RECIPE | NO CHEESE BACON KALE MAC-N-CHEESE

Yes, you read the title correctly. Today, I bring to you a dairy-free (and gluten-free if you're into that) version of your favorite comfort dish.

I have tried countless "healthier substitutes" over the years and this has just made the top of my list. The thing with most substitutes is that you really have to remind yourself that it is simply an alternative, not a replacement. I can't tell you how many times I've been disappointed because I expected it to taste just like the real deal. But this recipe is an entirely different story.  Honestly, if someone didn't tell me there wasn't any dairy, I probably wouldn't have thought twice. The sauce is rich and creamy, and especially with the bacon and kale, this dish packs a mouthful of flavor. Doesn't bacon just make everything taste better?



The base sauce recipe comes from Veggie Inspired (check out her drool-inducing feed @veggie_inspired) but I made some adjustments based on my own preferences.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups chopped butternut squash (I used Trader Joe's zig-zags because they're pre-cut) 
• 1/2 of a large sweet onion, peeled and roughly chopped
• 16 oz package macaroni noodles 
• 1/4 cup raw cashews, soaked in hot water for 30 minutes, then drained
• 1 Tbs lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 2-3 garlic cloves
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/8 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/8 tsp turmeric
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 4 strips bacon of choice
• kale (I used dinosaur kale)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place butternut squash and onions into a medium-sized sauce pan and fill with water until submerged by about an inch. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat to simmer for 15 minutes. Once the butternut squash and onions are done, set aside 1/3 cup of the cooking water for later. Drain the rest. 

2. Fill a large sauce pan with water and add your garlic cloves, bring to a boil. Cook macaroni noodles according to your package directions. I used Trader Joe's Brown Rice Pasta (gluten-free) but any kind of noodle will work. Keep in mind that brown rice pastas tend to stick together, so rinse thoroughly with cold water until cooled. Remove the garlic cloves and set aside for the sauce. 

3. In a large skillet, cook up your bacon, about 4 strips (TJ's applewood smoked bacon bits are great). Set aside and chop into small pieces. Blot the skillet with a paper towel to remove excess drippings but keep some because the kale is going in next. 

4. Saute about three handfuls of kale, removing the stems, for about 5 minutes or until bright green and slightly crisp. Sorry I don't have a more accurate measurement but you really can't go wrong with the amount of kale!

5. Take out your blender and add the squash, onions, cashews, lemon juice, salt, garlic cloves, black pepper, paprika, tumeric, nutmeg, and cooking liquid you set aside earlier. Blend until smooth. 

6. Lastly, combine all ingredients and ENJOY!

RECIPE | STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE PASTRIES

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

In elementary school, I always looked forward to making my own Valentine's day cards for classmates.  One year, I cut out heart shaped cards and decorated them with gold pen and glitter to make them look like conversation hearts. I remember having a special one for the boy I liked. "Ur Cute"? Oh gosh, I hope I didn't write that, but I probably did.

This year, I had a potluck to go to, so I decided to make these cheery little puff pastry hearts. I love how fluffed and flaky the puff pastry is on the edges, with the sweet but slightly salty cream cheese and strawberry filling. I topped them off with a little powdered sugar and voila! the perfect Valentine's day treat.

The recipe for these beauties comes from Cooking Classy, and can be found here. I followed it exactly and found that my pastries needed to bake for 14 minutes. I did add one drop of red gel food coloring for extra brightness.


For those of you who don't have a heart shaped cookie cutter, you can simply cut out a pattern from a piece of paper. I used a 3x3 inch square as the guide for my heart. Lay the pattern on the puff pastry and use a knife to cut around it. You want the puff pastry to be thawed but still cold. If it thaws out too much, the dough will catch on your knife and it'll be harder to cut (plus, the packaging says it shouldn't be fully thawed when you bake it). If you find your pattern sticking, you can add a bit of flour, but as long as the puff pastry isn't too thawed, that shouldn't be a problem.

The concept behind these is quite simple and I'm already thinking about other fruit and shape combinations.

NYE ASSESSMENT | FINDING TIME

With the new year comes resolutions for change, and while I prefer more regular assessments of my life goals, I cannot escape the feeling that time often flies by faster than I'd like. 2017 - that means it has been nearly two decades since my days of holographic Y2K leotards. Hard to believe it's been that long.

Today's Monday Motivation focuses on the concept of time management and how we use the phrase, "there's not enough hours in the day" far too frequently. Laura Vanderkam's TED Talk "How to gain control of your free time" exposes just how many hours per week can be devoted to all the things we say we want to do but  feel we don't have the time for. I don't want to spoil the stats, so I'll just let you watch her video.

I know many will argue that Vanderkam only includes hours spent at work, not the commute, and sleeping, but I believe that's her point. All those extra hours don't have to be counted against us, but rather for us. Why not listen to a podcast during your commute? (I've learned so many valuable lessons from podcasts such as Invisibilia and Strangers.) How about meditating for a few minutes during lunch break? Or going for a run instead of driving next time you have local errands? If you ever forget the power of one minute, hold a plank and you'll see just how long 60 seconds can feel. If you're not into planks, try squats while you wait for your meal to heat up in the microwave; trust me, it's a lot longer than you might think.

We make time for what is important to us. I've found this to be a very powerful concept. I used to complain that "I can never seem to find the time to..." but it's not about "finding" time, it's about creating time. Once I started truly assessing my priorities and strategizing how to schedule my days, I found that I was able to clear more space. It's a continual process, requiring frequent re-evaluation of priorities. I can't say I've perfected it, but I've learned to focus on the things that matter to me, the things that keep me balanced, and accept that I cannot complain about that which I do not put effort into.

I'll leave you with an excerpt from Mitch Albom's The Time Keeper:

“Try to imagine a life without timekeeping. You probably can’t. You know the month, the year, the day of the week. There is a clock on your wall or the dashboard of your car. You have a schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie. Yet all around you, timekeeping is ignored. Birds are not late. A dog does not check its watch. Deer do not fret over passing birthdays. Man alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out." 

Happy New Year, everyone! *cheers*

CRAVINGS REVIEW | PEPPER'S PORK-STUFFED CUCUMBER SOUP

I recently received Chrissy Tiegen's new cookbook, Cravings, and let me tell you, this is #goals.  Not only do all of the dishes look mouth-watering, but the ingredients and steps are all fairly simple. On top of that, Chrissy manages to make eating Cheesy Garlic Bread Crumbs effortlessly sexy while being admired by husband, John Legend. When I'm eating a dish I just prepared, I'm probably a mess...bits of ingredients on my clothes or even my face, hair haphazardly tied up, and looking ravenous because cooking took me longer than I expected.

First up, I tried Pepper's Pork-Stuffed Cucumber Soup because, 1) the ingredient list was short 2) Chrissy described this dish as not only light yet energizing, but also makes for a flatter stomach even after eating it for a week. Sold.

Although I prepared the full amount of pork and cucumbers, I only made a half batch of soup.  I figured cooked cucumbers weren't the type of dish that kept well so I stored the other half of stuffed cucumbers in the refrigerator for another day. The most tedious part of the whole process was preparing the cucumbers, but the insides scooped out nicely with a metal measuring spoon. What to do with all the cucumber centers? I'm thinking some cucumber mint lemonade...mmm!

As for the final product, this is a promising start to my culinary adventure through Cravings.  The cucumbers transformed from crunchy and slightly bitter to soft and slightly sweet, pairing well with the savory pork.  This recipe makes a large amount of broth compared to the amount of cucumbers you'll want for a meal so I think I'll add in some fresh cut noodles next time to make the most of it.

UPDATE 10/15/16: I made the second batch with thin rice noodles and it was indeed, the perfect addition. The noodles soak up the flavorful broth and seriously, what's not to love about noodles?

MOTIVATION MONDAY | SIMPLE CHANGES

Happy Monday!

Today's post is a reminder that you don't have to be a grand hero in order to make a difference in your community.  Small change can be just as impactful as it can be more easily implemented in new communities.

This morning I was inspired by this article on the Shelter Buddies Reading Program in Missouri. Through this program, children read to shelter dogs in order to help calm their temperament and hopefully make them more likely to be adopted.  The children benefit from this relationship too, as they are able to practice their reading skills without the pressure of a teacher or parent watching.

So often do we believe that our small changes won't amount to anything, but imagine if everyone made small changes, how much it would compound. True change will come from the efforts of many with various approaches to the same struggles.

"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."  -- Confucius 

MOTIVATION MONDAY | FIND YOUR WHY

Happy Monday!

Today's post is quite a personal one as these past couple of weeks have been filled with tremendous growth.  I have made several changes in the past month, and although they are each small, they have made all the difference when put together.

Establish a Regular Sleep Schedule. Even on mornings when I start class at 10am instead of 8am, I still wake up at around the same time (within a half hour). On those later mornings, it gives me a chance to enjoy a cup of tea and a leisurely breakfast. I write out my goals for the day and get in some light studying.

Meal Prep Sunday. Throughout the week, I browse Pinterest and my favorite food blogs for simple recipes.  I look for overlapping ingredients so that I'm not left with a fridge of leftovers.  Since I don't like keeping food for more than about 4 days, I cook enough to last me through Thursday.  Packing my meals saves me time during the week and fewer overall dishes to clean.  Some new recipes I've found include a Thai inspired salad, quinoa crusted chicken nuggets, zucchini turkey meatballs, and chicken + vegetable curry.

Get Involved. At first I was worried that I had dug myself a hole by taking on so many leadership positions in graduate school.  However, being involved has allowed me to exercise new skills and take active charge of my education.  These activities allow me to apply what I learn in the classroom to real situations and reminds me why I study for so many hours.

It's All Just a Bootcamp. I have a fear that one day someone or something will poke holes in my facade and reveal that I am really not as intelligent or skilled as I believe I am. That's why I hesitate to answer certain questions in class, or become anxious over the thought of being put on the spot. However, it's part of the learning process.  Graduate school is intimidating and rigorous, but it is supposed to be that way.  This is my metamorphosis, a chance to display my strengths and practice areas of improvement.  Fully allowing myself to be vulnerable rather than fearing being wrong has further expanded my mind to acceptance of growth. Okay, let's talk about tests.  While I look forward to the day when those are no longer a stressor, tests are part of the deal.  They're a necessary step to reaching my end goal.  They're an opportunity to demonstrate what I know but they do not define my intelligence.

Make Time for Yourself. Set aside time each day to do something you enjoy.  For me, some of these activities include exercising, practicing my hand lettering, painting my nails, and baking dessert for others. I know for many graduate students, exercising is the first thing to go.  This school year however, I made the conscious effort to go to the gym despite my schedule.  Once I made it part of my routine, it was easy to stick to. Exercising helps me relieve energy and focus on a different kind of strength.

Find Your Why.  This is really the keystone.  None of the other bricks can hold without this final piece.  Take the time to reflect on your passions and assess whether your current routine is aligned with your goals.  Do your days give you a sense of fulfillment? If not, how come?  What brings you joy? What brings you stress? Write down your goals, all of them, no matter how far fetched they may seem.
Making the changes I described above has allowed me to minimize the possible stressors in my life and open up space for growth.  My days are exhausting but I can't remember the last time I woke up counting down the minutes until I crawled back into bed. I feel like such a cliche, but don't let fear of failure drive your life, but instead be led by your passions.  Have grit when the going gets rough and never lose sight of your why.

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens." -Carl Jung

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FRIDAY: HOTEL TOILETRIES

Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best in 2016!

A recent vacation to Palm Springs inspired me to start a new series, Food for Thought Friday.  As we were cleaning out our room to check out, I noticed the empty shampoo and conditioner bottles in the bathroom.  I thought about how they, along with thousands of others, would end up in a landfill.  So much plastic packaging goes into the toiletries provided by hotels, yet their use is so short lived.  In Mexico, the hotel I stayed at had refillable shampoo and conditioner dispensers built into the shower wall.  Implementing this model would drastically reduce waste as well as be more cost effective for hotel management.  It may not feel as luxe but really, those shampoo bottles never have enough, especially when multiple people are sharing a room.

Let me know what you think!  How else can we take steps towards more sustainable living?