I thought I’d share one of my favorite posts from Bliss.  Have a great weekend and cook up something special for the loved ones in your life!

Some days I crave a little simplicity in my life.  Last weekend my son decided to run a bath in my tub and when he ran past me with a guilty look on his face I knew something was up.  I was curious when I heard the shower running and then realized the sounds of pouring water wasn’t coming from my bathroom but from my living room.  As I walked down my stairs I was struck by the sight of water pouring out of a light fixture as my 6 month old puppy was trying to drink out of the torrential amount of water that was streaming out of my ceiling.  While she’s running around my feet super excited by the newly supplied waterfall, I step on her leash, she races away and I go flying down the stairs.  As I lay there staring up at the ceiling with a dog licking my face and water streaming out of my ceiling I contemplated the chaos that always seems to define my life and decided that I needed to find a quiet place to lick my wounds.…

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Until I moved North I lost out on the pleasures of seeing the first seedlings of the season pop out of the ground and the joy of picking tender pea shoots and early radishes. Growing up in Southern California where it’s 75 degrees 350 days a year you lose touch with the cycle of nature.  I have come to appreciate the seasonal swing of life especially when it comes to food.

I love to see what the first market of the season has to offer.  Radishes, fava beans and snap peas are at their finest during the chilly wet start of spring here in Portland and when I see them appear I know that warmer weather and long days in the garden aren’t far behind.  I know that radishes aren’t the sexiest of vegetables but I have a particular fondness for their sharp pungent bite.…

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I must confess that as much as I love to entertain I am terrible with planning ahead of time.  I am one of those fools that is always running around the kitchen during a dinner party trying to figure out how I am going to finish cooking the lasagna and still manage to get dessert in the oven.  I have really been trying to make an effort to get more organized and use dishes that can be prepped ahead of time.  Last week I had to cook for a group of twenty and I knew that I would be crying in the guacamole if I didn’t’t do some prep ahead of time.…

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I’ve mentioned before that I am not much of a breakfast eater.  I value my sleep too much and stay up too late to realize my grand visions of pancakes and cinnamon rolls first thing in the morning.  I require something that I can have on the table in 5 minutes or less, that’s why granola is a perfect food to help me ease into my day.

This is a lighter version than most since it uses an egg white in the mixture which allows you to significantly reduce the amount of oil yet it still delivers a great crunchy granola.…

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Just because  its Super Bowl Sunday this weekend that doesn’t mean that your diet has to fly out of the window.  Here are some of my favorite recipes that would be a great addition to your game day table!

Here is a brand new recipe for you, rich decadent chocolate mousse, they’ll never know that the main ingredient is tofu.  Super easy and quick to put together, you just need to allow 30 minutes for chilling.  Check out Bliss for the full post!

asian corn and avocado salsa

smoky sweet potato hummus

edamame dip

black bean and butternut chili

strawberry salsa

raw brownies

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I don’t eat breakfast.  I know that it is an important meal to start your day off right and all that but it’s just never appealed to me and I don’t get hungry until lunchtime.  I have found that I can really embrace a nice glass of freshly squeezed juice in the morning.  One of my very favorite ways to start the day is with this apple cider vinegar drink.

Apple cider vinegar is thought to have many health benefits such as aiding digestion, helps regulate blood sugar levels and promotes weight loss. It is also thought to help promote healthy skin since it has antibacterial properties and promotes blood circulation.…

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This is the time of year that I really start craving fresh, raw foods.  After a few months of gluttony and heavy eating through the holidays my body really needs a break from heavy rich dishes.  Starting today I’m going on a 21 day cleanse to see if I can cut out processed food, caffeine and refined sugar from my diet.  I’m not following any particular plan but I’m hoping that I can change some bad habits and feel better in the process.  I have been looking at a lot of diets out there and some of them seem so radical I know that I won’t be able to stick with them.…

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When you are craving something a little sweet and want a cookie you can throw together in a a matter of minutes this is a great one to turn to.  Since they are made with almond flour they are best eaten the day they are made as they will get softer the longer they sit.  The almonds compliment the honey tones of the fruit and the brown butter adds a delicious richness to such a simple cookie.  They are fairly delicate so make sure that you let them cool slightly before removing them from the cookie sheet.  They make the perfect afternoon snack with a nice cup of tea.…

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I wanted to offer you a healthy but delicious option for your holiday table.  I love the flavors of Fall and all the delicious recipes they entail.  The warm spicy and sweet taste of squash apples and pears make me want to start a fire, curl up with a good book and eat to my hearts content.The holidays are here and they bring lots of opportunity to indulge but it’s nice to have options for lighter fare to keep things in check.  Rich earthy mushrooms, sweet butternut squash and tart pomegranates pair deliciously with the nutty flavor of millet.  Millet is gluten-free so it’s a great alternative if you are cooking for someone that is gluten intolerant.…

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When you are in the mood for a chocolate treat that can fit in with a healthy diet look no further than these raw brownies.  Perfect for a post These bars are the perfect substitute for an energy bar or other sweet tweet and they are full of healthy good for you ingredients.

Dates are loaded with potassium and are a good source of fiber, the walnuts supply healthy omega-3 essential fatty acids and the cacoa is one of the best sources of magnesium found in nature.  Even if you aren’t interested in the health benefits these brownies offer you should give them a try because they are so delicious and so satisfying.…

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