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November 21, 2015

Pumpkin Lentil Curry

Thanksgiving is on the horizon, and if you are scrambling to find a dish to bring to the family/friend gathering, don’t fret! This pumpkin lentil curry is calling your name if you are a bit adventurous and willing to branch out to something a little more unconventional for the food festivities. (If you’re a purist, no worries, I totally get that Thanksgiving camp, too). Regardless of where you stand with regards to the appropriate spread for this holiday, you need to whip up this curry at least once this winter. Not only is it easy to make (just add all the ingredients to one pot,and simmer away) but it’s creamy and warm, and tricks you into feeling like you are diving into a big bowl of comfort food.

Unlike typical comfort food, though, this curry is oh so good for you. Eat up to nourish yourself from the inside out! I wouldn’t even blame you if you wanted an extra helping. The curry gets its creamy factor from pumpkin puree. Pumpkin is one popular squash during this time of year, and for good reason. It’s is a great source of vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient for healthy skin, eyes, and tissue repair. I can’t say that there are any health benefits if you get your serving of pumpkin in latte or cupcake form, so try to go for the real thing :).

The other key player in this curry is the mighty lentil! Lentils not only bump up the fiber and protein in this dish (keeping you fuller, longer), but they also add significant amounts of iron, folate, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc!! Lentils have you covered with everything from bone health, to boosting immunity and aiding in DNA synthesis/repair. Now that’s a super food. Let’s get cooking!!

Pumpkin Lentil Curry

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 cups pumpkin puree
1 cup lentils, rinsed
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
2 cups spinach
2 1/3 cups bone broth or vegetable stock
1 Tbs coconut oil
1/3 cup coconut milk (the thicker, culinary kind, not the kind you put in your cereal)
1 tsp curry powder
salt, to taste
cilantro, for garnish
pumpkin seeds, for garnish

Directions:

Add onions and bell pepper to a large pot with the coconut oil. Cook until onions translucent, about 7 minutes.
Add bone broth to the pot, and bring to a boil. Add lentils, reducing to a simmer, and cook for 20-30 minutes until lentils are tender.
Add pumpkin puree, curry powder, and coconut milk to the pot. Simmer 10 more minutes so that all the flavors incorporate. Salt to taste.
At the last minute before serving, stir spinach into the pot, just to wilt the leaves. Serve nice and hot!
Garnish with pumpkin seeds and cilantro. Enjoy!

Tell me, are you a Thanksgiving purist, or do you like things with a twist? Also, what is your fave Thanksgiving dish? For me, it’s the stuffing, hands down. On another note, do you call it stuffing or dressing? I just never understood the “dressing” thing. Dressing is what you drizzle on salad, and it certainly doesn’t have bread as it’s staple ingredient.

One more thing- if you are looking for ways to prevent over-eating / over-indulging on Thanksgiving, check out this oldie but goodie post.

From me to you, have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am soooo thankful to those of you who take the time to read my blog and join the discussion in the comments!! I wouldn’t be here without you!

XO, Alexandra

November 1, 2015

Pumpkin Spiced Party Popcorn

I hope you all had a spooky Halloween! Hopefully you are not in too much of a candy coma after all of yesterday’s festivities. I had a fun, low-key Halloween with my sister. We dressed up as spiders, went out to dinner, and watched movies. Sometimes it’s nice to have a night in. Plus, I love any excuse to lounge around in my PJs with some tea and a bowl of popcorn. But not just any popcorn…I like it gourmet! Today’s post is a yummy, healthy Fall (or all year, I don’t judge) treat. Pumpkin Spiced Party Popcorn is the perfect snack to whip up for parties, entertaining, movie nights, holiday gatherings, girl’s night in, or whenever the craving hits! It’s got all the flavors of pumpkin spice that you know and love, with a little sweetness from chocolate chips ( I used vegan ones sweetened with Stevia), and a hint of saltiness from a sprinkle of black sea salt. The salty/sweet combo is always a win in my book. I also love the crunch from the pumpkin seeds. Yep, this recipe uses pumpkin two ways- the seeds, and pumpkin puree as a base for the pumpkin seed “brittle”.

Popcorn is a great low-cal snack, and it is so versatile, too. I buy plain, unsalted popcorn and add my own mix ins, so I can really customize the popcorn to whatever I’m craving, and control the ingredients going into it. A lot of popcorn comes laden with butter, oil, salt, or worse- artificial butter flavor, so by flavoring it yourself, you can really keep the nutrition value of your popcorn in check. This was the first time I bought non-microwave popcorn, and I made it the old-fashion way on the stove top. It couldn’t be easier, and it makes you feel like a kitchen boss.

Time to add pumpkin seed’s nutrition profile to the list reasons we are all pumpkin obsessed!! Pumpkin seeds are a great source of iron, zinc, and protein, which are important nutrients to pay attention to, especially if you are vegetarian or vegan. Iron plays a major role in oxygen transport and DNA production. If you are always feeling tired, it could be a sign of iron deficiency, as iron carries oxygen to the mitochondria of the cells, which are responsible for energy production. Women especially need to make sure they get enough iron in their diet, since we lose some every month.

Zinc has tons of different functions, like playing a role in the breakdown and use of carbohydrates/fat/protein, the activation and use of insulin, optimizing immune function, hormone production, and in growth and repair of tissue. Show your body some love from the inside out, and add pumpkin seeds to your diet this season!

Pumpkin Spiced Party Popcorn

Makes 4 cups

Ingredients for the Pumpkin Seed Brittle

1/4 cup pumpkin puree
2 dates, soaked
1/4 cup plus 2 TBS milk of choice
1 cup pumpkin seeds

Ingredients for the Popcorn

4 cups popcorn: non- GMO, please! I use Bob’s Red Mill Kernels
Pumpkin Seed Brittle
1/4 cup chocolate chips ( I used vegan ones sweetened with Stevia)
sprinkle of black sea salt
dash of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg
drizzle of oil (I used coconut)

To make the Pumpkin Seed Brittle:

Roast pumpkin seeds on a sheet pan at 300 degrees for 45 minutes.
While the seeds are roasting, place pumpkin puree, milk, and dates into a food processor and mix until smooth
Drizzle the sauce over the pumpkin seeds, and place in a the oven at 250 for 2 hours to crisp up the seeds. Your house will smell really yummy!

To assemble the popcorn:

To a large bowl, add popcorn, pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips, and a drizzle of oil. The oil will help the spices to adhere to the popcorn.
Toss with a spoon to coat popcorn with the oil. Add sea salt and spices. Toss to combine.
Add one more sprinkle of cinnamon as a garnish, and you are ready to snack away!

Let me know what you did for Halloween/what you dressed up as. And what are your favorite ways to dress up your popcorn? Have a fabulous week!

XO, Alexandra

October 25, 2015

Apartment Tour Series, Part 2: The Bedroom

It’s time for another part of my Apartment Tour Series: the bedroom! Before we get into the design details, I just want to thank you for being patient with me. My internship has been really crazy these past few weeks, and I have been swamped with work. (I would much rather be blogging than doing case studies and clinical nutrition homework, but duty calls.) I have officially hit the halfway point in the clinical portion of my internship, so I have reached a small break in the workload, hence why I am able to put my focus on Bouquets and Baguettes for a moment. I have totally missed creating content and getting to interact with you! Now for the good stuff- what does my bedroom look like???

To me, my bedroom is the most sacred place in the home. It is my sanctuary. It is where I get to unwind and have my beauty sleep after a very long day. Naturally, I want it to have a peaceful, feminine vibe, with a little punch to keep things fun and glamorous. It’s all about balance, right? Let’s get into it!

One of my absolute favorite features in my room is the gold confetti accent. I love how fun and whimsical it looks to have the gold confetti cascade from the ceiling down the wall. The gold dots are just removable decals you can buy pretty much anywhere these days, especially around college dorm shopping time. (Because if there is any design skill to be acquired during college, it has to be the art of removable customization.) Removable elements are not only ideal for dorm life, but also for any fellow renters out there!

It’s also fabulous to have a gallery wall with inspirational quotes. Nothing says “Have an amazing day!” while you are getting ready to head out the door like, “Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world”. And for those mornings when you need a reminder to hold your head high, YSL said it best: “Fashions fade, but style is eternal”. #Truth

If there is one textural element I had to pick to be stuck with forever, it would be tufting. I am such a sucker for tufting. Everything is better with tufting!! If you really want to amp up the style and overall chic factor of your room, invest in a headboard. It really ties everything together and creates a gorge focal point. Brownie points if it’s tufted. 😉

Beautiful beds require lots of pillows. I know no one sleeps on that many pillows, but when the bed is made, the volume of pillows adds drama and a total wow factor. And let’s remember the rule about odd numbers. Try to avoid having six pillows, for instance. It’s the seventh pillow that will make you look like a design guru. It’s also fun to have graphic pillows or inspirational quote pillows. Can you tell I love to be inspired?? Honestly, my “Start each day with a grateful heart” pillow gets me in the right frame of mind each morning. Gratitude is a major mood booster, perfect for mornings when I would rather stay in bed.

Candles are the best. They just ooze relaxing, spa-like vibes. Who wouldn’t want that in their bedroom?! To add some extra glamour, I tied some Dior ribbon around some battery-operated candles. They flicker very realistically, and I never have to worry about accidentally falling asleep with a candle lit. Don’t get me wrong, I love a deliciously scented candle as much as the next girl, but these battery candles won’t ever drip wax on my nice white ribbon while they “burn”.

We know from Apartment Tour Part One that I love the acrylic/lucite look. Clear trays look so modern and clean for storing all your little trinkets. Plus, they allow you to store pretty stuff in a very visual way. If your matchbox is this cute, why would you want to hide it away?

One of my recent obsessions is cheetah print. I haven’t always been a big fan of the print (since it can become tacky if there is too much of it), but it has really grown on me. The key is that it can’t be overdone. Cheetah print can look very chic and glamorous, but only if it is on one key feature in the room. Not on twenty different things, but just one piece that you really want to have as the focal point of the room. Whenever I lounge on my cheetah chaise, I can’t help but feel a little more fierce.

My room wouldn’t be complete without a serious pop of pink. To me, this chair is the perfect shade of pink. It is like visual caffeine! I find it so energizing, and it’s a no fail way to put me in a good mood, every time I see it. A great DIY is to do gold-dipped legs on a desk or chair. A good ol’ gold-dipping brings a modern touch to an otherwise plain or understated piece of furniture.

To sum it all up, this framed print always puts a smile on my face. I think its totally blunt and totally true. It adds a bit of humor to the space, which is a perfect unexpected element. And I love having lamps with clear bases, as it really keeps the space open and uncluttered.

That wraps up my bedroom tour! I hope you got some inspiration for your own oasis. Tell me, how do you make your room your own sacred space? What sort of design elements help you to zen out or get pumped up for the day? I would love to get some inspiration ideas from you!

XO, Alexandra

October 5, 2015

The Lark: Family-Style Plates So Divine, You Won’t Want to Share

In the heart of the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara, sits The Lark, an urban vibe restaurant that features some of the best food of the Central Coast. I love any restaurant that boasts amazing food and takes a local approach. Food responsibility makes everything taste better!! ; ) The Lark menus are sourced locally and food is grown responsibly. And of course, they take a seasonal food approach, so the menu is always fresh, and flavors are bursting, which is just some of the magic that results from having an ever-evolving (and season-conscious) menu. Plus, it gives me a very good reason to go back again..and again!! The photos on this post are from a particular night in the late summer, when the weather was perfect for dining outdoors. Another perk at The Lark- dining outside is uber cool, because the patio has a very relaxed vintage-yet-urban feel, and the energy is always buzzing. Highly recommend eating outside if the weather is to your liking. (And since The Lark is in Santa Barbara, the weather will pretty much always be to one’s liking.)

Duck Liver & Brioche with Ellwood strawberries, honey roasted cashews, and rhubarb jam

At The Lark, plates are designed to be shared family-style. Each platter is brought out with a serving spoon, so that everyone can dish up exactly what they want onto their own plate. I love that you are able to order a bunch of little things rather than just one entree. I am one of those people who has their eye on too many items on the menu, so being able to try everything I want warrants major points in my book. I have to be honest though, the food was so good, I really didn’t want to share!! I just wanted all the plates to myself, so I could savor every last bite. #foodhog It makes me a little sad inside when I see someone else taking a delicious bite that could have been mine. Is anyone else selfish with food like that?? I’m not like that with all food, just my favorites, or something yummmmazing, and the food here definitely fell into that category.

Kaido Scallop Crudo with watermelon, ambrosia melon, chili flake, persian cucumber granita, black sesame cracker, and red shiso

As an aside, a great way to watch your portion sizes/calorie intake is to share dishes when dining. Order a dish or two to split, and you can save yourself from potentially overeating as you might if you ordered the same dishes just for yourself.

Roasted Beets and Burrata with roasted pistachios, strawberries, hibiscus vinaigrette, mache, and watercress

Now can we talk about sauces?? Ohhhh, the sauces/dressings at The Lark are real deal drool-worthy. They could bottle them and sell them. Guaranteed they would be a hit. From the vinaigrette to the aioli, every bite was a perfect balance of flavors that complemented each dish, whether it be sweet, salty, tangy, or even spiced. A good sauce/dressing/drizzle can elevate a plate and tie it all together, and The Lark dishes have that element on lock.

Ras El Hanout Spiced Zucchini with saffron aioli, preserved meyer lemon, crispy squash blossom, and dill

I have always been a veggie lover, but not everyone is. It’s ok, we can work on that. 🙂 The “from the farm” dishes at The Lark are so impressive that they could convert anyone who is afraid to eat anything green or that grows in the ground. The textures and flavors of the beet salad were refreshing and complex, and the zucchini platter was insanely creative. I loved that they used zucchini in multiple forms (the blossoms and the fruit). Plus the spice rub on the zucchini was deliciously present yet not overpowering, and made a typically quiet vegetable (sorry, zucchini) the star of the show. I would eat anything with that spice rub on it. Not to mention, the presentation of every dish was like a work of art. Almost too pretty to eat. Emphasis on almost.

White Chocolate Panna Cotta with basil genoise, strawberry, and meringue

What I loved about dessert, besides the fact that it was light, clean, and the had perfect amount of sweetness, was that it was petit. Petit dessert means you can eat your cake and fit in your skinny jeans, too. Just a few bites to satisfy the sweet tooth, and off you go! The Lark is absolutely a must-dine, and is the perfect place to gather over shared plates with friends and family. The hard part is actually deciding what to order… and whether to share those crazy-good bites with everyone else.

Have you ever dined at a restaurant that serves shared plates? Are you a food hog or are you ok with sharing?? Please tell me I’m not the only one who is a stingy food share-er! Happy Monday!! Have a fabulous week!

XO, Alexandra

September 28, 2015

Fermentation Fest

Last weekend I went to the Fermentation Festival in Santa Barbara. I couldn’t believe it, but yes there is actually a festival to celebrate, eat, and learn about all things fermented. A festival where I can get samples of kombucha and kimchi is absolutely a place I want to be. My tummy was very happy that day, not only because all of the festival’s culinary selections were on point, but also because fermented foods are so great for your gut!

So why are fermented foods such a trend in the wellness world right now? They contain loads of probiotics, the good-for-you bacteria species. When food ferments, the carbohydrates (sugar/starches) in the food are converted to acids, like lactic acid. The low pH and anaerobic environment (no air because the food is submerged in a liquid brine) creates the perfect environment for good bacteria to thrive and prosper, while the bad bacteria are kept at bay, since they require oxygen and a less acidic environment. Without getting into too much science, this process preserves the food and gives life to TONS of beneficial bacteria that you get to eat up! Sounds kind of gross to eat lots of bacteria, but probiotics do the body some serious good. Plus, fermented foods are unbeatable when it comes to flavor, and so versatile to use.

Probiotics are known for their super powers- many people know that they aid in digestion and help promote regularity, no thanks to Activiaaaaa. But probiotics do even more for us! These good bacteria are necessary to supply the body with B vitamins, like vitamin B-12, and vitamin K. In addition, probiotics maintain the integrity of our immune system, since the majority of our immune system is in our gut!! Feeling sick and run down all the time? You may need a dose of probiotics! It’s all that good bacteria that keeps our immune defense up, and gets those antibodies synthesized and ready for action. It’s no exaggeration to say that probiotics are LIFE!! And if you can’t down any more yogurt cups, fermented foods are a zesty twist on getting your probiotics in.

What are some options for getting probiotic-rich fermented foods into your diet?

Kombucha (a bubbly, sour drink that comes in tons of flavors-it’s a great low-cal, low-sugar sub for soda if you crave that carbonation sensation)

Kimchi (a traditional Korean dish made with veggies, typically cabbage, and spices)

Kefir ( drinkable-style yogurt that comes in both dairy-based and dairy-free varieties)

Tempeh (organic, please- soybean cake)

Miso (organic, please- salty, umami soybean paste )

Sauerkraut (cabbage, lots of cabbage)

Don’t worry if you can’t invest in an expensive probiotic pill. These foods provide a major amount of fresh bacteria that will feel right at home in your gut with all the other flora. Feed your gut fermented foods, and it will love you right back!

Tell me- have you ever tried any fermented foods? Also, has anyone tried fermenting foods at home, like DIY-style? I am a little hesitant to try it, but I’m curious to hear your experiences with it! Have a fabulous week!!

XO, Alexandra

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