I haven’t had a chance to write a health update post, although it’s on my short list! Without getting too much into it I’ve been doing some time on the AIP diet. It’s similar to the Gaps diet in many ways, and if I had done the stages of the GAPS diet I think it would’ve been equally effective. Unfortunately I suspect I have sensitivities to eggs and dairy, so being on full GAPS wasn’t serving me optimally. Man oh man the path to healing is definitely not linear, but I’m healthier than I’ve been since I received my Crohn’s diagnosis in 2011. BUT, like I said, I’ll go into this more soon! For now, I’m happy to be sharing a recipe I created to satisfy that comfort food craving for the times when pasta is not an option. Say hello to sweet potato noodles with bacon and chimichurri (I would not be mad if you threw in an avocado either!) This dish feels decidedly decadent, but it’s healthy and won’t leave you on the couch bingeing netflix and wishing you could take back that carb-fest! So that makes it pretty much perfect in my book! Be honest, have you ever met a bowl of noodles you didn’t love? I have yet to. I hope you enjoy! And if you have any favorite AIP recipes that you’d love to share I will kiss you, I’m getting so bored of my go-to’s!! xx- Sarah
If you want the best treat of Summer than you’re in the right place! I know, that’s a bold statement but SERIOUSLY!!! These are divine- creamy, sweet, fruity, perfectly refreshing and get this- I dare say they’re healthy!! What?!!! With just four ingredients – coconut cream, pineapple, shredded coconut and a tiny bit of honey they have nothing in them that won’t do your body good. What they’ll do for your spirit can’t be measured but if you are at all like me, they’ll bring you so much Summer joy you kind of won’t know what to do with yourself. It’s a good problem to have. Have at them my friends! xx- Sarah
Hi friends! If you’re living through Summer the way I am (air conditioning blasting, feet in the sand every chance you get and as many cool foods as possible), this recipe is for you! Light, easy to prep, delicious with a tangy sweetness- it’s all that I want in a Summer dinner these days! Bonus points if you fire up the grill and eat outside where everything tastes better. Double bonus points if you have ice cream for dessert. TRIPLE BONUS POINTS if you follow it up with a night swim- doesn’t matter where: pool, ocean, creek, I’m not picky. What can you use these point for you wonder? I DON’T KNOW. But you’ll have them. You figure out the rest. Happy Summer’ing everyone! xx- Sarah
Hi friends! I did one of those “ask me anything” things on Instagram stories the other day and I got a bunch of questions about my health, and health in general. Unfortunately I never have enough space on Instagram because I’m such a wordy lady, but I realized I need to give ya’ll a health update and also share more of what I’ve learned over these years in my extensive research about autoimmune disease and natural healing. So both of those things are coming soon, I promise! In the meantime, I made you a bowl of goodness! This is how I’ve been eating lately: lots of plants, lots of pastured meats, lots and lots of pesto and chimichurri. So it’s delicious, even if there is a current laundry list of indulgences I’m not enjoying. But more on that soon.
How on earth are you managing this with a toddler you ask? Two words: MEAL PREP! If you aren’t cooking a bunch on a weekend day for meals you can throw together during the week, I dare say you’re missing out like a one winged penguin! Swimming in circles!!! Roasting pans full of veggies, grilling up chicken breasts, making large batches of pesto and chimichurri- these are the things that make my world go round. Or at the very least keep me from losing my mind, falling off the health wagon and resorting to a bag of cherries for dinner. Most of the time anyway. All of this is to say that a meal like this is labor intensive IF you aren’t batch cooking and eating all of the ingredients again the next day in a salad, or another yummy bowl with a few small modifications. If you ARE batch cooking, a meal like this is thrown together right before it’s time to eat will make you so grateful to your past self that you may want to marry her (or him). The recipe the amounts will be for making 2-3 large bowls, but you know what I think you should do- batch that ish!
Lastly, it feels sooooo good to be back at this blogging thing and I’m sooooooo grateful for all of your support. I’ve had many a moment of intense gratitude thinking about how even though I basically fell off the planet for a couple of years you didn’t forget about me and have welcomed me back to this space with arms that feel like a grandma’s hug. The best possible!! Thank you so very, very much. xx- Sarah . {Recipe after the jump}
Hi friends! I’ve written about how our priorities have shifted over the years quite a few times- how we’ve turned our attention away from seeking satisfaction from things towards seeking happiness from experiences. I was in a bit of a race with myself in the past- I wanted more success, more clothes, new things to decorate our house with. None of which is a problem except for that it distracted me from enjoying what I have, and from…well, having as much fun as I’d like! I feel more grounded, content, and at peace since we’ve made these changes. I’m a work in progress of course, but I definitely value my time differently and you won’t find me spending it chasing the next must-have thing with the intensity I did before. You WILL find me plotting more ways to enjoy our life!
One of the things that happened when we moved into our current house a bit over two years ago is that we made friends with quite a few of our neighbors. This might not seem like a big deal to some of you but neither Lou nor I had experienced neighbor friends in our adult life and it turns out these relationships bring so much goodness to our days and enrich our time here on this big ol earth in ways we couldn’t have imagined. We’re kind of obsessed with these neighbors of ours! Every few months we host a s’mores night in our front yard- wine for the adults, s’mores for the kiddos and any soul who happens to walk by is invited to join. It’s such a fun cast of characters and I love watching the kids play into the night- they’re living my childhood dreams of endless summer! We’ve been wanting to add another celebration to the mix for the summer season- something a bit healthier and geared more towards the adults. Which brings me to our newest tradition- the front yard picnic!
Gathering on blankets spread on our lawn with neighbors is the perfect way to enjoy my summer (and life) essentials: great conversation, delicious food and drinks, summer sunshine and belly laughs! The menu for our front yard picnic is simple, quick to throw together and most importantly: totally yummy and fun! Sandwiches are my favorite picnic food- probably because they’re a treat I don’t indulge in too often but really, really love. I made two kinds that celebrate what’s in season, one with heirloom tomato, pesto and ricotta, another with fig, goat cheese, mint and honey. Alongside the sandwiches I threw together a simple green salad, bowls filled with popcorn and sweet potato chips, cherries, watermelon, berries, figs, pistachios, and saltwater taffy rounded out the nibbles. For drinks, a selection of Teas’ Tea– my favorite for their simple Organic ingredients and bright, fresh flavor! The Rose Green Tea is my personal fave. They’re also what I’m sipping on when I hit my afternoon wall and need a little treat to help perk me up!
I hope this post inspires you to get together with friends and enjoy the season! And if you don’t already know your neighbors, may I suggest a front yard picnic as a way to meet them? Who knows what goodness they may bring into your life… xx- Sarah
This post was sponsored by Teas’Tea, thank you so much for supporting our sponsors!
I’ve been on a single serving dessert kick ever since I snagged this KitchenAid® Artisan® Mini Mixer- finding ways to whip up easy, healthy and delicious treats has been a major goal of my pregnancy.Which is what led me to an apple pie craving, which led me to this apple pie-ish incarnation, which leads me to sharing it with you because keeping it to myself would be practically criminal!
Now that we’re in the throws of fall I am craving all of the apple everythings- and this little treat hits the nail on the head for me!Warm, brown buttery cinnamon apples topped with fresh whipped cream, which is a breeze to whip up (HA!) in my mini mixer. (An aside: why is it that everything mini is so much more fun?!Case in point:mini ponies, mini cupcakes, and mini golf!)
My friends, are you into brown butter?I’m sort of new to it, but since I started making it it’s been a weekly addition.The carmelly, nutty flavor is just the BEST!And it’s so easy to make but also makes you feel like legitimate baker genius.Win- WIN! Add apples and cinnamon, top with fresh whipped cream and you’ve got yourself a simple treat that tastes far more decadent than it is!
Seriously, thank you KitchenAid® for giving me an excuse to make small batches of whipped cream.My pregnancy has been a million times better because of it.Fresh whipped cream makes everything better, now that I think of it.
And thank all of you for supporting KitchenAid®, whose partnership made this post possible.Hope you love!xx- Sarah
