orange cardamom moment

It's easy to be inspired by my friend Sarah to get up and get some things done! She just posted about how much she got done this month, and she's one of the most consistent bloggers I know. Whew! But I wanted to share this one moment of personal triumph.

One of the things I've found that gets me through the crazy pace of seminary is some time for tea. And recently my mom's introduced me to grey tea, which I actually really enjoy with a wedge of lemon and a scoop of sugar and now, with this....

Orange Cardamom cake-- it's light, citrusy bliss. Try the recipe! Having this on hand may mean you throw an extra mile onto the jog, but it will also mean that you're more likely to invite over a friend during the week to sit and catch up over tea. I hope you find a moment or two like that this week.

resolution recipes

Hi! This is a shout out to all of us who ate WAY too much over the Christmas holidays. Peppermint bark, anyone?!

We made this for dinner tonight-- it's lo-cal, low fat, HIGH on flavor. And it's an easy thing to make double of for an easy, no microwave lunch tomorrow. I hope you enjoy!

Resolution Wraps

(makes 4- 2 dinner, 2 lunch the next day)

4 whole wheat wraps or pitas
1 chicken breast (baked for 20-25 min at 350 sprinkled with Greek seasoning. I make 2-3 extra and freeze them for quick grilled chicken salads, pitas or pizzas)

1/2 c hummus (I made homemade using this recipe- less oil, less $$)

1 c lettuce

1/2 avocado, sliced

1/2 c Greek yogurt made with 2% milk

2 T feta

Roll it up! We ate it with a side of blueberries and oranges. Costco has really big, sweet blueberries right now!

Bon Appetit.

setting goals

Can I get an Amen! from those who are crazy overwhelmed with summer?  Isn't this supposed to be restful!  Hallelujah it is.  And yet it is not.

2 things that have been filling up my time:

1. A pitiful attempt at making some homemade bread

2. A new goal: 40 day yoga transformation project

I will get there!  I will make bread without a. forgetting to put the sugar in the water for the yeast b. burning the yeast with the coffee c. making bread that resembles more brownies than sourdough.  I will also be able to do the hurdler (a crazy yoga pose where you're squatted low, supported only by your hands and your core strength with your legs out to either side stacked on top of each other.  Sound crazy, it is!)!  

Watch out, world.  This overwhelmed girl's going to tackle the impossible schedule AND 2 ridiculous goals.  Are you with me?  What are your goals for the summer?

warning: this will be your favorite recipe ever

Our friend Sara introduced me to the most divine bread I have ever had in my life.  Now, if you know me, you know I love... yes, I love bread. 

It was a beautiful morning in sunny San Diego and there was an open table on the patio of Con Pane.  I was ready for a full cup of coffee and a taste of something sweet.  Pane Cioccolata called to us.  We ordered an entire loaf, still warm from the oven.  The chocolate stayed perfectly smooth with the aid of the morning sunlight.

Sound like a love story?  It is.  I invite you into your own tale: a similar recipe.

Silly, I know.  Do you have a love affair with a certain food?  Would you mind sharing the recipe?

New Layout Addition

I wanted to call a bit of attention to the left side bar on the blog.  I realized I've been recommending a few individual blog postings lately, but I'm going to begin storing them here.  I've started off with just 3.  Be sure to check out the question I asked of Kitchn- my favorite cooking blog- on the left.  I asked them recently about how to downsize a kitchen to fit in a much smaller space.  Check it out!