weekly life through instagram eyes

 {current spring breakfast obsession: fruit, granola & yogurt bowl- working on a DIY yogurt post!}

It finally feels like spring! That means quality time with the garden- we are getting to know one another once again, seedlings, yummy breakfast bowls & alfresco dining in the backyard.

Summer I am so ready for you.

spring tacos // lime cumin pinto beans

I totally go through food phases. Currently, I am obsessing over tofu scrambles, I can't get enough of fresh spring rolls and tacos have become my new best friend. I have a feeling these tacos and I will be BFF's for a very long time- they totally make me *swoon*.

backyard garden plans

I am finally getting around to a spring garden post- this post in picture form, has been sitting in my Que for far too long. One thing after another has prevented me from putting my plan into action; we ordered new lights for the grow house (awesome lights, so worth the wait!), the snow just barely disappeared and my work/life schedule has been full of craziness!

So want to start a garden of your own? It only takes a bit of planning, seeds, soil, water & loads of light - today I am going to walk you through my garden planning process.

napa sriracha slaw

Spring is finally here! Well sort of- last week, kid you not we had one 70 degree day and the very next day the thermometer read 28 with a dusting of snow. This time last  year my garden was cleared, spring peas were sown and we were enjoying grilling out nearly every night- this April not so much. My garden is still a wreck, nothing has been sown and we have resorted to bringing the BBQ inside. I absolutely love a good slaw alongside vegan brats & beans, tempeh sliders are generously mounded with the stuff and lately I can't get enough of this slaw stuffed inside my tacos.

weekly life through instagram eyes

{triple berry smoothie:  blueberries, blackberries, cherries, spinach, cinnamon & h2o}

I am so lacking in both the recipe department & Instagram pics this week! I promise you I have some goodies ready to go for next week - slaw, tacos, granola and hopefully an amazing tart. This past Sunday I made a trip down to Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut with my Mom, Gram and my Mom's best Friend- it was a blast; lost $$ but the endless laughs and smiles made up for the money lost. I am hoping to also have a garden post up for you next week- I am waaaay behind, my seeds will be planted this weekend, which should have happened a month ago- so is life, they will catch up soon enough. Enjoy your weekend my friends!

weekly life through instagram eyes

 {afternoon power smoothie: cherries, blueberries, peaches, mango, spinach, hemp seeds, cacao nibs maca & h2o}

This week flew by,  I noticed that most of my weekly recaps rotate around food and a orange cat named Spencer. Once the garden has thawed expect tons of gardening pics- we are experimenting with our AERO garden and Baby Bok Choi and should have some progress pics to share soon!

rustic seeded boule

 I fell hard and fast in love with this bread. I mean I love all bread, but time after time seeded, crusty, rustic bread steals my heart. I want to eat this bread all day, every day no exceptions. Not only does it taste amazing slightly warmed slathered in orange marmalade or butter but is also makes a pretty incredible grilled cheese & panzanella. Oh rustic seeded boule, if I was stranded on a dessert Island with the choice of only five things to eat you would be my number one, right alongside sweet potato, avocado, peanut butter & blueberries.

weekly life through instagram eyes

{Recipe testing - tacos for the blog}

pb coco banana smoothie

Justin and I recently completed a three day Juice Cleanse designed by Jus by Julie- there was a pretty awesome deal on Groupon so I snapped it up in a hurry. I have done juice fasts in the past but have always gone the homemade route. Honestly, having the juices shipped to me and ready to go was pretty amazing and a total time saver. Many of the Juices can be easily recreated at home- two of my favorites were Peanut Butter Banana & Island Coconut. This is my version of the Peanut Butter Banana- let me tell you, it is totally addicting!

three grain kale & kumquat salad

 

I love looking back through past posts to see what I was inspired by each season - it gives me a chance to take note patterns and ingredients that I am drawn too.  For example, during the late winter, early spring I focus a lot on breakfast, hearty grain & greens based salads, spring rolls and citrus along with loads of desserts. This year you will find the same pattern in the archives; breakfast, salad, spring rolls, citrus and sweets - I may have mentioned in a recent post I'm pretty predictable. I have always thought of this time of year as very transitional relating to locally sourced food - most of our Winter Markets are closing as they need to focus their energy on the upcoming growing season, so I find myself scouring the supermarkets for seasonal fare. Citrus season is upon us and I plan to take full advantage of this beautiful season- starting with these little orange, full of happiness kumquats.