Tis the season my friends! Time is going by so fast I haven’t had a chance to truly enjoy the holiday season. Here’s what I’m currently loving and lusting after this month.
ONE//TWO//THREE//FOUR//FIVE//SIX//SEVEN//EIGHT//NINE//TEN
Stuffed Peppers- Paleo Style
With all of the holiday indulgences lately, I’ve been trying to make healthy dinners as much as possible. Stuffed peppers are really easy and delicious. Since I already had most of the ingredients in my fridge, I thought I’d give this recipe a go. I changed up a few things, but they turned out great. Also, don’t be scared away by the cauliflower rice – it’s easy to make and tastes great. It’s becoming a go-to rice alternative for me.
Ingredients
- Roasted cauliflower Rice (see below)
- 8 bell peppers
- 1.5-2lbs ground turkey
- 1 small onion
- 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 jar of spaghetti or marinara sauce(no sugar)
- 1 Tbs Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Make your cauliflower rice and set aside
- Clean and core bell peppers and place them into a casserole dish for stuffing.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In another pan cook your ground turkey and chopped onion. Drain fat.
- Add the diced tomatoes,1 cup of your spaghetti sauce, Italian seasoning, some salt and pepper, and all of your cauliflower rice.
- Fill your peppers with ground turkey mixture and top with remaining sauce.
- Bake in oven for 45 min-1 hour.
Roasted Cauliflower Rice
The easiest way to make cauliflower rice is a blender or in my case a Nutri Ninja. Food processor works great as well and all of these options make clean up a breeze.
Ingredients
- 1 Head Cauliflower
- 1 Tbs Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Granulated Garlic
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Roughly chop cauliflower and place all pieces in the blender.
- Fill your blender with water all the way above the cauliflower or to your max fill line.
- Pulse blender a few times until you no longer see any large pieces of cauliflower.
- Pour cauliflower into a strainer to drain all the water.
- Spread the cauliflower on a cookie sheet and drizzle olive oil over the top.
- Sprinkle your granulated garlic and salt and pepper on top and mix it all up with a spatula.
- Bake for 15-20 min. If you like it crispy (i do) flip the rice and continue cooking another 5-10 min.
- Remove from oven and enjoy immediately!
Friday Top Five
White Elephant Gift Guide
Every year at least one friend or co-worker has a white elephant gift exchange and if you’re like me, you struggle to come up with a good gift. I know you’re supposed to find something something old and obnoxious laying around to wrap up, but I tend to purge clutter quite often and forget. I’ve come across a few great gift ideas this year on my hunt and thought I’d share them with you just in case you’re stumped on what to bring to your next gift exchange.
ONE//TWO//THREE//FOUR//FIVE//SIX//SEVEN//EIGHT//NINE
Give Thanks to the Host
The holiday season is in full swing my friends. Thanksgiving kicks off eating, drinking and gathering season. There’s soon to be an influx in Paperless Posts and Evites headed your way and you don’t want to show up empty handed to your next get together. I always struggle with what to bring for the host/hostess besides a bottle of wine. So, I decided to kick it up a notch and find a few alternative ways to say thank you.
Here are some of my favorite gifts to have on-hand to bring to your favorite host/hostess this holiday season.
ONE//TWO//THREE//FOUR//FIVE//SIX//SEVEN//EIGHT//NINE//TEN// ELEVEN//TWELVE
Friday Top Five
Happy Friday! Apologies for my lack of posting this week. I’m embarking on an exciting career opportunity and I’m in the midst of ramping up over here. I promise to be back in the swing of things next week with some fun posts already in the works.
But first, here’s this weeks Top Five. I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect camel coat and this one is so lush and amazing. The collar is incredible and I just want to wrap myself up in it everyday. And if you’re looking for a new mascara BUXOM is fantastic. Separates and lengthens with great coverage. Have a great weekend and happy shopping!
COAT//NAIL POLISH//MASCARA//SWEATER//SKIRT
Friday Top Five
London Calling – Spotlight on Shoreditch
I’ve been bitten by the travel bug! I don’t know about you, but as soon as I get a taste of vacation I want more. As you know, I was just in London for a few days and it was the escape I needed. I’ve been lucky enough to have visited London before and fell in love. However this time around, I was looking for a slightly different experience.
When I was researching neighborhoods, I was intrigued by the east end. There’s so much to see and do in London, but I was craving something off the beaten path and not so touristy. Shoreditch became our home base for the week and was just what we were looking for. It’s one of London’s up-and-coming neighborhoods and I can see why. Shoreditch is a great mix of restored brick warehouses, gritty street art, independent coffee houses, eclectic restaurants and bars.
Here’s a run down of the places we went to and loved…
STAY
Ace Hotel: Good location, fantastic rooms and great scene. The lobby was always packed with people working on their laptops during the day and enjoying cocktails into the night. And the rooms came with a turntable and records- bonus!
EAT
Bottega Prelibato: This hidden gem is divine and has incredible fresh made pasta. The place is adorable and the staff is fantastic. It’s tiny so be sure to snag a reservation.
Dishoom: Brick lane is known for it’s fantastic Indian food and Dishoom is the place to nosh. The food was authentic and delicious. Great spot and it’s always packed.
Tramshed: Celebrated chef Mark Hix is the mastermind behind Tramshed. It’s known for the chicken and steak to share along with other really good apps and cocktails. It’s also home to a gigantic Damien Hirst formaldehyde sculpture of a cow and cock which takes center stage in the open space.
SIP
Callooh Callay: You will find this quaint cocktail lounge nestled within the mix of bars and restaurants on Rivington street. Great spot, good vibe, and fantastic cocktails.
Fix Coffee: Love me a good independent coffee shop and this one did not disappoint. Excellent coffee and a great spot to sit and sip.
Boundry: Beautiful rooftop bar that’s open all year round – can’t go wrong. You can enjoy drinks, apps, and a beautiful view.
SEE
There’s a lot to see in Shoreditch. I loved all of the street art and was excited to see an original Banksy right by my hotel. You can check out two Banksy pieces on Rivington Street, but be sure to check out the rest of the street too.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Packing a lunch can be boring and daunting after awhile. I’m always on the hunt for easy and delicious recipes that I can prep for the week to help me stay on track. This chickpea salad is bursting with veggies and flavor. The best part; the longer it sits the more flavorful it becomes.
INGREDIENTS:
SALAD:
- Two 15-ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2/3 cup chopped bell pepper (mix red/yellow/orange)
- 3/4 cup halved grape tomatoes
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
DRESSING:
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- salt and pepper, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS:
- In a large bowl, toss together the salad ingredients.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss. Transfer to a serving bowl and drizzle juices on top. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Lattes With Lipgloss 