Ninjas + Green Drinks

Though I didn't get around to making official new year's resolutions, I did make a promise to myself to eat more fruits and veggies this year. Okay, mainly veggies. I need next to no help in the fruit department.

When I was home in Florida for Christmas, I got it in my head that I needed to start drinking morning smoothies. After obsessively researching the pros and cons of juicers versus blenders, I was ready to get a blender.

I bought a Ninja blender on sale. It was a great deal, is easy to clean, quite powerful, and is 1/4 of the price of the holy grail of blenders, The Vitamix. I was so excited about my purchase, I dropped the box (still fine), and convinced my best friend's hubby to buy one too. Coincidentally, he dropped his Ninja box while making fun of my snafu (his blender is also still fine).

I also like that "The Ninja" is  the roller coaster in St. Louis that Uncle Steve finally convinced me to ride, and became the start of my lifelong roller coaster career.

I've used it 5 times a week since January 1st and cannot complain. It's loud, but for less than a hundred bucks, I don't mind. (Thankfully, my neighbor doesn't mind either).

Dr. Oz's Green Drink is my new favorite breakfast. I like to add a lot of ginger for an energizing and refreshing kick. It takes some getting used to, but by the end of the first glass, you're weirdly craving it. If you try it and it's too intense at first, mix some honey in there, or a bit of orange juice until you get used to it.

I also started putting spinach in all my other smoothies as well. It's a great way to get vitamins into your drink with a mild taste. I also like using non-sweetened almond milk, plain yogurt, frozen berries, bananas and whatever else is in my fridge that is looking a bit peaked.

One tip I found for frozen bananas is to slice them before you freeze them. What a revelation! I've been accused of keeping rotten black bananas (the best for baking!) in my freezer by Mike for years.

Wheat germ is also good if you want some folic acid and substance. Chia seeds are something everyone swears by, but it makes your smoothie a bit gelatin-y if you let it sit for too long. But I hear it makes a great pudding!

Since I've been drinking my morning smoothies, I think I've felt more alert in the mornings (still love my morning cup of coffee too). If you're looking to eat more healthfully, it also sets the tone for the day. You've already eaten about 5 servings of vegetables and fruit before lunch. Not too shabby, and low on calories if you're watching your weight. I found my clothes fitting much better after a few months of this, and believe me, I was eating plenty otherwise.

I've found that smoothie and juicing fans love to share their favorite recipes. Feel free to point me in the direction of yours!

Citrus + Avocado

I should blame my unanticipated absence my new role at work, my volunteer position, an event I helped plan, the twice weekly Spanish lessons I'm taking, and a baby shower I'm throwing.  But it mainly comes down to one thing. Feeding the pantry and food storage obsession.

Most of my recent daydreams have been dedicated to what whole grains and bulk bin items I can scoop out and store in the carefully cleaned out jars I've been saving over the years. I dream about having matching jars found on sale somewhere that I know the contents of by sight, or with handwritten labels since I'm not a label-maker type of girl (excluding one workday frenzy with name labels and the P-Touch).

I'm using my new reference book, Rebecca Wood's The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia, to get ideas of how to incorporate new foods and grains into my diet.

Last week I brought home beautiful poppy seeds that I just wanted to put my hands in. They're blue, purple, black and oh so tiny and susceptible to static cling.

Citrus is in season, so I snagged some tangerines for an avocado, grapefruit, radish, arugula and citrus salad. I was inspired by this delicious and refreshing version by Martha Stewart. It reminds me of home, when I used to have a ruby-red grapefruit and orange tree in our backyard until the citrus canker hit Florida. Our neighbors traded us for mangoes, avocados and tangerines. That was the life!

Big ruby reds were always my favorite. Fresh picked while warm, eaten first and then juiced for the finale. Always with a teeny bit of sugar, though it barely needed it.

I tried out a red lentil and carrot soup for lunch this week. It was healthy, tasty, filling and easy to make. Fits the bill for my busy week! Avocados have had constant rotation in my morning smoothies of late as well.

Lastly, the beautiful blood orange. They're so pretty on the inside, but aren't my favorite tasting citrus. However, I keep buying them to add dimension to other colors and flavors, and you know I'm a sucker for pretty colors!

¡Qué alimentos bonitos! (What pretty food! I told you I was taking Spanish!)

Pomegranate Obsession

I officially became obsessed with pomegranates this year. I first realized that it was a full blown obsession when I started stocking up on 6 at a time.

I rationalized that I wanted to make good use of the 3 for $5 sale at the grocery store. But then a man walked up mistakenly to my cart, saw the fruit, and hollered to his wife in shock and disdain, “Elaine, what the heck is wrong with you? Why would anyone need so many pomegranates?!”

Poor Elaine and her frustrated husband! I found it hysterical, it still makes me snicker. I jumped over to the cart to defend my loot, and we all had a hearty laugh about the mix-up.

Last week, I contemplated buying 8, but felt that equated to crazy cat lady type numbers in regards to fruit. Though at least this addiction is full of antioxidants!

I love to eat them in a little bowl with a spoon. They're incredible sprinkled over Andrew Swallow's Grove Salad from Mixt. They're a great addition for a crunch pop in a fruit salad, or over yogurt and granola.

I’m the type of person who does all the work of seeding the pomegranates first, and enjoying the literal fruits of my labor later.

I’ve sketched up my current present way of removing the arils (in a bowl to avoid stains, and in front of my television because that’s how I roll, but on the floor because I love my sofa).  It’s a relaxing, meditative like ritual, and the arils keep well in the refrigerator.

Though my way works for me now, I’m absolutely trying this easy and logical technique via Apartment Therapy's The Kitchn next time. Hopefully, there is a next time. I don't know when they go out of season, but I nearly shed tears at ShopRite last week when I thought they were out.

Can you tell how  much fun I had with my hot pink inks?! I forgot how much I miss drawing. I can't wait to do more this year.

Pantry Ideas + Drawing Grains

I've been collecting jars for food storage for about six years now. My husband and friends make fun of me, but I don't care. Personally, I think they're just jealous of the beauty that is a jar of French Lentils. Plus, looking at all of those healthy foods lined up, it makes me want to eat, cook and bake in healthier ways.

If you're going to display your dry goods, it helps to make sure everything is lined up nicely and neatly. I prefer if the shelves are shallow and everything is lined up only one row deep. I also think that clear jars really let the colors and textures of the grains or dried goods stand out. Necessity in a manner that can be lovely.

Dried apricots, burnt umber couscous, creamy jasmine rice, yellow pepitas, 70s green split peas and pecans waiting to be baked into sweet treats. Is it just me, or do others go nerdy over this type of storage?

Who better to showcase this concept than the covet worthy pantry of EmersonMade? The organization and simple yet pleasing aesthetic make me swoon. And plenty more people judging on how this image has been repinned and blogged multiple times.

Who can go wrong with this cheery storage and rainbow colored painted bowls? Though I do wonder just how many bowls one home can have? I'd hope that they host an annual ice cream social and vie for the Guinness Book of World Records for something. The narrow height of the shelves would allow for less wasted space.

This is my own current storage for our wealth of dinnerware and lack of cabinet space. Looking at everything lined up and the $30 steal of vintage lead-free Fiesta Ware makes me smile.

Though I like to look at pretty things, I do like to hide everything once in awhile. If you can style your belongings nicely, and keep everything neat, overhead open shelves like these are perfect. The white shelves on white walls integrates it into the wall, and makes it look more streamlined and neat in my opinion.

This custom unit is quite the focal point in this San Francisco family's kitchen. I would incorporate a display of food storage, cookbooks, and favorite cookware and kitchen goods, all lovingly arranged of course.

Lastly, here's one more for inspiration. Streamlined, color coordinated to some extent, with a great natural wood ladder and a faucet that makes me forget about the shelves.

Seriously, I want one of those faucets! It reminds me of washing the dishes in my coffee-slinging, barista days.