Mixed Berries & Banana Smoothie Bowls

If you follow me on instagram (& you should, it’s fun!) you’ll already know that I’ve been hitting the smoothie bowl train as of late. A smoothie bowl is simply a smoothie served in a bowl eaten with a spoon. The possibilities of ingredients for smoothie bowls are endless.  I like to top them with the same ingredients I use in the the smoothie portion for three reasons: (1) it looks really pretty, (2) it adds texture, (3) it’s a clear indicator of what’s blended up in the smoothie. If you don’t have time to arrange the toppings in neat little rows it will still taste the same. I like taking the extra time to make it look pretty because it makes me zen in the morning when I prepare breakfast. In case you’re wondering, Chris likes these too.

This first smoothie bowl recipe I’m sharing is a good gateway smoothie bowl because it’s sweet & familiar. So if you’re trying to work more fruit & protein into your breakfast routine this is the way to do it.

If you make your own smoothie bowls, I’d love to know what you put in yours. Please comment below!

Raisin, Coconut & Oat Scones with a Maple Glaze

Scones will always remind me of the coffee house that I worked at in college. We always had them & they always sold out. I would always bring some to my mom when I could - she was (& still is) a huge fan of the scones at Immaculate Consumption. I of course ate them but I never made them.

This past weekend I decided I would finally give it a try. I combined a bunch of recipes to come up with mine which I can say I’m proud of. If you’ve never had a scone it’s like the love child of a biscuit and muffin. They can be sweet or savory. The ones I opted to make were sweet with raisins, coconut & a maple glaze. 

Have a great weekend! I hope you make these for breakfast :)

Whipped Coconut Milk & Pineapple Parfait

A couple of weeks ago I was thinking (to myself, not out loud) about coconut & pineapple & how great this combination is (hello piña coladas!).  I came home & Chris had bought some ice cream  - chocolate chocolate chip for him & coconut pineapple for me. (Do I have the best mind-reading husband or what?) I had never had coconut pineapple in my life & was a little mind twisted by the coincidence.  I happily ate it & loved it.

If you love coconut & pineapple then you will love this parfait - albeit lighter than the yummy ice cream Chris brought home but ever bit as tasty.

This whipped coconut milk is thicker than whipped cream & much healthier (& less hydrogenated-whatever-is-in) cool whip. If you like fresh whipped cream but could skip the endless whisking you need to make this. It takes just a minute to whisk & you have a fluffy, thick cream  that will actually hold it’s shape sans the chemicals of the stuff in the tub.  Plus, it’s dairy-free - so vegans everywhere can skip to the pantry & stick a can of coconut milk in the fridge overnight - because it must be cold - & enjoy this dessert or breakfast.

PS: Happy birthday do my mom! Love you!

Num Pang Tiger Shrimp Sandwich

I know I've mentioned Num Pang before. In fact I made the watermelon juice they serve there (here… remember?). To refresh, Num Pang is a delish Cambodian sandwich shop. My sister & I always laugh about how when we asked them to cut a sandwich in half for us (so we could share two different kinds - because choosing is just so difficult!) the cashier kindly pointed the the sign "no substitutions." We cut the sandwiches ourselves - no big deal. The truth is they really don't need any substitutions & the tiger shrimp sandwich is no exception.

I found a recipe on the VillageVoice.com for said sandwich & had to give it a try. It was surprisingly simple as well as delicious. There will be no leftovers.

PS: Happy birthday Dawnie :)

A Twin Pedicure Date

I know I'm usually making something but sometimes the thing I need to make most is time for the people in my life. This past weekend I made a date with my twin to get a luxury pedicure at the Great Jones Spa in NoHo. Taking advantage of a great Google Offer we had scored earlier in the week we were able to indulge our toes in a coconut pedicure. I haven't been able to rave about a pedicure since Amanda's bachelorette years ago but this one gave it a run for its money.

The lovely ladies, Katrina and Mira, that performed our pedicures clipped and scrubbed our feet per usual pedicure standards followed by the three part coconut process.

Read more after the jump!