Atlantic, often times making food quite expensive.

I have always been impressed by the quality of the restaurants in Iceland, and never disappointed in a dish. So while there are plenty of restaurants in Reykjavik that are worth the splurge, sometimes food isn't where you want to spend your money when traveling. 

Whether you are trying to make it through Iceland on a tight budget, or looking for a few meals to save some money, there are definitely delicious options! Here are my picks for places I love that are easy on the wallet. 

FYI
$: $0-10 USD
$$: 10-20 USD

KEX Hostel

Kex is one of the most popular places to stay in Reykjavik and one of the coolest scenes as well.  This old biscuit factory turned into a hostel has a happening bar and delicious restaurant! I’ve stopped in here often for a quick bite to eat and never been disappointed. 

I recommend the smoked lamb as an appetizer, dried fish (hardfiskur - and Icelandic classic!), roasted lamb, or burgers.

Price: $-$$
Open times: 12pm-11pm with a slightly cheaper lunch menu served until 5pm

Map:

Noodle Station

This place has simplicity and deliciousness down to a science. The Thai inspired menu includes three options: beef, chicken or vegetarian with rice noodles in a deliciously flavored broth. You don’t want to miss this place, the heaping bowl of goodness will warm your belly and your soul. 

Price: $
Open times: 11am-10pm

Map: 

Bunk Bar

You can’t miss this place as its in the middle of Laugavegur, the main street in Reykjavik. Although the menu is small, the food is done right. Really great flavors in some of the most traditional dishes. They also have a great happy hour which helps keep costs down. I highly recommend the local Icelandic craft beers!

I’ve enjoyed the flatbread and wings, and the fish tacos are the most raved about item on the menu.

Price: $$
Open times: 11am-10pm

Map: 

Glo

Glo is my go to place right now. Everything from the menu to the decor is exactly what I look for in my food choices. Their food is all organic and prepared using minimal ingredients. The menu is simple with options for gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, and raw. 

I recommend the daily chicken entree, but I have heard great things about their flatbreads and wraps. They also have a full coffee bar. 

Price: $$
Open times: 11am-9pm

Map: 

Hradlestin

The tagline for this restaurant is “Indian Street Food” so right away you know it’s going to be good! If you’re looking for a full flavor spicy meal, this is the place to go!

I recommend the Chicken Thali which is a mixed plate option of two chicken dishes served with basmati rice and naan. I’ve also heard the Indian chicken pizza from the lunch menu is good.

Price: $$ (Note, they have a Tuesday special that is always changing for a discounted option)
Open times: MON. - THU. 11:00am-10:00pm, FRI. 11:00am-11:00pm, SAT/SUN. 5:00pm-11:00pm

Map: 

Sægreifinn

As you’re walking around the adorable Old Harbour, make sure to stop in for a cup of creamy lobster soup. Paired with a homemade roll and Icelandic butter, this is a mouthwatering combo that you can’t miss. Sægreifinn means Sea Baron in Icelandic, and also has a selection of fresh sushi grade fish cuts that can be cooked in house or eaten raw. 

Price: $
Open times: May 15 to August 31 11:30am-11:00pm, September 1 to May 15 11:30am-10:00pm

Map: 

Bæjarins Beztu

This wouldn’t be a proper Iceland recommendation list without mentioning the famous hot dog stand. Icelanders love their hot dogs, and Bæjarins Beztu is one of the most popular tourist stops in Reykjavik. In 2004, Bill Clinton stopped in for a hot dog, and his photo is still on the wall today!

Price: $
Open times: Sundays to Thursdays  10:00 – 01:00, Fridays to Saturdays  10:00 – 04:30

Map: 

Meet Jeannie from Life With a View:
 
I'm Jeannie and I am an American expat living in Iceland! You could say I'm pretty excited about that. 

I love traveling, star jumping, and a good glass of red wine. I am happiest when I am outside.

See her latest adventures on Instagram.

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Now let's chat:
-Is Iceland on your go-to list of places to visit?
-Where would you go tomorrow if you could go anywhere in the world?

Hi friends!

Glad you're here. The Spice Girl Blog is expanding!

No no, it's still just me (Beth) here. But, it's time to start writing about my travels. Over the past six months I spent time in Spain, France, Morocco, England, Denmark (just a brief 6 hours), and of course, USA. 

I've dabbled a bit writing about my experiences of how to travel to Europe for $300 or where to eat while hungry in Barcelona, El Nacional Barcelona, but it's time to get more in-depth. 

City guides, top eats, cheap eats, best sites, things to avoid, and any tips and tricks I've learned along the way I'll be sharing. I'm hoping to inspire you to adventure - whether that be to Europe or to a new part of your local city you haven't experienced yet.

I think it'll be really fun, and I'd love to hear what you've been up to lately! 

Here's my Instagram: Let's connect. I'd love to see what adventures you have up your sleeves!

Talk to you soon! Thanks for sticking around.

Wishing you flavor in every bite, savor in every moment, and hints of spice from the ordinary,
Beth

New year new me. 

I used to make fun of that expression. Why does everyone have to be so dramatic about January 1st? Nothing has changed except your perception, I would think.

But here we are in 2016, and now I'm the dramatic one. January 5th and kale-deep in our New Years Resolutions, I'm feeling truly inspired by everyone motivated to improve themselves - inside and out. 

2015 treated me well. I graduated from college, spent six months in Spain, traveled through Morocco and London for two weeks, and had a few days here and there in France. I was reminded that no matter the culture, language spoken, or amount of "things" owned, we ALL eat and drink. We all have that in common. 

So my resolutions? Eat a delicious, balanced diet, and share my kitchen table with others regardless of our differences.

And you can do the same too, start here with these:

21 Easy Dinner Ideas That'll Make You Feel Great:

1. Southeast Asian Vegetable Platter with Peanut Lime Sauce | Vermilion Roots

2. Tasty Cauliflower Pizza Crust Recipe | The Spice Girl Blog

3. Vegan Mushroom Ramen Soup | Apollo & Luna

4. Supergreens Macro Bowl | RachLmansfield

5. Warm Autumn Quinoa Salad | Love Me Feed Me

6. Pad Thai Salad | RachLMansfield

7. Chickpea and Chicken Sausage Minestrone Soup | Little Chef Big Appetite

8. Freekeh & Tumeric Chickpea Salad | Apollo & Luna

9. Vegetable Korma | Food, Pleasure, & Health

10. Roasted Beet Celebration Salad | Vermilion Roots

11. Greek Chickpea Salad with Vegan Almond Feta Cheese | Emilie Eats

12. Comforting Veggie Bean Chili | Strength & Sunshine

13. Black Bean and Spinach Enchiladas | Fit Living

14. Cauliflower, Leek, and Cheddar Soup | Food, Pleasure, & Health

15. Green Pea Pesto Pasta | The Dancing Foodie

16. Roasted Maple Walnut Brussel Sprout and Carrot Salad | Danielle's Kitchen

17. Dairy Free Basil Pesto Zoodles | Lean Clean & Brie

18. Spiralized Greek Summer Salad | Lean Clean & Brie

19. Vegetarian Crock Pot Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens Soup | Running in a Skirt

20. Wild Rice Stuffed Delicata Squash Boats | The Dancing Foodie

21. Thai Mango Salad with Cashew Ginger Dressing | Made to Glow

And now that you have these 21 easy dinner ideas that'll make you feel great - share them! 

No, I'm not talking about on social media (you can do that too if you want), I'm talking about inviting people over to share your dinner table. Enjoy!

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Let's chat:
- Do you have any food resolutions for 2016?
- Do you enjoy having people over for a home cooked meal?

Have you ever made something, and thought, "Why did I think this was going to be so difficult?"

You know, it always sounds like a great idea and the end-product will be delicious, but at the cost of hours in the kitchen, dishes piled up in the sink, and too much money spent on unusual ingredients that aren't already in the kitchen.

Not these guys.

Not these soft, salty, easy pretzel rolls. 

Not these cure-for-the-hangries that make you wonder where they have been your whole life. 
 

Now, I aaam admittedly a *little* dramatic about food. You know, I am the kind of person that plans vacations around food. The kind of person that loses her shit when someone suggests "let's just skip breakfast and get on with the day." But also, the kind of person that does a happy dance (really) when mind-blowing flavors hit the tongue. 

And you best believe that that happy dance was happening when I tasted the doughy, soft, fresh-hot pretzel rolls at Betony NYC. And so I decided, no matter what it takes, I'm going to make these pretzel rolls.

Little did I know, these pretzel rolls are a breeze - impossible to mess up, tasty, and easy to make with ingredients you will have in the kitchen (well, maybe you'll need to make a run to grab instant yeast). 

So, this holiday season, make these pretzel rolls. Eat them while they're hot. Serve them plain, or slather on some honey-mustard butter. Do your happy dance. 

Cure the Hangries: Easy Pretzel Roll Recipe | The Spice Girl Blog
Makes 30 Pretzel Rolls
For the rolls:
2 cups lukewarm whole-milk
2 cups lukewarm water
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
2 Tbsp active dry yeast
1 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp brown sugar
8 cups unbleached flour
For the baking soda bath:
1/4 c baking soda
8 cups water
2 Tbsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
For egg wash:
1 egg
2 Tbsp water

1. For the rolls, combine water, milk, butter, sugar, and yeast in a mixing bowl. Mix to combine.
2. Add salt and and 2 cups of flour, mixing. Add the rest of the flour gradually until dough forms a ball.
3. Knead 5-8 minutes (or use a dough hook and an electric mixer for 3 minutes)
4. Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl and cover. Let sit for 30 minutes or until dough has doubled in size.
5. On a lightly floured surface, cut dough and roll out into small balls (or pretzel shapes, if desired). Place aside on a floured surface to rest for 10 minutes.
6. While the dough is resting, make the baking soda bath. Combine ingredients and bring to a boil, adjusting heat as necessary (lower heat if too many baking soda bubbles appear).
7. Take each ball one at a time, pinching the outer edges towards the center without deflating the ball to maintain a taut ball-shape.
8. Place in boiling bath for 1-2 minutes ensuring all sides cook evenly. Remove without water and place on a lightly greased parchment paper on top of a baking sheet. 
9. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. 
10. Beat egg and water, and brush wash over each boiled roll. Top with pretzel salt (or any large sea salt).
11. Bake for 15-20 minutes and enjoy while warm!

*If you're feeling crazy, serve it with this Honey Mustard Butter:
Honey Mustard Butter
2 Tbsp cream cheese
5 Tbsp butter, room temperature
2 Tbsp dijon mustard with grains
1 Tbsp honey
Salt to taste

1. Mix all ingredients together, and enjoy!

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Let's chat! 
-What are you plans for the holidays?
-Have you ever thought a recipe would take too much time and effort, only to find that it is so simple and delicious?

Hong Kong is known as the gastronomic capital of China, where you can virtually eat anything you want, from sushi to pizza. Not only is the food great, but it is cheap too. However, to get a real taste of Hong Kong, you need to sample its snacks.

Today, I am going to introduce my top five favorite snacks in Hong Kong. If I don't have you drooling by the end of the post, then there's something wrong with you and not me (just kidding, kind of). 

Egg Waffle 雞蛋仔

My favorite of them all, the egg waffle is similar to a mix between a waffle and a pancake. Cooked in a specialized iron mold, these pockets of goodness are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside -- talk about perfect texture!

It originated in the streets of Hong Kong in the 1950's, by an entrepreneur storeowner who didn't want to waste eggs and experimented with flours, butter, and sugar in a mold that gained popularity very quickly. You even have a choice of different flavors nowadays, with chocolate being a popular alternative to the original.

Bubble Tea 茶

You might be thinking, "What? Bubble Tea again?" Well, I don't just mean the tapioca one, but I'm talking about a whole host of different flavors and types that you can get at Bubble Tea places all over Hong Kong.

The Bubble Tea culture originated in Taiwan in the 1980's, first with tapioca and then evolved into various forms. Now, they sell practically all kinds of combinations of tea you can think of. My personal go-to is the Grass Jelly Milk Tea, but if you are not a fan of milk tea there is green tea, fruit tea, and hand-squeezed lemon red tea. You name it, they got it. And they are cheap -- from HKD $13 to $25, you can get one of these to quench your thirst during the hot summer months.  

Fish Balls 魚蛋

A true representation of Hong Kong snacks: Fish Balls. They have been around longer than most of the buildings. It is essentially minced fish meats formed into a ball, and in snack form served on a stick or in a small cup. They are chewy with many variations - you can get ones with cheese in the middle, or a different flavor of fish. It's really quite astonishing.

Though widely popular and local, Fish Balls exist in other provinces in China as well. But, their ingredients differ from one region to another - so each one is unique. 

Egg Tart 蛋撻

The egg tart is many Hong Kongers' favorite snack. It was invented by a restaurant in China from Western influence in 1927 and made its way to Hong Kong in 1949. 

With a choice of puff pastry or biscuit base, it's sold in virtually every bakery in Hong Kong and local restaurants. Personally, I prefer the biscuit base - try them both in Hong Kong and see which one you like best.

Fish Shaomai 魚肉燒賣

A kind of open top dumplings with thin flour skin, Shaomai originated from the Ming Dynasty and, like Fish Balls, it spread all of China. There are many kinds of fillings, the most popular being pork and prawns. However, the fish version that is sold all over hawkers and corner snack stalls is unique to Hong Kong.

Chewy, tasty and cheap, you can get them on a stick or in a bowl, and dip it in soya sauce or chili sauces.

Nam Cheah is a third culture millennial who spent half her life in Hong Kong and the other half in UK. Planning to make the most out of life, she documents her passion to laugh, travel and eat on her suitably named blog: Laugh, Travel, Eat. When she's not doing any of that, she's either catching up on TV while online shopping or writing her novels.

You can find her blog here: http://www.laughtraveleat.com

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Gone are the days that flights to Europe cost $2000. With just $300, you could be under the Northern Lights in Iceland, or enjoying beer and bratwurst in Germany. 

I am no travel expert. You know, there's those people that can tell you (and that actually have) how to travel to Europe for free: it just takes great credit, lots of opened credit cards, and time. I'm more impatient, and my travel hack is much easier. 

Let me tell you two things before talking about secret travel tips.
1. There totally are $2000 flights to Europe all over the place. If first-class is your preferred way to travel, maybe this post isn't for you. Stick with me if you consider yourself a traveler with a "tight-ish" budget.
2. This post was not funded in any shape or form by any company. Shoot, if one of the companies I mention wants to send me some free flight vouchers or coffee money, I'd be ecstatic. But, they don't know this post exists. So, no sponsorship here yet.

Now that those confessions are out of the way, let me introduce you to WOW Air. 

I found out about WOW Air from a travel blog last year while I was trying to find the cheapest route to Spain. WOW Air provided exactly that, the cheapest route to Spain, while also providing a pleasant, comfortable travel experience. 

While there were no bells and whistles like free wifi, complementary meals, etc, I totally count their bright purple-everything and funny notes to guests as bells and whistles. (Don't fret, there were plenty of options to purchase the other bells and whistles at a normal price) 

The service of WOW Air was extremely friendly and efficient. I had no problems from checking in and checking a bag (that was a liiiiiiiitle overweight but was checked without any extra fees) to boarding and arrival. 

I could not recommend WOW Air more, and I am sure I will be flying with them again in the future.

For example, here's a screen shot for flights from Boston to Reykjavik roundtrip for $222, a small carry-on and taxes included. Anyone want to make a Christmas trip to Iceland with me? There's other amazing destinations, like Copenhagen, Barcelona, London, etc, for similar prices. 

Like always, there's a catch or two. For now, WOW Air only flies from Boston (BOS) and Washington D.C. (BWI) in the US, and it flies to select European cities. But often, the domestic flight to that airport, and the flight to another European City (helloooo Ryan Air) is still much cheaper than the competing airlines. 

And of course, it always helps to find the best deal if you are able to travel on flexible dates. But that's nothing unique to this airline, that rule generally applies to all airlines. 

So, when planning your next trip, see what WOW Air has to offer. You might be surprised.

If you choose WOW Air's destination of Barcelona, be sure to check out El Nacional Restaurant in Barcelona. I wrote a post about it here.

Did you take the leap and buy tickets to Iceland? Here are cheap, delicious Reykjavik eats on a budget.

Let's chat: 
If you could travel anywhere with $300, where would you go?
Have you heard of WOW Air before this post?

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Oh, the beloved Thanksgiving Day. It's one of those days that Spaniards always ask me if it's like what they see in the movies, and it totally is. 

You wake up, and you maybe skip breakfast and lunch to be able to definitely stuff.your.face. with turkey, stuffing, gravy, more turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, and more turkey and dressing. 

Then, the Turkey coma - something about Tryptophan.

After the food/Turkey coma, it's dessert time. And by dessert time, I mean it's Thanksgiving's Deep Dish Apple Crisp time. 

This dessert for Thanksgiving is perfect because I *think* it is impossible for it to go wrong, and it can be put together in 10 minutes (if you have an apple peeler/corer - see below). If you're running low on oven space, it can be baked Thanksgiving morning or while the family is eating turkey.

This deep dish apple crisp with only 6 apples was quite a doozy for me. I did not realize how blessed I was to have an apple peeler machine in Florida. (The link below is an affiliate link which means I get a small amount of money for coffee if you decide you need an apple peeler machine in your life)

Precision Kitchenware - Stainless Steel Apple Peeler Corer and Slicer - Luxury Black Edition

But, I digress. The flavor of the final product made the tedious peeling and coring worth it. I mean, how can you go wrong with slowly cooked apples in cinnamon and crumbly goodies on top. You can't. So here's how to tackle your own Thanksgiving Deep Dish Apple Crisp.

Thanksgiving's Deep Dish Apple Crisp | Adapted from Food52's Open-Faced Deep Dish Apple Pie
Makes one 9-10 inch crisp
For the crust:
1/2 c extremely cold butter and cut into cubes
1 c flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 c ice water

1. Put butter and flour in food processor pulsing until little clumps form. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing after each addition. Add water until the dough forms a ball. Remove, roll into a disk shape, and refrigerate 30 minutes. 

For the filling:
6 large apples (bonus points for a variety of apples)
1/2 c light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

For the topping:
4 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c oats
1/2 c light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 c chopped toasted walnuts
1/4 c turbinado sugar (optional)

1. Peel and slice apples 1/4 inch thick. Place in large bowl and toss with the rest of the filling ingredients.
2. Remove pie crust from refrigerator, and on a floured surface, roll out into a 12 inch-diameter circle.
3. Place crust in a pie pan or casserole dish with at least 3 inch high sides (the higher the better). 
4. Place filling on top of the crust.
5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Make the topping by combining all ingredients in a bowl. Pile over apples covering completely. Sprinkle turbinado sugar if using. 
6. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.
7. Lower heat to 350 degrees and bake for 60-75 minutes. 
8. Let cool before serving. Enjoy!

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We all know and have grown tired of those Foodie trends that we see too much. I'm looking at you, Pumpkin Spice Latte. 

And then, there comes a time when a food trend surprises you. Left and right you see Instagrams filled with really beautiful and flavorful combinations. Seeing smoothie bowl after smoothie bowl gets you excited to eat, instead of yawning at yet another pumpkin spice recipe. 

Yes that's right, I am so PUMPED about the rise of the smoothie bowl. Here's why & how to craft your own:

Why the smoothie bowl:
1. Just like a normal smoothie, smoothie bowls take little-to-no-planning and are easy to pack in tons of vitamins, nutrients, fiber, energy, etc, to fuel your healthy body.
2. Unlike a normal smoothie, a smoothie bowl has your favorite assortment of toppings you'd like to add for extra texture and flavor. 

Now here's how to make your own:
1. Start with your favorite smoothie recipe. Here's my favorite.
If your recipe tends to be thinner in consistency, thicken it up by removing a little bit of the liquid and "pulse" while blending.

2. Once you have your tasty smoothie, place in a bowl and add your desired toppings. 
My favorite toppings are berries, granola for some crunch, seeds, nuts, yogurt, nut butter, etc. Get creative with it!

The smoothie bowl below was made as follows: 
Smoothie Base: 1 c frozen spinach, 1 banana, 1 orange, 1/3 c frozen watermelon, 1/3 c frozen mango
1. Blend first 3 ingredients together until creamy.
2. Add frozen fruit and blend "pulsing" until fully mixed.
Toppings: Chia Seeds, Almonds, Fresh Kiwi, Banana, Blueberries, Orange Zest, Plain Greek Yogurt, & Pepitas
3. Add desired toppings and enjoy!

Need more inspiration?

1. Christina from The Blissful Balance gives us the perfect Smoothie Bowl Equation here:

2. Georgie from In It 4 the Long Run gives us two smoothie bowl recipes to drool over:
Raspberry Cherry Coconut Smoothie Bowl

Super Berry Smoothie Bowl

Now that you know why & how to make a smoothie bowl, make your own, and be sure to report back and show us all how delicious it was!

What's your favorite smoothie recipe? 
Do you like the smoothie bowl trend?

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If you Google "10 tapas I should eat in Spain", I can assure you Croquetas will be on that list. And, that's no surprise.

It's something about the combination of jamón (ham) and bechamel that are fried into little packages of goodness that keep you reaching for more (read: addicting like mozzarella sticks, but more creamy and mouth-watering). Ask anyone that has studied abroad in Spain.

Here in San Sebastian, you'll find croquetas de jamón (my personal favorite), of codfish, of pistachio, and many other delicious combinations. For now, we'll keep it classic with jamón.

These croquetas de jamón are by no means difficult, but they do take overnight refrigerator time. These snacks become the go-to party pleaser because they can be stored in the freezer ready-to-fry for an easy, mess-free appetizer while entertaining guests. Helloooo holiday parties! Scroll below to see the photo-process and recipe at the end. Enjoy!

Croquetas de Jamon Recipe | Adapted from RobinFood's Original Croqueta Recipe
Serves 10 Normal Humans (or 5 who LOVE Croquetas)
1 L Milk (or about 4 cups)
2 Eggs
3/4 c flour
1/8 c finely chopped onion (about 1/4 of a small onion)
100 g of finely chopped jamon serrano (about 8 slices)
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp butter
Salt
Bread Crumbs
Oil for frying

1. Reduce milk by half over medium heat to avoid burning. Meanwhile, set 1 egg to hard boil in water 10 minutes. 
2. After 10 minutes, remove egg, peel, and finely chop. Set aside for later. 
2. Over medium heat, melt olive oil and butter. Add onions to slowly sauté about 5 minutes.
3. Once onions are transparent, add flour over medium heat mixing well. Let cook about 5 minutes without changing color. 
4. Remove from heat.
5. After the milk has reduced by half, add the milk little by little to the flour and butter mass while mixing continually.
6. Once you have added all the milk, use an immersion blender to get rid of any chunks of onion. Blend until mixture is nice and smooth.
7. Now over medium heat, cook the mixture until desired creaminess is attained (about 7 minutes).
8. Remove from heat and add chopped jamón and egg. Mix well.
9. Check flavor, add salt as appropriate.

Once finished, let mixture chill overnight in the refrigerator. 

10. The next day, roll mixture into little balls or cylinders using your hands (much easier if you "grease" your hands with olive oil first). Let croqueta balls chill in the refrigerator 3 hours.
11. Now, whisk egg in a bowl, and put bread crumbs on plate or in a different bowl.
12. Working one by one, add croqueta balls to the bread crumbs first, then egg mixture, and then bread crumbs once more.
12. Repeat until all croqueta balls are covered in breadcrumbs.

If you are planning to enjoy these later on in the week or month, store these croquetas in the freezer. The night before serving, place in the refridgerator so that the middle is not frozen.

If you are planning to enjoy these croquetas now, heat frying oil to 180-200 degrees Celsius. Add croquetas until golden and crispy (around 30 seconds). Remove and set on a plate lined with paper towels to remove excess oil.

Enjoy!

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YOUR TURN: 

1. What's your favorite international recipe?
2. Have you tried Croquetas before?

Thank you for tuning in!

Hi friends! It's been awhile. I've missed you!

Yes, I'm still here in San Sebastian, Spain! Yes, I'm doing great, thank you for asking! No, no, don't mistake my silence on the bloggosphere for not doing well. I'm doing really really well, more than well! Oh and yes, I sure still love cooking and eating. In fact, these past 5 months in Spain have been just what the doctor ordered for an exhausted college graduate.

Anyways, I've been cleaning up the cobwebs here to give the Spice Girl a new look - I hope you like it! And what's a new look without new food? Exactly, pointless. So enough about new looks and more about this cauliflower pizza crust recipe.

This cauliflower pizza was delicious. The crust was just crunchy and firm enough to support all of the heavy toppings without being well, hard and unappetizing. 

You might be thinking, why put cauliflower in a pizza crust? I always like sneaking in fruits in vegetables to foods that normally don't contain them. Sure, I could eat a cup of roasted cauliflower florets no problem, but sometimes you gotta change it up. And the result? A pizza crust that now has more vitamins and nutrients.

This recipe is not gluten-free, but don't fear! There's plenty of recipes out there for gluten-free cauliflower pizza crusts! 

Tasty Cauliflower Pizza Crust
Serves 2-4
1/2 Head of Cauliflower
1 Egg
1 1/2 cups Flour
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
Pinch of Salt
Dried basil and oregano if desired

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Farenheit. 
2. Remove leaves and stems from cauliflower, cut florets into smaller pieces. Place in food processor.

2. Pulse in food processor until light and flaky resembling couscous.
3. Spread into thin layers on a baking sheet. 
4. Bake 20 minutes stirring to avoid burning (but golden flakes are present). 
5. Place flakes in a mixing bowl and add a pinch of salt, oregano, and basil if desired. Mix well.
6. Add egg and mix with fork. Add tablespoon of oil.

7. Add 1 cup of flour and mix. Continue Adding flour in small increments until a ball is formed. 

8. On a floured surface, work dough out into your desired pizza shape. Bake 15 minutes. 

9. From there, your cauliflower pizza crust is complete! But what's a cauliflower pizza without toppings? I topped my pizza with Sunday Sauce, mushrooms, zucchini, ham, cheese, & spinach!

10. Buen provecho!

Let's chat:
What's your favorite cauliflower recipe?

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Have you ever entered a place that you wanted to stay in forever? Or if not forever, maybe just a week straight without sleeping to take all of the surroundings?

If you have never had that feeling, you need to go to El Nacional in Barcelona, Spain. Imagine the perfect mix of Wes Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel and Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby and you're almost there.

Spread over 8,500 square feet off of one of Barcelona's busiest streets, Passeig de Gràcia, this restaurant is a hidden gem and a must-see, even if it's just to use their bathroom. 

Built in 1870 as a textile factory, businessman Lluís Cañadell, interior designer Lázaro Rosa Violán, and 6 million Euros transformed the old factory into a modern beauty that mirrors the architecture and design of Barcelona in 1930's and 1940's while making the statement that there is nothing old-fashioned about El Nacional. It features 4 specialty bars and 4 different restaurants. 

Of bars, there's an oyster, cocktail, craft beer, and speciality wine bar. I enjoyed a crisp white wine, oysters, and a tuna tartare at the oyster bar and could not have been more pleased. Here, I would like to note that this place is marvelous, and not crowded (yet). So go now.

Anyone ever feel that paradox that you want your favorite restaurants to succeed, but without the crowd that can come with that success? Here, El Nacional deserves New York Time's Travel and Food section, but please without the elbows reaching over my oyster plate. I digress.

Of restaurants, there is La Braseria featuring specialty meats, La Llotja with fresh seafood, La Taperia serving tapas and rices, and La Paradeta acting as your quick, one-stop shop, like a cafe. But a really, really, beautiful cafe. 

I started at La Taperia. Here, you wait for the server, who is walking around with different trays of tapas offering them hot to each table and bar. Pace yourself. Without a strategy, you'll eat too many croquetas and miss out on the delicious platter of jamón iberico. I enjoyed the jamón, squid ink rice, croquetas, and tomatoes with a cold beer. 

I skipped out on La Baseria and La Llotja. These places looked like great go-to dinner spots.

Later, a coffee and yogurt for dessert from La Paradeta is the perfect way to end a meal at El Nacional. 

But really, you could begin your stay at El Nacional at 12 pm and be there until their 1 am closing time with a happy heart and stomach. The smells of the food stir your appetite for more. The eyes are stimulated from the plants, light, and intricate details on the ceilings, walls, and floor. The music and architecture takes you to the '30's and 40's. The flavor of the fresh oysters transport you to the ocean. The all around feels of this place make it impossible to stop. smiling.

And like I said before, visit El Nacional, even if it's just to use their bathroom.

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Let's chat:
-Where have you been that you wanted to stay forever (or at least for a week straight)? 
-Have you ever been to Barcelona?
-Do you have a tight budget and are looking to travel to Europe? See here for the best tricks.

Across America, talented individuals are pumping out cocktails we can be proud of. I'm not talking about bartenders in college bars on game days mixing up Jim Beam and coke (although those poor souls deserve their own special round of applause).

I'm talking about the kind of people at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans right now. And you know, even some who aren't there too. These are craftsmen and craftswomen who know the history of cocktails, hand squeeze fruit juices into drinks, prepare homemade syrups and shrubs, and take time to craft the perfect cocktail to your liking - just to name a few of their many attributes. 

If what I just described doesn't sound like qualities you want in the person crafting your drink, stop reading and go back to your Jim Beam and Coke (nothing wrong with that).

For everyone else that is still with me: listen up. This post is for people like me, that want to sit down and appreciate all the complex flavors and balance that a cocktail can hold. But you don't know where to start. And you don't understand one ingredient on the menu except for maybe the type of ice the drink is served over. You're only 22, the bartender is approaching, and with nervous apprehension you say..... "I'll take that one glass of wine you have on the menu"... because you had no other words. 

That is no way to become friends with the people behind the bar or with the experienced patrons at your side. To solve this problem, I asked cocktail guru Anthony Auger of Ice Plant Bar in St. Augustine for help. Here's what he had to say:

Step 0: Before talking to the bar staff, look at the menu. Like, actually read it. 
Reading the menu will give you an idea of what kind of bar it is, what they offer, what kind of shit you got yourself into. Take a second, look around, and notice your surroundings. Is it a dive bar? Is it a mixology lab? Hell's center? Fancy as f'? You don’t want to order the same drink everywhere you go (it wouldn’t hurt to shoot for a little variety in your life anyways). But the main message is to do your best to be aware of your surroundings – of where you are, of the kind of bar you have entered – before approaching the bartender.

Step 1: For your first drink, stick to the menu or to a recommendation from the bartender (based on your preferences).   
If you don’t see anything on the menu that looks directly enticing, and/or if you don’t recognize half of what’s on the menu, ask the bartender for a recommendation or an explanation. He or she would be happy to help you find a drink that you can enjoy. (Small secret: until they climbed over to the other side of the bar, they didn’t know most of those obscure bottles either.) When talking to the bartender, try to hone in on specific flavor profiles that you would enjoy. Keywords to use are: citrusy, bitter, floral, clean, refreshing, boozy, etc.

In the event you’re person without any personal preferences or tastes (or personality), you can ask the bartender what they like to drink, but be warned: you’re probably not going to like it. In fact, unless you shower in Chartreuse and wear Eau de Fernet cologne, you’re almost definitely going to hate this cocktail. Odds are you’ll receive a drink that will be unbearably bitter, and potentially boozy enough to power any four-stroke lawnscaping equipment that you have in your garage.

Step 2:  Taste the drink and be honest about it.
Once you have your libation, take a sip. Actually, take 2 – first impressions aren’t always accurate in the cocktail world. Then, be honest. This is really important. Do you like it? Do you hate it? If you lie and say you like it when you really don’t, you’re going to continue to receive similar drinks all night – none of which you like, and certainly don’t want to pay $12 for – because you weren’t completely honest about your first round. 

What did you like about it? “The little umbrella looked really pretty, and the perfectly clear ice cube just blew my mind.” Okay, that’s great, but what about the flavors? “It was balanced – not overly sweet, not too sour. The citrus component tasted fresh, clean, slightly tart, without being overwhelming.” Good, that’s something we can work with.

What about the drink did you not like? “It was drier than I prefer, a little too bitter. I didn’t like that bubbles.” Heard that.

Step 3:  Trust the bartender.
It’s time for Round 2, and by this point you have (hopefully) struck up an extremely shallow relationship with the barkeep. Whether your first drink has just become your new favorite, or whether it was just “aight”, the bartender is now better accustomed to your tastes and should have a good idea of where to go next.

To help guide your next drink, the bartender may ask you a few clarifying questions to hone in further on what you would enjoy.

“Do you want to stick with the same base spirit (i.e. gin, bourbon, vodka), or do you want to change it up?” “How adventurous are you feeling?”

And, if you’ve really won over your barkeep, you might even hear:  “I’m working on a new cocktail right now that I think you might like…  Would you be willing to try it?”

Step 4:  Order a shot of Fernet Branca and offer your bartender one.
If your bartender has managed to create a cocktail that even someone as picky as you can enjoy, then she/he has certainly earned a shot of Fernet. Sharing a shot of Fernet Branca with your barkeep has become known as the “bartender’s handshake”. It’s a friendly gesture towards your bar staff to let them know you’re cool, they’re cool, we’re all cool. It won’t give you instant cred, but it is a step in the right direction and serves as a token of appreciation for a job well done.

Step 5:  Go on drinking happily ever after.
You’re in. You and the barkeep have theoretically struck a slightly less shallow relationship based on some thin mutual respect. You’re in good hands. So pass your keys to your nearest/most trusted friend, get the taxi company on speed dial for later, and carry on drinking responsibly. Just don’t over indulge on your first night. That would be like telling a girl “I love you” on a first date, and would probably be received with similar disgust.

Thank you so much to Anthony for his input! Do you like the new wave of craft cocktails that are spreading across the country?

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The first step on the road to adventure is indeed important. For many, the first step is the hardest part. However, the journey truly begins with the perfect shoes, or in my case, sandals. You see, shoes represent the amount of thought and preparation that is dedicated to the adventure. Shoes too heavy and you're moving too slow or growing weary. Shoes too flimsy and your feet are sore and blistered. Shoes that are just right will carry a person to whatever destination that they please.

For me, the sandals in the video above are the perfect sandals to carry me to my adventure.

The sandals were handcrafted in my dad's leather shop that also happens to be the place that I spent most of my childhood growing up. Not to mention, it's the place of my first job - I was oiling sewing machines and winding bobbins around age 4. The materials, craftsmanship and origin of the sandals embody my childhood and my family history. These sandals will be my part of home to keep me grounded that I'll take with me across the world. 

With that said, this blog thus far has been an online journal of my food life the past few months, and it's time for a little change. I will be doing some traveling soon, and I will share the travel details here in addition to the normal food bits and bobs. Perhaps you'll learn some travel tips. But, I don't want this to be all about me. I want to hear and see what you are up to this summer - I want to see where your shoes are taking you!

Whether it's your favorite pair of Birkenstocks or some fresh Nikes, what are you wearing when you leave for a trip? What carries you through your adventures? To show me, and everyone else, tag #WhatCarriedMeHere on your big adventures on any social media so we can all keep up with each other. And be sure to remember: every journey begins with the perfect shoes. 

Love you all & happy adventuring.
Spice Girl
 

"I always knew that when I looked back on the times I cried I would smile. But I never know that when I looked back on the times I smiled I would cry."

Incase you missed part 1 of what I learned in college, here it is. Read that first. Now that everyone is caught up, here we go! Part 2:

I could not be more thankful for the past four years. It's such a strange feeling looking back. I can't say I'm sad. I'm incredibly grateful for the friends and experiences. It does feel weird moving on. You're telling me I'm not going to live in a house with my closest friends, and go to class with more friends everyday? That spring break, summer vacation, and reading days are over? That study parties aren't a thing in the real world? I know life goes on, and I'll still have those friends and still have great experiences, but it'll be different. Anyways, I digress. Here are my final 5 lessons I learned in college.

6. Surround yourself with good people
One thing that makes college great is the variety of people you encounter. They will reason differently, have polar opposite political beliefs than you, and come from a family that does things differently than yours. Learn from these people, and understand where they're coming from. It'll grow you as a person. Keep in mind that these people that surround you, should be challenging and encouraging you in some area of life. They should push you to be the best version of you possible, and be there for you along the way to help you become that person. If a "friend" is not supportive, a bad influence, or a constant source of negativity, don't keep that friend around.

7. Communicate effectively
Communication has been the biggest lesson I have learned in college. Not many people will understand your feelings unless you tell them, and no one needs to feel embarrassed about their feelings. Be honest, direct, and delicate in your communications. Listen to what others say. Communication is not just a one-way street. Most of my problems the past four years have boiled down to a lack of communication or some sort of misunderstanding due to poor communication.

8. Travel
If at all possible, travel. Study abroad, go on road trips, and make it out of your back yard. Traveling stretches your limits, increases your mental flexibility (because nothing ever goes as planned), and teaches you about other cultures and people. All of this keeps your point of view in perspective. It reminds you that you are not the only person on the planet, and that you are not the most important person on the Earth. Maybe even that your way of living life is not the only way to live life. Traveling can also grow your appreciation for your home and where you came from. For making your way to Europe for cheap, see this article.

9. Help others
Helping others keeps the point of view in check as well. Most often, I have found that helping others ends up encouraging me more than the person I am helping. Whatever you have, share it generously. If you have time, give your time. If you have money, give money. Volunteer at a food bank, give rides to the grocery store to friends without cars, invite friends over for a dinner. Whatever you can do to help ease the burdens of others, do it.

10. Make the most of your time
Just like life, college flies by. Enjoy it. Don't sweat the small stuff. Work hard towards what you want, and enjoy your company along the way. Travel, learn, go out, make friends, help others, and find that balance of responsibility and fun that comes with being a young adult.

Cheers to my fellow class of 2015! Let's enjoy who we have become in the past four years as we move onto our next big adventure. To the class of 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019: enjoy it. These are some of the best times you'll ever have!

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." - Dr. Seuss

And just like that, four years of undergraduate studies have flown by. I graduate in four days from the University of Florida and, and... how in the world am I supposed to feel? I can't say that I have the answer to that question, and I don't think I ever will.

BUT, I do know some of the life lessons I learned in my four years of college. This list is mostly for my own record, but if it helps someone out beginning some of the best years of their life, then so be it.

So I don't bore you, the 10 lessons I have learned are broken into two parts. The first 5 points talk about how to go about college as an individual, and the last 5 points are what I have learned about college as a peer and colleague to others. Here we go!

1. You can do whatever you want to do

There is nothing more empowering than that. If you want to be a doctor, engineer, comedian, dietitian, teacher, craftsman, musician, etc, do it. And work at it with all of your heart. If you find you're working at it with all of your strength and it's not working, work smarter. Find a different path to the end goal you desire. Don't waste time complaining. 

2. Stay balanced

Future employers don't want a good GPA in a candidate. They want a fantastic GPA + work experience + leadership roles + a charasmatic person + clean appearance + a connection within the company + 500 LinkedIn friends. While these perfect people exist in the world (and if you can be one of those perfect people, be that person!), employers don't expect us to have it all together.

A few B's in classes throughout the years while getting work experience in your desired field is going to look way better (plus build connections) than a lovely 4.0 GPA with no work experience. So don't sweat the small stuff. Work towards being a balanced student.

3. Take care of yourself

Healthy habits start now. The way we treat our bodies now will affect our bodies for the rest of our lives. Exercising & eating well is key not just to avoid the freshman 15, but to also prevent future diseases. They don't say "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" for nothing.

4. Say no

No one knows you better than you. So ya know, do what you need to do. If you need to start studying for an exam a few days earlier than the rest of people, go study. If you don't want one more drink, you don't have to have one more drink. 

Don't let people pressure otherwise - they might not need those few extra days. Your alcohol tolerance might be lower than theirs. This can be applied everywhere in life/college. I'll touch on this more later, but if people aren't supportive when you do politely say "no", they *probably aren't the best people to have around.

*definitely

5. Don't be stupid

College is a time to make mistakes and grow from our mistakes. Do keep in mind you are between 18-25 years old. We aren't children anymore. We don't have to have it all figured out by any means, but start to act like an adult. Use critical thinking and common sense to avoid stupid mistakes.

If you try to cram for an Organic Chemistry exam the night before an exam, you'll fail. Boys that are pushy within the first "Hi, how are you?" interaction will not stop being pushy in other areas. Texting during class will not get you a great letter of recommendation. Being rude to people in your class doesn't bode well for future career networking. Expecting to get hired as an entry level manager with no work experience won't get you far. You get my point. Just don't be an idiot.

College can feel overwhelming at times, but slow down and breathe.
Remember that this could be one of the easiest times in our life. 

If something does not go how you planned, your life is not over. You are not any less of a person.

Figure out what you want and keep working towards it.

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Change is not easy. It's hard to achieve; it's difficult to sustain. It takes so. much. effort. 

But, we all know the moment where we decide a change will happen. The moment where old ruts are abandoned, and new pathways are mapped out. The moment where we see our future change for the better, regardless of roadblocks along the way. The moment where we do what is best for ourselves, our community, and our environment. 

Allgood Provisions, a snack foods company from Park City, Utah, is giving everyone the opportunity to participate in a necessary change. AND they have already done the hard part for us. Allgood Provisions has already found the best farms and created premium products that are USDA certified Organic and non-GMO verified. With every sale of these products, Allgood Provisions donates funds to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. Allgood Provisions is making a change in their way of conducting business, in its community, and in the environment. And, they makes our lives easy by providing access to affordable food that is trustworthy, healthy, and you know, actually real food. 

So now that you know about Allgood Provisions, you should understand why I was P U M P E D to receive my High Antioxidant Trail Mix in the mail last week. I saved half of it for a 911 library snack-stash, and the other half to make these Chocolate Chip Quinoa Trail Mix Clusters that disappeared as quickly as this 8 second clip:

These Chocolate Chip Trail Mix Clusters are a crowd-pleasing game changer. That's right, I said it. High in everything-good-for-you and easy to make, these are a new favorite. So before I work myself into a pile of words, the recipe.

Chocolate Chip Quinoa Trail Mix Clusters
Makes a dozen bite sized treats
- 1 c old fashioned oats, dry
- 1/4 c quinoa, dry + 3/4 c water
- 1 1/2 c Allgood organic Trail Mix
- 1/2 c dark chocolate chips
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 1/3 c honey

1. Cook quinoa as directed, and set aside in a large mixing bowl. 
2. Mix dry, old fashioned oats with Allgood organic Trail Mix in a separate bowl.
3. Meanwhile, bring honey to a light simmer on the stove. Do not burn. 
4. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract. Add honey & vanilla to Trail Mix & oats.

5. Stir, coating the mixture well. Add quinoa.
6. Mix & let cool. 

7. After cooling, add chocolate chips, peanut butter, and sea salt. Mix well.
8. Chill dough in fridge for an hour. 
9. Using wet hands, gently roll mixture into golf ball-sized balls. 
10. Place balls on a plate and chill for at least two hours until firm. 
11. Enjoy!

I truly hope your clusters last longer than mine - I could not stop eating them. 

And as always, comment below and let me know what you think. What are your go-to snack foods?
 

Has anyone else had the feeling that they came out of the womb with an expectation from their parents? With the feeling that you would not belong in a family without a certain set of skills? I have.

You see, "making a pot of beans" was an assumed skill in my household. Every child could participate in this process: the younger ones sort the rocks and bad beans out from the normal bunch, middle children wash and fill the pot with water, while the older children deal with some form of pork to add to the beans. As I'm writing this, I am wondering how many gallons of beans have been made in my parents' bean pot between their 40 years of their marriage, 7 kids + grandchildren, and countless church & social gatherings. Ah, but I digress.

Although I used to complain about having burritos at least 7 times a week growing up, this family tradition taught me to feed the 5000 on a nickel's' worth of food. Add rice to the beans and you have a complete protein. Throw a hefty amount of salsa on that, and you have a serving of vegetables! In a college town that thrives off $7 burritos from Chipotle, I appreciate this flavorful and budget-friendly bean recipe to make my own burritos.

Anyways, back to what I was born to do: making a pot of beans. This recipe is going to be the least standardized of them all, but it gives you the flexibility to make a batch of pinto beans for 1 or for 100 people. You'll see. 

Spice Girl | Pinto Bean Recipe
Serves 1 million (kind of)
-Dried pinto beans to fill 1/3 of designated bean pot
-Water to fill 2/3 of designated bean pot
-Ham hock or bacon slices
-Salt

1. Spread beans onto a flat surface to sort out rocks and bad beans. Add sorted beans to pot.
If I am feeling extra meticulous, split beans are counted out as well, but that's not necessary. Just get all the rocks out.

2. Rinse sorted beans to remove dirt. Once beans are cleaned, fill pot with 1/3 beans and 2/3 water. DO NOT SALT.
Salting at this step keeps the beans hard no matter how long you cook them.
3. Add desired pork product. For 1 lb of beans, 3 chopped slices of bacon are standard. For pots of beans more than 3 lbs, ham hocks are great. Or just add more bacon.
4. Bring pot of beans to a boil, then turn down to a slow rolling simmer. 
5. Cook for 2-3 hours stirring occasionally.
6. When beans become tender and start to break up, add salt to taste.
The amount of salt is up to you. The rule is: small handful of salt for a small pot, and a large handful (or three) for a large pot. Under-salted beans do not have a place at the dinner table. 
7. Continue to cook for a short time until the salt has dispersed.
8. Enjoy!
These beans can be enjoyed in many different ways, but I tend to heat up my favorite flour tortilla, add these beans, shredded cheddar cheese, and fresh salsa.  But please, get creative with it, and let me know how it goes! 

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